Page 82 of Legends Luke

“Oh, Mel, you have no idea how tempting you are right now. But I am going to feed you first. Because my girl is going to need all her strength for what I have planned for later.”

“Your girl?”

He returned her smile. “Yep. Mine.”

Melody feigned indignation, enjoying their lighthearted teasing. “You make me sound like property or something.”

He shook his head. “Not property. You, Melody Douglas, are my heart.”

Her heart melted into a puddle in her chest. Her hand caressed his cheek, and she lightly touched her lips to his. “And you, Luke Meade, are mine.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Melody wasn’t surprised when they ended up at Whitman’s. Since their first date, it had been a favorite of theirs. Annilee and Davis had changed Luke’s regular table from inside the restaurant to the outdoor table they had on their first date. As long as the weather cooperated and it was open, this was their table.

What surprised her was when they turned into an empty parking lot. Anytime they came to Whitman’s, the restaurant always had plenty of customers.

“Are they closed? I hope everything is okay with Annilee and Davis.”

The restaurant owner and her son had earned a permanent spot in Melody’s heart. They were dedicated to their business, and they never would upset their livelihood by closing unless there was an important reason.

“They are closed.” He flashed her a charming smile that warned her he was up to something. “To everyone but us.”

He stepped out of the truck before she could question him. She was out with the car door closed before he rounded the front to reach her.

“You can’t say something like that and not tell me what you mean. What’s going on?”

He rested his hands on her arms, his smile about to split his face. “I mean I wanted to have you to myself, so I rented out the place. They have our table waiting for us.”

She returned his smile. “You didn’t have to do this. We could have made dinner at your place. No one would bother us there.”

“Nothing we make will hold a candle to Annilee’s cooking. I guess we could order takeout if you’d rather spend the night in, but then we would be letting Annilee and Davis down. They are looking forward to treating us tonight.”

“I don’t want to disappoint them. Let’s go. But I vote we take our dessert to go.”

He chuckled. “Deal.”

Walking through the restaurant while it was empty felt odd. The lighting was romantic, and instrumental music piped through the speakers. They didn’t encounter Annilee, Davis, or any of their staff. With a hand at the small of her back, Luke moved her toward the patio doors and opened them to the outdoor dining area.

“Oh!”

Her steps slowed, but she kept moving forward, turning around as she went. The area had always been beautiful with its rustic and relaxing atmosphere. But the addition of vibrant floral bouquets and strings of fairy lights winding around tree trunks and bushes created a fairytale venue that left her in awe.

“What. Did. You. Do?”

She finished spinning and turned back to Luke. Her gasp sucked in the air around her. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth after her jaw dropped.

Her hunky, stoic, confident, handsome man had dropped to one knee in front of her. His eyes burned with emotion as he watched her. Then she noted the velvet box in his hand, and her heart skittered in her chest.

“I’m not someone who likes grand gestures, but I make exceptions when it comes to you. I don’t trust easily, but I trust you. I don’t rely on anyone but my brothers, but I depend on you to keep me sane. You help me see there’s more than the life I have, and I want more. I want you. I’m not a man who says a lot, but you make me want to say a lot. Like how I want you by my side every day. I want to tease you and laugh with you and go on adventures with you. I want to know, every time I have to go away to help someone, that you are waiting for me when I get home. You are my home, Mel. I love you and want to spend the rest of our lives together. Will you marry me?”

Tears burned her eyes. She dropped her hands to her side. Stepping closer, she kept her eyes on his face and not on the diamond ring in his hands. “Stand up.”

Luke blinked, and for the first time since she met him, he looked unsure of himself. She allowed all the emotion in her heart to shine through her eyes.

“Stand up, Luke. I want to hold you when I answer.”

He stood, and she wound her arms around his neck. “Yes. Iwant to spend my life with you. I want to make a home with you. I want to marry you because I love you.”

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