There was a brief moment of perceptible tension between the two men, and Joey remembered what Maggie had told her. These two knew each other—and clearly knew each other well. Collier wasn’t like the other townsfolk, who seemed reluctant to deal with Luke at all. And, unlike the others, Allan Collier stood his ground.
“Sit down, boy. Don’t just stand there The food’ll get cold, and it’s much too good to waste.” Collier dropped his gaze back to his plate and began to eat. Joey watched Luke stiffen at the word “boy”—and suddenly succumb to the doctor’s eminently unruffled good sense. He slipped into his chair noiselessly and pinned Joey with a stare that she interpreted as disapproval—and something more ambiguous. She smiled back sweetly.
Just as Joey began to resent the long silence, Luke seemed to relax. He leaned back in his chair, one of his booted feet touched Joey’s under the table “Sorry I’m late,” he said softly, all the threatening tension gone in an instant. “I didn’t realize you knew Allan. It’s always a pleasure to see you too, Doctor.”
His unnerving golden stare did not seem to break the older man’s concentration on his food, which he consumed with every evidence of enjoyment. The doctor swallowed and took a sip of wine.
“Have you ever had Mexican food, Luke? Considering how seldom you usually come to town, you should take advantage of the opportunity.” He seemed to emphasize certain words in a way Joey couldn’t quite interpret, there was definitely an undercurrent here. She took an experimental mouthful of enchilada, hardly tasting it.
“It’s very good,” she put in quickly Luke’s gaze shifted back to her. She leveled her best and brightest grin at the doctor and caught Luke’s reaction out of the corner of her eye. Surely that quickly suppressed frown couldn’t suggest something as simple as jealousy?
“You were right about the food here, Allan,” Joey said.
Luke’s eyes narrowed. “I see Allan’s been doing his best to make you comfortable in town, Joey,” he murmured. His sudden smile was not particularly friendly. “Like most doctors, he’s very handy with advice.”
Collier looked up from his meal. “Alas that more people don’t recognize good advice when they hear it,” he commented softly.
There was a long, humming moment of tension between the two men, but at last Collier dropped his eyes, and the moment passed. Luke lifted a fork and picked at his food in brooding silence. He examined the rice critically and let it fall back to the plate.
“If you won’t eat it, I certainly will,” Collier said jovially as he pushed away his empty plate Luke scowled and gestured, the doctor took the proffered food with a nod of thanks.
The rest of the meal alternated between periods of silence, mild verbal sparring between Luke and the doctor, and long, significant looks between her and Luke. Joey had found herself with little appetite, her unease was suddenly back in full force. She’d been prepared to flirt outrageously with Luke at dinner, but Collier’s presence seemed to inhibit both of them. Luke was subdued, more restrained with her than he’d ever been, no evidence of his predatory interest other than the intensity of his gaze.
However much Joey might have appreciated the temporary reprieve, it did not serve her purpose. She contented herself with encouraging glances at Luke, meeting his eyes as if she were delivering an unspoken promise. Had they been alone, she thought she might have touched him, she wanted to know if he would burn her.
Sooner or later she would have to find out.
When the meal ended and groups of sated diners scattered to gossip or leave for other activities, the three of them sat in subdued solitude. Luke’s gaze came to rest more and more frequently on the doctor. If looks could kill, Joey thought absurdly. Collier seemed oblivious, sipping the last of his wine with many sighs of contentment. As much as she enjoyed his company, it was clear she would make no progress with Luke in the doctor’s hindering presence.
Even so, her heart began to pound with leaden thuds as she cleared her throat and straightened in her chair. “It’s been a wonderful evening, Allan I’m glad you were able to join us.” She smiled, hoping he would take the hint graciously. At first she was certain he would ignore it, but he fixed her with a sudden, very knowing look that confirmed her earlier suspicions.