Neither of them noticed the crowd erupting, the lack of dry eyes, or the way that the couples in the audience scooted a little closer to each other. They only had eyes for each other.
***
Luke said he wasn’t ready to let her go for the ride home, so they left her car at Remo’s and a different circle closed.
When they pulled into the driveway, Harper grabbed his arm in a death grip. “Christmas lights!”
The entire front of the house was covered with white lights. Candles burned in the windows. A cheery wreath adorned the front door. Harper’s green garland on the porch’s railing was threaded with more lights. There was a giant inflatable Santa waving at the street from the front yard.
“You put up lights.” Harper couldn’t drag her eyes away from the perfect spectacle.
“I wanted you to have the perfect Christmas. I figured more is definitely more.”
“It’s perfect.” She turned back to him and started to reach for him, but stopped.
He shook his head and pulled her closer. “You don’t have to be scared, Harper. You can touch me, I’m not going to go away again.” His grip tightened on her arms. “And I’m not letting you leave either. I owe you so much, and the biggest apology in the world is just part of it. Come on.”
They got out of the truck and walked up the front porch. “Before we go in, I need to say some things.”
Harper crossed her arms against the cold and nodded. “Okay.”
Luke took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for pushing you away. I’m sorry for hurting you on purpose. I was scared. Down to the bones. I felt things for you that I never thought would be possible to feel again and some things were completely new. I thought that by loving you, I was being unfaithful to Karen. When I lost her, I thought it was my fault that she died. I vowed that I would never forget her and the price she paid for my decisions.”
Harper reached out to him and put her hand over his heart.
He covered her hand with his own. “I thought that meant living my life alone. Never loving again. But it was so easy to love you. I don’t even remember ever not loving you. I think I loved you the second I saw you launch yourself at Glenn. Something in me said ‘she’s finally here.’ You’re what I’ve been waiting for. You’re the light that got me through the dark, and I’m not willing to go back to a life without you.”
He let out a shaky breath. “I know that you don’t owe me anything and that even though I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to make this up to you, it still won’t be close to enough. I know all that, but I’m still asking you to please forgive me. I love you. I want you. I need you. And I’m so sorry for hurting you, baby.”
Harper launched herself at him. She pressed her tear-streaked face against his chest and just let herself breathe him in. He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. “I’m so sorry, Harper. I’m an asshole. But I’m an asshole that loves you more than anything in this world.”
“I love you, Luke.”
“Do you forgive me?”
“I did that ages ago.”
He shook his head. “How the hell did I ever get so lucky?”
“You might not think that when I tell you this,” Harper said, pulling back.
“You can tell me anything.”
“I can’t stay here.”
“Why the hell not?” he gripped her shoulders.
“It’s not safe. There are things you don’t know —” she started.
“Baby, do you really think a 62-year-old with a failing liver can get through me to get to you?”
Harper took a step back. “How did you ... I don’t understand.”
“Clive Perry will never be a threat to you again.” Luke gently brushed her hair back from her face. “He’s never getting near you. We made sure of it.”
“We?”
“Melissa says to call her tomorrow.”
“Oh crap. Are you kidding me? You met Melissa?”
“Oh yeah. She wasn’t impressed with the ‘asshole’ who dumped her friend at first, but we’re good now. He’s never getting out, baby. And if you’re okay with it, tomorrow we’ll file a PFA with Ty so he can’t send you any more letters. We can do it after we pick out a Christmas tree.”
“How —”
“I’ll tell you later, okay?” He hugged her closer and buried his face in her hair. “I meant it when I said I wouldn’t leave you again. Aldo and I officially retired.”
“Oh my God, I don’t think I can physically handle any more surprises.”
“Let’s go inside.”