Saving Dallas 2 Making the Cut(7)

“Shhh. Nothing is wrong, babe. Go back to sleep, I’m just carrying you to bed,” Luke whispered in my ear. I nodded into his chest as a response and allowed him to carry me, effortlessly, to bed. He pushed back the covers and pulled me to him, my back to his front, and nuzzled his face in my hair.

“You okay?” Luke asked, splaying his hand across my stomach and rubbing his thumb back and forth. The gesture was nurturing and comforting. I snuggled deeper into him and nodded my head. Within minutes, I was asleep once again.

I woke to a cold bed. Outside, the sun was just beginning to peak through the windows and I could tell that if this was a work day, I would be late. I looked at the clock and it was a little after seven. Thoughts of last night came to mind and I knew today was the day I would get some answers. I got out of bed and headed towards the bathroom. I looked at the reflection of my face in the mirror, which was marginally better than yesterday. The healing process was slow, but I was making progress.

I stepped in the shower, washing away the events of yesterday then went to the closet and pulled on some jeans and a white, fitted t-shirt. Yesterday’s dress got me thrown up against a wall and fucked, so jeans it was. I didn’t need Luke distracting me from my questions with his sex antics.

I found Luke sitting at the bar, coffee in hand, and a large box-the same box I found in his closet-sitting before him.

“Good morning!” I said in an effort to ease the tension that had formed in the room. Luke turned to me and smirked. He was wearing a black ball cap with DFFD stitched on it, turned backwards on his head. His white t-shirt clung to his shoulders and arms, but fit loose at his waist. The tattoos that ran from his shoulders to his wrists looked even darker against the white t-shirt that looked even whiter against his tanned skin. He had a pair of faded, ripped jeans on and once again, was barefoot in my kitchen. The sight of him was mouthwatering. I swallowed hard and proceeded into the kitchen, grabbing a coffee mug and pouring myself a cup of Luke’s famous java.

“You look good this morning, babe,” Luke said to me, smiling. I smiled back, but my gaze drifted from his face to the items before him. My stomach fell at the memory of when I found the box and all of its contents. I was in Luke’s house looking for my suitcase when I stumbled upon a box in his closet that contained personal information about me. Pictures, phone numbers, addresses-information that was gathered before I even knew Luke. Of course, Luke took the easy way out-accusing me of “going through his shit” when I had no business. I knew he was throwing the blame off on me just so he wouldn’t look like a dick. The thought pissed me off and reminded me why I was here and what I was going to accomplish today. I walked up to the bar, standing across from him and placing my elbows on the counter-holding my coffee between my hands

“Where did you get this?” I asked, nodding towards the box that sat between us.

“Let’s start off small,” Luke replied softly, which did nothing but piss me off more.

“No, how about I ask the fucking questions and you answer them. Truthfully,” I snapped back at him. This was the Dallas I was before he came into my life. I was a bitter bitch and Luke had helped me become a better person, but the bitch was still inside and now was a good time to let her show. Or so I thought.

“Watch your mouth, Dallas,” Luke said, his own fury growing.

“No, you watch your mouth, Luke. I’m not the one who has anything to prove.”

Luke’s head snapped back as if he had been slapped. He seemed to gather himself and his face turned to stone. “Kirkley gave me a file. I added to it. Most of these photos were taken by me or by people employed by me.” I stared at him in shock. Mayor Kirkley? What the fuck?

“What do you mean, he gave you a file?” I asked, totally taken aback by what he just told me.

“Kirkley owed your father some favors. When your mother was killed, he planned to send you to Mississippi to live with your grandmother. The agreement was that Kirkley kept an eye on you and your father gave him a shit-load of land and a promised position as Mayor as long as he held up his end of the bargain. Some paperwork was drawn up and the land that he loved would have gone to Stacy, if anything happened to you. That deal expired on your twenty-fifth birthday. A day your father thought he would live to see, although he didn’t.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I could feel my heart beat in my ear and suddenly it was too hot in the kitchen.

“What land?” I asked Luke. He was still sitting with his back straight and his face was still stone. He looked like a robot and I was sure it was a tactic he used to try and keep his temper in check.