Later, after we stayed long enough to keep up appearances and chatted with Dana and Eric, we left Cipriani's and took the limo back to the hotel, dropping Dana and Eric off on our way.
"So,” Luke said when we got inside the hotel room and removed our shoes. "What did you think? I mean, other than my mother's craziness?"
I sighed and lay back on the sofa, my feet on the coffee table. "I'm worried," I said and made a doubtful face. "I think she's more or less said this means war."
"What is she going to do? She can't make us break up."
"I hope not," I said, and he sat beside me and put his arm around the back of the sofa. "But she could probably make our lives hell."
"How?" Luke said, shrugging. "She can cut me off from all contact with her and Dad, but that won't hold out for long. Dad is happy for us. She'll come around soon enough."
"You're more optimistic than me. Your mother is formidable, and I worry she could do more damage than you think."
"I'm a free man," Luke said. "I no longer care about their money, or even my family's money. I have my own stake and as far as I'm concerned, I'm a free man. I can do whatever I want from now on and there's not a damn thing she can do about it."
I exhaled and gave Luke a smile, but in my gut, I didn't believe it. He was a free man, but that didn't mean Mrs. Marshall couldn't make our lives hell.
"Enough talk about my mother and her machinations," Luke said and pulled me onto his lap. I slipped my arms around his neck and straddled his hips. "I want a kiss -- and a whole lot more."
"You do, do you?" I asked, coyly.
"I do. A whole lot more."
Then we kissed, and for a while at least, any thoughts about Mrs. Marshall and her threat were lost in a hot wave of passion.
Later, after we finished showering, we lay on the king-sized bed and watched the late news, catching up on what we'd missed while we were at the dinner or were busy getting busy. I yawned and leaned up to kiss Luke, who was focused on some sports scores.
"Good night, my love," I said and smiled at him.
"You going to sleep?"
I nodded. "It's been a long day."
"Good night," he said and kissed me once more.
I turned over, tired of the news and needing sleep. I wanted to get up early and go visit Candace for breakfast, picking up a few groceries and making her some bacon and eggs.
The next morning, I got up and let Luke sleep in. I left him in bed with his pillow thrown over his head and had a quick shower before dressing and calling down to the limo service that would take me to the store and then drop me off at Candace's place. I left him still snoozing and wrote a note to let him know I was at Candace's and had let the security guard who was my new best friend know where I was going so he could park his vehicle outside on the street and make sure Blaine didn't show up.
I went down to the limo and we drove off to the store. I went inside and picked up a few items that I knew Candace wouldn't have and then I got a call while I was waiting in line at the check-out.
It was from Luke's mother.
"Hello," I said when I answered. "Hello, Mrs. Marshall."
"I want you to come and talk to me," she said, her voice sounding firm but not angry. "We need to discuss the engagement."
"I'm kind of busy right now. I have plans to make breakfast for my best friend."
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"After you're done, we can have a nice lunch together. Mr. Marshall has given me the word and so I wanted to speak with you, to clear things up between us."
That sounded hopeful, so I sighed and glanced at my watch. "I should be done at around one thirty or so. I could come by then."
"That would be wonderful. I'll see you then."
I ended the call, a sense of unease at having to meet with her. I'd send a text to Luke to let him know and planned on doing so once I got in the limo.