Chapter Seventeen

Luke opened his eyes slowly when he heard noise coming from upstairs and he had to stop himself from swearing when he felt the crick in his neck. He looked down and saw Becca sleeping peacefully against him, smiling to himself, his neck already forgotten. He wasn't entirely sure how they'd ended up like this: he was laying with his head against the arm of the couch and she was in front of him in his arms, with her face against his chest, as if she'd turned away from the blue TV screen as she'd slept.

'Sunrise, slipping through the trees…'

His mother had turned last night's CD on again, Blake Shelton, not family despite the same surname.

'I guess I got carried away, kept you out here all night.'

Luke smiled at the girl in his arms.

'By the smile I see on your face, I think you're having a good time.'

She'd definitely laughed and smiled plenty all of yesterday and last night.

'When I picked you up knew it wouldn't be enough. Couldn't fit it in one night. Should'a told you then soon as you got in, I'd be taking my sweet time.'

He frowned a little as he listened, his arms still around Becca to keep her close, and from falling off the edge of the couch.

'Ain't a way I can love you the way that I want to, in just one night girl. I know, that I'm just now getting to be somebody that you know. Kick your seat on back 'cause girl we're gonna take it real slow. We already turned last night into tomorrow, and we're just getting started.'

He remembered hearing this song when they'd come in last night, as he'd turned to look at the clock at that point. But he hadn't paid it too much attention then.

'Couldn't fit it in one night. Should'a told you then soon as you got in, I'd be taking my sweet time. I could show you around all over the town, whatever you like, girl. Ain't a way I can love you the way that I want to, in just one night girl.'

He looked down at her again, her chestnut brown hair covering part of her face, one hand on his chest, the other folded over her own hip and against his hand. And he felt a warm feeling spread in his chest that he couldn't explain.

'I'm gonna love you, I'm gonna show you. I'm gonna do you right, girl. You ain't a one kiss kind that I won't miss, you ain't just a one night girl. When I picked you up knew it wouldn't be enough. Couldn't fit it in one night. Should'a told you then soon as you got in, I'd be taking my sweet time.'

His heart hammered against his ribs, making him hope she couldn't hear or feel it, as he suddenly realized his mother and sister were right; he did have feelings for Becca, beyond their agreement.

'Ain't a way I can love you the way that I want to, in just one night girl. You ain't a one night girl, you ain't a one night girl, you ain't a one night girl, you ain't a one night girl.'

It was becoming painfully obvious as he thought back over the past month that it had been a long time coming. Even the first night they met; his suggestion to try to get back at their exes had come from a desire to get to know her better and to be able to see her beyond just that night. Apart from maybe the first two kisses, which had definitely been in public for Derek's benefit, the others hadn't been as much; they were more because they'd wanted to. There were plenty more times where he would've kissed her if they hadn't been interrupted; at the tree lot, at the office party, at the Sky Deck, when they'd read her article together, even last night on the carriage.

Luke tried not to groan out loud as he tried to think of what to do now. Some of those times she'd seemed to want to kiss him too, so he was hoping that meant she felt the same and hadn't just got caught up in the moment. But she was leaving for Milwaukee today, how was he supposed to find time to talk to her about this?

"Morning," her sleepy voice almost made him jump.

"Morning," he said slowly, looking down at her as she leant back a little to give him a smile before making herself comfortable against his chest again. His mouth felt dry with nerves, as he wasn't sure what to say or do now.

"Luke?" his mother's voice called softly as she made her way down the stairs, making him want to shoot himself; even though he'd realized she had been right about his feelings, he didn't want his mother getting the wrong ideas from how they were sleeping on the couch. "Oh, sorry," Mrs. Shelton said, a little embarrassed when she spotted them. He gave her a glare when Becca stirred and looked over her shoulder, almost jumping up when she saw it was his mother.

"We fell asleep watching the Grinch," she said immediately, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Don't mind me. I was just coming to see if you wanted breakfast, it's almost ten," she said, oddly beaming proudly at her son.

"Sure, we'll be up in a minute," Luke told her, just wanting her to leave as quickly as possible. He slowly started sitting up as well, pleased to see his mother simply nodded and headed back upstairs. He supposed that could've been worse, as he rubbed his sore neck.

"You okay?" Becca asked when she noticed.

"Yeah, it's just from where I slept against the couch," he said, squinting a little when he felt it crack as he straightened his neck.

"I'm sorry," she said, reaching over to help massage his neck and the top of his shoulders.

"No, that's okay, I'm fine," he almost flinched away from her as soon as her hands touched him, not knowing how to act now he knew that he wanted her, seeing a hurt confusion enter her eyes. "I'm sorry, we don't want breakfast to get cold," Luke said quickly, knowing his mother would've made a big breakfast with pancakes, bacon, sausage and eggs for their guest's last morning.

"Right, okay," she nodded, trying to shrug off the weird feeling that had just settled in her stomach, as she got up. He followed her example and quickly led the way upstairs.

After a long and relaxed breakfast, both Luke and Becca went upstairs to start getting ready. He used his mother's shower as she used the bathroom next to her room. He took a little longer than normal, letting the water pound on his head and back as he thought about what to do now. He still hadn't figured it out as he headed back towards his room with his towel around his waist, freezing in place when he noticed her leaving the bathroom with a towel wrapped securely around her body.

"Sorry," he stammered as he stepped back to let her go through the hallway first, ignoring the water drops on her shoulders and definitely the one that teasingly made its way down her neck, collarbone and chest.

She blushed as she tried not to stare at his muscular chest and tight abs, holding onto her towel a little tighter as she headed into her room. She closed her door and leaned back against it, fighting to control her breathing. She'd known he had a fantastic body, but it was different seeing it firsthand and up close.

"You're such an idiot," he muttered to himself as he headed towards his room as well.

Luke took his time getting ready, knowing he had to do something before she left, one way or another. In the end he decided to try to talk to her before they left for the airport but resorting to tell her at the airport if needed. He even threw a couple days' worth of clothes in his backpack with his passport, just in case. He wanted to spend more time with her, so if she was open to it he would suggest joining her home to Milwaukee. He ended up rushing a little when he noticed it was one o'clock and they'd have to leave for the airport soon.

He took his backpack downstairs and headed into the living room, seeing her put some of the presents she'd bought under their tree. "Ready?" he asked softly, not wanting to make her jump, surprised to see her shrug. Her stuff was ready to go, but she wasn't ready to leave this house or his family yet.

"Yeah, I guess," Becca said out loud now. She felt awkward saying goodbye to his sister and mother, wanting to thank them for so much more than just having her over and making her feel welcome. "Thank you for everything, Miranda," she resorted to saying softly as she gave his mother a hug goodbye.

"Any time dear. And you're welcome to come back whenever you want," Mrs. Shelton assured her, pressing a motherly kiss to her forehead before she let go of their guest. She hoped it would help make their minds up. Luke definitely got the feeling from looking on that his family seemed to like her and approve of her more than they had Kirsty.

"Make sure to keep that idiot brother of mine in line when you get back to San Antonio," Leanne said with a chuckle as she hugged her now, poking her tongue out at her twin when he gave her a glare.

"Yeah, course," Becca nodded, managing a small smile as well, wondering how much they would see of each other once they got back after the holidays. Their agreement was only meant to last until Christmas, but she felt like they'd at least become close enough as friends to still want to hang out every now and hang again, if not more; she hoped he felt the same way.

"We should probably get going," Luke said now, getting his 'girlfriend's' suitcase and rolling it towards the door. His mother pulled their guest in for one more hug before letting her go. He led the way out to the truck, lifting her carry-on suitcase into the trunk and throwing his backpack in as well, trying to be inconspicuous.

"Thanks again," Becca said to his family as she climbed into the passenger seat, giving them a wave as he backed out of their drive. The two Shelton women gave her a wave as well, hooking arms as they hoped they would see her again soon. It had been a while since they'd seen Luke as happy as he seemed to be with her.