Page 73 of Will Bark for Pizza (Bluebell Springs #1)

SIXTY-TWO

KIRA

A hard knock pounded at the apartment door, and Husker perked up from his new favorite napping spot—the oversized sectional.

Luke.

Who else would knock like he wanted to execute a police raid? Husker popped off the couch as I saved my manuscript.

“I’m coming,” I called, as Luke knocked again.

“Took you long enough,” my brother said, sounding as grumpy as ever. The familiarity of it all was oddly comforting. I struggled to find comfort these days; my fault for pushing away the man I was definitely in love with.

But I stood by my decision.

Beckett deserved better than the broken, unhealed version of me. He deserved a woman who could love him with her whole heart. I didn’t know that my heart would ever be whole again .

He deserved someone who could appreciate his grand gestures. Not freak out because of them.

“You brought me iced coffee?” I asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow at the offering. “Am I in trouble?”

“That depends. Did you do something that’ll piss me off?”

“The bar’s not really set that high, so you’ll have to tell me.”

I reached for the coffee, but he pulled it out of reach. “What are we, twelve?”

“You need a shower.”

“Gee, thanks. I didn’t realize that.”

He wasn’t wrong. I hadn’t showered in three days. Hell, I hadn’t left the writing loft apartment in three days, except to take Husker out. And most days, I was lucky enough to have someone volunteer during store hours.

When I told the book club that I was finishing Mateo’s book—true story; I was—they all but insisted I let them run the bookstore while I stayed up here and finished. Bribing them with advance reader copies probably helped my case some.

Lotti offered to lock me in the apartment until I was finished, but, despite her cheerful tone, that felt a little too Misery to me.

“Promise me you’ll shower if I let you have this,” Luke said.

“Fine, Mom .”

We stared at one another for several beats, expressions blank. Slowly, a hint of a smile tipped one corner of his mouth.

“You can smile. ”

“Don’t get used to it.” He handed over the coffee. “I thought you’d want to know that The Asswipe made bail.”

My muscles instantly tensed. I wasn’t surprised. Mommy Dearest probably bailed him out. But what did that mean for me?

“That took longer than I expected.”

“I want you to get a protective order, Kira.”

I bristled. I hated being told what to do.

But in this case, he was right. And he wasn’t the only one saying it.

Aspen, Alyssa, and Lila were in unanimous agreement.

I didn’t think anyone who cared about me would let me know peace until I finally caved.

And I was blessed to know that the number of people who cared was too high to count.

Just another indication that moving home was the best decision.

“Okay.”

“I’ll go with you to the courthouse to file one,” Luke offered, taking a seat on the sectional. I sat too. “If you want.”

“You’d do that?”

“Why does that surprise you?”

“I don’t know. Because you usually act like you hate me. Or maybe it’s just your natural grumpiness. I can’t always tell.”

“I’ll always look out for you, even if you piss me off.”

“Such a sweet man. How are you still single?” Shit . I braced, waiting for him to frown. It wasn’t meant to be the jab he likely thought it was.

“It’s a mystery that’s stumped the world.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding.

“It was a long time ago,” Luke said, referring to his ex leaving him at the altar. “I don’t cry myself to sleep about it.”

“Anymore?” I teased.

“Don’t push your luck.”

“Are we okay?” I asked him.

“Yes, Kira.”

“Hug?” I asked, a purposely cheesy grin spread across my face.

“Only after you take a shower.”

“Fine. After I finish my coffee.”

Luke scanned the apartment, as though he was just seeing it for the first time. Beckett outdid himself with the details. I was told my friends helped, but I knew it was because he wanted me to have the best. I wondered how much my brother knew about this secret project.

“You talk to Beckett?” Luke asked, as though reading my mind.

Eerie, but okay.

“No. Not . . . lately.”

Not since the night of the grand re-opening, when I told him I couldn’t see him anymore. But that didn’t mean I didn’t reach for my phone all the damn time, my fingers itching to shoot him a text. He respected the space I clearly needed, but it wasn’t bringing me the peace I hoped.

“You should.”

I eyed my brother suspiciously. “Why are you encouraging this?”

“You two aren’t exactly subtle,” Luke said, his tone a grumble .

“Oh.” I bit down on my bottom lip. “Well, it’s not going to work out.”

“What did he do?”

That my brother immediately took my side over that of his best friend warmed a spot inside my heart I didn’t realize was still frozen. Maybe people could change. People who wanted to anyway.

“Beckett didn’t do anything,” I said.

“Then, what’s the problem?”

“Me, dummy. I’m the problem, it’s me.”

“Then get your head out of your ass. Beckett’s a good man.”

“That’s kind of the problem.”

“Maybe your girlfriends will coddle you, but I’m not going to tolerate your fucking pity party.

I’ve known Beckett for the better part of a decade.

I’ve seen that man fall for women before, and hard.

But I’ve never seen him fall for someone like he has for you.

If you screw this up, I will have no choice but to lock you up on an insanity charge. ”

“That’s harsh.”

“Did you think I was a soft kind of guy?”

“Maybe somewhere deep down in there.”

“If you won’t do it for you, do it for me. I’m getting tired of his ass moping around.” Luke scratched Husker on the head, pushed to his feet, and headed for the door. Hand on the doorknob, he looked back and said, “Take a damn shower first.”