Page 149 of See You There

“I’m beat,” Cara said. “I’m out of practice with the social scene.”

“Thank you all for being here. It meant a lot to me to have your support tonight.”

Cara’s violet eyes found Dahlia’s. “You’re worth it. Who one of us loves, we all love.” She looked meaningfully at Luke, and then whispered into Dahlia’s ear. “Give him a chance. I’m not saying our family doesn’t have issues, but when we love, we love hard.”

Dahlia nodded.

“All right, boys. Take me home.”

“I’m going to stay.” Luke sent Dahlia a questioning glance.

His heart swelled when she took his hand and interlaced their fingers.

“That sounds perfect.”

After saying their goodbyes to Luke’s family, he turned to her. “So, how was that for a grand gesture?”

“A what?”

“James said I needed to make a grand gesture for there to be no doubt in your mind how I feel about you.”

“Well, showing up with your entire family and telling a reporter that you were in love with mewaspretty grand.”

“I meant it. You didn’t believe me when I said I could do this. I thought if I could show you, by letting the entire world know how I feel, you would see I’m serious about being with you.”

“I don’t want you to be miserable.”

“I would be miserable without you,” Luke pressed his lips to hers before pulling back. “It will be an adjustment. I don’t want all parts of our life to be public, but I want the world to know you’re mine.”

“You know, you probably disappointed a lot of women in Atlanta tonight. Most eligible bachelor is off the market.”

“Am I?

“Oh yeah,” she said, slipping her arms around his waist and lifting her face for another kiss. “Most definitely off the market.”

Luke brushed her hair off her face with his thumbs. “I love you, Dahlia.”

“I love you, Luke.”

The next fewmonths were a whirlwind.Love in Armswas a massive success. There was so much publicity around the movie because of all the sensational events leading up to the premiere, and Luke’s very public declaration of love, that most of the coverage on her family was forgotten after the first couple weeks.

Simon worked his magic, and soon Dahlia had tons of offers to choose from. Dahlia took most of the month of August off to be with Luke, and for part of that time, they retreated to the cabin where they fell in love. But by early September, she was on her way to Vancouver to begin rehearsals on a new project.

Luke rode with her to the airport, neither wanting to be apart sooner than they had to be. The black SUV pulled to the curb, and when the driver opened her curbside door, a couple of paparazzi emerged from the terminal. Dahlia sighed. There were always cameras at Atlanta’s busy airport. Each photographer was trying to capture a shot of one of the many celebrities and athletes who lived or worked in Atlanta. Dahlia had hoped by having such an early flight she’d miss them.

Luke took her rolling bag from the driver and walked with her to the security line while a few paps took their pictures.

“Still okay?” Dahlia asked worriedly.

Luke’s mouth quirked up. “Still love me?”

“Always.”

“Then let’s give them the money shot, so they leave us alone,” he said, and then kissed her silly. “I’ll fly out next week,” Luke said, smiling into her dazed eyes.

They had made a deal that when she was filming, they wouldn’t spend more than two weeks apart without a weekend visit.

“See you there!”

The End