on. When she opened the door, she smiled to herself. Luke sat behind his desk with a dozen wanted posters spread out in front of him. He looked up, his brow furrowing for a brief second then relaxed. Almost as if he was pleased to see her.
“You didn’t come to dinner,” she said as she closed the door behind her.
He shrugged, “Didn’t know if I was welcome.”
She bit her tongue to stop from snapping at him, instead, she took a calming breath. “You know very well you are always welcome. Just because I’m mad at you doesn’t mean you can skip meals.”
He laughed, “You sound like Hanna. She’d chew me out for some stupid mistake then plop a plate of food down in front of me.”
Rebecca smiled. “That is high praise. Thank you.” A new numbness washed over her. That proved it, he thought of her like a sister.
He studied her for a moment then said, “As for me taking this job …”
“I don’t want to talk about that,” Rebecca interrupted. “You aren’t my husband or anything. I have no say in what you do.”
An awkward silence filled the room. His brow narrowed for a second then he nodded and stood up to come around the front of the desk.
“I’ll walk you home.”
Her heart fell at the coldness of his tone. Forcing the nervous butterflies to settle down, she let him lead her out of the office and start for her and Helen’s shack.
Why couldn’t they stay and talk? she wondered. There was so much she wanted to know. Things about his family. About the war. Had there been someone special along the way. Was he even now wishing he was there with her?
“So, is there someone waiting for you in Oregon?” she asked before she could stop herself. No sooner had the words been uttered than she wanted to crawl into a deep dark cave and disappear. Could she be more obvious?
“No,” he said without giving her one of his knowing glances.
Her heart jumped with joy. At least she wouldn’t have to dread that anymore.
“And no one in Virginia. A southern bell perhaps.”
He scoffed. “We weren’t real welcome in Virginia. Their brothers and papas were trying to kill us, remember.”
Her insides cringed. Of course, could she sound any more like an idiot?
That oh so familiar awkwardness surrounded them again. Would it always be like this? Tell him that you love him, she thought. That would end this. Either that, or replace it with a new awkwardness. The kind that would drive him away.
They continued on, silently until he stopped in front of her house. She turned to him as the moon peaked out from behind the clouds to let her see him studying her with a strange look. Her heart melted. “I’m not really mad at you,” she whispered. “I could never be mad at you. You know that.”
He smiled just enough for her to know he was pleased.
“There was one girl I thought about a lot,” he said. Obviously referring to her previous question. It was as if he had been thinking about it during the entire walk and was now ready to tell her.
Her heart fell, of course there was.
“Golden hair and eyes the color of a summer sky. A button nose and sweeter than syrup.”
Her heart started pounding.
“Knew her for but a few months as a kid. Didn’t know what kind of woman she grew into. But I knew she’d be beautiful.”
Rebecca swallowed, trying to force her voice to work. “I bet she was a brat. Always bothering you.”
He laughed, that true Luke laugh that sent a thrill of happiness through her bones. “No, never,” he said. “Like I said, sweet. But tough, you know. A spine made of forged steel.”
She stared up into his eyes, becoming lost in his eyes.
“It’s always been you, Becky. You know that, right? You are the woman I judged all others by. And they always came up short.”
Her heart stopped as she tried to right the world. But before she could understand he leaned in and took her lips with his.
Home, she was where she belonged, she realized as she fell into his arms. Taking from him everything he could give. A thousand dreams. A thousand wishes all answered at once.
His arms slipped around her waist, holding her close as his lips caressed her.
She felt herself falling into a vast cavern of pure happiness. The world disappeared, everything was gone except for this man kissing her.
“I’ve wanted to do that