Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he set his glass on a nearby table, rushing to greet them at the door. Reaching for her, Luke froze, taking a second to soak up every single detail of her appearance. “Wow, you look…” He still couldn’t conjure up an adequate adjective.
“For Pete’s sake,” Frank grunted. “Tell her she looks beautiful and kiss her already.”
“Yes, sir.” Luke slid his arms around Cassie’s waist, kissing her deeply.
Frank cleared his throat. “That’ll do, sailor.”
Pulling apart, Luke and Cassie laughed.
“You really spruced up the place,” Frank told Cassie, scanning the expansive barn with an appreciative glance.
“She did a great job, didn’t she?” Luke admired the dozens of pine-scented garlands and wreaths bedecking the barn’s interior, particularly impressed with the hundreds of paper snowflakes dangling from the ceiling.
“It was a group effort.” Cassie blushed as she focused her gaze on the ten-foot-tall Christmas tree. “And it was women like Maggie and Eliza who really went above and beyond. After spending the morning decorating, they filled the dessert bar with their delicious baked goods.”
“Speaking of Mom…” Luke spotted Maggie across the room where she chatted with a pretty older woman dressed in a burgundy organza gown. “There’s someone she’d like you to meet.” Locking his fingers with Cassie’s, Luke led them toward the dessert table.
Maggie’s entire face lit up when she saw them approach. “Sweetheart, you look dazzling!” After kissing Cassie on both cheeks, she turned her attention on Frank. “And don’t you look handsome in that uniform!”
Frank mumbled something incoherent before adding, “Merry Christmas Eve, Margaret.”
“Frank, have you met Beverly Lawrence?” Maggie’s hazel eyes twinkled as she gestured toward her friend. “She’s the town librarian and knows more interesting facts than a contestant onJeopardy.”
“I preferWheel of Fortune, myself,” Frank muttered.
Luke suppressed a groan. Wow, Frank really wasn’t getting the hint.
Beverly smiled, her porcelain cheeks turning pink. “Me, too.”
Frank cocked a peppery eyebrow. “Did you watch last night’s rerun?”
Beverly giggled. “You mean when the contestant didn’t recognize the famous line from Shakespeare?”
“I almost threw my dinner plate at the TV,” Frank admitted with a wry grin.
“So did I!”
Grasping Cassie’s elbow, Luke shot a meaningful glance at his mother and slowly backed away, leaving Frank and Beverly to chat alone.
“Well, don’t they make an adorable couple?” Cassie whispered.
“As long as Frank doesn’t find out one minor detail.”
“What’s that?”
“Beverly doesn’t like coffee.”
Cassie’s hand flew to her mouth, stifling a laugh. “Oh, no. That might be a deal-breaker.”
“You think so?” Catching Eliza wave at them across the dance floor, Luke steered Cassie through the crowd of swaying couples. “And what if I didn’t like coffee? Would you still love me?”
As the words floated from Luke’s lips, time slowed down. His heart thumped above the four-piece band so loud he was certain Cassie could hear it hammering.
The night of their first kiss, Luke held back. He’d told Cassie he wasfallingin love with her, but she deserved more than that. She deserved the truth.
In the middle of the crowded dance floor, Luke took hold of Cassie’s hands.
She gazed up at him, her eyes searching his.
