Light My Fire

2. Luke

CHAPTER 2

Luke

No, no, no.

This has to be a hallucination from sleep-deprivation and isolation.

I have been staying up too late studying and I haven’t seen another human being in five days.

Plus, now that my spring break is winding down and I feel confident about my finals, I’m half a bottle of wine into my Friday and I had a sex dream last night.

That’s why my overtired brain has conjured up three hot guys standing in the entryway of the cabin.

I blink hard.

Nope. Not a hallucination.

They’re still here—Luke, Wyatt, and another man I’ve never met. They’re definitely real and not a figment of my imagination. Though both Luke and Wyatt starred in my sex dream the night before, and that wasn’t the first time. They’ve both popped in and out of my thoughts at random intervals in recent months.

I immediately sag in relief that I don’t have to defend myself from potential marauding intruders. I almost had a heart attack when I heard the door swing open, followed by men’s voices.

“Brooke!” Wyatt Doherty grins at me.

I’ve only met Wyatt twice, briefly, but I’d recognize him anywhere. He has dark brown curly hair and bright blue eyes, shoulders the width of a football field, beard stubble, and a charming smile. He’s a firefighter, and if that wasn’t sexy enough all on its own, he has two full sleeve tattoos masking his fair skin. They’re covered right now, because he’s wearing a black winter jacket and a knit hat, but I saw him roll up his sleeves at my brother’s wedding last year and I almost passed out just from that simple act.

I bury my Doritos dust-covered fingertips in the pockets of my flannel pajama pants. “What… how…”

“Brooke,” Luke Moody says my name again and my attention is ripped off of Wyatt and straight back to him.

Luke is older, probably in his late thirties or early forties, and he has a low, commanding voice that does something entirely different to me than Wyatt’s biceps. Wyatt makes me giggle and blush. Luke makes me hot and uncomfortable. Scared, but in a way that I want to explore, like the thrill of walking through a haunted house. He’s thinner than Wyatt, and taller, with a stern jaw and brown eyes. I’ve never really seen him smile. He’s peeling an outer flannel shirt off to reveal his white, muscular arms.

“This is a surprise,” he adds.

I notice they’ve dropped luggage on the hardwood floor.

Luggage.

Oh, God.

They’re staying here?

I can’t tell if Luke thinks it’s a good surprise or a bad one.

The stranger-to-me, who has a pleasant and easy smile, is unlacing his boots. He stands back up and eyes all of us curiously. He has a sharp jawline and adorable dimples in his brown cheeks.

“I take it you’re Brooke, Blake’s sister. Hi, I’m Jackson.”

“Uh, hi, Jackson. Nice to meet you. Yes, I’m Brooke,” I manage to choke out. “Blake’s sister.”

I mentally groan at myself. He just said that.

I’ve never been great at social situations, especially ones I’m not prepared for. I prefer animals to crowds.

Not that this is a crowd, but it certainly feels that way. I cannot believe I’m being confronted by three gorgeous guys and I’m in pajamas with orange fingertips. My hand flies to my head. And a messy bun with unbrushed hair. I try to straighten my bun but all that does is cause it to flop from the right to the left.

It also reminds me that I’m not wearing a bra.

Something Luke seems to have noticed. His eyes drift to my chest. I’m wearing a tight soft gray tank top with a loose granny sweater half-falling off of my shoulders. My tight nipples are clearly visible.

“Sorry we’re crashing your party by showing up early,” Jackson says, glancing over at my wine bottle and glass.

I have books and unhealthy snacks strewn all over the coffee table.

Sadly, this is the kind of party I have on a regular basis.

Not only am I an introvert, I’m also very busy in my third year of vet school. This is a typical Friday night for me. Just normally, I do it back at my apartment in Minneapolis.

“I’m just here on spring break, studying. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Jackson grins. “That is not how I did spring break. Which probably explains why I don’t have a college degree, just a lot of dropped classes.”

I have no idea what to say to that.

Jackson is wearing an expensive looking winter coat better suited for strolling downtown than hiking in the woods. His boots look brand new. But that’s not what is interesting to me about him. It’s the easy, confident smile, his sharp cheekbones, and his easy stance. He’s both very handsome and clearly self-assured, in spite of his teasing words.

“You’re early?” I ask, trying to figure out why they’re standing here in my brother’s cabin. “For what?”

“Guys’ weekend,” Luke says.

“Yeah, we’re going to fish, hike, drink beer around a bonfire, play poker.” Wyatt steps forward in his socks, leaving his duffel bag on the floor behind him. “Your grandma thought we should come early since there’s a storm rolling in.”

He holds his arms out to me for a hug and I step in automatically, out of politeness, and because this may be my only chance to be this close to a man with this many muscles. I’m not sure our level of acquaintance really warrants a hello hug, but I’m not about to turn it down.

It feels as good as I imagined. He smells like soap and fresh air and he envelopes my body like a weighted blanket has been tossed over me. My nipples press against his sweatshirt, the scraping contact making them even tighter. Over Wyatt’s shoulder, I see Luke watching us steadily, intently.

Again, I can’t read his expression.

That, and Wyatt’s grip tightening on me, his hand drifting down to my lower back, has me pulling back quickly.

Then I register what he said. Wait a second. “My grandmother told you to come early?” I ask, crossing my arms tightly over my chest.

“Yep.”

Of course she did.

“Funny she didn’t suggest you leave early,” Luke says, like he doesn’t think it’s funny at all.

Neither do I.

“Yeah, so funny.” Also funny, she didn’t call or text to tell me these guys were showing up tonight.

My grandmother thinks she’s being clever. She already gave me an earful about spending my spring break alone in the woods when we both know I am fully prepared for my finals and don’t really need to study anymore. She thinks I should spend more time with friends and dating. It didn’t help that I cried at my brother’s wedding, which is totally unfair. A girl isn’t allowed to cry at a wedding without it meaning something? I was just happy for him.

And a little sad for myself.

But now that Blake is married, Gran’s turned her shady matchmaking efforts to me.

Heidi Wilder doesn’t know the meaning of the word subtle.

I’m both horrified and… intrigued.

A few hours hanging out with three hot guys tonight is intimidating, but also exciting.

Hot guy hugs times three? Go for it, girl.

No, I can’t stay here. I’ll embarrass myself.

This may be your only chance!

But what if I say or do something awkward?

Jackson interrupts my battling inner voices.

“I hope you don’t mind sharing the cabin with three unruly dudes.”

“Um, no,” I sputter. “Not at all.”

Like, honestly, not at all.

Heat spreads across my cheeks, and I search my brain for something to say. This is always my problem. When I’m in my element, with animals, or in a classroom, I always know what to say. I’m self-assured and confident in my knowledge and abilities. Give me a short-hair cat with a UTI or a French bulldog with hip dysplasia and I know exactly what to do.

But men… they’re a different beast entirely.

“We’ll stay out of your way,” Luke says, which further confuses me.

“Um…”

Jesus, how many times can I say “um” in one conversation?

“I’ll show you to the bedrooms,” I manage to get out. “If you want to put your luggage away. I don’t have a lot to eat because I’m leaving tomorrow, but I do have wine and some chips and nuts.” I gesture to the table.

Wyatt comes up to me and gives me a smile. “There’s a storm coming tonight and tomorrow, Brooke. You’re going to be snowed in at least until Sunday. Good thing we brought a ton of food. You’ll be all tucked in here safe and sound with us.” He glances at my lips.

My hand goes to my mouth automatically. I probably have a stray chip crumb somewhere. I rub back and forth.

Wyatt takes my hand and holds it out. “Doritos or Cheetos?” he asks, inspecting my fingers.

I swallow hard. But before I can answer, he pops my index finger in his mouth and sucks it lightly. A jolt of pure desire shoots through my entire body. I suck in a breath.

“Doritos,” he says. “My favorite.”

Then he winks and turns away, bending down to grab his suitcase.

I’m speechless. Especially when Luke’s eyes narrow and he glares at Wyatt. He grabs the handle of his suitcase and heads to the stairs without another word. He actually skips the first two steps as he jogs up them.

“First door on the left is available,” I call out after him. “Wyatt, you can take the first room on the right. Jackson, second door on the right.”

“Thanks, Brooke,” Wyatt says, bounding up the stairs after Luke. “Be right back.”

Jackson pauses at the bottom of the stairs and gives me a friendly smile. “Yeah, thanks, Brooke. Where is your room, by the way?”

“Down here. I have the primary suite.” Thank God. I wouldn’t sleep at all if I knew these guys were sleeping a few feet away from me.

Jackson grins. “Probably for the best. Do you like steak?”

“Sure.”

“Excellent. We’ll fire up the grill in ten minutes.” He walks over by the front door and stacks a box on a cooler before picking them both up.

I see they have several bags and boxes. “Let me help.”

“Nah. You keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t let us throw you off your plans.”

That’s comical.

I’m definitely thrown off. I’m so far off I’ve gone over the cliff.

I still take three grocery bags and haul them onto the kitchen island. Then I realize I really need to wash my hands. I grab my phone off of the dining room table and say, “Be back in a second,” to Jackson before fast-walking to my bedroom.

I close the door behind me and head into the bathroom. I wash my hands until they’re free of snack food residue and pick up my phone to text my grandmother.

GRAN YOU COULD HAVE WARNED ME

Warned you about what, sweetie?

LUKE, WYATT, AND JACKSON SHOWING UP AT THE CABIN

Why are you yelling? And why would I warn you, just so you could just hop on the first plane out of there before they even showed up?

Yes.

Where’s the fun in that?

You’re not at all concerned that your granddaughter is alone in a cabin with three grown men?

They’re all nice boys. They’re Aidan’s good friends and your brother likes them, too.

I do trust Aidan, who is dating my brother’s wife, and my brother, to not be friends with jerks. But I can’t let her comment slide.

Luke is like forty. He’s not a boy.

He’s a man . A man who didn’t look thrilled to have me sharing their guys’ weekend cabin.

Gran texts back.

I’m seventy-six. That’s a boy to me.

Not to me!

So set your cap on Wyatt. I bet the two of you have a lot in common. I understand he’s mechanically inclined.

And I like animals and books, so what the heck is she talking about? That has nothing to do with mechanics. The woman makes no sense. I also have no idea how to “set my cap” on anyone, whatever that means.

What makes you think they would even be interested?

I delete that immediately before I hit send. Gran will spend the next twenty minutes complimenting me and giving me a pep talk that will only make me more nervous if I show her any insecurity.

But she doesn’t need any encouragement.

Just have fun. Think of it as practice flirting. You’re a beautiful, intelligent, accomplished young woman. They would be idiots not to be flattered by attention from you, Brookey.

The nickname makes me bristle. I don’t know why I hate it. I just do.

A little warning would have been nice.

I’m repeating myself because it’s all the ammunition I have with a grandmother hellbent on embarrassing me in the name of matchmaking.

Sweetie, you can’t study for everything in life. Some things need to just happen spontaneously.

She’s right. I know she is. But it still makes me want to break out in hives. Though Wyatt did suck on my finger. I’m pretty sure that is flirting. Even I know that.

I glance out the bedroom window. It’s already snowing.

How much snow are we getting anyway?

A TON! So much I doubt you can leave tomorrow.

She adds a string of smiley face emojis to that.

If I miss my finals and ruin my career it’s your fault.

Relax. It’s only Thursday. By Sunday it will be clear and your exams start Tuesday, right?

Yes.

Then enjoy yourself! Get in the hottub. Your neck must be stiff from studying.

There’s no arguing with her about that.

You’re insane but I love you.

I love you too.

She adds a kiss emoji.

I don’t emoji, if that’s a verb. It drives her crazy, so normally I will concede with one or two, but not today. She deserves no emoji satisfaction.

It feels too obvious to put on a bra now, so I just button my sweater up. I brush my teeth and then take a deep breath.

My neck is stiff.

My grandmother is right.

I should just try to relax and enjoy myself.

This will never happen again, ever . It is a golden opportunity. I could definitely use a little practice flirting. A lot of practice. I’ve only had a couple of boyfriends and those were when I was a teenager.

I’ve been way too busy to have a relationship in recent years and while I don’t regret that, I do feel like I’ve missed out on one thing I am very curious about—sex.

Being a virgin is starting to feel like a hurdle to future dating.

But to not be a virgin, I have to know how to flirt and talk to men more effectively than I have in the past.

So maybe the solution has just presented itself like man magic in the form of Wyatt, Jackson, and Luke.