It Had to Be You

“That’s not all you won,” Luke said.

She leaned in and kissed him. “A trip to Disneyland?” she teased.

“If you want,” he said seriously, “but not what I was thinking.”

“Some lease money for my flower shop?” she asked, waving the check.

“Most definitely, but still not quite it. Keep going, Ali. You’re getting warmer.”

“Luke—”

“Need a hint?”

“Please,” she said.

He tightened his grip on her. “Me. Us.” He kissed her. “This.”

She couldn’t breathe again, but this time it was because hope and love and affection were tangled in her throat, vying for space. “We’re an us?”

“Yes,” he said, “which is a much better deal for me than you, so be sure—”

She put a finger against his lips. “I’m sure. In fact, I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”

Epilogue

Two weeks later, Ali picked up a tray of tea and coffee with hands that weren’t quite steady. “I’m so nervous.”

Luke, still wearing a sling but getting more and more movement back every day, leaned in and kissed her. “You’ll nail this.”

“Like she did you,” Leah quipped. She picked up the second tray, filled with the pastry goodies she’d made for the grand opening of the new flower shop.

Ali’s Blooms.

She’d signed the lease and was officially in the space next to the bakery again.

It was all she’d ever wanted.

Half the town was here for the opening party, and the other half was on their way.

“She can nail me any time,” Luke said, and snatched a custard puff from Leah’s tray and stuffed it in his mouth. He gave Ali one more quick kiss, tasting like vanilla.

She hummed her pleasure. Just looking up in his warm, blue eyes quelled her nerves. He was her rock.

And she was his, she marveled. He believed in her, trusted her, needed her. Wanted her.

He’d gone to San Francisco for the Reyes review, but he was still on medical leave, so he’d come right back to Lucky Harbor. Sawyer had offered him a job, and he was going to take it. Ali was over the moon that he was staying here in Lucky Harbor.

Catching her looking at him, he gestured for her to set the tray down, then nudged her closer with his good arm. Lowering his head, he pressed his mouth to her ear. “I’m never going to get tired of finding you looking at me that way. Like you have to have me right now.”

She laughed, then looked around to make sure Leah wasn’t too close. “I just had you,” she whispered. Right before they arrived here, in fact. “And I wasn’t looking at you like that. If you must know, I was thinking I can’t believe you’re mine.”

“Believe it.” He pulled back to look into her eyes. “I belong to you, heart and soul and…” He pressed up against her, making her laugh when she felt him, hard at her belly so that the “and” was clear.

“Tired of me already?” he asked with a smile in his voice.

“Not quite yet. You?”

His eyes darkened, and he kissed her again. “Never.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Never is a long time,” she said.

His voice was low, fierce. And very sure. “That’s what I’m counting on.”

The End