“Sucker!” I yell back.
Before the last letter even leaves my lips, Luke is behind me, digging his fingers into my sides and tickling. The laughter bubbles up out of my throat before I can will it away and I lose my footing. Luke and I fall into the grass to the side of the drive in a heap of limbs, laughing harder than I thought possible.
Just as I start to gain control of myself, Luke moves above me, pushes my hair from my forehead, and leans in close, his breath whispering across my lips. I look into his eyes, mine still dancing in amusement while his are dark, warm, and something more...
Before I can figure it out, he leans in, pressing his lips to mine. I wrap my hands into his hair and lose myself once again.
Chapter Ten
As soon as I wake up, I am instantly aware that Luke is not in bed with me. I stretch, feeling the space beside me. Cold. I sit up and look at the clock. 10:00 a.m. What in the hell? I pull myself out of bed and wince. Last night’s activities apparently took more of a toll on my legs than I had thought. You would think as a runner I wouldn’t be sore, but I am.
Deciding against being the “needy” girl, I go into the bathroom and turn on the shower, letting steam fill the room as I go through my morning routine. I step into the warm shower, letting the jets beat down on my head. I sigh, the heat from the water and setting on the showerhead pounding my body into submission. After washing, I stand there a moment longer, allowing the water to work through my stressed muscles. Heaven. Pure heaven. I rinse off and wrap a towel around my body, using another one to dry my hair.
I take a look at myself in the mirror and know I have to tell Luke about Lucy today. I stare at my reflection, willing myself to find the courage to do this. His reaction is what scares me the most. Will he blame me because I never even tried to tell him? Will he hate me for keeping this secret? Will he accept her as his daughter? What if he’s decided he doesn’t want children? What if he’s not ready? No matter; if he’s not ready then I won’t force the issue. Lucy isn’t here and she never needs to know, never needs to meet him. She doesn’t deserve that kind of disappointment and heartbreak. Resigned to what I have to do, I finish getting myself ready for the day.
Emerging from the bedroom, I sigh deeply and decide that I will tell him after dinner. Just as I hit the bottom step I hear voices coming from the kitchen. I stop in my tracks and back up a few steps, not wanting interrupt. Debating on whether or not I should go back upstairs, I hear a woman’s voice. “Luciano, you can’t keep this from her. You have to tell her the truth.” From the use of Luke’s full name, I know this has to be his mother. I wonder what, or who, she is talking about while warring with how I feel about eavesdropping.
“I know I do, Mom. But I just got her back and I am trying to figure out a way to tell her.” Luke’s voice interrupts my thoughts. Immediately, I turn around and start to head back upstairs. I only make it up three steps before I’m caught.
“Shayne, is that you?”
I turn around and face Luke’s mother who has a big smile on her face as she opens her arms to me.
“Let me look at you, honey. You are even more beautiful than I remember.” Linking her arm through mine, she leads us into the kitchen where Luke and his father, Vincent, are sitting at the table drinking coffee.
“Vincent, look who I saw coming down the stairs!”
Vincent stands up and comes over to give me a hug.
“Hi, Shayne. Look at you. You look great. Luciano was just telling us about how the two of you are trying to work things out and that you’re a nurse now. I am so glad you finished school. Camillia and I would like to say how sorry we were to hear about your aunt. She was a very sweet woman.”
“Thank you, Vincent. Adam and I received the flowers the two of you sent. That was very kind of you,” I respond as Luke places a kiss on my forehead.
“Morning, tesoro bella. Did you sleep well?”
“I did and I need coffee,” I say, only half joking.
“Let me fix it for you,” Luke says as he makes his way over to the coffee pot. He grabs a mug off the counter and pours a cup of coffee as I sit at the table, Luke’s parents following. Just as Luke hands me my cup, I take in the amazing smell. I lift my hot steamy mug to take a sip just as his parents start to ask all kinds of questions about the past seven years. I answer as much as I can, leaving out anything related to Lucy.
After his parents leave, Luke retreats to his office to work, telling me to make myself at home. I take a long walk through the woods surrounding Luke’s house, trying to calm my ever-rising nerves about telling him about our daughter. I know, deep down, how hurt and angry he’s going to be and it scares me to death. All of my anxiety about him not wanting her has simmered down. I know that’s not who Luke is and I could never imagine him turning his back on her.