But work did exist and he was proving that. She wanted to take that phone away...she wanted to focus back on them. But Luke had been away from work for four days now and, clearly, he couldn’t take it anymore.
“That’s great,” she told him, forcing a smile. “I’m glad you came up with a solution that will work.”
“Do you really think it will?” he asked.
That was one other thing about him. He always valued her opinion and seriously wanted her input on each phase of anything he worked on at Wingate.
“If we can get guests to feel like us, then I think our hotels will skyrocket with bookings. You would have to think of not only the rooms and how that is laid out, but also the staff. You would need the couples to feel like they are one-on-one with a particular staff member. For instance, they need to be on a first name basis and know they can call upon one of our employees for anything at any time.”
Her mind started working even though that was the last thing she wanted. But she couldn’t help herself. Maybe a little of Luke rubbed off on her.
“Privacy will be the key to any couples’ retreat,” she added. “You want them to feel like they are living in a dream.”
Luke stepped forward, set his phone on the patio table and slid his hands around her hips. He glided those talented fingers up into the dip in her waist and higher until he reached the top of her dress where it stopped just at the swell of her breasts.
“Is that what you feel like?” he asked huskily. “Like you’re living in a dream?”
Kelly pulled in a deep breath as arousal coursed through her. The man had barely touched her, and she was ready to go up in flames. Would he always affect her this way? Would she always want him with such a fierceness that she couldn’t even describe?
“I am living a dream,” she admitted, closing her eyes to his touch.
Luke peeled the dress down over her chest, leaving her bare to the warm, evening breeze.
“You’re so damn sexy, Kel.”
He’d never called her by a nickname before and, now that he had, she couldn’t help but wonder if they’d reached a deeper level of intimacy.
His thumbs raked over her nipples and she wished he’d tear this dress off of her...who cared that she’d just bought it. Having Luke lose his control and have his way with her would be worth it.
His cell vibrated on the table and she nearly cursed.
“Leave it,” she begged.
He hesitated for a split second and she thought for sure he was going to reach for it, but he ended up lifting her into his arms and walking inside.
“I have more important things to tend to,” he told her. “Work can wait.”
Her heart leapt with joy. She’d never seen him put work on hold for anything and now he was putting it on hold for her...for them. Maybe Luke had changed over the course of this trip.
He carried her into his room and sat her down at the foot of the bed. She’d gotten wet from his trunks and bare skin, but she didn’t care. A man who looked like Luke should never be clothed. Kelly could stare at him all day long and never tire of it.
Her hand went to his side, where she saw the tail of the dragon tattoo.
“What’s this about?” she asked.
“Strength. After my parents died and Ava took Zeke and me in, I vowed to remain strong no matter what. I vowed that I would take care of my family, my friends and never let anyone fall.”
Which was why he was so damn protective of Wingate. She understood his burning need to save the company, but he couldn’t keep carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“I never thought a tattoo could be such a turn-on,” she murmured, tracing her finger along the point of the tail and back up the other side.
His body trembled beneath her touch and he kept those dark eyes locked onto her.
“What am I going to do with you?”
She smiled. “You keep asking that. When are you going to figure it out for yourself?”
In lieu of an answer, Luke dipped his head and captured one breast. Kelly’s head dropped back as she closed her eyes and slid her hands through his hair to hold on.