Luke. What was she going to do now?
She was going to go home, that was it. So he sent her a postcard. Big deal. If he knew where she was why didn’t he contact her sooner?
Emily started her car, fully intending to turn right to take her back to the highway. Right, towards home, towards safety. Towards loneliness.
At the last second she steered hard to the left, and then into the parking lot of Central Valley Bike Repair.
“Excuse me.” A woman’s voice cut through the shop. “Did someone here mail me a postcard?”
Luke looked up from his computer, and his mouth fell open.
Emily.
She stood in the doorway of his shop looking like an angel. He looked her over from head to toe, her blonde hair, bright blue eyes, her button nose, and those curves of hers. She was wearing a dress, a white and blue floral number that highlighted her eyes, her pale skin, and her luscious legs.
Here was an Emily ten years older, more polished, gorgeous, sexier.
Luke pulled himself together and closed his mouth. He was acting like a high school kid. Smooth. He needed to be smooth. He smiled widely. “Glad you got it.”
She nodded her head.
“Well, um, thanks. I’ve got to go.”
Go? She just stepped in. Luke stood quickly. “Wait! I mean, you just got here. I’d love to catch up with you.”
She seemed nervous. Well, not half as nervous as he was. His heart sped up looking at her. “I really—”
“There’s a little coffee shop next door. I’m buying. Come on, one cup of coffee wouldn’t hurt, would it?” He flashed her his best grin.
“No, I guess not.” She smiled at him and his heart nearly stopped.
“Guys,” he called out. “I’m taking a break.” He didn’t hear them reply and he didn’t care. Emily walked ahead of him a couple paces out of the shop but then stopped, looking at him for direction. He pointed to the right, and she followed across the parking lot. At the cement divide between his lot and the next, she stumbled and he took her arm and steadied her as she tottered on her high heels. He almost didn’t let go of her arm, but she pulled away from him.
“It’s really good to see you.” He couldn’t stop himself from staring at her.
“Same,” she replied.
Hell, she wasn’t giving anything away. He wanted to know all about her, what happened after the accident. Wh
y she didn’t try to see him.
They arrived at the coffee shop, and Luke navigated them to the counter. “What do you want?” He wished he could say so much more. Like, ‘You're beautiful, you’re sexy, where the hell have you been for the past ten years?’
“Just a cup of black,” she spoke, barely above a whisper. “Small.”
“Okay. Wanda, a small black and my usual.”
“Sure thing, Luke.”
Wanda handed them the coffees, Emily’s small black and Luke’s extra large with sugar and cream.
“How about here?” Luke pointed as he led her to a small table by the window.
“Sure.”
They sat and Luke looked at her. “You look great,” he said finally.
“Thanks, so do you.”