Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek #1)(85)

Only this time, she was invited. Even better, she was the guest of honor.

Her first birthday party. A river of emotions overtook her as her mind worked to crystallize everything around her like snapshots to fill the empty places in her memory album.

Derek came up and swung her up in a giant bear hug. “Happy birthday, sis.”

“Derek!” Dani flung her arms around him and gripped him tight. They hadn’t spoken in over a week. The last conversation they’d had, the day after she’d explained why she couldn’t go through with the winery idea, he’d barely said two sentences to her. Looking at him now, she was almost shocked to see him looking so...happy. She shot him a hooded look. “Nice to see you’re still alive. Are you doing okay?”

“Of course I am.” He gave her a puzzled look. “Why?”

“It’s been a while since we’ve talked…”

A startled look shot across his face. “Did you think I was avoiding you?”

When she nodded sadly, he drew her in for another hug. “I’ve just been doing some heavy duty thinking alone is all. Plus, I was keeping a low profile because I was helping Luke with this party.” He shook his head at her. “I told you, I’m not upset over”—he flicked a glance over at Luke a few feet away—“what happened. In fact, I have a related idea that I want to run by you. After your birthday bash, of course.” Barely contained enthusiasm tipped the corners of his mouth up into a mysterious grin. “You were the inspiration for it.”

She latched onto his wrist. “No, wait. Don’t run off with that cliffhanger. Tell me now,” she pleaded, thrilled that he seemed to back to his cheery old self again. Maybe happier, even.

“Later, I promise.” He kissed her forehead. “There will be no thunder stealing today. Just enjoy your party.” He gave her a soft smile. “By the way, look around. This is way better than that lame kiddie party you saw up here in the first grade.”

Dani felt her heart clench and tears well up in her eyes. “It is, isn’t it?”

“I’ll take about twenty-five percent of the credit for how it turned out,” he winked, “but the rest was all Luke. That’s a good guy you’ve found, sweetie. I’m happy for you.” He kissed her cheek again and then patted Luke on the shoulder in big brother fashion before disappearing with Jonathan into the crowd…which seemed to be descending upon her all of a sudden.

Dani felt fresh tears coming in. Seeing that, Luke just smiled and tucked an arm around her while a group of what looked like the entire town of Cactus Creek shuffled forward singing Happy Birthday at the top of their lungs. She gasped at the sight of the giant birthday cake they carted over. Colorful frosted decorations, candied confetti, and her name written in icing.

Her heart leapt up to her throat, and all of a sudden, time seemed to slow.

The symphony of singing voices became echoed as the twenty-eight flickering candles turned into a soft glow that lit a haze all around as a new image ebbed in and out her mind. Materializing…just out of reach. Too fuzzy to be a memory, too real to be strictly fantasy.

A dream perhaps?

In it, she and Luke were singing Happy Birthday to a child.

Their child.

Dani blinked and the scene disappeared. But her reaction to it remained. The dreamy images lodged her breath in her chest, right over her heart. And as if Luke were dreaming of the same future, his hand gave hers an emotional squeeze. She went up on her tiptoes and tilted her head up to catch his mouth in a feather-light kiss.

“I love you,” she whispered against his lips.




LUKE’S LIPS kicked up; he was positive he had the look of a man so far entranced he was just holding on for the ride. Hearing her say the words could always get him there in an instant. He pulled her into his arms until they were touching shoulders to knees. Looking into her eyes, seeing all her unspoken words, he almost forgot there were guests all around them. Almost.

“Get a room, you two!” shouted someone from under the giant tent. Luke chuckled and put some distance between their bodies—one inch, at least—before leading her to a table with a gigantic bowl in the center. Then he just waited expectantly for her to look down. She didn’t disappoint. When she realized that was fresh caramel corn in the bowl, Dani gasped and grabbed a handful to try. Luke had heard the story, knew how the flavors she was groaning in happiness over right this minute were the tastes of her childhood that only her nose had been privy to from a building rooftop away. When she turned her shining eyes to him in gratitude over such a small thing—a handful of popcorn—Luke felt his heartstrings tug tight.

“I can’t believe you did all this,” marveled Dani, after finally coming up for air when half the bowl was in her tummy. “Every game, every treat, it’s all perfect.”

“Derek helped a ton with the planning. I followed his suggestions to the last-minute detail.” Luke cleared his throat. “Sans one, that is.”

Curious, Dani asked, “What suggestion was that?”

“Your brother wanted to setup Spin the Bottle for the guests. In fact, he was pretty adamant about it.”

Dani’s cheeks warmed to an adorable scarlet. “That little twerp!”

“Ah see, the way he was laughing, I knew there was a backstory that would ensure I slept on the couch tonight if I gave in.” He patted himself on the back. “Okay, so tell me the story.”