you won’t like.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Butterflies danced in her stomach at the heat in Lukas’ stare. Arousal grew in her core, but she was surprised to find herself a little scared to act on it. Lukas leaned toward her, bracing his hands on the arms of the sofa, his lips hovering so close, only a deep breath would connect them. Before he could kiss her, her stomach churned, gurgling loudly between them. Lukas’ face broke into a wide grin.
He stood, holding out one hand. “We’ve done enough talking for one day. Probably two. Let’s get something to eat.”
She couldn’t suppress a giggle. Suddenly, she felt lighter. Decision made, the time for debating was over. “What does Chez Lukas serve at this hour?”
“With ten teenagers in close proximity? Anything you can think of.”
Aria allowed him to pull her up. She stopped to slip her shoes on, and when she looked up again, he was watching her. “What?”
“Why do you do that? I can remember a time when you hated shoes.”
“I still hate shoes.” She glanced down at her worn-out sneakers. “After spending so long on the move, it’s hard to leave them sitting somewhere.”
He tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow with a heavy sigh, and kissed her lightly. “We’ll have to work to rid you of that habit. It makes me think you’re getting ready to run from me.”
Chapter Seven
Aria patted his arm as they left the room, walking back the way they came. Once in the kitchen, she noticed it was remarkably cleared of any sign of Steven. The table gone, the floors scrubbed clean.
“They work fast around here.” Her words came out strangled as she fought a new wave of worry over the teenager.
Lukas dropped a kiss on her head. “He’ll be okay. Don’t worry.” He released her to open the refrigerator door. “What are you in the mood for? I can make a mean sandwich.”
“You don’t need to do that.” A cheerful voice piped up from the other end of the room and a tiny woman flew past them with a brown paper bag. “Thaddeus called and told me about the newest addition. It is so nice to meet you. My name is Angelina, but you can call me Ella. I brought a couple different things, since I wasn’t sure what you liked. There’s chicken and broccoli, Mongolian beef, and then moo goo gai pan for Lukas.”
Ella paused for breath only when the two of them obediently sat down at the breakfast nook. The smell of Chinese food teased Aria’s nose. Lukas rummaged through the bag on the table, pulling out the boxes and grimacing when his large hands emerged with two sets of chopsticks. Aria stifled a laugh, remembering the last time he’d attempted to use those.
He’d ended up wearing more than he ate. Apparently, he remembered as well. He slid the offending items to her. “I’m too hungry to try those, again. They’re all yours.”
Aria laughed and shook her head.
Ella returned and slid two bowls and forks in front of them. She leaned over and gave a conspiratorial wink. “So, you already know Lukas can’t hold a set of chopsticks to save his life?” She continued after Aria’s nod. “I figured as much. That’s why I brought forks. I didn’t think you wanted to wait until he learned to use them!”
Aria couldn’t help the laugh that burst from her.
“I’m talking too much, aren’t I?” Ella asked with a wry smile.
Aria waved her hand for the other woman to take a seat. “Please, I don’t mean anything by it. I’m already on overload, and you’re talking so fast I’m still two sentences behind you. And I love chicken and broccoli.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Ella hopped up, retrieving another bowl and fork and filled her bowl from the take-out containers. With one foot, she nudged a shopping bag across the floor to Aria. “I also took the liberty of getting you a few under things. I figured you could wear some of Lukas’ old clothes to sleep in, but borrowed under things…icky. They
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Butterflies danced in her stomach at the heat in Lukas’ stare. Arousal grew in her core, but she was surprised to find herself a little scared to act on it. Lukas leaned toward her, bracing his hands on the arms of the sofa, his lips hovering so close, only a deep breath would connect them. Before he could kiss her, her stomach churned, gurgling loudly between them. Lukas’ face broke into a wide grin.
He stood, holding out one hand. “We’ve done enough talking for one day. Probably two. Let’s get something to eat.”
She couldn’t suppress a giggle. Suddenly, she felt lighter. Decision made, the time for debating was over. “What does Chez Lukas serve at this hour?”
“With ten teenagers in close proximity? Anything you can think of.”
Aria allowed him to pull her up. She stopped to slip her shoes on, and when she looked up again, he was watching her. “What?”
“Why do you do that? I can remember a time when you hated shoes.”
“I still hate shoes.” She glanced down at her worn-out sneakers. “After spending so long on the move, it’s hard to leave them sitting somewhere.”
He tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow with a heavy sigh, and kissed her lightly. “We’ll have to work to rid you of that habit. It makes me think you’re getting ready to run from me.”
Chapter Seven
Aria patted his arm as they left the room, walking back the way they came. Once in the kitchen, she noticed it was remarkably cleared of any sign of Steven. The table gone, the floors scrubbed clean.
“They work fast around here.” Her words came out strangled as she fought a new wave of worry over the teenager.
Lukas dropped a kiss on her head. “He’ll be okay. Don’t worry.” He released her to open the refrigerator door. “What are you in the mood for? I can make a mean sandwich.”
“You don’t need to do that.” A cheerful voice piped up from the other end of the room and a tiny woman flew past them with a brown paper bag. “Thaddeus called and told me about the newest addition. It is so nice to meet you. My name is Angelina, but you can call me Ella. I brought a couple different things, since I wasn’t sure what you liked. There’s chicken and broccoli, Mongolian beef, and then moo goo gai pan for Lukas.”
Ella paused for breath only when the two of them obediently sat down at the breakfast nook. The smell of Chinese food teased Aria’s nose. Lukas rummaged through the bag on the table, pulling out the boxes and grimacing when his large hands emerged with two sets of chopsticks. Aria stifled a laugh, remembering the last time he’d attempted to use those.
He’d ended up wearing more than he ate. Apparently, he remembered as well. He slid the offending items to her. “I’m too hungry to try those, again. They’re all yours.”
Aria laughed and shook her head.
Ella returned and slid two bowls and forks in front of them. She leaned over and gave a conspiratorial wink. “So, you already know Lukas can’t hold a set of chopsticks to save his life?” She continued after Aria’s nod. “I figured as much. That’s why I brought forks. I didn’t think you wanted to wait until he learned to use them!”
Aria couldn’t help the laugh that burst from her.
“I’m talking too much, aren’t I?” Ella asked with a wry smile.
Aria waved her hand for the other woman to take a seat. “Please, I don’t mean anything by it. I’m already on overload, and you’re talking so fast I’m still two sentences behind you. And I love chicken and broccoli.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Ella hopped up, retrieving another bowl and fork and filled her bowl from the take-out containers. With one foot, she nudged a shopping bag across the floor to Aria. “I also took the liberty of getting you a few under things. I figured you could wear some of Lukas’ old clothes to sleep in, but borrowed under things…icky. They
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