Chapter 32
Three more weeks passed and Leona and Luke’s relationship grew stronger every day. But he felt the distance every single moment that passed. Not emotional distance. No, that was gone. The physical was killing him.
Five more weeks.
Two seconds after he shut the door, there was a knock. Confused, he turned and found the bellhop holding a box. “Delivery from a special woman in your life.”
His brow arched as he took a peek at the package from Leona Shay. “Thank you.” Luke took the box and went to tip. “She’s already covered that.”
“How?”
“There was a note attached with the instructions to give it to whoever delivered the package. She was more than generous.”
Luke grinned. “Never met a more amazing woman. Can’t wait until I’m back in the States with her.”
The bellhop dipped his head and walked back down the hall. Shutting the door, Luke brought the box to the bed and opened it.
The box had some weight to it. He had zero guesses as to what she may have sent. Instead of guessing, he opened the top of the box. There were several boxes, all wrapped with shiny gold paper, and an envelope in gold with his name scrolled across it.
One corner of his mouth pulled up as he took the letter and opened it. Even her penmanship was beautiful.
Missing you, Luke,
I can’t sleep without dreaming of you. I can’t think without you in my mind. I’m counting seconds until you’re here with me.
The random photographs and crazy questions stopped bothering me. I simply don’t answer anything too personal. Though yesterday I almost told a woman why I could please you when she couldn’t. I didn’t.
I was thinking, maybe you should tell me when you’re going to land and I can pick you up at the airport, because honestly, as long as you’re mine, I don’t care what anyone else thinks.
Anyway, I should stop rambling and let you open your gifts, all from the heart.
Yours always,
Leona
The fact she held no hesitation lit him on fire. No more barriers, besides the distance.
Making himself comfortable on the bed, he pulled out the first box. It rattled and he cocked his head and tore the wrapping paper open. She’d framed a copy of the first picture she’d posted on Instablast. The one of them on the hammock. The frame had something etched around it.
You gave me hope, brought back a piece of me I didn’t realize I had lost. Missing your arms, your steady heartbeat in my ear, your breath in my hair. I’m missing you.
He pounded his hand on the bed and dropped back, staring at that picture. She was beautiful, that smile. He never wanted this much time without her again.
He’d been right about her being worth fighting for.
There was a knock at his door. Slowly he climbed to his feet, wondering what was up. Ryan stood on the other side of the door.
“Hey, this important?” Luke asked.
Grinning, Ryan peaked around the door. “Oh, and here I thought she came out. Just presents?”
“Yeah, why?”
Ryan shrugged. “I’m trying to imagine being apart from someone as long as you have. Maybe she’ll come out to France.”
“She’s settling into her new place.” And as tempted as he was to ask, he knew next time she’d come for the whole shoot.
“She bought a house in New York?”
“Nope, she is renting, north of New York.”
“No roots. Interesting. And you were worried nothing was going to work out.”
“Oh, it’s working out. So, what’s up?”
“My brother is getting in deep with Tara, but I’m really doubting she’s into him. Think you can talk to him?”
“Sure, but doubt Manny wants to listen to me. Last time I told him to be careful, he told me to shut the hell up. That I didn’t really understand her.”
“Fuck, okay, but try. All right?”
“I’ll do what I can. Now, let me finish opening the rest of the box.”
“Anything good?”
“Very, now go.” He shoved Ryan back out and closed the door
The prick laughed. “Hey, we’re leaving for the airport in an hour. See you then.”
Right, off to Paris. Another place he’d love to enjoy with Leona. She would find so much inspiration there. Rome too. Next movie, especially internationally set, he would somehow convince her to come along.
He pulled out another box and unwrapped it.
A scrap album full of pictures of them together. Mostly his. Each page held little cutouts and things to remind him of each day, beautiful thoughts she had about each.
There was a T-shirt with her logo, and he immediately swapped his shirt to put it on. He’d asked her if she had any a few weeks back because he wanted one, and she laughed. But then she went and had one made.
There was an assortment of candy and healthy snacks he had eaten in her presence.
The last box felt like a paperback. Cocking his head, he opened it and found a copy of Midnight Daughter: Legacy. Or at least, the cover appeared to be. He found another title and message when he opened the cover.
Luke, the only man I want.
I promised a sneak peek. You’re the only person I have ever done this for. Please don’t share it.
Love,
Leona
The characters weren’t ones he recognized. This was a new story. Swiping up his phone, he dialed Leona’s number.
She answered after a single ring. “Hey, Luke. Get your gift?”
“Hey, dreamer. Yeah, you have the perfect timing. We’re heading to the airport in an hour.”
“Man, I rushed the delivery. I’m sorry. International mail always takes forever.”
“It can. And you rushed it? Why?”
“To get there before you left Rome. Thought maybe you might want to read something on the plane.”
His whole face burst out in a smile. “Thank you for that.”
“Please don’t share it with anyone, not even Raven.”
“Of course not. Am I the first to read it?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “And yes, you inspired the character, but he’s not you. What happens in the story is just a story. Don’t read too much into that.”
“I inspired a leading man in your story?” he asked, feeling fucking amazing about that fact.
“Inspired, yes, but you aren’t the only influence. He does look like you.” She sucked in a breath. “And okay, you may have given me a couple scenes, but don’t read much into anything. Please. Honest, this isn’t our story. The leading female isn’t me, though she has a few of my traits. They all do.”
“Hey, Leona, chill. I got it. Don’t assume you think this is us.”
“Exactly.”
“Why are you so nervous? Are you always this nervous about a story?”
“No, not usually. This time, I’m doing something different than I normally do, and it’s going to be obvious you were my muse. It’s not edited, it’s probably rough, and I only printed it that way, with an old cover so no one questioned it. Please don’t let Raven have it.”
“I’ll guard it with my life. And don’t you usually send ARCs in eBook format?”
“Normally, but you had a stack of paperbacks, and some people don’t read eBooks.”
“I’ll read anything you write, no matter how you send it.”
“Thank you. And the sexy parts are all you. The rest, well, it’s a story, one I think people will enjoy. God, I hope so.”
“Doubt you could write anything bad.”
Now she really did laugh. “Trust me, it can happen. I have books I wrote before I started publishing, and they are bad. Truly, one hundred percent bad.”
“I’m sure they’re not nearly as bad as you believe.”
“You’ll never know.”
“We’ll see about that,” he teased. Though he wanted to take a peek, wanted to see the early stuff no one else did. He wanted everything with her.
“This flight a long one?” she asked.
“Not from Italy. You’ll hear from me later. If you’re up.”
“I’ll always answer your call.”
He grinned. She had answered every phone call, even when she was in the middle of a dinner with friends, who all decided to freak out so bad, he made her promise to call back later.
He wasn’t sure if he wanted to mention the fact they were ahead of schedule and that he might be there early. Not real early, but enough to surprise her.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“Went for a swim. Been working on this story all day.”
“The one you sent me?”
A laugh bubbled up. “No, the one I was working on before the new story wouldn’t let me go.”
He chuckled. “Kind of like me not letting you go?”
“Something like that.”
“Are you out by the lake? Maybe in a bikini?” he asked.
She laughed. “Maybe. I suppose you want a picture?”
“Any and all pictures you want to send that aren’t totally naked. I don’t mind people seeing how sexy you are, but I want a little all to myself.”
Her breath left on an exhale. “No one needs to see me naked but you.”
“Why do I hear insecurity in your voice?”
“I’ve never been one to flaunt everything. I’ll flaunt around you, though.”
“You can flaunt it, you definitely have it,” he purred.
She cleared her throat. “So, what are you doing?”
“Lying here, trying to motivate myself to toss my shit in my bags and head out. I’d rather stay here, on the phone, or better yet, be there with you.”
“Yeah, same here, but you should go. Don’t want to hold up production because your…uh…” she trailed off.
“Girlfriend. Guess we should have covered that. Figured with the way I call you my dreamer, everyone, including you, knew.”
A real laugh escaped her. “I thought maybe, but I didn’t want to make assumptions.”
“You’re mine, Leona. There is no doubt in my mind. Thank you for the gifts.”
“You’re welcome. Love you, Luke.”
“Love you too.” The phone clicked off and he hopped up to pack.