His Innocent Cherry Pie: A Double Virgin Valentine

She nods. "I understand. Maybe after work we can go out?"

"Of course," I say. I park the truck and walk over to her door, pulling it open. "Your hair's all rumpled. Your makeup's messed. You sure your aunt and uncle aren't going to be mad?"

She shakes her head. "Oh, I'm sure they've been in bed for a while now. It's pretty late and I don't think I'll wake them. They're heavy sleepers."

I walk her to the porch. She stands on her tiptoes, giving me a goodnight kiss. "Until tomorrow," she says.

"Until tomorrow."

Her hand’s on the door, turning the knob, but she looks back over her shoulder. "I'll be dreaming of you, cowboy."

I grin. "I've always been dreaming of you."

10

LAURA

When I wake in the morning, I feel like I'm a new person. All the heartache that I've carried with me for the last several years seems to have faded in the space of one night with Cole.

If I can feel that good after one night, I can only imagine how good I'll feel after a month, a year, a decade with him.

I'm in the kitchen making myself breakfast, probably getting ahead of myself imagining a whole life with Cole. But then again, how could I not? His words were not minced, and I want to believe everything he said.

Aunt Ella finds me in the kitchen eating cereal.

"I'm taking it you and Cole had a good time last night? You're out here humming to yourself. I never hear you sing."

"We did," I say, facing her. The smile on my face is wide. "I feel like anything is possible. Is that how it felt when you fell in love with Uncle Leroy?"

Aunt Ella smiles. "Something like that. You know, him and me, we had a slow burn when we fell in love."

"Did you play hard to get?" I ask her.

She smiles. "I think so. You know how you've been scared to be with a cowboy? I had those same fears myself. They get a bad reputation sometimes, but when you find a good cowboy, a solid man, you know he'll never stray. He'll be devoted to you for life."

I bite my bottom lip. "I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. I know all too well what it means to have the rug pulled out from under you."

"I know you do, Laura. Your father's put you through the ringer, but you can't base your decisions off one bad man."

I know she's right.

And when I wave to Cole in the morning as he passes me while I'm sitting on the porch, he says he'll be by later.

"I can't wait," I say.

His buddy Luke is with him and he slaps Cole on the shoulder, but I know Cole isn't one to kiss and tell. Though if he happens to tell Luke that he's fallen head over heels for me, I don't suppose I'd mind that.

I spend the whole day cleaning Aunt Ella's house, changing sheets and vacuuming, dusting, doing the dishes, and getting dinner ready on the stove. I’m too antsy with excitement to spend more than a few hours on the bookkeeping.

By the time Uncle Leroy comes in for supper, I've gotten myself changed into something pretty and I've done my hair.

"Where are you headed?" he asks me.

"I'm going out with Cole tonight."

Uncle Leroy smiles. "Well, that's good," he says. "You deserve some fun."

"I have a feeling it's more than fun," I say. "I think I'm falling in love with him."

Uncle Leroy's eyes widen. "Wow, that was fast, Laura. You sure you know what you're doing?"

I smile. "More than sure," I say.

Just then, there's a knock at the door.

"Is that him now?" Uncle Leroy asks.

"I think so," I say. "He said he was coming after work." I walk to the front door, but as I take a step and then another, the knock gets louder and the doorbell starts ringing.

I frown. It's an aggressive way to come calling, but maybe Cole has something on his mind.

But when I pull open the door, it's not Cole I see at all, it's my pa.

My face falls as I take him in. He looks real bad, bent out of shape, and I know he's been on a bender.

I look past him and see his beat-up truck, and I hate that he's been on the road.

"What are you thinking?" I say. "Driving while you're drunk?"

"Is that how you're coming to greet your father?" he asks. "Laura, I expect better of you."

I shake my head. "Don't," I say. "I hate it when you're like this. Why are you back here?"

Uncle Leroy comes up behind me. "Jim, why don't you come on inside? We don't need to make a scene outside on the porch."

My pa laughs a big belly laugh, and I can smell the alcohol on his breath. I press my hand to my nose, feeling sick.