Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

I force myself to keep walking and not look over my shoulder. Last night was… I don’t seem to have the words to describe it. I’ve never been that close to a man in an intimate setting where he didn’t try to have sex with me. I’d feel rejected if it weren’t for the fact that I knew he wanted me. I could feel him.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” Whit smirks from the recliner.

“Good morning to you too,” I say, flopping down on the couch.

“Rough night?”

“Didn’t get much sleep.” I hold my hand up to cover my yawn.

“I bet you didn’t,” she laughs.

“We didn’t sleep together. I mean, we did, but we didn’t,” I say, too tired to explain it correctly.

“Jamie, babe, do I need to remind you of the birds and the bees?”

“Har har,” I deadpan. “I mean it. We slept in the same bed, but we didn’t have sex. There was lots of kissing, but that’s where it ended.”

“Huh” is all she says as she takes a sip of her coffee. “Nothing?” she finally asks.

“Touching, but nothing really sexual. It was more… intimate, I guess you could say. Kissing was it.”

“You sound disappointed.”

“Not really. I mean, I would have. That makes me sound like a hussy, but I’m owning that. He’s a great guy who’s hot as sin. I would’ve been a fool to pass up any time with him, sex or not.”

“Did he even try?” She sounds like she’s surprised.

“Nope. Lots of kissing and talking, laughing. It’s like we’ve known each other for years.”

She nods like she understands. “That’s exactly how it was with Aaron and me. We had this immediat

e connection.”

“Yeah, but I live in Chicago, Whit. In a way, even though I can’t believe I’m going to say this, I almost wish he treated me like a one and done, you know? It would make it easier to walk away. Now all I want to do is spend more time with him, see where this could possibly go.”

“Then move here.” She grins. “We have the space and would love to have you.”

“Like the newlyweds want the best friend tagging along. Besides, I’m a city girl, you know that. I don’t know that I would adapt to country living as well as you have. Plus, my parents are in Chicago.”

“All true, but you never know what you’re capable of unless you take the chance. Life is boring without chances.”

“Listen to you being all philosophical again. This place has changed you.” I stick my tongue out at her.

“I’m serious. When I decided to move here, sure I was in a bad place, missing Mom, but Chicago was my life. I’d spent summers here, of course, but life as I knew it was the city. Look at me now. I wouldn’t trade this, any of it, for the world. Even if I didn’t have Aaron, I would still be here. There’s just something about living the country life. It’s slower-paced, and you don’t feel like life is racing past you. Here I have the time to smell the roses, so to speak.”

“I get it, I just don’t know if it’s me. Not that it matters. I go home today, back to everyday life. Away from this fairytale weekend.”

“I’m going to miss you like crazy.” She stands, placing her coffee on the table, and takes the seat next to me on the couch. “Promise me you’ll think about it, Jamie. I know the change sounds scary, and change isn’t something that most people deal well with, but I know you better than anyone and I really think you would be happy here.”

“Gah! This is crazy talk. I’m sure if Mike could hear us now, he’d be flipping out. I’m not some crazy stalker girl,” I laugh.

“I think you’d be surprised. I’ve been around him a lot, and he’s different with you.”

I place my hands over my ears. “La, la, la, la, I can’t hear you.” It’s childish, but my head is jumbled enough right now without hearing that.

“Fine,” she laughs. “Why don’t you lie down for a while. What time are you leaving?”

“I’d like to head out around noon. That way I’m back home on familiar roads right around dark.”