Covered in Coal (Buried Secrets 1)

Carly Jo laughs, nearly chokin’ on her cookie. “Oh right, I bet you did, Colton.”

“Shit, may be her recipe, but my kitchen is proof. Place is a mess.”

“Yeah and you’re full of shit.” Carly Jo says pokin’ my side.

“Well, I’ll just have to prove it to ya. I cook all the damn time.”

“Yeah, really? What’s that, Hot Pockets and Kid Cuisines?”

“Well ain’t you just stepped into some more shit? Dinner, tomorrow night. Be there at seven.”

“Colton, you know I’ve had enough of your momma’s cookin’ to know her meals, right?” Carly Jo replies with a light snicker.

“Damn it, fine. I’ll be at your place at five, and you can watch me work my wonders in the kitchen your damn self, baby. There, that

better?”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that.”

“Woman, don’t start your shit. I’ll have you pinned to the … what the hell?” I pause as a glob of mud slaps me in the face, followed by the sound of laughter bubblin’ from Carly Jo’s mouth.

“Were you really brave enough to throw mud in my damn face? Are ya stupid or somethin’?” My face is straight laced, void of any emotions. Carly Jo throws another glob of mud in my face then falls back on the blanket, laughin’ her sweet little ass off. I wipe the mud from my face, and just stare at her in amazement. Amazed that she has finally broke free and is livin’, laughin’, and feelin’ carefree. Amazed that she seriously threw some damn mud in my face. TWICE.

Carly Jo is rollin’ around on the blanket with her knees pulled to her waist in side-splittin’ laughter. Me, I simply can’t shake the fact that she was really brave enough to sling some frickin’ mud in my damn face.

“What the hell is so damn funny?” I grunt, clearly missin’ the humor in the situation. She steadies her laughter, pantin’ along as she catches her breath.

“You, gettin’ all worked up over a little bit of mud, when you’re covered in it.” She replies, graspin’ her waist as she begins to giggle again. I could get pissed, and sling her ass in a mud puddle, but damn if it ain’t cute when she’s laughin’. I’m glad to finally see some of the tension erase from her face. She is too beautiful to let stress mare her face with a frown and worry wrinkles. I chuckle at her, and lay beside of her, and kiss her on the forehead.

“I love hearin’ you laugh, baby. Hell, I love makin’ you laugh.”

She smiles up at me then kisses my chin. “Well, I’m sure I’ll be laughing my ass off at the burnt offerings you plan to serve for dinner tomorrow night.”

“Smart ass.” I smirk at her.

I hold her tight in my arms, and we talk while watchin’ the night stars fill the sky. The air is cold and regardless of how tight I hold her, she is startin’ to shiver. “Come on, darlin’, let’s get back down the hill so you can get warmed up. Don’t want’cha to catch a cold.” I raise up, breakin’ our embrace, but Carly Jo keeps her arm held tight to me, refusin’ to move.

“It’s cold. But I ain’t ready to go just yet. Just hold me.”

Now who the hell am I to refuse the woman I love a request like that? I lay back down, restin’ up on my elbow, and pull her to my side. I brush her hair softly down her back, as she turns to face me.

“Wanna tell me why you decided to bring me here for a first date, Colton?”

I don’t look at her, I just keep smoothin’ her hair down her back, and gaze up at the stars.

“Colton, answer me.”

I take a deep breath, and think about how to answer that. I know what memories these mountains hold for the both of us, but it ain’t like that. “Baby, when we were teenagers, we lived up in these hills. Always out on my four-wheeler, climbin’ the hills, fishin’. This was where we always came to just be ourselves and be carefree. You don’t know any of that anymore. I just wanted to show you how to live again.” I brush her hair behind her ear, drinkin’ in her beauty as she lays under the moon light. “I know what you’re thinkin’, but you’re wrong. I honestly hadn’t even thought of that when I got everything together this mornin’; not until you asked me earlier. Then it clicked what you must be thinkin’. I ain’t gonna try to make you fall in love with me again, by bringin you to the place that you gave yourself to me, darlin’. I just wanted to make you laugh, and enjoy yourself, like you used to. I wanted to see a little of the old Carly Jo.”

She kisses me on the chin, and smiles. “I had fun. I didn’t realize how much I missed the mountains. I guess living at the beach for so long, I forgot how beautiful the hills are. It’s peaceful here, and for the first time in forever, my mind actually shut off. I’ll admit, I was a pissed hornet when I first realized what we were doing today, but I’m glad you made me come along. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, darlin’. I just wanna see you smile more, Carly Jo. I want us to rebuild what we once had. But we can’t do that unless you trust me. I’m tryin’.”

“I’m trying too, Colton, but it ain’t easy. Just don’t push too hard.”

“I’ll try not to.” I whisper against her ear, then stand, and pull her to her feet. “Now, let’s get home, I’m freezin’ my balls off. If it gets much colder, you’re gonna have to warm ‘em up for me.” I wink at her. Carly Jo grins, swattin’ at my chest and rolls her eyes at me. “What? Ya can’t blame me for tryin’!” I smirk, and swat at her thick ass.

We grab our things and head back down the hill to load up the side-by-side on the trailer. Carly Jo climbs in the truck and starts the engine to warm herself up while I’m tyin’ down the straps. When I climb inside, I see that she has her face pressed up against the glass, glarin’ up at the moon.