Page 103 of Hand Picked
“Heck, yeah, Luke!” Alan Laroche yelled, wiping his misty eyes with his Habs jersey. “Couldn’ta happened to a nicer guy!”
“We’re looking for a missing child,” Luke said into the microphone, and the cheering cut off as quickly as the carnival sounds had. His voice wobbled a little with worry and unmistakable love. “My—uh. Webb Sunday’s boy Aiden’s gone missing, and we need help finding him. For those of you who don’t live here and maybe don’t know him, he’s seven years old. Four and a half feet tall. He’s got dark hair and big green eyes. He’s wearing a Nature Scout uniform with a brand-new knot-tying badge on it—” Luke sniffled a little and tried to cover it with a cough, and I wrapped my arm around his waist.
There was a reason why, once I’d stopped irrationally disliking Luke Williams, I hadn’t been able to erect any barriers or defenses against him.
Luke continued. “And, uh… his front teeth haven’t grown in yet—”
There was a reason why, even when I’d tried to tell myself I didn’t trust him,I had.
“Aiden’s sweet and talkative and smart, and—”
There was a reason why falling for this man had been as easy as… as falling off a damn roof. How could Inotfall in love with a man who was gorgeous and warm as sunshine? Who was smart enough to know what was most important in the world and had a heart big enough to treasure it?
“—and if you’ve seen him, please just tell someone. Nobody needs to be in trouble, okay? We just want to know he’s safe—”
“Webb?” Amanda pushed through the crowd toward the stage, towing a not-particularly-pleased-looking Aiden behind her. “He’s okay, you guys.”
Oh, holy shit.
Luke covered his face with both hands. A single, low sob emerged, like he’d finally let himself fall apart now that he knew he could. “Thank God,” he whispered into my shoulder. “Oh, Webb, thank God.”
“I wanted to surprise you all when my boss let me out early,” Amanda continued. “But when I was on my way to the Pick-a-Book tent, I saw Aiden dart out, and I followed him to the playground.”
“Aiden,” I said severely. “Is that true? Why in the world would you do that? Why would you worry us—”
Amanda set a hand on his shoulder. “Tell them what you told me.”
“I didn’t want to worry you, Dad, I wanted you to blow the bugle!” Aiden cried, the words rushing out of him in a torrent. “I wanted you guys to get married, and I wanted Luke to be in our family. So I left the tent, and I told Olin to tell you to blow the bugle, and youdid, and I’m not sorry!”
“We’re going to discuss your behavior at home, young man,” I said.
His defiant stance faltered a little, but he forced himself to rally. “I don’t care! You blew the bugle, and now you’re married! And that’s all that matters.”
“Jesus,” I whispered under my breath.
Ernie York heaved himself through the crowd. “Not so fast, kiddo.” He smoothed his hair with one hand. “They haven’t said their vows yet. And they’d better not either,” he added, “until Genevieve gets here. She was planning to do a live broadcast tomorrow, but this’ll be better.”
Aiden looked from Ernie to Luke to me, clearly crestfallen. “Vows? They gotta do vows, too?”
Amanda squeezed his little shoulders gently.
“Yep,” Ernie said. “They’ve gotta pledge their love and declare their desire to be together.”
Aiden’s eyes went wide. “Okay, but… but youdolove each other. Mr. Williams! Luke! You love my dad. You said so!”
Wait, what?
I turned to look at Luke. His face was bright red beneath his freckles, and he looked up at me shyly. “I… I know,” he said, turning back to Aiden. “But…”
“You do?” I asked in surprise. I knew he cared about me and Aiden—it was there in everything he did for us, the way he put his trust in me so completely—but was it possible he’d fallen for me as hard as I’d fallen for him?
“Of course I do,” Luke said softly and maybe a little sadly. “You’re… gosh, Webb. You’re everything. You’re so strong and protective. You love so devotedly. You make me feel like nothing is impossible. How could I not love you?”
His words reminded me of my exact thoughts from a moment before, and I couldn’t help my short huff of amusement.
Luke’s next words sobered me instantly. “But I don’t want you to say it back! I know you’re not ready for a relationship right now, and that’s okay. I can feel how much you care for me, and that’s way more important than you saying—”
“I love you,” I said emphatically. “I love you so damn much.”
