“Why would you come check on me?” I pressed.
“I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay.”
“Well, I’m not. I had an odd dream, got a glass of water and came out here to relax; not to be scared by you. You shouldn’t be here this late at night.” I could hear the anger in my voice and told myself to calm down.
Luke started to sit down and pulled folded blankets off the chair to wrap around me. I sat down beside him and he handed the glass of water back to me.
“How?” I asked.
“I caught the glass. Do you want to talk about your dream?” he asked.
“But, you were standing on the other side of the deck when I dropped it.”
“I have a long reach.”
“Still, you would have had to reach pretty fast. I didn’t see you move until after I had dropped it.”
“Are we going to argue about a glass of water, or would you like to talk about your dream?” he countered.
Hearing it put that way, I decided to let it go.
“Well, it was weird. In my dream, I was on a beach and I looked over at something that had caught my eye but I never actually saw what scared me. Whatever it was startled me enough that I got up and ran away.
“Then, I was running through a dark alley. It was pitch black outside and I was wearing a nice dress and heels. I was being chased and I ran until I ended up in a park. Street lights lit an area around me like a spotlight when I fell down. I think a heel broke on one of my shoes while I was running, because I remember looking down to take the shoe off. When I looked up again there was a dark wolf standing across from me in the grass. I’m pretty sure that part of the dream was from that wolf we saw. Bright green eyes were glowing in the darkness.”
Luke didn’t move or say a thing.
“Crazy, huh?” I asked.
He didn’t answer, but the air wasn’t silent. The howls of wolves still echoed in the distance. I sat still, discovering I could pick out the unique howl of each wolf. One-by-one, they quit howling and the moon now hung directly above us.
After a few long moments of silence, I was beginning to wonder if Luke thought I was crazy. I stood up to go back inside. He snapped out of his trance when I laid the blankets back down on the chair.
“Where are you going?” he asked in a stressed tone.
“Back to bed. I need to get some sleep because Kate is taking me shopping for school supplies and clothes in the morning. As if I need either,” I said, trying to read his face with little success.
“Oh,” he said, still lost in his thoughts.
“What’s going on, Luke?”
“Nothing. I just fell out of it there for a minute.”
I gave him a questioning look.
“Okay, so maybe a few minutes,” he joked.
“Is something wrong? Did I say something?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. Will you be able to get back to sleep?”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “You don’t need to stand guard, I’m fine.” He gave me his own questioning look.
“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow, I’m sure.”
I watched him stalk down the porch and out of sight.
I headed back inside and quietly pulled the window, leaving only a crack open and climbed into bed, trying to clear my mind, but continuing to dwell on the dream. At some point I finally started to drift asleep. Just as the night closed over my eyes, I heard the faint sound of a wolf cry.
*****
I had no desire to get out of bed the next morning. I was exhausted, even though it seemed like all I’d done since I’d arrived in Sheridan was sleep. Also, I was not thrilled about the day’s planned shopping adventure with Kate. Trying to avoid the ordeal, I stayed in bed reading about star-crossed lovers, pretending I needed to catch up for school. It seemed like every time I turned a page, there was another interruption. First, Kate knocking to see if I was up, which I ignored. Then, Brody and Lindsey calling. And finally, my dad yelling at me to get out of bed, from the bottom of the stairs. The one person I wouldn’t have minded an interruption from never arrived; I finally gave up on Romeo.
Before jumping in the shower, I decided to listen to my voicemails. Four were Brody professing his love and apologizing and three were Lindsey begging me to call her back. I deleted them.
I threw on my white Lululemon linen pants – the last official day I could wear them, a black shirt and gold Prada sandals in hopes my simple outfit wouldn’t draw unwanted public attention. I tried to get out of shopping by convincing Kate I owned enough clothes and school supplies to open my own boutique. Unfortunately, Kate insisted we go anyway because there were Labor Day sales we couldn’t pass up. I resigned myself to playing along because I really had no choice. Shopping in a small town offered only one perk: no paparazzi. Yet.
Four grueling hours later, our school shopping was finally over. Kate pulled in front of a restaurant downtown and with dread, I realized our little day-trip with each other had only just begun. She made small talk while we waited for our food and ate.
“So, what do you think of Luke?” she finally asked.
“What do you mean?” I countered, wondering where her curiosity came from and where she was going with this line of questioning.
“I see the way he looks at you. He’s a good guy.” I wasn’t about to take the bait. I had no desire for her to be involved.
“How long have you known him?” I asked.
“A long time,” she answered in a strange tone. “His parents and your father were very close friends.”
I winced at the lack of mentioning my mother. Kate didn’t seem to notice and continued.
“I was also very close to the Callahan’s and that’s actually how I met your father. Wyatt and Emily passed away late last summer and the boys have been staying with us since. Luke usually keeps to himself, so I was surprised to see him open up to you so quickly.”
My face started to feel warm.
“Ah, I know that smile. We should head back to the house. I’m sure he’s wondering where you are,” she said, getting up from the table to leave.
I felt a shrill of excitement to hurry home.
When we pulled through the trees, I noticed the barn doors were opened but Luke’s car was gone. All my excitement quickly drained away into the puddles left in the driveway from the rain. Once inside the living room, my dad attempted to have a conversation with me about the days’ shopping, but I wasn’t in the mood to participate. He finally gave up and I headed upstairs to read. A small part of me hoped Luke would be waiting outside my window again.
I woke hours later to the sound of thunder. It had started as such a gorgeous and sunny day but I wasn’t exactly surprised. I rolled my head over and watched the dark clouds moving toward me in the window. I was buried deep within my blankets and pillows and didn’t want to ever move out from under them, though I knew I’d been reading on top of them. I peeked further out the window, seeing the tops of empty chairs. I sighed and pushed the covers back. I reached for my sweatshirt off the floor next to my nightstand and sitting on the window seat, like a fairy tale, was another note. My heart fluttered a few beats as I grabbed for it, slammed the window shut and jumped back into bed.
Logan,
I found you curled up on your bed so I hope you don’t mind I covered you up. I didn’t want to wake you but I would like to take you to the Labor Day parade tonight. I’ve already asked your father. Meet me at seven?
Look forward to seeing you,
Luke
I folded the note and pressed it to my chest. How was I going to tell this guy I thought he was my savior when I’d just met him three days ago? I tucked the note away in a drawer with the first letter and began digging through my boxes feverishly for something to wear when I heard a knock at my door.
“Logan?” my dad mumbled from the other side.
“Yeah?”
“Can I come in?”
He entered my room and immediately walked over t
o the window. I grabbed a pair of scissors to open another box, waiting for him to speak first.
“Are you going out with Luke tonight?” he asked, getting right to the point.
“I was planning on it, yes. Why?” I snapped. I still felt guarded from our argument the day before.
“I just want you to be careful. Stay with Luke, okay? Can you promise me that?” he asked, his tone filled with intensity. Something I was normally good at was gauging what people’s voices were saying when their words weren’t enough.
“Sure, I can do that. I don’t know anyone else yet, so I don’t see why I would leave without him,” I offered. I liked the sound of that on a deeper level than my dad likely suspected.
“Well, I just want you to be safe. I’m not trying to punish you for anything; I know you’re a good kid. You’re a great kid.”
“Dad, I know you’re worried about me, I get it. I’ll be fine. I won’t leave Luke’s side tonight,” I said without hesitation.
My dad seemed slightly taken back. He obviously wanted to say something else, but instead nodded to himself and closed the door behind him. I would be relieved when this hyper-vigilant phase of his passed.
While finishing my makeup, I heard rain begin to patter on the roof. The weather was becoming a bit of a drag; I needed sun on my skin. I pulled on my favorite ripped skinny jeans and one-of-kind red Christian Louboutin heels while I searched for a white bra. I slipped on a tight white tank top under my vintage black leather jacket and threw my hair into a messy ponytail.
I didn’t look overdone, but I wasn’t about to be undone anymore. I had a life I needed to move on with. I grabbed my black Chanel clutch and my mother’s big pearl earrings then headed downstairs.
I got to the kitchen prepared to face the parental units before stepping out, but they were both in the living room watching TV instead.
“Hey Dad? I’m going to leave now, okay?”
“Okay, the keys should be in it where the guys left them. Be careful.”
“The keys should be in what?” I asked.
“Your car, dear,” he replied. My jaw dropped.
“Thanks, Dad!” I screeched and dashed for the door before he could turn to look at me, which was a good thing – considering what I was wearing.
I spared no time as I raced thru the garage.
My shiny black Mercedes SL550 purred to life when I turned the key, flooding my mind with warm memories. It felt like the first time I sat in the driver’s seat the morning of my sixteenth birthday almost exactly a year earlier.
There was a full tank of gas and the interior was spotlessly detailed. I whipped out of the garage and headed toward the barn. Through the sprinkling rain, I saw Luke waiting for me inside his car. He smiled from behind the wheel, shook his head and jumped out, sauntering over, grinning from ear to ear. Luke was wearing a plain white t-shirt that complimented his toned body perfectly with a pair of dark blue jeans matching his eyes. I noticed for the first time how muscular his arms really were, but it wasn’t until he got in my car that I saw a black leather jacket in his hand.
“Do you have a sixth sense?” I asked.
He snapped his head to look at me, as if under attack.
“I was kidding, Luke.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure what you meant,” he said after taking a moment to settle down.
“I was just joking because we’re both wearing jeans, white tops and leather jackets. No worries.”
He laughed softly, “I didn’t notice what you were wearing, I guess,” he stated awkwardly. “You clean up pretty good.”
I simply rolled my eyes at him and smiled.
“So, I think you’ve got this all wrong. I’m supposed to be taking you out. Wouldn’t that entail me driving you around, or is this how it’s done in L.A.?” he pressed.
I wasn’t planning on driving; he just didn’t know it yet. Without a word, I opened the door, walked around the car, locking eyes as I rounded the front end. My heart began to race. I opened his door and crookedly grinned down at him. He stood up, our faces and bodies mere inches apart.
“Ma’am,” he offered, gesturing for me to sit.
His sculpted body lightly brushed against mine as he stepped aside. His touch was like electricity, sending mini shock waves across my skin. I sat and took a deep breath before he got back inside. We were going a hundred before I could blink again. I smiled, realizing how comfortable I felt with Luke. I had never let Brody drive my car. Not once. I giggled under my breath as my mind trailed off.
“What’s so funny?” he asked quietly, interrupting my thoughts.
“Nothing,” I said, trying to act coy. He must have seen right through me because he didn’t say another word, just smiled. His smile and laughter left me curious. He seemed to be always thinking about something more than what was going on around him at any given moment. A part of me wanted to know what that something was, secretly hoping it was me.
Luke exited the interstate and descended into downtown Sheridan. The town seemed bigger than it really was, spread out over several miles, but with a population of just over 28,000 according to the city limit sign. I couldn’t believe I was sitting in my $100,000 car, wearing a $2,000 leather jacket, and carrying a $1,000 purse in Sheridan, Wyoming. The only thing I had going for me was sitting in the driver’s seat.
Though the rain had subsided, the skies were still overcast. I was sure there was an umbrella in the trunk with a designer logo splashed over it, but wasn’t about to flash it around in public. I already felt like an outsider and hoped the rain would hold off during the parade.
Luke pulled into a parking spot a few blocks away from downtown. For such a petite town, herds of people organized along the building-lined streets. Flower petals fluttered like butterflies across the sidewalks as I caught the scent of caramel corn. I took a deep breath, inhaling my surroundings.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked. “We can go somewhere less crowded if you’d like.”
“No, I’m fine. I just don’t want to cause a scene if people recognize me.”
Luke chuckled.
“Plus,” I paused, looking to him for reaction, “I wouldn’t want to ruin our date.”
“We’re on a date?” he asked, eyes glittering wildly.
“I don’t know – are we?”
“We are.”
Andrea Wells – The Violet Hour
Chapter 8
As Luke got out of the car to open my door, I was surprised to realize two things. One, I was happy. Really, sincerely happy. Two, I was nervous. Jittery, butterflies-in-the-stomach nervous.
Outside the car, Luke pulled on his jacket and reached for my door.
I was truly happy for the first time since my mom had passed. I’d had brief moments of hope, but this was pure serenity. Looking at Luke standing outside my door about to open it for me simplified things. Before him, a gesture like that was an expectation. Now, I was flattered by the act. Flattered because it was him.
Luke opened the door and offered his hand to guide me out. As we walked down the sidewalk, I noticed people staring. Even though I had spent the past ten years of my life in the public eye, this was different and I felt nervous. From the moment we arrived in California, my mom was the star of every room she walked into and Richard had showered us with money. Growing up in the spotlight made it easier to be in the spotlight, but this was the first time I’d stepped into public again since her death. I felt out of my element.
With perfect timing, Luke squeezed my hand and reminded me I wasn’t alone.
He led me down the sidewalk toward Main Street. The road was lined with lawn chairs and children racing around with plastic grocery bags to collect candy. Luke let go of my hand when we stopped in front of Jackie’s Boutique. Jackie smiled from the window and waved at me as Luke brought out two chairs.
When we finally sat down, I grabbed my phone from my clutch to check the time. Six new missed calls from Brody since the last time I checked,
which was right before we left the house. I deleted his name and voicemails without another thought. After I tossed the phone back into my purse, I looked up to see a younger teenage girl impatiently waiting in front of me.
“You’re Logan Keller, aren’t you?” she squealed, turning other heads to stare at us.
“I am,” I replied, reaching for the pen she held, “What’s your name?”
“Shelly,” she said as she handed me a glossy tabloid magazine. It was already opened to a photo of my mother and me shopping in L.A. I couldn’t catch a break. Luke put his hand on my back as if he knew exactly what I was feeling. The day the photo was taken, my mom had bought a new outfit for me. As I signed my name over the photo, I decided it would be the outfit I’d wear to school my first day.
Not wanting to draw further attention, I quickly handed the magazine back with a smile. She took off across the street as I scanned to make sure no one else was coming. I relaxed back into my chair, but when I looked at Luke, his expression was questioning.
“I’m fine, Luke, really. I just didn’t expect that in Sheridan, Wyoming,” I shrugged with slight irritation. I was used to it anywhere else, but reality had slapped me in the face, reminding me that this was anywhere else.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay. I promised your dad.”
“You promised my dad?” I questioned.
“I promised him you’d be okay.”
I frowned weighing his words. Sharing my feelings with Luke was one thing. Sharing my feelings with Luke who was sharing with my over-protective father was another.
Before I could protest, he added, “Plus, I care about you.”
Butterflies filled my insides as breath escaped my lungs. I wasn’t sure what reasons he had to be so sweet, but I felt desperate to find out.
The marching band started, signaling the parade had officially begun. I looked at Luke’s arm draped around my shoulders. I had always felt like a guy’s arm around me in public was an unflattering show of ownership rather than a mutual companionship between two people. Luke stiffened when I pulled his arm off but relaxed after I laced my fingers in-between his. Luke and I were different – I didn’t know what we were, but we were different. We watched the parade in silence as my mind raised a million questions.
The Violet Hour (The Violet Hour Series) Page 6
