Luke's Lake

Chapter 2

After taking another cold shower and dressing Lorelai was hungry so decided to have breakfast at Luke's, to see if she felt anything. Walking into an almost deserted diner 10 minutes later she went to the table by the window, the one with the great view. Taking off her work jacket she placed it over the back of the chair along with her bag but it fell to the floor. 'Good going' she thought as she bent down to pick it up.

Just at that moment Luke came out of the kitchen balancing several plates on his arms, seeing Lorelai bent over and wearing a short flippy tennis skirt made Luke loose his grip on the plates sending them crashing to the floor. Lorelai looked between her legs to see Luke and the mess, standing up to see Luke move back behind the counter.

"You okay boss." Ceaser said calling from the kitchen door.

"Yes, can you just do this order this again." He yelled before mumbling under his breath as he walked to the storeroom for his mop and bucket. Taking a minute he closed his eyes to calm down and take a few breaths but that didn't help. Once closed images of Lorelai naked on her bed played back in his mind, images that he was trying to suppress all morning since he left her house were now back and in full color, with the real life Lorelai in his diner wearing that flippy skirt, while he didn't actually see anything he had now see a number of times before he didn't need to his mind was working overtime.

Bought back to reality by a knock Luke opened the storeroom door. "Are you okay." The brunette said, this was the last person Luke needed to see right now. This could quite easily turn into a 'Dear Penthouse' type of encounter. Pushing the thoughts aside he quickly picking up the bucket of cleaning supplies and strategically holding it in front of him.

"I'm fine, one of hazards running a diner." He said covering his feelings as he grabbed the mop and pushing past Lorelai. Picking up the broken plates Luke called for his off sider. "Ceaser."

"Yes boss." He said from the kitchen.

"How those orders going." He said sounding a little mad.

"Coming right up boss." Ceaser said with his usual enthusiasm.

Lorelai stood by Luke who was on his hands and knees. "Coffee please." She asked.

"Sit down and I'll get to you in a minute." Luke said, trying his best not to look at her long legs just a foot from his face.

Lorelai sat still concerned by Luke's behaviour she watched him clean up the mess, sitting facing Luke with her legs crossed she caught Luke's eyes watching her legs before quickly focusing on the floor again. Which made her smile a little.

Coming back from the storeroom Luke went strait to the coffee maker, filled a cup with the dark liquid bringing it over to a waiting Lorelai. Gratefully taking the cup Lorelai took a sip.

"Just as good as this mornings." She said with a smile.

"You want to place your order now, I've got a diner to run." Luke said still a little upset, but Lorelai didn't know why.

"Okay keep you pants on." She said jokingly.

"Order now or prepare for half a grape fruit and oatmeal." He said sternly as she looked at his not pad.

"Jack omelette with extra Swiss and a side of bacon." Starting to get annoyed by Luke's behaviour. The order came and she ate it without speaking another word, Luke kept to himself behind the counter checking recites and cleaning.

Standing up Lorelai went to pay handing Luke the money. "I hope your day gets better." She said with a smile before leaving the dinner. Luke kicked himself why did he act this way it wasn't Lorelai fault he shouldn't have looked in her room, maybe he shouldn't have gone over to watch the movies.

"Ceaser I'll be right back." He yell as he ran to catch Lorelai, opening the door he called. "Lorelai."

She stopped and turned, Luke stopping just short of running in to her. "Sorry." He said coughing as he was out of breath from his short run.

Looking into his eye's once Luke straitened up. "It's okay, we all have bad days."

"No I shouldn't have taken it out on you after last night." He wanted to come clean but chickened out.

Lorelai put her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay Luke."

"So we're fine?" He asked.

"Yes." She said with a smile.

"Okay." Taking a moments. "Come back in, we can talk and you can mock me about dropping the food."

"I'd love to but I have plans with Rory, I need to pick her up from Lane's." Waving her hands and arms to show off her outfit.

"Tennis?" He question.

"Tennis?" Lorelai was puzzled for a second. "No shopping, I just like this skirt."

"Well you look good." He said before realising what he had said.

"Well thank you kind sir." Lorelai said trying to cover her blushing.

The flirting not going unnoticed by Luke. "Come back later then." He couldn't stop himself.

"Try and stop me mister." She replied smiling, Luke thought she looked nice, well the skirt made her legs look fantastic today even if she was wearing her sneakers and no heels, so why wouldn't he say that. The comments made Lorelai blush and a little warm. She started to walk away before getting too hot, as she didn't have time for another shower before getting Rory.

Later that evening Lorelai decided to go back and see Luke after spending the day with Rory at the mall and watching several of the crappier movies out. She changed into some tight jeans with boots her Bono t-shirt and brown leather jacket. Lorelai noticing a certain green truck parked out the front, Luke usually only did that if he was about to go somewhere and soon.

The bell rang as she opened the diner door, it was busy with the dinner crowd Luke was serving and look much happier, even smiling she noticed as she sat on the stool next to the cash register. She pulled out a menu, something she didn't do often as she had memorized anything she was likely to order over the years. Lorelai even managed to get away with ordering meals not even on the menu, something that others customs didn't dare do.

"Nice day with Rory." Luke asked, Lorelai jumping at his presents.

"Coffee, junk food, shopping and movies." She smiled. "Perfect day out."

Luke saw she was holding his menu. "What are you doing." Luke said in his usual monotone, which Lorelai suddenly found very sexy.

"Just wanted something different." As she perused the menu.

"Nothing has changed in there in 5 years." He said in his dryly tone.

"Maybe it should?" She said with a smile.

"I'll take it under advisement."

"Make me something Luke." She said resting her elbows on the counter cupping her face in her hands as she made eyes at Luke.

"Why don't I make you a special burger." Smiling as he leaning on the counter in front of Lorelai.

"How special?" She said as they got closer.

"Maybe something with a face?" Luke said.

"Sounds a little creepy but I can't wait." She said touching the bare skin of Luke upper arm sending a spark between them.

Luke smiled before realising how close they were and pulling back, taking his hands off the counter Luke gesturing pointing towards the kitchen to make her burger. "I'll just."

"Coffee first." Lorelai said.

"Of course." Luke replied with a slight chuckle, quickly filling a mug and placing it on the counter before going to the kitchen.

He stood at the fridge for a minute to again clear his mind. She touched me he thought, but she had done that before, what had changed? Nothing she didn't know what happened this morning, she doesn't know I saw her naked, he thought. She is just my friend, nothing more. Besides I have the divorce to finalise and can't think of Lorelai like this, not yet. His mind raced.

Coming back with her food 10 minutes later, Luke pointed to the 'no cell phone' sign.

"It's Rory." She whispered to Luke, holding the phone out to Luke.

Putting the plates down as he said "Hello Rory" slightly louder than needed. Lorelai said her goodbyes and closed the phone dropping it in her bag.

"What's this?" She says looking at the plate of food Luke has made her.

"It's a burger."

"I can see but it has feet." Poking at her food. "And a head, you made a turtle out of my food."

"Well it's different and special." Just like you, he was thinking but dared not say.

Lorelai ate her food as they chatted, like good friends the awkwardness of the morning was gone for the time being.

Lorelai handed Luke some money as she got up. "So how about another movie night next weekend, you can pick the movie."

"Can't, I'm be busy." He had to think quick, after the night before there was no way he could risk it again, so soon.

"Busy what with?" She asked putting on her jacket.

"Um, just stuff."

"Luke that's no answer, I mean unless you didn't like movie night."

Luke couldn't say no but needed to say something. "Divorce stuff."

Lorelai sat back down. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't."

"Yeah well, it's a whole thing I need to drive to Litchfield, see some lawyers, it's a whole production." He said wiping down the counter.

"Alright then another time." She sounded a little sorry as she picked up her purse.

"Sure, another time." Luke also sounded down, he didn't want to hurt Lorelai but for now it was best to do it this way.

Over the next week Lorelai only saw Luke a couple of times, she kept missing him at the diner and he didn't have time for another movie night, they were both very busy. She had noticed his truck out front of the diner a lot more and Luke was gone more than ever. Damn that Nicole she thought, was she jealous? But the divorce would be final soon, she thought with a smile.

Sunday evening Lorelai was leaving Dooses with a bag of shopping, mostly junk food when she saw Luke's truck pull up, he had told her the day before he would be seeing the lawyer that day so would be out most of the day. Just as she was going to call out to him she noticed Luke was in his usual flannel and Jeans, and not dress to see his lawyer. Luke went to the back of his truck pulling out his fishing gear, which he always kept at the apartment. Had Luke been fishing all day, did he lie to her, was he trying to avoid her?

Going back home she could not stop thinking about Luke, she needed to know why he had lied, maybe he had taken someone fishing, maybe Nicole. God maybe they were not getting a divorce and Luke was using the lawyer as cover while they made up.

During the next week she had tried to talk to Luke but he said the same, he would be busy all weekend and could not come over for movie night. So Lorelai woke up early Saturday morning, using a dozen alarm clocks as Rory would be at Yale this weekend and not there to wake her. Lorelai did not tell her daughter about her plans knowing she would likely talk her out of them.

No time for a shower she thought as she rushed to put on some jeans and a white blouse left partly unbuttoned stopping with just a hit of her black lacy bra showing, sexy but not slutty. Picking her comfortable sneaker and some padded socks as she didn't know how long she would be following Luke or how it would go and this was not a time for heels.

Quickly making a thermos of coffee and toasting some pop-tarts Lorelai grabbed her leather backpack, which she had packet with some essentials and grabbed her jacket and locked the house.

She was planing to follow Luke at a discrete distance and just see where he was going and why he was keeping it a secret from her. She wasn't stalking him, she thought. She was a concerned friend. Telling Sookie and others she would be busy all day and for them to call her cell, if they needed her.

Jumping in the Jeep Lorelai turned the key to find the battery dead, damn that porch light she thought! Okay plan B would have to do, thinking on her feet as she had no plan B Lorelai ran to the diner, well walked very quickly and a few minutes later out of breath made it to the gazebo. Hiding Lorelai could see the familiar green truck parked out front, Luke was putting things in the back under a tarp. As Luke went back into the diner Lorelai took a chance, sprinting across the deserted town square she chucked her bag in then climbed in the back getting under the tarp. There was not turning back now.

TBC…