First I'd like to say I'm sorry there was such a big break since the last chapter, life got busy and my beta reader hasn't been able to do this chapter. I re-check it but may not have fixed all errors.
Ch18 – It's Just Like Riding a Luke
Lorelai stood at the stove, holding a spoon as she kept watch over the pasta when Luke came back in the kitchen, "So April got home safe," she asked tapping the spoon on the pot.
"Yes and she misses the town already," Luke said quickly looking over the meal.
"No she misses you. I know that feeling," Lorelai said leaning in to kiss Luke be fore handing him the spoon.
Lorelai made her way to her seat at the table.
"April told me to thank you again you for the great time she had, she really liked that hay bail maze," Luke said taking the pasta to the sink.
"It was all Taylor's doing," she said finishing off her beer.
"April said she's already planning her next visit and can't wait to return," Luke said straining the pasta before beginning the serving process.
"That's in June right?" Lorelai confirmed.
"She's looking forward to the boat trip," Luke said smiling as he started placing the plates on the table.
"So am I," Lorelai said getting up, "Beer?" she asked.
"Thanks," Luke said getting the rest of the meal off the stove.
They took their seats at the table and started the meal.
"So did you get that noise checked in the Jeep?" Luke asked.
"Not yet, I'll see Gypsy next week," Lorelai said brushing it off.
"Is the check engine light still coming on?" Luke asked, slightly annoyed Lorelai was not taking this more seriously.
"Not sure, I'll check it next week," Lorelai happily eating the pasta, "Nice meal Hon," she said wanting to change the topic.
"Lorelai you need to take this seriously, you don't want the break down and be stuck half way to Hartford," Luke said but Lorelai tried to distract him by sucking down a long strain of spaghetti then licking the source off her lips.
Seeing Luke was serious Lorelai changed her tone, "Okay I'll check it tomorrow."
"First thing," Luke added.
"First thing, Lorelai agreed.
--
"Did I say I'm sorry?" Lorelai said sitting in the passenger's set of the truck as they pulled up in the parking lot.
"It's okay, we're engaged I believe it's in the job description" Luke said dryly, already annoyed that they had been to two other car yards.
"Being with me is like a job?" Lorelai asked with a smile.
"I did tell you once that you were a lot of work," Luke turning off the engine.
"But worth it," Lorelai smiled reaching for his hand.
"The jury's still out on that one," Luke said dryly still annoyed Lorelai had not checked the Jeep sooner, "Look they have the Jeep here," he pointed across the yard.
Lorelai smiled spotting the familiar looking shape, opening the door and almost running and she paced over to a new beige Wrangler like a kid on Christmas morning.
Luke catching up with his fiancée just in time to close the door for her, "So how does it feel?" he asked. "You've been talking about your Jeep all day."
"I don't know…" she said.
"What don't you know?" Luke asked.
"It's not the same," Lorelai said.
"Well adjust the seat," Luke suggested as Lorelai reached for the leavers, "There, is that any better?"
"Not really," Lorelai said.
"What's wrong? It's the same car," Luke pointed out.
"It's not the same car, It's different, it doesn't have the same feel," Lorelai added.
"No coffee stains on the floor mats?" Luke joked.
"No, it just feels different. The steering wheel, the seats, the cup holder are all different, the window zip doesn't stick and the windshield wiper stalk is all wrong," Lorelai said playing with the controls.
Luke opened the door, "Okay there have been improvements," he said.
"Changes Luke and I don't like change," Lorelai said.
"What exactly is bugging you?" Luke asked as he helped Lorelai out.
"It's not bugging me per se. It's just it's different. I don't get that feeling," Lorelai said, "I have memories with the other Jeep, I taught Rory to drive in it, there's still a mark in the door where the deer hit it.
Luke looked at Lorelai for a moment before pulling her in for a hug, "Okay we'll keep looking."
Lorelai nodding as the looked at each other before kissing, "I'm sorry you have to deal with this crazy person."
"Hey it's why I love you," Luke said as the kissed again.
Pulling back after the moment, "Okay I need to find the ladies room," she said.
Luke smiled, "Well if you didn't have so much coffee…"
"I wouldn't be me," she said as they parted, Lorelai handing Luke her bag, "I'll be right back, don't eat the Oreos."
"I'll try and restrain myself," Luke said dryly.
After refreshing herself Lorelai wondered the car yard looking for Luke, spotting him she was surprised to see him talking to a young lady. Must have been barely out of college. The young woman walked off just before Lorelai got to where Luke was.
"What was that about?" Lorelai asked as Luke greeted her with a pick on the lips.
"I kissed you?" He questions.
"No before, the leggie blonde in the tight top?" she asked with amusement.
"She was after some directions," Luke said not seeing the problem.
"She was after more than that my friend, she was flirting with you," Lorelai clarified.
"No she wasn't!" Luke protested.
"And you were flirting back," Lorelai added.
"Are you crazy?" Luke asked.
"Hey I didn't say there's anything wrong with it," Lorelai pointed out, "It's actually flattering to know other women want you and can't have you because you're all mine."
"But we weren't flirting," Luke insisted.
"It's okay to look and flirt Luke, as long as that's all that happens," Lorelai said catching Luke off guard.
"But I don't look at other women. Especially ones that look like they haven't eaten a good meal in years," Luke said.
"So you admit it, you do look?" Lorelai joked, "And she wasn't that skinny, are you calling me fat?"
"That's not what I said, I just meant… Aw Geez," Luke said in his usual manner, "I'm not gonna win this one am I?" he said, lost for words Luke took off his hat to run his fingers through his hair.
"Not with me in your life. Luke it's okay to flirt. I still do sometimes, it doesn't mean anything," Lorelai said hugging Luke.
Luke pulled back a step, breaking the hold, "You flirt with other guys?" he asked.
"No just guys," She said with a wink.
"Why would you need to do that?" Luke asked, sounding a little worried.
"Like when I get Mr Pasqualie to fix my shoes at half price," Lorelai said laughing it off.
"Pasqualie is over seventy years old and married," Luke pointed out.
"It's just a bit of fun Luke," Lorelai said.
"I don't like it when you flirt with other guys," Luke said with a serious tone.
Lorelai looked at Luke for a moment, "You do trust me… don't you?" she asked with hesitation.
Luke took a second before answering, "Of course I do," he said looking right at her.
"Want was that?" Luke asked.
"What?" Luke was confused but knew this was going south quick.
"You hesitated… you don't trust me?" she asked again.
This time without hesitation Luke answered, "Of course I do, it's other guys I don't trust!" Luke said in all honesty.
"I think you can take Mr Pasqualie, not sure about his wife though," Lorelai joked.
"You know who I mean!" Luke said forcefully.
"Chris?" Lorelai asked knowing whom Luke was talking about.
They looked at each other for what seemed like hours but in reality was just a few seconds before Luke spoke again, "Lorelai I guess it still hurts…"
"Luke I haven't seen or talked to Chris in months. I know I did wrong by you Luke, but I though we were over this," Lorelai said almost in tears.
Luke tried at talk, "We are… I was just…"
"Luke if we can't get past this then maybe we shouldn't be talking about cars, or marriage," she said as Luke could feel his heart stop, "I'll see you later," Lorelai said walking off.
Luke didn't know what had happened as her watch Lorelai get into a Taxi and drive off.
--
Later that night Lorelai was sobbing on the phone to Rory, "You just left him?" the daughter said.
"I didn't know want else to do," Lorelai said wiping her eyes.
"You need to talk to Luke, you know he loves you and Mom I hat to say it but he was kinda right," Rory said.
"What you're taking his side?" Lorelai protested.
"I'm not taking sides, I just understand how Luke has always had a problem with you and other guys, especially dad," Rory said making herself clear.
"I know I shouldn't have said his name," Lorelai sobbed.
"Look you've both had time to clear you're heads, go over to Luke's apartment and talk to him, he's probably sitting in the corner of his empty apartment gnawing on the brim of his blue cap, waiting for you," Rory joked making Lorelai smile.
"Your right kid, what would I ever do without you?" Lorelai said getting off the bed, "You are my favorite kid."
"Just go to him," Rory said.
"Love you," Lorelai returned as they hung up.
No sooner had Lorelai turned on the tap to wash he face she heard an unfamiliar sound coming from her driveway. Wiping her face quickly Lorelai dashed down the stairs.
Opening the front door she saw it, a brand new soft-top, 4-door Jeep and Luke getting out.
"What the?" Lorelai said coming to the front of the shinny red car.
"Let me speak first," Luke said, Lorelai nodding in agreement.
"I was jerk before I'll probably never be okay when it comes to other guys but I do trust you and I don't know what I would do without you in my life, probably drunk or curled up in the fetal-position, crying myself to sleep every night," Luke joked as Lorelai smiled.
"I was just coming to see you and say I was sorry," Lorelai said, "I know I probably flirt a little too much some times, I'll try and tone it done in the future," she said taking his hands in hers.
"I don't want you to change, part of the reason I love you is how we flirted for years," Luke said pulling Lorelai closer for a hug.
"You did," Lorelai said as they moved in to kiss.
"Of course I hate the fact that I waited for so long to do anything about it," Luke said.
"How's 'bout we don't waist any more time," Lorelai said placing her hand on Luke's neck as they kissed. Luke in turn held her waist tight, not wanting to let her go.
When they did break from the kiss neither one could stop smiling "Better?" Lorelai asked licking her warm lips.
"Much," Luke said grinning back.
"I don't want to fight with you," Lorelai said.
"Me neither," Luke agreed, "That's' why I was thinking we could use some help."
"Help, you mean from a professional?" Lorelai asked.
Luke nodded, "I'm willing, if you are," Luke said.
"Anything for you but I will miss this part of our fights," Lorelai said pecking Luke on the lips again.
Lorelai turning to the new Jeep, "So what's this then?" she asked.
"I needed to get your attention," Luke said touching the hood.
"And you did," Lorelai said still confused.
"It's a loaner, the dealer said we can have it for a few days. Now I know it's not like your old Wrangler but I thought the extra doors could come in handy some day. You can choose any color you like and maybe even get the hard top one, for added safety, or if you want any Jeep model or other brand." Luke babbled.
Lorelai smiled at Luke kissing him again, "It's great Luke." They separated, Luke going to the passenger's side as Lorelai got behind the wheel.
"So what where you thinking we needed the back doors for?" Lorelai asked looking around with a grin.
"Well Rory's getting a bit old to climb over the seats and with April visiting every few months…" Luke said petering out.
"So not for any additions?" Lorelai asked.
"One thing at a time," Luke added, placing his hand behind her neck Luke pulled Lorelai into deepen the kiss, as the moment continued Lorelai tried to get closer to Luke but finding the steering wheel and dash in the way she bumped the horn.
"I guess this is what the back seat is for," Lorelai giggled.
"Okay we're not having sex in the Jeep, apart from Babette being home I don't think the dealer would take it back," Luke said dryly.
"Maybe we don't need to take it back?" Lorelai said with a smile as she pulled back from Luke.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Taking this inside, we have some making up to do," she said with a dirty grin.
Luke stepped out of the Jeep taking Lorelai's hand as they walked to the house, "I hope you're prepared for lots and lots of hard work," Luke said in a deep tone.
Lorelai giggled, "Make-up sex with you is almost worth having a fight with you in the first place," she joked, kissing Luke on the lips.
"Jury's in, you are worth it," he said leaning across to kiss Lorelai.
--
"Just stop moving," Luke said holding Lorelai's feet.
"But it tickles," Lorelai said adding, "And you've never done this before."
"I just thought a special occasion called for something a little different," Luke said with a grin.
"I think it's weird," Lorelai said.
"Just one more complaint and you'll have to finish your self off!" Luke said looking directly at Lorelai.
"No don't stop," Lorelai begged reaching for Luke's hand, "I'll be still."
"Okay just keep your feet on the towel," Luke said as he finished the first toenail, "So why do you have so many colors?" he asked.
"Because I'm a girl," Lorelai joked.
"You have like six different shades of red. Why would anyone need so many choices?" Luke asked.
"To match my mood," Lorelai said.
"That would explain you choice tonight," Luke said with a grin as he applied the 'Seductive' red color, "I should have my head checked."
"I'll make an appointment for you in the morning," Lorelai said loving the attention.
TBC…
Feedback is good.
I'll try and get the next chapter written ASAP and posted soon!