The Story of Us: Sweetbriar Cove: Book 11 Read online

  “I thought you liked spicy food,” he teased.

  “There’s spicy, and then there’s a public health hazard!” she protested, her eyes streaming. “What did they put in this sauce, ghost chilies?!”

  Luke took a bite. “Seems fine to me.”

  “Now you’re just showing off.” Natalie shoved him playfully.

  Luke grinned. “Me and my brothers had a competition once to see who could eat the most hot peppers without passing out.”

  “Did you win?”

  He shook his head. “Chase beat me in the final round,” he said, looking mournful. “The trophy was almost mine!”

  “You had a trophy?” Natalie asked, giggling.

  “Oh, we had prizes for everything. Mom used them to try and bribe us into behaving, and the habit stuck,” he replied. “You’re looking at the reigning Kinsella family champion at corn-hole, laundry, and lawn-mower racing.” He flexed his biceps in mock triumph.

  Natalie tried not notice how his sky-blue T-shirt hugged his body, soft enough to touch. She took another gulp of water.

  Down, girl!

  “It’s nice that you and your family are so close,” she said. “I don’t really talk to mine anymore.”

  “That’s tough,” Luke said with a sympathetic look. “But look at it this way: now you get to pick a new one. Believe me, the idea’s pretty tempting once you’ve sat through Uncle Al’s alien conspiracy theories every holiday.”

  Natalie laughed. “OK, maybe so. Are you going home for Thanksgiving? It’s coming up fast.”

  “No, I’m staying in Sweetbriar Cove. I decided to skip Mom’s guilt trip on how I haven’t given her a wedding or grandkids just yet,” Luke said with a wince.

  “Right. You had a big breakup, too.” Natalie tilted her head, studying him. “You don’t seem heartbroken to me.”

  “Nope.” Luke popped a handful of chips in his mouth. “But she is. And I won’t hear the end of it.”

  “Do you miss her?” Natalie asked before she could stop herself.

  “Who, my mom?” Luke looked over.

  “No. Her.” Natalie swallowed. “Your ex.”

  She shouldn’t be asking. After all, what answer was she hoping he’d give? But maybe it was just the night for naked emotional confessions, because Luke didn’t seem to mind.

  He paused, thoughtful. “Not like that, no. I don’t wish we were together. But . . . We were friends. Partners. For a long time. It was strange at first, not having her around,” he continued. “I still see something and make a note to tell her.” Luke gave a shrug. “I guess I’ll get out of the habit of that. It’s already fading.”

  “You don’t talk?” Natalie ventured.

  He shook his head. “She thought it would be best to make a clean break. We still email about the business, on our best behavior. I hate that I hurt her,” he added, peeling the label from his beer bottle. “I’m not proud of that, believe me. But she’ll find someone else, someone who can give her what she wants. You know, marriage, kids, the whole thing.”

  Natalie paused. “You don’t want that?” she asked, surprised. Luke would be a great father, she knew it in her bones, and he didn’t seem like the kind of guy to stay a playboy bachelor forever.

  “I do. Just . . . Not with her. I know that makes me sound like an asshole,” Luke said, rueful. “But I just think if you’re going to promise someone forever, you should mean it. You should know that person is the only one in the world for you.”

  He looked at her then, meeting her eyes for a long beat.

  Natalie’s breath caught. The noisy bar seemed to fade away, leaving them suspended together in the dim light, her heart beating faster.

  The only one in the world . . .

  She didn’t look away. She couldn’t even breathe. Natalie just stared at Luke, lost in his steady, searching gaze. A swell of emotion rolled through her, and she knew with complete certainty that if she moved a muscle, she would do something reckless. Something wonderful.

  She would kiss him.

  “You guys all set here?” the waitress swung by, snapping gum.

  Natalie jolted back to reality. “Yes. Thanks. Great!” she blurted, her cheeks burning. What was she thinking? It turned out that a packed dive bar was just as tempting as dancing in the town square or strolling an empty street.

  Luke could make anywhere dangerously romantic.

  He finished his beer and gave her a questioning look. “Ready to hit the road?”

  Natalie bobbed her head. “Sure,” she replied, her voice sounding too bright. “Let’s go!”

  * * *

  They drove back to Sweetbriar Cove in silence, the headlights blurring on the dark highway outside. Luke played the radio low while Natalie rested her head back against the seat and pretended to snooze. But inside, she was wide awake, her mind racing and her body crackling with energy. She couldn’t have slept if she’d tried.

  A part of her had woken up tonight. Coming clean to Luke like that . . . Natalie had shared the part of herself that she’d kept hidden so long, and now she felt free in a way she’d never expected. Unburdened. Like she could finally leave the past behind.

  Like she might finally be ready to move on.

  Natalie watched the miles speed past, her heart beating faster in her chest. Something was growing between them, something real, and it was more than just attraction. But after the turmoil and drama she’d been through this past year, was she even ready? Could she put her heart on the line again and try to trust him, knowing the worst that could happen if she chose wrong?

  She didn’t have any answers, but as they turned off the highway and drove through Sweetbriar Cove, Natalie was painfully aware of Luke’s every shift and exhale beside her in the driver’s seat. It was a contradiction, how one man could make her feel so at ease—so safe—but at the same time, send her pulse racing haywire, her blood glittering with anticipation.

  She wanted him.

  She’d wanted him for weeks now, ever since the day she’d taken a tumble and wound up in his arms. And yes, she’d tried to resist him: drawn lines and boundaries to keep him safely at arm’s length. But somehow, she always found a way back to him. Talking. Laughing. Learning more about the man behind that steady, intoxicating smile. Her defenses had cracked without her even realizing, until looking at him now, half-lit in the shadow of the headlights, she couldn’t think of a reason to stay away.

  “Home again,” Luke announced, pulling up outside her shop.

  Natalie blinked. She’d been so consumed by thoughts of him that the past hundred miles had flown past. “Thank you,” she said, hoping he couldn’t see her cheeks burning in the dim light. “For everything. Really.”

  “Any time,” Luke replied easily. He got out to walk her to the door, but Natalie hesitated on the threshold, fumbling with her keys. Her heart was still thundering in her chest, so loudly, she could have sworn they heard it all the way to the town square.

  “So . . .” she said. “Thanks.”

  Luke’s mouth quirked in amusement. “You already said that.”

  “Well, you’ve been such a help. With the van, and the chocolates, and the talking . . .” Natalie blurted. She suddenly felt like she was a kid again, teetering on the edge of the riverbank, deciding if she was to leap into the water or not.

  Oh God, she was going to leap.

  “Listen, I was thinking—” Luke began, but she didn’t give him a chance to finish.

  She was already kissing him instead.

  Up on her tiptoes, clutching a handful of his shirt for balance, Natalie pressed her lips to his and prayed to God that she wasn’t doing the wrong thing.

  But how could touching him be wrong when it felt so right?

  His mouth was hot, sweet against hers; his body was deliciously solid under her palms. Natalie pressed closer, craving more, but before she could surrender to the rush, Luke pulled back, just a little.

  “Are you sure?” he whispered, his voice hoarse and his
eyes searching in the moonlight.

  Natalie smiled, and then she kissed him again, to show him just how sure she was. This time, Luke didn’t hold back.

  His hands slid around her waist, his mouth eased her lips apart. His tongue stroked against hers, slowly, sensuously, until Natalie’s knees were weak and her head was spinning.

  She never wanted the moment to end.

  She arched up, running her hands through his hair and over his back, exploring the planes of his broad shoulders beneath the fabric of his T-shirt. She was right, it was whisper soft, barely containing the heat of his body and the taut feel of his muscles. And his mouth . . .

  God, his mouth was a miracle. Luke pressed her back against the wall, kissing her passionately. Recklessly. Natalie was lost in sensation, her body wild and aching for more. She’d never been kissed like this, not even close.

  If he could do this with just his mouth on hers, what else did Luke have in store?

  Natalie shivered with anticipation as Luke finally came up for air. He looked as overcome as she felt, but he still cupped her cheek softly, pressing one more kiss to her lips. “So . . .” he started, looking at her cautiously. “What was that?”

  “Do you need another demonstration?” Natalie grinned, sliding her hands over his chest. “OK, then.”

  Luke laughed, relaxing. “I didn’t want to presume anything,” he said. “I know we talked before about just being friends. But now . . .”

  “I changed my mind,” Natalie told him breathlessly. “I hope that’s OK.”

  He bit back a laugh. “That was more than OK,” Luke reassured her, capturing her mouth again in a slow, sizzling kiss that made Natalie forget what they were even talking about.

  It made her forget her own name.

  She pressed closer, their tongues tangling in a seductive dance. Luke’s hands roamed over her body, hungrier now, and she answered him in turn. It was delicious. Every part of her was alive and flooded with electricity; she could feel the path of his fingertips blazing even through her clothes.

  This time, when they came up for air, Luke pressed his forehead to her shoulder for a moment, breathing hard.

  “I think I should go now,” he murmured, placing a hot kiss against the curve of her neck.

  Natalie shuddered. “Really?” she managed breathlessly, as his mouth moved higher to tease at her earlobe. Heat spiraled through her, a clawing, deep desire.

  “Yes.” Luke groaned, then reluctantly stepped back, releasing her. Natalie caught her breath, fogging in the cool night air.

  He gave her a smile that melted her all over again. “Believe me, I’d stay here all night, but I think there’s a town ordinance against it.”

  “Kissing in public places?” Natalie teased.

  His smile turned smoldering. “Kissing isn’t all I would be doing.”

  Oh.

  Natalie’s knees went weak all over again. “Right,” she blurted, flustered. “OK.”

  “Do you have plans for Thursday?” he asked.

  She shook her head, even though she couldn’t think straight long enough to remember.

  “Jackson and Alice are hosting Thanksgiving at Earl’s,” Luke continued. “There’ll be plenty of food, good company . . . They’d love to have you there. I’d love it, too,” he added.

  Natalie felt a glow. “I’ll be there,” she said. “It’s a date.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” Realization crossed his face. Luke groaned. “Our first date. Complete with half my family chaperoning. That wasn’t exactly what I pictured.”

  He’d pictured it? The glow burned brighter. “You know how to show a girl a good time,” Natalie said, teasing.

  Luke chuckled. “Just you wait.”

  Natalie left him with the promise—and another kiss. As she skipped upstairs, her heart pounding, she wondered if this is what it would have felt like if she’d gathered the courage to jump into the river, all those years ago. So weightless. So free.

  Well, maybe not quite like this, Natalie allowed herself with a grin. The heat still lingered on her body from Luke’s touch, that craving in her bloodstream now wound tight, demanding release.

  She let herself into the flat and made a beeline for her bedroom, falling onto the covers with a delighted sigh. She rolled, sinking back into delicious memories of his kiss, his touch . . .

  She was happy, she realized, and she deserved it, too. Enough second-guessing. Enough questioning herself.

  Now that she’d leapt, she knew there was no going back.

  10

  Luke was up early Thanksgiving morning, working on repairing Earl’s storm gutters before those dark clouds led to a downpour. It was a simple task, which was just as well, because he was working by pure muscle memory. His thoughts were somewhere else: the same place they had been all week. About two miles away, give or take; the moonlight catching in Natalie’s hair as she’d leaned up and pressed her perfect lips against his . . .

  “Watch it!”

  Earl’s yell broke through his steamy action replay. Luke caught himself—and his hammer—just in time. “Sorry,” he called down to where his grandpa was scowling below. “My bad.”

  Earl harrumphed. “Your brother sent a list of things they’ll need for Thanksgiving dinner today. Do we have a whisk?”

  “You tell me, it’s your house.” Luke climbed down the ladder. “Here, let me see.”

  He took Earl’s old flip-top phone and scanned the long message. The really long message. “He really expected you to find this stuff?” Luke asked.

  “No, he expected me to give it to you,” Earl replied, a twinkle in his eye.

  Luke chuckled. “That sounds about right. You’re lucky I’m in a good mood,” he added, clicking to send it to himself. “And that I’ve gassed up my truck.”

  * * *

  He took the list and headed up the Cape in search of a grocery store that was still open. Luckily, he wasn’t the only one doing some last-minute shopping; the place was packed with people, and he was lucky to snag the last bag of cranberries.

  “You too?”

  Luke turned to find Cal with a cart full of supplies and a worried expression. “If I don’t find pumpkin filling, I’m a dead man,” he continued.

  “Right behind you.” Luke nodded. Cal grabbed a couple of cans with relief.

  “Thanks, man. You’d think we could just order a couple of pies from the bakery and call it a day, but it’s our first time hosting, and Eliza is going way overboard.”

  “Good luck.” Luke grinned. “I’ll be staying out of the kitchen. Dish duty is my forte.”

  Cal laughed. “Smart man. Hey, thanks again for helping out with the gala the other day. I looked for you and Natalie, but you didn’t stick around?”

  “Oh, no, sorry about that. We needed to get back on the road,” Luke lied, not wanting to explain their real reason for bailing early. “But it looked like a great event.”

  Cal nodded. “Sometimes I wonder why we don’t just cut a check instead of throwing a massive shindig, but my team tells me we raise more money this way, so . . .” He gave a shrug. “It’s all for a good cause in the end. Anyway, tell Natalie those gift bags were a huge hit. People were raving. They were all gone before I even made it to the table.”

  “I’m sure if you stop by the store, she’ll be happy to help you out.”

  “Oh, believe me, I’ll be there bright and early.” Cal grinned. “You think I’d miss a chance to do all my holiday shopping in one fell swoop?” His phone buzzed and he checked it. “Damn, cornbread?”

  “Uh, aisle three, I think.”

  “Good luck out there!” Cal moved on, while Luke paid and hauled his bags back to the truck. Rain was already splattering the windscreen as he drove back, the dark clouds just about ready to burst. As he headed back down the Cape, Luke wondered what Natalie was doing right now—and if she still felt the same way as she did the night of the gala. Because her kisses weren’t the only major revelation, and Cal’s cas
ual questions had brought him back down to earth with a bump.

  What she’d been through . . .

  Luke’s hands tightened on the steering wheel just remembering the look on her face as she’d finally told him and the tears she’d bitten back, so determined that she must have done it a hundred times before. He hadn’t let himself think about the man who’d caused her such pain; it made him too angry to even see straight.

  Because what kind of man could do that to her—to any woman?

  He understood now why she’d been so nervy, so careful with him. Even just talking about it, Luke had seen the imprint of the past echoing through her body: the way her shoulders hunched protectively, how she’d wrapped her arms around herself, making herself smaller, lesser, to fend off those past attacks.

  Her ex may not have laid a hand on her, but he’d beaten her down in every other way he could.

  Luke forced himself to exhale. Natalie didn’t need him to be angry, he reminded himself. She’d gotten herself away from that monster all on her own. Rebuilt her life—putting the pieces back together until she was back to her old self again. Luke had known she was strong and resourceful, but now that he knew just how far she’d come, he was in awe of her bravery.

  And her kisses . . .

  She’d taken him by surprise on her doorstep, so much so that Luke almost wondered if he’d dreamed it. Conjured the whole steamy scene out of pure, restless desire. But when he arrived back at Earl’s and checked his phone, he found a message from her waiting.

  Should I bring anything to dinner?

  Just yourself, he typed back. Although, nobody would complain about some chocolate . . .

  He paused. What if she already regretted things? That kiss may have been one of the single greatest moments in Luke’s life, but maybe Natalie didn’t feel the same way. Maybe in the cool light of day, her impulsive passion felt like a mistake—

  Then, as if she could read his mind, another message popped up.

  And yes, I’m sure. xx

  Luke smiled and tucked his phone away. Far be it from him to argue with a good thing. Natalie was a woman who knew her own mind, and whatever had made her change it, he was going to trust she knew what she was doing now.