William stopped walking when he saw his middle daughter kissing Lucas under the arches.

"Now, dear. Remember that she is a grown woman, not a teenager and fully capable of choosing her own dates," Grace told him, squeezing his hand. "She very obviously cares for him."

"She barely knows him."

"Will, we don't know the full situation. If she's kissing him, she's comfortable with him."

"They are kissing out here, basically making out…"

She reached up and turned his chin so he was looking at her. "Are you telling me you weren't planning to do the same when you asked me to walk with you?"

He smiled and kissed her softly. "Fair point."

"Mom? Dad?" Elizabeth said as she and Lucas walked up. "Its beautiful out here, isn't it?"

"Yes, dear," Grace agreed. "Lovely."

"Can we have that chat?" William asked Lucas.

"Of course, sir."

Elizabeth squeezed his hand, questioning.

Lucas kissed her forehead and squeezed her hand back. "I'll meet you at the fountain in a few minutes?"

"Okay."

Elizabeth headed to William and kissed his cheek. "Remember I'm thirty years old, Dad, almost thirty one."

"I remember, Bethie."

Her look told him to be nice so he nodded and left her standing with her mom.

Lucas put his hands in his pocket as they strolled. "I'm an open book, Mr. Thatcher. What would you like to know?"

"Honestly, it may seem old fashioned but I'd like to know your intentions with our Beth."

"I care for her, sir. I've been in serious relationships before but Beth had helped me see that I was never truly in love. What I feel for Beth is strong, deep, true to be honest."

"I appreciate that you're being honest but how are you planning to make your relationship work with so many miles between you?"

"We have planned various trips to see each other and we talk or text every day. I know it won't be easy, but she's worth it, sir. She and I are best friends and that is a very important thing to start with in a relationship. Do you agree?"

"Indeed."

….

Fountain

Lucas sat on the bench by the fountain and loosened his tie and listened to the water behind him.

The talk with William had gone pretty much like he had assumed it would. He knew that William was being protective as Lucas would of his own daughter, when he had one.

"Penny for your thoughts," Elizabeth said, sitting down next to him.

"I hate the thought of leaving you here and flying back to my home without you."

She took his hand and threaded their fingers together, kissing his knuckles. "Me too but I also know it's something we will need to get used to in the future."

"I don't think I'll get used to it."

"Are you having second thoughts?"

"No. Definitely not. I just meant that I've already given you my heart, Beth, and every time we separate, it won't be whole again until we're together."

"You're a very sweet man, Lucas Bouchard."

He sighed and put his arm around her shoulders, bringing her into his side.

"I'll take care of it," she said quietly, kissing his cheek.

"What?"

"Your heart and just so you know, you have mine too."

He raised his hand and softly trailed his fingers along her temple, down to her cheek and then using his index finger, he tipped her chin up and matched her mouth to his. This woman was his future. Yes it had been a very short time, but stranger things had happened. His own aunt had fallen in love and gotten married within six weeks.

They pulled apart when they heard someone clear their throat.

"Kyle?"

"Dude, I'm heading home."

Lucas nodded. "Thanks for telling me. I'll catch an Uber."

"I'll take you," Elizabeth told him.

Kyle looked at the two of them and walked off.

"Want to go somewhere? Catch a movie?" Elizabeth suggested.

"Or maybe get some coffee."

Neither of them wanted to say goodnight so they headed to a diner nearby and shared dessert and coffee.

…..

Goodbyes the next morning after breakfast were heartbreaking but at the same time, knowing that they were both feeling the same way about the other helped.

They would see each other next in person in March when he would fly to Philadelphia for her birthday. Knowing it was only a little over two months away helped them cope.

"I made it," he texted her from the airport in Detroit that evening.

"Miss u, Luke."

"What are you up to?"

"Going out to dinner with my parents before they fly home tonight."

"Sounds good. I'm going to the store for food and then hitting the sack since I work tomorrow."

"Drive safe. Text me later?"

"Of course."

Elizabeth's mind was very obviously on Lucas as she pushed her food around on her plate. She loved Mexican but she missed Lucas. His hugs, his kisses, the way he winked at her when he teased her. His calm, kind demeanor. Even his voice.

"That's a big sigh," Grace said, eating a chip with a big bite of guacamole.

"Sorry. I think I'll take this to the hotel."

"Missing Lucas?"

"Yeah. I'll be okay. We will see each other in March."

"He's coming for your birthday?"

"Yeah."

"Time goes fast. March will be here before you know it."

Grace was right as was usually the case.

However, with March and her birthday on the 18th, came the threat of a huge winter storm.

"I'm going to try, Beth, but they are canceling flights already."

"Crap. Maybe you can fly out here earlier?"

"Like today? I'm at work, Beth. I can't leave early today. If I can't make it tomorrow, we will figure something out."

She had the whole long weekend planned. He would come on Friday evening, stay in her guest room until Monday morning. They'd order food in, watch movies and just be there. In the same room.

"Stupid Mother Nature!" she yelled, making him laugh.

"I gotta go, Beth. Lunch is over. Talk tonight?"

"Of course. Bye."

"Bye."

"Uh oh," Florence said walking in the room of their rental space office. "Did his flight get canceled?"

"Not yet but I have a feeling it will soon."

"I'm sorry, dear. That's frustrating. I know how much you've been missing him."

So much. The man gave the best hugs and she really wanted one now.

Lucas hit confirm on his computer screen. He stood from his desk and grabbed his coat and computer bag.

"Boss, you need to go," his coworker Ryan told him. "Stay ahead of that storm."

"I'm out of here. Thanks for helping out this afternoon so I could surprise her."

"Happy to do it."

That evening, Elizabeth sat on her couch, by a roaring fire, watching The Bachelor and eating Chinese food. He hadn't called like he normally did after work but she knew he worked late sometimes. It was seven pm though.

Her phone dinged right then. She paused the tv and picked it up.

"Hey, sorry I'm late."

"That's okay. How was work?"

He called her so he could hear her voice. "Hey, beautiful. Work was good. How was your day?"

"I got that account," she told him. "The accounting firm's merger employee party."

"That's great, Beth!"

"Yeah. It's a great paycheck."

She looked up when she heard a knock on the door. "Hang on, Luke. Someone is here."

He smiled on the other side of her door. His heart pounded as he waited less than ten seconds for the door to open.

"EEEE!" she squealed, dropping her phone and launching herself into his arms. She pulled back just enough to pepper his face and lips with kisses. "You're here!"

"Surprise!"

"Mmm," she nodded, still kissing him, her legs wrapped around his waist now.

He pulled his suitcase in with one hand and held on to her with his other arm, trying not to trip or drop her.

"Beth," he mumbled, putting her down. "Let me shut the door."

She pulled her sweater down over her tight yoga pants and forced herself to calm down. Gosh, he was even better looking than he was two months ago?

"Hi," he said, taking off his coat and giving her that hug she had been craving.

"Hi." He pulled back and tucked her hair behind her ears.

"I missed you," he told her.

His phone buzzed so he pulled it from his pocket. He laughed. "They canceled all flights coming into Philly."

"Good thing you came early then."

He nodded and sat down on the couch, pulling her down onto his lap. "I kinda like the idea of being snowed in here with you."

"Me too."

She took his phone and took a few cozy selfies, including a kissing one that she sent to herself and Julie and Vi.

"I really can't believe you are actually here, Luke."

"I am." He looked at the coffee table and the tv. "Chinese and The Bachelor?"

"Mm. Two of my favorites when I don't have any work to catch up on." She kissed him again. "You hungry? I have extra."

"I am actually. Do you mind if I change and hit the bathroom first?"

"Oh, sure. I'll show you where everything is."

She led him down the short hallway to the guest room. "Your room," she told him. "If you get cold, there's an extra blanket or two in the closet."

"Thanks but I get hot sleeping so I should be good."

She decided not to think about what that meant but couldn't stop the blush from heating her own cheeks.

"Um…bathroom, here. Extra towels in the cabinet."

"Thanks. I'll be out in a few."

"Do you want a glass of wine or a beer?"

"Whatever you are having is fine."

She nodded and stared into his eyes for a long moment. He raised his hands and cupped her face, giving her a slow, deep kiss that took her breath away. "I'll..uh..be out soon."

She nodded and bit her bottom lip, walking away down the hall and out of sight. He leaned against the bathroom door and took a moment. He really needed to pace himself. Maybe not act on every single thought that popped into his head. Talk to her instead of kissing her constantly.

He shook his head at himself. He could do this, otherwise, he should see if there was a hotel nearby he could stay in.

When he emerged, he picked up the bottle of beer sitting on the table and took a long sip, sitting on the opposite end of the couch from her.

"Luke?"

"Hm?'

"Why are you sitting way over there?" She asked with a giggle.

"I think that maybe we should slow down. Just a little?"

"Okay. Slow is good. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"No. You didn't. I just know that we are staying here together and until we are both ready or at least had that 'big' conversation about expectations…"

"We can have that conversation whenever you are ready, Luke."

He nodded and took a large bite of an egg roll. "I'm ready."

"I'll start?" she asked. He nodded again.

"We have both been in serious relationships before. I've never lived with anyone but I have been with my former fiancé."

She moved closer and tucked her bare feet and those cute toes under his thighs and continued. "That being said, I think that jumping into that step might not be wise right now. I, personally, am not ready yet. Does that make sense?"

"Yes. It does. So when you are ready for that step, you'll tell me?"

"I think you'll know, but yes. I'll tell you."

He took another bite and looked back at her as he chewed. "I need you to know that I take intimacy seriously. I don't sleep with anyone that I'm not seeing myself with for the long term."

"Good to know," she told him, sipping her beer.

He honestly didn't know how she could be so effortlessly gorgeous and sexy and take his breath away just by having painted toes, yoga pants and sipping a beer. But she was. He knew at that moment that he wanted to see her just like that for the rest of his life.

He moved toward her and kissed her, slow and sweet. "I love you, Beth."

"I love you too."

"Happy Birthday."

"It is now."

…..

The next morning

Elizabeth whispered into her phone as she hid in her room. "He told me he loved me," she told Julie.

"That's so sweet, Elizabeth. I'm happy for you."

"Me too. You should see him in a pair of flannel pants and a henley. Hot."

Julie giggled. "I can imagine."

"Knock, knock," Lucas said on the other side of her door. "Breakfast time."

"He brought me breakfast in bed!" Elizabeth squealed, not bothering to whisper. "Come in."

"Enjoy, sister. Happy Birthday. Love you."

"Love you too."

"Good morning and Happy Birthday!" He said, bringing in a tray of pancakes and fresh fruit and some coffee.

"Thank you. This smells amazing."

"You're welcome."

"I didn't know you could cook."

"I can. My Mom taught me when I was a teenager."

"Remind me to thank her. Are you going to eat?"

"Yeah. I'll go get my plate."

After breakfast, they went to a bookstore just down the road. Thankfully, the snow was just starting so they had a bit of time to go there and get some groceries.

"12-15 inches," Lucas told her as they drove. "Wow."

"The weather is pretty much the same here as in Ann Arbor, right?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Except in Michigan, it could snow one day and be 50 the next."

"Sounds interesting."

They wandered down the baking aisles. "What is your favorite flavor of cake, Beth?"

"Mm German Chocolate with coconut pecan frosting. We can just buy a cake though."

"It's cheaper to do it this way and then we could make it together."

"So Lucas Bouchard is a saver?"

"Absolutely. I even use coupons."

"No way." She teased and squeezed his hand. "I need to learn some things from you, I guess."

He shrugged and smiled. "Not everyone has to do things the same way."

"No, but I'm always open to change."

He grabbed what they needed and when she grabbed eggs and milk, he picked up a bouquet of white tulips.

"Thank you, babe," she told him, kissing his cheek. "You're the best."

Their long weekend was perfect and now it was time to leave for the airport.

"My Uber will be here in ten," he told her.

She walked over to him and hugged him tight, soaking up every bit of Lucas Bouchard she could get before he left.

"May 1st," he told her. "We will go to the tulip festival. You're going to love it."

"Do they have white ones?"

"They have all the colors."

"Sold."

After a few kisses, his Uber driver texted. "Love you, Beth."

"Love you."