Magical Weddings (59 page)

“What’s
his
problem?”

Luke hesitated. “I think he’s determined to see me healthy.” Luke snuck a peek outside through the window from his seat behind his desk. “I’m the first patient he’s taken on since his wife died last year,” Luke whispered. Still gazing at Mel, he continued, “I’m not for sure, but I think it was lung cancer.”

Mel grimaced, suddenly appearing shaken.

“I wouldn’t worry, Mel. You guys just got off to the wrong start.”

“That’s saying it mildly,” Mel responded, humourously scrunching her mouth with her nose.

“Besides, both of you did me a favor. It’s the first time I’ve laughed since the accident.”

“Aw, Luke.” She’d been standing and pacing his office from the time she’d arrived nearly twenty minutes earlier.

“Why don’t you sit, Mel. Tell me what’s in that box.”

Mel sat down on the office chair that’d been tucked in on the other side of Luke’s desk. Luke prefered the comfort of his wheelchair when sitting for long periods of time working on his computer.

“The box belonged to Hawk. There’re a few things in there that he would’ve wanted you to have,” Mel said, hesitating.

“What?” Luke asked, noticing she seemed to have more to say.

“There’s some letters in there, Luke. I’m sorry to say, that I began reading them, thinking they were written to Hawk.” Mel grimaced. “And then I realized they were addressed to you.”

Luke started, before staring through the window distractedly. He had a incredible view of the bay, since the office was located next to the living room near the foyer. “Hawk and I kept our stuff together over there.”

“Where is she, Luke?” Mel asked softly. “Don’t tell me she quit on you–because of your injuries?”

Luke turned his gaze to Mel, troubled by her words. “I…no–not at all, Mel. I decided that it’s not fair for me to hold her back. She’s just graduated from college–and,
damn it
, she has her whole life ahead of her. Why should she be saddled with a cripple?”

Mel’s jaw dropped, before she suddenly came to life. “You decided, Luke Bryant?
You
decided?” Mel jumped to her feet, and flung herself across his desk, meeting him nose to nose. “What kind of an
idiot
are you?” Clearly emotional, Mel pulled back and began pacing the room again, this time in tears. “Do you know what I’d give, to have Hawk with me right now, in any shape, way or form? Do you know how lucky you are to be
alive–
and to have someone who loves you so much?”

Luke was stunned. Mel was still grieving. But she was saying everything that’d he’d been hoping to hear, deep in his heart, from the moment he’d awoken to discover he was so severely injured. He’d never really felt like he’d measured up, and had been good enough for Kelly–even before. And now, with his injuries? But finally, someone was telling him, it was okay for a guy like him to love Kelly.

“And this guilt you’ve been carrying around with you. Luke? Hawk was in the wrong place at the wrong time. You had your assignment, he had his.”

Taken aback by Mel’s quick change of subject, Luke’s words slipped out unintentionally. “We switched order, Mel. I was supposed to be flying out of there first.” He began blinking back tears.

She stared at him intently. “From what I understand, there were two other pilots with you that day–right?”

Luke nodded imperceptibly.

“All of you were scheduled to fly out of there. It just, so, happened, that Hawk went first?”

Luke nodded again.

“Alright, Luke–let me ask you this. I was allowed to read some of the report–so I know that the airbase was under attack. If you would’ve flown out of there first–and then had been targeted and killed–would Hawk have been close enough to save those other two pilots, when they were getting shot at–like
you
did?”

Luke grimaced, as his hand came down over his eyes. “Well, one of them did get hit eventually–just not straight on. I was able to pull him out before the plane exploded.”

Mel said softly, “While you were being burned over half of your body, and a scalding wingpiece ripped into your leg.” She continued, “I heard that the other guy only got burned over twenty percent of his body–with second degree burns. Supposedly, he’s fine now.”

They were silent for what seemed like a very long time. Until Mel began to sob quietly, dropping back into the chair. Approaching her in his wheelchair, Luke reached for her hand and pulled her in as close as she would allow.

“Hawk would want for you to be happy. Just like you would want for him to be happy if he was the one who survived. What’s done is done–we can’t bring him back.” She squeezed Luke’s hand, gazing into his eyes. “You saved those other guys’ lives–Hawk might not have been able to get to them on time, since he was on the opposite side of the field.” Mel gazed down to his leg, before her eyes moved up to study his face. “And I don’t know for sure, Luke, how he would’ve handled your kinds of injuries.” She closed her eyes. “I don’t know if you ever had reason to notice–but he’d get queasy even looking at any kind of a wound.”

Luke gave her a rueful smile. “Yeah, I noticed–I could tell you a slew of stories about some of the trouble his puking got us into, when we were stationed at that airbase out in the middle of nowhere.”

For a moment, Mel began to laugh, covering her mouth with her hand while Luke joined in. Hesitating, she finally added, “He was never lucky enough to have what you have, Luke–patience. I suspect that that has something to do with the abuse you’ve tolerated in your past.” Mel gave him a rueful smile. “I’d like to think that Hawk would’ve been happy, just being here–but I have a feeling he would’ve been a real head case.”

Mel stood up suddenly. “I’m staying at the Dragonfly Inn for a couple of days.” She headed toward the door. “And I’m ordering you to talk to your girl as soon as possible.” She gave him a wobbly smile before she moved through the door. “Give me a call, and let me know how it goes–alright?

Swallowing uncomfortably, Luke nodded his agreement.

****

She’d expected a setdown when Steve Raybborn prowled towards her with a determined look on his face. Mel couldn’t help noticing, he was damn good-looking. Chocolate-brown eyes stood out in his strongly-chiseled face. His ash brown-hair, streaked gold, was cropped neatly over his ears. His shoulders were broad, and his hips were narrow, and at around six-foor four, Steve moved with the power of an athlete. Mel frowned. She didn’t like the fact that she’d been immedately attracted to the man–it’d only been a year since Hawk had died. And Hawk had been the mirror opposite of Steve. Raven-black hair, deep-blue eyes, with an easygoing way about him–they’d spent nearly every free moment on the road, exploring on his bike.
God, how she missed him.

Steve immediately surprised her with his words. “I’m sorry. You said all the things to him that I wanted to say myself, but just didn’t know how.”

With the car door swung open, Mel halted, just as she was ready to step inside. “You were
listening
?’ She didn’t know how she felt about that.

He gave her a rueful smile. “Yeah. Not intentionally–the words kind of drifted outside, where I was standing.” Steve hesitated, before continuing. “And I’m sorry for your loss too, Mel. I had no idea who you were, when you came to visit today.”

But Mel was freaking out. She’d actually felt shivers down her spine when Steve had smiled and said her name. She slid into the car and shoved the key into the ignition. Clearing her throat somewhat uncomfortably, she said, “I was sorry to hear about your loss, too–uh–Steve.”

He grimaced, but nodded his acceptance.

Without another word, Mel started the car, and shifted into gear. Glancing in her rearview mirror, Mel watched while Steve stood silently staring as she pulled into the driveway, and drove up to the main road.

Luke had spent the previous night tossing and turning, considering Mel’s words. Steve had taken off for Rice Lake to handle a family emergency after working out with Luke a few hours earlier than usual. Luke had insisted he was capable of getting around by himself this afternoon. Besides, he’d been considering his future much more seriously now, and he had a slew of information about the airport to sort through. And after talking to Mel, he’d been making some huge decisions about his personal life, too. When he heard the radio blaring and the sound of activity out in the kitchen, he finally came to a decision.

If she really wanted him, he’d decided, she could have him. He missed her so goddamned much. Luke grinned. Melissa was right, he was being stupid. And trying to do–what he thought–was the best thing for Kelly–was only making them both more miserable.

But he needed a shower first, since Steve had left immediately after Luke’s workout. Luke was getting around much better using crutches. He managed to make it into the shower, under the running water, without any problems. But when he began to step out, he realized he hadn’t closed the shower door completely, and water was pooled in the cracks of the tile floor. A single leg and a single foot just wouldn’t cut, he realized with resignation, as he slipped into an awkward positon on the floor with a long, loud thump.

“Shit,” he cursed, half-heartedly. Now what? There was a bar on the wall on the other side of the room and also a bar had been intalled inside the shower, but he’d have to crawl back into the shower in order to stand up.

And then there was the puddle of water he was sitting in on the floor. He grinned wryly. He couldn’t even reach a towel to mop it up–so if he mangaged to stand up again–he’d probably just fall back down. He sighed resignedly. He’d just have to crawl into the bedroom.

Turning to the sound of muffled laughter, Luke started. With both hands covering her mouth, Kelly stood against the bathroom door, with a huge smile on her face. He closed his eyes, groaning. “
Why
do you always seem to catch me in my most awkward moments?”

Kelly’s laughter continued as she entered the bathroom and opened up the closet door to scoop up a bundle of towels. After dropping them to the floor and mopping up the water, she hung the wet towels neatly over the side of the tub. Finally, she bent down, meeting his eyes. “What would you like for me to do?” she asked, softly.

“Oh–I’m pretty sure that I can think of a thing–or two.”

Surprisingly, she didn’t seem to question his change of heart.

“Me, too,” she said softly, assisting him as he hoisted himself up from the dry bathroom floor. With an armed wrapped loosely over Kelly’s shoulders, Luke hopped slowly into the bedroom until she helped him sit down at the foot of the bed. Giving him a sly feminine smile, she asked, “By the way, did I mention–that I’m glad to see that everything is still in working order?”

Crap–she’d noticed
. Luke felt his face turn ruddy as Kelly gazed down at him obvious with approval.

Luke’s eyes were focused on Kelly’s mouth, and he heard her quick intake of breath. When he raised his eyes to hers, he saw the gleam of uncertainty along with desire. This time he was the one who had to search for breath. His chest felt tight, as his heart started pounding hard against his chest. He felt an irresistable pull that sent out his arms to grab her around her waist. He pulled her into his lap, and laid his mouth down on hers.

No–you weren’t gonna do it like this, he reminded himself. But
God
, how he’d missed her. The demand of his kiss parted her lips as he slipped his tongue inside her mouth to taste more of her.

Luke deepened his kiss, and the heat of it melted away his last remaining rational thought. Reconciliation flared into passion, and the need to be as close as humanly possible.

****

Kelly’s head was reeling, as she kissed Luke back. Much of his upper body strength had returned, and his hands were big and strong, as they splayed over her back. Hot little ripples of pleasure slid up and down her body, as she moved sensually against his arousal.

Luke broke off the kiss, sucking in air. “Oh, Kel,” he said, and bent his head down, kissing her harder, and exploring her mouth deliberately with his tongue.

It was making her crazy. Kelly’s heart lurched, her bones liquified, and if he hadn’t been holding her so tightly, she would’ve melted into a sizzling puddle on the bedroom floor.

She made a small hungry sound deep in the back of her throat, and squeezed as close to him as she could possibly get. With each touch of his lips and each swirl of his tongue, he was relentlessly stoking the fire within her.

Until she burned. Hard and hot and wanting her, he was unmistakably turned on. Pulling her closer, Luke began kissing her senseless, making her feel things she’d almost forgotten she could feel. She could sense the tension thrumming through his body, as he helped her remove her clothing, leaving her jeans and T-shirt discarded at the foot of the bed.

When they finally laid back upon the bed, and they gradually began sliding upwards in an effort to get closer, Kelly was thrilled to notice Luke’s movements were slow, but not awkward. When he attempted impatiently to cover her, Kelly suddenly pressed Luke back into the pillows.

He blinked, but Kelly stared into his steely-gray eyes and gave him a reassuring smile. Leaning forward, she rested her hands on his chest, just below his shoulders, and using her weight to hold him steady, she bent her head down and pressed her lips to his. When Luke kissed her back, a spark of heat, once again, began to fire her up.

She moved on, sliding her lips to his jaw, and then down over the length of his throat. She heard Luke sigh, as he kept his hands by her side, and simply held on to her. Loving the feel of his hair-roughened chest against her tightened nipples, Kelly kissed and caressed, making her way down Luke’s hard, muscular body–and he’d defintely filled out since the last she’d seen him by the pool. Tending to each of Luke’s wounds with loving care, she brushed over the scars covering his chest and his waist with her fingertips, and followed with her lips and her tongue.

Luke’s eyes fell closed, and he drew in a deep shuddering breath as Kelly moved lower, and her lips skimmed over the tightened muscles of his waist.