Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(59)

Her eyes searched his. “I want it to be,” she breathed.

He exhaled raggedly. “That’s a start.”

“But it might take time—”

“I’m not in a rush.”

She thought about that for some long seconds. “I’ll try,” she said finally.

“I’ll take it.” He swept her into his arms and kissed her long and hard.

She broke off the kiss before he scrambled her brains fully. “But this doesn’t mean I’m some exclusive possession of yours now. You can’t get jealous every time I talk to Rylan.”

“Honey, I wasn’t jealous, I was envious. And hurt that you never felt you could come to me. I know you need Rylan. Just don’t forget I’m part of your life now; you can need me too.”

Dani nodded silently, burrowing in his embrace as he wrapped his arms around her. When she finally looked up to meet his gaze, she felt her heartstrings tug. The unfiltered trust now naked in his eyes where there was once a wary curtain of ‘casual’ affection showed her just how much he’d been holding back for her benefit. But now he was removing all the barriers, entrusting her with his heart and looking so vulnerable it made her heart ache.

A gift like that from a man like Luke…

She couldn’t possibly accept without first being sure he knew exactly what he was getting into. How broken she was. How she’d jeopardized his life’s work just a few months ago…

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you— ” she began softly.

“I just have one last question—” he said at the same time.

She shook her head nervously. “You go first.”

“You sure?” The second she nodded, his words rushed out as if a dam had broken. “Okay, will you please tell me who gave you that Valentine gift? It’s making my gut burn. I won’t get mad, and I swear I won’t attack the guy.”

Something told her he’d crossed his fingers behind his back before making that declaration. She shifted her eyes from her desk drawer back to him. Back to the drawer.

“I’m faster than you,” he assured, correctly judging her intent.

“It’s not a gift for me,” she said slowly. “It’s a gift from me.”

“For who?!” he demanded.

She rolled her eyes.

A light entered his. “Me?” His expression became achingly tender and then utterly confused. “Wait, if it’s for me, why did you unwrap it? Are you not going to give it to me anymore?” He frowned. “Is it because of that interview with the douchebag on the news?”

Cringing, she looked up at him with regret written all over her face. “You watched that?”

“Yeah.” He shifted his eyes away, hiding the hurt that came stabbing back.

She put a hand on his arm. “That guy caught me off guard. I didn’t know what to say. I mean I haven’t even admitted it to you yet. Why would I say it on air?” she rambled.

Gradually, a grin stretched across his face.

“What?” she asked suspiciously.

“You said ‘yet’ just now.”

Her lips became a flat line. Then, as if avoiding the possibility of letting any more damning evidence slip out, she went to grab the gift. Gruffly shy, she stuffed it into his hands.

“Are you sure, sweetie? Honestly, I’ll understand if you’re not ready to—”

“Oh, just open it.”

He took it from her gently, as if it did indeed hold all of life’s secrets.

“It’s no big deal. It’s just a silly—”

He quickly placed his fingers on her lips. “Don’t. Let me open it. Let me experience it.”

She watched as Luke’s eyes widened when he saw what was nestled inside the box.

A photo of the two of them. She distinctly remembered the day captured in the photo, though neither of them could’ve possibly known a camera was on them. She and Luke had been eating lunch at Ocotillos, and he’d automatically passed her the Sriracha sauce she liked on her sandwiches. The camera had caught the expression on her face when she’d looked up at him in surprise. In that one moment, she’d looked so unguarded, so happy, so…in love.

Seeing the photo again made her heart swell with the same feelings she’d had that day.

“Xoey took that picture with her camera phone one day when we were here,” mumbled Dani, shoving her hands into her pockets nervously. “I thought you might like it.”

He nodded, still speechless as his gaze shifted to the intricate brushed-steel frame holding the photo. In silent wonder, Luke slid a finger along the carved ridges, instantly identifying the twined images scrolling all around the metal perimeter. “Dani, where did you get this?”

Shrugging, she casually explained, “I had it made. My friend knows a tattoo artist who also does metal etch work so I drew a design and asked him to carve it. It’s nothing fancy...”

“It’s juniper and hops,” he broke in, his voice rough with emotion. “It’s you and me.”

She blinked past her surprise. “Yes.”

“I love it,” he said softly.

Embarrassed, she tried to put the cover back on the box. “It’s just a little trinket.”