“I had a bad day on Monday. A really, really bad day. I tripped and fell at home and hit my cheek on the corner of the coffee table. But that was just the final straw.” I swallowed, looking away from his intense gaze before I forced myself to look back into his eyes. “Luke, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for the way I left things with us on Sunday. I mean, you opened yourself up to me and I basically shrugged in your face, and I cant take it back, but I am asking that you forgive me.”
I stood in front of him, his hands still cupping my face, waiting for him to say something. He didn’t. Instead, he just lowered his head and gently pressed his lips to mine. He pulled back after a second and said, “Stay here real quick. Don’t leave, okay?”
I nodded and he walked off to the back of the shop. After a minute he came back out, grabbed my hand, and pulled me out the door to his car.
“Wait! Luke, my car!” I cried, pulling back on his arm to slow him down.
He paused for a second, then said, “Take it to your house and I’ll follow. But then we’re going to go get some dinner and you’re staying at my house tonight.”
“But,” I began, but Luke raised his hand, not letting me finish.
“My house. Tonight, Emma. I want you in my bed.”
I sighed, giving in and walking to my car. I drove to my house, Luke right behind me. When I pulled up, Luke parked behind me and came inside while I got some clothes together. I didn’t even have my bag zipped before Luke grabbed it and then me, and pulled me out the door. I managed to get him to stop long enough to lock my front door and then we were in his car, headed back into town.
“Where do you want to go to dinner, sugar?” Luke asked.
“I don’t care, Luke. Whatever sounds good to you.” I replied.
“Beck’s on Main?”
“Yeah, that’s good.” I replied, already flipping through their menu in my head. What? I love food!
We went to Beck’s and were seated immediately because it’s a bar like Griff’s but they’ve got more of a bistro type menu. I ordered my favorite, loaded baked potato soup with cheese and bacon, and a turkey bacon club sandwich. Luke ordered a French dip sub and started to order the French onion soup to go with it, but changed it to the potato soup as well when he glanced my way. Hmm…
It didn’t take us long before we were done eating and headed to Luke’s house. We pulled up and Luke grabbed my bag off the backseat before I could, and held my hand as we walked up on the porch. As I was waiting for Luke to unlock the door, I heard a small chuff behind me. Then the smell hit.
I turned around, surprised to see Doug standing behind us, his yellow fur hidden under mud and only God knows what else. I plugged my nose, trying to breathe out of my mouth, because he smelled like a skunk. I gagged and took a step back, plowing into Luke who had turned to see what was going on. He had his shirt up over his nose and was glaring at Doug, who seemed to be smiling at us.
“You stupid ass dog, Doug!” Luke yelled. “This is the fifth time this year you’ve been sprayed by a skunk and its supposed to be Brandon’s turn to deal with it!” He growled deep in his throat, which made Doug even happier. His whole body shook with the vicious wagging of his tail.
Luke looked over to me and shook his head in exasperation. He unlocked the door and stepped back to let me inside, hollering, “NO!” over his shoulder at Doug. When we got inside, he put my bag down by the steps and then I heard, “Oh, shit!” and Luke took off running through the living room towards the kitchen and the back door off the side of it that opened out onto a huge back deck with a hot tub sunk into it.
I watched in fascination as the doggie door ( I hadn’t noticed it before) just barely began pushing in when Luke dove to the floor, jamming his hands against the flap, and subsequently, Doug’s head. I heard Doug woof once outside the door, while Luke laid on the kitchen floor, forehead on the tile, hands extended out in front of him holding the doggie door shut. Luke very carefully reached up with one hand and released the locking flap, moving his other hand quickly out of the way as it swung down, before sliding the lock into place.