Page 34 of Wannabe in Wyoming
He was about to ask her if she would be adding to her own ink, but then he realized they were no longer alone again. A female server had stepped up to their table.
“Hello, and welcome to Bella Mia. I’m Chasity––one of the owners. I apologize in advance, but we’re a little short-staffed, so I’ll be helping out tonight. Can I get you started with some drinks? Maybe a glass of wine? The house Chianti is wonderful.”
Nathan’s gaze met the eyes of a short, older woman. Her face framed by bouncing curls that looked bleached blonde. Her hands rested on the small of her back, and she was dressed professionally in the same attire as Cody. However, her face was heavily made up, and instead of making her look younger, it aged her further—he guessed she was around sixty, and that was being generous.
“Sure, wine sounds lovely,” Willow said, smiling pleasantly at the server. “The Chianti would be great.”
“Excellent. And for you, sir?”
“Whatever IPA you have on draft is fine.” He reached over and entwined Willow’s fingers with his, wishing the server would disappear, so he could get back to his date.
“I’m sorry,” the woman continued, her bright white teeth flashing from behind her painted red lips. “I know this might be a little forward, but I know just about everybody who lives here. Did you just move to the Rock or are you just visiting?”
“I moved here, yes,” Willow responded. “A few months ago, but this is the first time I’ve been here. My father passed away and left me his ranch.”
The server’s mouth dropped open as her complexion went fish-belly white under her foundation. “That—that wouldn’t happen to be Skyview Ranch, now would it?” Her tone had become frigid, and all pretense of politeness had disappeared. “You’re Willow Crawford aren’t you, Jason Hillcrest’sillegitimate daughter?” The way she’d said the last two words was as if they disgusted her.
Beside him, Willow stiffened. “Yes, I am. Is that aproblemfor you?” It was her turn to spit icicles. Her hands clenched into fists, and the blood drained from her knuckles.
Oh shit,she’s pissed, he thought before he decided to put a stop to this before it ruined their evening.
“Look, Chasity, was it?” Nathan interrupted, not wanting the conversation to go any further south than it already had. “I understand people around here didn’t have the best feelings about Mr. Hillcrest, but we’re here on our first official date. Could this maybe wait until another time? We’d really just like to order and enjoy our evening.” He kept a tight leash on his temper, not willing to let small-town gossip about a dead man mar their evening. He didn’t know what the woman’s beef was with Willow’s father, and honestly, he didn’t much care.
“Sure.” Chasity bit the word out with venom, spun on her heel, and marched off like someone had stuck a hot poker up her ass.
“That was so ridiculous. What the hell is her problem?” Willow asked. “I’m so sick of this. It’s not the first time someone has held my father’s less than favorable reputation against me. The man is dead—let him rest in peace. For Christ’s sake, I never even met him, so why bitch to me? Why do people have to be so . . . so . . . damn rude?”
“I don’t know baby, but let’s not allow her to ruin our date.” Lifting her hand, he kissed her knuckles, happy to see their normal color had returned. “We still have a movie to get to.”
With a somber expression, she studied their joined hands. It killed him to see her feeling even a moment of sadness. “I’m sorry, Nathan. I know I shouldn’t let it get to me, but you’re right. I’m not going to let anyone spoil our night. But would you mind if we just kept it to dinner this time? We can go to a movie later in the week. Let’s eat and then hang out at home. I think I’ve had just about enough of the Rock for one night.”
Home. He liked the sound of that. “Anything you want, Wannabe.”
A few minutes later, a different server arrived with their drinks and took their dinner orders. Willow didn’t mention the rude woman again, and Nathan followed her lead, putting everything out of his mind but getting to know this amazing woman even more. With the candlelight reflecting off the natural highlights in her hair, her lyrical laugh, and sharp wit while verbally sparring with him, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. If he wasn’t in love with her yet, he was well on his way.
Chapter Twenty-Three
June 18
My Beloved Cherry,
I can’t believe it’s been three weeks since I last saw you and held you in my arms. I miss you more with every minute, hour, and day that passes. I remember a phrase from when I had to read Romeo and Juliet in high school. Star-crossed lovers. That’s what we are—wrong side of the tracks, different upbringing, even our religions don’t match up, with me being Catholic and you being Protestant. I just pray we don’t meet the same fate. Even if your parents never change their mind about me, I’ll find a way for us to be together again. Unfortunately, that might take longer than I’d hoped.
I keep remembering our first date. The only thing I should’ve done differently would’ve been to pick you up at your house like a gentleman, bring you flowers, and shake your father’s hand. As it is, seeing you waiting for me outside the movie theater, the lights reflecting off your gorgeous hair, is still burned into my brain. You looked so beautiful that I couldn’t believe that a woman like you would be interested in a man like me. Never in my life would I have thought to go see The Great Gatsby, but that was the film you’d wanted to see, and that was all that’d mattered to me—I still have our ticket stubs. You let me put my arm around you, and I don’t think I watched any of the movie because I was way too busy staring at you. My heart just about exploded when you let me hold your hand afterward as we walked to the restaurant. I still remember the red and white checkered table clothes and little candles. I realized then that you were even more stunning by candlelight. You’d said it was so romantic. I fell in love with you on that date, my sweet Cherry.
I never found our age difference to be an issue, and I know you didn’t either, but our parents and others saw things differently than you and me. If I’d only waited a few more weeks, none of this would’ve been an issue. But a love like ours couldn’t be contained. While I don’t regret making love to you, I’m so, so sorry your folks found out, and it ultimately resulted in us being torn apart instead of bringing us closer together like we’d dreamed.
I did some research, and the statute of limitations on the statutory rape charge your father threatened me with is twelve years in PA. Even without your cooperation, he can still persuade the law to pursue charges against me. That’s why I can’t send these letters to you—he would use any attempt to contact you as an excuse to have me arrested. You begged me to take you with me, but if you came here to live with me—or anywhere else—I could still be arrested and extradited to PA. I want you to finish school and go to college to be a teacher like you always wanted to. I don’t want to be the cause of your dreams not coming true. I could never be so selfish to take that from you.
So the only way we can be safe, and for you to get the education you deserve, is to wait the twelve long years. I know that sounds like forever—it would feel like it too—but I’d wait a lifetime if I had to. You mean the world to me, and someday, I’ll make my way back to you. I just pray that when I get there, some other man hasn’t stolen your heart.
I’ve been working my ass off here on my uncle’s ranch, and I’m so tired by the end of the day, I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow. That’s actually a good thing, because then I get to see you again in my dreams.
My great-uncle Simon is a grumpy bastard, but as long as I keep doing a good job, he doesn’t bother me. I’ve learned a lot about ranching over the past few weeks, and despite the hard work, I have to say I’m starting to enjoy it. I’m even learning how to ride a horse.
Living in a small town sure is different than living in Philly. The movie theater is really small and only shows one movie at a time. And everything is slower here. No one is in a hurry, and if you try to rush them, they tell you to stop and smell the roses or some shit like that. The air is so much cleaner—no smog or industrial smells. It does take some getting used to the stench of manure though.
You’d love it here, Cherry. The sunsets are amazing, like a painting, only a hundred times better. Then when the stars come out, there are so many of them that you could spend a lifetime counting them and still not come close to getting them all. I saw a shooting star last night, and I don’t have to tell you what my wish was—I’m sure you can guess. I’ll just keep making the same wish every time I see one until it comes true. I just have to keep having faith that, one day, I’ll get to hold you in my arms again and tell you how much I love you.
