Page 33 of Loyally, Luke
Luke:You can’t join her side, Izzy. You’re the reasonable one.
Izzy:Did the whole town see what happened?
Luke:Thankfully, no. It all happened in a little alleyway. So we didn’t have an audience to witness me almost getting arrested.
Izzy:Do they have dungeons here? I should ask Brodie.
Luke:All the more reason not to tell Penelope. She’ll make it into some weird romantic movie reference about happily-ever-after mush. Especially if there is a royal connection or dungeon reference.
Izzy:So now you have a swollen eye and a busted lip? My introduction to Skymar was better than yours. *Brodie*
Luke:I am 100% certain I don’t want Brodie to introduce me to Skymar like he introduced you. Gross. The cabin has a great view, the typical menu consists of mostly meat, and I get to do what I love without one hint of ooey gooey kissing stuff. Semantics really does change who has the “better” introduction.
Luke:On a different note, you and Blighty should come visit Crieff. I imagine Brodie’s already been here since he’s a native of Skymar, but he should bring you. You’d love it. All sorts of quaint shops. Unique ones. Lots of trade work and craftsmanship. There’s a whole shop of handmade Christmas ornaments, a luthier, a quiltstore, handmade jewelry. It’s like visiting places in Appalachia back home, except with this culture’s own distinctiveness.
Izzy:That was a super-long text from you. Wow! You must really like the place.
Luke:Rural. Quaint. Grumpy Scottish men who talk sense and friendly Scottish ladies who will feed you? Perfect.
Luke:Gotta run. We just pulled into work for our first day on the job.
Izzy:Try not to damage anything on yourself that won’t heal.
Luke:I never make those kinds of promises.
It only took a little while to mentally sort the building team into two groups, the experienced and the wannabe experienced. Since both teams were interested in working, though, Luke had no trouble making all their dreams come true for a solid eight hours.
Two of the men, Gordon Frasier included, had good heads and experience for building, so he put them on the demo team along with him. The other group he placed under Pete’s care as the gofer boys, though Luke didn’t share that particular label with the men. However, a good building team always needed folks to go for more wood or tools or to take the scrap to the scrap pile.
And with a new floor to lay and floor joists to fix, plus an entire kitchen to remodel, he needed folks in their lane.
He’d just finished instructing the men on the initial floor demo plan when the energy in the room changed. He’d heard Penelope talk about that moment before, but he’d ignored it as another of her magical romance-y thoughts.
But he felt it. Even noticed it on the men’s faces as their posture straightened and their eyes shifted behind Luke toward the kitchendoorway. For some reason, he had a strange idea he knew exactly what or, more precisely, who had caused the change.
He drew in a breath, raised his gaze heavenward in a quick prayer for strength, and turned to see Ellie entering the room. She offered him a smile as she took off her coat, and his thoughts froze. She’d pulled her hair back in a long ponytail, but what really captured him were her clothes.
Gone was the formal attire. In its place was a pair of dark jeans, a long-sleeved green T-shirt, and a pair of calf-high work boots. Even her makeup, if she wore any, looked more simplistic.
And the same feeling he got when he’d visited a three-story Bass Pro Shop for the first time tightened his chest with a terrifying realization.
This moment would change his life.
His mind shoved the movie moment idea back so fast, he nearly got dizzy. Because his sudden mental fog couldnothave anything to do with Grace Kelly.
She tilted her head in question at his stare, and he looked away.
Pantsuits and skirts were one thing. Nice. Fancy. Somewhat ignorable for themostpart.
But a woman who rocked simplicity?
His brain revolted against the interest.
Well, that could undo a man.
Or at least the kind of man he was.
He was pretty sure he needed to keep her out of his sight for the rest of the day. Or at least the morning, so he could adjust to the annoying attraction nearly knocking him over.
