Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
“ Y ou don’t have to do this,” Serenity said for what seemed like the hundredth time.
Luca gave her a curt nod. “I know.”
She waited, but he didn’t offer anything else and she turned back to her task. She actually really liked having him walk with her, but she didn’t want him to feel pressured. Just because she was struggling with her feelings, didn’t mean he was struggling with his own.
Her heart didn’t seem to want to separate his protectiveness from her feelings for him, and every time he did something like this, helping without any outside motivation, she fell a little deeper.
The righteous anger she’d had when he first arrived back in town was nowhere to be found, and Serenity couldn’t seem to find the energy to look for it.
“Well…thank you,” she finally responded. She glanced at the stack of papers in her hands. Last night, she, Shiloh and their friends had worked out a flier to invite the other shop owners to a meeting to discuss their group.
Funny enough, everyone who’d come last night had thought it was great. No one wanted to be broken into or to see their friends hurt the way Serenity had been hurt. Sharing their businesses and protecting each other in the process just made sense.
“You’re welcome,” Luca said in his gravelly tone. “Though you don’t need to keep saying it.”
She grinned at him. “I know.” She stopped, waiting to see how he’d react. His responding smile made the ache in her face lessen. She was such an idiot. Falling for a man who didn’t want her…twice! When would she learn?
Clearing her throat, Serenity focused on the next shop. “Oh.” She jerked to a stop when Luca reached around her and pulled the door open. His presence wrapped around her as he brushed her shoulder with the movement.
Safe. He felt so safe…and yet it was more than that.
“Thank you,” Serenity whispered automatically.
Luca nodded. He waited for her to go inside before following, and Serenity didn’t miss the looks a few of the customers sent his way. There was absolutely no way to hide Luca, and Serenity didn’t mind one bit.
Serenity walked straight up to the counter. “Hi. Is Ivory in today?”
The young girl frowned. “Uh, yeah…she’s in the back.”
Smiling, Serenity continued. “I’m a friend of hers and came to drop off these fliers. Is it alright if I just go on back?”
The girl shrugged, her eyes darting between Serenity and Luca.
“I suppose,” the teenager replied.
“Thanks.” Glancing at Luca, Serenity tilted her head toward the back of the store where she knew Ivory’s office was. Most of the shops on Main Street were built in the same shape and layout, though a few had second stories and others were singular.
Ivory’s store had an inside opening to the shop next door, which was Mrs. Pendergast’s glass shop, while Ivory sold heirloom style toys. Wooden puppets, and puzzles, along with antique style dolls and accessories. It was an amazing store to spend time in, whether you were an adult or a child.
Luca silently walked behind Serenity as they went through the back door. Serenity could practically feel the employee’s gaze on them, and Serenity shrugged her shoulders, trying to relieve the itch from the stare.
The feeling made her slightly uncomfortable, but Luca’s presence helped fight off the worst of it. It was too reminiscent of the feeling she’d gotten when the man attacked her a few days ago
“Ser!” Ivory came out of her office with a wide smile on her pretty face and open arms. Ivory’s hair was nearly black, the darkest Serenity had ever seen on a person and it was pulled up in a high ponytail today, swishing with each step of the tall, thin woman.
Serenity smiled and returned the offered hug, then stepped back to introduce Ivory to Luca. “This is Luca McCoy. He’s helping me fix up the flood at my shop.”
Ivory’s smile widened just a touch, and Serenity had to push aside a tiny twist in her tummy. Ivory was stunning, there was no denying that. Would she turn Luca’s head in a way that Serenity didn’t? Could Serenity survive that kind of development?
Probably not.
“The famous Luca,” Ivory said, offering her hand.
Serenity held her breath while the two shook hands, keeping a close eye on Luca’s reaction. When he nodded, then dropped Ivory’s hand and stepped slightly closer to Serenity, herself, she had to work to keep a smug smile from spreading across her face.
“Shiloh’s told me all about you,” Ivory continued with a soft laugh. “And she was right. You do look like an assassin.”
Luca folded his arms over his chest.
“That’s not helping,” Ivory pointed out.
Serenity finally gave into the impulse to laugh. Reaching out, she patted Luca’s large forearm. “He’s just a big teddy bear,” she told Ivory, grinning up at Luca.
Did his face soften? Was he?—
Serenity mentally slapped herself. That line of thinking was going to get her nowhere. “Most of the time,” she amended to Ivory. “I’m afraid I’ve seen first hand what happens if you break the law.”
“Or if you simply mess with you,” Ivory teased, her gray eyes flaring for just a moment.
“Uh…” Serenity’s laughter lost its momentum. What in the world was Ivory implying? That Luca had only acted because it was Serenity? She knew better. If he could, Luca would save the world. No questions asked. Serenity was far from special.
“Do you make any of the toys?”
Luca’s question caught Serenity off guard but helped snap her out of her panicked reverie.
“A few!” Ivory said proudly. She waved them toward her. “Come on back to my office. You can show me what you have planned for the fliers and when we’re going to meet next.” Turning, Ivory led them back into the small space at the back of the storage area.
“I don’t think I knew that you actually make some of the toys,” Serenity noted as she sat. She looked up at Luca, but he shook his head when she offered a seat, instead choosing to stand guard at the corner of her chair.
Ivory sat at her desk, shrugging. “I’ve always had a fascination with dolls. One of the lines of accessories is mine.”
Serenity’s eyes widened. “That’s amazing! Congratulations!”
Ivory smiled. “Thanks, but it’s really not that big of a deal.”
“I think it is,” Serenity insisted. “I’ve never sold something I designed myself.”
Ivory laughed softly. “I suppose it is a little unique.” She held out her hand. “Anyway, let’s get to those fliers. I really think this group is going to be great.” She bit her bottom lip and considered for a moment before continuing. “Not many people know this, but Mrs. Pendergast is actually looking to sell the glass shop.” Ivory dropped her voice. “I’m trying to convince Pearl to come buy it.” She looked up at Luca. “Pearl is my older sister.”
“A family business, then,” Luca said.
Ivory nodded. “The stores are connected, and Pearl is looking for something new. It’d be a perfect fit.”
Serenity clasped her hands over her knee. “I hope that works out. I haven’t seen Pearl in forever.”
“Seriously,” Ivory gushed. “It would be so good to have her home.”
It was back. That sense of longing for a home. Luca clenched his fists to keep from rubbing the spot on his sternum.
What was this? He was here. He was back where he grew up. He had a job and was protecting someone. He was living with his idiot brothers, for goodness sake! Why did he keep getting these feelings like something was missing?
He gave himself a mental slap. He wasn’t here to find a home. He was here to gain closure with Serenity and help her get back on her feet. He was here to see his brothers and work for them for a while. He was here to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life and then move on to do it.
“I’ll give one to Mrs. Pendergast,” Ivory said, breaking Luca out of his thoughts. “And head down the street to see if anyone else is interested.” Ivory frowned. “You know…there’s several shops that I don’t know the owner of. That kinda makes me feel bad.”
Serenity shook her head. “Don’t. We all get busy in our own worlds. I don’t know everyone on the street either, but…” She smirked. “Shiloh and I realized the other night that there’s a bunch of us who are women business owners and in our twenties and thirties. Go figure.”
Ivory smiled back. “Sounds like we need to get to know each other for more than one reason.” She frowned. “And I really am sorry about what happened at your shop, Ser. I heard the guy was on drugs?”
Serenity shrugged. “I haven’t heard.”
“He was.”
Both women looked at Luca. “How do you know?”
Luca took a breath. “His eyes were bloodshot when I found him—” He cleared his throat. “When I unarmed him, his eyes were red rimmed and bloodshot in a way that suggested he was under the influence of something.”
Serenity’s hand went to her cheek, the one with the stitches, and Luca almost stepped forward to take those fingers into his. He hated it when she got lost in thinking about that day.
“I mean…we aren’t a tiny town,” Ivory mused. “But we aren’t massive either. It’s so sad to think of Lighthouse Bay having a drug problem.”
“I think every town has one,” Luca responded. “No matter how small, there’s always a group who make things unsafe for others.”
Serenity slumped back in her seat. “Luca, I love you, but I don’t think you were cut out for pep talks.”
Luca froze, and Serenity did as well when she realized what she said. Their eyes never moved from each other, but Luca was sure that Serenity could see the pulse pounding against his neck. He swallowed hard, but couldn’t bring himself to look away.
Every once in a while, Serenity seemed to say something that made him think she didn’t hate him as much as he had originally thought.
Blinking, Serenity looked back at Ivory, who was intently studying them both. “So, if you’ll pass those out, I’ll do the dozen down by my shop, and we’ll just keep giving assignments out. Delegation is the way to go, right?”
“Right.” Ivory nodded, one side of her mouth creeping up, and her eyes continually darting up to Luca, then back to Serenity.
Luca’s ears were about to turn into ash, they were so hot.
Serenity stood. “Don’t forget to figure out what you’d like me to add to my shop, okay? Something small would be best, I think.”
Ivory nodded and also stood. “I think maybe some of my wooden cars would be a good fit. Those are a favorite with little boys.”
“Oh, that’s a good one,” Serenity said with a laugh. “The boys are always bored when their moms are shopping in my store.”
“Perfect.” Ivory beamed, turning to Luca. “It was so good to meet you. Thanks for stopping by.”
Luca nodded. “You too.” He stepped aside, waiting until Serenity had walked through the door to follow her. Instead of exiting through the front, she led them out the back and into the alley.
Stepping to the side, Serenity put her back to the building and her face up to the sun. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
Luca frowned. “For what?”
She cracked open an eye to look at him. “For what I said in there. It…was just an old habit, you know? I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
So she hadn’t meant it. The little zing of hope that had been building began to fizzle.
“I mean…I know you didn’t come here for me. You’ve already said that, and I don’t want you to think that I misunderstood you.”
Luca stepped forward before he knew what he was doing.
Serenity’s eyes widened, and her mouth snapped shut.
“Do you want me to be here for you?” Luca had to fight the urge to smack himself. What was he doing? Why was he pushing this? Serenity only wanted him around for protection. He’d seen the pain on her face when she’d first seen him. He’d left her. Left her without explanation. His brain must have gone completely haywire.
However, when she didn’t respond right away, Luca didn’t immediately take back his words. Her wide, blue eyes stared up at him, and her hands twitched. Did she want to smack him? Push him away? Or was there any hope that she wanted to touch him less violently?
“I…” She rasped. “I don’t know.”
The moment between them stretched. Surprisingly, her words felt simple and true. And against his better judgment, that hope flared back to life.
The longer he stared at her, the harder it was to keep his hands to himself. Sparks seem to bounce between them, and the air thickened, pulling Luca into Serenity’s orbit.
Slowly, his body swayed forward, his boots coming toe to toe with her sneakers. The fruit of her shampoo and the soft floral of her perfume encircled him. Closing his eyes, Luca let it fill his lungs, and when he looked at her again, he realized he’d leaned in even closer.
Still, she didn’t push him away, and his hope continued to flare. Could there really be a chance at forgiveness?
His hand rose, reaching for the chunk of hair caressing her cheek. “Seri,” he breathed. The rough edge of his fingertips touched her soft skin, and Serenity sucked in a gasping breath before stepping to the side, breaking the moment with something akin to a cold bucket in his face.
Luca immediately stepped back, mentally cursing his weakness when it came to Serenity. He lost all his good sense when she was around. Hadn’t she just said she didn’t know what she wanted? It was stupid to push her.
“I…” She tucked the hair behind her ear. “I’m not quite sure?—”
“I’m sorry,” Luca hurried to interrupt. “I shouldn’t have done that. It was out of line.” Someone was hammering a hole in his chest at those words. She would never know how painful they were to say.
“Luca,” Serenity said softly, gaining his attention. “I honestly don’t know how I feel.”
He nodded. “I get it.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t think you do.”
His brows furrowed.
She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I’m not saying no.”
His eyes widened, and she looked up sharply.
“But I’m also not saying yes. I’m really, really , confused about lots of things right now, and I’m simply…not ready.”
He couldn’t move. In just a few simple words, Serenity had changed Luca’s entire life’s focus.
If she wasn’t ready now, he could be patient because that meant that there could quite possibly come a time when she would be ready. And when she was ready, he would be too.