You're doing a 4x4 dynasty now? Oh Hazelnut, we can always count on you to do them all! 
Best of luck!
Well, I had to complete the set, didn't I? It's not an addiction at all, honest
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And thanks
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Luke’s LovesMost people would have laughed at the idea that what Luke really wanted was a serious relationship. In fact, until recently, he’d probably have joined in. Ever since high school, he’d known what girls were for. He liked their company. He loved snogging.
He grew up and discovered WooHoo. That was even better fun. And why would he limit himself to just one partner when there was so much variety available? The more the merrier.
Then he met Ruth. She was beautiful and as flirty as he was. Surely Phil wouldn’t mind sharing?
Phil would.
Still, Ruth didn’t seem to be letting that bother her too much. They carried on meeting, and flirting, out of Phil’s sight.
Gradually, though, Luke began to feel that Ruth was using him. He wasn’t quite sure what she was up to but he’d caught a hard look on her face sometimes. He started spending less time at home, trying to avoid being alone with her.
Arlene made that easier. They’d first met when she was a teenager and a schoolfriend of Dora’s.
After her graduation they chatted for hours. She was interested in business and he was now the local division manager. He was delighted to pass on advice to an interested youngster. It was entirely incidental that she was pretty and had a crush on him, according to Dora.
As colleagues, they inevitably saw a lot of each other and it was only natural that he’d spend evenings round at her house, ‘discussing the future of the company’. Then she told him that she was pregnant. He was delighted, although she seemed less happy and always claimed to be busy when he called.
Then a business contact asked him if he’d be interested on setting up a company together, making video games. It would mean a temporary drop in income but the family was rich enough for that not to matter. As CEO, his working life was nothing but meetings. Getting paid for playing games seemed far more appealing. He was so involved in his new career that it was a surprise when he bumped into Arlene again and found her holding a toddler: his daughter Meranda.
Not only that, he discovered that she had a twin sister, Tamera.
He was a dad. Twice over. He’d fallen in a big way for Dora’s toddler charms but having two little girls of his own was even better. He’d have loved to have been a hands-on father – after all, he could work from home now – but Arlene started avoiding him again. Then the text arrived. The one that said it was all over between them. Maybe she’d heard about Candy.
He’d met Candy Souza while he was taking photos around town, getting reference shots for the latest game. He didn’t really need any pictures of people but he asked her to pose anyway. Then they started talking – and more. Candy wanted kids and Luke was happy to help out.
Before long, he had another set of twin daughters, Alisha…
…and Marlena.
Then Candy started avoiding him, too. That was fine. He’d have liked to have seen more of his kids but, to tell the truth, he was getting more than a little bored of Candy – and of his other girlfriends. Despite his reputation, sometimes he just wanted to talk and they’d done so little with their lives. Where could he find a woman who was his equal? Someone with skills and a career?
Then he came across his parents’ diaries, with their accounts of their early life in Hidden Springs, and he realised that such a woman did exist. He already had contacts at the science lab and Zoë could help him with the rest.
He paid a visit to the family graveyard.
His next stop was the Centre for Naturally Scientific Studies.
Then he brought her home for Ambrosia…
…and a Young Again potion.
Welcome back, Emmaline!
Of course, just because Luke had found an intellectual woman at last, that didn’t mean their relationship was entirely cerebral…
…and soon Luke was an expectant father again.
Emmaline produced his third set of twin daughters, Tansy and Bryony.
This time he really was going to be involved in his kids’ upbringing, even if Emmaline was reluctant to let him hold the babies. Maybe it was time for a complete change of lifestyle. He broke up with his other girlfriends and took one of the genie rings from the chest.
“Emmaline, you know you are very special to me. I’ve never met another woman like you.
“Would you…”
“Would I what? Luke, why are you kneeling on the kitchen floor? I told you I dropped an egg while I was making breakfast.”
This wasn’t quite going the way he’d planned.
“Emmaline Rhoen, please will you accept this ring?”
“Why on earth would I want to do that? It’s far too shiny. Probably radioactive or something. And anyway, I already have a ring. Look!”
“So you don’t want to marry me?”
“No.
“Oh, don’t look so sad. We can still have fun together. I just don’t want to marry you – and I don’t think you really want to marry me either. Now come on, I can hear crying. Race you to the nursery.”
