DaisyMaeDuke

"You're going?" Luke wasn't one to have his heart on his sleeve...that was Bo...but right now, he couldn't hide the want for her to stay.

Luke watched her go with a sigh, watching the door. He barely noticed when Lori sat by him and started talking. In fact, had she sked him to repeat it, he would not have been able to. He just said a simple "uhu" too distracted by the door and the woman on the other side of it.

Luke kissed her passionately, allowing his hand to stay on her knee. He had missed her so terribly. He longed to tell her so, but having always been more a man of action than of words, he let his lips do the talking as he wrapped his other arm around her running his hand up and down her back,. Now normally Luke Duke wasn't much for public displays of affection... but Candy was unlike any other woman and Luke couldn't help himself.

Truth be told, Luke hadn't expected this either. Bo was the one to move quickly in the family. Luke was more cautious... almost to a fault. But now, here he was, kissing Candy, and finding her lips as sweet as her name suggested.

Luke colored a little at the compliment, feeling the familiar chill creeping up his spine when Candy touched him. It had been sensless to try and get over her...she was as much a part of him as his heart was, and with reason...his heart had never ceased belonging to her. Gently he reached up pushing back her blond hair before leaning forward and kissing her lips.

Luke motioned to a secluded table...as secluded as a table could be in te Boar's Nest anyway and pulled out her chair for her, before sitting beside her and taking r hand in both of his. "You look beautiful."

You can count on it honey" answered Daisy with a smile. Luke carefully put the card in his pocket again, smiling that it smelled of her: a faint trace of honeysuckle. He had a bad case of the love bug and he knew it, but he also knew that after holding Candy once more, he was happier than he had been in a long time... a very long time.

"Lori!" cried Daisy running over and giving her a hug. "When'd you get here?!" Luke took the card out again and looked at her name, smiling briefly as he let his mind play triks on him and instead of reading the words "Candy Dix" read "Candy Duke" instead.

Luke swallowed hard before going over to the General Lee and getting in, not saying a word to anyone, a look in his eyes usually seen in Bo's- that of a man in love.

Luke swallowed and put his had to his cheek as if to keep the kiss there permanently and carefully pocketed the card. "See you later."

"I missed you Candy...Ain't a day gone by I ain't thought about you... you look great," he added lookng down but not letting go of her enjoying the feeling of her in her arms once more.

Luke forgot all about the hurt he had felt the moment Candy was in his arms. He still felt that spark of excitement everytime he heard her voce...and she still fit just perfectly in his arms...quite as if she was meant to be there.

His head was screaming at him to run the other way- that she had hurt him once before and would surely hurt him again. But for once, Luke Duke listened to his heart instead and found himself walking towards the beautiful woman in front of him.

Luke swallowed hardly daring to believe his eyes. "Candy?!"

"What crawled up her behind?" asks himself in disgust. "I'm glad you're alright Cooter, " he added beore going to join Bo.

"Thanks a lot," said Luke sarcastically, before going over to where Lori stood. "Y'all alright?" he asked not really meeting her eyes. Truth to tell he was still upset too, and the last thing he needed was to have a repeat of what happened last time.

I've heard the same thing about using their teeth, but I wouldn't have a clue how...do love horses though...

Luke bit his lip as the small girl hugged him. Bending over her he hugged her close pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek.

Luke was taken aback and stood in shock. An overwhelming feeling of love surged inside of him. Guessing that that was what most parents feel the first time they hear their child say Momma or Dadda, he nodded his voice a little choked. "Alright then...daughter."

Luke shrugged not having thought about that. "Well, Bo don't take too kindly to being called Beauregard... other than that, I guess whatever you're comfortable with."

"I can't either...I'm still more nervous than a turkey Thanksgiving mornin'...but I suppose you knew that..." said Luke smiling a little.

"See there? She likes ya...." smiled Luke.

"This here's Maudine... she's gentle as a kitten and stubborn as Bo...you can pet her...she won't bite" he added scratching behind the mules ears the way she liked.

Luke smiled back, putting a hand gently on her shoulder. "Come on...I'll show ya the barn first..." Luke gently put his arm around her leading her there.

He swallowed hard and gave Jaime an almost shy smile as he helped with the bags. he couldn't believe he had really done this. to be sure everyone he spoke to thought he was crazy...but it certainly wasn't anything that hadn't been said about Luke Duke before...or any Duke for that matter.