Jill Shalvis - Luke

"Wait a minute. Back the damn train up. You were the one who said you didn't want this to continue after my three months-"

"And do you think I don't know that?"

His head was spinning, spinning away, she drove him that crazy.

"Luke, damn it, I-"

"Love you," they both shouted at the same time. Then blinked. Stared at each other.

Lightning flashed.

The ambulance pulled up. Two medics hopped out and peered into the clinic. Both of them recognized Luke, who held up a hand, signaling they needed a moment.

"What?" Luke asked her hoarsely, stepping close. "What did you just say?"

"The same thing as you, I think." Very carefully, very purposely, Faith set her head down on his chest. She needed the support. Taking a peek, she saw Luke's eyes, which had been dark with fear and anger and a whole host of things only a moment ago, were now wide with shock.

Much, she imagined, the way hers were.

He loved her. Was it really possible?

As if he was the weak one now, he stumbled back, and tugging her with him, sat down hard on a chair.

Faith landed in his lap.

The medics started forward, but Luke glared at them until they both retreated back a few steps. "Faith?"

"Yes?"

"Let's try that again, but you go first this time."

"Oh no," she said demurely, her heart light for the first time in weeks. Months. Since the first time he'd walked through her door, as a matter of fact. "You came out in the middle of the night to talk to me. The least I can do is let you go first."

His hair was slicked close to his head, and he blinked rainwater out of his eyes as he stared down at her. "You're messing with my head, right?"

She was, and upon closer inspection of his fierce expression, she nearly melted, for he had stark fear lingering behind his eyes, fear she'd put there. "I'm sorry I drive you so crazy, Luke. I promise I'll never take risks with my health again if you promise to give us everything you give your patients."

"I didn't know you wanted me to give us anything," he said very quietly.

"I know, and that's partly my fault, too, because I didn't tell you how I feel."

"But you're going to tell me now."

"Yes." She smiled through her sudden tears and cupped his face. "I love you, Dr. Luke Walker. I love you with all my heart."

"Even if I'm… bossy?"

"Especially because you're bossy. That's my favorite part of you, your utter confidence, your knowledge that you're always right-"

He shut her up with a kiss that went a long way toward warming up her chilled body.

"Uh, Dr. Walker?" One of the medics once again stepped forward. "Is someone going to the hospital?" He wrapped his arms around himself. "Because it's damn wet out there, and-"

"No one is going to the hospital," Faith said, her eyes on Luke, who lifted a brow.

"Did you say I was the bossy one?" he asked. "Yes. And don't think it's escaped my notice that I've done all the talking."

"Yeah." He didn't break eye contact with her. "Sorry, guys, false alarm. Have the hospital bill me for the run, but I think I've got this situation under control."

He waited until they'd driven off into the night before he spoke. "I thought my life was complete, even though my brother and Carmen kept telling me I was wrong, and that I needed love."

"That must have gone over well."

"I wasn't looking for this," he said quietly. "Wasn't looking for anything but what I had at work, and yet it's the oddest thing…" He stroked a wet strand of hair off her cheek but left his fingers on her skin. "I can't imagine my life the way it was before you."

"That's incredibly sweet," she whispered, snuggling even closer. "And I'll want to hear that again and again, but right now I'm just looking for a review of those three little words that begins with 'I' and ends with 'you' and has a big word in the middle that starts with 'L'."

"I'm getting there," he said, undeterred and apparently not willing to be rushed.

She wriggled a little on his lap, just a little, until his arms tightened and his breath caught.

"Okay, now you're trying to rush me," he accused, holding her hips to keep her still. "I'm trying to give you my heart here and you're thinking of sex."

"I'm thinking of sex, yes, but also more. I want your heart, Luke, more than anything. I promise to be careful with it."

"Yeah. Careful would be good, as I've never given it away before." He let out a slow breath. "I love you, Faith, and I think I have since I first laid eyes on you."

Joy sang through her and she wrapped her arms around him. "Do you think we can go upstairs now?"

Grinning, he surged up with her in his arms. "I was just afraid you and your hot little bod would distract me and I wouldn't say what I'd come to say."

"Well…" She bit his lower lip, then soothed it with a lick of her tongue. "You've said what you wanted to say now, right? So… you're ready for a distraction?"

"Definitely, though you should know our first activity is going to be to eat. But distract away."

"Distracting away." Leaning in, she whispered a naughty suggestion, something that would keep them busy until sunrise.

His eyes darkened. "Sounds good, but I'm thinking beyond sunrise."

"Okay… how about until… tomorrow night?"

"Nope."

God. She pulled back, horrified. She'd assumed he'd meant there were no more time restrictions on them, but he'd never really said-

"I'm thinking forever," he said. "Does forever work for you? Sharing my life, heart and soul forever?"

She swallowed hard past the lump in her throat and nodded past her tears. "Well, I suppose it's only fair," she whispered. "Since that's how long I want to share mine with you."

Two weeks later

Faith sat in the staff room, a cup of green tea in front of her, fascinated by her own left hand.

"Would you stop it?" Shelby complained. "You're blinding me."

Faith grinned as she, for the hundredth time, shifted her fingers to catch the light on her diamond engagement ring.

"Hey, slackers," Luke said as he came into the room, dressed to see patients. "It's Saturday and you have a full clinic." He clapped his hands like the dictator he sometimes forgot he wasn't. "Let's hit it."

Then he caught sight of what Faith was drinking and went utterly still. "What are you doing?"

"Drinking green tea. Did you know it has qualities that help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels?"

"It also lowers cholesterol," Shelby said helpfully.

Luke took the cup away.

"Hey," Faith protested. "I just made that."

He set it on the counter and turned back to her. "Green tea isn't good for pregnant women."

Shelby gasped.

So did Faith. "First of all," she said slowly. "How do you even know that?"

"Hey, you're not the only one who knows some naturopathic stuff."

Faith smiled, but it slowly faded. "I'm not pregnant, Luke."

"I thought we weren't sure."

She sighed. "I am today." She didn't look at him for a moment because suddenly she felt… uncertain. How would he feel about that? Relieved? Upset?

But then he was right there, gently lifting her chin, kissing her softly. "Are you okay?"

"For now," she answered as honestly as she could. "But I have to admit to an odd disappointment."

"Yeah." His eyes were soft on hers. "I know."

"I still want to wear your ring," she said, possessively pulling it to her chest.

"God, I hope so," he said fervently.

Faith stood up to hug him. "And there's always…" She leaned and bit his earlobe.

Shelby rolled her eyes. "Take it to a bedroom."

"Always… what?" Luke asked huskily.

Faith soothed the nip she'd just taken with her tongue. "Practicing," she whispered.