“Um. Luke?”

Luke blinked up at Willa. “What?”

She slid a full cocktail glass back across the bar. “I asked for a gin and tonic. Customer said this tastes like vodka.”

Damn. His third mistake of the afternoon. When it came to mixing drinks, Luke never made mistakes.

“You okay?” Willa asked as he poured a new drink. “You seem a little, um, distracted.”

Willa was new in town. She was sweet and pretty and she’d needed a job. In the past, Luke would have flirted with her and probably dated her within the first couple of weeks that he’d hired her. She’d been employed at the Shack for two months now and he hadn’t even made a casual pass.

Chloe had nailed it. Luke was off his game. And now because of one spontaneous, bonehead hookup, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get back in the game. Yes, he wanted to play some part in his child’s life. But how the hell could he go on with his own life—casually dating a string of women, hanging out with his sports buddies, working long and late hours at the Shack—with his son or daughter, and Rae, for Christ’s sake, living right here in Sugar Creek? Like he wanted his kid to think he was a skirt-sniffing, absentee dad! On the other hand he didn’t like the thought of them living in another state or, God forbid, overseas—out of sight, out of reach.

“Luke?”

He blinked back to Willa. “Yeah.” He garnished the glass with a wedge of lime. “Here you go, hon. Sorry. Tell your guy it’s on the house.”

She nodded and moved away.

It wasn’t even Happy Hour yet and the Shack was already crowded. Though a small town, Sugar Creek had a bustling tourist contingent. Especially in the summer and winter. When Luke had invested in the Sugar Shack he’d wanted to offer more than greasy burgers and wings. He’d hired a gourmet chef, which had proven a brilliant move. A cozy atmosphere, stellar menu, widely stocked bar, and friendly personnel made the Sugar Shack a local hot spot.

Luke loved this pub. But right now he could feel the walls closing in.

Since his longtime, number two bartender had just showed up, Luke considered stepping out. Maybe a brisk walk would clear his head. But then one of his several cousins came strolling in, shaking off a dusting of fresh snow and heading straight for Luke.

Sam.

Well, hell.

“Talk to you a minute?” he asked while nodding toward Luke’s office.

Privacy. Right. “Sure.” Yeah, boy. Why did he get the feeling his day was about to go from bad to worse?

“Given the way this town works,” Sam said as soon as they were behind closed doors. “I’m guessing you’ve heard Rae’s in town.”

Luke dropped into his worn desk chair feigning nonchalance. “She stopped by a while ago. Wanted to clear the air.”

“How’d that go?”

“Fine.”

“Did she tell you why she’s in town?”

Luke bit the inside of his cheek, shrugged. “Something about saving Sugar Tots and the Cupcake Lover book deal.”

Instead of sitting, Sam leaned back against the door and folded his arms over his chest. It was a dominant stance, not that Luke was intimidated. Although maybe he should be. Sam had six years on him, some bulk, and several years of combat duty. Luke had been on the business end of Sam’s fist back in October and, hell yes, he’d seen stars. Still, the fact that his older cousin seemed to be settling in for some sort of lecture chafed.

“Depending on what all’s involved,” Sam went on, “Rae could be in town for a while.”

“So?”

“I think you should drop out of the Cupcake Lovers.”

Luke frowned. “Why?”

“Because Rae plans to get involved with the club again.”

“So?”

Sam raised one brow looking at Luke like he was dense. “You don’t think it might prove awkward, the three of us being in on those meetings?”

“What, because of that kiss you walked in on?” Luke stood now and rounded his desk, perched on the corner and matched Sam’s stance. “I explained about that.”

“So you don’t have any feelings for Rae.”

Luke didn’t know how he felt about Rae, but he was getting pretty ticked at Sam. “This your way of telling me you’re going to pursue her?”

Sam angled his head, a contrary gleam in his eye. “You’re the one who told me not to give up.”

“That was before—”

“Before what?”

Before she was carrying my baby. Except he couldn’t say that. He’d promised Rae. Well, technically he hadn’t promised. But she’d asked him not to tell yet for reasons that were sound. Plus, he hadn’t worked out in his head how he wanted to handle things between them. Dammit.

“Before when she was Rachel,” Luke backpedaled. “She’s not who you fell for, Sam.”

“Money doesn’t change who she is on the inside.”

“She’s the most secretive woman I’ve ever known,” Luke said. “How could you possibly know…” Rae had mentioned recent phone calls with Sam. Luke burned wondering if she’d struck up an intimate relationship with the man. Sam was grounded, successful. An experienced and kick-ass dad. “Did Rae confide in you? Offer details explaining why she lied to us for a freaking year?”

Sam pushed off the door. “Quit the Cupcake Lovers, Luke.”

“You’re the one who told me to get a hobby.”

“Your baking skills suck.”

“Maybe they’ll get better.”

“Maybe you should take up bowling.”

It was the exact wrong thing to say.

Luke sat stone silent as Sam left the room. He knew two things in the wake of his cousin’s hit-and-run throwdown. He had no intention of quitting the Cupcake Lovers and he’d be damned if he’d sit still while Sam initiated some strategic attack aimed at winning Rae’s heart. Not that Luke wanted to win her heart, although maybe he did. It would help if he knew her a better. Hell, it would help if he knew her at all.

Luke shoved off his desk and nabbed his jacket. Knowing Sam, he’d take things slow, which allowed Luke plenty of time to get a jump start. He still didn’t have a handle on his feelings or a clue as to how to approach the future, but he damn well wanted a chance to get to know the mother of his child before some other man swept her off her feet.

NINE

Rae had never been a fan of unwanted attention. Unfortunately, it came with the territory when you were the daughter of Olivia Deveraux. It didn’t matter that Olivia hadn’t landed a decent acting gig in two decades. She’d enjoyed a spurt of fame in her early twenties and had been riding that wave ever since, somehow managing to appear in the tabloids time and again.

So naturally the citizens of Sugar Creek were curious about the famous sex kitten’s daughter. Naturally they stared and whispered as Rae went about her business, navigating town in order to meet with a few local businessmen. What made matters more intense was the fact that Rae knew most of the locals, only she’d known them as shy, mousy Rachel Lacey. No one asked, but she knew they all wondered. Why had she pretended to be someone she wasn’t? Why had she come back? How long did she plan to stay? Embellished with the usual curiosity attached to her infamous mother …

What was it like growing up as the daughter of Olivia Deveraux? Did Rae also hobnob with celebrities? Had she ever been on the red carpet? Did she know George Clooney or Ryan Gosling or Leonardo DiCaprio? Had she ever dated a Hollywood hunk? And on the subject of her inheritance …

Just how much was she really worth?

Honestly, Rae was surprised no one had questioned her outright. Then again maybe they were too shell-shocked by her return. Or maybe they felt bitter like Luke, too angry about her deception to broach the subject.

By the time Rae got back to the Pine and Periwinkle, all she wanted was a relaxing bath and a fortifying meal. Unfortunately, she only had time to freshen up. After leaving Luke at the Shack, she’d visited the real estate agent connected with the building that housed, or used to house, Sugar Tots. She’d visited the bank that held the mortgage and had spoken to her high-powered lawyer based in L.A. She had one last but very important appointment. A six p.m. meeting with the president of the Cupcake Lovers, Luke’s only sister, Rocky Monroe. The prospect was daunting. Although Rae had never been close friends with Rocky, they’d most certainly been friendly acquaintances.

And Rae had deceived her, along with everyone else in town.

Most especially Rae dreaded facing those she’d spent the most time with—the Cupcake Lovers. Although she supposed since she’d survived the confrontation with Luke, she could survive anything.

After splashing her face and reapplying her makeup, Rae finger-combed her choppy hair and changed into a sparkly cashmere sweater combo and knee-high boots with a heel. A little flashy, but she wanted to impress upon Rocky that she could look the part of a celebrity. An angle Rae hoped would work to the advantage of the Cupcake Lovers. It didn’t matter that she didn’t feel comfortable in the skin of a socialite. She was doing this for the friends she’d wronged. She’d just have to dig deep, drawing on years of watching Olivia in action. Although hopefully Rae would be able to flaunt her wealthy status with grace.

She grabbed her coat and purse and left her room, rehearsing her pitch to Rocky as she rode the elevator down to the lobby. She was deep in thought as she made her way to the elegant pine carriage doors, gasping when someone stepped into her path.

Luke.

“Can I speak with you?” He noted the crowd of seasonal guests drinking hot beverages around the stone hearth. “In private?”

Rae blinked, stunned and unsettled by his presence. She honestly thought it would take him a day or two to seek her out. Not a measly few hours. “I have an appointment,” she blurted, trying desperately not to admire his handsome face or to fantasize about the amazing physique beneath his coat. Talk about shallow.

“I only need a minute.”

She glanced at her watch. “I can’t. I need to catch a cab and—”

“I’ll drive you. We can talk in the car.”

He took her coat and held it open, pushing his agenda. She didn’t have the energy to argue and besides she was curious. Had he already made his decision? Did he want her to stay in Sugar Creek? Leave Sugar Creek? Did he intend to fight her for custody? Could he? She hadn’t thought of that.

Mind racing, Rae slid her arms through the puffy sleeves. Luke even helped with the zipper. Unnecessary and unnerving. His touch was gentle and deliberate, so unlike his impassioned grappling during their wham-bam coupling. Yet Rae’s heart pounded just as fiercely and her stomach flipped with the same intense lust. She tempered her breathing and cursed the orgasmic sensations firing throughout her body while Luke cupped her elbow and guided her outside. How could she be so turned on by a guy who was so miserably her mismatch? A guy who’d treated her with contempt since learning her true identity? She cursed herself a thousand times over as Luke escorted her to his car, although it wasn’t one she recognized.

“New?” she asked.

“Women shop for clothes when they’re bored,” Luke said. “With men, it’s vehicles or sports equipment. I also have a new set of snow skis.”

Rae almost smiled at that. Was Luke trying to strike a truce by sharing something personal? He’d been bored. That seemed unusual for a man who had dozens of friends and maintained close contact with his family. From all she’d seen and heard, Luke was always on the go, always involved with one or another social event. Always juggling multiple girlfriends. He also put in more than forty hours a week at the Sugar Shack. His life was full. How could he be bored?

Filing away the notion, Rae acknowledged another surge of heat as Luke helped her up into the dark blue Honda SUV. She was surprised by the brand. Most locals bought American. She was also surprised to see an iPod connected to an USB audio interface. Luke wasn’t much of a gadget guy. “Stocked with your playlist?”

“Audiobooks. Prefer listening to reading.” Stone-faced he closed the door and rounded the hood.

Rae’s chest tightened. They’d yet to address his reading disorder. She knew he was touchy about it. Most anyone afflicted was. She also knew he suspected she knew but she was determined to allow him to be the one to broach the subject. The last thing she wanted was to make him feel self-conscious or judged.

“Here’s the thing,” Luke said after climbing in and buckling up.