Modern Romance May 2016 Books 1-4. Julia James

to ditch in southern Afghanistan,’ he said shortly. ‘Felix was hurt, and I dragged him out of the aircraft.’

      ‘Was it on fire?’

      Luke’s mouth turned down. ‘Don’t make me out to be a hero, Abby.’

      Abby stared at him. ‘But you can fly a helicopter?’

      Luke shook his head. ‘Let’s talk about something else.’ He paused. ‘Do your parents live near Ashford?’

      ‘No.’ Abby hesitated. Then she said, ‘My father was killed in a car accident when I was five, and my mother died—a few years ago.’

      ‘I’m sorry.’ Luke sounded as if he meant it. There was a moment’s silence, then he picked up the menu the waitress had left. ‘So—what would you like to eat?’

      It was difficult to choose, but Abby finally settled on avocado and prosciutto, followed by sea bass, with a scallop and butter sauce. When the waitress returned with their drinks, Luke gave the order, barely glancing at the menu before ordering the avocado, too, and a steak.

      Once again, there was silence for a few minutes, and then Abby, who had been tasting her wine, said, ‘How about you? You said your father lives in Bath, but you didn’t mention your mother.’

      ‘That’s because my mother doesn’t live with us,’ replied Luke tersely. ‘She walked out when I was ten years old. My father’s not a poor man, but my mother found herself a man with more money than he had.’

      ‘So do you see her now?’

      ‘No.’ Luke clearly didn’t want to talk about it. ‘The last I heard, she was on her fourth husband. I don’t know where the hell she is and I don’t particularly care.’

      Abby suspected he did care as she absorbed his words.

      She hesitated and then ventured daringly, ‘Is that why you’ve never married?’

      The vehemence of his response startled her. ‘I’ve been married, Abby,’ he said bitterly. ‘As a matter of fact, I married the girl I’d been going out with before you came on the scene.’

      ‘Ah.’ Now it was Abby’s turn to be confused. She pressed her lips together before saying challengingly, ‘So you weren’t free when we met either.’

      Luke’s expression darkened. ‘Oh, I was free, Abby. I didn’t do commitment. Anyone could have told you that.’

      ‘Then—’

      ‘But I was stupid enough to think that you were as innocent as you looked.’ He snorted. ‘And then, guess what? I found out you weren’t.’

      Abby didn’t say anything and after a few moments he went on, ‘The marriage didn’t last. Like I said, I don’t do commitment. But Sonia didn’t suffer by it. I’m pretty sure she’d checked out my bank balance before she accepted my ring.’

      Abby shook her head. ‘You’re very cynical.’

      ‘Do you blame me? I guess you’re going to tell me that you’re not.’

      ‘I hope I’m not,’ said Abby at once. ‘And I probably have more reason to be so than you.’

      Luke regarded her scornfully. ‘I’m sure you believe you can justify what you did. Forgive me, if I don’t shed any tears on your behalf.’

      Abby pressed her lips together. She was tempted to walk out of the restaurant at that moment, but the waitress returned with their food and she felt obliged to stay in her seat.

      Instead, she had to content herself with glaring at him until the woman had gone. Then she said grimly, ‘Do you really think I’ll stay and eat with you after that?’

      Luke sighed. ‘I’m not going to apologise for what I said.’

      ‘I wouldn’t expect you to.’ She paused. ‘I’ll get a taxi to take me home.’

      But when she would have got up from her seat, Luke put out a hand and restrained her.

      ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I shouldn’t have brought up all that old stuff now. But you started it, asking about my mother. She almost ruined my father’s life.’

      Abby’s tongue appeared to moisten her lips. ‘And that’s your excuse?’

      ‘Yeah.’

      ‘Are you implying that I almost ruined your life?’

      He looked taken aback at that. ‘Uh, no,’ he muttered unwillingly. Then his hand tightened on her wrist and Abby felt the undeniable rush of awareness. ‘Don’t go,’ he said huskily, and heat like liquid fire ran through her blood. ‘Whatever happened in the past, I still want you.’

      Abby looked down at the lean brown hand gripping her wrist and felt her stomach tighten. It was useless to pretend she didn’t want him, too.

      But want and need were two very different bedfellows. An appalling pun, she acknowledged, but this time she intended to keep her head.

      Withdrawing her wrist with an effort, she said quietly, ‘What do you expect me to do, Luke?’

      ‘Stay,’ he said at once. ‘If I promise to behave, we could try and enjoy the evening. The food smells good, you must admit, and, despite words to the contrary, I do enjoy your company.’

      ‘Do you?’

      His eyes consumed her. ‘You know I do.’

      Abby expelled an uneven breath. ‘All right,’ she said, almost convinced she was going to regret this. ‘It would be a shame to waste the food.’

      ‘Your magnanimity is overwhelming,’ he said drily, and then raised a hand, palm towards her, when she looked as if she was about to protest again. ‘Eat. And drink your wine. What is it they say? Alcohol has charms to soothe the savage beast?’

      ‘I think that was music,’ said Abby, unable to deny a small smile. ‘But I must admit, this wine is really delicious.’

      After such a contentious beginning, surprisingly the hours they stayed at the pub were some of the most enjoyable Abby had ever spent.

      When he wasn’t being provocative or sarcastic, Luke was really good company. But she’d known that, she mused, remembering the first night she’d met him at the wine bar.

      She could have loved him, she thought rather wistfully; would have divorced her abusive husband in a heartbeat, if her mother’s circumstances hadn’t been so grave.

      Felix drove them back to Ashford-St-James soon after ten o’clock. Abby had confessed she had to be up by five a.m. the next morning, to get to the wholesalers to pick up supplies. And when she added that she had to prepare the scones and muffins, and set the coffee machine in operation before she opened the café at seven-thirty, Luke understood her desire not to be out too late.

      However, when they got back to her apartment, she felt obliged to invite him in for coffee. They hadn’t waited to have coffee at the restaurant, and she knew it was the least she could do after such a delicious meal.

      ‘Felix, too, if you like,’ she added, half hoping the chauffeur would join them.

      But Felix demurred, saying he was going for a late supper at a fast-food establishment. And Luke said he would ring him again when he was ready to leave.

      Abby was glad of Harley to provide a distraction when they got into the apartment. The retriever was eager to greet their visitor, and he threaded his way around Luke’s legs, uttering little woofs of pleasure.

      Meanwhile, Abby went into the kitchen and set the water running through the filter. It would have been easier to make instant, but it didn’t smell half so nice.

      Only belatedly did she become aware that Luke had come into the kitchen, too, and was now standing, hips propped against one of the units. He’d loosened his tie and unfastened