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Orly played with a lock of her hair she’d pulled over her shoulder from her long ponytail, and he wondered if this was a nervous tell of hers. “That night when I told you I’d left my ex, I knew I wanted to meet you.” She sighed. “But I also knew you were a cop, and after everything I went through with my ex…Anyone I ever told about him always told me to give him another chance.” She lowered her gaze and Luke felt the emotion behind her voice.
“I would never do that to you. Ever.” Luke reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Orly, if you believe nothing else, please believe that. I’m on your side. Always.” He didn’t blame her for doubting him, but he also wasn’t going to let another second pass without making it clear to her just whose side he was on. Hers. Period.
Orly nodded. “I know. I think I’ve always known.” She offered him a soft smile. “I think you’re the only one.”
Luke wasn’t sure what to say to that, which was just as well since the waitress brought their food. Orly ordered a southwestern style omelet, and Luke got three scrambled eggs, with hash browns, two sausage links, and bacon. It all smelled amazing and they dove right in.
Orly ate hungrily, even as she tried to pace herself, likely for his sake, and he made a mental note to make sure she got plenty of food from here on out. After they ate, Luke paid for the meal, but not before asking their waitress for two to-go cups for their leftover coffees. Orly smiled as she wrapped her hands around the paper cup and he loved that he could bring her even a small amount of comfort with just that little act.
“Would you go for a walk with me?” Luke asked as they left the restaurant. He wasn’t ready to take her back to the motel and the sluggishness he’d felt when he’d first landed was long gone, chased away by adrenaline and the delicious food he’d just eaten. The strong coffee this place served also helped.
“Okay.” Orly cradled her coffee in both hands, but when he reached for her hand, she slipped her hand into his like it was second nature and Luke couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“I’m just not ready to retreat to our separate corners yet,” he admitted. “I know we technically just met, but I feel like I’ve known you forever. And at the same time -”
“You don’t know me at all,” Orly finished.
He nodded, not surprised she could finish his sentence. They had been in each other’s heads for months, often talking for hours at a time. He’d told her stories about his friends, how he found and bought his house, and how he’d grown up with two brothers he hardly talked to these days. “I think it’s a little more complicated than that,” he said, as they crossed the street.
“Things with me are always complicated,” she said with a hint of sadness. “Growing up in the foster care system, I always wanted a simple life. A husband, a few kids, a nice home, close friends. I knew I’d never get a mom and dad, but dreaming about those other things was what kept me going most days.”
“And you’ll get all of them,” he said, probably with a little more certainty than he’d meant to. But even if he was dumb enough to somehow screw this up, there was no doubt in his mind that any man would be lucky to have Orly in his life.
“Did you always want to be in law enforcement?” Orly asked.
Luke nodded. “Since I was a little boy. I think all three of us did. Our dad was a rancher, and we hated that lifestyle. But he did instill a strong sense of justice in all of us, so I guess it was a natural turn of events.”
“Your brothers are in law enforcement, too?” She asked.
They were walking along the path of a park, surrounded by tall trees on one side, and an open field on the other. There was a playground in the distance to the right and a baseball field that had been hidden from the street to the left. “My brother, Gage, is in the military, but he has a detective job in New Orleans waiting for him when he gets out. And, Ian works in some branch of the government he’s not allowed to talk about.” Luke always grinned when he said that last part, because the little boy in him thought it was so cool his brother was part of some super secret CIA-like organization.
“They sound incredible,” Orly said.
“Yeah, I should try harder to keep in touch with them. But you know, we have our own lives, doing our own thing.”
“I wish I had brothers. Or sisters,” she shrugged. “I’m not picky.” They stopped at a trashcan to toss their now empty coffee cups.
“And you’re also not alone,” Luke said, sensing where she was going with that. He brushed a stray hair from her face, letting his fingers linger for the briefest of moments on her soft cheek. She leaned into his touch and once again the urge to take this woman into his arms and kiss her was stronger than his desire to breathe. I wish I knew what you were thinking right now.
Her gaze settled on him and there was a kind of longing in her caramel eyes that both gutted him and set his soul on fire. I’m thinking I don’t want this day to end.
And with that, Luke couldn’t put off what he’d really wanted to talk to her about any longer. “I want to take you back to Texas with me. I have no jurisdiction here, but I can protect you back home. I have a nice guest room in a three bedroom house you’re more than welcome to use, or if you’d be more comfortable on your own, I’m sure we can find you a place to rent.” Orly’s eyes widened as he spoke, but he couldn’t hear her thoughts and he wasn’t done. “I know it’s probably not what you had in mind -”
“I want to go.” She rushed out. “I have nothing keeping me here.” Then she swallowed and cast her eyes down, and Luke instantly missed seeing those caramel pools that had the power to turn his world upside down. “But if I come with you, I’ll be bringing all my baggage with me right to your doorstep.”
Luke took both her hands in his, wanting to be as connected to her in this moment as possible. “My doorstep can handle any baggage you bring, as long as you’re there, too.” There was no mincing words. No subliminal messages. No dancing around it. Luke wanted her in his life. In his home.
“I’m scared,” she said softly, an admission he knew came from the depths of her soul.
“Then let me make it so you never have to be scared again.”
Orly drew in a ragged breath and looked up at him, their gaze meeting again. She seemed to be searching for something in his eyes, though for what, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was he’d do anything, give her whatever she needed, if she agreed to go with him. “Okay,” she finally said.
“Okay? Just like that?” He asked in slight disbelief. “I thought it wouldtake a lot more convincing.”
“I trust you.”
Those three little words meant the world to Luke, especially coming from her. He knew some of the things she’d gone through, both in foster care and with Russell, so giving him her trust was no small gift. They walked around the park for a little while longer before returning to his rental car.
