by Tina Leonard
“Act on your instinct,” Pansy said. “I bet you’ve developed wonderful instincts during your years of practice.”
“Not for this.” Pepper looked at her friends. “I want them to have an easy transition here. I didn’t figure Luke into this mix. Not right now.”
“You’d be surprised how things sometime happen for a reason,” Helen said, “and sometimes work out for the best. How did Luke take to seeing himself in double?”
Pepper thought back over his reaction. “At first he was completely dumbfounded. And he was very angry with me, of course. He will be for a long time, I’m sure. Then, he asked me to marry him.”
Astonished, Helen clapped her hands. “What did you say?”
“Oh,” Pepper said, “I was too surprised to say much of anything at the time. And though I admit that I’m at the age where settling down as a family is appealing, Luke and I…well, no.”
Pansy patted her arm. “He’s a cute devil, you have to admit.”
Pepper laughed. “And I obviously thought so fourteen years ago. However, it just wouldn’t work. I got myself through undergrad in three years, and medical school with honors, and backpacked through Europe with my kids and Aunt Jerry and started my own practice. I feel pretty well versed in what can be done and what can’t.” She hesitated before smiling shyly. “I think marrying for love works best, rather than knitting our family together just for the sake of the classic fairy tale.”
“I don’t know,” Helen said. “I like the classics.”
Pepper laughed. “You’re a softie. And a romantic.” She stood. “I love you both. Thank you for your help. I have to go get another load of glasses.”
“But we didn’t help,” Pansy said. “I feel certain we never offered a word of advice.”
“I feel better just talking about everything,” Pepper said, “and now I know I made the right decision in telling Luke no. Talking it over with you cemented my decision.”
“But I thought we were advising on how best to tell the twins the wonderful news,” Helen said.
Pepper nodded. “You gave me the answer,” she said, looking more peaceful. “I simply need to trust in my boys.”
Helen watched her leave before turning to Pansy. “He asked her to marry him!”
“I know!” Pansy giggled. “He’s turned out to be such a good boy.”
“Who would have thought?” Helen considered the surprising news. “Luke McGarrett wanting to settle down. Even I didn’t think discovering he was a father would have that effect on him.”
“My bet is he still has a soft spot for Pepper,” Pansy said, and Helen nodded.
“It’s obvious to see why. She’s beautiful, smart, talented—”
“The mother of his children,” Pansy interjected.
“That’s the kicker,” Helen agreed. “But I still didn’t imagine him proposing this soon, nor perhaps even at all. He’s always been such a rapscallion.”
“I don’t know,” Pansy mused, “sometimes those are the best men to catch. Look at Hiram and Bug. They haven’t always been model men, but they’re pretty steady now.”
“They’re old as the hills!” Helen said. “Pepper couldn’t wait that long for Luke to figure out what a good thing he has sitting right under his nose.”
“Do you think they’ll fall in love?”
“I think,” Helen said carefully, “that given a boat on the water and fishing poles with no bait and a motor that gives out, anything could happen.”
“I thought we wanted Luke to have a day with his sons,” Pansy said.
“There’s time for that,” her friend said, “but if Luke really wants to marry Pepper, I say June is a lovely month for a wedding.”
“We’re going to have to get working on our stubborn doctor,” Pansy murmured, and Helen nodded.
“Exactly the plan.”
LUKE FELT AS if he was going to explode. He had to tell his sons that he was their father. Somehow, it seemed he’d waited all his life for just this moment. He was impatient not to lose another second of father-son bonding.
He felt he should be mad at Pepper for not telling him sooner—and he had been soul-deep angry—but he couldn’t deny that he wouldn’t have been much of a father as a teenager. Or even as a twenty-year-old.
But he was ready now.
He was also ready, he was shocked to discover, for marriage.
Pepper hadn’t seemed thrilled with his proposal, but that was all right for now. Life moved slowly in Tulips—he knew that as well as anyone. Plus, she’d been on her own for a long time, doing just fine without him, thank you very much.
It was up to him to fit into her world, in order to form that family he envisioned.
“Did you ask her?” his father asked.
Luke thought it interesting that his dad no longer sat in his recliner except to watch the news at night. Other than that program, the TV stayed off. Today, his father had kept himself busy watering the dried-out grass at the front of the property. He’d cleared some stray branches and twigs that had fallen during the winter. Then he’d taken paper towels, the hose and a bucket of soapy water out to clean the windows.
“I did ask her,” Luke said, “but it didn’t come out as much of a proposal. More of a business proposition.”
His father grunted. “Which she was lady enough to turn down.”
“Yeah.” Luke grinned. “I just need practice. I’ve never done this before.”
“I wouldn’t worry about one misfire. At least she knows you respect her. The rest will follow.”
“That easy?” Luke wasn’t certain where Pepper was concerned.
“Yeah. She’s a good girl. But very traditional, despite being so successful. She’ll want love.”
Luke blinked. Love? It was too soon to think about that, wasn’t it? “Dad, you may be overconfident. We were both young. She was left in a bad situation with difficult choices. I don’t know if love grows under those circumstances. Maybe the best we can hope for is mutual respect.”
His father tossed a sponge into his bucket. “Don’t be a quitter, son. At least open the gate before you decide you can’t run through it.” He gazed at the windows he’d just washed. “And I guess you’re smart enough to wear a condom if you ever got a second chance.”
“Actually,” Luke said, “I was wearing a condom then, if I remember correctly. I recall it not staying on as well as it could have.”
“At least you have some sense.” His father turned to attack another window. “I can’t wait to meet my grandsons. I’m trying to be patient, but it’s hard.”
“I can’t wait to tell them,” Luke said, meaning every word. “I’m going to have to go very slowly with Pepper so that she’ll know I’m here to stay in my sons’ lives.”
“Good plan,” his father said, and Luke hoped he was right.
Chapter Ten
Pepper and Luke chose a night a week later to tell the boys, when they’d given themselves a bit more time to think through how best to present the truth to them. “I’m so afraid they’re going to be upset,” Pepper told Luke as they sat on her front porch a few minutes before Duke was set to drop the kids off.
“I’m afraid they’re not going to want me,” Luke admitted.
She looked at him. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“Why would they?” He pushed a hand through his hair. “They’ve gotten along all this time without me. They have your brothers as role models and Bug and Hiram for backup.”
“That’s not the same as one’s very own father,” Pepper murmured. She knew how the boys had longed to know who their father was over the years, and how she’d had to skirt the question without hurting them. “I’m glad it’s almost over,” she said slowly. “I’m scared they’ll be angry with me for not telling them sooner.”
Luke was aware of how he and his dad hadn’t gotten along over the years. Would the boys look forward to having him as a father? “We all do the best we can and make the most appropriate decisions possible
under trying circumstances. I think you’ve done a helluva job.”
She appreciated his forgiving attitude. “Luke, I’ve never told you how thankful I am that you’re taking this well. I know you had to have been angry. You have every right to be. I’ll never know whether I made the right choices or not, but I feel very blessed that you seem to be welcoming the boys instead of turning away.”
He put a hand over hers. “Pepper, I could no more turn away from them—or you—than I could my own soul.”
Her breath caught. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Actually, I thank you. You gave me something I never knew I needed.” He put an arm around her shoulders in a nonsexual manner and quietly said, “I wish I hadn’t said that I didn’t think I could ever forgive you.”
“Oh.” Pepper put her head on his shoulder. “Your actions later spoke louder than your words. I understood.”
They sat silently for a few moments, cherishing the gentle moment of friendship they shared.
Duke drove up with the boys, parking his big truck so they could get out. Toby and Josh jumped out to greet their mom and manfully shake hands with Luke, who’d stood as soon as they saw Duke’s truck. Pepper waved at her brother, who waved back, then drove off without getting out.
He was trying to give them privacy, and Pepper loved him for his support.
“Did you have fun, boys?” she asked.
“Uncle Duke is pretty fun,” Toby said as they walked inside. “We like him a lot.”
Pepper had them all sit at the kitchen table, exactly as she and Luke had planned. There were cookies waiting, and milk, and some tea and tissues just in case. Pepper was certain that after all the years of pent-up secrecy, she was going to bawl just from relief.
God, please let this go well.
“Boys,” she said slowly, “you know how much I love you.”
“Oh, Mom,” Josh said, “don’t get mushy on us in front of Mr. Luke, please.” Toby nodded with an embarrassed glance at Luke.
“Well, I do,” Pepper continued. “And Mr. Luke and I feel tonight is a good night for us to tell you something.”
Toby grinned. “You’re getting married.”
Josh laughed. “You’re gonna owe me five bucks, Toby. He didn’t think you would, Mom. Toby thought you were way too busy with the clinic.”
Pepper frowned to cover her embarrassment that her boys had brought up the M word. “First of all, no betting allowed. Second, no betting on family members.”
“Yes, Mom,” the boys murmured, completely mortified to be called down in front of Luke. They glanced at him again and he gave them a half smile designed to show he understood, but that he also agreed with their mother.
Pepper took a deep breath. “You’ve asked me for years about your father. Boys—” Her voice broke. She couldn’t say the words and she didn’t know why. I’m so afraid. Everything is going to change. I don’t want them hurt.
“Toby, Josh,” Luke said quietly, “I’m your father.”
Toby looked at Josh. “Told ya.”
Pepper blinked. “Told you what?”
“That Mr. Luke was our dad. We look just like him,” Josh explained. “Except he’s old, of course.”
A weight slid into Pepper’s stomach. “Why didn’t you say something to me if that’s what you thought?”
Josh shrugged. “Because we didn’t want you to cry. You usually cry when we talk about stuff like that.”
“Oh.” Pepper glanced at Luke, who was looking at her with a puzzled expression. “Well, Mr. Luke—I mean, your father—would like to spend some time getting to know you better.”
“And I’d like to introduce you to your grandfather,” Luke said, neatly picking up the story. “He’s very excited about meeting you.”
Josh said, “Oh, cool.”
Toby added, “Is he here?”
“Just a few blocks away.” Luke grinned.
“So,” Josh said slowly, “does this mean we call you Dad now?”
“If you want,” Luke replied.
“It may be kind of weird,” Toby said, “I sort of forgot about wanting a dad. I knew we had one, we just figured you’d never come around.”
“Well,” Luke stated, his eyes meeting Pepper’s in a quick stab of sympathy, “I’ve come around now. And I’ll be around forever.”
They looked at him for a long time, then Josh slid his hand across the table for Luke to shake. “Nice to meet you, Dad.”
“Yeah,” Toby said, doing the same. “You’re better than I figured you’d be.”
“Oh?” Startled, Luke raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah. When Mom dated—and that wasn’t much—she always brought home nerds.”
Luke glanced at Pepper.
“College professors,” she quickly said. “Remember, I spent a lot of time on campus.”
“It’s cool you’re not a nerd,” Josh agreed. “They were boring.”
Luke laughed, feeling a little relieved that Pepper hadn’t been dating handsome, eligible doctors. On the other hand, a little spurt of jealousy shot through him that she’d been dating, at all. These were his sons! He didn’t want to think about another man buddying up to them in order to woo their mother.
He’d deal with the dragon of jealousy, later. “I’m really proud to be your father.”
Josh grinned. “So, guess you have to do all the dad stuff with us now.”
Luke recognized bait and grabbed it gladly. “Like?”
“Girls, for starters,” Toby said. “Mom never let us around any. If it wasn’t for school, we’d never know even one.”
No shock there, considering there’d been no father in the home to guide them. “The teen years are soon enough to start thinking about girls. You didn’t miss anything before now. They don’t get super-cute until they’re, like—” he glanced at Pepper, who was staring at him, and decided to tweak her a little “—thirty.”
“Gross!” Toby made a face.
“We’ll have a prom before then,” Josh said.
Luke laughed. “Is there another subject you think dads ought to be good with, besides girls?” By the tiny scowl on Pepper’s face, he figured it was best to choose another topic.
“We don’t know,” Toby said.
Luke nodded, gazing at his sons. “It’s okay. We’ll work on it together. It’ll be fun that way.”
They grinned at him and Luke had a sudden vision that family was his new calling in life—thanks to Pepper.
THE BOYS went to bed a few hours later. Pepper walked Luke to the front door, relieved and torn at the same time. “Thank you for making that as easy as possible.”
“I thought we did well,” Luke agreed. “But you raised fine kids, Pepper. They’re calm. Like you.”
She warmed from his praise. “Their aunt Jerry is pretty capable, too.”
“So can I take them to meet Dad, tomorrow?”
“Of course,” Pepper said quickly. She wanted to go as well, but didn’t feel right about intruding. After all, Luke deserved some time alone with his boys as they got to know each other.
“Want to come, too?”
She glanced up at him, thinking he really was a handsome, caring man despite all the rumors of his wild ways. “Oh, no,” she murmured, “you and your dad need time with Toby and Josh.”
“It would probably feel more normal to them if you were there. They’re calm kids, I know, but it still helps to have your mom around sometimes.”
She smiled, recognizing he was trying hard to appeal to her sentimental side. “Do you always get what you want?”
He touched her cheek. “If I think it’s right, I work pretty hard at it.”
A shock of sexual desire hit her unexpectedly and hotly, deep in the core of her body. The feeling stunned her, and a long-slumbering flower of lust bloomed. She stared at Luke, her eyes wide with wonder. It felt so good that she didn’t want it to cease.
His palm slipped down her cheek to caress her chin, a gentle introduction of his
flesh to hers, a feeling of sensuous possession. It was so different, so unlike what they’d known before, that Pepper was riveted, wanting to feel more.
“Pepper?” he said huskily.
He wasn’t looking for a reply, but permission, she realized, her body heating with excitement. He would leave her alone, remove his hand, if she only said—
“Yes,” she replied softly, giving him the permission she knew he was craving. So Luke bent his head and kissed her deeply, hotly, the way a man kissed a woman he wanted.
And Pepper knew she wanted him just this way. After all these years, it felt good—right—to be kissed by Luke.
She felt like an angel, Luke decided, drawing Pepper to him tightly so he could taste her more deeply. He’d known attraction many times, but this was different. This was a soul-deep connection making him hungry for everything he could learn of her mouth, her body, her emotions. What made her happy, what made her sad.
He was going to spend every day of his life learning how to make her happy. He’d been given a family: sons, a father, the mother of his children. Pulling Pepper more tightly to him, Luke molded his body against hers, feeling how perfectly they fit together. This is the real meaning of lucky.
Pepper pulled away from him slowly and he let her go—for now.
Chapter Eleven
Luke talked Pepper into going to his dad’s with the boys, using the irresistible lure that Toby and Josh would probably like her moral support. It had to be difficult to meet one’s grandfather for the first time, he’d told her, when the children never knew they had a living grandparent. This was all true enough, but the bottom line was Luke wanted Pepper with him.
The more he kissed her, the more he craved her.
It was a really strange phenomenon for a bachelor with freedom deeply embedded in his soul. He glanced at Pepper, who sat beside him. Shapely legs showed beneath a flared skirt he thought was perhaps a little old-fashioned, but typical of Pepper—she did like the mother role, and certainly no teenager would be caught dead in that skirt. A white blouse left her arms bare and gave her a fresh, cool appearance. She wore her dark hair up on her head, and no makeup that he could see—a planned strategy by most women, but in Pepper’s case, he was pretty certain he was looking at the genuine article.