Page 109 of Loyally, Luke
“No.” He gave his head a slow shake and heaved a sigh. “Scones and cream are a side to breakfast. If there’s no meat involved, it can’t count as breakfast.”
Her smile flared. “Is that so?”
“It’s the rule where I’m from, so it’s the rule in this cabin.” He waved toward the room. “Why don’t you take a look around and I’ll cook us up some real breakfast to go with your fancy muffins.”
“Scones.” She sent him a mock glare. “I smell coffee. Would there be enough to share?”
“There’s always coffee to share.” He nodded toward the coffeepot. “And lucky for you, Pete likes to drink perfume too, so we have all that frou-frou stuff in the fridge for you to contaminate your coffee to your heart’s delight.”
***
The cabin looked even better in person than the photos Luke had shown her. In the new mantel, he’d carved delicate shapes of mountains across the top, the design matching the two paintings she’d encouraged him to purchase and place on either side of the fireplace.
The little tips she’d mentioned to him at his request had come to life. He’d taken every suggestion, as if her ideas mattered enough to place faith in them.
In her.
The views proved some of the best she’d seen in the Crieff area, but Cairn Haar was one of the tallest mountains in the North Country,so almost anywhere gave a stunning vista. Well, likely a much better vista when the clouds weren’t rolling in from the east.
Her coffee mug warmed her palms as she toured the three bedrooms, one used as an office and living space. A loft offered additional sleeping areas and showcased a little more of Luke’s handiwork with some built-in bookcases.
“I don’t know what type of fishing we’ll have since it’s so cold out,” Luke announced from the kitchen as she made her way down the winding wooden staircase.
She sidled into the kitchen and rested a hip against the counter, watching him work. He looked great in those black slacks at the luncheon, but sweatpants fit him just fine too. She took another sip of her coffee and ogled like one of the greatest oglers on the planet.
He turned, plate in one hand and bowl in the other, with a towel tossed over his shoulder. “But if we can get the lines deep enough, we may catch some luck.”
Her brain said,“You are one of the hottest men I’ve ever seen.”However, her lips said, “Thank you so much for the gift. I can’t wait to use it.”
His grin broadened and he gestured with the plate toward the two barstools at the counter. “I’m glad you like it. Probably not what most girls want, but it seemed to fit... you and me.”
She slid down on the stool. “You’re right, but I’m not sure how.”
He chuckled and placed the items before them on the counter, then took the spot beside her. As she’d expected from their previous meals together, he offered to say “grace,” as he called it. At her nod, and without ceremony, he wrapped his big hand over hers on the counter and offered a sweet, simple prayer of thanksgiving.
He ended by asking God to bless Ellie’s future and her hard work, so that others would be encouraged and helped by her innovative thinking and kindness.
She looked over at him while he finished the prayer, emotionsgrowing so large within her, she thought they may burst her heart wide open. After all her failings and stupid mistakes, she’d learned to rely on the faith of her childhood in a way she’d never understood before her prodigal life, but to catch a glimpse of what life could look like from a man who understood that faith—and the very sweetness of such a love—it humbled her and renewed the ache of their impending goodbyes.
She pushed the thought away.Do not ruin this memory by thinking too far ahead. Just enjoy being with him.
“You really are such a good man, Luke Edgewood.”
He looked over at her, those deep brown eyes examining her face. “And you’re a good woman, Ellie St.Clare.”
She drew truth from his words and his gaze. If he saw the best in her, even when he knew so much of her past, then maybe the one most holding her back was... herself.
They delved into their breakfast, her praising his work on the cabin and him accepting with a simple nod and turning the conversation by asking about her siblings. She responded in kind, learning more about Izzy and Penelope, the siblings closest to him emotionally, and then Josephine, the eldest, who was the mother of his niece and nephew.
At one point, when she started sharing some stories from her college experience, Luke’s attention dropped to her lips. Her words slid to a stop at the intensity in his gaze. Would he kiss her? She certainly wouldn’t mind.
“You have some cream on your cheek.” He gestured toward his own mouth. “Right there.”
“Ah.” She released a nervous laugh. Of course he wasn’t thinking of kissing her. Silly. The man knew they had to part ways—why would he want to add more kissing to the complexity of things? She took a serviette and wiped at her face.
He shook his head. “No, up a bit.”
Her grin quivered. “You could just complete the entire Hallmark moment and remove it yourself.”
