Chapter 34
Leona came out of the closet in a pair of holey jeans, a camouflage shirt that hung just right, and a pair of boots. Comfortable and gorgeous. She pushed her fingers through her hair and nodded to his shoes. “You are coming, right?”
He shoved one foot in and bent to tie it. “Of course. Wanted to see what you were wearing.”
“My family is anything but formal. You’re good in that.”
Once both shoes were on, he stood up and moved to the door. “We should go, right?”
“Yup, and if it wasn’t for Allana, I’d be sad I don’t get to keep you all to myself all night.”
“It’s family. In fact, I want you to meet my family when we get back to my coast.”
Her eyes sparkled as they locked on his. “Tell me when.”
“No rush. I told you, we have time here. I’m not dragging you across the country yet.”
“Yet?”
“Eventually, I want you to come back with me, for a while. We’ll figure it out.”
“Come on, we’ll go to the store, then head out to my sister’s. She’s not in New York City, a little outside.”
“Before the city? Because traffic kept me from getting here sooner.”
“Yeah, which is why I don’t miss the city.” She took him to her car and let him in. Once seated, she turned the key. “So, what do you want to do while you’re here?”
“Whatever you want to do. As long as it involves you.”
“I have a few ideas.” Leona backed out of the driveway. “How was the shoot? Ended early because everything went well?”
“Yeah, it ran ahead of schedule. Doesn’t happen often. We may have to go back for a few reshoots later, but maybe by then you’ll come with.”
“If you want me to.” She glanced over as she drove down the street. “Honestly, if you had asked me to come out, I would have made the trip to you.”
“Really?”
“As soon as the plane took off, I knew it was too late to shut you out. I was already in love with you.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. He considered asking something else, but he didn’t want to drag her away from her home yet. And as long as she let him stay with her or come visit while he was back in LA, he could manage the back and forth. All he really needed was her with him, no matter where that was.
She made her way through the small town, to the nearest store, and climbed out. He joined her with a grin. “I would have gotten your door.”
“Sure, but I’m driving.”
He laughed. “You didn’t give me the option.”
“You don’t know your way around here. I was trying to make this easier. And I’m a little worried about how crazy Allana might get.”
“She watched the show, right?”
“And every movie of yours that didn’t have sex or too much violence.”
He chuckled. “That means only a few.”
She tipped her head from side to side. “You’ve been in a lot.”
“Yeah, but I haven’t been in anything kid friendly in a few years.”
“True.” She blushed. Since he’d been gone, she watched everything from the time he was twenty on. The younger ones, she didn’t want to watch because she worried it would throw her head into that weird spot that left her feeling strange about him.
“So, what’s it going to be? We’ve got art there, and a game if you want to go that route.”
“How about a little of both? My sister swears by a specific set of pens for drawing. That is, if your niece is into ink.”
“She’s into anything to do with creating beautiful images. She’s really good already.”
“Think she’ll show me some of her art?”
A giggle escaped. “If she gets past the tongue-tied stage, she will.”
“Let’s go to the craft store first, then we can go there for the game. And a real card. I’m doing this right. I want your family to approve.”
She laughed. “They do.” Then she sighed. “There is one problem. Not with you, but I want you prepared. She still loves her uncle Russell. So, he may show up. I haven’t seen him since the airport, but I wouldn’t put it past him to make an ass of himself.”
“As long as he isn’t a total asswipe, I’ll stay polite.”
Smiling she nodded in the direction of the pens. “Better hurry, you’re making me want to do all sorts of things I shouldn’t, especially out in public.”
“No PDA?”
She laughed. “Some is fine. We aren’t hiding our relationship, so I can live with that.”
He pulled her closer and took a quick kiss. “Good, because I’ve missed you too much for too long to stop.”
“Sorry the timing is off.”
His mouth curved into a grin. “I want to meet your family. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“How long did you know you were flying back early?”
“Had Ryan drop me at the airport once they told us we were done. I bought the first ticket to New York and called Mona so she could tell me the best way to surprise you. Sorry I nearly gave you a heart attack.”
“Forgiven. You’re here now. That’s all that’s important. Though I may have to strangle Mona for letting you scare the hell out of me.”
He chuckled and grabbed a fairly expensive pack of colored pens. “My sister says she can’t live without these.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Luke lifted a shoulder. “Architecture is a kind of art.”
“Definitely art,” Leona corrected, pulling him toward the counter.
The young woman behind the counter froze, then blinked and sputtered, “Yo-you-you’re, oh my God, oh my God,” and basically dissolved into more rambling.
He smiled and ducked his head. “Luke Chance.”
She ran away screaming.
Laughing, Leona shook her head. “Get that often?”
His brow arched. “Not usually to that degree.”
Another woman came over and grinned. “Sorry, Sena will calm down soon. She’s a fan. Let me ring you up.”
“Thank you. And don’t worry about it. I’ve seen it a time or two.”
Luke paid, and they headed outside.
“One more stop.” Leona took him to the store.
“That wasn’t weird?” he asked.
She lifted a shoulder. “A little. It’s bound to happen, though.”
Grinning, he pulled her closer.
* * * *
At Leona’s sister’s house, Luke stood on the doorstep and looked over at Leona. “We aren’t going to just go in?”
“Allana will open the door and probably have a similar reaction to the craft store girl.”
He winced. “I hope this isn’t too weird.”
“She’ll calm down. She’s happy for me. And besides, she’s fifteen.” Leona rolled her eyes.
Lifting his hand, he knocked and took her hand again.
Thundering footfalls came crashing down the stairs. “I got it, Mom.”
The door was thrown open and the girl squealed, “Luke Chance?”
Leona laughed. “Didn’t figure you’d mind me bringing my boyfriend for your birthday.”
Blinking rapidly, she looked from Leona back at Luke and sucked in a breath. “Wow, you’re prettier in person.”
He couldn’t contain a laugh. “Thank you. And you’re cute. We have presents. Can we come in?”
Allana’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head at the cute remark. Then she shook herself out of the stupor. “Oh, yeah, yeah, this way.”
Leona shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. She leaned up and whispered, “Sorry, warned you.”
He pulled her closer. “I can see you in her.”
Rolling her eyes, she stopped in the kitchen with Luke. Leona waved. “Hey, everyone. This is Luke, and this is my mom, June.” Her hair was bobbed short, but she had similar coloring to Leona. “My dad, Kevin.” He had lighter brown hair and green eyes. He had her smile, though. “My sister, Naydene.” Who came over and hugged him.
She whispered, “Keep making her smile like that and you’re gold. If you hurt her, I will castrate you.” Smiling, she backed toward her mother.
Leona snorted. “Don’t mind her, she’s protective.” She directed her attention to her best friend. “You’ve already met Mona.”
“Wouldn’t be here without her.” He smiled at Mona.
Placing a hand on Allana’s shoulder, she said, “And this is the birthday girl. Allana, my favorite niece.”
“Your only niece,” she pointed out.
“Still would be my favorite.” Leona took the card and box Luke had, with the giant bag she carried with her own card, and placed them on the counter.
Luke wore a big smile “Happy birthday, Allana. Hi, everyone. Pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh, is he always this charming?” Mom asked.
Mona nodded. “He is. And he treats Leona well.”
Luke grinned. “Thank you for the help.”
“He’s always charming.” Leona gave him a smile that suggested charming might not be the perfect word for every situation. And before he could let his desire take the lead, he started picturing mutilated kittens and alien probes to stop the inevitable from happening. But then he caught Leona’s smile and all hope was lost.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he leaned against the counter to hide his problem. “Leona assured me you’d be happy to have an extra guest.”
“Definitely, everyone is going to be jealous!” Allana squealed.
“We could do you one better, if Leona wouldn’t mind. We could post a picture of your aunt, you, and me on Instablast. And tag you if you have an account.”
Allana nodded dumbly, then sputtered. “I need to get it together. Especially if you’re going to be around a lot. How do you do it, Leona?”
Laughing, Leona lifted a shoulder. “As he pointed out to me, he’s just another guy. Only he’s better, more sincere than most, charming as Mom said, and thoughtful.”
“You wouldn’t mind?” Allana asked.
He chuckled. “Wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t willing.”
“Told you, he’s sweet,” Leona reminded.
“Oh, the kids at school are going to freak. They didn’t believe your boyfriend was really Luke Chance.”
“I’m just that lucky,” Leona teased.
“That would be me,” he murmured.
Mom swooned.
Luke pulled out his phone and brought up the camera. “That is if your mom is okay with this.” He smiled at Naydene. “Up to you.”
“Sure.” Naydene put her hand out for the phone, which he handed over. After taking the picture, she handed it back. “Warning, her friends may want to meet you sooner or later.”
Luke grinned at Leona. “Doubt that’s a problem. I hope to be around a lot.”
There was a knock at the door. Kevin shook his head. “At least you understand what you have in my daughter. Something her ex never figured out.” He strode toward the door.
Allana was too busy staring up at Luke. “Sorry, is that Uncle Russell?”
“Yup,” Leona muttered.
Luke tensed slightly. Only because he had a feeling the guy was going to make an ass of himself.
Russell came back with Kevin, who wore an apologetic expression, but took over the introductions. “This is Russell, Allana’s uncle. And this is Leona’s boyfriend, Luke.”
“Leona’s ex-husband, to be precise,” Russell clarified. “But I already met Luke. Well, sort of. It wasn’t a true introduction. Leona was busy flaunting the fact she replaced me with a younger, richer man.”
Leona offered a tight smile. “Spin it however you want, but I’m not here to argue and fight. I’m here for my niece.”
Allana crossed her arms over her chest. “If you don’t like Luke, you can leave. He is my guest, and he made my birthday. Leona doesn’t need your shi—”
Naydene slapped a hand over her daughter’s mouth. “Okay, that’s enough.” She blew out a breath and pegged Russell with a glare. “You can play nice, or I will throw you out. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again. This time, I’ll make sure to twist your balls off on the way out.”
Russell shot Luke a glare. “You threaten him too?”
One corner of Naydene’s mouth lifted. “And he didn’t complain.”
“Fine, if I’m not welcome, I’ll go now. Happy birthday, kid.” He tossed his gift on the counter and stormed out.
Allana turned to Leona and pulled her mom’s hand away. “I’m sorry I told him he could come. I didn’t think about how much of a jerk he’s been since…you know.”
Leona hugged Allana. “It’s good. He’s still your family.”
“Not if he keeps that up.” Allana pulled her toward the table. “We’re ready for dinner. Then presents, then cake.”
“Of course.”
Leona stayed back a second, turning to Luke.
He hugged her close and murmured, “You okay?”
“Not surprised. Let’s enjoy our evening.”
“I’ll make sure you do.”