“Today, while we were surfing, he told me about how you were shorthanded. I thought, even if you didn’t want me there, I wanted to show you that I care about you. I told him I was going to get the porches built whether you liked it or not,” he said, that grin finally emerging. Then he looked into her eyes, the most sincere expression on his face, and said, “Will you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Luke. I learned something from you,” she said, dropping his hands and wrapping her arms around his neck. “That we have to be open and honest with each other, tell each other how we feel. That’s what you do when you care about someone. So I have something to say.” She pushed herself up on her tiptoes, putting her face right across from his. “I missed you so much when we were apart, and I don’t want to spend another minute without you either. I’ve never met anyone like you and I can’t see my future without you in it.”
Luke put his hands on her back, pulling her into him, his spicy smell overwhelming her. He touched his lips to hers, his breath tickling her, causing an electric current down her spine, as he said, “Glad to hear it.” He broke out into that smile of his, but this time, she didn’t want to see it. She wanted his lips on hers, his arms holding her tightly. She reached up and tried to kiss him.
He pulled back before she could. With a crooked grin he said, “How do you know I’ll kiss you on demand?”
She threw her head back with a laugh and replied, “I suppose I don’t. I just went for what I wanted.” Right then, she knew exactly what she wanted and it was right in front of her. “But I can always buy you a caramel macchiato to prove it.”
Without warning, he scooped her up, throwing her over his shoulder. “Oh, you think you’re funny, eh?” he said, running toward the surf.
“Put me down!” She giggled uncontrollably, banging on his back with her fists.
“Nevah!” he called, splashing into the water.
Then all of a sudden, whoosh! They were under water, the waves bubbling over her skin, Luke’s strong arms around her, lifting her up to the surface. The air shocked her wet skin as they bobbed behind a wave that crawled to shore. Her thin shirt was soaking and she could feel every muscle in his body against her. His lips found her neck and then moved up under her ear. She grabbed his shirt in her fists to keep herself from going under, nearly gasping for breath. Then, before she could even open her eyes, his mouth was on hers, his salty lips moving all over her, his fingers tangling in her hair. She put her hands under his shirt, against his wet skin and kissed him back, wondering how she’d ever lived without this.
As they slowed down, Callie was aware of a noise and she looked at Luke but then followed his line of sight to the porch at The Beachcomber, full of people cheering and waving.
“Oh my God,” she said, laughing.
“Meh,” he teased. “I’m used to being under a watchful eye.” Then he put his hands on her face and kissed her again in front of everyone.
Twenty-Six
“I got you a housewarming present,” Luke said as he stood beside an enormous furniture truck the next morning, Poppy and Callie coming out to greet him. He’d stayed last night until they could hardly keep their eyes open. It was so late that she’d worried about him getting home safely until he’d texted her that he’d gotten there.
While he’d been affectionate and they’d had a great time together, she still wondered when the topic of Edward would come up again—they’d have to face it sooner or later. And when they did, would Luke come to the realization that his relationship with Edward was ruined because of her? Had Callie not intervened, Luke and Mr. Sullivan wouldn’t have had to face this reality right now. Perhaps telling Luke and Edward should’ve happened at another time, when they could both process it better, when there wasn’t so much on the line. Would it always be a sticking point for Luke?
The deliveryman hopped out, went to the end of the truck, and threw up the door, which rattled as it cranked to the top.
“What did you buy?” She walked around to the back of the truck and peered inside. It was full to the brim with white rocking chairs.
“Enough for all the porches, back and front,” he said, putting his arms around her and lifting her up then setting her back down.
She put her hands on her cheeks in surprise. They’d arranged potted plants on the porches, having run out of time and funds to fully furnish them. Given the circumstances, they’d been very lucky to be able to open The Beachcomber at all, so neither Callie nor Olivia had worried too much about it, but Callie had wished she could have places to sit outside for the guests because it was that million dollar view that sold this place. “Oh my goodness, Luke! You didn’t have to do this!”
“I know. That’s why I called it a present.” He rubbed Poppy’s head and she walked away slowly, favoring her good leg, back up toward the house to see Wyatt, who was taking his fishing gear out to the beach.
“Thank you,” she said, touched by his enormous gesture. She’d become so close with him that it didn’t even occur to her that putting her arms around someone and kissing his lips wasn’t typical behavior for her. It came as naturally as breathing and she never wanted to be without that feeling.
He pulled back just enough to focus on her face. “I figured we’re going to need somewhere to sit when we drink all those morning caramel macchiatos.”
“And what will you be doing over here in the mornings if the renovation is complete?” The workmen had put the finishing touches on the porches out back, and the remaining end tables and side chairs that had been delayed due to the hurricane were coming first thing this morning.
“I thought maybe I could stay over sometimes.”
“I’m hoping that business here will be booming and all the rooms will be full.”
He stared at her, chewing on a smile, waiting for her to realize what she was suggesting.
With a gasp, she shook her head, sucking in her smile. She’d meant that he couldn’t stay because the rooms were full, not that she’d hoped he’d be in her room, even though that wouldn’t be out of the question. “I meant…”
“Mm hmm,” he said, pulling her close to him. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Then he said, “I brought you something else.”
“You’ve done enough,” she said, following him over to his SUV as the deliverymen finished taking the rocking chairs up to the porches.
“I took the nearly empty paint can from the kitchen last night. I got it right past you!”
“I was looking for that! I thought someone had thrown it away.”
“No. I took it home.” He opened the back hatch of the SUV and pulled out the most stunning painting of a gaillardia on a bright white background with yellows and the most perfect pink to match the kitchen. “Try not to touch it; it’s still tacky. I painted it this morning. I thought it could go on that big wall by the window.”
“It’s gorgeous!” She covered her mouth in surprise, unable to verbalize how beautiful it was. “It’ll tie in the paint so perfectly!” Her heart couldn’t be fuller. “Do you think you could help me hang it?”