Chapter 5 #3
He immediately pulled back from her. The stockbroker she’d married the first time around had certainly never come home stinking of gas.
As soon as Luke had the thought, he regretted it.
How pointless to be jealous of the dead man she’d chosen over him the first time around.
That was ancient history, and it was better left in the past where it belonged.
“But that’s okay,” she said, turning to smile at him. “Because I was missing you, too.”
“I’ll grab a shower.” He went into the laundry room and stripped off his work clothes, dumping them directly into the washer with a healthy dose of detergent. When Syd’s arms came around him from behind, it was his turn to startle.
“I didn’t mean to be insulting,” she said, punctuating her words with kisses to his back.
“I know. I should’ve left the clothes outside.” He turned to her and looped his arms around her, instantly aroused by her nearness. Studying her face, he ached with wanting her. He kissed her and rested his forehead against hers. “Let me take a shower and then we can finish this conversation.”
She replied with a mischievous grin and released him. “You’re on.”
Luke rushed through a shower and shave, emerging from the bathroom to find her reclined on the bed, waiting for him.
She held out a hand to him.
Knotting the towel around his hips, he took her hand and stretched out next to her.
She snuggled up to him, her head on his chest and her hand on his belly. “You worked hard today.”
“Always do this time of year, getting the marina ready for winter.” He took her wandering hand and brought it to his lips. “How was your day?”
“It was . . . interesting.” She told him about breakfast with Linda and the girls and the letter from Jenny, the new lighthouse keeper. When she mentioned what she’d volunteered to do, Luke immediately tensed.
“Why does it have to be you?”
“Why not me? I certainly understand what she’s been through.”
Luke chose his words carefully. “You’re doing so much better. Is it wise to reopen that wound?”
She looked up at him. “I hear what you’re saying, and I love you for being concerned, but now that I know she’s out there and hurting, I have to see her. I can’t explain why, but when I heard her story, I knew I had to do something.”
As he thought about what she’d said, Luke combed his fingers through her hair.
“Can you understand that?”
“I think it’s great that you want to reach out to her, but I want you to be careful you don’t set yourself back in the process. You’ve seemed so much better lately. Happier, lighter.”
“I have been happier,” she said, caressing his chest. “So very happy. In fact, I wanted to talk to you about that.”
“About how happy you are with me?” he asked with a teasing smile.
“Yes.”
Luke all but stopped breathing while he waited to hear what she had to say.
“That question you asked me a while back . . .”
“I handled it all wrong. I know that now. You weren’t ready.”
She propped herself up on one elbow and looked him square in the eye. “I think I might be now.”
“Really?”
She nodded.
He jumped up. “Hold that thought.”
“Luke! Where’re you going?”
“I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”
Still wearing only the towel around his waist, Luke ran out to the truck.
His hands were shaking as he unlocked the glove box and retrieved the ring.
He went back inside and stopped himself in the hallway to take a deep, cleansing breath.
When he had managed to calm down, he rolled his shoulders and returned to the bedroom.
Syd was sitting up on the bed with her legs curled under her. She eyed him warily.
With the ring box enclosed in his fist, Luke crawled up the bed to her.
She looped her arms around him and kissed him. “What’re you up to?”
As his heart hammered in his chest, Luke drank her in. Sometimes he still couldn’t believe that she’d come back to him, that she was here to stay, that the feelings of peace and joy she’d brought with her might last a lifetime.
“The last time I did this all wrong. The timing was terrible. I didn’t have a ring. You weren’t ready. This time,” he said, reaching for her left hand and bringing it to his lips, “I want to do it right. Sydney Donovan, undisputed love of my life, will you do me the great honor of being my wife?”
She blinked back tears as she placed her hands on his face and gave him the sweetest kiss he’d ever received. “Yes,” she whispered against his lips.
Relief flooded through him, making him tremble. He pulled back from her to open the box and remove the ring.
She sucked in a sharp, deep breath as he slid it onto her finger. “Oh, Luke, it’s gorgeous! I love it!”
“I love you, and I always will.”
“I love you, too. Thank you for being patient with me.”
“I would’ve waited forever for you.”
With an exuberant squeal, she threw her arms around him. “We’re engaged!”
Luke closed his eyes and held on tight, absorbing the moment as the fear finally released its grip on him. “When do you want to tie the knot?”
“Can I think about that and get back to you?”
“Whatever you want, baby. Anything you want.”