It was a cool brisk day but that didn't bother Meg. She had taken Golden Rod out for a run, but now her horse was just walking while Meg thought back to the day when Luke had taken her on a picnic.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Meghan threw her pillow over her head to muffle out the sound of the knocking at her door. "Go away." She mumbled. A few moments later, the door opened and Luke walked in.

"Come on, Lazy Bones, we're going out for a picnic and some fresh air."

Meg pulled the pillow off of her face, "Didn't I say to go away?"

"You've got 5 minutes to get freshened up. I'll be waiting downstairs." Luke said sweetly as he placed a book on her dresser and walked out of her room.

Well, if he thinks I am going on some silly picnic, he is sadly mistaken. Meg thought to herself. Two minutes later she stood before her mirror putting a brush through her hair and her stomach growling. He's lucky I'm hungry.

Meg never saw the book of Love Sonnets by William Shakespeare that Luke had placed on her dresser.

*********************

Luke sighed loudly, he had been trying throughout lunch to get Meghan to talk to him or at the very least smile.

"What?" Meg asked as he sighed again.

"Serena was kind enough to pack us a wonderful picnic lunch and you're wasting it by not enjoying it."

"I never asked to be taken to lunch, Luke."

"Meg it's not healthy to be locked up in your room day after day. You need to get out and see people."

Meg looked around the small meadow Luke had chosen for their picnic. There was no one around for miles. "This isn't exactly the most public place, Luke."

Luke smiled at her sarcasm. "You know what I mean."

"Yes, I guess I do."

"So do you want to talk about what's wrong?"

After some thought Meghan began. "I was trying to forget about Corey leaving and my disastrous Valentine's day so I went to Cromwell's, and I bought this beautiful figurine with the money I had left over from buying my dress for the dance. But then this kid bumped into me and it broke, but that's not the worse of it. She then tells me it's my fault it broke, and that I'm a snob who has no friends. She made me cry, Luke. I was so embarrassed. I've decided to ask daddy to send me back to Boston."

Luke listened attentively to Meg until she finished her minor rant. But when she mentioned leaving something snapped in him, somehow the thought of living in Dreamville without Meg seemed wrong. "Meg you are far too sensitive, who cares what some kid says. Get over it."

Meg's eyes opened widely, "Get over it! That's easy for you to say. I was the one who was made to look like a fool, and I'm sure by now the entire town knows it! Unlike you, I don't have the luxury of owning my own business, so I don't get to meet as many people as you do. It's not as easy for me to make friends as it is you! My best friend is gone and the only man I've ever set my heart on doesn't even know I exist!"

"Here we go again." Luke said as he rolled his eyes. He raised his voice an octave, mimicking her. "Oh poor me, Buck won't look at me." He fluttered his eyelashes and laughed. "Really Meg, you should find someone else. He's obviously not interested."

Meghan opened and closed her mouth several times, too shocked at Luke's nonchalant attitude to speak.

"Now before you get all huffy, all I'm saying is not to limit yourself to one man, you need to open your heart to the possibilities."

"What possibilities? If you haven't noticed, there aren't any men lined up to court me! And another thing," She said as she stood up, "You should take your own advice before handing it out to people Abel, after all, I'm not the one in love with another man's wife!"

Meghan turned and began to walk away. Luke knew he couldn't let her leave without him saying what he brought her here to say. This was going all wrong. He got up and raced after her, when he caught up to her he grabbed her arms and turned her to face him. "Listen to me, people's hearts can change who they have feelings for it just takes the right person to make them see it."

"And you've met this person?" She asked sarcastically.

"Yes."

Meg rolled her eyes, "Sure you have. You spend more time in my house than you do anywhere else, and we all know why."

"It's not what you think, Meg, I haven't thought about Serena in weeks." He said, his voice pleading for her understanding.

"So I guess you're there to see my father?"

Luke was getting frustrated. "No dammit, I'm there to see you! I want to be there when you smile or laugh, and I want to be the one who soothes you when you hurt."

"Oh please. I don't need your pity, Luke! So who's this mystery woman that you see at strange hours? Jaycella? Catherine? Rach."

Before she could finish, Luke had her in his arms his mouth over hers. Meghan's initial reaction was to stand as stiff as she could. Where had this come from? She wondered as Luke caressed her back. Slowly she closed her eyes and giving in to the impulses that Luke was stirring in her she melted into his arms. With a sob of pleasure Meg slipped her arms around his neck, as one hand slid up to her nape holding her firmly in place. Never in her life had she felt this surge of emotion.

Luke wasn't exactly sure why he had kissed Meg. All he knew was she hadn't been following where he was leading her, and in his frustration he let his actions speak louder than any of the words he could put together. She was tense at first but when she surrendered to him he felt as if he had gone to heaven.

Luke felt her submission and took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. He welded his mouth to hers making her moan in delight as she trembled against him. Slowly he ended the kiss and Luke stared down at her. With her swollen lips and slightly tousled hair she bore all the evidence of being thoroughly kissed. He cupped her face in his hands and caressed her cheeks. Slowly she opened her eyes. Before she could speak, Luke placed a finger to her lips.

"The new lady in my heart is the one I wanted to take to the Valentine's day dance, only I never asked her because she had her heart set on going with someone else. She's the only other person in this world besides Serena who can call me Abel and get away with it." He looked deep into her eyes before going on. "I waited for you all night at that dance. I saw you walk up to the doorway then turn and leave. I hoped you'd come back. You looked so beautiful. Don't leave me to go back to Boston, Meg. Don't let me wait for you to come back again." He said softly. Luke placed a small kiss on her lips before releasing her and turning back to the picnic they had left behind. "We'd better head back. It�s getting late." He said over his shoulder.

Meghan wrapped her arms around herself trying to gain some of the warmth she had felt in his arms. She was speechless. How had this happened? One minute she was yelling at him, and the next she was in his arms and he was kissing her like she had never before been kissed. She touched her swollen lips. What had she done? Before she realized it, he had packed up the leftovers and blanket and was standing in front of her.

He took her hand and placed it in his and together they walked to their horses in silence. Before helping her mount Golden Rod, Luke turned Meg to face him once more. "Buck has no idea what he's missing." He said softly. "Things are different now, Meg. We've crossed an important line. We have to decide where to go from here."

"Luke," Meg began, surprised at the huskiness of her voice.

He shook his head, "Not now. I want you to think about it, okay?"

Meg nodded. "Okay."