“Loose ends, as in girls? Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No ma’am.” His smile is so wide and his eyes are gleaming. “Unless you want to be.”
I roll my eyes. “Ah shucks, Billy Bob, when you go and ask me like that, how can a girl resist?”
Tyler chuckles and leans in for a kiss. “I’m going to have so much fun with you tonight.” He brushes his lips quickly against mine and nudges me back to my seat. “Yee-haw,” he screams loudly as he steps down on the gas pedal, his tires spinning up dirt and gravel as the tail end of his truck shakes back and forth. This is the Tyler King I’ve been waiting to see.
Tyler
Today is moving entirely too slow for my liking. Each time I look at my watch, only a minute or two has passed and I know my work is suffering. I’m not sick or hung over, just infatuated, and I took the menial task of moving hay bales into the horse barn so I could be close to Savannah. She’s cleaning the horse stalls today, a job that I gave her so I could stare at her. So I could see her smile at me each time I pass by... and with each smile, my steps falter a little bit more, but it’s worth it.
Last night was more than I ever expected. When I came out of the shower and saw her standing there waiting for me, my breath caught. The sun was beaming through the front window, shining on her just perfectly. She was glowing as if she were an angel, even though I knew she was far from it. Her piss pour attitude from earlier still weighed heavily on my mind. But she surprised me. She moved closer. She touched me. That moment was everything I had hoped for and never thought would ever happen.
Yesterday I did things I never thought I would enjoy. I shopped, carried bag after bag and I held her hand proudly. There were stolen kisses under the awnings of storefronts and heated ones against the side of my truck. By the end of the evening, Savannah had stocked up on everything she needed to make it through the summer, including a pair of cowboy boots. I tried to buy her a hat, but she wasn’t having it. The plan was to take her to Red’s, but when we arrived, they were closed so they could resurface the dance floor.
I hated leaving her at her front door and driving to my house. When I looked toward the big house, I could still see her silhouette standing on the porch. All I could think was that she was watching me, maybe waiting for me to come back. If she wasn’t Savannah, I would’ve. I would’ve kept her out all night and not cared about work the next morning or what her family might think. But this is Savannah and I work for her uncle. Bobby and Sue are my family and I respect them. I won’t be doing anything to mess that up.
I lift another bale of hay and set it on top of the stack. My t-shirt is soaked with sweat and I think today’s a perfect day for a dip in the pond. I glance over my shoulder at Savannah who’s dressed like a country bumpkin in overalls, tank top, muck boots and a ball cap. Her hair is braided and in pigtails. Annamae used to do that, and I hated it, but on Savannah, it looks freaking sexy as hell.
“What ya staring at, cowboy?”
My eyebrow rises slowly as I bite back a smirk. “Cowboy, huh?” I’m not gonna lie, her giving me a nickname does something to me. I make a mental note not to tell Jeremiah that I like it because he’d just tell me I’ve turned into a sissy and ask if I need to change my tampon.
Savannah shrugs and my eyes immediately fall to her bare shoulder. It’s beckoning for my lips. Many times throughout today I’ve wanted to take her into one of the stalls – a clean one of course – and have my way with her. I know just having her pressed against my body for a few minutes would be enough to curb my desires. No, I’m lying. A few minutes would be torture.
“I kind of like it. It fits you.”
I tilt my head and smile, confirming that yes I do like it, but some things are better left a secret. Making sure the hay bale is secure, I walk over to her. I’m trying to strut, to be sexy, but I’m not sure if I’m succeeding. I’ve never put much effort into impressing a girl before, but with Savannah it’s different. She’s used to high-class rich guys and I’m just a country boy with not a lot to offer. I’ll never drive some sporty car that costs more than my house, or belong to some ritzy country club. There’ll be no vacationing in the Hamptons for me. I’m okay with this lifestyle. I’m also not stupid enough to think that Savannah’s willing to give all that up to make a home with me here.
As the brief glimpse of a possible life with Savannah flashes through my mind, I pause mid-step and quickly divert my eyes to the now fascinating concrete floor that she hosed down not twenty minutes ago. I don’t know where the thought of her making a home with me came from and as much as I can see a future with her, I know that’s not what she sees. I’m not a stupid man, a hopeless romantic maybe, but definitely not stupid. She’s too young, and she has dreams of her own. I know she’s leaving and nothing I do or say will stop her. I won’t even try. She needs to live out her dreams. But Paris, France is light years away from Rivers Crossing, Texas and I know she’ll forget all about us back here. It’s what I expect.
“Ty-ler,” her voice sings out, reminding me that we’re still in the present day and not months away from now. She’s standing there in her stall leaning up against her pitchfork, watching me. I know I can play this two ways: I can go over and kiss her good and proper or I can pull her pigtails like I used to back when we were running amuck and walk out. Neither will protect my heart and the reality of the situation is that she already owns it. If anyone would’ve told me when Savannah McGuire walked out of my life five years ago that she’d return and have me thinking about sharing a home, I would’ve punched them in the face.
I never thought my momma was in her right mind when she told me that Savannah and I were going to get hitched someday. I used to yell at her for teasing me. If she could see me now, standing here like a fumbling fool, she’d kick my rear end all the way to town.
“Cowboy?” her voice is full of desire as she purrs my new nickname. That’s my undoing. I move as if a donkey has kicked me in the ass until I’m standing in front of her. Taking the pitchfork from her, I set it outside the stall and shut the gate. The only parts of us that are visible are our heads and shoulders.
“What d’ya say, wanna roll in the hay?” I know my joke is corny, but I’m going for results.
Savannah pulls her lower lip into her mouth, a sure sign that she’s thinking too hard and looks out the barn door. Her smile is mischievous and daring. I pick her up and she laughs, wrapping her legs around my waist. Lowering us onto the fresh hay, I set myself on her gently. I lean in for a kiss and let my lips linger on hers until I feel her hands press against my back. This situation has bad news written all over it, but I’m not thinking with my head right now.
I pull away and smile down on her. “What are ya doin’ tonight?”
She shakes her head. “I’m pretty much a homebody right now.”
I mentally kick my own ass for asking such a stupid question. Of course she’s not going anywhere. Bobby and Sue hardly go out and I know I’m her transportation.
“Jeremiah’s havin’ a bonfire at his place. Wanna go?”
“That sounds like fun. Will there be a lot of people?”
I nod. “He doesn’t do small. I usually crash at his house because he gets a keg, but I don’t have to. We can throw a few blankets in the truck and watch the stars later if you want.”
Savannah runs her hands up my t-shirt and I try not to cringe with embarrassment. It’s soiled and I’m sweating. The last thing I want is for her to get grossed out by me. I start to lift off of her, only to be pulled back.
“Leaving me so soon?”
She doesn’t know the meaning behind her words. I’ll never leave, not her and not this ranch. This is my home and my life. I shake my head and feel my lips go into a tight line. I could say so much right now and have no doubt that most of it would scare her away. Hell, my thoughts are scaring me and I have three years on her.