Southern Desire (Southern Heart 2)

Her eyes soften at my words. “Aaron. . . .” She stops herself.

I slide out of bed and go to her, pulling her into a hug. “That’s the way it is, babe. If you’re near, that’s where I’ll be. I can’t explain it, and I damn sure can’t control it. I don’t want to.”

“Charmer,” she says. I can hear the smile in her voice.

“What you see is what you get.” I wink at her. “Now, Olivia will be here in about an hour. You girls are going out for shopping and whatever else you all can get into.”

“Shit! I didn’t call her last night.”

“I took care of it. She knew that you were not coming. Which is why you have a bag of clothes right there.” I point to an overnight bag I had Olivia pack for her.

Looking up at me, those green eyes sparkle with happiness. Today of all days, so far so good. She’s distracted and feels loved; at least I hope she does. “I’m hopping in the shower. Then I have to get ready for tonight.”

“What are we doing tonight?”

“Camping. All of us. We’re going to our spot and just hanging out.”

“Really?” she squeals. “That’s perfect, Aaron. I need to be. . . .”

“I know, Whit. I got you.” I kiss her forehead and head to the shower.

When I make it downstairs, the girls are drinking coffee and eating donuts Olivia brought with her. “Ladies,” I say, leaning down to kiss Whit. Yeah, our friends are here and I don’t care. I can’t explain what it does to me to have her here like this in my space, hair tousled from sleep, still in my shirt.

“Damn,” Jamie mutters. I ignore her and make my way to the coffeepot.

“I’m going to head out to the stables and check on things. Make sure all the guys showed up today. After that, I have to get things ready for tonight.”

“You told her?” Olivia asks.

I nod. “Yeah.” I wink at Whit.

Olivia throws her head back in laughter. “Never would have thought it would be my cousin to finally bring you to your knees, Aaron.”

I just smile at her. There really is nothing that I can say to that. She has brought me to my knees. She’s made me rethink everything I thought about finding the one and falling in love. Because that’s what I’m doing. I’m falling in love with her. “Call me if you need anything. I left something for you on the bed.” I kiss her one more time, then head out to the stables with my mug full of coffee and a smile that could light up the whole damn state.

I run out to the stables, and then I’ll check back in with her. If I know my girl, she’s going to need a hug before she heads out for her trip. My gift isn’t meant to make her cry, but I’m sure it will. I need to be there to hold her through it. I’ll always hold her through it.

“Damn, girl,” Jamie says as soon as Aaron is outside.

“What?” I act like I have no idea what she’s talking about. In reality, I’m reeling from his public display of affection toward me. I mean, he’s held my hand, has his arm around me, stuff like that these past few months we’ve been hanging out, but last night he kissed me in front of his family, and then now.

“Let me tell you, that man does not do PDA. Never has,” Olivia tells Jamie.

“What’s your secret?” Jamie asks.

I laugh. “He’s just. . . . I don’t know.” I don’t know how to explain what we are. We have yet to discuss it, and I’m good with that, with how we are.

“Girl, you need to tie that one down,” Jamie adds.

“From the looks of it, he’s caught for sure,” Olivia chimes in.

“We’re just seeing where it goes.” That’s really the only explanation I can come up with. “I’m going to go shower.” Jamie was showered and ready when I came downstairs; they’re just waiting on me to leave.

I rinse out my cup and place it in the dishwasher. I can hear Olivia telling Jamie how Aaron is a different person with me. I smile all the way to his room. I grab the overnight bag and set it on the bed. That’s when I see the small wrapped package. Sitting down, I grab the card that has “Read me first” written in his scrawl.

I fight the tears that threaten to spill. I don’t know what I did to have him in my life, but damn, that man. Taking a deep breath, I grab the box and carefully open it. Inside are two more boxes, one long and slender, and the other the size of a book. I grab the small box first and unwrap it. Inside is a heart-shaped locket with forever in my heart inscribed on it. I swallow back the lump in my throat. Warily, I open the locket and I lose the battle. Tears fall unchecked as I look at a picture of my mom when she was my age on one side and me on the other. She was beautiful. My heart aches for her. For the chance to tell her about Aaron, about how I’ve met a man who cares, one who would never leave me no matter what the situation. A man who has wrapped himself so tight around my heart, I don’t think that he’ll ever not be a part of it. Squeezing the locket tight in my fist, I place it next to my heart.

I lie back on the bed and just let the tears falls. He’s right, she wouldn’t want me sad all the time. Her words float through my mind. “Promise me you will open your heart. Find him, the one who flips your world upside down, and let him love you.”

I know with everything in me, I’ve found him. I’ve opened my heart to him and he owns it. I don’t know if he loves me; I know he cares about me. That’s evident in everything he does. I like to think that what we share is mutual.

Sitting up, I lay the locket across my thigh and reach for the other box, unwrapping it with caution. Inside I find a framed picture. It’s of me and Mom. I remember when it was taken. It was my last summer trip here, and she was dropping me off for the week. We’re both smiling, looking at Aunt Jenny as she took the picture. Her arm is around me and she’s healthy and happy. Little did we know that a short four months later, she would receive her first devastating diagnosis.

I’m sobbing as memories flood my mind. Memories of her laugh, her scent. All of it comes crashing in a tidal wave of emotions. The pain of losing her, and the happiness from knowing that the person I am today is because of her.

I hear the door creak open, but I don’t bother to look. Jamie and Olivia both know what today is. I’m sure they’re just checking on me. Aaron probably told them to. He would think of that. It’s not until I feel his strong arms wrap around me that I realize it’s him.