Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
S erenity was already sweating when she arrived at the shop the next morning. Her heart hadn’t been willing to calm down, no matter how many breathing exercises she’d done.
Last night had been, in a word, amazing.
The meeting had gone well, most of the street were on board, and though Shiloh’s teasing had been embarrassing, it had all turned out in the end.
Luca had kissed her.
And Serenity had kissed him back.
Funny thing was, she’d expected it to feel like before. When they’d been dating and looking forward to a future together. But it had been different. Serenity knew what it felt like to be held by Luca McCoy. She knew his arms, knew the feel of his kiss, his smell, all of it.
But this Luca had been different. More. His arms were stronger, his cologne different, and his kiss softer and more adoring. He’d been afraid of pushing her, of overstepping his welcome, and Serenity had felt it in every touch and caress.
Of course, she’d probably changed as well, though it was harder to pinpoint. Her youthful bravery had settled and her quick wit subdued. Serenity was less likely to snap and more likely to cry now than she’d been as a teenager, but she didn’t count it as all bad. Rough edges being made smooth was a good thing, even if the process had been painful.
She stopped her car and put it in park just behind Luca’s truck. He’d beat her to the shop. No doubt she’d find him inside, already working and getting things done. That part of Luca definitely hadn’t changed.
Nerve endings jumping like they were on fire, Serenity grabbed her stuff and headed toward the back door. She could hear him moving around, and her grip on her purse tightened.
“Good morning,” she said softly, stepping across the threshold.
Luca looked up from where he was stacking fans and gave her a soft smile. “Good morning.”
Serenity was having a hard time keeping the smile on her face from spreading into looking like an imbecile, so she forced her gaze away and looked around the room. “It looks a lot bigger in here without the fans and storage boxes.”
Luca looked around. “I suppose it does.”
She nodded slowly, stepping a deeper inside and chewed her bottom lip. “So…what’s the plan for today? The wood is finally dry?”
“It is.” Luca finished setting the fan down, then walked toward Serenity.
Her heart jumped into her throat, but Serenity held her ground. Her head tilted back as he approached until he stood toe to toe with her.
His hands slowly rose, but instead of touching her, he reached for the bags she was carrying.
Serenity couldn’t be sure if the breath she was holding was out of fear or excitement. How could something that was so old feel so new?
“Let me get those.” Luca lifted the bags off her shoulders and bag, depositing them to the side.
“Thanks,” Serenity said breathlessly. She flexed her hands and shifted her weight, wracking her brain to figure out what to say next. They were adults, for heaven's sake! Why in the world was this so awkward?
“And let’s try this again, hm?” After setting down the bags, Luca gently cupped her face and left a soft kiss on Serenity’s half-open, shocked mouth. “Good morning,” he said again.
There was no stopping the smile this time, and Serenity didn’t even care. Why was he so good at taking awkwardness and turning it into something comfortable? He’d done the same last night when she’d started to spiral at the memories of her attack.
“Good morning,” Serenity whispered.
His thumb gently rubbed back and forth along her cheekbone. “Did you get any sleep? I kept you up too late last night.”
Serenity huffed a quiet laugh. “Slept like a baby,” she lied.
“Hmm…” Again, his thumb went back and forth. “Maybe you should take a nap today.”
Shaking her head, Serenity stepped out of his hold. “I’m not five, Luc.”
He smirked. “I’m fully aware.”
Serenity’s smile widened unconsciously, but she rolled her eyes. Why did women turn into ridiculous teenagers when a handsome man acknowledged them?
“So…” Serenity rubbed her hands together. “What’s on the agenda today?”
“How are you at unboxing flooring?”
Serenity glanced his way. “Never done it. Which means I’m an expert.”
Luca chuckled. “True enough.” He tilted his head toward the door. “The boxes are in my truck. Let’s bring them in.”
The next twenty minutes were silent, other than the crunching of gravel under their feet, but Serenity still couldn’t stop smiling. Her life was better, lighter, and more hopeful than it had in years. On one hand, she felt like a dork that a man had that much influence in her life. On the other hand, she absolutely loved it.
Humans were designed to be better together, and Serenity had lived most of her life believing that her better half was Luca McCoy. She’d lost him once, but he was back and it was slowly filling all the cracks and broken pieces she’d been patching for years.
Of course, there were still things to work out. Things weren’t perfect, and they wouldn’t be for a while, but all would be well—eventually. And that was more hope than she’d had in a really long time.
“Last one.” Luca set down a box and patted the top.
“Now I start to open them? Like Christmas?” Serenity teased.
Luca smiled and rubbed the top of his head. “Just start with one. That way if there’s a problem, we can return the unopened ones.”
“Ah…gotcha.” Serenity tapped her temple. “Way to think ahead, McCoy.”
“Lack of hair doesn’t mean lack of brains, you know,” Luca shot back.
Serenity laughed. “Why do I get the feeling your brothers have been giving you a hard time?”
Luca grunted. He pulled a razor out of his pocket. “Ever used one of these before?”
Serenity pursed her lips and cocked her hip. “Seriously? I’m a souvenir store owner.”
Luca held it out. “I suppose you really are an expert, then.”
She pushed out the razor and stepped up to run it along the tape on the box in one fell swoop. “Taped boxes and I are like this.” She held up her free hand and crossed two fingers.
She stilled when Luca stepped up behind her, his chest to her back. “You’re really close to the tape, huh?”
Serenity’s hand dropped to her side. “Yes?” she squeaked.
Luca’s breath brushed over her ear. “Think there’s room for any other close relationships in your life?”
Serenity closed her eyes, leaning back into Luca. “Maybe.”
“Just maybe?”
Serenity smiled. “It depends.”
“On what?”
She turned her head just enough to see him out of her peripheral vision. “On how tall and handsome the guy wanting the relationship is.”
Luca didn’t answer right away, but she could feel his chest rising and falling against her back. “I’m six-four, but I can’t attest to handsomeness. According to my brothers, I have an eye patch to keep part of my ugly mug from scaring women and small children.”
Serenity spun around, setting the razor on the boxes. Looking up, she pretended to study him. “Brothers are biased,” she whispered. “Their opinions don’t count.”
Luca raised his eyebrow. “Who’s opinion does count?”
“Mine.” Serenity’s lips kept twitching. “And I think you’re plenty handsome.”
“And that’s all that matters,” Luca breathed, just as he leaned down for a kiss much more satisfactory than their quick hello peck.
Luca’s job had never been so satisfying. It was a struggle not to walk around strutting like a peacock with a grin splitting his face from ear to ear.
They couldn’t even talk, since the nail gun was so loud, but every time Serenity handed him a new piece of wood, their hands touched, and Serenity smiled or winked at him.
He could see her laugh at times, and she looked adorable with her noise-blocking headphones and large safety glasses on. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to miss hitting the gun and smack the mallet against his shin instead of the gun trigger.
The stitches in his arm were itching like crazy and the bruising was aching, but Luca couldn’t bring himself to quit. He’d helped countless vets find purpose and health on their recovery journey, but never, never , had he ever enjoyed backbreaking labor the way he was right now.
His watch buzzed against his wrist, and Luca glanced down., It was later than he’d thought. Reluctantly, he shut off the gun and took off his headphones. “I’ve kept you too long. Are you hungry?”
Serenity raised her eyebrows and removed her headphones as well. “Lunch?” she repeated.
Luca nodded.
She smiled. “Sounds good to me.” Setting down the headphones, gloves, and glasses, she headed to where Luca had set her bags. “I brought extra.” Her blue eyes flashed over her shoulder. “Want to share?”
His heart rammed against his ribcage. What was he? Twelve? “Sounds great.” He grabbed his own lunch. “But don’t let me eat too much.”
Serenity led them into the front of the shop that wasn’t neat, but held a lot less dust and at least had some chairs.
“I was thinking about using that wall.” Serenity paused and pointed to a spot near the back of the register counter.
“For?”
“For displaying a ‘Main Street Shops’ section.” She looked up at him. “You know, so I can showcase a little something from each of the shops. What do you think?”
Luca pursed his lips and nodded, narrowing his eye at the wall. “I think that sounds good. After we finish the floor, I could build you some shelves there.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
He nodded. “Of course. It would be easy.” Not to mention, it would keep him busy, and more importantly…near her.
Serenity’s smile was enough to give any man a heart attack, and Luca couldn’t look away. Here in the front room, the sun was showing off her hair, and the warm look she was giving him was almost enough to break down his careful self control.
He did, however, allow himself the chance to reach out and tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. It was just as soft as he remembered from last night. His hand lingered for a moment before he pulled back, clearing his throat.
“I’m starving.”
Serenity shook her head and smiled. “You’re always starving.”
Luca shrugged. “Comes with the height, I suppose.”
“Let me grab chairs.”
“How about you wait by the counter, and I’ll grab chairs.” Luca set his stuff down, but Serenity stopped him with a hand on his forearm.
“Girls can lift chairs too, you know,” she said.
Luca nodded. “I’d never tell you they can’t. But despite my faults, I still try to be a gentleman, and that means I’ll be getting the chairs. Not because you’re incapable, but because it’s how we men show respect.”
Serenity’s smile was soft, and her shoulders fell a little. “There aren’t many gentlemen left.”
Luca shrugged again. “All the more reason for those of us left to keep trying, right?”
Her hand fell. “I suppose so.”
He started to walk away.
“Thank you.”
A sharp pain ate at Luca’s sternum as he gave her a quick smile. He might have been raised to be a gentleman, but his treatment of her over the last few years had been anything but worthy of the title.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed the thoughts away. He had a lot to make up for. And honestly, he had a lot of work to do moving forward. If this relationship was going to have a second go, he needed to get his head on straight and figure out the kind of future where he was able to support Serenity and a possible family.
It might be a long time down the road, but getting a career going took time.
And Luca still had no idea what he could possibly be good at.
“Here we go.” He set their chairs down from when they’d sorted inventory a couple days ago.”
“Perfect. Thank you.” Serenity took one seat and patted the other, smiling up at him.
Luca grabbed his lunchbox and sat, pulling out his first sandwich.
Serenity grinned. “You’re going to eat both?”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “You think I can’t?”
She pulled out a tupperware and waved it in his direction. “I’ve got a microwave in the back where you can warm up some roast from Sunday’s dinner.”
Luca froze the sandwich right in front of his mouth. “Roast?”
Serenity’s grin widened. “Pot roast with mashed potatoes and brown gravy.” For a split second, her brows pulled together, and the container dropped a little. “Ummm…you used to love it.”
He hated how her voice dropped and how she was questioning how much she knew about him. Soon they were going to have to hash it all out. He needed to come clean with her and explain everything.
But first…food.
He grabbed the offering. “It’s still my favorite.” In an attempt to bolster her confidence, he stood and leaned in for a peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”
Serenity’s skin was flushed and her eyes glassed over as he walked back to the small office in the far corner of the storage room and that stupid urge to strut hit Luca full force. If he didn’t get himself under control, he was gonna go back to acting like a preteen seeing their celebrity crush in person.
Wouldn’t his brothers just love that?