Page 17 of Don't Call Me Sweetheart (Something Borrowed 1)

“What are you doing here?”

* * * *

Luke couldn’t believe Marley was the old friend from rehab Sonora had told them about. First off, he didn’t get that vibe from her. She seemed so down to earth and innocent and beyond that, he couldn’t imagine her genuinely liking Sonora.

“I was meeting my friend Sonora for dinner. What are you doing here?”

Why did she sound so irritated? “I’m Brent’s best man. I told you I was up here on and off for the next couple months for a wedding.” Luke reached out and punched Brent in the shoulder. “The things I do for this guy.”

“Oh, I see.”

Luke squeezed in next to her, his arm going to rest behind her shoulders. “This is the girl I was telling you about, Brent.”

“Ah, he hasn’t shut up about you all day. Funny coincidence, you both being in the wedding.”

“Yeah, it’s hilarious,” Marley muttered next to him.

No, he wasn’t imagining it. She definitely was not happy to see him.

Sonora glanced up from her salad, her eyes narrowed. “You two are involved?”

“No,” Marley said swiftly.

“We went to lunch earlier,” Luke said at the same time, shooting Marley a frown. Why was she pretending there was nothing going on with them?

Sonora took a ladylike bite of her salad, still watching Marley intently. Luke got the feeling Sonora was silently telling Marley she did not approve.

Marley focused on Brent, ignoring Sonora and him. “I was just talking to Sonora about the things left to do for the wedding—”

“Hey, Sonora, isn’t that Kendall at the bar?” Brent blurted, interrupting Marley.

Sonora stabbed her salad viciously. “Yes.”

“Why isn’t she sitting with us?” Brent’s voice was tight and angry, surprising Luke. That was what set him off? Sonora ignoring her little sister?

“Because we were having a private dinner and she just showed up.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. I’ll be right back.” He got up and walked towards the bar.

Sonora tossed down her napkin with a sigh and followed him.

Alone, Luke leaned over her, his lips resting against the shell of her ear. “I missed you.”

She jerked away from him. “Stop it.”

Completely thrown by her hostility, he asked, “Stop what?”

“We can’t do this.”

“Do what now?”

She pulled away from him, putting her back to the wall at the edge of the booth. “I can’t date you. I’m sorry, but it is just too complicated.”

What the fuck? Considering just six hours ago, he’d had his tongue in her mouth, this was coming out of left field. “Whoa, why? Because Princess Sonora won’t approve? Who cares?”

Marley held out a hand, as if she was afraid he was going to keep moving closer. “I do. She’s my friend and it’s her wedding. I don’t want to cause any kind of drama for her.”

Luke snorted, not believing that for a second. “Please, Sonora creates drama no matter what anyone around her is doing. Besides, I thought things were going good.”