Elaine pinched the top of the last page of the book. Her gaze struggled not to skip ahead a few paragraphs to the end. She wanted to savor every last syllable.
She loved this part of the book. The part when she was not quite done and still in the thick of it. It was like that few moments before the morning alarm went off, and she got to snuggle deeper in bed before the day started.
Walker Skye’s book had started slow, even though it was fast-paced. Space battles weren't Elaine’s thing. Though that was part of the plot, the book had deeper themes. Morality, acceptance, friendship, family.
The book had begun in medias res with the heroine already having a following of troops. But as Elaine read on, she found out why these people followed her. Elaine read the struggles, the triumphs, the setbacks, and small victories that won the captain her loyalty.
There were times Elaine had cheered and clenched her fist as the book’s heroine advanced. At other times, Elaine’s palms pressed to her heart when danger lasted for pages. Luke's words were all for the heart and not the head. Always by the captain’s side was her second in command. Elaine had read on as his quiet doubt turned to vocal support for the captain. The stoic soldier never pressed his suit, but it was clear that something was bubbling between the two. Luke had said there was no romance at the reading. Still, Elaine saw it.
By the end of the book, the second in command stood by the captain and pledged his loyalty, his fealty. Elaine realized she'd been hoping the soldier would embrace his leader. But that wasn't this kind of story. On the last page, the story ended on a note of hope and anticipation.
Elaine closed the covers and felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The good guys had triumphed and came out stronger. A semblance of balance was restored, and a greater challenge was on the horizon. But the captain, who had been abandoned on the first page of the story, was no longer alone.
Elaine stared at the last three words. She was used to books ending with two words; The End. This book said; To Be Continued …
Elaine couldn’t take her gaze off the ellipsis. There was more to this story. She could find out what happened next.
If she wanted to.
She’d never been a fan of series. Standalones were her thing; one and done. But now …
Elaine jerked back as her phone beeped. She dropped the book as though guilty that the caller could read her intentions. She looked over to see Luke's name on the caller ID. She'd given him her cell phone number the other day.
Thank you for inviting me into your world.
Inviting him into her world? It was his book she had devoured.
I had a great time at the library and speaking to your patrons.
Oh. Now she understood. What should she text him back? Should she text him back? Looking down at her phone, she saw the ellipsis was bubbling on his end. He wasn’t done. There was more he had to say.
I look forward to Sunday dinner at the ranch.
The ellipsis stopped, and the ball, or rather the cursor, was in her court. But she still didn’t know what to say. She didn’t like text conversations, not even with Mary. Elaine preferred to speak in person. So, she decided, she’d just wait for that time to speak to Luke.
Elaine began her routine. She dressed for work. She walked to the library. She unlocked the door and turned on the lights and computers.
The display of classic books and literature was at the front of the room. But in a stand next to it were Walker Skye’s Book One and Book Two.
Elaine reached for Book Two. She looked around the empty library before opening the cover. She read the first passage, intending only to see where the book was headed. She was immediately sucked into the continuing tale. So much so, that she didn't hear the door open.
"Just friends, huh?" Elaine looked up to see Mary standing over her with a raised brow, a smug grin, and three Harlequins in hand.
"It's a professional courtesy that I read his book,” said Elaine.
"That's book two, meaning you finished book one last night. And you must've liked it."
"He's really good," Elaine admitted. "He makes you want to believe in … possibilities.
Mary set the Harlequins down. She reached across the desk and grabbed Elaine's hands in her own. "You deserve a possibility, Elaine."
Elaine's fingers trembled as Mary squeezed. But she didn’t pull away. She held on.
"That man had half the eligible women in the town fawning over him,” Mary continued. “He only had eyes for you."
Before Elaine could respond, the bell dinged over the library announcing new patrons. In walked their two regulars for the last few weeks. Two college students from the local university who had been paired as partners for a literary project.
"We are not putting that in our paper," said the female in a knee-length skirt and cardigan. The girl could’ve come straight out of Elaine’s closet. "It has nothing to do with Tess of the d’Urbervilles.”
And Elaine’s bookshelf, apparently.
The young man behind her was dressed in rugged jeans and a button-up. His hair was buzz-cut as though he’d been in the military, though he looked too young.
"In Tess, Hardy says your history determines your future, and you don't have control over it. But Skye's heroine took control and overcame her past, instead of continuing to suffer. She doesn't run away. She faces her demons and wins."
"Against aliens in space,” countered Elaine’s double.
If Elaine hadn’t been certain before, there was confirmation they were talking about Luke’s books.
"It's not about the space battle,” said the young man. “Just like Tess isn't about the d'Urberville name. It's internally who you are and how you present yourself to the world.”
"He's right," said Elaine. All gazes turned to her. She would’ve turned a shocked glance on herself had she been anyone but herself. “You can't let how others behaved in the past rewrite your whole life. Tess should've fought back. She should've fought Alec. She should've spoken up to Angel."
"Now you're talking,” said Mary.
She was talking. And she didn’t want to stop talking. She pulled out her phone but knew a text message wouldn’t do.
"I have to go," said Elaine.
"Don't you dare come back without a Jedi Knight,” Mary called after her.
Elaine grabbed her cardigan and the book.
"Wait," said Mary. "You do have to check out that book before you take it. We're librarians, not heathens."
Chapter Fifteen
"How's it going with the librarian?" asked Maggie.
She sat in a rocking chair on someone’s porch. Luke was fairly certain it wasn’t her house. But that’s how people came and went on this ranch.
Luke and Paul had been headed back to their place. Luke had waited outside the doctor’s offices where Paul got results from his tests. He’d had been waiting patiently for his friend to tell him what the doctor said, but Paul kept skirting the subject. Now, they were on a subject Luke wanted to skirt.
Luke tried not to sigh, but with another glance of his phone and his unanswered text message, the weary gush of air came out. "She said she's coming over for Sunday dinner."
Well, she had said that when he’d seen her last. She hadn’t responded to any of his texts today. Luke’s fingers itched to text again, but he knew he was pushing it.
"You're at the meet the family stage already?” Maggie cuddled the baby, who slept on her chest. Again, Luke didn’t think this was her child. But again, that’s how the people and kids on this ranch came and went. “That's progressing nicely."
"I expect a proposal in less than a month,” said another of the brides. Cassie Ramos poked her head out of the screen door. Luke thought she might be the child’s mother?
"It's not like that between me and Elaine,” said Luke. "We're still just friends."
"Yeah,” said Maggie. “The way you said that isn't believable."
Luke sighed again. "She spooks easy. I need to take it slow. Get her com
fortable."
"You make her sound like a new colt,” said Cassie.
She was. Elaine hadn't responded to any of his text messages. Maybe Dr. Patel had it wrong. Maybe he was coming on too strong and scaring her off?
"These women will have you married by three months if you're not careful," said Paul.
That didn't sound so bad to Luke. He could see himself discussing books with Elaine over tacos on Tuesdays for weeks, months, to come. Maybe even years.
"Wow? Really?" said Paul as he eyed his best friend. "What do you even know about this girl?"
"That's just it," said Luke. "I'm trying to get to know her."
"What you're trying to do is save her,” said Paul.
"She saved me," Luke insisted.
"I've seen her. She's a wounded bird. She's hurt on the inside. You told me her parents made a mess of the nest and flew the coop. Now, here you come to save her. Not every wound is your fault. Not every scrape needs healing."
The longer Paul spoke, the touchier his tone got. Luke knew his friend, and he wasn't taking the bait. This wasn't about him and Elaine. "What did the doctor say?"
Paul looked away from Luke. Over in the neighboring yard, a few of the men played football. "I'm not getting surgery. I’m fine. I'm leaving here and going back home at the end of the week."
"Paul—"
"You can stay and court the librarian if you want, but don't use me as an excuse."
"If the doctor—"
"It's my life. It's my decision. My condition is a manageable one. This is how I choose to manage it."
The football landed between them as though to punctuate the end of the argument. Paul picked up the pigskin and tossed it back. He winced with the throw.
"Good arm,” called Xavier Ramos.
"It's been a minute," said Paul
"Come play,” Ramos invited.
Paul hesitated for a second before joining the other guys. Luke held back. Instead of joining in the game, he took the opportunity to watch his friend. He searched for any other signs of pain and discomfort. After fifteen minutes, he didn't see any. He only saw joy on Paul’s face at the normal interaction between other fit men. Maybe his friend was okay?
The crunch of gravel turned Luke’s attention from the game and to the road. A car pulled up. When the vehicle came to a stop, Elaine hopped out. She was holding Luke's book in her hand. Luke rose from his chair. As she approached, he saw that it wasn't the book he'd given her. It was the second one.
"I finished the first and started the second," she said, her voice breathless, her words were stilted as though she had difficulty forming them. "I really like it."
A slow grin spread across Luke’s face. “You sound surprised."
"Because I didn't expect to. I prejudged the book and the author. But last night, I gave the story a try.” She hesitated. Her brow pinching. Her lips contorting. “And I really liked it."
"I'm glad you like it. I'm partial to it myself."
“Maybe we could discuss it … over tacos?"
"I'd like that."
Elaine bit her lip, as though chewing on her next words. “Maybe not as friends. Maybe as two people who…like each other."
Luke knew he should take it slow. He knew she was spookable. But he had no trouble getting his words out. “Do you mean a date?"
Elaine nodded.
"I'd really like that."
Behind them were a few girlish squeals of delight. They turned to see Maggie and Cassie applauding the scene that he’d just played out.
“I love this place,” sighed Maggie as the baby in her arms burped and deposited a little gift on her pristine blouse.
Chapter Sixteen
"So, how did you two meet again?"
Elaine sat in the dining room of Beth Barrett's house. Although she supposed she was Beth Cartwright now having married Reece Cartwright.
Elaine was surrounded by other familiar faces from her past. She'd gone to school with Maggie Banks, Eva DeMonti, and Ginger Chase as well. Though none of them had run in the same circles. Elaine hadn't had a circle. Her nose was always in a book.
But she’d had classes with Maggie. She'd seen Beth in church. And she'd been lab partners with Eva once. Now, these girls were all one big clique. It boggled the mind.
"Luke was about to get hit by a car,” said Elaine. “And I kinda saved him.”
"Well, that's one for the books,” said Eva.
Elaine looked about the room at the nods of approval. "One what?"
"Meet cute,” said Ginger.
“What’s a meet-cute?" asked Elaine.
Maggie set a glass of homemade lemonade down on the table in front of Elaine. “It's a romance novel term for when the two love interests meet."
Love interests? Elaine should've shuddered at that. But she didn't.
"Beth and Reece re-met when Reece lost his memory,” Maggie continued. “Amnesia trope. Brandon heard Reegan sing, and he fell in love. Fran rescued Eva from prepubescent gangsters. And my dogs brought Dylan and me together."
Elaine’s head spun at the many and varied and unbelievable pairings.
“But, I think you're our first actual heroine to save the soldier,” said Maggie.
"Oh," said Elaine, holding up her hands. "This isn't the start of a …”
The three women all looked at her with raised eyebrows. Their triplet smiles stopped Elaine’s mouth from moving. Leaving her sentence hanging on an ellipsis to be continued.
Was she ready for an ellipsis? Would she continue this story with a romance? Elaine gulped when she realized her answer.
"It's gonna be my first date," Elaine admitted.
The women clapped and cooed. Elaine did not feel elated. Panic set in.
Should she even start this? What if it didn't turn out well? What if it turned into something more? Was he even here permanently?Would he move in? Would he expect her to move out? What if he wanted to mix their bookshelves?
"Leave her alone," said Dylan Banks as he walked into the door with his toddler in hand. "Not every date needs to end in marriage."
Maggie rounded on her husband. "Says the man who asked me to marry him the day we met."
Dylan ignored his wife’s fact and handed over the child. "Can you take him? I'm gonna go play ball with the guys."
"I'm having girl-time here,” Maggie countered.
Dylan looked around the room. "It looks to me like you're pressuring someone to join your squad."
"My squad?"
Elaine's shoulders hunched as Maggie's brows rose. Like a bloodhound, Elaine smelled a fight brewing. With that knowledge, panic left her, and anxiety settled in. She wanted to be anywhere but here with two parents fighting.
Elaine looked at the little boy. He looked back and forth between his parents. But instead of crying or even frowning, the child was giggling.
Elaine hated that his innocence would soon be lost when he came to understand the insults and the hurts being flung over his head by the people who were supposed to care about him the most. But the child was still oblivious. For now.
Elaine turned away from the couple to Beth, Ginger, and Eva. The other women didn't look away from the fight. They leaned in, shoveling snacks into their mouths and sipping their lemonade.
"Yeah," said Dylan. "Squad. I know I use that word right. I heard the kids say it."
"We are totally a squad," said Maggie, poking a finger into her husband’s chest. "And we have squad goals. We aim to increase our ranks until every woman in Montana is as deliriously happy as we all are."
Maggie tilted her head back. Dylan ducked down and kissed her. Their son giggled. Elaine stared between the three.
"But you're keeping the kid for another thirty minutes," said Maggie when she pulled away from the kiss.
Dylan groaned. But there was no bite to it. He didn’t even look put out that he’d lost the fight. He lifted his son into his arms like he was a football. "Fine. I'll catch the ball one-handed."
"D
ylan Banks, my son better not come back with any dents."
"I make no promises." Dylan shifted his son into the other arm. The kid dissolved into a fit of giggles. The door closed quietly behind him.
Elaine blinked a couple of times, still unable to accept what she’d just witnessed.
"He's right," said Maggie. "I'm sorry, Elaine. I know not all women want to get married. I just—"
“How did you do that?" said Elaine.
"Do what?"
"You two just fought. And then you made up. Quickly. With no broken dishes. No slammed doors. You barely raised your voices."
“Oh, honey, that wasn’t a fight," said Maggie.
She had that right. No one was crying or cursing or packing an overnight bag.
“Marriage isn't always easy,” Maggie continued. “Communication is key."
"Preach sister," said Beth. "Add patience and forgiveness to that."
Ginger held up her hand. "I'll toss in humility and trust."
"Top that off with love and commitment," said Eva.
"If you build that in a dating relationship," said Maggie, "you have a good chance of making a good marriage."
Elaine wasn't so sure. Instead of arguing, like she’d been taught by her parents to do, she sat back, sipped her tea, and observed these happily married unicorns and their strange customs.
Chapter Seventeen
Luke caught the pass and ran it into the makeshift end zone. He threw up his hands in celebration. The men on his team whooped. The dogs running around their feet yipped. But Luke only had eyes for Elaine.
She sat on the porch with the wives and the small children of the ranch. Elaine looked out of place in her cardigan and plaid skirt while the other women were in jeans or sundresses. The wives of the Purple Heart Ranch had their hair loose, flowing freely around their shoulders. Scuffs and dirt were a part of their wardrobe, just like their wedding bands.
They surrounded Elaine. More like ants scenting a sweet treat than anything else. Pretty soon, they’d cart her off through their collective effort and bring them back to their queen. Maggie stood in the doorway, waiting for the addition to her ranks.
Light Up His Life Page 7
