Pretend You're Mine: A Small Town Love Story (22 page)

“Your fund is intact. This is on me. Consider it a going away gift.”

Harper opened her mouth to argue, but Luke clamped a hand over it. “Before you start yelling, this past month has been the best I’ve had in ... I don’t even know how long. You made my house a home, you took away the chaos at work, and you gave me what I didn’t know I needed. You. So this is my very small way of thanking you for bringing me back to life. If I thought for a second you’d let me get away with getting you a new car, I would have. But I know you.”

He removed his hand from her mouth. “Okay. You can yell now.”

“Damnit, Luke. I can’t yell now.”

“You also can’t insist on paying me back without looking like an asshole,” he smirked.

Damn that sexy dimple. The perfect picture. Him grinning at her, aviators on, that soft sweater that clung to every muscle. And the sun setting low behind him.

This is how she would always think of him.

Harper sighed. She would go to her grave loving Luke Garrison without regret.

He patted the dashboard. “Now that I’ve won the gift giving competition, let’s go. I’m hungry.”

Harper backed down the driveway and put the car in first gear. “Is this a new engine?”

***

M
r. Romanos himself led them through the restaurant to the small back room reserved for special occasions.

Harper paused with Luke in the doorway and took in the chaotic scene. Josh had crawled under a table and Ty was trying to coax him out. Sophie was topping off wine glasses. Charlie was in deep discussion with Aldo and James while Claire and a short, plump woman with salt and pepper curly hair had their heads together.

“That’s Aldo’s mom, Mrs. Moretta,” Luke whispered in her ear, nodding in the woman’s direction. She threw her head back in booming laughter. “She’s on the feisty side so try not to get into an argument with her.”

Stu and Syl were having a disagreement over the basket of rolls while the frazzled looking waitress promised to bring a second order out. Frank sat by himself nursing a beer.

“I am going to miss this,” Luke sighed, drawing her into his side.

“Me, too,” Harper nodded. “Well, we might as well make the most of our last night.”

He squeezed her waist and winked. “Uncle Stu, put the bread down,” he ordered as they entered the room.

Cheers went up and they were surrounded by hugs, handshakes, and slaps on the back. Everyone was talking at once.

Josh poked his head out from under the table. “Uncca Luke!” The toddler bolted for his uncle and Luke picked him up, tossing his nephew in the air.

“Uncca Luke! Camo!” Josh pointed to the camo t-shirt he was wearing. “Like you?”

“When you come back he’s going to be twice that size,” Ty teased. “Kid eats fifteen pounds of mac and cheese a day.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Luke laughed. Harper skirted around the crowd to Sophie who handed her a glass of wine.

“Hanging in there?”

Harper nodded. “Yeah.” She watched Luke juggle Josh to one side so he could hug Aunt Syl. “Did he tell you what he did to my car?”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Has my brother ever willingly told anyone anything?”

“Good point,” Harper laughed and filled her in.

“The big softie.” Sophie sighed and blinked her watery eyes. “He loves you, you know. He protects you like family.”

“I know he cares for me, but I don’t think he’s ready for the l-word. I, on the other hand...” Harper trailed off and sipped her wine.

“I knew you were just what he needed, and now you’re leaving, too,” Sophie sniffled.

“Oh my God, don’t you start or it’ll set me off and then Luke will get pissed at both of us,” Harper said, blinking her eyes to fight off the tears that blurred her vision. “Please tell me something funny!”

“Last year, Mom took Josh overnight so Ty and I could have a night out. We stayed in instead and drank an entire bottle of Kraken. When we ordered a pizza and I bet him he wouldn’t answer the door wearing my pink pajama pants with kitties on them. I lost.”

Harper slapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. The laughter was already erupting. They both doubled over in hysterics.

“Pink kitty pants?” she gasped.

Sophie, lost in silent laughter, could only nod.

“Ladies, am I gonna have to arrest you for public disturbance?” Ty said, approaching.

It set them off again and had Harper clutching Sophie to stay upright.

“What did you do to my girl, Ty?” Luke appeared at her side, a beer bottle in his hand.

Harper wiped the tears from her cheeks, thankful that she went with waterproof mascara tonight. “Sorry. Sophie was just telling the funniest story.”

“If you’ve recovered your oxygen supply, I’ll introduce you to Mrs. Moretta.”

Harper nodded and straightened her shoulders. “All recovered. Excuse us, Soph, Mr. Kitty.” She clawed the air in front of Ty as she walked passed.

Sophie started giggling again.

“Damn it, Soph. Why are you spilling secrets?” Ty sighed behind them.

***

T
hey eventually got everyone seated long enough for the waitress to take the group’s order. When everyone’s drinks were refilled, Charlie got to his feet, glass in hand. Luke squeezed Harper’s thigh under the table.

“It’s Garrison family tradition to send our boys off with some words of wisdom. Luke, Aldo,” he nodded at both. “I’ve witnessed you grow from trouble-making kids to trouble-making teenagers. Now you’re grown men, and you still occasionally make trouble.”

Harper smiled at the laughter that bubbled around the table.

“But I couldn’t be prouder to know you both. You’re good men who lead with heart. You believe in loyalty, friendship, family. Thank you for your service and come home safe.” Charlie raised his glass. “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” everyone echoed, raising their glasses.

Luke squeezed her leg again and stood up. “Thanks, Dad. I’d just like to point out that we learned our trouble-making from you. I don’t usually do this toast thing, but I wanted to thank you all for your support. For us, leaving is never easy. But it eases our minds with all of you picking up the slack for us at home. I may not say it often enough, but I appreciate all of you and everything that you do.”

Luke laid a hand on Harper’s shoulder. “A lot of you know that Harper has made pre-deployment a lot easier for me at work. At home, she got dogs and furniture and generally brought a lot of chaos.” The group chuckled.

“We’ve talked a lot about what to do with me leaving, and we’ve decided that it’s for the best for us both if we go our separate ways.”

Harper stared at her lap and pretended not to hear the gasps.

Sophie, on her left, poked her under the table with her foot.

“Harper was on her way to Fremont when we met. And that’s where she’s headed in a week or two. She got some opportunities that she’s really excited about and I’m happy for her. She’s a great girl.” Luke paused awkwardly and Harper sneaked a peek around the table. Shock, disappointment, confusion.

“Geez, when you got up I thought you were going to propose to the girl,” Mrs. Moretta announced. No one laughed.

“W
ell that was horribly painful,” Luke said as he shut the driver’s door.

The dinner was over. Thankfully, most of the festive feeling had returned by the time dessert was served after Luke’s truth bomb, but it had been touch and go for a while. Harper patted his knee. “You did what needed to be done.”

“Did you see my mom’s face? I feel like I just kicked my way through a litter of puppies,” he groaned.

Harper laughed. “Poor baby. It’s fine. It’s over and you’ll never have to do it again. Everyone understands that we’re both fine with the decision. Sure, maybe they think we’re chicken for not trying to stick it out for Max and Lola.”

Luke pulled out of the restaurant’s lot and headed for home.

“They all thought I was going to propose and then I had to go and crush their dreams,” he sighed, running a hand over his head. “I feel like such an ass.”

“If it makes you feel better, I thought you were going to propose, too.”

“Very funny, brat.”

Harper snickered and patted his leg.

“So how do you feel?” Luke asked, changing the subject.

“About all this?”

He nodded.

Harper sighed. “Guilty, sad, worried. You name it and I feel it. How about you?”

Luke shrugged. “I don’t know. I worry about pushing you out the door and leaving you out there on your own.”

“I’m a big girl, Luke.”

“I know you are, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying about you.”

“There’s always a mix of excitement and anxiety involved with deploying. I’ve done it before, so it’s not so much the ‘unknowns’ as it is the ‘knowns.’”

“Like?” Harper asked.

“Like kids who never have enough to eat. Some of the people there who will never trust us. The sandstorms. The monotony. The danger. But then there are good things, too. My unit has a strong bond that comes from a kind of intense shared suffering.”

“And you’re in charge?”

Luke nodded. “Yeah, I’m the commanding officer of our infantry unit.”

“Is that a lot of pressure?”

“Not when we all work together and do what we’re supposed to do. I have a great group of men and women who, for the most part, make it all easier.”

Harper nodded. “What’s it like to come home? Does it feel like you’re living two different lives?”

“Sometimes it feels like it’s easier to deploy than to come home. You go from getting shot at and facing life and death decisions every day to trying to decide which burger to order off of the menu. It always takes a little while to remember that just because our families and friends aren’t at war, it doesn’t mean that how they live their lives is any less important.”

“So when you come home and someone is freaking out over getting a speeding ticket ...”

“Exactly,” he nodded. “Until you’ve faced extreme situations, it’s very easy to take things for granted and get worked up over things that won’t matter ever.”

“When you come home, how do you spend your first twenty-four hours?”

Luke grinned. “I sleep for most of them.”

Harper laughed. “So how would you like to spend your last few hours here?”

Luke’s hand on her knee tracked higher, dragging the material of her dress with it.

“It this a hint?” Willing to play, Harper spread her knees. Her dress hiked up high enough to reveal her white cotton briefs.

“Are you trying to distract me?” Luke teased. His finger trailed lazily over the edge of the material.

He might not love her, but he wanted her with an intensity that scared them both. And that was something.

Harper hooked her legs on either side of the seat. It was an invitation.

“Don’t you know it’s dangerous to distract the driver?” As he spoke, the pads of his fingers circled her folds through the cotton.

“Mmm,” Harper murmured.

Luke tugged the material to one side, baring her to him. This time his fingers met flesh.

“Jesus, baby, you’re already wet.”

Luke pulled into the driveway, tires squealing. “I want you inside,” he ordered.

Harper grabbed her bag and jumped out, hurrying up the walk. When she fumbled with the keys at the front door, he pressed against her. Harper shifted back to grind into him.

Luke pulled the halter tie of her dress loose and let her breasts tumble free into his hands. Harper shoved the front door open and dragged him across the threshold by his belt buckle.

He spun her around to face him and kicked the door shut behind him.

They were interrupted by Lola and Max charging down the hall to greet them.

“I’m putting them in the backyard. Meet me upstairs,” he breathed. “But leave your dress on. I’m going to undress you.”

Her pulse skittering out of control, Harper took the stairs two at a time. She had just enough time to pull the clip out of her hair and kick off her sandals before she heard Luke on the stairs.

When he appeared in the doorway, her heart flip-flopped in her chest. Luke approached her, yanking his sweater over his head.

“Damn you’re built,” Harper sighed.

“Baby, I was about to say the same thing.” His hands were on her now, skimming the sides of her bare breasts. I’ve been thinking about taking this dress off of you since you came downstairs wearing it.”

She shivered under his gentle touch. Her fingers flew over his belt buckle to open it. Luke stilled her hands with his and tugged the belt loose. He brought his hands to her face. “I’m taking my time with you tonight.”

Breathless, Harper nodded.

“You’re so beautiful, Harper.” His fingers trailed along her jawline to the back of her neck. Luke lowered his mouth to hers, and she gave herself up to the slow burn of the fire, melting into his arms.

His fingers burned blazing paths down her bare, igniting nerves with each caress.

He paused at her waist and slowly began to lower the dress over her hips, down her thighs, until it pooled in frothy puddle at her feet.

Dressed only in her underwear, Harper knelt before him and slid his pants down his muscled legs.

Standing only in boxer briefs, he was her chiseled hero.

She reached into the waistband and took his thick shaft in her hand. The head was already wet. Harper tugged his underwear down to his thighs. Leaning into him, she brought her lips to the broad head of his cock.

His fingers dug into her arm. “Harper.” He didn’t stop her, but his body tensed.

She opened her lips and slowly took him into her mouth inch by inch.

He made a noise like a groan and Harper knew she affected him the way he did her. Testing, she ran her tongue around the crest, flicking it over the small slit.

Her reward was a salty bead of moisture.

She licked it off of the tip.

“My God, Harper.”

It was all the encouragement she needed. She slanted her mouth over him and down. All the way to the back of her throat. His hips flexed, driving him farther into her mouth, and she gasped for breath.

She wrapped a hand around the root of his cock, and with mouth and fingers, she began an aggressive stroke.