“Not from you,” I replied.
“Erica, please. How long are you going to be mad at me?”
“How long are you planning on staying in town?” I cocked my eyebrow, feeling content with my obnoxious question.
He took a step forward, and then another, until he was standing in front of me on the porch. My heart was beating so fast, almost like it was going to come straight out of my chest. He reached out and touched the side of my chin. “I’ve missed you.”
I turned my head, pulling away from his reach. “Stop it.”
“I think you’ve missed me too. Have you thought about us? Have you thought about how I made you feel that night; how it felt to be naked in my arms?”
I shoved him backwards. “Don’t! You don’t get to talk to me about that, Reed, or Shawn, or whoever you are.”
He came forward extending both of his arms out. “It’s the truth. You know it is, Erica. For the record, nobody calls me Shawn, nobody that matters anyway.”
“I don’t even care. Look, you walked away that day, after I asked you to stay. You made the choice, and I moved on. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a reopening to plan for, and I don’t have the time or energy to stand here and argue with you about what could have been. It’s done and over with.”
I turned to walk back inside and felt him pulling me back. By the time I could get my footing I was smacking against his chest, in his arms, with his lips on mine. I pulled away, trying to slap him, but he caught my arm. I pulled away, but remained in front of him as he spoke. “I won’t force myself on you, Erica. I just wanted to feel those lips one more time.” He looked around at the old porch. “You should look into resealing this wood, or else people will complain of getting splinters. Good luck with your re-opening. I’m sure everyone will love what you’re doing to make it what it once was.”
Reed hopped off the porch and walked over to his bike. I walked inside and closed the door, falling down against it. Once again he was leaving, and once again I was destroyed over it.
He’d given me an offer, and I’d refused. It was as simple as that.
I opened my eyes and wiped away the tears when I heard his motorcycle starting up. The setting sun was shining through the front window, lighting up the rug where I’d happily made love to Reed. Chills ran down my spine in those seconds that I reminisced over it. His motor revving told me that he was on his way out. I stood up, before I even realized that I was reacting. The door was opened back up, and I bolted toward the bike that was starting to ride down the lane. I ran faster, waving my arms to try to get his attention.
He went faster, pulling out onto the open road and riding away. My knees felt weak as I fell down on the dirt road. Reed was gone and I needed to learn how to deal with it.
I looked up when I heard the motor appear as if it was coming back. Just as I stood up, I saw him turning back in. I walked toward the oncoming bike. When he stopped and took off his helmet, I was right in front of him waiting.
“You came back?”
“Yeah. I had to give it one more go. Did you run after me?” Obviously he hadn’t seen me flailing my arms around screaming.
“I did.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued. “I made a mistake, Reed. You were right about everything. I’ve just been too stubborn to admit it.”
He climbed off the motorcycle and walked up to break the distance between the two of us. “So what now, Erica?” He took my hair and put it over my shoulders. “What happens now?”
I giggled and looked up into those dark eyes. “I guess you get yourself a paintbrush.”
He held me close, leaning forward and letting our lips brush. “First we need to do this.” His kiss was just like I’d remembered, deep and passionate. The longer it lasted the more I knew how right it felt.
After our long needed embrace, we walked back to the old bed and breakfast. Reed parked his motorcycle and got his bag out of the compartment under his seat. “I’ll get the rest of my things from my hotel room later. So which room is mine?”
I hugged him again, leaning my head against his strong body. “The one that I’m staying in.”
It must have been the right answer, because Reed picked me up and carried me inside, while placing those perfect kisses all over my face.
We didn’t know what the future held, or even if the bed and breakfast would work out, but for now we’d both found what we were looking for.
To be continued…
Chelsea Landon
Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyways.
~Author unknown
Chapter One