Beth Ciotta: Anything but Love

With that she shoved her tousled hair out of that beautiful face, grabbed her phone from the fridge, and cast him a parting, enigmatic glance. “See you tomorrow, Sam.”

Luke had never asked a girl to sleep over in his house. Let alone sleep over every night for, well, hopefully the rest of their lives.

After putting in a full night bartending and hosting at the Shack, he’d returned home around two in the morning to find Rae fast asleep in his bed. She was bathed in a soft wash of moonlight and he could see just enough of her face to know she was sleeping peacefully. She looked content. He liked that a lot. Sam’s words had been ringing in Luke’s ears all night.

“I wish you the happiness I had.”

Just thinking about it choked Luke up. Sam’s years with Paula had been the happiest of his cousin’s life. What’s more, the wish had been sincere.

Luke had climbed into bed with Rae, knowing he’d turned a corner in his life. There was no going back. He’d had a hard time getting his mind to shut down. A lot of unsettled issues. The thing with her mom. The beef with Geoffrey, something Luke still wasn’t clear on. Sugar Tots would require a lot of Rae’s time and Luke would be taking on new challenges at the Shack. They’d have to settle into a new routine, somehow juggle their professional and personal lives. He knew he had to attack his dyslexia in a new way. Learning to conquer rather than cover. He wanted to be able to read stories to his kid without stumbling. He wanted to handle the books and inventory at the Shack without having to rely on Dev or Anna.

He wanted to make Rae proud.

Luke drifted off fully expecting to wake up in a panic.

He woke up with Rae in his arms. He woke up content. “How long have you been awake?” he asked.

“A while.”

“Why are you smiling?”

“I’m happy. I don’t remember ever being this happy.”

Luke kissed her forehead. “I’m glad.” He glanced at the bedside clock. “Damn. It’s late. What time did Harper say that film crew would be at Moose-a-lotta?”

“Noon.”

“We best get cracking. You shower and dress and I’ll start breakfast. Craving anything special?”

She smiled and his heart jerked. God, he loved that.

“Pancakes,” she said. “With lots of butter and a ton of maple syrup.”

“You got it, Champ.”

She scrunched her brow. “Why do you call me that?”

“Because when life knocks you down, you get back in there swinging. Sam was right. You’re a warrior at heart, Rae. I admire you for that.”

“Thank you, Luke.” She flushed then and bit her lower lip. “I hope I don’t get knocked out today in that interview. I’ve never done well in the spotlight.”

“You’ll be fine. Harper’s going to coach you beforehand and you’ll have a huge cheering section watching from the sidelines. This mess will be behind us before you know it.”

She nodded and swung out of bed. “That’s incentive enough to kick this Champ in the butt. Meet you downstairs. I won’t be long.”

“You look cute in my T-shirt,” he said as she padded toward the bathroom.

She grinned. “I may never wear my pjs again.”

“Speaking of,” Luke said as he pulled on a pair of sweats. “I slid by the Pine and Periwinkle late last night like we talked about and I gathered all of your things.” He nodded across the room. “Your laptop and suitcases are over there. Be warned. I’m not a neat packer.”

She did a one-eighty and hustled over, thanking him with a brush of her lips. “I don’t care about neat.”

He thought about his overall housekeeping skills. “Remember you said that.”

Twenty minutes later, Luke was adding a sixth flapjack to a serving plate when he heard a knock on the door. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Wary of paparazzi, he peeked out a window before answering and was surprised to see his mom and dad standing on his front porch.

Frowning, he swung open the door. “You okay?”

“What kind of greeting is that?” Jerome asked while guiding Kaye inside just ahead of him.

“We wanted to meet Rae before this afternoon’s filming,” Kaye said as she shook off a chill. “To wish her luck.”

“To tell her the family’s behind her one hundred percent.”

Luke dragged a hand through his hair, his chest swelling with emotion. “That’s great. That’s … I appreciate it,” he said while taking his parents’ coats and scarves. “I just wish you would have called first.”

“Why?”

“So I could have prepared Rae. She’s nervous about meeting you.”

“Why?” Kaye asked.

While hanging the coats on the tree stand, Luke heard Rae galloping down the stairs. Damn .

“Luke! Help! Fashion crisis. I should know what color looks best on TV but I can’t remember. I don’t know which blouse would be best. I need…” She skidded to a stop in a skirt and her bra. “… your opinion.” Red-faced, she crushed the two shirts she’d been holding at her side to her chest. “Hi.”

Suppressing a smile, Luke placed his hand at the small of her back. “Rae, I’d like you to meet my parents. Jerome and Kaye Monroe.”

Juggling the crumpled shirts to strategically hide her bra, she offered a hand in greeting. “Pleased to meet you. So sorry for my … disarray.”

“I read somewhere that you should avoid pastels,” Jerome said. “I’d go with that purple shirt.”

“It’s not purple,” Kaye said. “It’s eggplant and it does go nicely with your red hair, Rae.”

Luke nodded. “I like the purple.”

“Your mom’s right,” Rae said. “It’s more eggplant. I do have a couple of other choices.”

“If you’d like a woman’s opinion, dear, I’d be happy to help.”

Rae smiled, looking a little flustered but pleased. “Okay. Thank you.” She backed away, still clutching the shirts to her chest until Kaye spun her and shielded her with her body as they climbed the steps.

Luke cleared his throat. “You’re staring, Dad.”

“Lovely girl.”

“Yes, she is. Inside and out.”

“Those pancakes I smell?”

Luke blinked at a man who’d lost several pounds over the last few months due to treatments and a loss of appetite. “You hungry?”

Jerome unbuttoned his wool coat. “I am.”

If this was the sign of the day to come, Luke thought, we’re in for a great one.

Rae knew there would be paparazzi on top of the film crew. She expected a few reporters, some local, some freelance. But she wasn’t quite prepared for the circus that awaited. At least three TV news trucks were parked along the street. Photographers were huddled outside of Moose-a-lotta, smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, and trying to keep warm on a day when the temperature had yet to clear the teens. Then there were the curiosity seekers.

“Harper said it was pretty intense when she called a few minutes ago,” Rae said. “but she didn’t mention spectators. I don’t understand. It’s not like I’m famous.”

“But your mother is,” Luke said. “And this war she’s got going with you made national gossip rags.”

“You’re being interviewed by Shawna Frost of Vermont Today, ” Kaye said. “She’s a celebrity in these parts. Maybe the crowd is here for her, dear.”

Rae swiveled and smiled at the woman who’d gone out of her way all morning to make Rae feel comfortable. “I’m really glad you and Mr. Monroe came with us although I’m sorry if it proves embarrassing in any way.”

“Mr. Monroe makes me feel old,” Luke’s dad said. “Jerome or Jerry please. And it would take a lot to embarrass us. Our family has its own skeletons, trust me.” He leaned forward then, gestured to the circus. “What’s with the moose?”