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An objection was on her lips when the organ music started to play. Pippa practically shoved Allie into Luke as she took her seat and set her focus on the front of the chapel.
Luke’s leg brushed against hers, sending off all kinds of sensational alarm bells. If Allie was quiet enough, she was certain she could hear both her heart and Luke’s beat to the sound of the choir as they sang their opening song.
It was official. She’d lost this battle. The part of her that wanted to keep her distance was lying in a puddle of defeat. It was near impossible for her to focus on the sermon at all. Every nerve ending she had was electrified and her thoughts seemed to have created a mind of their own.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Luke’s face, she felt his touch, and she craved more. If anything told her she was out of her element it was that fact alone. Pippa would be pushing her to just tell Luke everything if she knew what had happened.
Time to suck it up and brave the conversation she knew she couldn’t avoid forever.
She exhaled, a tiny amount of relief flooding her tight chest.
But then Luke chose that exact moment to lean close and whisper in her ear. “Can you pass me that Bible?”
Allie sucked in sharply and it took every bit of her strength not to rocket out of her seat like a lunatic. With trembling hands, she shoved the Bible toward him. There was no space between herself and Pippa to scoot away from him.
She was stuck.
Stuck until the end of the service.
Until they had their little conversation that she both craved and wanted to flee from.
The sermon seemed to last for an eternity. Pastor Petrie was on a roll and he had much to say today. Each painstaking second stretched into minutes. The worst part was that she knew no one else felt this shift in time. She was alone in her anticipation.
Then the final song started and the church goers got to their feet. Luke’s hand wrapped around her wrist, preventing her from making an escape. He ducked his head and whispered, “I need to see you. Alone. Not here. I’d like to come over, but I need your address.”
His request hung in the air. This was her final defense if she truly wanted to keep him at arm’s length.
“I’ll text it to you,” she murmured back.
Luke released her. His eyes remained serious until they shifted to over her shoulder. “See you later, Pippa.” He herded his daughter out of the row and the second he was out of hearing range, Pippa’s hands spun Allie around.
She gaped at Allie, eyes bright. “See? I told you. Whatever you did, you hooked him. I mean I played it cool. I didn’t let on that I wanted you guys together—not really. But man, when he came by my place last night, I could tell. He’s got feelings for you.”
The blood drained from Allie’s face, giving her away.
Pippa’s glee faded and her hold on Allie’s upper arms tightened. “Youdiddo something, didn’t you? You asked him out or confessed that you liked him, right?”
Allie swallowed hard. “I didn’t tell him anything,” she wheezed. Face flushing deeply, Allie closed her eyes. “It’s worse than that.”
“That doesn’t make sense. What’s worse than telling him you’ve had a crush on him for ages?”
Her eyes opened and she gave Pippa a pleading look. “I kissed him.”
Pippa gasped and if possible, her eyes widened. “No wonder he was acting funny.” She blew out a low whistle. “I thought you said you weren’t going to ask him out.”
“I didn’t.” Allie covered her face with her hand. “It should have never happened. We were just talking and he kept looking at me weird. Like he already knew I liked him. It was so… different from how he’s treated me in the past. It’s like he finally saw me forme.” Her eyes flitted up to meet Pippa’s. “I’ve never felt that way around him… or anyone for that matter. I don’t know what came over me. I just…” She sighed. “I think I messed up.”
“No!” Pippa’s word burst from her like an explosion, one that caused those nearby to glance in their direction.
Allie’s eyes rounded and she giggled as Pippa grabbed her and dragged her toward the exit. They didn’t stop until they were several feet from anyone else.
“You didn’t mess up. You did exactly what you were supposed to do. You were honest and you were brave. You showed him that you were here. I think he needed that more than you know.”
Allie let out a shuddering breath. Was Pippa right? It was possible that Luke had been in a fog since losing his wife and he needed something—or someone to jumpstart his life again. A warm sensation curled and coiled within her, easing the trepidation that had once resided in her stomach. “Do you really think so?”
“Iknowso. Luke came over the other night. He was…” She nibbled on her lower lip. “Well, I’ve never seen him so worked up over someone before. He’s got feelings for you, too. He’s just trying to make sense of it all. It’s probably because you’re Molly’s teacher and you’re my friend. There’s a lot to unload here and right when he’s doing that tree thing? Of course it’s going to get bumpy. But you have to get out of your own way sometimes.” Pippa pulled her in for a tight hug. “You got this. “
A nervous laugh bubbled up from Allie’s chest. “Thanks for the pep talk.”
