Page 25 of Back in the Country
“Do you want to come inside?” The question is innocent enough, but the answer is stillnobecause if I get her alone, I’m going to want her naked, and I can’t help but feel like my mother is lurking somewhere in the shadows. It also means I’ll have to wait to have that conversation about makin’ her mine.
“Uh, I think it’s better if I don’t.” She smiles knowingly.
I clear my throat and try to remember what day it is—Wednesday. Shit.
“I have something to do tonight, but can I take you out tomorrow?”
Her gaze is piercing, and I fight the urge to fidget. I have class tonight, and my professor is giving us the details for our final project that will take us the rest of the semester to complete. As long as I do well, I’ll graduate in a few months with a degree I can be proud of.
“What are you doin’ tonight?”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I sigh. “Can we talk about it tomorrow at dinner?”
It’s not that I’m ashamed or anything—quite the opposite in fact. I just want this one last piece to be in place before I tell her. Marlee has a successful career, and she doesn’tneedme to support her.
But I want to, or I want to beableto. I want to show her how hard I’ve worked to create a successful business doing something I love. My desire to be her partner and her equal is overwhelming.
I don’t need Sorren’s approval either, but I want it. I want to show him that I’m good enough for his sister and can provide for her both financially and otherwise.
“Fine.” Marlee’s reply cuts through the bullshit in my head, and I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The pressure has been suffocating, and I can only hope that once I share this piece with her, we’ll be that much closer to forever.
10
MARLEE
I’d had a restless night’s sleep and the morning hadn’t brought me anything but frustration. Waylon dominated my thoughts. That orgasm was on a nonstop highlight reel—the bite of the tree against my back, the roughness of his hands against the smoothness of my skin…and his mouth.
God,his mouth.
Someone should be writing songs about the things he can do with that thing, as long as they’re not doing any research of their own. I sigh. I’m needy and have to find a distraction or I’ll never make it to tonight.
Forgoing the shower, I tie my hair into a messy bun and wash my face. The cool water is refreshing but does nothing to soothe my nerves. It’s just before seven, but I know everyone is busy. Grabbing my phone, I shoot off a text to Rhea and hope that she’ll be able to meet me to go dress shopping. I hesitate and then send a text to Sorren.
MARLEE:Do you want me to have anything specific ready for you when you get here?
SORREN:No
MARLEE:Snacks? Drinks? Music? Anything?
SORREN:I’m fine, Marlee.
Feeling deflated,a pair of cutoff denim shorts and a black tank top is all I have the energy for this morning. Makeup is a no go because I don’t feel like having it melt off my face this early in the day.
Tennessee is hot, and I’m not looking to impress anyone anyway. There’s nothing quite as crushing as doing your makeup flawlessly and then stepping outside and looking like you just watched the end ofHomeward Bound.
No, thank you.
Realistically, I don’t really have to impress Waylon either—if my old T-shirt and athletic shorts yesterday were any indication—but I want to.
His attraction to me is obvious, but I want him to see me as an equal, and I definitely want him to see me as a woman. I want to be all in this crazy life with him.
Decision made, I get in my car and drive to Smokin’ Joes,Clementine Creek’s diner and all around best place to cure what ails you.
The owner, Josephine LeMay, is a force to be reckoned with, not only in our little town, but in all of Tennessee.
She’d grown up in Kentucky and traded her bourbon-soaked roots for whiskey. Joe had come from a long line of butchers and smokers, and while she doesn’t raise her own meat anymore, you can still find her preparing her own cuts.
I park in the gravel lot on the side of the bright yellow painted-brick building. It is a statement piece to say the least, but that’s Joe. She is small in stature but big in personality and heart. You are always welcome here and you never leave hungry—she’ll make sure of it.
