Will Be Yours Ch. 16

In the best possible way.

"You know, when you texted me this morning and said you were going to come in late, I didn't think so much about it. I just thought you were staying home, feeling lazy, or maybe feeling a little down, licking old wounds." Becky's lips twitched. "But that wasn't the case at all, was it? You were too busy licking Luke!"

"Quiet!" I poked her in the rib. "There are customers outside!"

"Uh-huh?" she raised an eyebrow. "See how it feels when you tease me?"

We laughed, and Becky hugged me tight. "But I'm happy that we finally have something to tease you about," she said, smiling. "All these years-"

"Becky, can we please forget the past few years?" I held her hands. "Luke and I are making a new beginning. We want to start afresh, leaving behind the bad things of the past."

"I told you yesterday that Luke believes in seizing the moment," she patted my cheek and then picked up a bunch of carnations that would go into an order we needed to deliver the next day. "If he hadn't turned up at your place unexpectedly, you'd still be mulling over your feelings."

"I guess I believe in the old school of thought, that the man must make the first move." I bunched my hair to a side and made a lose braid. "And I think I was also unsure of how he felt about me. I've never been the type to rush. I wanted to give both of us as much time as needed."

"I knew he feels differently about you when you told me about his weekend invitation," Becky's hands worked expertly on a bouquet while she kept talking. "And then, the way you look at each other..."

She fanned her face with her hand, making me look at her in surprise.

"What?" I frowned. "What is it about the way we look at each other?"

"Well, one of the days I saw you flirting with each other, I had to go home and take a cold shower." She gave me a fleeting glance. "The heat you two give out could start a blaze. Seriously."

I felt my cheeks flush even as I tried to be indifferent to her comments. Luke and I were indeed attracted to each other, but what had happened last night and that morning was more than just desire. For two people who had loved and lost, surrendering their bodies and souls to someone again required a great deal of strength and trust. My mother never found either the strength or the trust to open up to somebody again. No matter how much I wished she'd find a companion to share her joys and sorrows with, she remained alone. I was glad to be able to feel that trust with Luke, and I knew he felt it with me.

But I couldn't deny that I sure was looking forward to getting home. I didn't know what surprise Luke wanted to give me, but I did know that I would make love to him again. And this time it would be...

Hotter. Wilder. Wake-the-neighbourhood kind of stuff.

I used to be glad no one had noisy sex in my neighbourhood. Now it looked like I was going to negate the theory myself.

Becky looked at me when she heard me laughing softly. I was arranging a few sticks of amaryllis in a tall vase, but the smile refused to leave my face. I had never felt that kind of happiness. Not even with Sam.

The errant thought disturbed me. I left the vase and closed my eyes, my smile disappearing. I had freed my ghosts, and I had told Luke last night that I wouldn't think of the past again. Then why did Sam's thoughts come back to haunt me from time to time?

"What's wrong?" Becky left her chair and came up to me. "Why did your smile vanish?"

I opened my eyes and shook my head, keeping the finished vase in its designated place. Then I picked up a few red roses and pulled close to me the bouquet Becky had been working on. When I remained quiet, she softly squeezed my shoulder.

"You still think about your ex, don't you?" she asked quietly. I closed my eyes again for a brief moment, wishing she hadn't said that. I wanted a new life with Luke and forget all about my past.

"Cyn." She held my face between her palms and made me look at her. "Memories aren't a bad thing. Just make sure you don't let them affect your present. You have a special thing here. Don't let anything ruin it."

Despite myself, I found tears filling my eyes. I bit my lip to keep it from quivering, but Becky noticed. She put her arms around me in a comforting hug. I kept my head against her shoulder, the tears threatening to spill over.

"I gather that you must have gone through traumatic things in the past," she said, her tone understanding. "Things that still hurt you and make you cry. It's crazy how much a man can make a woman suffer. If someday I get that son-of-a-bitch within my reach, I will teach him a lesson."

I pulled away and swiped the edge of my eyes with a finger. Wiping the slick finger on my dress, I forced a smile.

"You don't have to do anything," I said, gently patting her arm. "Life is often the biggest teacher."

Once I had finished arranging the flowers in the small wicker basket, I took a final look at it. We got so many wedding orders that I had become adept at making even the most elaborate bouquets. Events like birthdays, baby showers, parties, and memorial services also brought in a major chunk of orders, and with Luke planning to give us a website, I hoped things would only get better.

"Luke is going to make a website for the shop," I found it important to share the news with Becky. "We may soon have an online portal."

"Oh my god!!" she screeched, recklessly grabbing my arms. "Really?"

"Yes. He's going to talk to the designers and start working on it soon. I just have to provide him with the details."

"I don't believe this," Becky pressed her hands to her cheeks in astonishment. "Luke is gifting you a website?"

"Us." I corrected her, rising from the chair. "It's thoughtful, isn't it?"

"It is!" she laughed. "Isn't it crazy we never thought of it? Just imagine the exposure we're going to get."

"It was Luke's sister's idea," I explained. "He found it too good to discard. I told him we wouldn't need it, but he still insisted."

"It's such a sweet gift!" She came up to me and propped her chin on my shoulder. "Hold on. Your small neighbourhood flower shop may not remain small anymore."

We shared a laugh while working on the bunch of dahlias. My mind kept going back to Luke and I wondered what he was up to. I couldn't wait to finish at the flower mart and head home. I heard Becky sigh and turned my face.

"What happened?" I asked. Becky shook her head.

"I wish my man could pick such useful gifts," she rued.

"Your man does pick some very useful gifts," I chuckled, referring to the vibrating thong he had once ordered for her online. Becky had been so overwhelmed when the surprise gift turned up at her door that she'd called me and screamed down the line. My ears still rang when I recalled that moment. For a long time after that, I hadn't been able to look at them together and not imagine the things they must have done with the gift.

"Geez, I know what you mean." Giggling, she picked up a bucket of dahlias to make a bunch. "Allen can be really naughty. He's a beast in the bedroom."

"The beast loves you like crazy," I pointed out.

"Just the way Luke loves you," she retorted with a chuckle.

"Only that you didn't take so long to realise your feelings."

"Actually, I did. I mean I knew I have feelings for him, but it wasn't before three months that I realised he was the one."

"And what clinched it?"

"The fact that he didn't give up. You know I have a very strong personality and all the other guys before him were like, 'Ok, you're mad, I cannot put up with this.' Allen not only put up with it but also fought back. It was like a slap on my face, but I realised if he respected me enough to not walk away, then he was definitely for keeps."

She laughed, flipping her hair around. "He sure deserves a medal for putting up with me. I'm sure there are times when he wonders who the hell let the Tasmanian devil loose in his house, but he's still here." She gave me a wink. "We might just tie the knot in a couple of years."

I could relate to it. My love for Luke had only got deeper when he accepted me without judgements and I realised that I could be fearlessly and unabashedly open with him. He was such a gentle, caring man that it was hard to believe he could be an expert lover as well. But oh, he had definitely given me the best comeback sex I could ever imagine.

The thought of last night made a strange tingling sensation run through my body. Thank goodness for the scarf around my neck or Becky would give me grief over the very visible marks Luke had kindly left me with. A smirk spread on my face as I dressed up the bunch of dahlias with nice foliage. I would pay him back with more marks tonight, in places he had no idea.

"So what plans for tonight?" Becky asked, as if reading my thoughts. "More awesome sex?"

"Luke said he wants to give me a surprise," I smiled, handing her the flowers. Then I leaned closer and whispered into her ear. "I have a surprise for him as well."

Becky laughed, before holding me by the arms. "You know what?" she said, "Life is not what we see in the movies. Reality sweeps you off your feet with nobody to catch. Most of the times, it will make you fall for people you mustn't fall for. It will drag you, make you bleed, and hurt you in ways you never knew possible."

She tied my loose scarf properly and smiled. "But the best kind of love is the one that completes you, makes you look forward to tomorrow without any fear, and heals all wounds... when you are ready to go through it all, just to wake up next to the person you love, to another beautiful morning, expecting nothing but a smile in return. That is what true love is all about― to make the ordinary seem extraordinary."

I knew what she meant. What I felt for Luke was different from all other feelings. Consummating our relationship had only made me more unafraid and liberated. I felt like a new person.

I hugged Becky, happiness flooding my heart. I couldn't thank the town and its people enough for the chance they had given me. After years of pain and guilt, I finally felt free. The town would be there for me, as would Luke. The love I had only dreamed of for so long was finally a reality in my life. And I was also happy to have helped Luke heal and move on with my love and companionship.

Together, we were whole.

"Cynthia, there's someone to see you," Leah called for my attention from the store front.

"I'll be there," I answered, thinking someone needed a consultation for a special kind of arrangement. I left the flowers to Becky and walked out of the room, but there was no one there.

"Who is it?" I asked her, looking around the shop. Leah pointed at the door, and I turned my gaze to find a raincoat-clad man standing right outside. When he removed his hood and looked at me, I felt my heart stop. For some unknown reason, I stared, unable to look away. And then realisation dawned on me, and fear gripped my being. The man took two steps inside the shop and made an attempt at a smile.

I froze, my breath catching.

"Sam?"

(To be continued)