Page 24 of Till The Cows Come Home
Sage
As I gazed at the man beneath me, I couldn’t help the feeling of giddiness that tickled through me from the day’s success. It wasn’t lost on me that mere hours ago I had complacently settled on professionalism, but I couldn’t help myself. I was finally going to do something for me.
My face lowered, gently brushing my lips over his, all while his hands gently settled along my hips as he allowed me to lead. My reservations remained as I second-guessed how long he would relinquish the reins, but he earned the benefit of the doubt, so I gave it to him. I couldn't help but wonder how long a man like this could truly hand over control, but I was suddenly compelled to find out.
The mere idea of him holding back desire fueled my own, and against my better judgment, I found myself deepening the kiss, trailing my tongue along his bottom lip. He parted them in invitation, which I gladly took, driven by the hum that escaped deep in his throat as I explored his mouth. The sudden absence of his hands around me prompted me to pull away, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I took in the white-knuckled fists settled at his sides. But before I could commenton his retraint, I heard the sound of someone clearing their throat behind me.
“Ruby?” I hissed
“Yes, and I suggest you thank Ruby and get your shit together quickly because your parents are making their way over here.”
Panic ensued as I hopped off the slightly aroused, but apparently well endowed, lumberjack underneath me.
“Pretend that we're down here picking up all these spilled bottles that were knocked over,” I suggested. “And unless you’d like to give my mother a stroke, get rid of that.” I gestured to his crotch, trying to hold back my laughter.
“You didthis.” He chuckled.
I cackled as I began crawling around, collecting the empty bottles that did actually spill from the crate, and after a few moments of adjusting, he joined me.
“They’re down there,” Ruby called, directing my parents with a mischievous grin. “Seems there was a little commotion behind the tent,” she added, holding back her own laughter.
My mother approached, taking in the scene.
“Sage? Why are you crawling around behind that tent? Are you giving Mr. Carver a hard time?”
“No ma'am,” Miles interjected. “Your daughter has been nice enough to give me a hand on the farm here and there.”
My mother’s eyes narrowed with displeasure. “I thought you’d decided to stay away?”
“Mom—”
“Come on, sweetheart, get off the ground. We can chat over lunch,” she interrupted, giving me the age-old motherly facial expression that we had some things to talk about. My dad stood silently next to her like it pained him to be near, and my heart broke with acute understanding.
“Let me grab my stuff,” Imurmured.
“Mr. and Mrs. Baker,” Miles greeted my parents, “nice to see you again.”
My father shook his hand, while my mother continued to busy herself with extracting me.
“Thanks for today,” I called to Miles, but before he had a chance to answer my mother tugged me along.
As much as I wanted to stay and explore whatever had just happened, the universe seemed to be giving me a sign, and it was Gale Baker.
Talk about a bad omen.
I knew I was about to receive a drawn out lecture from my mother, but for some reason I followed anyway, simmering in the silence that settled the entire drive to the diner.
When we arrived, my parents walked hand in hand towards the entrance and I couldn’t help but trail behind, wondering why two people so clearly familiar with love and devotion would be so adamant on snuffing out their own daughter’s dream.
My mother lasted until the waitress dropped off our drinks before beginning her spiel.
“You should not be weaseling your way into people’s lives to get the things you want, Sage.”
“I’m not weaseling my way into anything, mother.”
“If you’re not being cunning, then why didn’t your own parents know that you’re spending time there?”
“Because I knew my own mother wouldn’t know how to be happy for me.”
