Title: A Wedding Story, Chapter 3 - Trapped

Author: Gluglug

Spoiler Warning/Timing: Late Fourth Season

Rating: PG-13

Summary: His sister's impending wedding leads Luke to make some decisions about his own life. SPOILER WARNING

Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.

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Lorelai sat down on a stool in the kitchen and leaned her elbows on the food prep table. She put her head in her hands, not quite believing Luke's reaction to their little show for Shel. So what, she was just having a little fun, what harm could it do?

Then she remembered what it felt like to have Luke's arms around her waist. She could tell that he was getting a little worked up himself, his body warm against hers, well at least a particular part of his body anyway...

"Earth to Lorelai!" A voice snapped Lorelai out her reverie.

"Oh Sookie, I didn't hear you come in."

"I called your name three times! What's going on? And what happened with Shel?"

"What did he tell you?"

"He said that I should let him know next time if I'm going to set him up with someone who's obviously taken. I told him that I didn't know what he was talking about and asked him to elaborate but he just muttered something about Luke and left."

"Well, I didn't ask you to set us up Sookie, you kind of trapped me!"

"I did not trap you! I just wanted to introduce you to someone nice. It was up to you whether or not you wanted to go out with him. And what did he mean when he mentioned Luke?"

"I don't know, maybe Shel got it into his head that Luke and I were an item."

Sookie folded her arms and eyed her best friend suspiciously. "And where did he get an idea like that?"

"Um, from me?" Lorelai said weakly.

"This sounds interesting. Spill!" Sookie demanded.

Lorelai recalled what happened in the kitchen earlier as Sookie listened intently.

"....But the weirdest part was Luke's reaction to the whole thing. He got so mad and got all paranoid, thinking that Nicole would find out. He said I shouldn't treat him like my personal boy toy!"

Sookie laughed. "I'm sorry, but did Luke actually say the words 'boy toy?" I can't picture that!"

"He did indeed, and I'm having a hard time picturing it myself. Then he just collected his tools and said he was done with the sink and left. I tried to apologize but he wouldn't hear it."

"Well, honey, I hate to say it but I can see where Luke's coming from. He is a married man, after all. You can't just invade his personal space and expect him to play along."

"But he did play along, Sookie. He didn't seem to mind it one bit when I was touching him in front of Shel. I think he was getting um, how do I say this? Aroused." Lorelai blushed.

"And how do you feel about this?"

"What are you, a shrink? I don't know, I just thought it was funny. I kind of liked having that effect on him. Embarrassing Luke is always fun."

"Well, I think I know why he's mad." Sookie asserted.

"Do tell!"

"Lorelai, you do treat Luke like your personal boy toy or at least an errand boy sometimes. He's always here fixing stuff, he helped us out with the loan, and he's always there when you ask him for help. He doesn't ask for much in return but I'm sure he wants respect, not be put on display. And you know he's always had a thing for you...."

"Oh Sookie, stop it. Like you said, he's married."

"Yeah, but do see Nicole around town much? And when she's here, all they do is fight. And I've never seen him wear a wedding band."

"No, I guess he doesn't."

"Luke's all confused. He's married to one woman but he's got a thing for you. You got him all flustered and out of control and he hates that. No wonder he reacted that way."

"But I always do that, and he usually doesn't bite my head off. Sookie, what should I do? We still need him to help out around here if we want the Inn to open on time."

"I think you should just give him time to cool down. Don't go to him and ask for more favors, he'll just get mad again. He'll come around, just give him some space."

Lorelai sighed. "I guess you're right. So, you really think Luke still has a thing for me?"

"Definitely. It cooled down a little when he started seeing Nicole last year but lately I've noticed that it's back - big time. I see him watching you when you're not looking."

"When does he watch me?"

"All the time, he sneaks glances when you're on the phone or talking to Tom or whatever."

Lorelai thought she might be creeped out by Sookie's observations but instead the idea of Luke's eyes constantly on her warmed her from head to toe.

"Lorelai, you're blushing." Sookie giggled. "You like Luke!"

"I do not!" Lorelai protested weakly.

"Oh come on, Lorelai. I'm your best friend. I know you. You've always liked him but you used to do a better job of pretending. You just asked me if he still has a thing for you, which implies that you've always thought so, but now you actually want to know!"

"All right, maybe lately I've thinking more about Luke in a more-than-just- friends-kind-of-way." Lorelai relented.

"Wow! It's taken you five years to admit that to me, it's about time!" Sookie celebrated.

"Yeah, progress is a bitch isn't it?" Lorelai groaned. "Speaking of bitches, what about Nicole?"

"Meow! What about her?"

"Well, Luke's married to her. I can't make a real move on him while he's still legally bound to her."

"No you can't. But I have a feeling that Luke will wake up and smell the coffee, pardon the pun, soon."

"So, I'm just supposed to sit around and wait for him to get off his cute butt and divorce her?"

"It's all you can do. Besides, Luke's been sitting on that cute butt for years waiting for you to notice him."

"So, not only is progress a bitch, so is payback."

"Sorry." Sookie replied. "Anyway, I think it's time to get back to work."

"Yeah, I have another stable hand to interview. So many hunks, so little time." Lorelai giggled.

"Hey, can we switch jobs?" Sookie joked and they left the kitchen.

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Luke was back in the diner during the pre-dinner lull. He was waiting for Lane to come in to start her shift so he took the down-time to unload some shipments in the storage room. As he opened the boxes and started putting various jars and cans away, his earlier anger at Lorelai reappeared.

He still couldn't believe her nerve. Lorelai always liked to fluster and tease him, whether it was in front of that real estate agent who thought they were a couple or when she and Sookie gleefully talked about his butt at the old inn. But this time was different, he felt like a deer in the headlights, paralyzed while Lorelai had her way with him. He felt like a prostitute, plain and simple.

Then he remembered what it felt like to have her pressing against him. She must've known what effect she was having on him, didn't she? And the way she looked at him when she thanked him. Luke had always dreamed that she would look at him that way, but to her it seemed to be a joke.

He was one big joke to her. That's why he was so angry. No matter what he did for her, the loan, the earrings, or helping her lug a stupid mattress from New Haven to Stars Hollow and back again, Lorelai Gilmore thought he was a joke. And it hurt.

That was it, he'd had enough. He went out to the front room of the diner, grabbed the phone and dialed.

"Hey, Nicole, it's me. Let's have dinner tonight.....no, I'll bring some takeout from the diner and let's meet at our place.....see ya at 7."

TBC

A/N: For the reviewer who wanted to know what were real spoilers, here's the deal: Liz's engagement to TJ and the scene with Shel are spoilers. Everything else is my imagination ; )