Page 91 of Fresh Tracks
Lizzy: Clay likes to do morning yoga. So here I am. Of course I had to find an accountability buddy that loves wakingup early.
Kayleigh: For all the talk about women being dramatic, the moody Chapman boys really make me glad I like women. Also, I second Lizzy’s idea. Come down and hang out soon. Miss you, Gracie!
Me: Leave my retired rockstar out of this. He’s not being dramatic. Or at least he’s less dramatic than my brothers. Maybe I’ll come visit this weekend?
V: Yeah. Still not sure how you pulled that off. Still sooooo many questions.
V: Although… tattoos, piercings, cool hair… Rockstar girlfriend fits you babe <3
V: Jealous if you all get together this weekend. I would love to come down, but I have too much going on here with work and I have to go back to Bend for a meeting soon.
I look downat my phone, sitting at the desk in Tommy’s office that I’ve basically claimed as mine at this point.
Rockstar girlfriend.
It reminds me of the girls whispering at the coffee shop. The more I think about it though, the less I care. What matters to me is the man he is and how he makes me feel — how he treats me with respect. I know neither of us have said the words to each other, but I know the love between us is real and growing by the day.
That thought brings a smile to my face and warmth to my heart, thinking of all the possibilities in front of us. Tommy was right, chatting with the girls was a good idea. I need to go down to Park City anyway to grab some things from my place. Going down to spend some time with Lizzy, Clay, and Kayleigh would be nice before Tommy and I leave for Lake Tahoe on Tuesday.
I’ve spent the morning working on my new idea for him to be more involved with his charitable work, but still stay out of it publicly. It’s not as good as my original plan, but still solid. Knowing what I do now about his past, I understand why he wants to keep it this way. That doesn’t change the fact that there’s a part of me, deep down, that wishes we could do the kind of work I used to do together — volunteering with kids and working fundraising events. I enjoyed it so much and I would love to share that part of my life with him. He could definitely volunteer and attend those events without exposing that he’s a giant donor or something like that, but I know the difference he could make if he did.
Walking into the living room, I find him on the couch with his tattered old notebook. He looks up when I come in the room and I see the warmth in his eyes. It makes the butterflies in my stomach do somersaults while also making me instantly feel at home.
“Don’t tell me you were actually working for a change?” I ask, pointing at his notebook
He laughs through his nose. “It looks like you’re rubbing off on me.”
I walk over, standing in front of him between the couch and the coffee table. He runs his hands up the backs of my legs. Even through the baggy denim of my overalls, his touch still makes my entire body hum with electricity. I ruffle his hair when he looks up at me. “I’m glad. So do you have lunch plans today,Boss?” I emphasize the last syllable with a hiss.
His lips pull into a hungry grin. “I was planning on Gloria’s for lunch, but I’d rather eat something else.”
“You’re bad!” I give his shoulder a playful slap. His fingers find the backs of my knees and he pulls me down into his lap so I’m pressed against him. Somehow, I always find myself here with him and I’m more thanOK with it.
He cups the nape of my neck, bringing my lips to his for a short kiss before I pull away. The look in his eyes would bring me to my knees if I wasn’t already in his lap. Those kind, caring, compassionate eyes overwhelm my senses like everything else about him, almost enough to make me forget what I came in here for in the first place.
“I meant to tell you. I took your advice and chatted with the girls. Thank you for suggesting that”
He nods, his hands resting on my sides. “Good. So V’s going to kick your brother’s ass?”
I roll my eyes. “No, but Lizzy and Kayleigh said I should come down to Park City this weekend. I was thinking I would go. I needed to grab some things before we go to Tahoe next weekend anyway since I’ve been up here longer than I planned originally.”
I raise my brows at him, because he full well knows he's the reason I’ve stayed in Jackson. He nods. “Go see your friends and have fun. When are you planning to leave?”
I gnaw at the inside of my cheek. I know he’s going to miss me and it’s endearing, but I also need him to be OK with me doing my own thing. I’m always going to be impulsive and by my standards, this is nothing. “Probably tonight?”
I see the worry flash in his eyes. “I’ll be back Monday night. Then Tuesday, we’ll be off to Tahoe together.”
He takes a deep breath. “I’ll miss you.”
I bring my lips to his cheek, kissing the stubble right over his dimple. “I’ll miss you too.”
“You sure I can’t just buy you everything you need from your apartment and keep you here?”
I shake my head and give him a light slap on the shoulder. “No. I like my stuff and I also really just want to see my friends.” I lean in close enough to feel his breath on my neck and whisper into his ear. “I also have a nightstand filled with my toy collection. I’d like to bring that back for a little show and tell.”
He whimpers into my neck and I feel his erection under me.
Pulling back, I see the hunger in his eyes. “I’ll be here waiting then.”
