Chase still wouldn’t say where she was, but he did say that she had called Callie. He missed her every day. Tray had apologized a thousand times, but it wasn’t his fault. Luke was the only one to blame for what happened. He had to keep it together a little longer.
*****
Lindy had been gone for five weeks, but the pain never lessened. After the first week, she had called Callie. She had been worried Callie would tell Luke, but Callie had promised not to. Callie said that Chase had been watching her, but had refused to tell them anything. She had loved working at the hospital again, but she missed her boutique. The land had sold right after she put it on the market, but she figured it would. It was in the middle of town, and got a lot of traffic. She heard that whoever bought it was almost done building already.
She hadn’t found a place yet, so she was renting an apartment on a month to month basis. Everything in a neighborhood seemed to small, but everything with much land made her feel alone. She was lonely period. She missed Callie and the girls, and she missed the ranch, but most of all, she missed Luke. She missed sitting on the porch reading with him, she missed watching TV with him, but over the weeks she had thought of several crazy conversations that he would have loved.
She had been thinking about calling him all week, but she figured he had already moved on. Callie was supposed to pick her up when she got off today. They were going to have dinner. It would be the first time she had seen any of them since she left that day. When her shift ended, she changed clothes as fast as she could, then ran out to find Callie waiting for her.
“Hey girl, long time no see.” Callie said as she got in the car.
“Yeah, sorry about that.” Lindy did feel bad for running out on her friends.
“Gees, what kind of diet have you been on?” Callie asked eyeing her closely.
“The don’t feel like eating diet.” Lindy was being partially honest, it was the broken heart diet, and it made you not want to eat.
Callie didn’t look convinced, but she dropped it. Just being with Callie again made her miss Luke more. She closed her eyes trying to fight off the sadness. They weren’t going into Cedar Springs, she had said she would only go if they went somewhere else. When she opened her eyes, her heart sank.
“Callie, you promised.” Lindy could feel the tears well up in her eyes.
“I know, but I’m doing this for you.” Callie’s voice held tears.
“Please don’t take me to the ranch.” Lindy pleaded.
“I swear we aren’t going there.” Callie reached over and grabbed her hand. “Just close your eyes, we will be there soon.” Lindy closed her eyes praying Callie would drive straight through town. She refused to open her eyes even as Calle pulled to a stop. Even when her door opened, she kept them closed.
“Callie, I can’t do this. Please take me back.” She whispered.
“Hello Beautiful.” Luke whispered beside her.
“Oh God.” Lindy sobbed. She couldn’t handle seeing him right now.
“Please don’t hate me.” Callie whispered on her other side.
“I need to show you something. If you want to leave after that, Callie will take you, and I will leave you alone.” Luke said as he took her hand. She nodded, but didn’t open her eyes. “Lindsey, you have to open your eyes.” He whispered in her ear.
Lindy took a deep breath to hold back the sob that wanted to escape. She just had to hold it together for a little while. She would have Callie take her back as soon as she could. She turned and allowed him to pull her from the car before she opened her eyes. His blue eyes were shining down at her. He looked tired, but happy. She had been right to leave him. She couldn’t pull her eyes away to see where she was. She was frozen in his gaze.
He took a deep breath and moved to stand beside her. She blinked and her eyes focused on the two-story building in front of her. The bottom level had windows all the way across the front and a set of double glass doors. The top was mostly brick, but it had lots of windows, and there was a set of metal steps that led up the back of the building.
“What is this?” She asked in wonder.
“Come inside and I will show you.” Luke tugged on the hand he still held and pulled her to the double doors.
The main space was open with a counter on one wall. The other wall had three doors, and that’s where he led her first.
“These will be dressing rooms. I made them larger than normal, so that people could be comfortable while using them. Over there, is a nice long counter to use for whatever you need. Back here,” He said pulling her through a door way, “is a big storage room.” She stood staring around her. He tugged again and pulled her to another door way that was wider. “This leads you home.” He nudged her up the steps in front of him.
At the top, it opened into a large living room. Against one wall was a large sectional, with a TV mounted across from it. The space flowed into a kitchen area with a wraparound bar. He pulled her to another door, that lead to a huge bathroom with a large shower, and a whirlpool tub. The next room was an enormous bedroom. The room held a large king sized bedroom set. He opened the closet and it was full of clothes already. Lindy walked over and sat on the edge of the bed as the tears streamed down her face.
“I have an account set up with $100,000 that you can use for starting up your boutique. The contactor’s number is on the kitchen counter, and he has already been paid to paint or do anything else you want. I have one more thing to show you.” Luke said taking her hand again.
He led her to another door that went to a balcony. He had a swing there for her, and flowers. The staircase she had noticed from the front led up here. It was the fire escape she should have had the first time.
“Why?” Why would he go through all this trouble?
“All I want is for you to be happy. I had hoped to be a part of that, but as long as you’re happy it doesn’t matter. My mouth got in the way just when I thought I had it all, but my Cinderella deserves her happily ever after and her castle. I will send Callie up; the keys are on the kitchen counter.” Through the tears in her eyes she watched him turn to leave.
“Luke.” She whispered. When he turned, she ran to him. “Stay.” He wrapped her in his arms and rubbed her back as she stopped her tears. He hadn’t moved on. She had been so sure he would have forgotten her.
“I love you, Lindsey.” He whispered in her ear. “I would marry you tomorrow if I had half the chance.”
“Okay.” She squeezed him tighter.
“Okay what, my love?” He pulled back to look at her.
“Okay, I will marry you tomorrow, on one condition.” His smile lit up her world.
“Name it and it’s yours.” Luke’s eyes sparkled, he was ready to do whatever she commanded.
“Stay here with me tonight.” She wanted his kiss so bad.
“Yes, my love.” He whispered and kissed her softly before pulling back. At her look of confusion, he smiled. “I need to let Callie know she can leave, and any more kissing and I won’t leave your arms.”
Luke took off down the steps and she noticed he wasn’t wearing a brace. She walked back into the apartment to wait for him. She was amazed at the place he had built for her. She loved it, but she liked the ranch better. The door had barely shut before Luke had her spun around and against the wall. This wasn’t just a kiss. It was more of a claiming. His mouth took possession of hers as if she was his alone. He didn’t pull back until neither of them could breath.
“God, I missed you so much.” He said against her lips.
“I missed you too.” Her forehead was pressed against his, and they were sharing every breath.
“You can’t leave me again. After tonight, I could never let you go.” He bit her lip, then softly flicked his tongue across it.
“Never.” She whispered, her body felt like it was on fire.
“If we need to stop, you have to tell me now. Much longer and I won’t be able to.” His voice had been reduced to a husky rasp.
“Don’t stop.�
�� She said as she slipped her hand under his shirt.
“Wait, I don’t have a condom.” He caught her wrist to stop her.
“Don’t care, I thought you said you wanted kids.” That was the only thing that could make her walk away now.
“I do. I just didn’t want to push, or rush you.” He picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around him.
“You are so beautiful.” He said as he sat her on the bed and slipped off her shirt. Slowly he pulled off her clothes, kissing and nipping as he uncovered her. When she was bare to him, he sat back and stared at her. “Perfect.” He whispered.
“My turn.” She said reaching to undress him. In her rush, she got his belt tangled up and couldn’t get his pants off. “Strip now, or I will continue without you.” She snapped at him. He laughed at her and stood up to do her bidding.
“Anything else my Queen?” She should appreciate his sense of humor, but right now, she wasn’t in the mood.
“If you make me wait any longer, I will become an evil Queen.” She glared at him.
With a laugh, he stretched out beside her. His kiss did nothing but wind her up more. She tried to pull him closed, but he wouldn’t cooperate. “Luke, now.” Patience wasn’t even in her vocabulary right then.
“I have waited so long for this, I am going to savor every second of it.” His eyes were blue fire as he slipped his hand up her stomach.
“Luke, I love you, but savor later. If you make me wait, I will make you wait to marry me.” She had no leverage, but she had to try.
Within seconds he was hovering over her. His kiss was hard, but no less passionate. His slow tender touch turned hard and forceful. With one hard thrust she was on the edge. He pulled back locking eyes with her. Her breath froze in her lungs at the utter bliss that consumed her as he pushed home again. One more hard thrust was all it took for her to soar, his name echoed around the room from her scream. However, Luke was far from done. He slowed his movements as she floated back down to earth. He kissed her softly as his gentle rocking brought her back to the edge. When he pulled back, his motions picked up speed and force, this time she wasn’t going on her own. When they reached the top, it was more than she could have ever hoped for. It felt like she gave a part of her soul to him, but in his eyes, she could see he had done the same.
Luke rolled to the side and pulled her with him. She cuddled close and laid her head over his rapidly beating heart. It felt as if it was keeping perfect pace with hers. The silence that followed wasn’t awkward, but more like they were letting their world settle around them.
“I love you.” Lindy whispered as she placed a kiss over his heart.
“I love you.” Luke said as he kissed the top of her head and she drifted off to sleep.
*****
Luke woke up with his body tangled around Lindy’s. He had woken her up two more times through the night. He kept waking up afraid this was all a dream, and every time she was there, and he had to have her again. His beautiful angel was asleep on his chest, her hair was tangled up, and he knew she was gonna fuss about it being hard to brush.
“Lindy, my love.” Luke whispered when he couldn’t wait anymore to see her beautiful green eyes.
“Mhmm.” She mumbled, and tried to burrow closer.
“You made a promise to me, and now it’s time to follow through with it.” He said rubbing her bare back. Slowly, her green eyes blinked up at him. Her sleepy smile made him want her again. “Do you know what today is?” He smiled at her. She lifted her hand and ran a finger over his dimple.
“Friday?” Her face showed confusion, but her smile never wavered.
“Today is our wedding day.” He said kissing her palm.
“No, it’s not. You made me wait.” She was fully alert now.
“No, I didn’t. I let you come.” He was ready for this argument.
“But you didn’t come with me.” She snapped at him.
“That’s not what you said, love. You said if I made you wait, and you didn’t have to wait.” He saw on her face when she realized he was right.
“Are we really going to do this?” Her voice was full of nervous excitement.
“Yes, you are mine now.” He rolled over and caged her in with his body.
“But Luke, how?” He could see in her eyes that she wanted this.
His position was too tempting, so he slipped back inside her. Her moan told him she didn’t mind. He had a plan for the day, but it could wait. Being with her was the most important thing in the world.
“After this, we are going to the courthouse. If you want a fancy wedding, we can do that later. I’m not giving you another chance to slip away. Then, this evening, Callie is arranging a reception for us. After that, we can go where ever you want.” Luke’s pace never slowed as he talked, and he could feel her tensing around him. With one more thrust, she came apart in his arms, and he followed her into bliss.
“Luke.” She sighed as he stood up.
“Yeah, love.” He had to turn away, or they wouldn’t leave this room.
“Take me home after?” She asked him.
“Sure baby, we can come back here.” He was adjusting the water for the shower, when she walked up behind him.
“No, Luke. I mean the ranch. I want to go home.” Her words were music to his ears.
“Absolutely.” He said as he pulled her in the shower and washed her thoroughly.
The ceremony was short, Luke had told them to do it quickly. Lindy had put on a dress out of the closet in the apartment, and he had on yesterday’s clothes. He could have went home and changed, but that would have wasted time, and given her time to think of a reason not to marry him. She had laughed when he told her that, but he didn’t care.
Luke rushed to the ranch, hoping to get a few minutes alone with her before everyone showed up, but Callie and a crowd of people were already there. In his head, he was kicking himself for not going to the apartment, and saying every cuss word he knew as well as a few he made up. He looked over at Lindy, and her face was lit up with amusement.
“I’m not going anywhere, Luke.” She said placing her hand on his thigh.
“But I wanted to have some time alone with you.” Luke said lacing his fingers with hers and feeling the cool metal of the rings he had bought a few weeks ago.
“We have the rest of our lives, Clark.” She said narrowing her eyes at him. He understood what she was saying, his impatience was just a flaw for her to love.
“I’ll be your man of steel tonight.” He promised kissing her palm.
“That’s what I’m counting on.” She winked at him.
Callie had worked wonders with the reception. Most of the town showed up to congratulate them. There was plenty of food, and lots of dancing as the evening turned to night. Luke took Lindy into his arms for the final dance of the evening.
“You’re mine forever now, Cinderella.” He whispered in her ear.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, my prince.” She whispered back.
Epilogue
3 months later…
Lindy sat on the porch swing as she waited for Luke to come home. Jacob had offered him a job as a dispatcher for the fire department. It was only part time, but that was enough so that Luke still felt like a part of the department he loved. They mainly lived on the ranch, but sometimes, they used the apartment. Luke had made a habit out of going there on his breaks when she was working. She had reopened the boutique, and even hired someone to work it. Her whole face lit up as Luke pulled in.
“Hello, Beautiful.” He kissed her lips, then sat down beside her, and pulled her bare feet in his lap.
“Luke, I’ve been thinking.” She said looking up at him.
“Okay.” Luke stretched the word out.
“I think we need to build on to the house.” She bit her lip waiting for his reply.
“Sure baby, I can have a contactor come out, and you can tell him what you want.” Luke said as he began rubbing her feet.
“Do you
know why we need more space?” Lindy asked, he usually gave her what she wanted, but she thought he would have asked why.
“Because you said you want it.” He made that seem like a very reasonable answer.
“Luke, I have never asked you for something like this.” She snapped at him.
“I know baby, but I will give you anything you want.” He winked at her.
“Dammit Luke, ask me why?” She demanded.
“Queen Lindy, why do we need more room?” He laughed when she reached over to smack him.
“Well, Clark.” She snarled. “We are growing.” She looked at him pointedly, but he looked confused. “In about six months, there will be more of us.” She smiled placing her hand on her lower stomach.
Luke followed the movement with his eyes, and she could see the moment it clicked together in his mind. He looked up at her, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears as he placed his hand on top of hers. He pulled her close and kissed her softly.
“I love you.” He whispered, then he got up and bent over her stomach. “I love you too, jelly bean.” He said rubbing her stomach.
“Did you just call our baby a jelly bean?” She could not believe he would do that.
“Isn’t it about that size now?” He asked confused.
“Yes, but are you really going to call it a jelly bean?” She really didn’t want him to call it that.
“I think it will be a girl, so I will call her princess.” Luke’s smile was a mile wide.
“Why do you think it will be a girl?” She loved the smile on his face.
“I had a dream a while back, and we had a little carbon copy of you. She even stomped her foot the same way you did that day.” His face was lit up like a Christmas tree.
“I would rather her have your eyes, and your dimples.” She reached out to trace one again.
“As long as the baby is healthy, I don’t care what we have, but until we are told differently, I am going to call her princess, because her mother is my queen.” Luke kissed her again as he rubbed her belly.
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