Saving You (Love Wanted In Texas Book 2) (3 page)

“You afraid, Lib...” He shook his head. “Lib. You afraid to see me naked?”

I chuckled nervously. At least I tried to chuckle, but it came out as more of a nervous laugh.

“No. Why would I be afraid to see you naked? We used to skinny dip in the river.”

Luke smiled bigger. “Yeah, I loved doing that. I wanted to tell you how beautiful you were.”

Closing my eyes, I pushed my emotions down. He’s drunk.

I walked up to Luke and shoved his pants down, causing his dick to spring out. His hard dick. I let out a gasp and covered my mouth.

Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit
.
Wow. Oh … wow.

“Um …” I snapped my eyes up to his eyes. They were filled with what I think was lust.

“Will you … I mean
…
can you kick your pants off?”

Luke somehow managed to get his wet pants off while I stood with my back to him. My heart was beating so fast and loud, it was practically drowning out all the other sounds in the room. If only it had drowned out Luke grunting as he attempted to get dressed.

I heard a thump and turned to see him trying to put the dry pants on. Taking a deep breath, I walked back over to him. Swallowing hard, I tried to keep my hands from shaking as I took a hold of his dick. Luke let out a moan as I moved it out of the way while I zipped up his pants. My core was pulsing with desire and I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood.
Holy shit. I’ve got Luke’s dick in my hand!
I removed my hand and zipped up his pants and took a step back when he grabbed my hands and pulled them away.

Luke’s breathing increased as he whispered, “Libby …”

I looked into his eyes as they searched my face. He began to walk forward, causing me to step back and run right into the wall.

“Luke … I um … I need to get changed …”

When I saw him look down at my lips, I licked them without even thinking. He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips across mine as we both let out a moan. He slipped his hand behind my neck and pulled me in closer to deepen the kiss.

His tongue moved against my lips making me open them to him. I placed one hand on his chest and the other up in his hair and tugged on it slightly as he moaned into my mouth.

I had been aching for his kiss ever since that day under the bleachers. Dreaming about it.

I wasn’t sure how long we kissed for before Luke pulled back. His eyes were still focused on my lips before they slowly moved up and captured my eyes.

“I love you, Libby. I’ve always loved you.”

In an instant, those eight words turned my entire world, and my heart, upside down.

FINGERS SNAPPED IN
front of my face. “Lib? Earth to Libby?” I snapped my head up and looked up at him. “You were off in another world, Lib. Do you want some peach cobbler?”

“Um … no thank you.”

Luke frowned as he watched me. “Why not, Lib? You love peach cobbler.” I swallowed hard and pushed my plate away. My heart was still racing at the memory of Luke telling me he loved me. “I’m really full. Maybe a piece to go and I’ll eat it later?”

The smile returned to Luke’s face as he nodded and called out for Manny to pack a cobbler to go. I sat in my seat and watched him walk away as I tried to figure out the confusing feelings rushing through my head.

I GLANCED OUT
the window and looked at the solid line of rain coming our way.
Shit. I hate driving in the rain.
One quick peek to Libby and my heart was beating crazy again.

I couldn’t stop thinking about when I held her hand as we walked up to Franklin’s. Really, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Libby allowed me to hold it for as long as she did. I knew I had been acting like a dick toward her. Letting out a sigh, I pushed my hand through my hair. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Libby watching me. There she goes biting on that damn lower lip of hers. I smiled slightly; she must like when I do that. Testing my theory, I ran my hand through my hair again. Libby’s mouth parted slightly, causing my smile to turn into a full-blown grin.

The rain began hitting on the windshield, first coming down slow then coming in a downpour. I slowed and turned the windshield wipers on higher.

“Wow, it’s really raining hard. Maybe you should pull over, Luke,” Libby said as she began chewing on her fingernail. It was a nervous habit she had done since I could remember.

I rolled my eyes and said, “Nah, it’s fine.” Right after I said that, the car in front of us hydroplaned and veered into the other lane, causing everyone to put their brakes on. “I think I’ll pull over into that HEB parking lot.”

Libby folded her arms over her chest and mumbled something under her breath. I didn’t respond because I didn’t want to argue with her. This was the first time in months, things actually felt normal. It felt like my best friend was sitting next to me.

I pulled into the parking lot and put my truck in park as it continued to pour. Libby pulled her phone out and began texting someone. She let out a giggle and then looked out her window.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked.

She turned and looked at me and shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing. Just something Grace said to me.”

My younger sister, Grace, was going to the University of Texas and I couldn’t wait to see her. She was a pain in my ass sometimes, but I loved her more than life itself.

“Grace said she was surprised that you had planned the stop at Franklin’s.”

Turning, I looked into Libby’s eyes. “Are you surprised?” She laughed and looked away. “Well? Are you, Lib?”

She slowly turned and looked at me. “Honestly? Yes.”

Swallowing hard, I tried to get rid of the lump in my throat. “Why?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. It feels like we’ve grown apart. You’re no longer that fun guy I knew growing up.”

I turned more in my seat so I could look at her. “What am I now?”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Are we being completely honest right now?” I nodded my head. She took in a deep breath through her nose and blew it out of her mouth in a quick movement. “A jerk.”

Pulling my head back, I opened my mouth slightly. “A jerk?”

She pursed her lips and nodded her head. “We used to be …” Libby looked away and out the window. “I don’t really know anymore what we used to be.” She slowly shook her head. “Anyway, Grace said you’re not spontaneous anymore.” She looked back at me and stared into my eyes. “I have to agree with her.”

My heart ached as Libby’s words echoed in my mind.
Not spontaneous?
I’ll show her spontaneous. I looked out the front window at the rain. It was beginning to lighten up. I opened the door to the truck and Libby asked, “Luke? Where in the hell are you going?”

Jumping out, I looked at her and smiled. “I’m being spontaneous.” I shut the door and jogged around to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door. “Get out, Libby.”

Libby’s mouth dropped open as she stared at me. “You’re kicking me out of the truck for being honest? Screw you, Luke Johnson.”

Laughing, I reached in and picked her up. She began yelling for me to put her down. “I’m being spontaneous, Libby.”

I pushed the door shut with my foot and walked away from the truck as the rain quickly began to get both of us soaking wet. I set Libby down and looked at how beautiful she was. She was staring at me like I’d lost my damn mind. “What are we doing standing in the rain?”

Grabbing her, I pulled her to me, pulling her body up against mine. She let out a gasp, but instantly wrapped her arms around me. “I’m dancing with you. In the rain.”

The left side of her mouth slowly began to lift as she fought to hold back her smile and lost. I quickly pushed her out and spun her around and pulled her back to me as she let out a laugh.

We danced around the parking lot like we didn’t have a care in the world. Libby ran over to a puddle and jumped in it, causing water to go everywhere. I loved seeing how carefree she was. I ran up to her and picked her up and began spinning her around as she dropped her head back and laughed. I slowly let Libby slide down my body, holding her closer to me as we slowed our dance down. My stomach was flipping all over the damn place. I missed being with Libby like this. Missed feeling happy like this.

Reaching up, I moved a piece of hair off of Libby’s face and tucked it behind her ear. She smiled and it about dropped me to my knees. Wrapping her arms around my neck, our eyes locked as our bodies moved in perfect sync.

I closed my eyes to fight the pull of her lips. I wanted to kiss her, tell her how much I loved her and wanted to make her mine. Opening my eyes again, I caught Libby licking her lips. For one brief second, I moved toward her lips before stopping myself.

She deserved so much better than me. Pulling back away from her lips, I whispered, “Was that spontaneous enough for you, Lib?”

I saw her swallow as she slowly nodded her head. “I um … I need to change before I get back into your truck.”

Letting go of her body, I watched as she turned and headed back to the truck. The rain had stopped and for one precious second, so did life. It was just Libby and me. I jumped when Libby shut the truck door. She walked toward me with a change of clothes. “I’m going to run into HEB and change.” She smiled weakly as she walked past me and into the store as I stood there. I finally came to my senses and walked to the truck for a change of clothes.

I needed to get her to Mason. Then I could go out and put this whole day where it belonged—tucked somewhere deep in my heart.

THE REST OF
the drive to Mason, Libby stared out the window. I tried a few times to talk to her, but no words would form. We were almost to her house when I got the nerve to talk to her.

“So this was a fun road trip, huh?”

She quickly turned and looked at me. I glanced at her as she stared at me. “What? What’s wrong?”

Her mouth dropped open. “Are you serious right now?”

I pulled up to her gate and stopped. “Yeah, what’s wrong?” The anger that moved across her face caused me to swallow hard. She unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door. “What are you doing?” I asked.

She got out as I put the truck in park. She opened the back door and grabbed her bag, slamming the door in the process. She started making her way to the gate when I grabbed her arm. “Lib, what is wrong? Why are you angry?”

She dropped her bag and pushed me, hard. I stumbled back a few steps before righting myself.

“You! You are what’s wrong, Luke.” She began shaking her head as I watched tears fill her eyes. I was always making her cry
. Always.
I ran my hand through my hair when she walked up, grabbed my arm, and pulled it down. “Stop! Stop doing that!” she screamed.

I took a step back. “Stop doing what?”

Her lower lip began to quiver as she walked away from me. Libby picked up her bag and began walking to the gate. Stopping, she turned to me.

“Why do you do this to me?”

I took a step toward her when she held up her hand to stop me. “Do what, baby?”

She shook her head and stomped her foot. “This! Luke, you can’t keep confusing me like this. One minute you want to be my friend, and then you do something romantic like plan a lunch for me and dance with me in the rain. Then you go to kiss me, only you push me away.” A sob escaped her mouth as she closed her eyes.