Southern Hotshot (North Carolina Highlands 2)

She nods. “Okay.”

I hold her for a while like that, each of us lost in our own thoughts. At last, she draws a quick breath through her nose and straightens. “Now, what’s this about Sunday supper? You’ve got a plan, don’t you?”

“Girl, you know me too well. Course I got a plan. Wanna help?”

She grins. “Like you even need to ask.”

Chat #5

MyBoyBlue4: Hi. I don’t know if you’ll even get this, but coming here seemed right. Better than sending a text, anyway. This is where we started. And I hope this is where we’ll keep going for years to come.

[No reply]

MyBoyBlue4: Okay, well, on the off chance you check the chat, I’d like to invite you to Sunday supper tomorrow. I would really like to talk to you. I’d also like you to see that my family may be bruised, but we’re not broken. Hank and I are actively working on our relationship, and I want you to witness that firsthand. To sweeten the deal, I’ll make Emma’s Cornbread (yes, it’s yours now) and open a bottle or five of that 2016 Screaming Eagle. I’ll do anything to make you feel better. I’m so sorry about how shit went down, Em, and if you’ll let me, I’d like to make it up to you. I’d also like to convince you to stay on at Blue Mountain, but baby steps. Bring your sister if she’s still in town.

[No reply]

MyBoyBlue4: I’m sitting here at my computer and thinking about all the times this chat made me smile. You made me come, but you also made me think, Lady V. That’s one hell of a combination. You’re special, and you’re smart, and you’re creative in ways I wish I could be. I love your pervy brand of intelligence. I love the way your legs look in your sensible heels as much as I love the way they look in V’s stilettos. I dream about the way you describe wine, and how fucking sexy your mastery is (in AND outside the bedroom). I love to think about all the cool things we could do together at the resort. I want you to dominate me day and night, and then I want to return the favor. I want to taste you again, baby. I can’t stop thinking about you.

[No reply]

MyBoyBlue4: So, yeah. Tomorrow. If you can swing it, I’d love for you to come early. Say around 4?

**LadyV76 has accepted your chat request**

**LadyV76 is now in the chat room**

LadyV76: Hey.

MyBoyBlue4: Oh my God you’re here. THANK YOU. How are you feeling?

LadyV76: Like death. You?

MyBoyBlue4: This bastard got burned. Not by your dragons or anything, but by life I guess. I can still bend the knee to you, though.

LadyV76: I do like you on your knees.

MyBoyBlue4: There she is. I’ve missed you, baby.

LadyV76: I’ve missed you too.

MyBoyBlue4: Sorry for coming to the chat with this, but I thought you might appreciate it?

LadyV76: Don’t apologize. I’m glad you came to the chat. I think if I spoke to you on the phone I would just burst into tears.

MyBoyBlue4: I’m sorry. So fucking sorry about everything.

LadyV76: I know. And I’d like to come to supper tomorrow. What can I bring?

MyBoyBlue4: You’ve just made me the happiest man on earth, Khaleesi. Just bring yourself. My only request is that you leave the dragons at home, okay?

LadyV76: You have a deal. Lindsey is still here, so I’ll bring her too?

MyBoyBlue4: Awesome. Can’t wait to introduce her to the rest of my family. Please tell her all seven of us are indeed in love with you. There will be no more awkward kisses, however. That I can promise.

LadyV76: So it’s not necessarily a love triangle as much as a love…heptagon?

MyBoyBlue4: Of course you’d know what that is.

LadyV76: You forget that I’m the professor.

MyBoyBlue4: And I am always an eager student. Can you come early?

LadyV76: Yes. So everything is okay with your family?

MyBoyBlue4: I wouldn’t say things are okay. But Hank and I had a productive chat earlier today, and we’re starting the process of healing. I wish I could tell you things are back to normal, but they’re not. I don’t think they will be for a while, and that’s just the reality of the situation, sucky as it may be. Still, I’m trying. Hank’s trying too. If you’d be willing to sit down with us to work something out, we’d really appreciate it.

LadyV76: Okay.

MyBoyBlue4: Wow, I wasn’t expecting you to say that.

LadyV76: I’m still learning to let perfection go. I think it’ll take me a lifetime to figure that one out. But as much as I wish things were normal, I’m going to work on being okay with complicated.

MyBoyBlue4: And as someone once told me, complicated can be delicious.

LadyV76: That someone must be very wise.

MyBoyBlue4: She is.

LadyV76: See you tomorrow, Blue.