Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

“Me too, baby. Get some sleep.”

Snuggled in his arms, I let myself drift off to sleep.

She leaves on Sunday. That gives me six more days with her. I’ve grown used to her being here. Sleeping with her in my arms at night. I don’t want her to go. I’ve rehearsed asking her to stay what feels like a million times, but I just can’t ask her to give up her dream.

I’ve thought a lot about what that means. If I can give up the bar, give up my family’s legacy to go with her. I’ve yet to come to a conclusion. I hate it and it’s not fair. I do know that I can’t do long distance. For a while, maybe, but that’s not what I want full time. I want her in my arms at night. I want to come home to her. Her stuff on the bathroom sink, her shampoo in the shower. I want to see the blanket she covers up with thrown over the couch, or her shoes by the door. I like the thought of her car parked in the garage. I want her life so entwined with mine that you can’t tell it was ever separate.

I just don’t know how to make that happen. Not without being selfish.

“Ready,” she says, stepping into the living room.

I let my eyes rake over her and she literally takes my breath away. “Yes. This is long overdue, don’t you think?”

She shrugs. “Not really. I like our life.” Her eyes widen and she backpedals. “I mean, I like us, you know, how we are. We don’t need all the fancy stuff. We’re just… us. I’ll take spending time with you any way I can get you. I like our quiet nights at home though. They’re really growing on me.”

“Me too, but it’s time I took you out. I want you to have everything.” I pull her into my arms and kiss her gently.

She slides her hands under my shirt. “Well, let’s go, country. Show me what this dating thing is all about,” she teases. Her hands slowly slide down my back and I can no longer feel her skin on mine.

“Come on, you.” I grab her hand and lead her out to my truck.

“Outback?” she laughs.

“What?” I ask, holding in my own laughter.

“Nothing, it’s perfect. It’s us.”

“I thought so.”

She shakes her head, wearing a grin as she climbs out of my truck.

“Bloomin’ onion?” she asks once we’re seated and have ordered our drinks.

“I don’t know, isn’t there a rule about no onions or garlic on date nights?”

“I’m a sure thing, Wallace. We’re getting the bloomin’ onion.” She winks.

“So when is Whit taking you from me for all the wedding stuff?” I ask, cutting off a piece of bread.

“Not until Friday. We have the rehearsal dinner, but you’ll be there

for that.

“Not as bad as I thought. I was worried this week was going to be me sitting at home missing you.”

She smiles. “Nope. I’m all yours until Friday night.”

“Just until then?” I ask her. We’ve been avoiding talking about this, and we both know we need to.

“How long do you want me?” She’s going for humor, but I can tell she really wants an honest answer to the question.

“Is forever too long?” I ask, my eyes locked onto hers.

“Mike,” she says softly.

“I don’t know how we make this work. I don’t know how to do it without one of us giving up something, but I know I want you, so we probably need to talk about it. See where we fit, how we can combine our worlds.”

Her eyes mist over. “I want that, I just don’t know how.”