Page 7 of Only By You: Prequel
I have half a mind to find the nearest cliffside and chuck myself over it at her words—I was so damn close! Mustering the last bit of self-respect I have for myself, I nod in defeat, stepping back from her and reaching for the door. “All right, then, I guess I’ll—”
Julie spins to face me, pinning me with those rapt eyes and a stunning smile playing on her pretty painted lips. Boldly, she takes my injured hand gently between hers, cradling it how I once envisioned her doing to our babies someday.
“Clayton, will you join me?”
Five.
Julie
Clayton’s wide, boyish grinis more than infectious as he stares at me—it’s downright sexy.
“Hell yeah,” he shouts, flinging open the door beside us and nearly smacking Shawn in the face with it. A rather rude giggle bursts out of me at my old date’s horrified expression. But mynewdate doesn’t give me a chance to rethink my decision or feel the slightest bit guilty as he scoops me into his strong embrace.
“Wha—” I’m a fit of laughter, giggles, and wonder, nearly dropping my purse as he carries me like we’re newlyweds on our way to the honeymoon suite.
Maybe we are…
“Now hold on just a goddamn minute,” someone calls out from behind us. Shawn, maybe? Or my father? Who knows. And who the heck cares. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so light and free as I do right now in Clayton Montgomery’s arms.
“You want me to stop?” he asks while continuing his long strides toward his haphazardly parked pick-up, a slew of hollers and heated words flung in our direction.
“Not a chance, cowboy,” I say with a wink, my arms locked around his thick neck.
Carefully, he pops the passenger side door open and sets me down on the cushioned seat. His hands linger on my waist as he waits for me to adjust my dress before taking the strap of the seatbelt in hand and crossing it over me to buckle me in.
It’s a small, protective gesture that has my pulse rising and my legs squeezing together from an unexpected flutter of arousal.
Chivalry isnotdead with this one.
As he closes the door and quickly jogs around the front to the driver’s side, I glance toward the house. My father and Shawn now on the porch appear to be in a heated argument of sorts, while my mother stands off to the side, her arms folded over her chest with a look of uncertainty as she stares me down.
It’s then, I realize, I don’t care what they want or think anymore—it’s always beenmylife,mychoices, and up until now, I’ve let them have free range over me.
It’s about time I take my life back. Takemeback.
Clayton closes his door with a heavy slam. I jump in surprise and turn to him. “Sorry, door sticks,” he says, giving me a sheepish grin as he starts the engine.
“Peel out,” I say, surprising myself with the petty request. The driveway is stone and, well…when stones fly…
His grin remains as he puts the truck in gear, depresses the clutch, and hits the gas. Revving the engine and spinning the tires. Stone flies behind us, pinging off Shawn’s pristine, too-clean-for-the-country car until Clayton releases the clutch and we’re jolted forward.
I smile as I glance in the side-view mirror. The symbolic cloud of dust obstructing my view of the house, my parents, an obnoxious city boy—all of it—left in the dust.Poof!
We’re on the road a moment later, heading toward town with only the rumble of the truck filling the space between us. Did he…plan for this scenario?
“So, darlin’.” He chuckles, glancing between me and the road. “Where to?”
I huff out a light laugh. “I was about to ask you the same thing,” I say. “I’m sorry to sort of…spring this on you. I just saw the opportunity and went for it.”
“Ah, I see, so I’m an opportunity now, ay?” He slows, taking the next left. “I suppose that’s better than you thinking I’m an obsessive, cocky bastard.”
I gasp, mortified as I clap a hand over my mouth. Oh my god. He heard me?
He gives me a lopsided grin. “Thin walls, darlin’.”
“I am so, so, sorry. I didn’t—”
“Water under the bridge, sweetheart,” he says. “So long as you meant what you said.”
