Lorelai stood next to Michel at the front desk of the Dragonfly Inn, her attention focused on him as he gave her an update.
"The guests in room 4 complained about the water pressure, the floral delivery that was expected yesterday has still not arrived, Gregory did not show up on time for work this morning, the diner man called looking for you, and I am going on my break," Michel reported.
Lorelai nodded along to the laundry list of problems. When Michel mentioned Luke, her ears perked up, and her facial expression changed to betray her interest in that particular bit of information.
"Luke called?" Lorelai asked, unable to hide her curiosity.
"Is that not what I have said?" Michel responded. "Must I repeat myself?"
"Well, did he say why he was calling?" Lorelai questioned.
"No, he did not. I am not your personal message boy. If you want to know why he called, you will have to ask him yourself," Michel told her. "Now, as I said before, I am going on my break. If you would like to continue questioning me then I expect to be paid time and a half."
Lorelai looked over the state of the front desk as Michel walked away. She would handle the inn related tasks later. An overwhelming mix of anxiety, excitement, and curiosity filled her. She felt like a teenager who had been waiting to hear from her crush. Don't be ridiculous, Lorelai. It's Luke. It's not like he hasn't called before. She told herself. She took a calming breath, reached for the phone, and dialed the familiar number.
"Luke's," she heard his deep voice, causing her heart to leap in her chest.
"Hi, it's me. Michel said you called," she told him, fidgeting with a pen she found on the desk.
"Yeah, I was hoping to talk to you. The diner was busy this morning when you came in, so I didn't get a chance to ask you," Luke said, filling the coffee of the nearest customers as he spoke.
"Ask me what?" Lorelai questioned.
"I want to take you out. A kind of back together date. Make it more official. Do something special. You in?"
Lorelai could not contain the huge smile that formed on her face at his words.
"Oooh, a back together date? So romantic. I'd love to."
Luke smiled as he said, "Good. That's good. Does tomorrow night work?"
"I'm free. Where ya takin' me, Mister?"
"It's a surprise," he replied.
"I like my men mysterious," she joked flirtatiously.
"I'll pick you up at 7:00," he told her.
"Okay, see you then. And probably before then, too. A girl's gotta get her burger fix."
"I'll see you both of those thens," he answered.
"Bye, Luke."
"Bye, Lorelai."
Lorelai hung up the phone, a smile still on her lips. A back together date with Luke. I'll need a new outfit.
Lorelai walked into the kitchen to find Sookie.
"Sookie! I must go shopping," Lorelai blurted out as soon as she saw her.
"Fill me in here. I know Lorelai Gilmore doesn't need an excuse to go shopping, but you don't usually come into the kitchen in the middle of the day to tell me about it."
Lorelai smiled, feeling giddy like a schoolgirl with her first crush.
"I need a back together outfit for my back together date with Luke," Lorelai explained.
"Oh, that's so exciting! A back together date with Luke! You're back together with Luke!" Sookie exclaimed, hopping around excitedly as she spoke.
"That is what a back together date implies," Lorelai confirmed.
"You'll need something sexy," Sookie said, thinking. "Of course, Luke will love whatever you wear, but something sexy will leave him speechless."
"Preferably something that says come and get it without too obviously saying come and get it," Lorelai said in agreement.
"Okay, let me finish up the lunch rush and then we can go together," Sookie told her.
"Perfect. I have some work to wrap up, too."
"Ahhh! I can't believe it! A back together date with Luke! A back together date with Luke!" Sookie sang as she went back to cooking.
A back together date with Luke! A back together date with Luke! Lorelai sang in her head as she went back to her work. It would be much harder to focus with thoughts of a certain sexy diner man swimming around in her head.
The bell rang above the door to the diner as Lorelai entered. The shopping trip with Sookie had been a success. She found a perfect outfit for her back together date with Luke. A form fitting, red dress that left just enough to the imagination and a sparkly pair of new heels. Lorelai approached the counter where Luke was standing. She leaned over to give him a quick kiss in greeting.
"Hi," she said as they pulled apart.
"Hi," he replied. "Here for your burger fix?"
"You know me so well," she said with a wink.
Luke put the order in so that Caesar would start preparing a burger and fries for Lorelai.
"How was your day?" he inquired, turning back to her.
"It was pretty great. First, I got a call from a handsome man who invited me out on a date tomorrow night. Then, I went shopping with Sookie and found a great outfit. Now, I'm here and I must say, I'm enjoying the view," she told him, raising her eyebrows suggestively at the last part.
"Sounds like a lucky guy," Luke bantered back.
"So lucky. Depending on how the date goes, I'm thinking he will get very lucky."
Luke tried to hide the smile forming on his lips unsuccessfully. He wasn't known for being soft and mushy, but something about Lorelai brought out that side of him.
The burger appeared in the window. Luke retrieved it, placing it in front of Lorelai.
"Mmm," she moaned, taking her first bite. "So tasty."
"Dirty," he said.
"Why, Luke, I'm surprised at you. Taking my innocent enjoyment of this big, tasty meat and making it sexual."
He rolled his eyes at her, causing her to laugh. Lorelai continued eating her meal as they chatted about the various things going on in town. When she finished her food, he cleared her plate and brought her some pie. She ate the pie just as enthusiastically as she had eaten the burger. Luke struggled to focus on something other than how sexy she could make eating a piece of pie. He knew that if he gave her his full attention, he'd be a goner.
"Are you coming over tonight?" she asked him.
"I can't tonight. I have some things to take care of for our date tomorrow," he told her.
Lorelai pouted at him, her blue eyes connecting with his.
"Luuuke. Are you sure you can't come over?"
Luke shook his head at her attempt to persuade him.
"Nice try. I'm sure."
She could tell he was sticking to his guns on this one, but she really didn't want to spend any more nights away from him.
"Do you like my hair like this?" she asked, flipping it in a way that could usually convince him of anything.
"You know I do, but this is just one of those times that doing that is not going to work on me."
"Oookay. I'm just really, really going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you, too," he assured her.
He leaned over to give her what was meant to be a quick kiss, but Lorelai's hands came up to caress his face, holding him there. She deepened the kiss, one hand playing with the curls sticking out under his hat and the other resting gently on his cheek. He responded to her, forgetting the other people in the diner around them. All he could think of was the amazing way her lips felt on his. The way she moaned softly as their tongues met. He broke the kiss reluctantly.
"Lorelai," Luke said after clearing his throat.
"What?" she asked, feigning innocence.
"You know what."
Lorelai smiled, pleased that she had such an effect on him.
"I'll see you in the morning for breakfast," she told him.
"I'll be here," he replied.
She leaned over to give him a quick goodbye kiss then stood to leave, adding an extra jaunt to her walk as she left. She glanced back when she reached the door to be sure he was watching and gave him a little wave goodbye. She had done her best to make sure Luke would be thinking about her all night. If she was honest, she would be thinking about him, too.