Page 104 of Just Trouble

“There’s only one kind of event that I can personally organize, because I’ve done it a bunch of times before.”

The light goes on. “A concert?”

Luke smiles and shakes his head. “Not just any concert, Daph. A reunion of the band, right here in Empire, for a tribute to Taylor.”

“The band, Elwood, the band,” I say under my breath and he laughs.

“Pretty much.” He pushes his hand through his hair. “Brent and Zach are both up for it. In fact, they said they were waiting on me and can’t believe it took me so long. I’ve talked to ourhead roadie, who is as surly as ever, and even he’s excited to be on board. Once Wookie walks through the theatre tomorrow and gives me a list of improvements, I can cut our social media queen loose on the project. Chelsea is just brilliant at what she does. The gear is in storage, the buses and the trucks mothballed, but all of that can get sorted…”

“I thought you didn’t want to perform anymore,” I interject and he falls silent.

He takes a breath and fixes me with a brilliant blue look. “I didn’t. Because I didn’t think I could do it without Taylor there on stage with me. For an entire year, I couldn’t hear the music and I thought that chapter of my life was over. But the music’s back, Daph, thanks to you. And as soon as I had this idea, everything started to come together, as if it was meant to be. I have to do it. I have to prove to myself that Icando it, and I have to honour Taylor this way.” His eyes narrow a little. “Does that make sense?”

I nod, because there’s a lump in my throat. On the one hand, he’ll be staying a little longer in Empire which is awesome. On the other, bringing the band back together probably gives him a reason to leave.

I’m going to focus on the moment and the chance to spend more time with him.

“I’m thinking about the fifth of July. That’s the Saturday after Canada Day.”

“So soon? How are you going to do that?”

“I don’t know, Daph. That’s part of the adventure.” His grip tightens on my hand. “Want to meet Wookie with me in the morning? I’d love to have your input.”

I squeeze his hand back, liking the suggestion that we’re a team, even for a while. “Yes,” I whisper, then we’re at the steps of my house and I have a much better idea. I reach up and kiss him slowly, liking how his arms close around me and he abandonshimself to the kiss. It feels like a celebration and a homecoming, both inevitable and unpredictable.

“I love the suit,” I whisper, running a hand down his lapel. “And I loved watching you tonight.”

“I was watching you,” he admits, then kisses my ear. “I love the dress.”

I smile. “And here I was hoping you’d help me take it off.”

“Anything for you, Daph. Anything.”

I love that he gives me the choice, that he never presumes what will happen between us, that he waits and lets me make the first move. I love that I’m getting bolder at doing that and when I unlock the door and tug him inside, I love the way anticipation floods through me.

It could be the first time, but it will be better than the first time. It gets better every time and that’s an adventure I don’t want to see end.

For the moment, though, there is Luke. I back him into the wall and kiss him as if my life depends upon it. He responds immediately, lifting me against him, kissing me back with both reverence and passion. My hands are in his hair, my tongue is against his, and his hands are under my jacket, on the bare skin of my back. He murmurs my name, the way he’s made it his own, and I stop him with a touch, my hand flat on his chest. I feel his heartbeat beneath my palm a steady beat that’s picking up even as I stare at him.

“No drapes,” I confess, pretending to be sad about it, and the corner of his mouth lifts. “I had to order the blinds I wanted.” I loop my hands around his neck. “We’ll just have to go upstairs.”

He glances at the stairs, then at me, and scoops me into his arms. “Challenges, challenges,” he murmurs and steals a smoky hot kiss.

I kick my feet and watch him as he climbs, then tap his chin with a fingertip. “Slow tonight,” I say, and he slants a glance at me. “So very, very slow.”

26

LUKE

How is it possible that I love this woman so much, never mind that I fell so hard so quickly? I realize now that Taylor didn’t lead me to Sylvia or even Merrie.

He was giving me a path to Daph, one that I would never have found on my own.

And here I am, a couple of weeks later, unable to imagine not having her in my life. How incredible is it that this amazing woman knows exactly who I am and lets me be in her life anyway?

Slow. Very slow. I couldn’t have chosen better myself.

It could be the first time, my anticipation is that high, but it’s better than the first time, because I’m learning what she likes, what drives her crazy, what makes every time better than the last. It’s a quest I don’t ever want to finish.

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