Intrigued

6

Hayleys POV.

I woke up at eleven a.m. because I was practically free the entire week. My clients were satisfied with what's I've done for them and now I finally had some time to relax.

I walked into the kitchen and got out a big mixing bowl and a hand beater. Time to bake some chocolate cake.

After forty-five minutes the cake was cooled and I was placing the finishing touches on it with icing and chocolate shavings on the top when I heard footsteps approaching.

I turn to see Luke standing there looking gorgeous as always. His hair was messy but still elegant, he was more casually dressed in dark jeans and a white snug white shirt.

"Are you trying to become Casper?" He looked at me as he walked forward.

"Excuse me?" I asked almost getting distracted by the bulging muscles evident under that fitted shirt. Gosh, the guy was s*x on legs.

He didn't say anything but smirk and walk to me, picking up a towel that was hung on the chair. He stood close to me and began to raise the towel to my forehead and down to my chin.

He smelled so good.

"There. Now you no longer look like Casper."

I was too busy staring at him and after a few seconds he realized and just smirked more.

He cleared his throat and I snapped out of it, feeling a complete i***t.

I hated that I felt an attraction to him. Even before he left, I always felt something for him but there's his reputation and I couldn't risk looking like an i***t and approaching him and him not feeling the same.

"Kate told me to fetch you. She said she spoke to you regarding her baby shower last night." He said calmly, pretending that he did not notice that I had forgotten.

Shit.

"Err, just give me a minute okay. I just need to clean up." I quickly scooped all the dishes into the sink, got the cake onto a stand and wiped down the surface before washing my hands and grabbing my bag.

We arrived at the party supply store and he held the door open for me. I smiled as a thank you and walked in. I grabbed the pink and blue balloons along with the other required stuff that Kate told me she'd need. Luke kept quiet the entire time but I could feel his gaze burn into the back of my head but I brushed it off.

I paid for the stuff and we walked out of the store.

On the way to the car I bumped into a woman and began to apologize but when I realized who she was, my heart started beating faster.

"Well well, if it isn't the plain Jane who could not keep her guy." She spat at me with hatred in her eyes.

I saw Luke's jaw move and he was obviously so confused.

She looked at Luke from head to toe probably analyzing his marvelous features and she looked back at me.

An ugly evil smile spread across her face. "Looks like you stole someone else man candy huh? Who knew a b***h like you would actually land a something like this.

I squeezed my eyes tightly hoping that she would dissappear but unfortunately, she didn't.

"We're not a thing Ashley. He's just a family friend." I said trying to make my voice sound stable.

"The universe makes sense again. Looks like my prediction of you dying a single old had was true." She said again and I had the urge to slap her face but I didn't want to get make-up on my hands and besides she was not worth it.

Luke was about to lunge at her but I gripped his arm.

"She is not worth it," I whispered to him and he stared at me confused.

"You can't just let her say stuff like this." He sounded mad.

"I'm used to it okay," I said and walked to my side of the car and got in.

The ride to Kates house was absolutely silent and I was kind of happy for that. I needed the silence to compose my lose threads that loosened after my encounter with Ashley.

Ashley was the snob of the university and I just happened to date the one guy she really had feelings for. Adam was the only serious relationship I had but I guess it wasn't that serious considering he was actually dating her and me at the same time.

She later found out and I was really clueless about the whole thing. Until she explained and started to put the pieces together. Till this day she believes I was the one that initiated things with him.

We arrived in front of Kates house and I was about to get off when I felt a hand stopping me. I tried to ignore the way my entire body felt when I felt his hand on my arm and shrugged his arm off.

"Are.. are you alright?" He asked hesitantly.

I looked at him and his face held a tiny bit of pity which angered me. I didn't like when people looked at me like that. Like I'm some invalid that couldn't get a guy that either wanted between my legs or wanted money and it was annoying.

I looked at him in disbelief. "I don't need your pity so you can take it and shove it up where the sun doesn't shine."

With that, I opened the door, grabbed the supplies and walked to the door. I know I wasn't playing nice but I couldn't help it. It just irritated me when I received those looks.

"Hayley you're here. Just walk to the backyard, the tables have already been put up." She informed me a soft smile and I made my way to the back.

"Hello Ronald, you looked very busy," I commented at him trying to put fix the tap in the backyard.

"Hey, Hayley. Yeah, pregnant woman wants me to fix this thing that we probably won't even use but I aim to keep this maddening woman happy." He said, faking annoyance but the adoration in his voice gave him away.

"Well, you know how the saying goes, happy wife, happy life," Kate said joining in with Luke close behind her.

I smiled to myself at how cute they were.

I went on to set the tables and I had a hard time picking up the crate of plates and glasses. I cursed in my head and was about to give up.

"You know you could just swallow some of that pride of yours and ask for help." Luke's voice said coldly.

"That's because I don't need your help." I shot at him.

I decided to take a few plates at the time and set them and walk all the way back to the crate to pick up more. I knew it'll take longer but what other choice did I have?

I picked up 4 plates and glasses in my hands and walked to the closest table and set them down neatly. I turned to get another few more when I almost bumped into Luke.

"I said I didn't need your help!" I said to him through gritted teeth.

He just ignored me and stood there and I refused to move until he got away.

"You can't either do this alone or let me help you. I'm doing this for Kate, not for you. So stop being like a wild cat." His voice was so sharp it made me blink a few times.

After an agonizingly long and quiet afternoon, we were done with the table setting and the features and everything looked perfectly beautiful.

Luke went to sit in the house once I no longer needed help and a part of me felt bad because he was just being polite and I overreacted.

All the guests arrived soon after we were done with gifts in their hands. I took them and placed them on the table set up for gifts.

"Everything looks amazing Hayley. Thank you so much." Kate beamed at me as we high fived and she went to greet her guests.

I walked into the kitchen to make sure everything was in order and the buffet was well presented.

I spotted Luke speaking to Simon with Kasey in his arm. Wow, aren't they getting serious?

I needed to apologize to Luke. I made my way towards them and my hands started to get sweaty.

"Someone looks like she could use a nap," Kasey commented on my obviously exhausted self.

"That's a polite way of telling me I look like crap." I joked. From the corner of my eye, I saw Luke stiffen from my presence.

"Did you bake today?" Simon asked me guiltily.

"Nope dear brother, the elves did," I said sarcastically.

"Oh be your cocky self and I won't tell you that I ate it."

My mouth hung open. "You ate the entire thing?"

"No don't be silly. I left some for you."

"You better have."

"Does crumbs count?" He teased seriously.

"I'll get you back for this but that's not why I'm walked over here. I, Uhm .. actually I need to speak to Luke." Luke became fully alert at hearing his name and he turned to me and nodded.

Simon was about to pull his arm but Kasey stopped him and mouthed a thank you to her and she winked.

We were about to turn when the two people I hated the most stood in front of me.

Adam and Ashley.

"Well well if it isn't little miss can't get a guy. Jealous ay what you see?" She shot at me.

She was clinging to Adam like her life depended on it and he looked uncomfortable.

"Why would I be jealous of twinkle dumb and twinkle dumber? " I threw at her.

"Give up the act, Hayley. It's obvious you're a sad pathetic woman." Ashley said loudly causing everyone's attention to go on us.

"Look wh-" I was cut off.

"Who said she doesn't have a guy?" Luke blurted out and all the blood drained from my face.

What?

I stared at Luke, warning him not to go where I think he was going.

"Err, I don't see anyone with her," Ashley said at Luke.

"Well, I'm actually her fiancé."

I almost fainted and I felt the blood leave my cheeked.

I could hear the shocked gasps and groans.

"What?" She asked utterly shocked.

"You heard me. We're getting married next week. We would've invited you but we've decided we didn't want cheap guys and their toys to be present and ruin the occasion. If you're done here, I'd suggest you leave. Now." Luke said sternly before he guided me away from the crowd and into one of the rooms.

I sat on the bed and I felt tears roll down my cheeks.

Great. Just great.

I didn't want to cry in front of Luke and I felt annoyed that I was.

I covered my face with my hands and the room was silent for a few minutes and I controlled my sobs and they stopped.

I looked at the small mirror on the bedside and I looked worse than hell.

I looked at Luke and waited for him to say something. Anything.

He walked to me and handed me a handkerchief. I took it from him and wiped myself up and tried to attain some sense of neatness.

I took a deep breath and looked back at him.

"Luke listen okay, I wanted to apologize earlier for the way I behaved and I you didn't have to lie to Ashley about marrying me. We'll just have to come up with som-"

"I wasn't joking Hayley." He said looking straight at me.

"What? No no you really don't have too. I can take care of myself but thank--"

"Would you drop the damn act, Hayley. I'm not going to go back out there and explain to all those people why it's not true because that would make an even more complicated situation and if we don't marry Ashley is never ever going to leave you alone. You're just going to give her more reasons to get at you." Running his hand through his hair multiple times.

"I'm not going to get into some forced thing Luke. I plan long-term and as word has you don't. I'll handle the embarrassment and the humiliation." I fought stubbornly.

"Do as you wish but you can clean this up on your own because I'm not assisting you. If you fail to clear it up, we marry. Our parents will be overjoyed, that's for sure." He said faking the enthusiasm.

"But would we be happy?" I asked softly.

He didn't answer and held his hand out for me to take and I ignored it and stood up on my own and walked out with him close behind me.

Most of the guests were gone and it was mainly just our families.

Simon gestured for Luke to follow him and they moved out of sight.

My mom and dad looked at me skeptically and I knew I wasn't sure to tell them what actually happened because I myself wasn't sure about this so I just smiled.

Kasey and Kate congratulated me happily, singing on about how we're going to be sisters.

Chris and Emma just looked at me knowingly as if they knew this was going to happen but they congratulated me nevertheless.

"We always knew something was going on there." My mom teased.

I wanted to laugh at how wrong she was. I mean sure there was the attraction but it wasn't worth calling a thing.

After small conversations about business and dress colors, Simon appeared with Luke. Simon didn't seem angry and Luke seemed okay. That's a first regarding the situation.

We eventually decided to leave and we said our goodbyes to everyone, Emma and my mom promising to meet soon for wedding planning.

This just made me want to scream.