Page 108 of Loyally, Luke
His gaze dropped to the box beneath her arm, the gift box he’d left with her father. She hadn’t even taken it out of the box yet?
He flipped his focus back to her face, still trying to figure out if he’d really woken up yet. He’d spent the good part of a week trying to reconcile himself with the fact that they weren’t going to have any more sweet moments.
“You always said you were an early riser, and I thought if I showed up early, it would give us more time together.” Her gaze searched his. “Because everything ends tonight. Us being at Cambric Hall and... you being here.”
She wanted to spend this last day together? The two of them? Alone?
The reality of the situation finally sank in and he sent a look toward the neighboring woods. Maybe there should be a more responsible adult available, because being alone with her... sounded wonderfully dangerous. “Ellie, are you sure this is a good idea for you? I don’t want anything to happen where you get hurt or you think I’ve not respected your—”
“Luke, you can say no. Of course.” She offered a wobbly grin. “But then you’ll have to drive me down to the Frasiers’ because Nessa’s left me here with you.”
He stared back toward the narrow road through the woods. It was Nessa’s car!
“I’ve made this choice and take full responsibility for it, but only if you are amenable.” Various expressions made a small wrestling contest across her face, almost like she was trying to figure out which emotion to embrace. “There are a lot of things I missed in life, and I know I’ll miss more in the future.” She held his attention. “But we have now, and I don’t want to miss this last day with you, because I would rather have a memory than only have the wish of one.”
Everything in him softened and he gave his head a shake, pushing the door back fully and ushering her inside. “Who all knows you’re here?”
“Gordon and Nessa, of course.” She pulled off her toboggan and her hair curled in various directions, almost inspiring his grin. “If Father can’t find me, he’ll probably have an excellent idea where to look. And, of course, Maeve.”
“Your best friend who likes my shoulders?”
She paused in removing her jacket to offer him an impish smile. And he nearly lost his train of thought. “You do have very nice shoulders.”
Maybe heshouldwish Pete were here.
But he didn’t.
“What about Cameron?” He assisted her with the jacket removal, and daggone it if she hadn’t worn a baggy, soft green sweater and black leggings with some sort of fuzzy boots. Thoughts of snuggling her close by a fire started jumping around in his head.
He tried to squelch them.
Those thoughts tended to slide right into a rascally direction awful quick. And being alone with her in a remote cabin by a cozy fire tempted all sorts of those.
“He thinks I’m with Nessa and Gordon.” She squinted up at him. “I failed to correct his assumption, so he plans to collect me from there to escort me to the banquet this evening.”
He stared at her as he went to hang her coat on a hook by the door, and completely missed the hook. Stupid brain. “So... we really do have the whole day.”
She held his gaze. “Yeah, we do.”
His grin rushed onto his face so fast, he didn’t have time to catch it. “All right then. Let’s make a few memories, Princess.”
“Thank you, Luke.” Pink crept into her cheeks and she looked away, lowering the bag of scones and the gift onto the nearby counter. “I also want to thank you for my gift. It left my father somewhat befuddled at first, but after I explained the reason, well, I don’t know. He seemed touched and pensive about it all. I don’t think he realized how much the past truly impacted me.”
“I’m sure he wishes you’d have told him your hurts a long time ago.”
“Yes.” She sighed. “But I don’t plan to keep those sorts of things from my parents anymore. I just felt as if... well, with my mother, I’ve always felt as if the privileges of my station warranted no complaints. She made so many missteps along the way to finding her place among the royals, small things which I feel seemed much larger to her than they actually were, and then she had to bear the brunt of some harsh media opinions about Father’s choice of a commoner bride. I think all those difficulties, the hurtful press, and the struggle to constantly prove herself permeated the way she parented us.”
“She didn’t want you to have to struggle the same way.” He nodded. “Sounds about right for a parent.”
“And, as an imperfect creature, she may not have always enacted those desires in the best ways.”
He folded his arms across his chest and studied her. She sure was beautiful with all that long hair and those big eyes and her pretty lips. But more than that, she glowed with an inner determination to dogood. It was real hard not to like her a whole lot. Even if she was a princess. “So it’s a bit early to go fishing just yet. Have you had breakfast?”
“I brought breakfast.” She grabbed the bag and shook it in front of him.
“Scones and cream?”
“Yes.”
