Discover Love(3)
Staring at the kind woman, he watched as she stood and, with a loving touch from her husband, moved back into the house. Chris jumped up to turn the meat on the grill, leaving Luke alone with his thoughts.
Later that night, as Luke lay in bed, he listened as his parents conversed in the other room, their voices warm as they discussed the upcoming symposium. They discovered what they were good at … and found each other. Chris was right.
He looked up as they came in to say goodnight and tuck him in. As pre-occupied as they were at times, they always remembered to come in at bedtime. After they kissed him goodnight, he thought back to Tina's words. I'm smart, sweet, and strong. Be that. Own that. And live up to that.
Chapter 2
(seventeen years later)
The atmosphere at Chuck's Bar & Grille was boisterous; even more so than the typical Saturday night at the local watering hole. The Saints occupied their usual space near the back, although it now took several tables pushed together to make room for them all.
When Jack Bryant, a former Special Forces sergeant, retired he re-created one of his last assignments, where he worked with a diverse group of men on a mission in Afghanistan. Jack discovered that the group worked coherently and without egos, making the experience a life-changing one, as well as a successful mission. It took Jack over a year to build his compound underneath his massive, luxury house on over twenty acres at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Jack had recruited men from the FBI, CIA, SEALs, Special Forces, ATF, police, and DEA to create his new business-Saints Protection & Investigations.
Luke, stepping in front of his boss' pregnant wife, grabbed the edge of the old, worn, wooden table and shifted it next to another one. "Hold on, Bethany, let us move these around." She smiled up at the soft-spoken, tall, dark-haired man, moving out of his way while he and Jack replaced the chairs around the tables.
Finally, with enough room for them all, they took their seats. Luke slid his gaze around the gathering, a smile playing about his lips. What began as eight men now included two more men as well as eight wives and fiancés. Glancing to the side, he saw Marc doing the same thing. Now, it was only he and Marc without someone special.
That thought pierced him, realizing that he wanted what the others had. Not as social as his co-workers, he wondered if that were possible. He loved his work for the Saints, having left the CIA disgusted with the red tape and cumbersome political machine. The Saints offered a unique opportunity for his specialized computer engineering skill set, without the bureaucratic bullshit the CIA was mired in.
"Whoo-eee!" came the loud call from a tiny, powerhouse of a woman behind him, jerking Luke from his musings. She was sporting her usual attire-tight jeans, tight Chuck's t-shirt, and too-tall heels. Big bust, big hair, and big heart, she balanced a large tray on her shoulders, her blue eyes twinkling at the group.
Grinning, Luke turned around to see Chuck's iconic waitress, Trudi, walking up behind him, her gaze scanning the group. They had been coming to Chuck's for over a year and Trudi mother-henned the men as well as doted on the women.
She greeted each Saint, cooing over baby pictures from Cam and Miriam and Chad and Dani, while checking on the status of the other pregnant women or those soon to be married. As she made her way around the table, she finally ended with Luke and Marc. Lifting an eyebrow, she said, "So when are the last two of you big men going to fall? Looks to me like you're gettin' behind!"
Marc, the outdoorsman of the group, placed his hand over his heart and declared, "Trudi, until I can find a woman like you, I vow to be single!"
"Hell, darlin', they broke the mold with me!" Trudi cackled, slapping Marc on the back, before casting her gaze over to Luke.
Throwing his hands up in defense, Luke proclaimed, "Just gotta find the right one."
Leaning down, she said, "Well, you need to get out more. You stay stuck behind your computers all day and probably all night!"
The group laughed knowing she was right. Luke watched her walk away after she delivered the food and his heart squeezed once more. I'm not like the others … I've got no idea what to talk about with women … and they sure as hell have no idea what to say to me. For a second, his parents flashed through his mind. As unlikely as they were to find mates, their shared love of ancient texts brought them together and kept them connected over the years. So where does a computer nerd like me find someone? Another computer nerd that's just as antisocial as I am? Yeah, right!