A/N: Okay, this is it. You didn't seriously think I could be assigned an episode titled 'Back in the Saddle Again' and not save the saddle reference for the chapter in which they get nekkid, did you? Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. I hope that you liked it!
Saddle Up!
Lorelai left work early the following afternoon, too antsy to concentrate on what needed to be done at the inn, her head too full of thoughts of Luke, and what needed to be done before he came over. She pulled into the driveway to find Dean washing Rory's car, and sighed heavily. She ordered him away from the car, demanding that he drop the squirty thing where he stood, and led him into the kitchen. There, she proceeded to gently try to convince Dean that the best thing that he could do to hang onto Rory was to give her some space. Dean seemed unconvinced that his ardent pursuit could be a part of the trouble that they were currently having.
"Space?" he asked, doubtfully.
"Just a little," she cautioned.
Dean frowned and asked, "Like what? Like don't call her, don't see her?"
Lorelai shook her head and said, "No, just let her breathe, let her relax, let her come to you for a change."
"You're not telling me this to get rid of me, are you?" he asked suspiciously.
Lorelai laughed and shook her head. "Please, if I was trying to get rid of you I would've started this conversation with, 'Let me tell you about my family'. I'm not telling you this to get rid of you, I'm telling you because I think it might help things between you guys. Just try it. If it doesn't work, I promise you can wash my car, too," she added with a kind smile.
Dean nodded slowly and said, "Okay."
"Do you want a soda?" Lorelai offered.
Dean shook his head as he stood up and said, "No, thanks. I'm gonna go. Uh, don't tell Rory I was here, okay?"
Lorelai smiled up at him and answered, "Hey, I'm just sitting here at the table talking to myself. Again."
"Thanks."
Lorelai's smile faded into a thoughtful frown as he escaped out of the back door. "Bye Dean," she called after him, and then stared blankly as the curtain over the back door window swished into place.
She stared at the frilly edge of the curtain, her thoughts of Dean and Rory quickly becoming jumbled with thoughts of Luke. And Max. And Christopher. All of the men in her life who could have been the man in her life. Lorelai ran her thumb over a scar in the old wooden table, a remnant of one of Rory's long past school projects, and tried to sort out exactly what had made her run from Max. What exactly was it that made her cling so hard to the thought of Christopher. And why she knew deep in her heart that it would never have worked with either of them. She replayed the meltdown that she had with Sookie over and over in her head, trying to pinpoint precisely what it was that had convinced her that she could no longer push her feelings for Luke aside.
Lorelai jumped at the sound of a soft knock on the kitchen door. She stood up, steadying herself with one hand on the table as she struggled to clear her head, and then walked over to open the door, half expecting to find Dean on the other side. When she saw Luke standing in front of her wearing clean jeans and the soft black sweater she had picked out for him the previous spring, she took an involuntary step back.
"Hi," he said simply. "Did you know that your hose was stretched all across the yard? You shouldn't leave it like that."
"No, you're right," she murmured, staring at him with a puzzled expression.
"I rolled it up and turned off the water," he told her, cocking his head as he tried to read the expression on her face.
"Oh, come in," Lorelai said distractedly. As he stepped past her, she caught a whiff of his aftershave, something woodsy and light, not musky and overly cloying. She noted that his hair was still slightly damp, curling invitingly at the nape of his neck, tempting her to touch it. She closed the door after him and said, "Hi, um, hi," as she turned back to him, twisting her fingers together to keep from reaching out for him.
"Hey. I came around back. I didn't know if Babette was around…" he trailed off watching as she moved around the kitchen, straightening things that didn't need to be straightened, leaving things that clearly needed straightening untouched. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly as he noted her jerky movements.
"I'm fine," Lorelai said quickly as she opened the refrigerator. "Do you want something to drink? We actually have sodas. But you probably don't drink soda. At least, I've never seen you drink one. I have water," she rambled as she reached for a bottle of water and then held it up to show it to him.
"Lorelai," Luke started to say.
"I can heat water. I think we have some tea bags," she said as she put the bottle of water back on the shelf and let the refrigerator door slam shut. She hurried to the stove and lifted the kettle from the burner, moving to the sink to fill it, keeping her back to him.
"Hey," Luke called to her. When her head lifted, but she didn't turn around, he shoved his hands deep into his jeans pockets and said, "We don't have to, you know… I mean, I don't expect…"
Lorelai shut the water off and exhaled loudly as she lowered the kettle into the sink. "I think I'm in love with you," she said quietly.
"What?" Luke asked, taking one step closer to her, but then stopping as he took in the rigid set of her shoulders.
Lorelai turned slowly and said, "I'm pretty sure that I am." She offered him a shaky smile and said, "Sorry, it didn't come out quite as, uh, forcefully as yours did." When he stared at her open-mouthed, Lorelai's smile grew more certain as the pieces finally fell into place. She leaned back against the sink and said, "Dean was here today. Washing Rory's car. We had a little talk, and it got me thinking."
"Okay," Luke answered, releasing the breath that had been trapped in his lungs.
"I couldn't marry Max. He said he loved me, he may have been amused by me, but he was also annoyed by the way I work. I don't know, the way I chose to live my life may have fascinated him, but it certainly baffled him. He just didn't get it. Get me," she told him. "And Christopher, well, you heard all of that," she said as she laughed ruefully. "Maybe I was waiting for him to grow up. Maybe I was clinging to that dream of the perfect nuclear family thing, but not because I loved him. I mean, I'll always love him for giving me Rory, but I'm not in love with him. I know, I've always known, and that he just couldn't give me what I needed," Lorelai confessed, watching his reaction carefully. "Its nuts. One guy who, on paper at least, should have been perfect; another guy who should have been the one to fulfill both of our hopes and dreams. Mine and Rory's, I mean. Not yours," she babbled.
When Luke remained silent, she forged on ahead. "The day that you told me you loved me, God, was that just two days ago?" she wondered aloud. She shook her head in wonder and said, "I went into the kitchen and had my little breakdown, and now that I think about it, I realize that all of the reasons that I gave Sookie for not being with you had nothing to do with my feelings for you." She took a step closer to him, closing the distance between them as she reached out and placed her hand over his hammering heart. "I never once said that I didn't want to be with you. All I could think about was the fact that you called it out. I wasn't sure if it was time, but you put it out there, and I wasn't prepared for it. I always thought that I would have time to prepare for it," she murmured as she looked up into his eyes.
"Lorelai," Luke began to say.
She shook her head, pressing her fingertips to his lips to stop him. "I don't want a man who's only good on paper. I don't want a man who is made out of dreams. I want a real man, one who is always there for me, and for Rory. One that I can trust, that I know loves me, loves us," she said vehemently. "Deep down, I knew it was going to happen, me and you, and that scared me. I don't want to ever hurt you, or even disappoint you."
When he kissed her fingertips lightly, she smiled and lowered her hand. "You get me. You may be amused or annoyed by me, but you get me. And, you have always been there. For me. For Rory. You have never let us down." She looked into his dark blue eyes and said softly, "You are the real deal. I'm in love with you. And, I hope to God that I don't screw this up, because it's always been there, and I don't know how I'll go on without it, without you, if I do."
"You won't screw it up. I won't let you," Luke said in a husky voice.
"Promise?"
"I promise," he answered confidently. "Tell me again, Lorelai."
A faint blush colored her cheeks as she glanced down at her fingers, nervously plucking at his sweater. She looked up and found him waiting patiently, just as he had always been. "I'm in love with you," she whispered.
His lips twitched as he fought to hold back his smile. He wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her firmly. "Like you mean it," he ordered hoarsely.
"I love you, Luke," Lorelai said in a stronger voice. His smile was breathtaking, teeth flashing white as his eyes crinkled. She reached up, tracing the laugh line that bracketed his mouth with her fingertip. "Happy now?" she asked in a softly teasing voice.
"Unbelievably," Luke answered as he lowered his mouth to hers, trapping her hand against his chest. He kissed her sweetly, his lips brushing over hers before melting into them, his hand caressing her temple and smoothing her hair back from her face.
Lorelai pulled back, her fingers curling into his sweater as she flashed him a blinding smile. "What you said earlier, about, you know," she said as she glanced meaningfully down at their bodies pressed together. "You were wrong, we do have to," she said as she looked at him boldly. "As a matter of fact, I think it's required."
Luke's lips twisted into a wry smile. "Well, I woulda been lying if I'd said I wouldn't be disappointed."
Lorelai gasped and stepped back, her hand sliding down his arm to take his. She laced her fingers through his and said, "Well, I can't have that. I never want to disappoint you," as she turned and began to lead him to the stairs. She hooked her arm behind her back and smiled at him over her shoulder as they started up the stairs.
Lorelai counted each step in her head, listening to the sound of his boots on the treads, her heart beating faster and faster as they reached the top. She paused as she glanced into her room and said, "I meant to come home and clean up. Maybe find a candle or two," she added with a nervous flick of her wrist.
Luke freed his hand from hers and then wrapped both arms around her, pulling her back against his chest. He nuzzled the side of her neck, pushing her hair aside and kissing the shell of her ear softly. "You don't need candles, and I probably wouldn't have recognized your room if you had cleaned it," he murmured in her ear.
"I wanted it to be special," she whispered, covering his hands with hers.
Luke loosened his hold on her and gently placed his hands on her hips, turning her to face him in the doorway. He stared down at her and asked, "You think it isn't special enough that you just told me that you love me? Do you really think I want or need anything more than that?"
"I just meant…" she trailed off as he shook his head slowly.
"You're all I want. This is all I need. You and me. Rory," he told her earnestly as he brushed the back of his fingers over her cheek. "I'm not a real, uh, romantic guy, Lorelai. I probably won't say or do the right things at the right times," he said with a slight shrug. "But I will tell you, as clearly as I can," he added with a teasing smile. "I love you. I want to be in your life. I want to be that guy, the real guy. To be there for you and for Rory, that's all I want." He kissed her gently and then asked in a throaty whisper, "Will you let me be that guy?"
"You already are," Lorelai answered as she framed his face with her hands, kissing him passionately. She wound her arms around his neck and pressed the length of her body to his. They parted, their breathing labored with desire and anticipation. "I believe you promised me some action," she whispered as he nuzzled her gently, brushing his lips over hers, breathing in her perfume, running his hands through her hair.
"You gonna let me in the room?" he asked with a low chuckle.
"I'm gonna insist on it," Lorelai answered as she stepped back, pulling him into her bedroom with her.
Luke began to peel the tight black leather jacket from her shoulders, his eyes locked on her face, waiting and watching for some sign of hesitation in her eyes, but finding only welcome there. The jacket fell to the floor, and he quickly began to unbutton her blouse, his breath washing over her lips, the heat of his body radiating through his sweater. Using the palms of his hands, he parted the blouse, smoothing it from her shoulders as he captured her lips again. His kiss was swift and sure, his tongue taking possession of hers as he groaned deep in his throat. His hands were everywhere, stroking her back, caressing her ribs, absorbing the feel of her soft flesh. He tore his mouth from hers, and gasped for air. "So long," he murmured as he stared down at her intently. "I've wanted you for so long," he confessed.
"You have me now," Lorelai replied. Her hands found the hem of his sweater and began to work it up over his stomach. "And I have you."
Luke stepped back, allowing her to strip the sweater over his head, and watching with eyes heavy with desire as she ran her hands over his chest, stroking the soft hair as she drank him in with frank admiration. "Good God," she muttered in disbelief before pressing her lips to his neck. She bit him gently, and when he flinched a little, she smiled against his skin and said, "That's what you get for keeping all of this hidden under fifteen pounds of flannel."
Luke chuckled and said, "Yeah, well, you like surprises."
"I do," Lorelai said as she let her hands glide over the broad expanse of his shoulders. She smiled as she saw Luke's eyes fall to her breasts still encased in pale blue lace, and lowered her hands to the waistband of her pants. Without taking her eyes from his, Lorelai unbuttoned them and lowered the zipper as she stepped out of her shoes. She smoothed the material down over her thighs and stepped free of it as it pooled at her feet. She looked up as she straightened, watching his reaction as he took in the matching panties. "You like?"
Luke snapped out of his daze and reached for her, walking her two steps back to her unmade bed and kissing her hard and hot as he pressed her back onto the mattress, covering her with his body. "I love," he rasped as he blazed a trail of urgent kisses down the side of her neck. "Oh God, I love," he murmured as he pushed back, looking down at her prone beneath him. His breath escaped him in a rush as he pushed back onto his knees, bent his head and lowered his mouth to her breast. He drew the lace covered nipple into his mouth and sucked fervently, his hands cupping her, squeezing her with barely restraint ardor.
"Oh!" Lorelai cried as she arched off of the mattress, grasping his head and pressing into him. Her hips jerked with each insistent tug of his mouth. Luke ran one hand down over her stomach, his fingertips teasing the top of her panties as he moved to lavish the same attentions on her other breast. "Off. Take it off," Lorelai demanded.
"In a minute," Luke murmured against the soft curve of her breast. He teased her nipple through the lacy fabric, closing his eyes as a strangled moan escaped her lips, and she thrust up off of the mattress, desperate for him to touch her.
"Luke, please," she panted. Luke obliged, covering the hardened tip of her with his warm mouth as his fingers danced lightly over her panties. Unable to resist the heat, he lowered his hand, covering her with his palm, and groaning loudly as he began to stroke her through her panties, feeling the rasp of the lace glide over her slick folds. "Yes," she hissed between her teeth, pressing her head into the pillow and pressing into his hand. "Off," she gasped again.
"I need to, I want to slow down," Luke said raggedly as he pressed his lips to the valley between her breasts.
"No slowing, no time," she whispered urgently.
"I don't want, I want it to last," Luke answered, trailing a line of kisses down her stomach.
Lorelai reached down and grasped his head between her hands, forcing him to look up at her. Her breathing was shallow and fast as she whispered, "We don't have time. Another time, please, I need you."
"And I finally have you. I'm not about to rush it," Luke said as he pressed his open mouth to the soft skin just above her panties. "We have a little time," he insisted as he began to move lower. He parted her thighs with his hands, his eyes seeking hers and finding them clouded with arousal. He pressed his lips to her, teasing the lace with the tip of his tongue, and smiled when she instinctively rose to meet him.
Luke teased her, alternating ardent kisses with the barest brushes of his lips and tongue over the material, groaning deeply as he drew the lace into his mouth and sucked her juices from it. "Oh God, now, now," Lorelai cried out as she fisted her fingers in his hair.
Luke lifted his head, looking up at her boldly as he asked softly, "Now?"
"Now," she answered.
Luke rose up on his knees, watching her closely as he reached to unclasp the front hook of her bra. He gently peeled the lace from each breast, bending to kiss each one in turn. "So beautiful," he murmured, unable to resist drawing on of the dusky pink buds into his mouth and laving it. He kissed his way back down her stomach once more, hooking his fingers into the edge of her panties, and dragging them with almost painful deliberation down over her hips. He pulled them over her legs, and dropped them to the floor at the foot of the bed before he slid off of the end and stood staring down at her.
Lorelai's cheeks colored as she shifted slightly, but fought the urge to cover herself as she lay bare before him. Luke's lips curved into a sheepish smile as he bent down and quickly unlaced his boots. He toed them off, stripping his socks of quickly and then straightened again to find her smiling with barely contained amusement. "Stupid shoes," he muttered as he reached for the buckle on his belt.
"Things do get in the way," Lorelai answered. When she saw the flush in his cheeks, she grinned and raised herself up on her elbows to watch the show. "Take it off. Take it allll off, baby," she teased.
Luke rolled his eyes and he unbuttoned the fly of his jeans and said, "I don't see any dollar bills in your hand."
Lorelai's eyebrows shot up and he pushed his jeans and boxer briefs down and said, ""I'll give you a twenty if you can do that without falling over."
Luke's jaw dropped in exasperation. "Well, now I won't be able to," he grumbled as he pushed them down over his thighs. He sis stumble, catching himself on the edge of the bed as he tried to free his feet, and Lorelai laughed, the sound of it filling the room. He looked up, his own smile slightly abashed as he moved quickly to climb back onto the bed. "You did that on purpose," he accused.
Lorelai's hand slid down the center of his chest. The muscles in his stomach jumped and quivered as she skimmed over them, not to be deterred in her quest. One by one, she wrapped her fingers around him, a soft purr of appreciation replacing her laughter as she murmured, "Yes, I did." She stroked him lightly, teasing the tip of him with her thumb, and Luke groaned. Lorelai's smile was feline, her eyes, slumberous with desire, her skin flushed with heat.
Luke's breath caught in his chest as he looked down at her, braced on his hands, struggling to hold himself in check as he allowed her to explore him. Her hand slid over his ass, urging him closer as she blinked up at him slowly. Luke swallowed hard and asked in a gravelly voice, "We should, uh, protection."
"I'm on the pill," she whispered, her fingers playing over his taut skin and then closing around him, squeezing him tightly. "Healthy," she panted, licking her lips as she looked down at him.
"Me too," Luke answered. "Not the pill, the other," he said, struggling to get the words out.
Lorelai nodded slightly and then said, "You said you loved me, Luke." She looked up at him challengingly and asked, "Are you going to make love to me, or was that all talk?"
A laugh escaped him before he could help it. He reached for her hand, gently pulling her fingers away from him as he said, "Well, you know me. Big talker." He pinned her hand up next to her head, and leaned down to kiss her. His tongue swept into her mouth, drawing her up off of the pillow to meet him. "Bossy woman," he said in a low raspy voice. "Next you'll wanna arm wrestle to see who's on top."
Lorelai smiled and draped her leg over his, urging him down onto her as she said, "You started this, you'd better be prepared to finish it."
Luke kissed her again as he lowered his weight onto her. He slid down slightly, positioning himself at her entrance, and holding himself there as he waited for her to open her eyes and look at him. When she did, he pressed forward slightly, groaning as her damp heat enveloped the tip of him. "Learn to be patient," he whispered hoarsely. "I don't intend to be finished with you for a long, long time." His eyes stayed locked on hers, as small gasp caught in the back of her throat. Luke sighed loudly as her heat enveloped him.
"Oh, yes," Lorelai whispered in a rush of air.
With a strangled chuckle of agreement, Luke's eyes closed as he began to move slowly. Lorelai circled her hips, meeting each thrust with abandon. Luke bit his lip, struggling to hold back, fighting the urge to plunge into her mindlessly. Lorelai's hands slid down his back, cupped his ass, and urged him deeper. Luke lowered his lips to hers, his breathing labored against them as he tried to lose himself in her kiss. Lorelai's nails dug into his flesh, holding him fast, as he caught her tiny mews of pleasure. Lorelai turned her head, gasping for air as she cried, "Oh!"
Luke exhaled one long ragged breath, watching as Lorelai's eyelids fluttered and her breath came rapidly. Sensing that she was close, he moved faster, pushing deeper, desperately trying to get closer as her muscles tensed and coiled around him. "Oh, yeah," he muttered under his breath.
Lorelai swallowed hard and then sucked in greedy gulps of air. "Luke," she whispered in his ear. "Oh, Luke," she sighed as she tumbled over the edge.
"I, oh Lorelai, I," he groaned as he thrust into her blindly.
Moments later, Lorelai smoothed her hand over the back of his head, smiling languidly as he pressed tiny kisses to her hair and neck. "I too," she whispered, smoothing her hand up over the hard muscles in his back. "I too." Luke chuckled, and nuzzled deeper into her neck, glad that she couldn't see him as he blushed. "Good Lord, you have a gorgeous body," she drawled as she stroked his smooth skin greedily.
Luke chuckled again, and shook his head, but said nothing as he continued to kiss her neck softly.
"Cat got your tongue?" she asked teasingly.
"Nope," he answered and then traced small circles on her neck with the tip of his tongue to prove it.
"Not so chatty after, huh?" she asked with a laugh.
"Uh uh," Luke replied. He slid an arm under her, holding her close to him as he rolled onto his back, pulling her over on top of him.
"Slick move," she complimented as he pushed her hair back from her face with both hands.
"Thanks."
"Still in love with me?" she asked with a saucy smile.
"Uh huh."
"Still going to a movie tonight?"
"Thought we got that clear," Luke growled as he rolled his eyes.
"Just trying to coax a few more words from you," she answered sweetly.
"No words," he said in a deep husky voice. He looked up at her tenderly. "I've got no words."
"I wish that we could stay here," Lorelai said wistfully.
"Me too."
She sighed and lowered herself down onto him, snuggling into his neck. "I like it here."
"Yeah."
"Gonna buy me popcorn?" she asked.
"If I have to," he answered.
"You do."
"Okay."
"Wanna get up?' she asked with a sigh.
"Not yet," Luke answered, tightening his hold on her.
"We may fall asleep," she cautioned.
"No, not sleeping," he assured her as his hands explored her body. "You too," he whispered.
"Me too what?"
"Gorgeous body," he said gruffly.
"Just catching up?" she teased as she lifted her head to grin at him.
"Yep."
"Do I need to ask you again?"
"Yes, we're going to the movie, I guess so, on the popcorn, and no, I'm not ready to get up yet," he replied.
"And the other one?" she asked coyly.
"No, I'm not very chatty," he told her with a smirk.
"Uh!" Lorelai gasped, her jaw dropping as she tried to act incensed.
Luke reached up, framing her face in his hands, his thumbs stroking her jaw as he looked up at her. "I already told you." When she scowled playfully, he smiled and said, "I'm in love with you, Lorelai Gilmore," he said with a slight shrug. "Can't help it. The heart wants what the heart wants. God help me," he added darkly.
Lorelai kissed him playfully and said, "Yep. Sucker." She glanced over at the clock and said with a heavy sigh, "We should get up. Try to look presentable." She pushed herself up off of him and asked, "If I share the shower, can I have extra butter on my popcorn?"
****
Friday night, after dinner, Lorelai and Rory made their way back to Stars Hollow, chattering happily about the good rolls with the buttery split top and Richard's decision to go into business for himself. Rory happily reported that the page that she had just received was the first she had received from Dean in two days. Lorelai smiled encouragingly, pleased that Dean seemed to be taking her advice to give Rory some space to heart. Her smile faded, however, when Rory insisted that she was spending the evening with Lane, rather than calling poor Dean back. She glanced over at the diner longingly, but instead drove past, reasoning that her breakfast and lunch visits earlier that day would just have to be enough.
Lorelai pulled to a stop in her driveway and saw Dean sitting on the front steps, his shoulders hunched in defeat. She approached slowly, and when he didn't look up, she said softly, "Dean."
"She likes Jess, doesn't she?" he asked in a low raspy voice. Lorelai stared at him, unable to give him the answer that he wanted. Her heart broke for him as he stood up, shoved his hands into his pockets, and trudged slowly home.
She sank heavily down onto a step, watching him go, and wondering what they would all do if his words proved to be true. She heard the phone ringing inside, but made no move to answer it. Instead, she fiddled with the strap of her purse, losing the battle with her own heart as she wished that Luke was there to talk about it. He had become an addiction. Even more than his coffee, if that was possible. And even though it was normal for her to see him for at least two out of three meals each day, she suddenly found herself antsy, counting the minutes until it was time again. She knew it was a tad pathetic, her need for those stolen kisses in the store room, the yearning to see his smile, but she comforted herself with the knowledge that he seemed to be struggling with it too. Just last night, he had showed up at the house after closing, holding a box of leftover brownies and two large coffees. It seemed only polite to invite him to join Lorelai and Rory on the couch as they watched the end of one of the movies she had rented on her fake run to the video store. And afterward, when they sat on the porch snuggled together, laughing, talking and kissing, he had not seemed overly anxious to leave, even though they both knew that he had to open the next morning.
Armed with those thoughts, she swallowed hard, forcing her pride down along with the lump that had lodged in her throat. Lorelai stood up and headed for her car. She backed down the drive and pointed the Jeep in the direction of the square once more, flooring it in her haste to get to him. Her brakes squealed in protest as she pulled to a halt in front of the diner just as Luke emerged holding a to-go box in his hand. She jumped from the car and met him on the sidewalk.
"Hey. I saw you drive by," he told her.
"We're still friends, right?" she demanded.
"What?"
"I mean, aside from all of the other stuff. We're still friends, aren't we?" she asked desperately.
"Yeah, of course," he answered with a perplexed frown.
"So, as my friend, if you thought that I was getting a little too pushy, acting a little needy or clingy with my boyfriend, or coming around too much, you'd tell me, right?" she asked.
"What's this about?" Luke asked.
"As my friend, you'd tell me, wouldn't you? Before I got all stupid and pushed you away?"
Luke's eyebrows shot up as he processed her words. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, I'd tell you." He looked at her carefully and asked, "You'd do the same for me, right?"
"Right," Lorelai confirmed.
Luke looked at her quizzically and then glanced down at the box in his hand. "Just to be clear, does this mean that I can or cannot bring you pie when you don't stop by the diner?"
She gave his question grave consideration for a moment and then said, "You can always bring me pie," with a decisive nod.
"Okay, good," Luke said as he nodded. He held up the box and said, "I was bringing you this pie since you didn't stop by to see me. I missed you."
Lorelai nodded as she took the box from his hand and said, "Good. I missed you too."
"Okay, well, I guess we got that settled," he said with a laugh.
"Wait. Is there coffee in there to go with this pie?" Lorelai asked pointedly.
"Oddly enough, a fresh pot," he told her.
Lorelai's smile bloomed as she leaned in to peck a quick kiss to his lips. "Aw, you did miss me," she cooed.
Luke rolled his eyes. "I'm not really sure why, but yes, I did."
"So, I can come in?" she asked.
"I thought that was the point of this," he answered impatiently.
Lorelai beamed at him and said, "I wanted to call you fourteen times today."
Luke snorted as he ushered her toward the diner door. "Only fourteen? I must be losing my touch," he said as he followed her up the steps.
"Yes, you should work on that. I suggest touching me more," Lorelai said with a saucy grin as she sashayed past him and claimed her usual spot at the counter.
"I will do my best," Luke murmured as he sauntered to the counter to get her coffee.
The End