Magical Weddings (51 page)

“What good is it having feminine wiles if I never actually get the chance to use them?”

Luke snorted. But he was becoming doubtful again. Here was this hot, beautiful woman.
What
had she ever seen in him?

It was if she could sense his change in mood. Kelly smiled as she stared into his eyes with, what appeared to be, reassurance. “What time would you like to get together?” She stood up from the bench.

“Midnight?”

She nodded her agreement. “Why don’t we meet out on the gazebo?”

Luke gave her an enigmatic smile. “Maybe this time we can go for a walk along the beach?”

Her eyes met his and she hesitated before smiling. “Maybe.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet I was just thinking the same thing that you were. Lots of my memories revolve around that beach.”

“You’re telling me? Every time I go back there, I think about how you shot me down,” she added dryly.

“Yeah, me, too.” Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms for a brief hug. “But I also keep thinking about how different it might’ve been if I’d have just said yes,” he whispered into her ear. Pulling away, he stared into her eyes for a long hard moment before giving her a tender smile. “Later,” he said.

Quickly, he turned and grinned. Even if he lived forever, he’d never forget the stunned expression on Kelly’s lovely face.

It was just approaching midnight when Kelly stood before a mirror in the restroom attached to the banquet hall of the inn. Her hand was shaking as she attempted to repair the damage to her hair and makeup.

The reception would probably continue on for several hours yet; even after the bride and groom retired to spend the night in their suite. Tomorrow, Kate and Murphy would be heading off for a fabulous honeymoon in Hawaii.

Kelly finally stepped outside from the solarium, and music filled her senses as she made her way slowly down the steps from the porch and strolled along the extended cobblestone patio.

The moon was nearly full, and stars shimmered brightly in the sky above, when she finally noticed that the gazebo was all lit up, like a fairy tale castle. There was magic in the air tonight, and something incredible was about to happen–Kelly just sensed it.

It couldn’t have anything to do with Luke.

Could it?
As difficult as it’d been, Kelly had deliberately cast him out of her mind over these past couple years. Besides, he’d been pretty insistent about claiming they had no future together.

She shook her head in confusion. So–
what h
ad changed? It wasn’t up to her to consider their future. She’d already confessed her feelings to him once, pretty sure that Luke’s feelings had been mutual at the time . She didn’t want to get hurt
again
. Kelly sighed resignedly. Although she was trying really hard not to think too much, a little voice inside her head was still urging her to keep her mind open for possibliies. She just couldn’t seem to help herself–she’d been in love with Luke ever since she could remember.

Sensing Luke’s eyes upon her nearly the entire night, Kelly had caught glimpses of him as he’d wandered throughout the banquet room while she’d danced. She’d been really disappointed–for some strange reason, he’d never approched her and asked her to dance with
him.

Continuing to stroll onward, Kelly stepped lightly with her heels over the ramp leading out to the brightly lit gazebo. Finally leaning back against the railing on the edge of the deck, she stared up at the star-studded sky. What a beautiful night it was, she thought, as soft music echoed from the speakers overhead. Firefly lights twinkled up above in the gazebo’s canopy, while a light cool breeze blew in across the lake.

Kelly started, when a voice shot out from the opposite end of the gazebo.

“Pretty cool–isn’t it?” Luke asked, mysteriouly appearing from the shadows.

“Yeah,” Kelly agreed, as Luke stepped up to the railing beside her. “They sure didn’t spare any expense with the details. I can’t believe there were speakers installed out here, too.” Damn, he looked hot dressed in his uniform. And sometime since he’d left the reception, he’d returned his cap to his head. For someone who’d once been thin and scrawny, Luke had sure filled out nicely. She felt a sudden overwhelming surge of longing as he stood staring–it was a need so powerful and strong, it scared her nearly half to death.

Suddenly, she didn’t care anymore about the hurt she’d be carrying around over the last few years. Whatever Luke had to say to her, Kelly decided, she’d definitely listen. After all, she’d been in love with him nearly her entire life.

But, right now, all she wanted to do was get close to him. Kelly looked into Luke’s eyes. “Dance with me?”

He grimaced, as he held her gaze. “I’ve never learned how.”

Kelly realized that her mouth was hanging open, so she quickly snapped it shut. “You’ve
never
danced before?”

Putting his hands in his pockets, he shrugged. “You gotta remember, that when I was in high school, Princess, I never had the chance to go to dances or any of the usual stuff. I was on probation–remember?” he admitted gruffly.

And Kelly was
still
indignant about the punishment he’d received for those robberies. After all, it was his stepfather and stepbrother who’d forced him into stealing property from all the summer homes around the lake. But then again, Luke had been lucky not to have to go into a detention center. They’d allowed Kelly’s grandfather to be his foster parent. Jim Callahan was the retired chief of police here in the town of Crytal Rock. Despite his age, Jim was in excellent health. When his grandson, Dan, had offered to help, Jim had taken charge of fourteen-year old Luke when his brother and step-father had been sentenced and put in jail. “I guess I was kind of young to notice things like that.”

Luke gave her a rueful smile.

There were a few other couples mingling nearby on the gazebo. Soft music continued piping out through the speakers and echoed hauntingly across the calm waters of the lake.

“Come on. It’s easy–just follow me.” Kelly stepped into Luke’s arms, where she promptly rested her head on his shoulder.

And Luke moved easily with the music; his movements slow and natural as he led her around the perimeter of the gazebo. The tantalizing scent of Luke’s cologne wafted through her senses as he held her tightly wrapped within his arms. There’d been hugs and occassional pecks on the cheeks from Luke when they’d both been growing up. But even back then she’d known; Kelly had never experienced this sense of rightness before when she’d been in any other man’s arms. Absorbed in the man and the music, Kelly whispered, “You’re a natural.”

She felt the touch of his lips as they brushed against her brow. “That’s only because we’re so right together, Princess,” he answered hoarsely, echoing her thoughts.

Stunned, Kelly halted, gently easing back within his arms so she could gaze into his eyes. Silvery-gray, they glistened intensely under the light of the moon.

He hesitated, staring down at her lips. But before he could do or say more, a laugh shot out from the opposite end of the gazebo, reminding them that they weren’t alone.

The music pouring out from the speakers finally came to an end.

“Maybe we shouldn’t go for that walk along the beach?” Luke was studying her gown. He’d been touching her a lot while they were dancing, and the rough callused skin of his fingertips brushed gently across her bare shoulders.

When Kelly shivered, it wasn’t because she was cold. “Nah–I’d still like to go. Everyone in the wedding party had a room booked here last night–because of the rehearsal dinner. So I’ve got a change of clothes in my room.”

“I brought along some other clothes too. Somehow, I managed to get a single booked for tonight,” Luke observed.

Kelly smiled. “Okay. So–why don’t we go our separate ways to change clothes, and then meet back up in the lobby?”

Luke nodded his agreement. “You won’t be missed at the reception?”

“Nah. Kate and Murphy have probably gone up to their suite. We’re all supposed to meet for brunch in the morning, anyway.”

For a moment Luke stilled, as they stared into each other’s eyes. But then he reached for her hand and they began to stroll across the bridge that led back to the pathway. They continued to remain quiet as they entered the inn from the solarium door and made their way past the crowded reception. Ethan was standing with a group of Kelly’s friends, and tried to divert her attention–they’d danced several times throughout the night–but Kelly waved him off with a gentle smile.

When Luke stared at Ethan and glared, Kelly began to inwardly jump for joy. Luke appeared to be
jealous–
and this was definitely a good sign.

Still seeming slightly impatient, Luke hesitated, when they reached the elevator. “Would you like me for me to go on up with you to your room, and wait for you to change? We might get diverted otherwise.”

Kelly gave him a lopsided grin. “Did you mean that
I
might get diverted?”

“Yeah,” Luke growled. As the doors for the elevator opened, he promptly reached out for her arm and yanked her inside.

Kelly burst into laughter.

Luke glared at Kelly. But then, shaking his head dazedly, he began to laugh. “God, I’m acting like an idiot! I don’t know how to handle this, Princess. I used to stay away from you for exactly this same reason, you know.”

Taken aback, she became serious, staring into his eyes. “No, I didn’t,” she answered softly. “And therein lies our problem.”

She continued to stare into his steely-gray eyes until the elevator door opened, breaking the spell. Kelly reached for Luke’s hand, and he clasped hers warmly.

Moving out from the elevator, Kelly pulled Luke along until they stood before a door at the end of the hallway. Slipping her hand from his, she began digging through the clutch she’d been carrying. After pulling out the key card, she swiped it through the sensor.

Luke let out a long low whistle as they entered the suite. “Wow, Kel. I’ve never seen the inside of these rooms before. My room downstairs is nice, but it’s small because it’s just a single.”

Kelly nodded her agreement, staring around her at the luxurious contemporary space that included a kitchen and dining room. The suites on the uppermost level were bright and airy because of the skylights and huge sliding glass doors leading outdoors. Booked for the bridesmaids, this four-bedroom suite was was even more impressive since it overlooked the lake.

Hesitating, she swallowed, staring at Luke as he loosened his tie. He seemed larger than life as he stood there staring back. At six-foot two, Luke had been tall, thin and wiry as a teen. But he’d filled out immensely once her grandfather had taken Luke under his wing. Even now, it made her want to cry thinking of the abuse that Luke must’ve dealt with as a kid. Kelly cleared her throat as she motioned with her hand to the other end of the living room. “My room’s right over there. I’ll only be a minute.”

Silently, Luke nodded.

Kelly spun on her heels and made her way to the bedroom. Leaving the door cracked, she shuffled through the clothes she’d left in her suitcase. Pulling out a pair of jeans and a printed crop top, she jumped at the sound of Luke’s voice.

“
Those
are casual clothes?” he asked dryly. Posed against the doorframe of the bedroom, Luke looked sexy as hell with his legs and arms crossed. He was staring at her heatedly. Sometime in the last few minutes, he’d taken off his cap and the jacket of his uniform. He’d apparently rolled up the sleeves and half unbuttoned his shirt after removing his tie.

Kelly swallowed. She hadn’t even heard him approach. “I…well–like to look my best?”

“Yeah,” he growled. “You’ve always looked pretty damned fabulous to me, Princess,” he replied, entering the room. Looking intently at Kelly first, and then at the bedroom door, he deliberately snapped it shut.

And then he turned and raised a brow.

Kelly froze. Was this really going to happen…
now?

Apparently taking her silence as acceptance, Luke began to approach her. He gave her a moment to back out. And then he slid his hand around her neck as he bent down for a kiss.

Finally.
She turned into him, and his hands framed her face, holding her still and steady while his mouth ravaged hers. His mood was teasing, but the meeting of their lips was decidedly serious. And all the tension of the day blew up into this one explosive kiss.

As Kelly’s last remaining remnant of control snapped, she was kissing him back, and running her hands around his waist, her fingers seeking the skin beneath his shirt.

For their very first time, she kissed him with her whole self, concealing nothing–and the kiss seemed to leave Luke just as shaken as she was. Her hands were resting on his wrists, as her fingertips noticed the accelarating of his pulse, and she felt a physical shock as his body molded perfectly against hers. What she saw in Luke’s eyes told her he was just as stunned as she was. She felt the kiss along the length of her spine as she arched to match the curve of her body to his.

He was hot and hard, and she was so needy. Her nipples were firm, and pressed taughtly against the fabric of her gown. Between her legs, she could feel the rise of moist heat. She wanted to rip off Luke’s shirt. She wanted to run her fingers down from his shoulders to his waist, through the softness of the hair that dusted his chest. But even that wasn’t enough–she wanted to expore every
inch
of his sexy muscular body.

Luke touched Kate in ways that had nothing to do with the his hands in her hair, his mouth on her skin, or the joining of their bodies. What he offered her was the raw honesty of emotion and the fierce passion of a soul that’d never been exposed.

It seemed like everything was happening much too quickly. Luke spun her smoothly around, unzipping her gown, until it slithered off her body to the ground. He unlaced her purple camisole from behind, halitng occasionally, she supposed, to get a grip on his shaking fingers. Even though this felt like the most natural situation in the world, she’d only noticed his shaking fingers, because she was shaking too. “It figures you’d even have the sexiest underwear I’ve ever seen,” he muttered irritably.