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“Like what?”
“Well, I mean, I need a full-time job but…”
“Have you talked to anyone at Flyboys?”
“No,” he said sheepishly. “I worry that they won’t take me seriously.”
“Luke!” Nicolette said, stunned. “You’ve been working on the planes with Glory for nearly ten years. Why not see if you can do more there or…”
“Because if your dad is upset about this between us and he becomes my boss? It won’t go well,” he confessed quietly, putting his hands behind his head. “I really need a little distance in case it’s not received well. Your dad can be a little… intense.”
“He’s a softie.”
“So says his only child…” Luke said flatly, looking at her with an arched eyebrow. “I think if he finds out that I have designs on his daughter and trying to figure out how to provide a home for her…”
“You are?” Nicolette whispered, stunned, and looked at him with amazement in her eyes. “Are you really?”
“I’m not gonna mess this up between us,” Luke replied tenderly. “If this is going to be a relationship, then we need certain things in line. I need to work forty hours a week, have a place for us to hang out, and then someday…”
“Yes?”
“Someday, Nicolette Saxon,” Luke said gruffly. His heart was there in his eyes as he spoke to her with so much emotion. “Someday, I’m going to marry you and I don’t want you to ever be ashamed of me, because I didn’t go to the Academy like Toby or go to medical school like Caspar…”
“You work harder than either of them,” she whispered tearfully. “I couldneverbe ashamed of you. Are you ashamed of me?”
“Never!” he said forcefully, looking at her intently. “You have your life together and I’m just scrambling to put it all into place now, because I never had a reason to focus… before now.”
“Oh, Luke…” she smiled tremulously. “Can I help?”
“Just be supportive. Laugh at me if I screw things up, and if I make a mistake? Please be there to listen, because I have a hard time opening up sometimes…”
“I understand and would be honored to be the one you talk to.”
“You aren’t scared at how fast this is – or how intense it is between us?”
Nicolette shook her head.
“I’ve waited for you forever, Luke Fuller…” she whispered. “Just let me help however I can, and we’ll figure it out together.”
He pulled his arm out from behind his head and lay back on the blanket again, taking her hand in his, linking their fingers tightly.
“Just give me time…” he whispered openly.
“You’ve got it,” she promised easily.
* * *
Hours later,they were kissing passionately in the truck behind her office. Luke was trying to be the perfect gentleman, walking her to her car and opening her door… but she practically grappled him, pulling him to her.
Seeing him there in the moonlight, remembering his words about how he wanted to take care of her, that someday was going to marry her? She just felt this overwhelming feeling of love towards the boy she’d always cared for.
She nearly dragged him back into the truck, kissing him deeply and not letting go… and he barely fought or countered her attentions.
Instead, he sat there, kissing her back.
“Niki…” Luke whispered painfully. “Honey… we’ve gotta stop. I’m not doing any of this in my pickup truck.”
“I know…” she breathed, arching her neck against him, where he was kissing her jaw. “I know we aren’t.”
