Saving You (Love Wanted in Texas #2)(6)
Author: Kelly Elliott

Letting out a long sigh, I closed my eyes briefly and then opened them. “He acts like he doesn’t want to even talk to me sometimes. Then … then …” I threw my hands up in the air. “Then he goes off and pulls me out of his truck and dances with me in the rain. He almost kisses me, and the emotions start going crazy. And then bam, he pulls back! It’s like I can see it in his eyes, Mom, and then his eyes go dark and I see nothing.”

My mother smiled slightly and nodded her head. “You know, your father and I played a similar game. I was so in love with him, but I pushed him away. I pushed him into the arms of another woman.”

My mouth dropped open some. “What?” Her eyes filled with sadness as if she was thinking back to a memory.

“I was scared. I had lost my parents not long before that and I was afraid to open my heart to anyone, Libby. I mean, so afraid. I knew the moment I let your father in, something would pull him away from me.” She shook her head and looked down before looking back up at me. “Do you love him, Libby?”

Tears filled my eyes as I nodded my head. “I love him very much, Mom. So much it hurts.”

“Libby, I hope to God that you’ve saved yourself for the one person who truly deserves that gift.”

I could feel my face growing hotter, but I nodded my head and whispered, “I have.” My mother smiled sweetly and squeezed my hand.

“I made a mistake one night that I will forever regret. I don’t want you to make the same mistake. I wanted more than anything for my first time to be with your father, but sadly it wasn’t.” She looked away and took a moment before turning back to me and talking again. “Don’t be pushed by anger or hurt to do something you will regret. Make sure it’s something you want. I’m going to safely assume you’re wanting your first time to be with Luke?”

I slowly nodded my head and whispered, “Yes.”

My mother looked down and then let out a chortle before glancing back up to me. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Luke’s father was almost the same exact way. I can still hear Ari and him arguing with each other. Oh how the two of them pushed and pulled at each other. It was unreal.”

I smiled. “Really?”

My mother let out a laugh. “There were times I was sure Ari was going to kill Jeff. A stranger looking in would have thought they hated each other. Jeff did everything he could to push Ari away.”

I rolled my eyes. “Like father, like son.” My mother and I both started chuckling.

She let out a sigh as she said, “I guess so.”

My phone started ringing as I pulled it out of my pocket and saw Luke’s name. I showed it to my mother and she raised an eyebrow as she stood up. “I’d send his little ass to voicemail.”

I laughed and did just that. Putting my phone on silent, I got up and walked to my mother. I picked up the potato and started back to work peeling it. We spent the rest of the afternoon laughing and cooking as we got ready for Thanksgiving.

SLAMMING MY TRUNK, I let out a sigh as I looked at my mother and father. I smiled weakly. “I’m going to miss you both so much.” I felt the tears threatening to build as I bit down hard on my lip. My father walked up to me and pulled me in for one of his bear hugs. I felt so safe in my father’s arms. I was sure no other man would ever make me feel safe like this. I pulled back slightly. “I love you, Daddy.”

My father kissed my forehead and whispered, “I love you too, Libby. More than anything.”

I dropped my arms and turned to my mother. We both smiled as she held her arms open. The moment she pulled me to her, I started crying. “Mom, I’m so confused.”

She held me tighter as she whispered. “I know, baby girl. I know.” Daddy walked up and wrapped his arms around my mother and me.

The sound of a truck driving down the driveway caused me to take a step back and quickly wipe my tears away. I spun around and my heart dropped.

Luke.

I watched as Luke pulled up and parked behind my car. My mother placed her hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, “Talk to him, Libby.” I slowly nodded my head in acknowledgment.

Luke got out of his truck and I forced myself to not show what I instantly felt.

Lust. Want. Desire. Need. Him.

“Hey there, Luke. You ready to head back to school?” my father asked from behind me. Luke smiled and my knees wobbled just a bit.

“Yes, sir. The faster I get back, the faster the year ends.” He walked up next to me and reached out to shake my father’s hand. One quick glimpse down toward me and my heart dropped to my stomach. It was pounding so hard I was sure Luke would hear it. I turned my head and watched his every move as he spoke to my father. My eyes moved down to his Wrangler jeans that fit him just right. He had on a tight black T-shirt that clung to his body and showed off his chiseled abs. My eyes wandered down further as I smiled when I saw his cowboy boots. I moved my eyes back up to him and noticed his Texas A&M baseball cap. I moaned internally.

“We’re going to head inside. Libby, don’t leave without saying good-bye, sweetheart.”

My mother’s voice pulled me out of my trance as I quickly checked to be sure I hadn’t been drooling. Luke had always had an effect on me. Since I could remember, I was captivated by his smile—his laugh—his incredible muscular body.

“Um … I won’t, Mom,” I said with a weak smile as I looked at her smiling at me. She took my father’s hand and they began to walk up to the house.

I watched them until they disappeared behind the front door. I was wishing I could follow them. Luke cleared his throat and I looked down to the ground. “What’s up, Luke?”

He took a few steps back and leaned against my car as he let out a chuckle, forcing me to look up at him. I let out a soft sigh as I waited for him to tell me what he was doing here.

“I wanted to make sure you didn’t need a ride back to A&M,” he said with a smirk.

I narrowed my eyes at him and stared into his beautiful green eyes. Some days you couldn’t tell if his eyes were green or gray. It was one of the things I loved about him. If he was angry, I swore they turned gray. Luke had always told me I was crazy. His eyes were green and always stayed green. “I’ve told you three times I was taking my car back, Luke.”

He lifted the corner of his mouth into a melt-my-panties-on-the-spot smile. “You did?” he asked with a slight chuckle.

I crossed my arms over my chest and nodded my head. “Yes. Yes, I did.”