Chapter 42 : Falling

Cat POV When I woke up, I found my cheek pressed to Luke's chest and his arm firmly around my shoulders. I sighed and threw my arm and leg over him, not ready to leave the comfort of his embrace. Luke smirked, his eyes closed, and tightened his arm around me "Did I wake you?" I asked, apologetically. "No. I've been listening to you breathe and thinking of how to prolong this moment," Luke admitted. My cheeks heated, and I buried my face in his chest. I kept my eyes closed, and Luke and I both pretended to be asleep for a little longer. Like him, I didn't want to leave the moment. Eventually, we couldn't pretend to be asleep anymore, especially when I had to get up and use the bathroom. When I came back to the bedroom, Luke was still lounging naked in bed. He had his phone out, and I suspected, was looking over his emails and messages. I slid back on the bed, and he put his arm around me, still squinting at the phone screen. "Is it going to be a busy day?" I asked. "It doesn't have to be," Luke said. He darkened the phone screen and placed it on the floor. Grabbing me, Luke rolled on top of me and kissed my neck and breasts. I giggled and squirmed away from him. His hands slid down my sides, and he started tickling me. I laughed and kicked at him, struggling as he kept tickling me. "Okay, okay! Stop, please stop," I begged, panting and unable to catch my breath. Luke smirked and kissed me once more on the neck before releasing me. "Are you hungry?" he asked, reaching for his phone again. "I'm starved," I admitted, sitting up and pulling the sheet around my body. "I'll call for breakfast, then. Breakfast in bed sounds nice, doesn't it?" he asked, glancing sideways at me with a sly smile. "You don't have to rush off somewhere?" I asked. "Don't you have wedding guests to say goodbye to?" "Ehh, they are really here for my sister. I'm not expected to make an appearance," he said, shrugging with one shoulder. Luke made a call to the resort, and within a half hour, we had breakfast delivered to the cabin doorsteps. I didn't want to get up, so Luke wrapped his hips in a towel and retrieved the delivered trays. I wrapped the sheet around myself and sat up so that he could set the tray on my lap when he returned. Eggs, tropical fruit, greasy bacon, pancakes, and syrup. I was in breakfast heaven! "This is nice," I said as I finished breakfast. "It is the first time we've been able to spend a little time together instead of one of us rushing off for one reason or another." "Hmm," Luke agreed. He took a sip of coffee to clear his throat. "Are we… are we going to talk about what all this means?" I asked, setting my plate aside. I was reluctant to bring it up. The last time I'd asked, it had been the middle of a storm and Luke said it didn't have to mean more than it was. Now, it was clear we were drawn to each other, and I wanted to know what that meant to Luke. "What do you want it to mean?" Luke asked, arching an eyebrow at me. I shrugged. "Your father seems to think we're… having a relationship." "Oh, that was him just trying to get a reaction out of me. I doubt he truly suspects anything," Luke offered. He propped himself up on the pillows, and he reached an arm out to me. I moved across the bed and tucked myself into the crook of his arm. Pressing my palm to his chest, I felt his heart thumping steadily against my palm. "Would it bother you if anyone found out?" I asked, testing the waters. Luke sighed. "Not in the slightest. Though, it would raise a lot of questions that might be harder to answer while we have a project to work on." "Are you saying we should keep things professional?" I asked, shifting so I could look at his face. Luke's mouth was curved down in a slight frown. Before he could respond, a loud buzzing sound roared by overhead. Starting, I sat bolt upright. Luke laughed and grabbed me, pulling me down to him again. "It is just the planes taking off. The ocean is so calm right now, the waves don't mask the engine sounds." "Must be the wedding guests heading home. When are Fiona and Aaron taking off?" I asked casually. "I'm sure Fiona is itching to go on her honeymoon," Luke said. He moved his hand to my head and slipped his fingers through my hair. Sighing, I let myself relax against him again. I couldn't remember when I'd had such a relaxing, stress-free morning. It finally felt like all the craziness was behind me now. "I think, for the time being, it would be best to keep this private. That doesn't mean I want to stop this. I do really like you, and I definitely like all this," he said, chuckling as he slipped his hand over my breast. I rolled my eyes and shrugged his hand away. "You're probably right. You've only just revealed that you and Victoria aren't together and I am an employee. If people find out about us so soon after that, there would be talk of me sleeping with the boss to advance my career," I agreed. "That is true," Luke agreed, nodding. "Work, the projects, and the reputation of your firm come first," I added. Luke smiled and kissed the top of my head. "And that is why I think we will work very well together." We lounged about a little longer, just enjoying each other's company and the peaceful morning with an ocean breeze blowing through the bedroom windows. "So, are we a couple now?" I asked slowly. Luke laughed and tilted his head back on the pillows. He tightened his arm around me and turned to me, kissing the top of my head. "I don't know if you want to throw a label on it, but I'd like to think that we are exclusive and together," he grumbled softly. "Is that what you want?" "This means something to me, and I want to make sure it means something to you before we go any further," I said. I had a lot of friends in college that had "friends with benefits" relationships or had casual sex with several people. Aaron and I had gotten together young and had a very serious relationship. I couldn't imagine myself being in a casual relationship, so I wanted to make sure Luke wanted more, even if I still couldn't quite believe someone so perfect could want me. "It means something to me, too," he assured, kissing my forehead. I smiled and leaned into his touch. Our magical morning was broken with a sharp knock on the door. Startled,, I instinctively grabbed the sheet and tucked it around me. "Cat, are you in there!?" Jason's voice called. My whole face flushed as I heard him open the door. "You didn't lock the door after getting breakfast?" I hissed to Luke. Jumping out of bed, I raced to the closet and threw on a pair of jean shorts and a T-shirt. It was all I had time to put on. "Why is Jason comfortable with just walking into your cabin?" Luke asked gruffly. He was digging through the blankets looking for something… probably his underwear. "That is just not the point!" I said sharply. Luke grinned. "Go stall him while I get dressed." "Yeah, yeah," I said, tossing a wave over my shoulder. Jason was in the kitchen when I came out of the bedroom. I knew my face was still flushed, and my hair was a complete mess. "Are you still sleeping? Cat, it is noon," Jason teased, sticking his tongue out at me. "Yeah, sorry, late morning," I said. I ruffled my hair and tried to smooth some of it out. "Everything okay?" he asked, looking me over. "I just wasn't expecting company so early," I said. I tapped my fingers on the counter. Suddenly, Luke appeared from the bedroom. His shirt wasn't buttoned, and he was carrying his shoes. Jason stared at Luke, then shifted his eyes to me. "I'll catch up with the two of you later," Luke said. He saluted Jason and shuffled out of the cabin before anyone could say anything else. I pressed my palm to my forehead. Of course, Luke left me to deal with this awkward situation. What was I supposed to say to Jason? Jason's lips tightened, and he cast his eyes down. He looked like I'd just shoved a knife in his heart. "Is something going on today?" I asked, changing the subject. "The photographer that is documenting the project wants to start getting pictures this afternoon. You'll probably want to put on something more… business-like," he said, eyeing my rushed outfit. "Oh. I forgot that was happening today," I said. "I'll bet," Jason grumbled. "Where are we meeting the photographer?" I asked. "We'll be meeting at the project site. If you want, I can rent a car, and we can drive over together," he offered, a hopeful gleam in his eye and a hesitant smile on his lips. "Yeah, that sounds good," I said, nodding. My stomach twisted uncomfortably. I appreciated Jason as a friend, but I hadn't realized he hoped for more until I saw that hurt look in his eyes. I imagined there were a lot of suspicions he had about things between me and Luke, but he had no proof of anything. For all he knew, Luke got drunk at the wedding, and I brought him here to crash. I could have slept on the couch. It wasn't like Jason hadn't slept on my couch at one point. "All right, I will see you later, then," Jason said a little bitterly. He left me alone, and I immediately went to the couch and flopped down. This could get out of control so fast! One single rumor could ruin this entire project. I didn't know Jason well enough to know if he would start rumors out of spite, because he felt rejected by me or something. Any sarcastic comment he made could be taken the wrong way. All morning, I had finally felt like things were settling down, and now it could potentially all blow up again. I threw an arm over my eyes and groaned. If this was a problem, Luke and I might have to put things on hold again. But I wasn't sure I wanted to do that. I was really falling for him, especially now that we'd actually spent some time together in a casual, playful setting. I didn't want to give up my job or whatever was happening with Luke.