The Maverick by Carrie Alexander

Author:Carrie Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2002-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

KIKI LEFT THE HOUSE several minutes later and stopped to say hello to Luke. Oozing good cheer, she blinked big eyes at him, her mouth forming an arch three-cornered smile. “Aren’t you a honey, fixing Sophie’s car?”

“I sure am,” he agreed, giving away nothing. However friendly Kiki made herself, she was in cahoots with her husband, and by now it was clear that Heath was not to be trusted. This disillusioned Luke, since Heath had been his main family contact for so many years. Another mistake in judgment.

Kiki was thinking. Luke could almost see the various calculations spinning like pinwheels in her bright green eyes.

“I suppose you’re hoping to get a look at Joe?” she nudged.

Luke bent over the engine. One glimpse of the boy had about torn his heart out.

“Grandmother Lucas shouldn’t be pushing him on you. She doesn’t realize that you’re bound to be disappointed.”

Luke stood up so fast he almost bonked his head on the hood. “What do you know that I don’t?”

Kiki maintained her coy smile. “Enough.”

Luke scoffed. “Heath’s version.”

“Sophie’s been my friend ever since I moved to Treetop. We’ve exchanged many confidences.”

“Uh-huh.”

“She’s had a rough time of it, living down the old scandal—her association with you and the Mustangs, being a single mother. You coming back to town is…” Kiki shrugged.

Doing her no good, Luke thought, as he was supposed to. The sticking point was that, even though he suspected Heath and Kiki were trying to manipulate the situation to their own best advantage, they were right. He was causing trouble for Sophie. Distressing her.

But it was too late to retreat, now that he’d seen her again and knew about Joe. This time, he was completely aware of what he’d be giving up by quitting too fast.

“Can I give you a ride back to the ranch?” Kiki offered.

“No, thanks. I have my bike.”

“Oh.” Frowning, Kiki looked for the Harley he’d parked off to the side at the end of the short pebbled driveway. “All righty then. But you’d better finish up fast. Sophie has to go to work.”

“I’m almost done.”

Still stalling, Kiki looked over the ancient Honda hatchback with obvious distaste. “Sophie should get a new car. Something with a little style.”

“Maybe you can mention that to her, since you two are so tight.” So tight she couldn’t figure out that Sophie couldn’t afford the payments.

“Maybe!” Missing his sarcasm—or ignoring it— Kiki smiled brilliantly and walked over to her own vehicle, a red sports car that was as glossy and striking as she. Her trim little figure slipped behind the wheel. With a jaunty wave, she pulled out from her parking spot on Granite Street without checking for traffic, neatly swerving around a kid on a bike who was approaching from the opposite direction.

Luke watched until she’d zipped around the corner. He turned to find Sophie standing nearby. Her expression was solemn. Despite an instinctive leap of joy, he schooled his own features, hardening himself against further rejection.

“I’m sorry,” she said, pleading. “I had to wait until Kiki left.

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