Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
S erenity’s pulse was pushing so hard against her throat that she wasn’t sure she could speak. “Welcome,” she croaked as the last of the neighborhood watch members arrived. Closing the door, Serenity blew out a breath.
Tonight was special, though the members of the group didn’t quite know why. This meeting should have been like any other, but over the last couple of months, the group had grown closer and Serenity had become good friends with several of the women.
So it seemed like a no-brainer that her plans with Luca should be shared in front of the group.
Only Luca wasn’t going to be there for another half hour…and Serenity needed to prep the group so they were prepared.
“You got this,” Shiloh whispered, giving Serenity a thumbs up from her place perched on the arm of the couch.
Gemma looked up at Shiloh, then at Serenity. Shrugging, Gemma smiled and copied Shiloh’s thumbs up.
Serenity laughed a little, helping relieve some of the tension in her muscles. She wanted everything to go perfectly tonight, but with how nervous she was, she was afraid she would botch the entire process.
“Hey, everyone,” Serenity said, tucking a chunk of hair behind her ear. She immediately untucked it. Luca loved her hair down and free, and Serenity had spent a long time getting it just right tonight. The last thing she needed was a kink in it from being tucked back. “Okay…so I know this isn’t our usual meeting time, but I…” She cleared her throat. “I wanted to ask for your help.”
Gemma frowned and leaned forward. “Is everything alright? Was there another safety issue?”
Murmurs broke out in the group, and everyone began talking and asking questions.
“No, no,” Serenity hurried to say, putting her hands out. “Sorry. Sorry. That wasn’t what I meant.” She clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking. “I just…” She blew out another breath. “I’m so bad at this.”
Ivory called out from the back. “It’s fine, Ser. We’re listening. How can we help you?”
Serenity gave her friend a grateful smile. “I asked Luca to come a half hour late,” she began. “But he doesn’t know it’s a half hour late.”
The room stilled.
“The mafia guy doesn’t know we’re here?” Annaliese deadpanned.
Shiloh cackled. “I call him Assassin Dude. Mafia works pretty well, though.”
Annaliese’s lip twitched just slightly before going back to her usual frown. She folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not really the type for group activities.”
Her brother Dalton gripped her shoulder. “Go on,” he encouraged Serenity.
Serenity nodded. “I have a…gift for him. And I’m hoping you’ll help me set it up.”
Gemma clapped her hands. “Oooh, this is gonna be good. Think we’ll knock his eye patch off?”
Shiloh laughed so hard she almost fell off the couch. “Why didn’t I think of that one?” she asked, wiping at her eyes while the rest of the room chuckled. “I’m gonna have to use it again. Do you want credit?”
Gemma shook her head. “Nah. Totally not proprietary.”
Shiloh scoffed. “Amateur.” She patted Gemma’s shoulder. “Always copyright, honey. Always.”
“Anyway,” Annaliese pressed.
“Anyway,” Serenity agreed, nodding and picking up a file folder she had waiting on the coffee table. “Mostly I just need—” She cut off when the front door opened.
“Seri?”
Her eyes widened. “He’s early,” she mouthed to the group.
“Are you really surprised?” Blaire whispered back. She shook her head, grinning wildly. “He’s military. They’re always early.” Blaire nudged Harmony who hadn’t spoken yet. “That would absolutely not work for me at all.”
“Seri?” Luca’s voice was louder as he walked through the front entry.
Serenity looked at Shiloh, her eyes panicked.
Shiloh waved her on. “Go.”
“In here,” Serenity answered, cringing as she waited for him to come see the whole group. She wasn’t ready! Why did he have to be so early? She’d planned this according to his work schedule and the twins had said they’d make sure Luca worked until six o’clock on the nose!
Luca stalled in the doorway. “Uh…” He rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry. I guess I got the time wrong.” His eye darted to Serenity, and she couldn’t help but smile when she could visibly see him relax. His reaction to her never changed, and it did wonders for the nerves rampaging through Serenity’s stomach.
“Actually,” she said, her voice a little stronger than before. “You’re right on time.”
The room hushed, and Serenity’s heart began to race again. Some of them had to be guessing what was going on, even if she hadn’t had the chance to explain. She’d just skip the little set up and go straight for the offer.
Luca chuckled. “Okay. I didn’t mean to interrupt, so I’ll just slip back here.” He started to walk to a spot behind the couch, but Serenity stopped him.
“Actually, Luca. Would you mind coming up front with me?”
Luca frowned and glanced quickly around the room. Before he could speak, the twins popped into the doorway.
Jett gave Serenity an apologetic look and shrugged.
She shook her head, letting him know it was fine.
“Up front?” Luca asked, pulling Serenity’s attention back to him.
“Yes.”
Luca hesitated only a moment more before coming her way.
Serenity could see the heat rising on his ears as all eyes were on the two of them. She should be quaking in her boots right now, but instead, she was happy. Elated even.
This moment had been a long time in coming, and looking at him as he looked at her, she knew she was ready. They had a past, a difficult one even, but there had been good times. Times to remember, times to hold onto, and times to share with their children some day.
Serenity’s stomach flipped at the thought.
Despite their past, it was the future, including those children, that she was looking forward to the most.
Serenity clutched the folder. “We…” She indicated the people around the room who were all smiling just a little too widely to be innocent. “Wanted to make you an official part of the group,” Serenity continued.
Luca’s brows furrowed, but his mouth curled up a little. “Okay?”
Serenity held out the folder, her hands beginning to shake again. “This is an offer to become part of the shops on Main.”
Luca reached out to take the folder, but Serenity didn’t let go right away.
“We’d like to offer you a buy-in for half owner-ship in Lighthouse Bay Gifts and Collectibles.”
A gasp rang through the room but was quickly hushed and Luca froze.
“But it comes with a caveat,” Serenity continued, her voice starting to shake now.
Instead of pulling on the folder, Luca stepped closer. “And what would that be?” he asked in his low, gravelly tone.
It sent a shiver down Serenity’s spine, and she waited for it to stop before she tried to speak. “To be eligible to buy-in,” she said, her voice dropping into a whisper. “You have to be willing to take me on with it.”
Luca’s head was spinning. Had Serenity just…proposed to him? Luca stepped a little closer, hating all the eyes on him, but unwilling to back off. “Seri,” he whispered. “Are you saying you’d like to be my wife?”
Her smile shook and she blinked glassy eyes, but a short nod was all he needed to plough forward with his own ideas.
Dropping the folder, Luca cupped her face and ignored the catcalls by kissing Serenity for much longer than he should have in public.
Realizing, he needed to give an official answer, Luca pulled back a little. “You’re giving me a job,” he said hoarsely.
Serenity nodded, a couple of tears tracking down her cheek.
Luca used his thumb to wipe them away. “So that we can build the future we’ve been talking about.”
She nodded again, letting out a soft laugh. “Was that kiss a yes?”
He narrowed his eye and gave a slow nod. “Yes…but I have a caveat.”
Serenity blinked, her eyebrows pulling together slightly. “Okay.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Shiloh interrupted their chat. “Is someone recording this? Please say someone’s recording this for posterity. I forgot.”
“Got it!” Blaire shouted.
Luca felt his ears begin to burn again, and he shook his head. “Your friends are crazy.”
“Got that too,” Blaire offered.
Serenity closed her eyes and laughed. “Your caveat,” she reminded him.
“Right.” Luca blew out a breath. “I’d love to be partners in your business,” he said carefully. “But only if you’re willing to be partners in mine.”
Serenity frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Credit,” Shiloh said through a loud cough.
Luca rolled his eye. “ Shiloh, ” he said, giving the woman a look.
She grinned from ear to ear.
“I may have discovered that there was going to be an opening just a couple of doors down on Main Street.”
Serenity turned to look at her friend, then back to Luca, her eyes wide.
“I’m in talks with the owner, and I wasn’t quite ready to share because the papers haven’t been signed yet, but…” Luca grinned. “This offer is too good to pass up.”
“What business are you opening?” Serenity asked, her voice raspy and filled with emotion.
“Did you know there isn’t a fitness club within ten miles of Main Street?” Luca quoted Shiloh’s chat with him on the phone a month ago.
Serenity’s stunning blue eyes widened even more. “Luca,” she breathed. “You’d be so perfect for that.”
“I know!” Shiloh shouted, clapping her hands. “I’m a genius!”
“Shhh,” Blaire scolded. “We’re trying to hear.”
Shiloh slapped her hands over her mouth.
Luca closed his eye for a moment before looking at Serenity again.
She shrugged. “Sorry. Besties.”
He nodded. “She’s not living with us. I’m putting my foot down.”
“Hey!” Shiloh shouted. “I helped put together both sides of this proposal, so you better be nice, Assassin! Don’t make me renege my permission for this union!”
Tate laughed so hard that Gemma threw her shoe at him. “Seriously? You’re killing the mood.”
Tate picked up the shoe and dangled it between his fingers. “When was the last time you washed this?” he said, scrunching his nose.
“That’s it.” Luca shook his head and stepped back. “Thank you all. We’ll take it from here.” He grabbed Serenity’s hand and started dragging her toward the door.
“There’s food in the kitchen!” Serenity shouted over her shoulder, laughter in her voice.
“I look forward to joining you officially!” Luca offered right before slamming the front door. He didn’t stop there, instead, pulling Serenity to his truck.
“Where are we going?” she asked breathlessly as he lifted her into the passenger seat.
“Where no one’s watching us,” Luca said, then closed the door. He didn’t reach for her hand the whole time he was driving because he knew once he touched her again, he wouldn’t be able to let go for a long time.
This proposal had been almost as botched as the first one, but at least this time it wasn’t his fault.
Crowds were an absolute nuisance.
Luca pulled into his driveway, then ran around to grab Serenity. He didn’t bother helping her down, just pulled her into his arms and carried her up the steps and into the house.
“Luca,” she laughed. “You’re taking this too far.”
“I’m half afraid it’s not far enough,” he muttered. Setting her on her feet, he went back and locked the front door, peeking out the window for good measure.
“We’re alone,” Serenity announced, waving her arms to the side. “Now what?”
Luca grinned and slowly walked toward her. “Now you give me your answer,” he said. “Then we kiss until you don’t know up from down, and then we’ll text my brothers and tell them to stay away for the rest of the evening.”
Serenity’s cheeks were fiery red as Luca’s hands slid around her waist, pulling her into his chest. “I asked you first,” she said softly, clasping her hands behind his neck. “Wasn’t that answer enough?”
“You didn’t answer about being a partner in my business,” he reminded her.
“Ah.” Serenity nodded. “Luca McCoy…I’ve waited most of my life for you…literally.” She grinned, letting him know that wasn’t a dig. “But we both had some growing up to do.”
“We still have some growing up to do,” he inserted with a shrug. “At least I do.”
“We both do.” Serenity nodded. She lightly smacked the back of his head. “But don’t interrupt.”
Luca nodded.
“Being business partners and partners in life would make me the happiest woman on Earth. Again, I think that’s literal.”
One side of his mouth pulled up.
“Thank you for agreeing to work with me.” Serenity stretched up on tiptoe and gave him a light peck. “I’d love to work with you in return.”
Luca wove his fingers through her hair so he could cup the back of her head. “One more caveat,” he whispered against her lips.
“Okay.”
“A short engagement.”
Serenity gave a short laugh and nodded, her gaze trained on him. “Yeah. We’ve waited long enough, I think.”
“Couldn’t have said it better.” And with that, Luca fulfilled his promises for the rest of the evening. Their lives were going to be busy, very busy. Two businesses, a crazy bunch of friends that were growing in number, an upcoming marriage, and an eventual family… It was going to be chaotic for years.
And yet Luca had never felt so satisfied and whole, not even when he and Serenity were younger. The heartache they went through had been difficult, but it wasn’t until this moment that Luca realized just how much it had helped shape them for this moment.
And he wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Serenity was his, forever this time. And neither of them would take a moment of it for granted again. Life was busy, but precious, and Luca planned to enjoy every moment.