by Clare Revell
She looked at him for a second. “Morning, Luke.” She turned back to Sara. “It should be a really good evening. Last year’s party was a blast. Hopefully now yer better, ye’ll be able tae come.”
Sara smiled. “We’ll be there with bells on.”
Antonia laughed. “Christmas bells, I hope.”
Sara laughed. “Of course.”
“Good. Right, I’d best get on before the storm hits. Ye take care now. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Luke started the engine.
Sara pushed back into the seat. “Who was on the phone?”
Luke pulled off the drive. “DCI Shepherds. They plugged the leak in Winterton.”
“Not before time.”
“Yeah. What did Antonia want?”
“She asked if I was over the nasty bout of the flu. She’s invited us to her Christmas party. She’ll let us know the time later. I already said we’d go.”
“A party?” Luke rolled his eyes and concentrated on the driving.
“No, a Christmas party. It’s different.”
“How so?”
“The music for one thing. Ugh, look at the traffic.” She flipped down the mirror. “We’re being followed.”
Luke checked his mirror. “That car sits in front of the house and has been there since we moved in. It follows us everywhere.” He glanced at her. “You didn’t notice it before?”
Sara shook her head. “But then I’m not paid to notice things. You are.”
Luke grinned and pulled into a parking space near the hospital entrance. “Paid to notice things and be cried all over, huh?”
Sara laughed. “Yep, got it in one.”
He turned off the engine. He liked this Sara, much more than the sulky one of the first week or two. He got out, checking the area before opening Sara’s door for her. She got out of the car, smiling. “Thank you, Luke.”
Luke’s heart leapt at her smile and the way his name sounded falling from her lips. He shut and locked the car and checked the area once more. He noted the two people by the entrance, knowing they were undercover officers, without recognizing them.
As he surveyed the parking lot, Luke saw Dave’s car pull in and park. He led Sara over. “Hey, Dave.”
“Hey, Luke, Sara.”
Sara smiled at him. “Are you coming back to our place?”
Dave shook his head. “No’ this morning. I’ve got a bunch of paperwork with my name on it and a meeting at twelve.”
“Oh, fun. Dinner tonight, then?”
“Sure. I’ll bring Carole and takeout.”
Luke smiled. “That sounds good.”
Sara snorted.
“What?” he asked innocently.
“That had better be the takeout and not Carole you’re referring to.”
“Not jealous, are you?” he teased.
“Pleads the fifth...oh no, wait, I can’t. We don’t have a constitution.”
Luke grinned at her. “Come on, we don’t want to be late, do we?”
****
Despite being on time, they had to wait for over an hour. Sara grinned at Luke. “Should’ve taken bets on this, too. I could have got out of cooking for another three weeks.”
Luke winked, despite his obvious anxiety about hanging around for too long. “Good thing you like my cooking.”
“At least I’m out of the house. I hate being cooped up all the time. I can’t settle for a piece of sky. I want to see something different. Like the beach. Please, can we go home that way? Vary the route, that’s what the cops on TV do.”
“What is it with you and beaches? Was beach your first word by any chance?”
“You know, I think it might have been.”
“Mrs. Nemec.”
Sara got up and followed the nurse, Luke walking with her into the doctor’s office. Sara was terrified and hoped it didn’t show. She set her hands in her lap, twisting Luke’s ring on her finger.
Luke slipped his hand over hers and squeezed it. Sara glanced up at him. He knows how scared I am. The question is, is he just acting or is that really a hint of concern I see in his eyes?
She turned her attention to Dr. Anderson as he smiled at her. “It’s good news, Mrs. Nemec. Yer leg has healed completely.”
“Completely? So I can lose the splint?”
“Aye, ye can lose the splint.”
Sara’s smile turned into a grin. “Good.”
Luke hugged her tightly. “That’s great, hon.”
Sara hugged him back. “It means you no longer have to carry me up and down the stairs.”
“Unless you want me to.” He winked at her.
Sara turned back to the doctor as he spoke again. “Ye’ll need tae take it easy for a few days. No marathons or dancing at parties.”
“Don’t worry about that, Doc,” Luke said.
Sara shot him a quick glance. “No, there’s no chance of that because my husband won’t let me.”
****
Back in the car, Sara stretched out her leg, taking delight in extending her toes and wriggling them. A waft of aftershave filled the car as Luke sat in the driver’s seat. Her stomach flipped at his nearness.
She peeked at the figure next to her, his strong profile outlined against the winter sunlight. “Luke, please can we go and see the beach? I promise I will stay in the car. We’ve been here weeks, and I haven’t seen it properly yet. And it is a different way back. Pretty please with sugar and cherries on the top.”
Luke sighed. “You don’t give up, do you? You’re like a dog with a bone.”
“Woof.” Sara panted slightly and made puppy-dog-eyes at him.
Laughing, he shook his head at her. “Down, girl. All right, varying the route.”
He started the car and drove out of the hospital parking lot, the journey made difficult by the low sunlight which was bright against the dark black clouds.
As they parked at Tannoch Point Beach, the heavens opened, and the rain poured down. Sara opened her bag and pulled out her camera. She opened the car door only to find a hand close over her arm.
“Where do you think you are going, Sara?”
“Take some photos.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’ll get soaked.”
“But look at it.”
“Rain, lots of rain.”
“No, silly. Over there.” She pointed.
Luke peered out of the windscreen. “It’s a rainbow.”
“No, it’s a rainbow. It’s beautiful, with the white horses on the waves, the black clouds and the lighthouse. I have to shoot it now; it’ll make a fantastic oil painting.”
“Stay in the car. You promised. Give me the camera.”
Sara pointed to the silver button on the top. “Just point and press. Take several.”
Luke raised his eyes at the downpour and grimaced. “The things I do.”
He pulled his collar up.
Sara pulled off her woolly hat and offered it to him. “Here.”
“I’m not wearing that.”
She smiled at his indignant response, thrusting the hat into his hands. “Pink suits you. Besides, no one will see it, and it’ll keep the worst of the rain off. Go on. Quick, before it fades.”
Luke tugged the hat on and got out of the car. Sara watched as he stood in the rain and took photo after photo of the rainbow, the sky and the beach.
He turned slowly, taking pictures of the shoreline, including the lighthouse and the fishermen’s cottages. He took one last photo before getting back in the car, absolutely soaked.
Sara took the camera and put it away. “Ta. You look like a drowned rat.”
“I feel like a drowned rat.”
“Did you see the bloke walking the dog?”
“No, I was too busy getting rained on.” Luke pulled off the hat and ran his fingers through his wet hair. “I wasn’t the only idiot out there, then.”
“You’re not an idiot. He was kind of familiar, but I couldn’t place him. Hard to tell with the way his hood hi
d his face.”
“All you Brits look alike,” Luke joked.
“So do you Yanks.”
“Can we go now?”
She smiled at him. “Yes. Thank you.”
He smiled back at her. “You’re welcome. Oh look, it’s finally stopped raining.”
Sara laughed. “Always the way.”
17
Sara hung her coat up and turned to Luke. “Go shower. Then put your wet stuff in the machine and set it going.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave a mock salute and headed up the stairs.
Sara walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on. Then, for no reason other than because she could, she ran into the dining room and switched on the computer. She downloaded her photos and started going through them. In one photo the lighthouse proved a fabulous background where a rainbow hung bright and clear against the black sky.
These are good. Far better than anything I’ve ever taken.
The washing machine started, and Sara smiled as Luke came in and sat next to her. “They’re lovely. You have a talent for this.”
“Thank you. It’s something I enjoy doing, except in the rain.” A hint of a smile crossed his face.
Sara reached the ones Luke had taken of the shoreline, huts and ramshackle cottages.
He shrugged. “I got snap happy.”
“I imagine they have a history. Pirates, maybe. Or bank robbers, car thieves, arsonists, and bent coppers.”
Luke shook his head at her. “Actually, I thought they could be smugglers’ cottages. This is England, remember. Full of smugglers.”
Sara laughed. “This is Scotland. On the south coast of England, perhaps that stuff happened and maybe still does, but I doubt they’d come this far north.”
“Cynic. Where’s the romance in that? Imagine the fog rolling in, and the false light on the cliffs to guide the ship onto the rocks, and...”
“That’s wreckers, not smugglers.”
“Let me finish. The false light on the cliffs to guide the ship onto the rocks, and then the smugglers grab the loot and hide it in the cottage. Of course, they’d kill anyone who got in their way, or who didn’t pay them enough.”
Sara laughed. “Lovely. Just the sort of people you’re protecting me from.”
“Of course. It’s my job to protect and serve. Speaking of serving, shall I do lunch?”
“I thought for a minute you were going to suggest tennis.” She glanced at the clock. “It’s gone past lunchtime, and it’s almost two. Too late for lunch and too early for tea.”
Luke grinned at her. “So?”
“Just coffee, please, I’m not hungry.”
“You’re eating for three.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “All right, you better go make lunch for four.”
While they were talking, she had narrowed the photos down to two. Making her final choice, she hit print and wandered out to the kitchen. She sat down as the doorbell rang.
Luke headed across the room. “I’ll get it. Stay here.” He vanished, shutting the door behind him.
Sara could hear voices in the hall and footsteps going into the lounge. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened the kitchen door.
Luke closed it quickly, his voice leaving no room for debate. “No peeking.”
“All right, I’ll finish doing lunch.” She made a plate of cheese and tomato sandwiches and cut two pieces of fruitcake.
The front door closed, and Luke came back into the kitchen.
“What’s going on out there, Luke?”
Luke grinned as he sat down. “Have a little patience, woman. Eat first.”
“Woman?” Sara asked in mock horror as she put the mugs of coffee on the table. “Woman?”
Luke laughed. “Woman was a term of endearment in our house. Dad used to call Mom ‘woman’ all the time.”
“All right, man.” She paused. “Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it?”
“No, not really. Nice sandwiches.”
“Thank you.”
“Welcome. Well, it was your turn to cook.”
“I’d hardly call this cooking.” She rubbed her stomach.
“You all right?” Luke asked.
“Yeah.” She reached for the last sandwich the instant before Luke did.
“For someone who isn’t hungry...” he began.
Sara laughed. “Want to go halves?”
He grinned. “If you’re sure you can spare it. I don’t want to deprive you or the babies.”
“I think I can spare a tiny piece.” She cut the sandwich in half and offered it to him.
Luke reached for it, then leaned forwards and took a bite of it, his lips catching her fingers. Sara held his gaze for a moment, smiled and shook her head. She let go of the sandwich and picked up her own. Her fingers tingled where he’d touched them. She took a bite out of it. This was the first meal she’d enjoyed for a long time.
She finished the sandwich and smiled at him. “So, as I cooked, you get the dishes.”
Luke returned the smile. “I don’t think so. How about we stick them in the sink and leave them a while?”
“That sounds good to me. It’s not often you find a man who not only cooks and cleans, but likes ignoring dishes, too.” Sara picked the dishes and carried them over to the sink. “So who was at the door?”
Luke smiled. “Want to see what it was?”
“No. That’s why I asked.”
Luke moved over to her and covered her eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“Trust me. I’m a cop.” Luke guided her to the door and led her into the lounge before uncovering her eyes.
Sara gasped. Filling the bay window was a huge pine Christmas tree. “It’s beautiful.” She walked over and touched it. “It’s real. I never had a real tree before.”
Luke chuckled. “Of course it’s real. You like it?”
“I love it. Thank you.” She turned and threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. She’d been so awful to him, and he went and got her a tree.
Luke returned the hug and kissed her cheek. “You’re welcome, Sara. I got a selection of lights and decorations as well. I thought we could decorate it this afternoon.”
“I’d like that a lot. Aunt Mary and I always decorated the tree together.” Sara pulled back, embarrassed at what she’d done. She’d kissed him. Again. What was she thinking? And he kissed her back. Her cheek was aflame where his lips had touched it. She turned around. “All we need is some Christmassy music.”
“That’s in there, too.” Luke pulled out three CD’s and handed them to her. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I got a few different ones.”
Sara took her time flipping through and reading them, before picking one. Putting it on the stereo, she turned her attention to the box and started to decorate the tree. She and Luke took turns at hanging the ornaments. Once the tree was finished, Sara grabbed the ribbon from the box. “Ceiling next?”
Luke climbed on a chair. “Sure. You can tell me where to go.”
Sara laughed. “It’ll be my pleasure. Have the ribbon going in and out from the center of the room to the sides and back again.”
Luke took the ribbon and started to pin it up under Sara’s guidance. He pushed the first pin into the ceiling and held out his hand for another. As Sara handed it to him, he lost his balance and fell, catching his leg on the edge of the chair.
Sara dropped to his side. “Luke, are you all right?”
Luke gave his leg the once over. His pants were torn and bloody. “I cut this on something.”
“Stay put.” Sara ran to the kitchen and came back in with the first aid kit. “Let me see.” She pulled the torn fabric up, gently cleaned the cut, and put a plaster on it. “There. All fixed, but I’m afraid those trousers might be beyond the healing power of a plaster.”
Luke wrinkled his nose at them. “Ah, don’t worry. It isn’t like they were a new pair or anything.” He raised a hand to his head and rubbe
d it.
“You all right?”
Luke sat up. “My head hurts some.”
“Let me see.” Sara moved his hand. “You may have a bruise in the morning, but it’s not bleeding. Want something for it?”
Luke winked at her. “If I was a kid, you’d kiss both it and my leg better for me.”
She grinned at him and raised an eyebrow. “I’m not kissing your leg after it bled all over the carpet, but as for your other injuries, where does it hurt?”
Luke moved a hand up to his temple. Sara leaned in and kissed his temple.
“Anywhere else?”
He moved his hand down his cheek. She smiled and leaned in again and kissed his cheek. She raised her eyes to his. “Anywhere else?”
“Here.” He pointed to his nose.
Sara kissed the tip of his nose. “Anywhere else?”
Luke’s finger moved to his lips. Dare she? She leaned forwards, brushing her finger across his lips. Luke raised a hand and placed it behind her head, pulling her close to him. He brushed his lips against hers. He pulled back and gazed at her, his eyes full of tenderness. She smiled, goose bumps rising on her skin at his touch. He pulled her head back to his and kissed her fully.
Closing her eyes, she put her arms around him and kissed him. His lips were soft and tasted of coffee. Her body fitted so perfectly with his, as if they were made for each other. His other hand slid around her back, holding her firmly. He broke for air, the smile on his face fading as he saw her expression.
“What’s wrong, Sara?”
The tears in her eyes stung. He let her go.
Sara reached out for his hand. “I’m fine, I…”
She broke off as Luke’s phone rang. Luke sighed and answered it. “Nemec. Hi, Mary, yes, she is. I’ll get her for you.”
He held the phone out to Sara.
“Hi, Aunt Mary. Yes, they took the splint off for good. Yes, Luke’s stoked about no longer having to carry me up and down the stairs.” Her smile grew as she spoke. “Yes, I called him Luke. Tried Leftenant Luke, but he didn’t like that one. Sure, I’ll tell him. Have fun. Bye.” Sara turned off the phone. “She’s off to a Christmas dinner at the church. She said to tell you, if you poke your tongue out at me for calling you Leftenant Luke, she’ll deal with you next time she sees you.”