Luke was standing in the middle of the apartment when Ellie came breezing in shortly after 2.
"Hey dad, sorry I'm late, traffic was a bitch!" she said giggling but when Luke didn't react she stopped in her tracks and wheeled around to face him. "Dad?"
"Hmmm?"
"You ok?"
"Yeah."
He still hadn't moved. She walked in front of him and looked up to his eyes which were glassy and looked at a spot on the far wall.
"Hey, what's up? You having a stroke old man?" she waved her hand in front of his eyes and tried to get his attention but when he still didn't move, a shiver of worry rippled over her chest. "Hey, dad…" she tugged on his arm, finally managing to get his attention and move his eyes towards her.
"Hey honey, sorry." He rubbed her shoulder reassuringly and moved back to the kitchen to finish the dishes he had started.
"Whats going on?"
"Hmm? Nothing."
"Dad." Ellie leaned on the counter next to her father and crossed her arms over her chest. "Tell me."
"I have a date."
"Huh?" Ellie turned and grabbed her dad's arm. "What? with who?"
"Lorelai."
"Oh my god!" Ellie laughed in delighted and squeezed his arm. "I leave you alone for a few hours and look at you, you got yourself a date."
"Ellie…"
"What are you going to wear?"
"Huh?"
"You need to shower, and shave...and let's pick out an outfit." She was tugging his arm away from the sink and over toward his bedroom.
"Ellie, honey…" He let her pull him away without much resistance.
"Where are you going to take her? Did you make reservations?"
"Reservations?"
"Dad!" She slapped her forehead with her hands. "You can't just take her to Joe's Crab shack."
"Hey, I like the crab shack."
"I know you do dad, but it's not a date place."
"So where is a date place?"
"Mortons."
"Mortons? I have to wear a tie at Mortons." he protested as Ellie opened his wardrobe and rifled through his clothes.
"Dad, don't you think this occasion is a tie occasion?"
"I won't be comfortable in a tie. I won't be able to be myself."
"Okay, how about Reillys?"
"The bar?"
"There is a restaurant in the back. And maybe you can make a reservation for a bit later and start off with a drink first, that way if it's a bust you won't be stuck sitting through dinner."
"Not a bad idea. And I won't have to wear a tie."
"No but you aren't wearing flannel either."
"Ellie…"
"Go, shower, primp. I'll make reservations and pick out your clothes."
He didn't know whether to be proud or scared that his daughter was so willing to help him out on his date but he was lost without her. He imagined himself standing in front of his own wardrobe with no idea as to what to wear. So he let her take control.
He stepped into the bathroom and started the shower then stood in front of the mirror and looked at his own reflection with a grimace. He leaned forward and traced his hand over his stubbled cheek, suddenly wishing he had time to go to Pete's for a shave. He turned his face one way, then the other, pared his lips back over and checked his teeth. He pulled his cap off and ran his hands over his hair then slapped his own cheeks and smiled.
He stripped and showered taking the time to condition his hair then chanced using some of the perfumed gel Ellie had given him last christmas. He stood again in front of the mirror and thought about leaving the stubble on his chin. He knew some women liked it from various compliments he had received in the past but he wanted to make a good first impression on Lorelai. He lathered up the shaving foam and rubbed it on his face then slowly shaved careful not to scrape or cut his face. When he finished he tossed a few handfuls of water over his face then slapped some aftershave balm on. He combed his fingers through his hair and rubbed it with a towel then walked out to his bedroom where Ellie had left out a selection of clothes on his bed. He chuckled at his daughter's choices.
She had left out only one pair of dark grey slacks, leaving no room for argument as to what pants he would wear but several shirts adorned the bed beside them. He pulled on some boxer briefs and slipped into the trousers. then looked down at the shirts on the bed and wondered which he should wear. There was a solid rich blue one. A soft cotton blue and black one, a solid black one and a black one with thin red stripes.
"Ellie?" he called out. He grabbed two of the shirts and opened the bedroom door to find her lounging on the couch waiting for him. "Which shirt?" He held up the black one and the black and red striped one.
"Neither of those."
"But you left them out for me!"
"I wanted you to feel like you were making a decision."
"But I was making the wrong one?"
"Yeah."
"So which shirt?"
"The blue one." He turned back to his room and tossed the other shirts onto the bed then grabbed the blue one. He buttoned it up and started to tuck it in. "You need a belt with that outfit."
"The...black belt right?"
"Yeah dad," she chuckled. "The black one."
He grabbed it from the hooks on the back of his bedroom door and slipped it on then fastened it and stood in front of her for her appraisal. "Well?"
"You look great."
He checked his watch and saw it was only coming to six o'clock. "Okay, so...Jacket?"
"The short black one, with the grey cotton lining."
"Got it." He grabbed it from the rack and draped it over the back of the chair needlessly. "You made reservations?"
"Yeah. Reilly's table for two for 8. You're picking her up at 7 right?"
"Yeah."
"So it'll be about seven-thirty by the time you get there."
"Seven-thirty? It's a fifteen minute drive at most."
"Oh dad, she won't be ready when you go to pick her up." Ellie shook her head at her dad. "So by seven-thirty, you might make it, then you can have a drink at the bar."
"Ok, got it."
"If it's a bust, you can suggest skipping dinner and maybe having another drink instead so you can leave early if you need to."
"It won't be a bust, do you think it will be a bust? Why would it be a bust?"
"Dad, relax." She jumped off the couch and hurried over to soothe his fears.
"Sorry, I'm nervous."
"I've never seen you nervous before." She said after a moment and she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
"I'm not sure I've ever felt this nervous before." He admitted as he kissed the top of her head.
"Thats a good sign right? It means you really like her huh?"
"It means...I dunno, it means something alright." He chuckled and hugged her tighter.
Lorelai sat in front of her vanity mirror dressed in only a heavy terry cloth robe. She brushed her curly hair into some semblance of a style and clipped the stray locks back into a mess at the back of her head, then pulled it all loose and tried again. She checked her watch. It was ten to seven and she had yet to pick out her outfit. She had three different styles picked out but wasn't sure which spectrum of formal he was taking her to so was unsure of which to choose. She thought about what little she knew about Luke and discarded the formal dress. She knew he'd want to make a good impression on her so she also discarded the jeans and top and instead opted for the form fitting black dress that was always a classic.
She dropped her robe and put on her underwear then pulled the dress on and struggled for a few minutes before managing to pull the zipper up completely. She applied only a little makeup to accentuate her blue eyes and lined her lips with a dark red shade then ruffled her hair and attempted to put it up again.
When she heard a knock at the door and saw it was just after seven she wondered if Ellie had to hold him back from arriving bang on time. She chuckled at the thought and hurried down stairs to answer the door.
"Hey," she said and she opened the door wider to invite him in. "I'll just be a minute more." She hurried back upstairs to her room as he closed the door behind him and stood awkwardly in her entranceway to await her return.
As promised a few minutes later she came down the stairs carrying a pair of heels then slipped them on when she stepped off the last step.
"You look beautiful." he said simply as his eyes traveled over her body.
"You clean up pretty good yourself mister."
He blushed under her obvious scrutiny then turned to the door and opened it to allow her to walk out before him. "Shall we?"
"So where are we going?"
"A place nearby called Reillys."
"A bar?" she said with only a hint of dismay in her voice as she realized she was a little over dressed to be sitting at a bar eating pub grub.
"Restaurant bar," he assured her as they crossed the lawn to his truck. "I made reservations. It's the kind of place you need reservations," he added as if it lent an air of importance to their chosen location. "Ellie helped me pick."
At his final admittance Lorelai smiled then stepped into the truck and he closed the door behind her. He hurried round to the driver's side and took a few deep breaths then climbed in and they took off. The journey was quick and easy and they fell into an easy chatter. When they walked into the bar Luke stepped forward and gave their name of the reservation and they were directed to the bar to await their table.
"I made the reservation for 8. I hope that's ok." he said after they ordered their drinks.
"Did you think I would take that long to get ready?" she teased him.
"No! not at all, but I thought…" He looked up as the bar man handed them their drinks and he paid and passed her glass of beer closer to her.
"Let me guess, you thought we could have a drink before dinner and see if the dinner part was going to be worth it?"
"When you say it like that…" he blushed and looked down at the feet in his hand and swirled it around his glass.
"Don't worry Luke. Its dating 101."
"It is?" He frowned and looked up at her.
"Yeah of course. No point in spending an evening dining with a boring dinner partner."
"Hmm, makes me wonder how my daughter knew that then."
Lorelai covered her mouth with her hand and laughed and Luke couldn't help but smile with her. They chatted easily, she about the inn and he about the diner. When their table was ready neither of them hesitated and he escorted her through the throngs of people with a hand resting on the small of her back.
The clientele was a little more upmarket than the bar restaurant category lent her to believe and the outfit she had chosen was perfect. Most of the women in the bar were wearing skirts and dresses and the men in casual suits. She cast her eye over Luke as he took his seat. The trousers he wore were smooth and looked soft to touch. The shirt almost silken but she knew he wouldn't be one to wear silk without more of an occasion than a first date. He had shaved and she wondered if his skin would be as smooth to touch as his shirt.
The table they were given was in a corner by the window overlooking a back garden with a fountain in the middle. She sat next to the window and he took the only other chair to her left. facing the window.
"Would you like to maybe share an appetizer?" he asked and she tore her eyes away from his chin to look him in the eye.
"Sure, as long as you don't mind eating something deep fried and salty."
"Maybe we should get two."
"Sure, as long as you don't mind sharing."
"Will you eat tomato and avocado bruschetta?" he asked when he perused the menu.
"I'll try about anything once." when she spoke he raised his eyebrows in question and she blushed a little. He enjoyed the reversal of roles and smiled. "Sorry, I didn't mean that to come out sounding so…"
"Dirty?"
"Yeah." She looked back down to her menu and studied it closer. "Oh vegetable tempura! Thats a win."
He allowed her to change the subject. They placed their orders and the waiter took their menus then a lull fell over them both. Luke worried momentarily that it was a painful silence but when he caught her watching him with a crooked smile he realized it was a natural lull and he allowed her to take her time in breaking it.
"So have you always wanted to run a diner?"
"I can't say it was a childhood dream of mine."
"What was your childhood dream?" she rested her elbow on the table and her head in her hand as she watched him and waited for him to speak. He seemed to take a moment to decide if he was going to continue then he took a deep breath, sat back in his chair and spoke.
"To travel."
"Travel?" she seemed genuinely surprised at this answer. It wasn't the typical answer you'd get from a guy who barely moved ten miles his whole life.
"I know," he said to her reaction. "Everyone is so surprised when I say that."
"What happened?"
"Ellie." he said evenly, almost as if he dared her to challenge him.
"I see." though she didn't really and wanted to ask more but it felt more like a 3rd date conversation, over a fire, with a glass of wine. she shook her head and admonished herself for thinking about a 3rd date when the 1st one had barely begun.
Luke watched her battle with her inner thoughts and waited for her to ask him the other questions she wanted to ask but when she didn't he did something he didn't often do, he volunteered the information.
"I was in college when Ellie was born. I was studying engineering. i wanted to travel the world building bridges."
"Wow!"
"I met Ellie's mom, Rachel, in high school and we both went to UConn. Me for engineering, her for arts, photography in particular. We were both juniors when she got pregnant. We thought about… termination…" a dark cloud washed over his featured but as soon as it appeared it was gone. "But in the end we decided to keep the baby. We moved back to Stars Hollow. My father was ill. The diner, was his store."
"You dad owned the diner?"
"Yeah, well it was a hardware store when he ran it. But I turned it into a diner after he died. Rachel went back to UC, and I ran the diner. I planned to go back after Rachel got her degree to finish mine then the three of us could take over the world." He chuckled at their naïveté and shook his head as he swirled his beer around in his glass.
"But she left…" she urged him to continue. Luke nodded. Failed to meet her eyes then lifted his beer and took a long sip. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"No it's ok." He waved off her apology. "Rachel left just before Ellie turned one."
"Oh my…" Lorelai looked down. The pure look of hurt and betrayal that crossed his features seemed too intimate to be witnessed.
"She calls on her birthday...sometimes." Luke scoffed and drank more of his beer. "She comes by every six years or so."
"Are you and her…" Lorelai stumbled over her words, a sensation she was not familiar with. "Are you still…"
"What? No. No we're not." Luke put down his beer and looked up at her. "It's in the past. Right now it's just me and Ellie." He hated how those words made it sound so final, like there was no room for anyone else in their lives.
"And you guys seem pretty close…"
"We have our moments. I believe you witnessed some of our finest."
"I caught a few doozies." Lorelai smiled.
Luke sipped his beer and looked at her over the rim of his glass.
"Ellie would kill me if she heard what I was talking about. This is just not first date conversation material is it?"
"Don't ask me, I never was good at first dates."
"I find that hard to believe."
"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or a jibe but I'm going to choose to believe it's the former."
"It is."
"But first dates are terrifying." She smiled. "You just want it to be over. Just want to get past the awkwardness and stifled conversation and get to the good stuff."
"The good stuff?"
"The sly looks, the soft smiles, gentle touches and the kiss."
"The kiss?"
"The whole date is a build up to this kiss, this elusive end of night kiss, everything is leading up to it but sometimes you can get to the end and the kiss is terrible or maybe it doesn't even happen."
"Lorelai…"
"And you end up standing outside your own front door disappointed and-"
"Lorelai!"
"And alone and the only thought that populates your brain is the fact that you have to go through this all again to get another chance for a kiss."
"Lorelai, stop!" He reached over to grab her hand then pulled her towards him. He wrapped the other hand around the back of her neck and crushed her lips against his in a kiss. At first his lips were unmoving against hers, simply an action taken to still her words but when he felt her relax against him he relaxed too and soon his lips could move, gentle motions against hers, his fingers stroked her neck and his hand that had hold of hers, intertwined with her fingers.
When her lips parted he pulled away. He wanted more, hell he needed more but this was not the setting to explore those desires. He sat back in his chair and looked at her. Her lips were red and wet from his kisses and her fingers reached up to press them as if she could not believe he had just kissed her.
"There." he said eventually. "Now that it's out of the way you don't need to worry about it for the rest of the date."
"Um, no, no I don't." She brushed her hair behind her ears and looked down for a moment then when she looked back up at him and smiled shyly she found him watching her.
"Sorry," he said eventually. "That was probably out of line. But you were babbling, and I couldn't really think of any other way to shut you up."
"Well it worked."
"I noticed."
The waiter chose that moment to arrive with their appetizers and the tension ebbed away as they shared their food.
"So what about you?" he asked as he sat back and watched her pick through the food on his plate.
"What about me?"
"Tell me how you ended up running a small inn in Stars Hollow."
"It's a simple story really. Girl grows up in overbearing and controlling house in Connecticut. Girl moves as far away as possible to attend college in California. Girl works her way up through the ranks to become assistant manager of an inn in North Carolina, gets an offer of a job in Stars Hollow. Girl moves back to Connecticut."
"So you are from around here?" Luke frowned and sat forward, eager to hear her clarify.
"Not this town no. I grew up in Hartford."
"Oh."
"Oh?" she challenged his reaction and Luke had the good sense to know he was in dangerous territory.
"I mean, oh, nice town." She smiled at his recovery and returned her attention back to the food on his plate. "So your folks are they still in Hartford?"
"Yep." Her short answer was signal enough and Luke decided to drop it. He struggled for a moment to think of something else to say but nothing sprang to mind. And the longer he left it the more stifling the silence became. His eyes darted around the room in search of a safe topic and when he brought his focus back to the table he found her sitting back in her chair watching him carefully. "I never got on with my folks." She sipped her beer and Luke cleared his throat.
"It's ok, you don't have to-"
"It wasn't a deprived childhood. I mean I went to a great school and I wanted for nothing,"
"Seriously, Lorelai," he spoke and reached over to grasp her hand in a tight squeeze but she just squeezed back and continued.
"But my life was not my own. My friends were vetted. Any boys I was allowed to talk to were because of the business opportunities it brought to my father. My mother dressed me. I mean not physically, but she told me what I could wear. I had to attend these cotillions, coming out balls, I was a debutante and had to attend any and all functions my parents deemed necessary."
"Sounds pretty...stifling." He was trying to focus on her words but found his fingers interlocking with hers a helluva distraction.
"I got my GED when I was sixteen, without them knowing. Applied to UofC and used my trust fund to pay for the first 2 years."
"And after that?"
"I worked. I was a maid in a hotel and a waitress in a diner, not unlike Luke's." She smiled at the memory and he sat in silence to wait for her to continue. "When I graduated, up to my eyeballs in debt, I worked two jobs to make ends meet. I ended up in North Carolina when a friend from college opened an Inn a offered me a job that included room and board. A godsend." She made a motion of wiping sweat from her brow. "I worked there for about 5 years and ended up as assistant manager. And that's when I met Mia."
"You met her in North Carolina?"
"She was staying at the inn. We gelled instantly and about two months later she called me and asked me if I was looking for new opportunities. Then badda bing badda boom, I ended up in Stars Hollow having the local diner looney roaring at me on the street for my parking."
Luke blushed and looked down at his lap then lifted his eyes to see her eyebrows wiggle and her smile broaden.
"So do you talk to your folks at all?"
"Yeah I try to keep it civil though my mother is hard work."
"Still trying to control you?"
"Yeah." Lorelai looked wistful for a moment then took her hand out of his and rubbed her eyes.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business." He moved his cutlery onto his plate if only for something to do with his hands.
"No it's fine Luke. I don't mind." Then after a moment she added. "It's strange though."
"What is?"
"I don't usually...talk about personal stuff with people I just met."
"I know what you mean. I barely even do it with people I've known my whole life." he chuckled at his own admission.
"I guess that's gotta stand for something huh…" she looked at him expectantly.
"Yeah, I guess it does."
Their eyes locked and remained that way as the waiter cleared the table and refilled their water glasses. When he left the air around them seemed to be electric. Neither of them were willing to move, or break eye contact and for the longest moment they just stared and smiled.
The rest of the dinner was spent with companionable chatter. They ate and shared food, they argued about dessert, Lorelai wanting Luke to get something so she could have some, and Luke wanting nothing at all. When he caved and ordered sorbet she teased him and said he needn't have bothered but ate half of it anyway. There was a minor scuffle over the bill but Luke won out in the end, using her own words against her she she had argued with Mia. He asked if she wanted to stay at the bar for a drink and when she shook her head to decline he felt a pang of disappointment that this date was nearing an end.
Until out on the street when she slipped her hand into his, clasped his elbow with her other hand and pulled his arm tight against her and suggested they take a walk by the waterfront. Luke looked down at her and smiled then nodded and walked with her towards the pier.
They walked in silence through the well lit and festive streets then crossed the road to walk down the pier. When she shivered he draped his arm over her shoulder and pulled her in close but when she shivered again he slipped off his jacket and put it over her then held her against his body again.
"Won't you be cold?" she asked as she leaned into him, one hand holding the jacket closed, the other snaking out to rest on his chest. He smiled and shook his head and led her to the end of the pier. When they reached the barrier with nothing before them but the ocean no sound save for the lapping water on the pier struts he leaned his back against the rail and pulled her in for a hug.
"This is quite possibly," he kissed the top of her head and rested his chin there. "The best first date I've ever had."
"I guess I'll take that as a compliment." she teased him and he was beginning to recognize the different lilts in her voice.
"You guess?" He held her back to look down at her face.
"Well it depends on how many first dates you've had. I mean if you have had say 50-"
"50!"
"Then this being the best would be saying something." She chuckled and snaked her arms around his waist to pull herself against him again. "But if you have only had 3...then well… I guess the numbers speak for themselves." She chuckled and he tightened his hold on her to feel her vibrating against him. "So...which is it?"
"It's not 50. Not even close."
"So...3?"
"Maybe a little higher, though...not much," he admitted softly, speaking into her hair as if the muffled sound was a secret. "What about you?"
"Too many first dates. Not many second ones though."
"Idiots." His arms tightened around her.
"Huh?"
"Now that you have let me take you on a first date. There is nothing that could stop me from getting a second one with you."
"Confident of that?" she tipped her head to look up at him with an arched eyebrow.
"Pretty confident."
He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. Then bolder, filled with the thrill of holding her against him he lowered further, tipped his head to one side and kissed her lips. She acquiesced immediately stood up a little straighter so he didn't need to crane his neck, tipped her head in the opposite direction and parted her lips. When his tongue slipped past and met hers they both moaned and tightened their grip on each other. At first his tongue moved slow, almost matching the rhythm of the water beneath them, but as the heat and desire coursed through them his ministrations sped up. His hands moved from her back to her ass. One came up her spine to cup the back of her head and he parted his legs around her to pull her in even closer.
When he felt himself stirring and realized she would feel it too he started to withdraw but she held fast and didn't let him. Her hand circled his throat, stroked his neck while the other drew hard circles in the small of his back, pressing him to her. When another shock of desire raced through his body and made his cock twitch again he dragged his lips off her and held her at arm's length.
"Geez…" was all he could manage and the sight of her before him, looking at him through thick lashes, her lips wet, glistening from their kiss, more so when her tongue appeared to lick them and she smiled, he was ready to pull her back against him for round 2. "We...um, we should…"
Lorelai smiled as he stammered his way through a half sentence. She moved her hand up from his neck to cup his cheek then let the other one cup the other cheek and pulled him in for a quick sharp kiss.
"C'mon burger boy, it's freezing out here." She took his hand and twirled around to start walking back up the pier. Luke quickly fell into step beside her and she lifted his hand to drape his arm over her shoulder then snaked an arm around his waist. He kissed the side of her head and pulled her in closer as they walked.
They drove back in near silence but he was ok with that considering she had sat next to him in the truck, her head on his shoulder, her hand on his thigh, both of her feet on the seat beside her with her shoes kicked off on the floor beneath her. It was an image that Luke was surreptitiously studying for later inspection and one he was sure never to forget.
He drove to her house. Climbed out and helped her out of the truck then walked hand in hand to her porch. She opened the door and turned back to face him.
"I had a wonderful time." Her smile was wide and genuine while still somehow shy and Luke felt his heart add a few extra beats at the sight of it.
"Me too." he took both of her hands in his and stepped closer. "And I want to take you out again."
"You do huh?" she teased.
"If you'll let me."
"I think we can come to some sort of agreement." He bent down to kiss her and felt her chuckling against her.
"Do you want to come in?" she asked, her lips still brushing his as she spoke.
"No...well yes, I want to, but no I shouldn't. I better get home, to Ellie."
"Of course." Lorelai tried not to show her disappointment but it was all too clear on her face.
"I really do want to…" he said and he cupped her face in a gesture mimicking hers from earlier and kissed her though this kiss was not short like hers, it was deep and long, wet and hot. He turned her towards the door and walked her backwards until they were over the threshold enough for him to kick the door closed behind him. He circled her waist and lifted her off the ground, all the while keeping their lips connected. her hands circled his neck and held him in place and she sighed wantonly into his mouth as he released his grip and she slid to the floor, her body dragging tantalizingly against his. "Sorry...I thought...neighbors." Lorelai chuckled. "This is a very small town, but with very big gossips."
"I get it." she patted his arm.
"And I really should go." His grip on her released further and he stepped back so their bodies were no longer touching.
"I get that too." She smiled up at him and he knew she understood.
"So maybe we could go see a movie or something?"
"I'd like that."
"How about Thursday. You free?"
"I'm free."
"Great. See you Thursday then."
"Yep."
"Well probably before Thursday but see you then then too."
Lorelai laughed and he sighed and frowned as his own jumbled words echoed in his head. He rolled his eyes and stepped back but walked into the door making her laugh harder.
"Yeah, I really need to go. Looks like my cool potion is wearing off." He opened the door and stepped onto the porch. "Good night Lorelai." he smiled.
"Goodnight."
He waved then pulled the door closed and walked back to his truck. "Hold your shit together Danes. five more minutes and you'll be home free, then you can be a clumsy ass for the rest of the night."
He climbed into his truck and reversed out of her yard, hoping against all hope not to run over her trash can or the neighbor's cat. He made it home in one piece and slowly climbed the stairs to the apartment. He expected Ellie to be in bed but when he opened the door and saw her sitting cross legged on the couch, reading a book and clearly waiting for him, he realized he should have known better.
"Well?" she asked immediately.
"What?"
"Dad!" She slapped her own thighs and bounced up and down on the sofa as he crossed the room and sat next to her with a wide smile on his face.
"It was good."
"Just good?"
"It was great."
"Only great."
"Ellie! What do you want me to say?"
"Tell me all about it. Not just your usual monosyllabic phrases that tell me nothing!"
He looked at his daughter and smiled and she knew then without doubt that the date was a success.
"It was fantastic. I had a great time. The restaurant was perfect, afterwards we went for a walk on the pier then i took her home."
"Did you kiss?" He only lifted an eyebrow at that question but that alone gave her her answer. "Are you meeting her again?"
"I assume I will, Stars Hollow is a small town." he teased then lifted his arms to block her from slapping him.
"Dad!"
"We're going out on Thursday, to see a movie."
"A movie? You're not a movie guy."
"She likes movies, I can be a movie guy."
Ellie shook her head laughing. "You really like her huh?"
"Yeah, she seems…" his words trailed off as the memory of their kiss on the pier washed over him.
"Oh god!" Ellie covered her face with her hands and started to laugh.
"What?"
"You're going to be unbearable." She reached over and ruffled his hair then stood up. "I'm going to bed. See you in the morning."
"Goodnight honey."
He watched Ellie leave then let his head fall back onto the back of the couch and let the date reply before him.
Lorelai walked into the inn and made a beeline for the kitchen. She poured herself a coffee and nudged Sookie then walked out to the back porch and sat on the bench to wait for her to join her.
"What has you in so early? Your shift doesn't begin for another hour."
"Do you have a few moments to sit and chat with me?"
"Ohhh...you have gossip!" Sookie danced over and sat next to Lorelai clapping her hands with excitement.
"I went on a date last night."
"With Luke!" Sookie practically screamed.
"How did you know?" Lorelai looked at her in shock at her guess.
"Oh please, I saw you guys the last week when he was at the inn. I practically had to hose you two down. Tell me everything!"
Lorelai laughed and didn't even try to hide her blush. She started off telling Sookie about her outfit then minute by minute, broke down the date for her including the kiss at the pier and again at her house. She kept Luke's personal stories to the bare minimum, but spared no detail when speaking of her own, having already gone through the nitty gritty with Sookie over a couple of bottles of wine. When she finished speaking Sookie was holding the edge of her apron in tight bunches against her chest and she sighed in delight.
"Oh my god...it sounds amazing!"
"It was."
"And you already have a second date lined up."
"Yep."
"Oh! This is so exciting!"
They sat on the porch dissecting the date until the time came when they had to part for work. Lorelai went through the motions at work struggling to keep focused on her work, all the while allowing her mind to wander at the feel of his hands on her back, his fingers in her hair, his lips on hers. She sighed, shook her head and refocused her thoughts, again.
Finally when the day ended she slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way out to the Jeep. She climbed in and started to drive through town but when she came to the junction that would steer her either to her home or to his diner she hesitated.
"Too soon?" she asked herself aloud, her fingers drumming on the steering wheel. "What's the rule, 3 days?" She rolled her eyes at the thought of lasting three days without a coffee from his diner and instead turned towards the left and parked in the town square.
She climbed out and looked across at the diner. It was well lit and half full. She could see Ellie in there clearing tables and delivering food but Luke was nowhere to be seen. Lorelai hesitated once again then stood firm, her feet planted on the curb, as she took a few steadying breaths and decided to go for it. But before she could go for it she heard her name being called out.
"Hey Lorelai."
At the sound of his voice she whirled around in shock to see Luke standing a few feet behind her, leaning back on the bonnet of her car, watching her carefully.
"Luke!" her hand flew up to her chest as if she could steady her erratic heartbeat from the outside. "You scared me."
"Sorry, you seemed to be in a bit of a trance. I didn't mean to startle you." He had a crooked smirk on his face that irritated her, more so at the thought that he had caught her gearing herself up to see him.
"I was just waiting for a gap in the traffic so I could cross the road."
Luke looked up and down the road either side of the street and noted with an arched eyebrow the lack of cars moving on the street. "Traffic, yeah."
"So what has you out here and not in the diner?" she asked and she forced her body to relax and took a step closer to him.
"I was talking to Ms Patty, arranging food for a kids party at the weekend."
"Oh, you cater too?"
"Not usually."
"Just special occasions?"
"Something like that," he admitted cryptically not wanting to go any deeper as he leaned up against her car. "So...were you gearing yourself up to come in and see me?" he let his smile curve his lips as he watched a slight blush taint her cheeks.
"I was arguing with myself if I need another coffee. I've probably already had too much today."
"You have a coffee intake limit?" He chuckled. "I didn't think that was possible."
Lorelai shrugged. This was unfamiliar territory for her. She was usually so confident and sure of herself when it came to men. She was usually able to hold her own, more, when they talked but this banter seemed to be more one sided than usual and Luke seemed to be enjoying it more than she. The nerves swirling around her body was causing her to stumble on her words, make her thoughts disappear and seemed to make her lose control of her knees. She looked up to him and he was looking at her as if waiting for a response, and she realized he had asked her something.
"Sorry?"
"Do you want to come back to the diner? Get your fix?"
"Um no, I better be getting home."
"Oh, ok." He looked disappointed and straightened up off her car then before the thought could disappear he stepped closer to her and took her hand. "I had a great time last night."
"Me too," she uttered with a relieved smile. "I really did too." then cursed her lack of command over the english language just then.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing you on Thursday."
She nodded. This time not trusting herself to speak coherently as their fingers intertwined and his thumb drew soft circles in the palm of her hand.
"But you should swing by the diner, for coffee, or dinner. Hell we serve lunch and breakfast too." Lorelai smiled. "So...see you around?"
Lorelai nodded and when he leaned in closer to press a gentle kiss to her cheek she leaned into his lips willing him to drag his lips to hers but knowing while standing in the town square he would do his utmost to resist her. He squeezed her hand in response to her gentle movements to show her he was feeling the same then pulled away and hurried back to the diner. Lorelai watched him leave then climbed into her car and drove home.
When Luke stood behind the counter and picked up an order pad from the shelf beneath it Ellie came over and leaned on the counter in front of him.
"What was goin' on out there mister?"
"Hmm?"
"Canoodling in the street in broad daylight?"
"It was a kiss on her cheek."
"Why Luke Danes, I do believe you are blushing!" Ellie squealed in delight as he poked her ribs in that ticklish spot she had since she was a toddler.
"Get back to work!"
"Slave driver!"
"Offspring."
They shared a smile then turned their attention back to their customers.
Thursday could not come quick enough for him. She came into the diner for breakfast on Tuesday and for a late coffee that evening but he missed her at lunch time on Wednesday and spent Thursday counting down the hours. They had arranged to go to the 8 pm movie in the bookstore cinema and he offered to pick her up but she had insisted on meeting at the diner. He closed the doors just after six-thirty and raced up to the apartment to shower.
Ellie was studying in her room when he dried off and dressed, this time more casually for a date at the cinema. He wore a faded pair of light blue jeans and a red henley top under a black and red checkered shirt. He slipped on his boots and looked at himself in the mirror. He forewent the shave this time and instead ran his hand over the three day growth. He brushed his fingers through his hair and instinctively reached out for his cap but hesitated a moment then tossed it back onto his dresser. He brushed his teeth, slapped on some aftershave then gripped the sink and took a few deep breaths.
"Relax. the hard part is over." He rolled his eyes at his own reflection then went out to the living room to grab his keys and wallet. "Ellie, I'm going to wait for Lorelai in the diner."
"Wait!" He heard her scrambling off her bed and her bedroom door flung open. "Don't you think you should invite this young lady up so I can meet her?"
"You've already met her."
"Not since you started dating."
"Ellie-"
"Didn't we just last week talk about dating and how you wanted to meet anyone I was interested in dating?" Ellie pursed her hands on her hips and looked at him sternly. "Now I let it slide for your first date considering how nervous you were but I believe the time has come-"
"Ellie, not tonight."
"I see. So what we're dealing with here is double standards."
Luke stood by the door, his hand poised on the handle to pull it open. He didn't want to traipse Lorelai around his apartment in front of his daughter, hell he didn't want her seeing where he lived quite yet, he wasn't ready for that revelation. But he could see the look of interest in Ellie's eyes even past the mock stern tone she was displaying.
"Okay, how about next week I invite her over for dinner."
"In the diner?"
"No. up here." He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll cook something for the three of us and we can hang out up here."
"Okay, that would be an acceptable compromise." He squeezed her shoulder and smiled then hurried down to the diner. Seeing as they were just going to the cinema down the road he left his coat upstairs. He walked behind the counter and started a fresh pot of coffee, knowing she would like a cup when she got here. He wondered briefly if they were at the greeting kiss stage yet. If she would protest if he kissed her when she got here, or if she would initiate a kiss. He was weighing up the pros and cons when he heard the soft knock on the door behind him. He turned and smiled at the sight of her peeking through the slat blinds then hurried over and opened it to usher her in. He was disappointed when she didn't tip her face up to him for a kiss as she stepped by him and was only slightly more disappointed in himself for not kissing her.
"Hey, you want a coffee before we leave?"
"Oh god yeah!" she said laughing and she perched herself on one of the high stools as he poured the coffee into a to go cup for her, fixed a lid on it and passed it across the counter to her.
"Ready?"
"Just need to make one more pit stop if that's ok."
"Sure." He followed her to the door and held it open for her but before she could go out onto the steps he pulled her arm back to make her face him and lowered his head to capture her lips in an impossibly soft caressing kiss. Only a little more than a peck, he pulled away almost as fast as he connected their lips but held her in position and looked down at her fluttering eyes. "Sorry, I just wanted to…"
"Kiss me?" she finished for him.
"Yeah, but I was thinking about it all day and I was wondering if I would get up the nerve to do it when you got here, then I chickened out and I was...mad at myself."
"So that was an angry kiss?" she chuckled.
"No. It was an 'I'm not going to be afraid to kiss Lorelai Gilmore' kiss." He smiled then lowered his head and kissed her again.
"I could get used to this." Her lips moved against his as she spoke.
"Good." He pressed his lips to hers once more then straightened and ushered her out onto the street.
They walked towards the cinema but Lorelai detoured into Doose's market and bought several different packets of candy. She carried them with glee as they walked to the cinema where Luke bought two tickets and held the door open for her.
"So this is a book shop?"
"It's a library."
"And a cinema."
"At night yeah it's a cinema."
"Does it always show classics?"
"I dunno."
"Oh popcorn!"
"But you have the candy…"
"Candy but not popcorn." She steered him towards the concession stand and urged him to buy a large tub then let him carry it and steered him to the front row where the large red couch was. As soon as they sat she dipped her hand into the popcorn and took a handful. Luke held it steady and watched her eat single kernels one by one then rip into a bag of candy and do the same with colorful gummi bears. "So have you seen this movie?" She asked and snuggled up against his side.
"Um…" Luke had to struggle to think of the name of this movie and glanced down at the tickets in his hand to see. "No, I don't think I have."
"Oh man are you in for a scare."
"Scare?" He looked down at the ticket again. "I thought this was about camping?" He had asked Ellie about the movie and she mentioned it was about a group of friends who went camping but got lost. "Ellie said it was a documentary."
"She did?" Lorelai covered her mouth with her hands and stifled her laughter. "Luke, the Blair Witch Project is one of the most successful horror movies of all time."
"Horror?" he shifted uncomfortably in his chair and glanced up at the screen to check if it had started yet.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you." She gripped his arm and pulled it closer to her so his hand fell between her knees. He didn't like horror movies. he didn't see the point in forcing yourself into a state of fear when there was already so much stuff out there willing to bring fear into your life unbidden. But now, sitting on this couch, with Lorelai practically pressing his arm between her breasts, and his hand dangling between her legs, his fingers brushing her inner thigh, he could see the appeal.
The movie started and he settled into his position, relishing her warmth. his other hand held the popcorn on his lap and at one point, as she neared the end of the tub she leaned closer, brushed her breasts along his arm and tightened her legs on his hand and whispered in his ear.
"There better just be popcorn in this tub."
It took him a minute to realize what she was actually saying and when he caught on he felt a hot blush rise up from his neck. He ducked his head but it was no use, she was already watching him and delighted in it. He rolled his eyes at her focused his mind back on the movie and moments later she was watching it too. She rested her head on his shoulder and he relaxed against her. his fingers stroked her leg in idle patterns until the next jump scare in the movie made him grip her thigh tightly and she yelped out.
"God sorry…!" He rubbed the spot he just pinched but she was laughing and patted his arm.
"Don't worry about it. You can kiss it better later."
Her words bounced around his mind, the actual meaning and action behind what she meant sank in and he felt his fingers stroke her leg a little harder. He tried to keep his mind on the movie but not so much that he would get scared again and instead let his mind wander to the sensation of her warm leg under his hand. Finally the movie ended and though he was happy that there was no longer a threat on the screen in front of him he hated the thought that it meant he could no longer languish against her. They watched the credits huddled together and when the lights came up and the movie was stopped they turned to see the place was empty.
"I guess we should leave." She stood up and stretched and he couldn't help himself when he saw how her tee shirt rose up her body showing him a strip of her skin he reached out and dragged his fingertips across her midriff. "Oh!" She giggled and squirmed under his touch but when she didn't bat his hand away he was emboldened to continue.
He stood up next to her and let his other hand touch her skin. his fingers on her waist stroked her softly then as one moved to the small of her back the other made slow soft circles up her side, up and down over her ribs as her hands connected at the back of his neck.
"Did I tell you how good you look tonight?" he said softly. She shook her head and smiled. "You look amazing."
"Why thank you. You clean up pretty good yourself."
The hand that rested on her back pulled her a little closer and she stepped in between his legs so their hips were touching then lowered his face to kiss her. At first it was a simple kiss, his lips pressing gently against hers then he tipped his head, dragged his tongue across her lips to gain entry and when she granted it he pressed his chest against hers as he lapped his tongue around her mouth, wallowing in the hot wet sensation he found there. The kiss seemed to last forever and he wanted it to last forever more but an insistent coughing from someone standing behind them made him pull away and look over her shoulder. Lorelai giggled and pressed her face into the crook of his shoulder.
"Kirk…" Luke said through gritted teeth.
"The movie is over!"
"Give us a minute."
"I have to get home and feed my cat."
"I'll lock up."
"Taylor would kill me."
"Geez…" Luke let his hands trail away from Lorelai's skin and looked down at her to see her smiling with mirth.
"C'mon, I'll walk you home." He took her hand in his and led her out of the cinema and through the square. Only when they were halfway there did he slow down. "Sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it." She squeezed his hand. "Did you enjoy the movie?"
"I enjoyed watching the movie with you." he looked down at her with a sideways smile.
"I enjoyed watching you watch the movie."
Luke chuckled. "Documentary. I'm gonna kill Ellie."
"Well it kind of was a documentary."
Luke lifted an eyebrow at her and she smiled, lifted his arm and tucked herself against him under it. "Speaking of Ellie...she um, would like to have you over for dinner next week."
"She would?"
"I would. We both would."
"At the diner?"
"No. In our home." he said eventually, not realizing how hard it was going to be for him to utter that phrase. "I'll cook."
"Sounds great."
"How is Wednesday? Are you free on Wednesday?"
"Sure, what's for dinner?" she poked his chest when she asked.
"I dunno yet. I'll think of something. Something special."
They reached her garden and slowly made their way up the path to her porch. She fumbled for her keys and opened the door, all the while holding one of his hands and started to pull him in, all without saying a word but she was met with resistance.
"Don't you want to come in?" she was already inside the house and dropped her bag on the table behind the door. Luke leaned on the door frame and smiled.
"Oh I want to. Believe me, I want to."
"But?"
"But I don't think I should." he ducked his head away from her knowing gaze then lifted it with a rueful smile.
"Luke?"
"I can't just think about what I want. I need to think about Ellie. And what all this means for her." The words sounded stifled, heavy and awkward around his tongue. "I feel like this...us, whatever it is we're becoming, I feel like it's something I'm going to want to hold onto. And for that to happen, I want to do all this properly."
"I understand." she rested a hand on his chest and he covered it with one of his own.
"I don't want you to have to understand. I want you to…" he let out a short laugh. "I just want you." With his hands bracing either side of the door frame he leaned in and kissed her hungrily but before it could become too heated he pulled away. "Dinner next week? I want you to meet Ellie properly."
"I can't wait."
"Good night Lorelai Gilmore."
"Good night Luke Danes."
Luke blew a lungful of air over his own face and let his eyes wander over her body without even trying to hide his interest. "I'm leaving now." he said without moving as his eyes lingered over her waist and the strip of skin showing there. "Any minute now."
"You don't seem to be moving."
"I am...just really slowly."
"Get outta here you tease."
"Tease?" his eyes shot up to hers and they connected in blue sparks and before he could rethink his plan of action he released the door frame, stepped into her foyer and grabbed her in a tight hungry kiss. One hand cupped the back of her neck, the other trailed down her back to her ass, over her cheek to her thigh to drape her leg over his hip as he walked backwards and pressed her to the wall behind her. He pressed his body against hers, his hips moved in time with his tongue, leaving no doubt in her mind exactly how much he wanted her when she felt his growing erection press against her, even through the denim they were both wearing. She grabbed his shoulders, his arms, his hair, anything she could get purchase on to grind against him and he moaned into her mouth when she hit his groin just so.
He wanted to pull her pants off, drop his enough to release his cock and press it into her as far as it could reach but all too soon his senses came crashing back and he felt his hips and tongue slow down. She whimpered at the loss of friction and tried to pull him back against her but his mind was made up now and he slowly dropped her leg and stepped back to hold her at arms length.
"You don't know the spell you've cast over me Lorelai Gilmore."
"Clearly it's not powerful enough."
"Oh it's plenty powerful, trust me." He let her go and walked backwards towards the door and when she took a step to follow him he waggled a finger at her. "No! Stay there, don't come near me!"
She smiled and twirled a stray strand of hair around her finger then cocked her hips just so and made his eyes roll into the back of his head before he turned and hurried out the door. Luke dry washed his face as he walked across her yard and decided he would need to take a few laps around the block before going back to the apartment lest he have to answer some very unsavory questions from Ellie.
When he was sufficiently cooled down he went home and climbed the stairs in a slow languid speed. He opened the main door and turned to close it behind him, surprised at the darkness that greeted him. He locked up and tip toed through the kitchen to get to his room when he noticed a large green duffel bag on the floor by the couch. His mind reeled at the familiarity of the bag but he couldn't place it. Before his brain had a chance to kick in he heard Ellie's bedroom door open and he turned to see his daughter hurry over to him and engulf him in a bear hug.
"Mom is home!" she said in a stage whisper.
"What?"
"She got here about an hour ago. Isn't it great?!" he looked down at the pure look of delight in Ellie's face and forced a smile to curve across his own lips.
"Yeah honey, it's great."
"She is in the shower. I set up the couch for her. It's okay that I asked her to stay right?"
"Of course it is honey, of course it is."
Ellie squeezed him again then tip toed back to her room and shut the door behind her. Luke pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and sat down with a heavy sigh, a complete contrast to the light footed feeling he had not ten minutes ago.
"God dammit," he muttered to himself.
"I guess you are not as excited to see me as Ellie is." He turned to see Rachel standing in the bathroom doorway clad in nothing but one of his shirts.
"Jesus Rachel, what are you wearing?"
"Sorry, I need to do some laundry. You don't mind do you?"
"I'd rather you didn't."
"Should I…" she gripped the bottom of the shirt and started to pull it up but Luke waved her off.
"No! It's fine. Wear it. Get your laundry done." He looked her up and down. She had clearly been traveling in some place warm, as was evidenced by her deep all over tan. She was still wafer thin but he knew from experience it was a size that belied the strength she possessed. Her hair was shorter than it was last time. Her dirty blonde curls coming to just below her ears in their usual unruly way and her eyes sparkling with mischief just as they always did. "So how long are you here for this time?"
"Nice Luke. I only got here an hour ago and already you are asking when I'm leaving?"
"Just like to be prepared."
"Maybe I'll be staying this time."
"Maybe not."
"I dunno." She shrugged as she strolled over to the couch and dropped onto it, letting the shirt trail up enough so she could draw on her stomach and Luke caught a glimpse of a pair of deep red panties before looking up to the ceiling. "I just finished an assignment in Africa. I think I could do with some home rest and good cooking."
"Home?" Luke scoffed. "This is not your home Rachel. It never was."
"Luke that's not fair, I grew up in Stars Hollow too."
"You know what, I'm tired. Too tired for this conversation. Again."
"Ellie said you were on a date. Who was she?"
"None of your business." he walked across the room towards his bedroom. "Goodnight." he called out before resolutely shutting the door behind him.