Page 30 of Her Only Salvation

Chapter Twelve

They got home early that morning. As Terri expected, they didn’t leave the Sunset until well after five, more than two hours after closing. The sun was just making its appearance when her head hit the pillow.

Since it was Sunday, and due to some religious observance from her understanding, the club was closed. That meant she could sleep in without worrying that her alarm would shock her awake a few hours later. Taking full advantage, Terri slept well into the afternoon, only pulling herself out of bed when nature called and her stomach decided to eat itself.

“What’s for breakfast?” she asked groggily as she stumbled into the kitchen and took a seat beside Luke, who looked fresh-eyed and bushy-tailed with his neatly combed hair and award winning smile as he took in the Sunday paper. It made her sick. Couldn’t he have at least one bag under his eye?

“You mean what’s for dinner,” Luke corrected her. At her questioning look, he explained. “It’s almost four-thirty in the afternoon, Terri. You slept the day away.” Leaning closer, he kissed her hair then began folding the paper back into shape.

She had? She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a full night’s sleep, let alone dozing nearly twelve hours straight. It was unconscionable.

“So I was thinking maybe a nice steak, or chicken if you prefer. Maybe some grilled corn, a little vino…”

“Or beer,” Terri chimed in.

Luke chuckled. “Or beer. Why don’t you go grab a shower while I get the food started.”

“Don’t trust me with the stove?” Terri asked with a smile as she slipped off the bar stool and headed toward her room.

“Not a chance,” Luke tossed back.

Terri was still grinning as she stepped under the hot spray. She couldn’t deny that she was looking forward to dinner, even more so the company with which she would be sharing it. When she was around Luke, the world seemed to fade away, her troubles dissolved, and she felt at ease. Hell, she actually slept through the night—or day—without suffering any nightmares or jolting awake at the slightest sound, and that was saying something. Not for the first time was she forced to admit to herself that she felt safe with Luke, which was a little frightening. Scarier still, she trusted him. That wasn’t something she thought she would ever be able to say again. It seemed that suffering years of Randy’s cruelty hadn’t stolen her ability to love and trust, but had instead taught her to use them judiciously.

What would she do if anything ever happened to him because of her? She shook her head, refusing to examine the thought too closely. If Luke got hurt trying to protect her, she would never forgive herself.

Finished with her shower, Terri toweled off and dressed in a pair of sweat pants and a close fitting T-shirt, and then she set out to help with dinner. She found Luke outside standing before a grill. Striking a large matchstick, he slipped it between the metal gratings and set the small flame to the coals, then closed the lid.

“Hey,” he said noticing her, his expression bright as took the two steps to her side. “Enjoy your shower?” Terri barely had time to nod before Luke was pulling her into his arms and stealing her breath with a gentle, yet wholly passionate kiss. When he stepped away to gather the food for the grill, Terri took a moment to regain her bearings.

The small deck she stood on overlooked a meager lawn surrounded by dense forest. The sun was lower in the sky, just peeking over the treetops and casting a warm glow across the landscape. Birds tweeted merrily from their hidden perches, mingling with the soft buzz of various insects.

She could grow accustomed to a life of such serenity, she mused as she dropped into a nearby lounge chair. Luke reemerged carrying a platter filled with meat and foil-wrapped corn cobs. “Do you want some help with that?” Terri asked, gathering herself to stand.

Luke set the plate on a small table next to the grill and opened the lid. “If you could run inside and grab a couple beers and plates that would be great.”

Terri found herself eager to help. Eager to please, she admitted only to herself as she strode inside. She was on her way back outside when Luke’s voice carried inside. “Oh, and can you grab the plastic bowl on the counter?”

Spinning on her heel, Terri quickly found the bowl in question, filled halfway with chopped fruits. Then, with beers tucked under her arms and her hands full, she returned to the deck. “Where do you want it, boss?” she asked. He tossed an amused expression over his shoulder and nodded toward the small, round table sitting between the two lounge chairs.

Once dinner was done, Terri and Luke settled into their seats with their full plates nestled on their laps. The sun had slipped below the tree line, and the air held a little chill, but Luke had built a small fire in the woodburner, and that added all the warmth they needed.

“So,” Terri said, breaking the comfortable silence. “Tell me about yourself, Luke.”

Luke seemed thrown off by her sudden question, but he quickly recovered and cast his empty plate aside. “What do you want to know exactly?” he asked slowly.

Terri shrugged. “I don’t know. Anything.” She thought for a second. “Where did you grow up?”

“That’s easy. Fort Lauderdale.”

“Wow, Florida? That must have been amazing,” Terri said, picturing crisp blue ocean waters, sandy beaches and perfect weather all year round.

“Only if you’re rich,” Luke commented in a tone that said he didn’t picture it quite the same way.

“Money doesn’t always make people happy,” Terri returned, knowing the truth of that all too well. She and Randy had plenty of money, and look what had happened to them.

“No,” Luke agreed, taking a swig of his beer. “But it certainly can make life easier.”

Again, Terri could argue that point, but she didn’t feel it necessary to bother. Everyone saw the grass greener when looking over the fence. Sensing that this line on questioning was only going to upset him more than he clearly already was, Terri switched topics. “Okay. What were you like when you were growing up?” Again, her mind conjured pictures, this time of a dark-haired boy with dark blue eyes that stood just a little taller than all the rest of the kids on the playground. He would be a protector, just as he was now, one of those people that everyone turned to when they needed help or just an open ear.

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