More than Exist(32)

We’d been walking for a while when I heard a rustling and looked around to find the source.

“That’ll be Joe,” Luke said as a beautiful black lab came into view. “He’s Pa’s dog and likes to check the land before he goes to bed at night too.”

“Hey, Joe,” I cooed as I knelt down to get to eye level with the dog. I offered up the back of my hand for him to smell, then pet him vigorously when he gave me his consent. “Aren’t you a pretty boy.”

Luke chuckled beside me as I lavished attention on the beautiful dog.

“Joe,” I heard Hank call in the distance, followed by a sharp whistle.

“Go on,” Luke urged, and Joe took off at a sprint toward the sound of Hank’s voice.

“You like animals,” Luke said as a statement, rather than a question.

“Yes.”

“Horses?”

“I’ve never actually seen one up close,” I admitted.

“Well, we’ll have to fix that. I’ll take you to the stables, introduce you to Skywalker.”

“Skywalker?”

“My horse.”

I stopped in my tracks and turned to him, trying with all my might to hold back laughter.

“You’re kidding right?”

For the first time since that night in Vegas, I was hit with the full force of Luke’s easygoing smile, and I felt it down to my toes.

“What, you don’t like Star Wars?” he teased, reminding me of how fun and sweet he was. I felt a rush of pleasure that he seemed to be more at ease with me now. I’d been worried after our interview that the guy I’d met that night had been an illusion, but he wasn’t. He was standing in front of me now.

“No, I love Star Wars,” I said, unable to contain my laugh any longer. “You just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

We laughed together, and I don’t know how it was possible, but Luke looked even more incredible when he laughed.

His eyes still filled with merriment, he shocked me when he said, “You look really good, Belle. Not that you weren’t gorgeous before, but you look happier. Healthier. It looks good on you.”

“Thank you,” I replied, not bothering to hide my pleasure at his words. “I feel a lot better.”

“I’m glad,” he said, then we turned and headed back toward the house, and I felt lighter than I had in months.





Chapter 23





Luke slept in, and I had breakfast ready at nine, as instructed. The conversation was easy, but when he left to go into town to pick up his son, my nerves returned. Luke was only one half of the duo that I was going to live with while I was here, and I hadn’t met Matty yet.

What if he hated me?

What if he was a monster of a kid? A holy terror?

I’d been so worried about Luke and his reaction to having me in his home that I hadn’t thought about what would happen if his son and I didn’t get along.

Once Luke’s truck pulled away, I’d been overcome with stress.

I pulled out the recipe for the Kit Kat Cookies that Ms. Lucille had promised were his favorites, and I went over her list of his favorite foods, determined to get on his good side.

I was not ashamed to bribe him, if that’s what it took. I knew that no matter how well Luke and I got along, if his son didn’t want me there, I was as good as gone.

I worked myself into such a panic that by the time I was supposed to expect them home, I was a wreck. Supper was ready, as were the cookies, but I was a mess. And I wanted a drink.

Badly.

I grabbed my phone and took it outside, breathing the fresh air in deeply as I waited for Sarah to pick up. Although the rocking chairs looked inviting, I was too antsy to sit, so I paced instead.

She answered on the third ring, and talked me down over the next ten minutes, so by the time the truck pulled up and parked, I was sitting in the rocking chair laughing as she told me a story.

“They’re home, so I’ve gotta go,” I told Sarah as I stood and watched the little boy with dark hair jump down from the truck. He seemed tall for his age, and his hair was in need of a cut, but there was no denying that he was Luke’s son.

“Hi,” I said, putting on a brave face and descending the stairs to greet them. “I’m Belle, you must be Matty.”

“Hi, Belle,” Matty said with a sweet grin, instantly melting my fears away. “Are you named after Belle on Beauty and the Beast? Is California always sunny? Have you been to the ocean? I’ve never been to the ocean, but I want to build a sand castle. Did you know mares can be pregnant for up to three hundred and sixty days?”

I laughed, utterly charmed as Matty put his hand in mine and pulled me up the stairs and into the house. I turned back to look at Luke, who was smiling and shaking his head at his son.