Page 74 of Loyally, Luke
Penelope:Matt also said that no matter how loud I talk while I text, you still won’t be able to hear my exclamations from North Carolina to Skymar. So that’s his subtle, sweet way of letting me know I’m getting too loud. He’s such a doll!
Izzy:Is there anything we can do to help you?
Luke:I wouldn’t mind some prayers for wisdom and... patience. Lots of patience.
Penelope:And self-control? I mean, how can you un-kiss somebody in your mind? A princess too?
Luke:Living with you and all your ridiculousness has fostered a whole lot of self-control in me, Penny-girl. If I said everything I thought, you’d realize just how much self-control I use on a minute-by-minute basis.
Luke:And, Izzy (since Izzy is actually taking this situation seriously), if you think of it, send up some prayers for Ellie. I think somewhere along the way she lost sight of who she is and that she was created for a purpose.
Izzy:Then I’m glad you’re her friend, Luke. You may not always say those things with your words, but you’re great at showing people how important they are through the way you care about them.
Penelope:I’m taking it seriously! I always take royal romances seriously.
Penelope:But on a really serious note, I’ll pray too, Luke. To step back out into the world after feeling as if she’d ruined so much—that already shows how brave and strong she is. She just needs to see it. It’s such a good thing God sent you into her life to be her... friend.
Izzy:I think another dinner date should be on the planner. Next week? And I can show you some of the simple LotR-inspired wedding ideas I have. You’d appreciate the Bag End cake.
***
Having the whole evening to process his conversation with Ellie may have helped him go into work the next day with a clear head. Or at least with great intentions of keeping his end of the bargain.
Of course, it wasn’t like they’d been dating.
And they’d only kissed a few times. His inner rogue replayed just how fantastic it was, so he shoved those thoughts into the broken nothing box.
He could do this. Hehadto do this.
And then she walked in with her hair in a ponytail, wearing a baggy sweater and jeans.
Luke groaned and shot a glance heavenward. The pantsuit would have been a better choice to keep his mind from temptation. She looked more like a princess that way.
This way...
Well, she just looked... cuddly.
He grimaced and turned back to Gordon before his thoughts derailed into an even more embarrassing direction. Gordon’s attention flicked to Ellie and back to Luke, his pale eyes taking on added humor.
Luke raised a brow in warning to the man. His only response was a momentary wider grin and a sound like a muffled chuckle.
Perfect.
Luke had left directions with Pete to have the gofer crew move the final cabinets into the kitchen for installation and to start clearing outthe adjoining room to the kitchen so that repairs could begin in there while he finished up the pantry over the next few days.
Once he sat down with Mrs.Kershaw and Ellie to go over the trim work and additional details along with their plans, he’d have an even better idea of how much longer it would take them, but they were well ahead of schedule already.
Always a good feeling.
So with Pete in charge of the gofers and Luke keeping somewhat solid focus on the cabinetry, he went all morning with nothing more than a few pleasantries with Ellie St.Clare.
And there may have been some occasional looks.
She was in his line of sight sometimes, so hehadto look.
He probably shouldn’t have winked at one point, but she’d come by with broom in hand and made some comment about “sweeping him off his feet.” What was a guy supposed to do about that? And from a princess?
Gordon’s not-so-subtle grunt-chuckles didn’t help.
