Page 41 of Luke

“Oh no,” she groaned. “I’m not good at spending money.”

“The place I’m taking you doesn’t have price tags so you’ll never know,” he half-joked.

On the way to the ring store, he held her hand in the back of the car. One thing he needed to do soon was get them each a car so they didn’t need a service each time, even though it was nice to have her next to him in the back seat.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” She bit her lip nervously as she looked at him.

“With what?” he asked, not sure what she meant.

“Getting a ring. I know we are still somewhere weird as far as getting married, so I don’t want you to spend probably a small fortune on me if you don’t want to.”

Luke pulled her hand, motioning for her to slide closer to him. When she did, he tilted her chin up to look her in the eyes before he spoke.

“Everything about you, about Garrett, about us makes me want to be a better man. I want this more than you know. I just want it when you are ready and not because you feel pressured. One day, we will get married, but it doesn’t have to be today.” He poured out his feelings the best way he could to her, stopping short of any declaration.

Paisley sighed and relaxed against him. “Okay,” she whispered.

Luke enjoyed holding her the rest of the way. Picking out a ring took longer than he expected. She was picky but not in a flashy way, not that he’d expected her to be, but she was so nervous about getting a ring that might get damaged or break that she had to be prodded to even say what she liked.

Once they settled on a ring, she wore it out of the store with a smile on her face. This was what he always wanted, them hand in hand, smiling, content with their part in the world.

Chapter Eighteen

Paisley

“I know I should be happy that we have time alone, but I do miss having Garrett with us,” Paisley told Luke.

They’d gotten the ring, a simple gold band with inlaid stones that had her so nervous, and then gone to dinner. So far, the meal had been uneventful.

“Right? Like, I know it’s important to get some time for just us, but he’s such a good baby that I don’t think it’s that time yet,” he agreed.

“Luke?” a man asked as he approached their table. “I knew it was you.” He stuck his hand out for Luke to shake. “How have you been?”

Luke smiled warmly at the man and stood. “I’ve been busy with work and life. Trying to get out from under my father and starting my own family while I’m at it.” He gestured to Paisley. “Mr. Smith, this is Paisley, my soon-to-be wife and mother of my son.”

Mr. Smith shook her hand as well, even as he laughed loudly. “You never did anything halfway did you?”

“No, sir,” Luke answered, taking his seat again.

“Glad to see you happy,” Mr. Smith said. “It was quite a bad bit of business about your father. I hear he’s still causing trouble from where he is.”

Luke arched one blond brow at him. “What have you heard?”

Mr. Smith looked around to see who was nearby before pulling out the empty chair at their table and taking a seat with them. “There’s been rumblings at the club that your father is trying to find a husband for his youngest daughter. I don’t know that anyone is bothering to take him up on it because he doesn’t have anything to offer but it’s out there.”

“I don’t understand why he’s still on this kick,” Paisley added to the conversation.

“It’s about succession. People that come from money have weird ideas about keeping things in the family and building wealth by combining families.” Mr. Smith sat back in his chair. “I’m not old enough money for that nonsense. It’s sort of building a legacy for some, and while it doesn’t make any sense to the rest of us, someone might take him up on it.”

“Ashley isn’t even acknowledged by him,” Luke blurted.

“It doesn’t matter. He will put money behind her if he hasn’t already and try to get someone he knows to marry her. I’ve never seen anyone take it as far as he does. I’d say he’s obsessed.”

“He absolutely is. If you hear anything else, let me know?” Luke asked. “I’ve got the same number.”

Mr. Smith nodded as he stood. “Will do.” He turned to Paisley. “You take care of our boy here and if he doesn’t take care of you, let me know.” With that, he turned and walked off.

Paisley giggled as he did. “He seems nice.”

---