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it safe, then.”
    He frowned. “You weren’t playing it safe a moment ago.”
    The urge to kiss the living daylights out of him came surging back. She stepped backward, digging her nails into her palms. “Luke, you know I’m right.”
    His frown deepened. “Damn. I didn’t even get to kiss you on the mouth.”
    Oh boy, how much more temptation could she resist? “That—that’s what happens when you take the scenic route.”
    “Huh.” He eyed her up and down, and a grin stole over his face. “Next time, I’m taking the expressway.”
    The heat in his stare made Tyler swallow. All he’d have to do was follow the sizzle streaking down her body to reach his destination. “I’m not sure there’ll be a next time.”
    He wound his fingers through her hair once more. “If there’s any justice in the world, there’ll be a next time.” He brushed his thumb against her lower lip, sending a hum through her entire mouth. “Good night, Tyler. Thanks for dinner…and everything.”
    “Good night,” she replied, her voice husky.
    He moved past her and left the house quickly, shutting the door behind him without a sound.

Chapter Four
    On Saturday morning, Luke got a call from his eldest sister. “We’re coming over,” Helen said, and she hung up before he could protest.
    “We” turned out to be all four sisters plus four nieces and one nephew. One minute his house was quiet, serene, and uncluttered—the next, it was a madhouse. The kids hugged him, shouted out their news, then made a beeline for the swimming pool, while his sisters ferried containers of food from their vehicles to the kitchen. Soon the counters were jammed with every conceivable foodstuff.
    “We brought lunch,” Helen said, as if it needed explaining.
    “Are you inviting the whole town over?” Luke asked.
    “You can keep the leftovers for next week.”
    “I do know how to cook,” he protested.
    Karly, the second eldest, poked her head in the fridge and sniffed. “All you’ve got in here are eggs, milk, and bacon. That’s just breakfast, not proper food.” She shut the fridge and shook her head. “I bet you haven’t had a decent meal since you got here.”
    He’d had paella. That meal had almost turned out in decent. Instantly he pushed the thought away.
    Rosie and Mags, his nonidentical twin sisters, bustled in with cake and watermelon.
    “Oh, I love the airiness in this house,” Rosie said.
    Mags nodded. “Very Zen, Luke. Do you meditate in your rock garden every morning?”
    “It’s like a museum in here.” Helen wrinkled her nose. “So empty and quiet.” She aimed an accusing look at Luke. “I still don’t see what this place has over Mum’s. It was quiet there. You weren’t being disturbed.”
    Helen was wrong. If any place was like a museum, that would be Mum’s. How could he write when he was surrounded by exhibits trumpeting the success of a book he’d written for all the wrong reasons? He was a fraud, and the worst thing was only he seemed to know that, while everyone else insisted on the opposite. It was like living in Bizarro World.
    But he couldn’t explain himself to his sisters, least of all Helen. She knew more than most the sacrifices their mother had made for him. How could he turn around now and say it was all for nothing?
    “I needed a change of scenery,” he said. “You know I can’t stay too long in one place.”
    Helen pursed her lips. Karly folded her arms. The twins cocked their heads. When his sisters were all lined up like they were now, the similarities in their looks were striking. All four women had inherited their mother’s petite build, freckled skin, and wispy, light brown hair. In contrast, he was tall and broad-shouldered, olive-skinned, hair and eyes practically black. From the family photo albums he knew he took after his father, who had deserted them when Luke was eight. Patrick Maguire was another man who couldn’t stay too long in one place. Luke hated to think what else