Page 31 of Wild Heart
With every step, I assess her. She wears baggy overalls rolled up at the ankles and the top half dangles free. A dirty tank top barely covers her cleavage, and a black smudge streaks her right cheek. Her shiny black hair is wound up in a knot on the top of her head, showing off her delicate long neck and fine features.
Star sniffs the air and immediately sits upright. Her ears prick, and she locates me in a quick second. “Where did you go off to? I thought you ran away?” All the anger and fear melt away when she snuggles into my arms, and Summer smiles like she’s watching me cradle our kid.
“I left a note. Didn’t you get it?” I’d been too preoccupied with her absence to notice anything.
My head shakes. “Nope. I must’ve missed it.”
“I’m sorry, Hayden. Sawyer arrived early. I didn’t want to leave her in the house by herself. It gets really lonely in there during the day.” Her tight smile makes me feel like a heel of the worst kind. While I’d been keeping a distance for my own good, I’d neglected to consider how alone she would feel in a strange place, with no company for the entire day.
“Shit, Summer. I’m sorry.” The gentle breeze carries a strand of hair across her face, catching in her lashes. Instinctively, I reach out and swipe it away. She doesn’t flinch, instead she tilts closer, absorbing the moment.
“Why are you sorry? This is my punishment. It’s my own fault. Can I get you a drink? You must be exhausted after working all day and then driving here.”
“Punishment?” Does she know I’ve been avoiding her?
“It’s my mother’s grand plan. To cut me off from everything I know. Teaching me to be grateful for the life I have back home. I get that now.” She begins to walk away from the relic Ford with the hood raised. “Coffee or water?”
I’d happily drink her, but I don’t deserve to even think about that, not now. “Coffee, please.”
“Wait on the porch with Star. I’ll bring out the coffee in a sec.” A sweet smile graces her lips and she trots inside. I’m taken aback by her appearance, the simplistic twist of her hair, the bare, glowing skin with a scatter of freckles across the bridge of her nose and the stylish way she wears men’s overalls, like a model on the cover of a magazine. She barely resembles the city girl I met the first day, far from it, apart from the bright red tennis shoes, which give off the vibe of Dorothy on the yellow brick road - a world away from home on a quest to get back as quickly as possible. That thought forces me to sit on the swinging bench. Star curls up on my lap. I did this - I chose to let her drift through my fingers. Clay and Levi called me all the names under the sun for not taking a chance on her.
The screen door creaks open and slams with a bang when Summer saunters out onto the porch with a little sway of pride. There’s a look in her eyes that I can’t quite read. Satisfaction or contentment, neither of which were relevant in the short term.
“Have you heard from your parents since you’ve been here?” I accept a brown mug, holding it up as she pours the thick coffee.
Her shoulders raise and lower quickly. “I’ll never get through to my father.” She blows through her lips making a raspberry sound that indicated an attempt was preposterous. “I have no desire to speak with his secretary. Mother sent me a text. She's in the Maldives with her girlfriends. I’ll catch up with her when she gets back.” Summer stares at the empty space beside me on the bench.
“I won’t bite, honey.” I grin up at her.
“It’s not the biting that concerns me.” Summer lifts her own mug and lowers down. The old worn metal links screech under the strain. She jerks, almost spilling her coffee.
My free hand flies out to her thigh. “It’s okay. It did that when I sat down. The chain needs a bit of oil, that’s all.” Her eyes cut to my hand, but I leave it there because it feels right.
“Why did you kiss me, Hayden? I mean, if you didn’t want it to go further, then why bother.”
“I did want it to go further.” I squeeze a little harder. “This isn’t your home. You belong in the city with your fancy lotions and swanky parties.”
“Pfff.” She lifts her chin. “How do you know that?” The dazzling blue of her eyes is no longer bright, it’s cloudy and troubled. “Maybe this is the life I want. The life I never knew I wanted until I arrived.” Her hand lowers to mine. “What if I wanted to stay?”
“Why would you want to stay here when you have everything you need in Belfast?”
Her smile fades, and I get the impression I’ve said something offensive. “You’re right. I have nothing to keep me here.”
If she’s waiting for me to beg her to stay, she’d have to keep waiting. I could never ask the woman to make such a life changing decision based on a whim. To leave behind everything she’s accustomed to for a promise of something thatmightbe forever. When I stare into her eyes, I see my forever as clear as day. Summer has to want to stay for herself, not for me, and if she does, I’ll damn well sweep her off her red shoes.
“Have you been to the city?” She glances down at our hands. Mine has angled around to allow my fingers to weave with hers.
“I go to Dallas here and there. I’d rather be in Heartville than lost in a crowd of suits, trapped in a building with fake air and fake light and fake people.”
“I didn’t realize how unhappy I was living in the city. I feel different out here. Calmer, satisfied - content.” I watch her tongue dart free of her lips, and, sweet Jesus, I can’t stop myself. Setting the mug on the tray without disturbing Star, I turn into her. Her eyes are searching, and she inhales once, holding her breath as I stare.
I cup her cheek, thumbing the oily smear. The trapped breath sighs free, caressing my neck with her warmth. “Maybe something is better than nothing.” My voice is thick because I’m holding back the impulse to drag her tits free from the low-cut top.
Sliding my hand to her nape, I tug her head and smash my mouth to hers. I need this more than I need to prove I’m not a fool, or that she’ll stay in Heartville for me.
Our lips chase and sweep, the silken touch of her mouth brushing mine exhilarates my senses. The hum of her groan vibrating inside me is all-consuming, and my dick swells harder than ever before. Blood pumps around my body faster than a galloping steed. With this kiss, I am hers and she is mine - but that’s not how our story will end. She’ll break my heart when the call of the city lures her home.
The screen door hits the wall. Sawyer clears his throat. Summer rears back with wide caught in the act eyes.
