“Ready?” he holds out his arm for me, adding to my already growing list of things I like about Tyler.
“I have to stop at the library to send my homework.”
He looks down at his watch and sighs. “We’ll have to drive fast,” he laughs. Somehow I think that’s not a problem for him.
He walks us out of the house and shuts the door behind him, never letting go of my arm. When he walks around to the other side of the truck, I realize that this is the first time anyone is going to open the door for me. It’s crazy how this simple gesture makes my heart beat faster.
“Thank you,” I say, after he holds my hand, helping me into the truck. I’m not shy about staring at him as he runs around the front and hops in. I’m trying not to smile, but I can’t help it. Earlier today, when I was waiting for him, I was pissed. I thought he and Jeremiah were badmouthing me. It was my typical girl bullshit, always assuming the worst. I need to learn that not everyone in my life is out to get me or hurt me.
“After you do a little shoppin’, we’ll stop for dinner and then I want to take to you to Reds and introduce you to Della.”
The instant he says a female’s name, my body tenses. Maybe Tyler’s no different than the guys back in New York. Maybe he’s just better at hiding it than they are. I stiffen when he reaches for my hand, but I let him hold it just to save face.
“What’s wrong?”
How he knows something’s wrong is beyond me. “I’m fine.” I attempt to convince him but my smile is stilted and I turn to look out the window.
My hand clenches his as he barrels off the side of the road, digging up gravel and dust. Before I know it, he has my seat belt undone and I’m almost sitting on his lap. His hands cup my face, forcing me to look at him.
“I’m not playing games, sweetheart. That kiss back there? I meant it. Now tell me what just soured your mood.”
“Who’s Della?”
“Ah honey, she’s the bartender and she’s heard all about you probably from Jeremiah and his big girly mouth. I just wanted you to meet her that’s all. I’m not
one who goes around kissin’ beautiful girls when I have someone else to keep my bed warm at night. The moment I heard you were comin’ back,” he stops and shakes his head. I don’t know if he doesn’t want to tell me, but I want to know. “I’m fixin’ to say some seriously girly shit and if you laugh I’m going to take you over my knee, ya hear me?”
I nod and stifle a giggle. Sometimes, Tyler’s southern drawl is heavy and other times he acts like he’s not some straight-up southern cowboy.
“When Uncle Bobby mentioned you were comin’ back, I thought this was a chance for us to see if we really had a connection the way I remembered all those years ago. I made sure I had no loose ends before you arrived.”
“Loose ends, as in girls? Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No ma’am.” His smile is so wide and his eyes are gleaming. “Unless you want to be.”
I roll my eyes. “Ah shucks, Billy Bob, when you go and ask me like that, how can a girl resist?”
Tyler chuckles and leans in for a kiss. “I’m going to have so much fun with you tonight.” He brushes his lips quickly against mine and nudges me back to my seat. “Yehaw,” he screams loudly as he steps down on the gas pedal, his tires spinning up dirt and gravel as the tail end of his truck shakes back and forth. This is the Tyler King I’ve been waiting to see.
Chapter 11 – Tyler
Today is moving entirely too slow for my liking. Each time I look at my watch, only a minute or two has passed and I know my work is suffering. I’m not sick or hung over, just infatuated and I took the menial task of moving hay bales into the horse barn so I could be close to Savannah. She’s cleaning the horse stalls today, a job that I gave her so I could stare at her. So I could see her smile at me each time I passed by and with each smile, my steps falter a little bit more, but it’s worth it.
Last night… it was more than I ever expected. When I came out of the shower and saw her standing there waiting for me, my breath caught. The sun was beaming through the front window, shining on her just perfectly. She was glowing as if she were an angel, even though I knew she was far from it. Her piss-pour attitude from earlier still weighed heavily on my mind. But she surprised me. She moved closer. She touched me. That moment was everything I had hoped for and never thought would ever happen.
Yesterday I did things I never thought I would enjoy. I shopped, carried bag after bag and I held her hand proudly. There were stolen kisses under the awnings of storefronts and heated ones against the side of my truck. By the end of the evening, Savannah had stocked up on everything she needed to make it through the summer, including a pair of cowboy boots. I tried to buy her a hat, but she wasn’t having it. The plan was to take her to Reds, but when we arrived, they were closed so they could resurface the dance floor.
I hated leaving her at her front door and driving to my house. When I looked toward the big house, I could still see her silhouette standing on the porch. All I could think was that she was watching me, maybe waiting for me to come back. If she wasn’t Savannah, I would’ve. I would’ve kept her out all night and not cared about work the next morning or what her family might think. But this is Savannah and I work for her uncle. Bobby and Sue are my family and I respect them. I won’t be doing anything to mess that up.
I lift another bale of hay and set it on top of the stack. My t-shirt is soaked with sweat and I think today’s a perfect day for a dip in the pond. I glance over my shoulder at Savannah who’s dressed like a country bumpkin in overalls, tank top, muck boots and a ballcap. Her hair is braided and in pigtails. Annamae used to do that and I hated it, but on Savannah it looks freaking sexy as hell.
“What ya staring at, cowboy?”
My eyebrow rises slowly as I bite back a smirk. “Cowboy, huh?” I’m not gonna lie, her giving me a nickname does something to me. I make a mental note not to tell Jeremiah that I like it because he’d just tell me I’ve turned into a sissy and ask if I need to change my tampon.
Savannah shrugs and my eyes immediately fall to her bare shoulder. It’s beckoning for my lips. Many times throughout today I’ve wanted to take her into one of the stalls – a clean one of course – and have my way with her. I know just having her pressed against my body for a few minutes would be enough to curb my desires. No, I’m lying. A few minutes would be torture.
“I kind of like it. It fits you.”