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“That last toaster you had looked like it was purchased when Reagan was in office.”
He barked out a laugh as he stood up from the kitchen stool. “It probably was.” He reached for her and pulled her into a hug. He wasn’t sure why, but it felt like the right thing to do. “Thank you Kaylee. It’s a real nice toaster. And a thoughtful gift.” He leaned his cheek against the side of her forehead, the scent of her shampoo filling the air around him with wafts of honey and chamomile.
She let out a soft sigh as she wrapped her arms around his waist and melted into him. It felt so good—like this was the space where she belonged.
Losing Beth had left an empty hole inside him. But somehow this woman, with her sunny laugh and kind thoughtfulness seemed to be filling that chasm.
“I wanted to do something nice for you, but I also wanted you to have something to remember me by when I’m gone. So now you can think of me when you’re eating toast.”
He could tell she was trying to make light of it, but her breath hitched a little at the end, and the realization that she would be gone in a few days hit him like a punch to the gut. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and pulled her closer.
Hugging her was all he could do. He couldn’t manage to say the words out loud, but he wasn’t ready for her to go.
He finally pulled away, pausing for just a moment to peer down into her gorgeous blue-green eyes. And to contemplate kissing her. It would be so easy. Just lean in and press his lips to hers.
But that easy kiss would come with a lot of not-so-easy complications. The least of which being that she was leaving in a few days—a fact she’d just reminded him of.
The grandfather clock in the living room struck out a series of chimes, and Luke stepped away, the moment lost.
It was probably for the best.
He cleared his throat and clapped his hands to his front pockets as if searching for his keys. “We’d better get to goin’ if we want to make it to the breakfast before old Bud Milligan eats all the pancakes.”
“I forgot to grab those books you signed,” Luke said as he and Kaylee headed down the porch steps. “I’ll grab them and meet you in the truck.”
“Sounds good,” Kaylee told him. She’d barely settled into the front seat when she heard the screen door slam and looked up to see Luke hurrying her way, Cooper and Gladys trotting happily behind him.
He opened the passenger door and gave her an apologetic shrug as he tossed the bag with the signed books on to the dashboard. “Sorry. I had to bring them. They looked so sad at being left behind. You’d better scootch over though if you don’t want this guy in your lap,” he said, holding the golden retriever back with his arm.
She scooted to the center of the bench seat and buckled in as Cooper then Gladys scrambled into the truck. The golden was practically in her lap anyway as he greeted her with sloppy kisses as if he hadn’t seen her in years. The puppy licks and excitement distracted her from the fact that she would now be sitting right next to Luke until he climbed into the truck and started the engine.
His thigh was pressed against hers, and she could feel the heat of his shoulder through the cotton sleeve of his t-shirt. He put the truck in reverse then raised his arm over her head, resting it along the back side of the seat as he turned to look out the back window.
She wanted him to leave it there, to feel the weight of it on her shoulders as they drove to town. Except then he wouldn’t be able to put the truck into first so they’d have to drive the whole way in reverse, and that didn’t seem like the best idea.
His arm bumped the back of her head as he brought it back over. “Sorry,” he muttered.
She ducked her head down and ran her nose right into his shoulder. “Ouch, no, I’m sorry.” Lifting her hand, she pressed it to the bridge of her nose.
“Oh geez, are you okay?” Stopping the truck, he turned to face her. “Let me see.” He pulled her hand gently away, and his eyes widened. “Oh crud, your nose is swollen up like a grapefruit.”
“What?” She jerked her head toward the rearview mirror, trying to see her nose. But it looked perfectly normal.
He uttered a low chuckle. “That was too easy. I’m just teasing. Your nose is perfect.” His voice softened as he gazed into her eyes. “Just like the rest of you.”
She shook her head and started to protest, but he cut her off as he squeezed her hand and turned back to face the windshield. “They’re gonna run out of pancakes if we don’t hit the road.” He let off the brake and the truck rumbled forward, but he didn’t let go of her hand. Instead, he lowered their still joined palms to rest on top of his leg. “Because the money goes to help support the fire department, most of the town shows up. I think last year they said they served close to a thousand pancakes.”
She swallowed, trying to follow what he was saying. But the only thing she could focus on was the fact that he was holding her hand as if it were the most normal thing in the world. But this wasn’t normal for her. It had been so long since a man had simply held her hand. She tried to focus on breathing and calm the stomach-fluttering, roller coaster feeling inside her.
“That’s a lot of pancake batter,” she finally managed to squeak out.
“You’re not kidding.” His chest rumbled with an easy laugh. “I think Emma said her school did a whole math unit that year on what it takes to make and serve a thousand pancakes.”
She made some kind of agreeable sound, or she might have mumbled ayeah. She wasn’t sure because the feeling inside her had escalated from the pitter patter of light rain to thunderstorm to tornado as Luke’s thumb moved, softly brushing her skin as he grazed it back and forth over the side of her knuckles.
She wanted to close her eyes, to savor this moment, this feeling of tingly nerves mixed with utter bliss, and she wished the drive to town was farther. Would it be weird to suggest he take a longer route? Like maybe through Wyoming?
Cooper laid his head on her leg, and she rested her other hand on his knobby head. Gladys had her front paws up on the door frame and her head poked out the window, her tail wagging with joy.
Kaylee knew the feeling. Everything about this moment filled her with happiness. The scent of freshly mown hay wafted through the window and mixed with the traces of Luke’s musky aftershave. A classic country song was playing softly on the radio, and she could feel the slightest vibration in his shoulder as Luke hummed along. The sun was shining across the vast crystal blue sky and the morning air was warm but didn’t yet hold the heat that would be coming later.
If she had a free hand, she might consider pinching herself. This felt so much like a dream. And one she didn’t want to end.
