“I was going to make you blueberry pancakes, but I knocked the flour down from the top shelf of the pantry, and it kind of exploded.”
His eyes traveled around the kitchen. An inch of flour covered most of the surfaces, including Embry. He brought his eyes back to her and wiped at a smudge of flour on her cheek. “I kind of figured that part out.”
She glared at him, grabbed his arms, and pulled, causing him to fall to the floor in a cloud of white powder.
He narrowed his eyes and tackled her, pinning her arms above her head and hovering over her. “Really, Bree? You sure you want to play this game? You’ll lose.”
Never one to back down from a challenge, Embry wiggled beneath him, trying to pull her arms free. “Bring it on, Brody,” she said, her voice husky.
His mouth found hers, and he released her arms, giving her free rein to explore his body. She ran her hands over his muscled back, up his arms, and into his hair. Just as she was starting to enjoy herself, he pulled away. Before she knew it, he had pulled her back to her feet.
“All right,” he said, clapping and making flour fly. “Pancakes. Let’s do this.”
Embry stepped toward him, softening her eyes and sticking out her bottom lip in a perfect pout. “I’m not interested in pancakes anymore.”
He cupped the back of her neck, dragged her in for a searing kiss, and let her go abruptly, a smirk on his kissable lips. “Well I am, beautiful.” He walked toward the stove but not before landing a solid smack on her ass. “Hop to it!”
Her hands flew to her hips, her eyes wide. “And how do you suggest we make pancakes without flour?”
Luke pulled out the pantry cabinet and dug around. She watched the sculpted muscles of his back move beneath his skin. The flour had become a road map on his body, every place her hands had roamed evidenced by a dusty handprint on his golden skin. He rummaged around a bit more until he pulled out another package of flour.
“Backup,” he said, smiling.
Embry let out a huff and crossed her arms. She had no interest in making breakfast anymore. All she wanted was to be back on the floor underneath Luke. But he was hungry, so she’d give him his pancakes. They swept up the majority of the flour and set to work.
“So why didn’t you tell me you were going to Georgia next weekend?” Embry asked between bites of pancake.
Luke was quiet for a moment. He lifted his shoulder indifferently. “Slipped my mind, I guess.”
She didn’t believe that for a second, especially because of how easily he’d lied to his mother about Embry being too busy to go with him. The truth was, she was too busy to go with him. The semester had kicked into high gear. But he’d let his mother think that he’d invited her, and he hadn’t mentioned the trip at all. Maybe Embry was reading too much into it. They’d only gotten back together the previous weekend, and his plans had probably been made well before that.
“Any special occasion or just going for a visit?” she asked, hoping to garner some more information.
“Early Thanksgiving, actually.”
“Oh?” Embry hadn’t even thought about it. Her calendar went by finals, not holidays. Everything got serious after Thanksgiving break. Study days began in the beginning of December, then finals would be there before she knew it. Her stomach dropped thinking about how soon she’d be taking her first law school finals.
“My parents take a cruise every year during Thanksgiving week, and Camden, Lori, and Mackayla go to Lori’s parents, so we celebrate early.”
“But what about you? What do you do on Thanksgiving?”
Luke’s eyes crinkled, and his lips tipped up into a sweet smile. “Worried about me?” he teased. “I used to go to Cam’s in-laws, too. But since I’m living up here now, I’m not going to take two trips down. I’ll just have a nice, quiet night here.”
Embry’s eyebrows drew together, and she worried away at her bottom lip. She didn’t like the idea of Luke spending Thanksgiving alone. Should she invite him to go with her to visit her family?
“Don’t give me that look.”
“What look? I’m not giving you a look.”
“You are. And you’re doing that thing with your lip,” he said.
“I do a thing with my lip?”
“You pull it between your teeth when you’re nervous or overthinking.” He ran his finger across her bottom lip. “What’s on your mind, Bree?”
“Come with me.” Her eyes widened as the words escaped before she was ready for them.
“Where?” His look of confusion was almost comical.
“To Thanksgiving,” she said quietly, almost not believing she was asking him to commit to something so big.
“With your family?” he asked.
“Sure.” She shrugged, trying not to let on how much she wanted him to come. “I’m going to have to tell my parents I’m seeing someone eventually.”
He cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. “That’s your sales pitch? Are you sure you don’t want to rethink that one? Maybe try again?”
Embry blanched. If she wanted him to spend the holiday with her family, she had to tell him that, not just give some lame excuse for why he should tag along. She pressed her lips together, her eyes serious as she put on a show of making a decision. “I love you, and my family will love you. It’s really important to me that they get to meet you. Please have Thanksgiving with us?” A bright smile appeared on her face.
“Sure, I guess,” he said indifferently.
Embry smacked his chest. “You guess? That’s it?”
Luke stood and scooped her up in his arms. “Yes, baby. I love you too, and I would love to come for Thanksgiving and meet your family.”
She beamed at him as he walked toward the stairs. “Where are you taking me?”
He shook his hair, sprinkling her with more flour. “Shower time,” he said with a naughty grin.
Embry snuck up the stairs and into Luke’s bedroom while he reviewed a case in the living room. They’d had an amazing day, shower included. She smiled as the memory gave her a shiver of pleasure. Best. Shower. Ever. She was quite thankful for what she referred to as the Great Flour Debacle. She couldn’t wait to get dirty again.
Making her way into Luke’s walk-in closet, she found her duffel bag and began to dig through. Luke had pulled on his favorite Georgia T-shirt and hat the minute he was out of the shower, but Embry had a different plan for her jersey. They were trying their best not to behave like five-year-olds, but as the game drew nearer, she felt the tension building. It was a big game, and whoever’s team won would have bragging rights. Her Gators better pull through. Stripping off her jeans and T-shirt, she dug her Gator jersey from her bag and pulled it over her head.
Embry checked herself in the floor-length bathroom mirror. The jersey was small but still a little loose. It hit right below her butt and allowed just enough of her lacy boy shorts to peek out. She was about to touch up her makeup when she heard Luke calling her from downstairs.
“Babe! Baby! Game time! Get your fine ass down here right this instant!” His voice was filled with excitement.
Embry let him know she’d be down in a minute and took one last look in the mirror. She ran a hand through her messy waves, straightened her jersey, and pranced out the doorway. She had no idea what had gotten into her. Luke made her feel as if she was the only person in the world. She felt beautiful, intelligent—the best version of herself. With Luke, she felt safe, comfortable, and confident. She sure as hell wouldn’t flounce around in a tiny jersey and boy shorts if she felt any different.
She descended the stairs and walked into the living room. Luke was on the couch, legs up on the ottoman, with a football in his lap and a beer in his hand. Typical. He’d thrown together a few snacks, which were on the coffee table along with a glass of wine for her, and a big thick blanket was strewn in front of the fireplace.