“W-w-what?” Her eyebrows scrunched together.
“Who leaves Maui?”
She flipped to a new page.
Have you been there?
“No, but I’ve been all over the west coast and when I lived in California I spent every spare minute at the ocean.”
Yes, but you have to admit the crowds and the tourists can get really old.
She had him there. “Is it crowded in Maui like southern Cal?”
It’s getting worse all the time.
“But what about your family? I bet you miss them.” As soon as he said it, Luke knew he’d intruded on something he shouldn’t have.
She wrote quickly. I’m an only child. My dad’s been gone a long time and my mom is really busy.
Luke reached out and touched her hand. “My dad passed away a few years ago.”
She gasped. “S-sorry. Th-that must b-be h-h-hard.”
“It is.” He sighed, feeling all the weight of providing for and protecting his family while still missing his dad. Sometimes he felt like a little boy who still needed a dad to teach, guide, and instruct him. “But you understand. You’ve been through it too.”
She shook her head. “M-m-my dad l-left us.”
Luke swallowed hard and held her gaze with his own, begging her to share more but understanding if she couldn’t. She nodded and wrote slowly.
My mom’s a very hard woman, wealthy and demanding. She inherited most of the sugar cane fields in Maui from her grandfather, then proceeded to turn them into high-dollar condos and restaurants. My dad left when I was ten. He couldn’t be her puppet anymore. He started his own business selling phone cases. He’s done well and travels the world selling and vacationing.
Sorry, that was probably more than you wanted to know.
Luke reached over and squeezed her hand, wishing he dared pull her into a hug. “Not nearly as much as I wanted to know. Do you keep in touch with your dad?”
She held up her phone, showing him a cute pink case with flip-flops on it. “We t-t-text.”
Luke nodded, wondering what kind of a father would desert a daughter who obviously needed him with a mother who didn’t sound very loving. He hurt for Annie. His own mother was so warm and loving, sometimes he felt stifled by it.
“T-tell m-me a-b-bout your f-f-family.”
He smiled, loving it when she talked. “My mom is a sweetheart, loves to cook and take care of everyone. Porter is my younger brother. He was born to ranch. We have a good time together—I only have to beat him up occasionally. My little sister, Kazlyn, is awesome. She’s getting her master’s in speech pathology. She’s this teeny blonde and her boyfriend is a six-foot-eight basketball player. Well, now he’s a coach because he was injured. They’re great together. He chills her out and she makes him laugh.”
She smiled, but then asked, “W-what happened t-t-to your-your dad?”
“Tractor accident.” He suddenly didn’t want to talk. He stood and cleaned up the remains of their dinner. Annie helped him and soon it was all in the garbage.
“Th-thanks,” she said.
He reached out a hand. “Walk with me?” She surrendered her soft fingers to his. Her hand fit so perfectly, like it belonged encased in his. They slowly walked through the park and along Main Street down past the church before turning around. The silence was comfortable. He loved being with her.
“So, dinner tomorrow night?” he asked as they made their way back to her shop.
“M-m-maybe.”
He grinned. “‘Maybe’ I can work with.”
Chapter 5
Annie’s last client left, and she cleaned the massage table and chair and loaded all the towels into a basket to take upstairs. She hadn’t heard from Luke today and wished she had. Thinking about making dinner for herself in her little apartment didn’t sound too appetizing. Maybe she’d just go for a run and survive on a protein shake tonight. She heard the front door of her shop swish open and realized she hadn’t locked it after her last client.
She dropped the laundry basket and walked out, smelling something delectable and seeing something that looked even better. Luke had on cowboy boots, Levi’s, a T-shirt, and a hat. The term, hot cowboy, had never seemed more appropriate.
“H-hi,” she stammered out.
“Hey. I hope I’m not imposing, but when my mom heard there was a new lady in town, she insisted I bring you dinner and wanted it all warm. She wouldn’t even let me shower after work. I apologize for looking awful.”
“Y-y-you l-l-look great.”
He grinned and hefted the bags. “Where do you want me to put this?”
She loved that his mom had sent food, but she didn’t have any desire for Luke to leave it and disappear. “C-can y-you eat w-w-with me at-at the p-park?”
His grin grew even wider. “I would love to.” He opened the door back up and waited for her to walk through it. “I’ve been cussing myself that I didn’t ask for your phone number so I could call or text you instead of just showing up.”
She held out her hand. Luke transferred the bags of food to his left hand, pulled his phone out of his right pocket, and somehow managed to caress her fingers as he gave her the phone. She programmed her number into his phone and gave it back to him.
“‘Annie, my favorite massage therapist’?” Luke read it and smiled. “How about just, ‘Annie, my favorite’?”
Annie laughed and managed to say, “M-m-maybe.”
“‘Maybe’ I can work with.”
She laughed harder and pushed at his arm. “Ch-cheesy.”
“That’s me.”
They made it to the park and sat down at the same table. Luke spread out a dinner of chicken and steak fajitas, with everything from fresh guacamole to homemade tortilla shells. He set aside a fabulous-looking chocolate cake for dessert.
“W-w-ow.”
“I told you my mom loves to cook for everybody. I might have admitted how smitten I am by you, so of course she had to make something special.”
Annie stared at him. Had he just said he was smitten with her? He grinned, not taking the words back. Her cheeks warmed, but her insides felt toastier.
They dove into the food, and Annie was amazed how comfortable Luke seemed with her silence. She savored the food, but the way he looked at her was something she hoped she could catalog and never forget.
Luke pulled out his phone and typed quickly. Her phone beeped. She glanced at it.
Hey, beautiful. Thanks for having dinner with me again, even though I’m a filthy-looking cowboy.
Annie grinned at him and programmed in his name: Luke, the fine-looking but filthy cowboy. She showed it to him and he burst out laughing then assembled another steak fajita. Annie started texting.
You look pretty good for being filthy. Thank you for dinner, and thank your mom, this is amazing. Did you make it to the doctor for the X-ray?
She glanced up at him for an answer. It was hypocritical, but she really liked hearing his voice and didn’t want to just text away a conversation.
“I’ve got an appointment for Monday. Is that okay, my health consultant?”
She nodded.
“My mom wondered if you wanted to come to church with us and dinner after?”
“Y-y-your m-mom?”
“Okay, I wondered, but she did invite you for dinner.”
She wished she could spit out what she wanted to say but opted to text it to him. I would love to come to church and dinner. I’m very glad to hear that you’re a Christian. I didn’t even think to ask before you cajoled me into dinner.
“Yes, ma’am, us Montana hicks might be heathens, but we try do things right.”
She playfully nudged his shoulder, shaking her head. He was far from a hick, but he was doing a fabulous job of doing things right. It would be great to go to church with him. She’d missed the last three weeks because she’d been too shy to go by herself and had promised herself she would go this week.
Luke pulled the cake toward him, cut a
huge slice with a plastic knife, and offered it to her. Chocolate and Luke’s grin. She loved the way this night was playing out. She thought of going to Luke’s house for dinner tomorrow. How would his family react to her stuttering?
Chapter 6
A knock on her door Sunday morning had Annie scrambling to brush her teeth and put on her lipstick. She ran to open the door, and her heart seemed to stutter worse than her tongue. Luke stood there in a white button-down shirt, plaid tie, and dress pants. His dark hair glistened in the sunlight and his grin crinkled his face in a way that made her grab onto the doorframe for support.
“Wow, Annie.” He dipped his head like he was bowing to her. “You’re gorgeous.”
Annie smoothed her knee-length lace dress with her hand. She felt pretty in the pale pink dress that belted at her waist. “Y-y-you are.”
He chuckled and offered his arm. She grabbed her purse and shoved her notebook and scriptures in before walking to his side and looping her hand through his arm. He smelled so good. A mixture of outdoors and spicy cologne that was all Luke. She couldn’t resist leaning into him as they walked down the back staircase from her apartment to the road. She used oils to help people feel relaxed and happy, but Luke’s presence was doing that for her and more.
He opened his truck door and helped her inside. The truck was clean and newer but still felt like a working truck. It fit him.
He jumped in the driver’s side and turned to her. “So, church, or should we skip it and go try out the hot springs?”
She smiled. “Ch-church. H-hot springs l-l-later.”
“So you’re telling me I’ve got you all day?”
She elevated one shoulder. “M-m-maybe.”
“‘Maybe’ I can work with.”
He reached over, and she immediately placed her hand in his. The radio was playing some kind of gospel country music. Annie smiled to herself as the warmth of his fingers encompassed hers. She never would’ve imagined herself in a truck, listening to cowboy music, and swooning over the cowboy.
The church was only a block and a half away, so they arrived there quickly. She took a long breath and rolled her shoulders back, preparing herself for some elevated eyebrows and whispers. Not only was she the new girl in town, she was going to be the mute new girl in town, and she was on the arm of the hottest cowboy.
Luke got her door and gently assisted her from the truck. She was pleasantly surprised as they walked into church; some of her clients greeted her, and the people Luke introduced her to didn’t seem bothered when she just smiled and nodded. They slid into a row with a beautiful, miniscule blonde lady and a blond man who wasn’t as tall as Luke but was thicker. They both had the kindest green eyes. Annie assumed Luke must’ve taken after his dad.
“This is my mom, Rebecca and my brother, Porter.”
Annie shook each of their hands but church was about ready to start so she didn’t have to say anything as they took their seats. After a song and prayer, the pastor stood. Annie tried to pay attention, but all she could think about was Luke’s arm around her shoulder. It felt so good there, so right. She found herself leaning into his strength and then she remembered massaging him and how toned his shoulders were. She blushed. What was she thinking about during church, and with his mother two feet away?
Luke caught her gaze and grinned at her, like he knew all about her untoward thoughts. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I can’t concentrate on anything Pastor John says. You shouldn’t look so beautiful when you go to church.”
Annie had to bite her lip to keep the laugh inside. She shook her head at Luke and leaned completely into him, wishing she was comfortable enough to put her hand on his leg, but that would really bring inappropriate thoughts in church.
“Not helping,” Luke whispered against her neck. His breath tickled her skin. She winked mischievously at him, at the same time wondering how it would feel if his lips moved a little bit closer and brushed the skin of her neck. Oh my, she was getting nothing out of this church service. She’d have to study extra hard during her personal scripture time tonight.
The service finished with a heartfelt rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner and a prayer. As soon as the service was over, Rebecca turned to Annie. “I’ve got to go chat with Paisley about some quilts the girls have made for the hospital. You’re coming for dinner?”
Annie nodded.
Rebecca pressed her hand. “I can’t wait to get to know you.”
She scurried around Luke and disappeared. Luke, Annie, and Porter all stood.
“She’ll try not to overwhelm you,” Porter said. “She’s just so ecstatic that Luke is bringing a girl over for dinner, she can hardly see straight.”
Annie smiled at him and looked to Luke.
He shifted uncomfortably and wrapped his fingers around her hand. “Thanks, little brother.”
“What?” Porter winked at Annie. “Luke never brings women home. I, on the other hand, have to fight them off with a fence post.”
Annie laughed as Luke shoved his brother’s shoulder with his free hand. “Yeah, that’s exactly how it works.”
Porter inclined his head to Annie. “I’ll see you at home. I’d better go say hello to my fans, or they might feel slighted.”
He strode past them toward a cluster of college-aged girls. Several shrieked when he approached, and they all got a hug before Porter directed them outside to continue the conversation.
Annie couldn’t stop smiling. Luke shook his head. “He’s always had women swarming him.”
She glanced into his blue eyes. “Y-y-ou too.”
Luke shrugged and wrapped both his hands around hers. “Not any as pretty as you, that’s for sure.”
“Luke Wilson.” A gorgeous blonde drawled out the name like she owned the rights to it.
Luke clung to Annie’s hand as he turned to the woman. His jaw dropped. “Missy?”
“In the flesh.” She winked at him then inclined her head to Annie. “Who’s your friend?” If the word friend could be said like it was Brussels sprouts and liver combined, this would have been it.
“Annie,” he said simply, but he held onto Annie’s right hand with his own right hand and wrapped his left arm around her shoulders. It didn’t feel as warm as before, more possessive.
“Nice to meet you, Annie.” Though her flashing blue eyes said otherwise. “Luke and I go way back. Dated through high school, and then I had to let him go.”
Luke actually flinched. “What brings you to town?”
“Visiting my parents for the Fourth of July. I’m thinking about moving back though.”
“I thought your husband hated it here.”
She held up her left hand—beautifully manicured nails but no ring. “Divorced.”
Luke’s arm pulled Annie even closer. “What? When?”
“Recently.” She exhaled and shook her head. “Guess I waited too long to leave him. Thought you’d be here.” She gave Annie a sad smile. “Nice to meet you.”
Luke watched her walk away and swallowed hard. “Sorry. Small town drama.” He directed Annie toward the door.
Annie wished he’d tell her more about Missy. Her mind was spinning all kinds of stories. The woman had married someone else, and Luke had always wanted her. Her stomach clenched. Annie and Luke weren’t a couple. So they’d had dinner a couple of times. It didn’t give her rights to him.
They were stopped on their way out the door by the assistant pastor. He looked too young to be a pastor, but his eyes were kind and welcoming. He shook Luke’s hand. “Great to see you as always, Luke. Who’s your friend?”
“Annie Stirland, this is Pastor James.”
The pastor shook her hand and smiled warmly. “Just visiting us, Annie?”
“No,” Luke jumped in. “She opened up a great place that does massage and foot zoning.”
Pastor James grinned. “Sounds great.”
“How’s Jessica?” Luke asked.
“Busy. Amazing.” Pastor James’
eyes lit up. “She’ll be here next week.”
“That’s great.”
“Yes, it is. It was nice to meet you, Annie.”
“Y-y-you t-t-too,” she managed.
He smiled again and moved on to shake the next person’s hand. Annie liked him. They then greeted some of Luke’s neighbors, but Annie was distracted when she saw Missy watching them from across the lawn. The woman was thin to the point of frailty, the opposite of Annie, who had always been muscular. Her nanny had called her “well-built,” but her mom had always reiterated that Annie was too masculine looking. Annie kept her posture erect and tried to appear confident, smiling and nodding but not talking to anyone. She hated not being able to speak. People assumed she wasn’t intelligent, and she rarely made the effort to contradict them.
Luke seemed to sense something was wrong, said goodbye, and escorted her to his truck. He made no move to start it once they were settled inside. “You okay?”
She nodded quickly. “S-sure.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Mom’s going to have to forgive me for not helping get dinner ready this Sunday. You and I are going on a little drive.”
Annie smiled at him so he wouldn’t think anything was amiss. They drove out of town a few miles before turning onto a tree-lined, gravel road. The mountains rose majestically behind a beautiful ranch, complete with a picturesque log cabin. The slight haze in the air lingering from the fires didn’t detract from the view, but almost added an air of mystery.
“Y-y-your h-house?”
“My mom’s. Dad, Porter, and I built it.”
“B-beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
He kept driving, past corrals, barns, and pastures, up a narrow canyon. They drove in silence, bouncing over rocks and potholes before the road opened into a beautiful valley. A stream gurgled through the field where cattle grazed and wildflowers of yellow and orange complimented the deep green of the grass, pine, and poplar trees. Nestled against the east canyon wall, a log cabin was under construction, with only the walls and floor joists in place.
Summer in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance Anthologies Book 2) Page 30
