“I know that,” Ty agreed.
Missy gave Luke one last look, then quickly said her goodbyes and walked away.
Kazlyn turned to Luke. “What was that all about?”
Usually grateful that his sister didn’t mince words, Luke was completely awkward. Annie was stiff in his arms, and he didn’t have a clue what to say. “Missy got divorced and moved home. She’s just happy to see all of us.”
Kazlyn eyed him perceptibly. “She was drooling all over you.”
Luke tried to play it off. “Hey, so do most women, but lucky for me, I get to be with Annie.”
Annie gave him a smile, but her eyes didn’t light up. “Th-that’s r-right.”
Annie was too quiet the next hour. Kazlyn declared she needed to go home and get ready for Molly and Kevin’s wedding that night so she and Ty said their goodbyes and rushed off. Luke walked Annie to the front door of her shop.
“You sure I can’t talk you into coming to the wedding tonight?” Luke asked.
“H-headache,” Annie insisted.
“I could stay here and rub your feet or wait on you with water and ibuprofen,” Luke said.
Annie shook her head. “Y-you’d r-rub them wrong.”
“Ha! That’s true.” He pulled her into a hug. “I’m going to miss you tonight.”
“I’ll s-see y-you t-tomorrow.”
“I know, but it’s like I’m addicted to you.” He bent down and kissed the soft skin of her neck. “I just can’t get enough.”
She leaned into his lips and moaned. Luke took this as an invitation and trailed up her neck until he reached her mouth, trying to convey through his kiss his desire to spend every minute by her side. He finally forced himself to stop. There were a lot of people on the street, and they were getting their fair share of looks and whispers.
He bent down and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Don’t get too lonely for me.”
“I w-will.”
“Good.” One last kiss, and then he forced himself to walk to his truck. If he kept holding and kissing her, there would be no way he could pull himself away for Kevin and Molly’s wedding. He didn’t care how good of friends they and their families had been to him and his; he already missed Annie.
Kazlyn cornered Luke in his bedroom that evening while Ty was in the shower. “What’s the deal, dude? You hurt my friend Annie, and I will fillet you.”
“I would never hurt Annie.” His entire focus was on protecting Annie. “What are you talking about?”
“Missy? My memories of you in high school are a bit fuzzy, but I do remember Missy in every one of them, and Port said you were really shook up when you found out she’d been abused.”
Luke ran a hand through his hair and thumped his fist on the dresser. “It was tough. I still care for Missy, as a friend. I want to help her, but Kazzy...” He paused and focused on his petite sister. “I’ve never felt for anyone like I feel for Annie. Is that crazy?”
“You’ve known her a week?”
“Yep.”
Kazzy shrugged. “I fell pretty fast for Ty. When it’s right, it’s right.”
“You two are taking it slow now.”
“I think I’m making him nuts, but I want to meet his mom and get through my master’s before we get married.”
“I think you’re nuts, but Ty is nothing if not patient.”
“He’s lots more than patient.” She grinned.
“Whoa.” Luke held up a hand. “Too much data.”
Kazlyn crossed the distance and gave him a hug. “I’m happy for you, Luke. Annie is smart, fun, and beautiful. I felt an instant connection to her.”
“I felt a lot more than that.”
“Too much data,” Kazlyn protested, holding up a hand.
Chapter 11
Annie spent the night between elation and misery. She’d remember the feel of Luke’s kisses and the joy of their carefree afternoon and sigh with delight. Then she’d picture Missy leaning against him and the sadness in the beautiful woman’s face as Luke hugged Annie. Her mother had told her how selfish she was for crying for her dad all those nights, and she’d tried to overcome those selfish tendencies and never put her own needs first. It was obvious Missy needed Luke and who could blame her? Luke could heal anyone’s aches with one word, touch, and especially kiss. She fell asleep not sure if she should spend the day with Luke tomorrow or tell him it was over.
The Fourth of July dawned bright and sunny, and Annie’s selfishness won. She wanted this day with Luke and his family. Was it so wrong to want to be happy? But Missy’s sad eyes kept coming back to her. Maybe it was wrong.
Luke pounded on her door, and when Annie opened it to his navy blue eyes gleaming at her she couldn’t help but fling herself into his arms. He hugged her tight and then searched her face for a minute. “I missed you last night.”
“Me t-t-too. H-how was the w-wedding?”
“It was good. Fun to see those two happy, but they seem so young. Kevin’s older sister, Janet, is my age and has the cutest eight-year old daughter. Guess I’m just slow.” He took her hand and led her down the apartment stairs. “I’m betting it will be Ty and Kazzy next. Crazy.”
She wanted to ask him if Missy had been there, but she didn’t really want to know the answer. They found a spot in front of her shop to watch the parade. It was cute, and the best part was Luke standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her midsection. Annie leaned against his strength and thought she’d never been so happy. She pushed down the guilt over ruining Missy’s chances at happiness. There were other men out there. Missy could move on. She glanced up at Luke’s strong profile, setting her hand on his cheek as he leaned down to kiss her. Annie shivered with delight and knew that poor Missy could never find someone as great as Luke.
After the parade, they headed out to Luke’s house for a barbecue and then went on a horseback ride with Ty and Kazlyn. Luke’s mom fed them all once more before they piled into Luke’s truck and headed to the fireworks. As she leaned against Luke’s chest again, this time sitting in the back of his truck, she knew this was the best day of her life. If only today could last forever, and if only they could be alone so she could ignore the fireworks and kiss Luke during the entire production.
***
Church on Sunday and a fabulous dinner at Luke’s mom’s went too fast. Before she knew it, Annie was saying goodbye to her newfound friends. Ty gave Annie a friendly hug and then Kazlyn wrapped her arms around her. Kazlyn was so teeny, but she didn’t make Annie feel gargantuan.
“Take care of my big brother,” Kazlyn said.
Annie grinned. “I’ll t-try.”
“I know he’s a brute, but I’ve never seen him this happy.” Kazlyn backed away, but squeezed Annie’s arm as she repeated, “Never.”
Annie wondered if Kazlyn was really trying to tell her Luke hadn’t been this way with Missy, or if that was just her own interpretation.
Kazlyn and Ty said goodbye and loaded into Ty’s shiny gray Dodge truck. Luke came up and wrapped his arms around Annie from behind. She leaned against him. “Th-that t-truck f-f-fits him.”
“Ha!” Luke chuckled, and she felt it against her back. “It does. The first time he came here, he was driving this junky, little Toyota. Don’t know how he squeezed in there. Glad he’s got positive cash flow so he can buy a decent vehicle and fly my sister to meet his mom.”
“K-kazlyn was n-nervous, b-but anyone w-would love h-h-her.”
Luke spun her to face him. “That’s exactly what she said about you.”
Annie lowered her eyes. “I r-really l-l-like her.”
Luke tilted her chin up with his fingers. “That’s good because I really like you.” He dipped his head and his lips maneuvered hers in a pattern that was becoming familiar, but was still so exciting she was literally weak in the knees. He pulled her tighter against him, and she tasted peanut butter fudge dessert. Annie couldn’t decide which was better—peanut butter and fudge or coconut cream.
; Chapter 12
Monday evening, Luke was in the back of the store, unloading a crate of essential oils Annie had just received from Butterfly Expressions. She struck gold when she found the independent oil supplier out of Idaho. Their prices were fabulous and their oils all one-hundred percent pure. She and Luke were supposed to go to dinner tonight. Actually go into a restaurant—not that Snow Valley had any fancy restaurants. She kept giving herself pep talks. She could handle eating out. Luke would order for her. He’d watch out for her like he always did.
The door swung open, bringing in the dry Montana heat. It was so different than Hawaii, but she loved it.
“Halloo,” a high-pitched voice sang out.
Annie froze. She didn’t have to turn around to recognize that call. Her mother. She took a long breath, but didn’t get a chance to spin and face the demon.
“Ann, my darling.” Bony arms wrapped around her from behind. “I found you.”
Leave it to her mother to make it dramatic. Annie forced herself to turn into the hug but couldn’t dredge up the courage to talk and be belittled.
Her mom’s heavily-lashed eyes blinked at her. “Oh, darling, you’re looking very…strong.” She pulled back and glanced over Annie. “You always enjoyed food too much. Zeke and I have given it up completely. We juice everything.”
A hulking, blond man, obviously Zeke, approached with a hand outstretched. Annie wondered how he survived on juice. He looked like a body builder and was obviously closer to Annie’s age than her mother’s. She knew most men considered her mother extremely beautiful, and she supposed the surgical enhancements and millions of dollars didn’t hurt the attraction.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ann.”
Annie shook his hand and nodded.
“You can try to talk, darling,” her mother informed her. “He knows all about your deficiency.”
Annie closed her eyes and swallowed hard. Deficient was a perfect way to describe how she always felt when her mother was around.
“I got everything sorted,” Luke said as he came from the back room. He stopped and took in the situation for half a second before striding forward with his usual confidence. “Hi, I’m Luke Wilson, Annie’s boyfriend.”
Zeke shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Luke. I’m Zeke, Isabella’s husband.”
Annie looked to her mom.
“Well, it’s true. We were married last week. Gorgeous ceremony on the beach. Wish you could’ve been there.”
Annie forced a smile, feeling the slight but at the same time relieved she hadn’t had to make an appearance at another ostentatious affair. Her mother’s last three marriage ceremonies had been featured in magazines and newspapers, and Annie had spent the events hiding from cameras and people who wanted to talk.
“Luke Wilson.” Her mother drew the name out like he was a piece of fudge and she was on a perpetual diet—oh, wait, she was. “And what do you do for a living, Luke Wilson?”
“I’m a rancher.” Luke smiled, but Annie could feel the insincerity from here. She hadn’t told him everything about her mother, but he could sense people better than most.
“En-en-eng-g-gineer t-t-too,” Annie felt awful the moment the words were completed. She’d acted like Luke being a rancher wasn’t good enough. Luke could clean out portable toilets and be good enough.
Her mother’s perfectly sculpted eyebrows raised. “Who are you an engineer for?”
“Boeing,” Luke said.
“Well, now that’s impressive.”
“Would you like to go to dinner with us?” Luke asked. “We’re heading over to Big C’s. They’ve got the best hamburgers and fries around.”
Her mother tilted her chin, and Zeke’s olive skin paled. He licked his lips, looking like a starving man—oh, wait, he probably was.
“We are on a liquid-only diet,” her mother informed him.
“Oh.” Luke’s eyebrows lifted. “Well, that’s great. He also has amazing shakes, so you could just drink one of those.”
“L-l-luke,” Annie began, wishing for the millionth time in her life that she could get words out quickly.
“It’s all right, darling,” her mother’s voice oozed contempt. “I can see now why you’ve gained some weight since I saw you last.”
Annie swallowed hard, fighting back the tears. How could her mother’s contempt still get to her?
“Oh, Ann.” Her mother shook her head. “This…shop, a cowboy infatuation, you getting fat. Why do you always have to disappoint?”
“Now you listen here.” Luke stepped forward.
Annie had never seen him angry, but he obviously had it in him.
“You apologize to Annie!” Luke gritted out. “She is perfectly shaped, and you have no right to imply otherwise.”
Her mother cocked her head to the side. “Her name is Ann and I have every right. I am her mother and am only concerned with her improving and being better than she is.”
“Her name is Annie, and she is not only perfectly shaped, she is beautiful, funny, smart, talented, and kind—basically everything that you are not.”
The words hung in the air and Annie couldn’t even get a stutter out.
Her mother pivoted on her strappy high heels and grabbed Zeke’s arm. “Goodbye, Ann. Good luck in this primitive, backwards town. Give us a call if you ever want to come visit…alone.”
They strode out the door. Her mother’s perfume swirled in the air and the tears Annie had been fighting won the battle and slipped down her cheeks. Luke had his arms around her before the door closed, gently cradling her against his chest. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. My temper got the best of me. Do you want me to go and apologize? You can spend the evening with them and I will disappear after I go make this right.”
Annie shook her head, the tears racing down her cheeks. “N-n-no. D-d-don’t l-l-like h-h-her.”
Luke gave a surprised chuckle, and then the chuckle turned into a loud laugh. Annie found herself laughing with him. It was an awful thing to say about her mother, but her mother had been saying awful things about her for a lifetime so she didn’t feel as guilty as she should.
“I didn’t like her much either,” Luke said when their laughter calmed. “Shall we go eat greasy hamburgers, French fries, and double-chocolate shakes?”
Annie grinned. “And on-onion r-r-rings.”
“And a large side of onion rings,” Luke declared. He started to walk toward the door, but Annie clung to his arm and didn’t move.
“What?” he asked.
She grabbed the pad of paper and wrote quickly.
Not to be fishing for compliments, but I really am not as thin as I could be even though I exercise hard and try to eat healthy. Does it bother you that I like to eat?
“Oh, Annie.” Luke closed his eyes and shook his head. He crushed her to him and claimed her lips for several minutes before pulling back and saying, “I meant what I said about your shape being perfect. Why anyone would want a woman who is sickly thin is beyond me. You are…” His eyes swept over everything, from her arms to her legs and in between. “You’re beautiful. More beautiful than any woman I’ve ever met.”
Annie grabbed him and kissed him fiercely. “Thank y-you.” Then she was kissing him again and the hamburgers and onion rings had to wait a little longer.
***
Luke helped Annie into a booth at Big C’s then went to wait in line to order their food. He had her requests written down, and it made him laugh how particular she was about everything she wanted on her hamburger and the large amounts of chocolate shavings and fudge that she wanted in her shake. He shouldn’t have been so harsh with her mom, but maybe it was time someone stood up for Annie. He would willingly take that job for the rest of his life if she’d let him.
He felt a hand on his arm and turned to grin at Annie. The grin slipped a bit when he realized it was Missy.
“Hey, Missy, how are you?”
“Doing okay. You here alone?”
“Annie’s wi
th me.”
“She seems really nice.”
“She’s amazing.”
Missy’s blue eyes darkened.
“Hey, Missy. I’m sorry. I want to be a friend to you, but that’s all. I’ve really fallen for Annie.”
She nodded bravely. “No, I understand. I just had this…vision of coming home. When I heard you’d moved back from California, I started scheming how I could leave Tate. You were my motivation to get away and you didn’t even know it.”
The line moved forward, and it was Luke’s turn to order. He placed his and Annie’s order quickly, then gave the young girl his debit card. He turned to Missy. This was kind of an awkward conversation to be having at the counter of a fast-food restaurant. “I am sorry, but I’m glad you got away from him.”
“You’ve always been there for me, Luke. If things don’t work out…you know where to find me.”
She wrapped her arms around him in what he hoped looked like a friendly hug, especially as he glanced over her head and saw Annie watching them. He pulled free. “Take care, Missy.”
She smiled wistfully and walked out the door. Luke sighed.
“Sir, can you please sign this?”
Luke scribbled out his signature on the receipt and took his card back. The look on Annie’s face when she saw Missy hugging him ripped at him. How was he going to explain? Would she believe him? He walked slowly toward the booth, but voices interrupted his stewing.
“Hey, pretty lady. You here all alone?”
Sam. That brute had better stay away from Annie. Luke increased his pace, his anger at Annie’s mother still simmering under the surface. He could see how hurt Annie had been and now she was cowering away from Sam.
“What?” Sam ran a beefy hand down her arm. “Don’t you talk? Your voice must be as pretty as the rest of you.”
Annie’s head drooped. She studied the table and her curls shook.
“Why won’t you talk to me?” He wrapped his hand around her bicep and squeezed. “You think you’re too good for me?”
Luke reached Sam, grabbed his arm, and whirled him to face him. “I can talk enough for the both of us.” He slammed his fist into Sam’s doughy cheek.
Summer in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance Anthologies Book 2) Page 33