Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

She looks over at me and nods. “One… two… three!” We start to run.

Thankfully I remember to grab the remote out of the truck and hit the button with my other hand so I don’t have to stop to close the garage door. It’s pouring so hard that, despite our best efforts, by the time we reach the attached garage, just a few more steps from the porch, we’re both soaked. Jamie stops, halting me as well. Turning to look at her, she has her head tilted back and her eyes closed, letting the rain wash over her.

“Jamie,” I say loudly over the rain.

Lifting her head, she smiles. It’s the first smile I’ve seen since I got back today. “I’ve never stopped to do this,” she says. “To feel the rain. I’m always rushing. At home, everyone’s always rushing. If I stopped on the sidewalk or even outside my apartment, I’d get trampled.”

Her hand still in mine, I pull her into my chest. “Have you ever danced in the rain?” I ask her.

“We don’t have any music,” she laughs.

I wrap my arms around her, holding her close, and begin to sway back and forth. “We don’t need it.”

She rests her head on my chest. The rain’s still pouring but I barely notice it. All I see, all I feel is her. I don’t think about how odd we must look to those driving by, nor do I care. The only thing I care about is her, and this is an experience I’m happy to give her. I don’t know how long we stand there, slightly swaying back and forth. To me, in this moment, time stands still.

She lifts her head, placing her hands on the back of my neck and pulling my lips to hers. She kisses me, soft and slow, and even with the rain soaking our skin, I can still feel the electric current that flows through me every time we touch. Pulling away, she grabs my hands and tugs me to the front porch. “What should we do? I don’t want to get your floor wet.”

“Houses are meant to be lived in, babe. We can wipe up the water. Let’s get you inside.” I unlock the door and hold it open for her. We rush inside and through the kitchen to the laundry room and strip down. She’s shivering from being soaking wet and the air-conditioning in the house. Tossing our wet clothes in the washer, I grab her hand and guide her to my bedroom and into the bathroom. I turn on the shower and adjust the temperature, then step in and hold my hand out for her. She doesn’t hesitate to take it and climb in after me. Adjusting the nozzle, I make sure the hot water is hitting her to warm her up. Leaning into me, she rests her forehead against my chest. I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. That’s how we stand until the water starts to run cold.

Still not saying a word, I turn off the water and help her out, wrapping her in a towel.

“You hungry?” I ask once we’re dressed.

“Not really. Can we maybe just lie in bed and talk? I have something I need to tell you.”

My heart drops. “Anything you want.” I kiss her cheek and climb into bed, holding the covers for her. She slides in and lies on her side, facing me. I place my hand on her hip and pull her close. She doesn’t fight me.

“What’s wrong, Jamie?”

“I got a phone call today.”

I nod, letting her know I’m listening.

“Do you remember that I told you Mr. Warren passed all of our cases to another firm?”

“I do.”

“Well, the owner, Mr. Farris, he called me today. He was impressed with my work.”

“Of course he was. You’re brilliant.”

That causes her to smile weakly.

“Anyway,” she says, “he offered me a job. He wants me to run his paralegal department. He wants to restructure their documentation style so it’s uniform, and he wants me there to implement it.”

Fuck! I knew she was going back, but I had hoped she would change her mind. Give us more time together. I don’t say anything, so she keeps going.

“Good salary, quarterly bonuses, four weeks paid vacation, my own office. It’s the job I’ve always dreamed about.”

Closing my eyes, I pull her as close as I can get her and bury my face in her neck. I hold her while I try to decide what to say to all this. I’m not mad, but I’m… fuck, I don’t know what I am.

“Say something,” she whispers.

Pulling back, I see those gorgeous green eyes of hers are full of tears. “I love you, Jamie. That’s all I know. I don’t know how we make this work. I’m willing to do long distance because I don’t want to lose you, but I just don’t know if it’ll be enough. I need more of you.”

“I’ve thought about it, and in the beginning, I won’t have the freedom to take long weekends like I used to.”

“What are you thinking? Where does this leave us?”