Buttercup

Sundays were easily my favorite days. Both Jake and I were busy during the week, then visiting family and friends on Saturdays, we reserved Sundays for just us two. Lazy days where we laid in bed, Jake making pancakes—one of the few things he could cook, taking walks, going out to eat, or ordering in if we hadn’t bothered to put on any clothes that day.

Having stayed up late last night studying, while Jake slept, I was having a lazy morning, watching Jake add the finishing touches to a painting he was going to hang in Sarah’s bakery. As my eyes roved over his latest creation—a grassy field of bluebonnets—I wished I had some kind of artistic talent too.

“I’ve always wondered what it was like to be able to paint,” I murmured, admiring his work.

Drawing his eyes from his work, he turned to me. “Would you like to find out?”

“Oh, no. It would turn out terrible—I don’t have an eye for that kind of art. I can make crafts, you know, your standard wedding or baby shower decorations, but painting—that’s intimidating.”

“What if we have a little fun with it?” he asked, putting his brush down on the tray of his easel. Jake had a naughty glint in his eye and his grin told me he had something sexy up his sleeve.

“What do you have in mind?” I murmured as he stood, making his way over to me.

Leaning over me, his full lips contacted my mouth. As it did every time my husband kissed me, my insides began to melt.

Pulling away from me, he whispered in my ear, “Let’s paint—naked.”

I laughed, blushing, trying to picture it. Jake, tall and muscular with his tanned skin and bronze, curly hair would look like a painting himself while creating art sans clothing. Me, with my pale skin and… well Jake could never stop telling me how beautiful he found me… maybe I should put my inhibitions aside and give it a try. After all, we were going to spend the rest of our lives together—might as well get comfortable being naked with one another.

“Sure. I’m game.”

Jake’s eyes lit up with excitement. Giving me one last, quick kiss, he released me. Heading towards his shop he called over his shoulder, “Give me ten minutes—wait here.”

I sat down on the couch, nervous butterflies in my stomach. What had I agreed to? Had I even shaved today? Lifting the hem of my pajamas, I pulled them up, peeking underneath. Hmm...ten minutes. That was enough to zip in the shower and touch up my shaving job. I had to take my clothes off anyway, might as well go.

Hurrying off to the shower, I turned the knob on the tub faucet, letting the water get nice and steamy. Whipping my hair in a high ponytail, I hurried out of my clothing, then hopped in the shower, pulling the curtain closed.

Humming to myself, I lathered and carefully shaved all the hair from my body. Cutting the water, I stepped out of the tub and dried off with the big white fluffy bath towel—one of our many wedding gifts from Jessica— I had waiting. I slathered lotion on my legs, patted my secret stash of ‘no bump coochie cream’ on my bare pussy, then wrapped the towel tightly around me. Scurrying off to the living room, I sat on the couch and glanced at the clock. Only seven minutes had passed.

The backdoor opened and I let out a sigh of relief—I didn’t want to sit for three more minutes letting my nerves get the best of me.

My breath caught in my throat as Jake made his way through the back door. There was not a lick of clothing on my man.

And he was stunning. His broad chest was tanned from his hours of working on outdoor projects as were his muscular shoulders and arms. Narrow waist and trim hips, that delicious cock hanging down between his rock-hard thighs. How did I ever get so lucky?

“You ready?” he asked, a mischievous look on his face, gesturing at the back door.

“Aren’t you setting up in here?”

“Nope.” His grin spread.

“Then where?”

“Backyard.”

“Wha… we are painting… naked… outside?”

“Why not? It’s less messy than inside. And our backyard is totally private. We have a six-foot privacy fence and tall trees, and no one can see in.

“But… it’s outside.”

“I know. That’s what’s so great about it. The weather is fantastic. Come on.”

Shyly I stood, pulling the towel tighter around my body. One foot in front of the other, I slowly made my way across the room to meet Jake. He grabbed my hand, tugging me eagerly outside.

My bare feet stepped onto the cool grass. The sun was shining and the air perfectly warm—it was a great day to be outside naked.

Jake looked completely confident standing fully nude in our backyard. He lived in his body in a way you could tell he fully appreciated and accepted it—not that that would be hard for anyone who looked like him to do. All his hours of labor had paid off in the physique department. His lean muscles moved gracefully as he walked.

There was a large, clean, white drop cloth spread across the grass. Plates of different blobs of paints sat on the side of the canvas. The colors he had chosen were beautiful—teals, greens, blues and even a gold and silver metallic.

I didn’t see any canvas or easels to work with. “What are we painting on?”

Hands on his hips, his eyes met mine. “Us. Our skin is the canvas.”

He took two long strides towards me, then his hand whipped out and before I could think, the towel was in his hand and I stood, naked. His eyes roved over me as he murmured, “Beautiful.”

My cheeks heated up and I knew my pale skin was turning pink. An excited shiver ran through me and goosebumps appeared on my arms.

“Come.” Smiling warmly, Jake held out his hand. I put mine in his and he led me to step onto the drop cloth. Folding his long legs underneath him, he sat, legs crossed before him. I opted to sit, knees together, legs tucked beneath me.

Jake handed me one of the palette discs. I studied the colors closely. The blues and greens of the shimmery teal were swirled beautifully against the white plastic of the palette. I would use that magical color first.

With a disc in his own hand, Jake dipped the tip of his finger into the blue. A grin spread across his face as he said, “Lie down.”

Putting my tray beside me I lay down on the canvas, the material soft under my bare skin. Jake scooted beside me, his tray in hand.

With the blue paint on his fingertip he began at my shoulder. As his finger trailed a blue swirl appeared. He paused, dipping into the gold. His brow narrowed with concentration as he worked, lost in his art.

The touch of his finger slowly moving over my skin, lubricated by the slippery paint, was heavenly. I closed my eyes and let the warm sunshine soak into my body.

Jake’s work moved from my shoulder to my collarbone. Adding silver and green to the blue and gold, his swirling design flowed across me, meeting my other shoulder.

Choosing the teal, he focused on the growing design, this time making his way down to my breast. To my embarrassment, and to his amusement, my nipple instantly stiffened as his light touch painted circles around my breast. I held my breath as, with a smile, he painted a tiny gold heart over my sensitive bud.

His worked continued down my torso. I looked down admiring his work. My stomach was soon covered with a beautiful design that resembled a vine of flowers.

When he was satisfied, he asked, “Can I take a picture? From your waist, up? Just for me. No one else will ever see it.”

The work was beautiful. The colorful paint and elaborate design made my body beautiful. I felt relaxed to my core from his touch and the sun and the fresh air. What the heck? Why not?

“Okay,” I agreed, quietly.

With a flash of a smile, Jake was up and jogging towards the house. Careful to open the door using the clean part of his hand only, he was in the house. I heard the running of water, then he returned, phone in hand.

Kneeling beside me, he began to take pictures. My head tilted to the side and I smiled at his eagerness as he snapped away. It was a heady experience. To be nude outside, under the sun, my husband transforming my bare skin into a work of art with nothing more than his fingertips and some paint. As much as I was reveling in the experience, I doubted I would ever be brave enough to look at the pictures he was taking.

Looking down at the screen of his phone, he studied the pictures he had taken. Satisfied, he said, “Now, roll over.”

“You want to do the back?”

He nodded.

I rolled over, putting my arms up and crossing my hands over top of one another, resting my head on them. I turned my head to the side. A breeze blew over my bare skin and I closed my eyes.

Jake began to paint my back. It was the most amazing feeling, his fingers stroking my skin with the cool paint. It was like getting a highly erotic massage. My nipples tightened beneath me, pressed into the rough canvas. I felt my crotch dampening. When he reached my waist, I tensed. Was he going to paint my ass, as he had my breasts?

Of course, he was. Goosebumps raised on my bottom as his fingertips caressed it with the cold paint. All shyness melted away as he reached the final curve of my bottom. His touch was melting me to the core. My bottom liked all the attention it could get.

He was finished all too soon.

“Another picture? But this one will be your whole body. Is that okay?”

I nodded, too relaxed to answer.

When Jake was done, he lay beside me. Gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, he said, “Your turn.”

“I can’t do anything half as beautiful as you created.”

“That’s okay. Just give it a go.”

Sitting up on my knees, I picked up my paint palette. Jake stretched out on his back, his hands tucked behind his head.

My finger hesitantly dipped into the turquoise paint. “Close your eyes,” I said.

Smiling, he obediently closed his eyes.

I went to work. The paint was cool on my fingertip. His skin was warm and smooth and beautiful against the color of the paint. I hummed while I worked, feeling like a child again as I carefully smeared the paint across his chest. A few moments later when I was satisfied with my work, I leaned back to inspect it.

“My turn for a picture, but don’t look yet.” Grabbing his phone with my clean hand, I tapped in his lock code, pulling up the camera.

The pictures he had taken of me popped up. My breath caught in my throat at the site of the delicate designs against my bare skin. The sunlight shining making the colors shimmer and glitter. There was a sensual look in my green eyes and my cheeks flushed prettily. I was glad he had taken them.

“Everything okay?” Jake asked, eyes still closed.

“Yes,” I said, closing the picture gallery and focusing the camera on his chest.

When I had gotten a few pics of my work, I said, “Okay, you can look now.”

Jake sat up on his elbows, looking down at his chest and taking in my work. He let out a loud belly laugh.

“Property of Buttercup Hargett,” he read out loud. “I like it.” Reaching out his arms towards me, he said, “Now, come take a picture with your property.”

Phone still in hand, I moved into his arms. Sitting side by side, his arm wrapped around me, Jake took the phone from me. Holding it out, he took a picture of both of us in our naked, painted bodies, the sun shining behind us.

Leaning into me, he kissed me. “How did you like your first painting session?” he asked.

“I loved it. I can’t imagine creating art any other way,” I mused.

“I will teach you to paint—on canvas, with brushes—but I probably won’t let you wear clothes while you do it.

“I can handle that.”

Kissing me again, I melted into him.

“Let’s get you into the shower and get this paint off. What do you say?”

“You coming in with me?”

“Of course. Married people shouldn’t waste water on separate showers. Got to keep that water bill down. Don’t you agree?”

“Mmm… hmmm,” I murmured.

Nibbling the lobe of my ear, he whispered, “Besides, I know just what I want to do to you and the shower will be the perfect place for it.”

His promise gave me shivers.

He stood, offering me his hand. I took it and he pulled me to my feet. Cradling an arm beneath my thighs and another around my back, he lifted me in the same position he had carried me over our threshold when we had returned from Mexico. My arms wrapped around his neck and he leaned down, placing a sweet kiss on my forehead.

I laughed as he carried me through the back door he had left open when he had gone to get his phone. Kicking it shut with his heel, Jake carried me all the way to our bathroom.

Placing me back down, my feet on the fuzzy bath mat, Jake gave my bare bottom a playful smack that echoed against the tiled walls. Then he went to the shower and got the water going.

Testing the temperature with his hand, he said, “Perfect.” Holding the shower curtain back for me, he said, “Ladies, first.”

I stepped over the tub and underneath the hot stream of water. Colors began to run down my body, swirling at me feet and running down the drain. Jake stepped into the shower behind me and pulled the curtain tightly closed.

Grabbing the body wash, he squeezed a generous amount of the cream liquid into his open palm. The scent of lavender filled the shower as he rubbed his hands together. With hot water running down my back my eyes closed as he began to massage the foaming mixture over my shoulders. His big hands massaged my breasts, a moan escaping my lips at his touch. He trailed down my stomach, rubbing the soap into my tingling flesh. Rinsing his hands, he slipped one hand behind me, then one down between my legs. I gave a gasp as his hot wet fingers dipped within me, collecting my moisture and bringing it to my clit. Rubbing hard, his fingers teased my pussy, his other hand squeezing my bottom. In and out his fingers dipped as he pressed his thumb against my pert nub.

Removing his hand, I gave a sign of discontentment. Thankfully, he wasn’t finished with me yet. He grabbed both my wrists, pulling my arms above my head. Locking my wrists together with one of his hands, the other found my breast, squeezing and massaging. His mouth was on mine and his hard kisses were bruising my lips. My knees were weak, my core a pulsing puddle of lava as he tightened his hold on my wrists, rendering me totally and completely out of control of my own body.

His fingertips encased my nipple and he pinched the peaked flesh hard as his teeth nibbled at my bottom lip. I gasped, my hips gyrating in the air with pleasure and frustration.

“Please,” I whispered.

He gave a dark laugh as his mouth left mine. His eyes roved over me, taking in my panting desperation. With one hand on my hip, the other still holding my wrists, he turned me away from him, pressing my chest against the cool ceramic wall of the shower. I inhaled sharply as my tight, peaked nipples pressed into the cold ceramic.

My cheek, stomach and breasts pushed up against the shower wall. He released my wrists and my arms lowered, my hands leaning into the wall as his broad chest lay up against my back. His growing erection pressed into the cleft of my bottom as he kissed the back of my neck. His teeth dug into the tender flesh where my neck met my shoulder. Moaning and groaning and squirming, I tried to turn to face him.

“I haven’t done your back yet,” he said, pushing me back against the wall. “Stay put.” He turned the shower head to the side, so the water was no longer cascading directly over me.

The scent of lavender filled the shower again. Then his slippery hands were on me, massaging my shoulders, my back, my buttocks. Leaning my forehead against the cool wall, my hands pressed in on either side of my face, I focused on the tingles his massaging hands were sending over my body.

Leaving my back and shoulders completely, both his hands were now grabbing my ass cheeks, his fingertips digging into the soft flesh at the bottom of my curves.

Holding my left cheek in his left hand, his other hand snaked around my waist, the slippery index finger of his right hand found its way into my pussy. I moaned, pressing myself further into the wall, willing that finger to find my clit once more and rub me into ecstasy. Instead, I gasped in shock as his other hand did its own exploring.

Turning over my shoulder, I whispered, “No.” I did so love to protest when his fingers strayed to my bottom.

His hand instantly left that taboo place, coming down with a sharp slap on the wet skin of my bottom. I startled at the sting, gasping for breath as another hard swat landed in the same spot.

My head pulled back as Jake tugged on my ponytail, pulling my hair and head back towards him. “Don’t tell me, ‘no’, Buttercup,” Jake growled. Giving my hair a final tug, he released it, his hand resting on the stinging skin he had just punished.

“Yes, sir,” I whispered, my pussy quivering at his dominance.

“Good girl.” His fingers wandered back to my bottom. I held my breath, clenching my teeth together as they slipped into my cleft. My buttocks clenched and for that I received another sharp stinging slap, wet hand against wet skin. On my tiptoes from the pain, I relaxed my bottom squeezing my eyes shut tight.

The tip of his index finger slowly pressed past my taboo rosebud. It was quivering at his entrance.

It was a strange sensation to have Jake once again enter that off-limits place of my body. Not comfortable, yet not painful. As he pumped his finger in and out, I let out a whimper of submission and desire.

Him taking ownership of my body made my pussy weep and tighten.

“Please,” I begged.

“Please stop?” he asked.

My face burned knowing my answer should be ‘no’ but wasn’t.

“Or please satisfy you? It turns you on when I play with your bottom, doesn’t it, wifey?”

“Yes, sir,” I shamefully admitted.

“You like it when I own you, don’t you, little lady?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And what do you want, right now? You want my cock in your tight little ass, don’t you? Your hands pressed against the wall, your face against the wall, the muscles of your calves burning as you stand on tiptoe, my huge cock up inside you.”

Holy shit. I gasped. I was finally going to get the ass fucking I had been dreaming about since he mentioned it on our wedding night.

“Tell me you want it, Buttercup.” He added another finger, stretching and pumping in my bottom.

I gasped at the pressure, the pleasure. “I want you… inside of me.”

“Inside your bottom? That’s why I’ve taken all this time, fingering you, plugging you when you’re naughty. All to get your sweet little ass ready to take my cock. You want me to put my dick in you and slap your ass while I fuck you, don’t you, Buttercup? I know what you like, my dirty little girl.”

Jake had never talked so rough to me. And I had never, ever been so turned on or desperate with desire.

“Yes… to all of that, please.” My pussy clenched as his fingers left my bottom.

“Spread your legs, bend over and press your hands against the wall.”

I was so scared. His cock was just... huge. But I trusted Jake with my body and I wanted this. And all along he had been preparing me for this moment. Grabbing my ponytail hard, he gave it a tug as he moved my hips into the position he desired. Jake adjusted the shower head, so the water rained down on my lower back. The water ran down my back and bottom, warm water gushing down the crack of my ass and pussy.

I peeked over my shoulder at Jake. He was retrieving a small tube from the corner of the shower—lube—how long had that been stashed there, unnoticed? Jake had been planning this.

His hand came down, slapping my ass. I moaned as the tip of his lubed, rock-hard cock teased my asshole.

“Say, ‘Please fuck me in the ass, sir.’”

“Please, Jake... please fuck me in the ass, sir.”

Slowly he pressed the head of his cock past the tight circle of muscle and into my ass. I gasped as my body stretched to make room for him. He took his time, moving slowly until he had most of his cock up my ass. My pussy was weepy and clenching as the muscles of my rectum quivered and restricted around his shaft.

“Oh my God, oh my God.” I had never felt anything so pleasurable in all my life. Then Jake’s hand reached around my waist. As he fucked my ass, his fingers rubbed at my swollen, desperate clit. My calves were burning as I raised further up on tiptoe. His long fingers buried into my pussy, his cock filling my ass.

Everything was clenching, pulsing, there were white stars behind the lids of my eyes as I pressed my face further into the wall, my hands grabbing at the edges of the tub as Jake bent me over further. The climax was not only building in the walls of my vagina as his fingers worked me, but also in my swollen clit that his palm was rubbing.

And my ass. I didn’t know sex could be this way. Just as the sheath of my pussy was constricting under his expert touch, the walls of my rectum were clenching as well, almost as if an orgasm was building in my bottom too. He gave two more thrusts, his palm pressing hard into my clit and it felt like my whole world exploded.

I came before him, the muscles of my pussy and ass spasming. I couldn’t take anymore, but he wasn’t done. I tried to push his hand away from my pussy, but he refused. His cock still going in and out of me, his fingers plunged within me, fingertips tickling my G-spot. “Holy mother of God!” I screamed as I orgasmed again, deep within my core, my pussy and ass filled to capacity. Jake came with a groan. I lay my face against the cool tiles, catching my breath, marveling that my husband had fulfilled yet another one of my unspoken fantasies.

* * *

All day Monday, I walked around on cloud nine, a heady afterglow from Jake and my Sunday of painting and fucking. He was down on Cooper’s ranch all day, so I had gone to visit Carrie at the Lone Star Cattle Company.

I almost wished I hadn’t when I couldn’t get that silly grin off my face, reminiscing about the things Jake had done to my body. Carrie was on to me immediately, declaring, “What’s got you grinning as wide as the Texas sky? Gotta be that big hunk a man, Jake Hargett. What’s he been doing to you, girly?”

Carrie was... invasive. Filter less. She had no qualms about sharing every detail of her personal life and couldn’t understand why you wouldn’t want to do the same. But I loved her.

She taught me how to make an apple pie. I had asked for the recipe, secretly planning to bake one for Jake if I could get the hang of it. Refusing to just text me the directions, she had demanded that I ‘come on over’, so she could show me how it was done.

Layering the strips of pie dough into a pretty lattice, and crimping the edges neatly, I was glad I had come. There was no way the pie would have looked this good if I had attempted my first one alone. Carrie chatted on, filling the kitchen with her friendly giggles. She filled me in on the fact she had left her teaching career to help out on the ranch full time, now that her brother in law’s outreach horseback riding program was getting so popular. Told me how Rose was doing in school. Shared her latest escapade that had led to Wes taking her over his knee, ‘for one of those real ouchie spankings’. She wanted me to dish on newlywed bliss, but I blushed, pleading the fifth.

Giving her a hug, I left, wanting to get home in time to throw a load of laundry in and make fried chicken and mashed potatoes to go with the pie, for Jake.

Jake’s eyes widened, his hand going to his flat stomach, when he saw the dinner table spread. “My, my, my, you do take care of me, Buttergirl,” he said with a wide smile. He had eaten every bite of his supper, put down two slices of the pie with vanilla ice cream, and washed it all down with a tall glass of milk. Then he had carried me off to bed, for ‘his second dessert’.

Monday led into Tuesday. Jake insisted on taking me out to The Grill for breakfast—a thank you for the dinner I had cooked him the night before. We had French toast, eggs and bacon, juice and coffee. I was busting at the seams when he dropped me off at the Poke Rescue. Giving me a kiss, he told me he couldn’t wait to see me when I got off and would be waiting for me in the parking lot.

The day was a whirlwind. There was a heart attack, potential poisoning, and a car wreck that day. Thankfully, we did our jobs well and everyone lived to see another day. When my shift was almost over, Tex asked me to help him wash the van. It was a warm sunny day and things were slowing down, so Tex and I had grabbed a bottle of soap and a couple of buckets and sponges. Pulling the blue and green striped van out from its bay onto the concrete drive, Tex flashed me a smile as he hopped down from the driver’s side. “Beautiful day for a carwash.”

We had just finished doing the first rinse and were scrubbing the hood of the van with our sponges when I saw the blue sedan. Instead of doing the usual cruise by, it pulled into the parking lot. My stomach dropped. I could no longer pretend not to notice. It was Ryder and he was pulling into the parking lot.

My heart caught in my throat. What should I do? Call Jake? My buttocks clenched. If I told him, I would have to come all the way clean—the ‘bump into’ at the Five and Dime, the other drive-bys I had witnessed. I took a deep breath. I would call. Just as soon as I saw what Ryder wanted.

“Hey, Butterpat—you missed a spot.” I felt water hit my shirt and looked up at Tex’s playful face.

When our eyes met, the smile dropped from his face. “Butterpat, what’s wrong? You look like you saw a ghost.”

I glanced at my reflection in the side view window. Dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, a few stray suds hiding there, my green eyes were opened wide, a look of worry there. My already pale skin— alabaster.

“Nothing… I just…” my eyes cut to the sedan. The man remained in the car. It was close enough I could confirm my suspicions. His head almost touching the roof of the car, broad shoulders filling out a black sweater. Blond hair, a piece artfully hanging over ice blue eyes. It was Ryder.

Tex looked over his shoulder to where I was looking. Narrowing his eyes, leaning in to get a closer look, he said, “You know that guy? He kind of looks like one of those vampires. You know—from that Twilight movie all you girls were obsessed with a few years ago.”

“Not all of us were obsessed with that movie,” I mumbled, ignoring Ryder and continuing my work. I had gotten far too many jokes about my pale skin and comments about my resemblance to ‘Bella’ when the popular series had first exploded.

Not ready to drop the conversation, Tex kept staring at Ryder though the dash. “He looks like the doctor one—what was his name?” Tex’s hand froze, deep in thought for a moment. His eyes shot up to meet mine. He held his hand in the air, his fingers giving a snap. “Carlisle Cullen! That was his name.”

“Are you sure you weren’t the one with a Twilight obsession?” I teased, sneaking a peek at Ryder out of the corner of my eyes. He did resemble the actor that had played Dr. Cullen.

Getting back to our work, we wiped the van down, both glancing at the blue sedan every so often. I hoped Ryder would just drive away and I could get on with my day, not needing to call Jake and possibly start drama I wasn’t ready to face. The very idea of having to tell Jake that Ryder was skulking around my work formed a ball of ice in my stomach. Jake would not let this go.

After a moment, Tex reached down, wetting his sponge in the bucket. His eyes locked on mine, soft with concern. “Well, who is he? Why is he just sitting there like that? He looks nervous or something.”

“An old friend,” I managed to choke out, my throat feeling tight.

Tex’s brow knitted in confusion. “I don’t turn the color of snow when I see my old friends, Butterpat. I swear, your face is even whiter than it usually is. What is really going on?”

“I just… he’s not someone that Jake is particularly fond of. And I’m not sure what he’s doing here.”

Tex let out a low whistle, looking down at the hood of the van as he continued wiping it with his soapy sponge. “Well, if Jake isn’t fond of him, your little vampire friend might want to mosey on home to his crypt. I wouldn’t want to be the one caught sniffing around you when Jake gets wind of it.”

We both turned our attention back to the blue car as the door opened. Wiping my hands off on a drying towel, I stepped around the van, mumbling to Tex, “Excuse me just a sec.”

“Want me to come with?”

Looking over my shoulder, I gave a reassuring smile to my friend. Tex leaned back on the one dry spot of the van, crossing his arms over his chest a concerned look on his face. “I’ll be fine. You just come rushing in if you see him biting my neck. Okay? You’ll know what to do from watching all the movies, right Tex?”

“Yeah, I’ll just transform into a wolf.” Giving a laugh, Tex waved me away with his hand, turning back to his work while keeping a protective eye on me.

Seeing me approach, Ryder stepped out of the car, unfolding his long limbs from the small vehicle. Closing the door carefully behind him, he nervously brushed imaginary lint from his fitted, black V-neck sweater. Putting his hands casually in the pockets of his dark washed jeans, he stood to his full height. I took a few more steps towards him, then stopped. His gaze was not on me. It was searching over my shoulder, past Tex and the van, as if he was looking for something.

“Hey, Buttercup,” he said, his voice distracted. His eyes still roved over me, not yet truly acknowledging my presence.

“Hey, Ryder. What are you doing here?” I tried to soften my tone as not to offend him. My arms crossed over my chest, my teeth biting nervously at my bottom lip.

Finally, his ice blue eyes met mine. There was a friendly, familiar gaze there.

“Hey, Buttercup,” he said again.

“You already said that,” I replied, my brow knitting curiously. Ryder was acting strange. Usually cool and self-assured, he seemed almost—scared. What on Earth was he at my work for? And what would Jake say when he found out?

Running a hand through his sandy blond locks, he cleared his throat his eyes avoiding mine. Another sign of nerves. What could he possibly want from me that would make him this nervous? My heart beat hard in my chest.

“What is going on, Ryder? Why are you here?”

“I… I’m sorry to bother you at work, Buttercup. I know Jake wouldn’t like this—”

“Spit it out, Ryder. Why are you here?”

He looked at me, his light blue eyes apologetic. “I… I wanted—” he stopped, shuffling the toe of his black leather boot. Looked up at the sky. Cleared his throat. Finally, he stopped fidgeting, his eyes locked on mine. His voice strong and clear, he announced, “I came to ask you a question.”

My stomach dropped. What could the brother of my ex possibly need to come to my work to ask me? I could no longer overlook the fact that I had caught him driving by—several times. My face went hot, and a panicked feeling washed over me. I never should have kept this a secret from Jake, the time I saw Ryder at the Five and Dime, telling Ryder exactly where he could find me on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The suspicious drive-bys by the blue car that followed that day. I should have told Jake that Ryder was hanging around—I should have told him everything—a long time ago.

Willing my nerves to calm, I took a deep breath. I needed to say what I should have said before—even if I caused hurt feelings.

“Ryder. You probably shouldn’t be here.” There. I said it. The world was still revolving. Ryder was still standing. I was still standing. I had finally done the right thing by Jake.

The whispered words, “I know.” Ryder’s eyes dropped from mine. Did I detect a blush on his cheeks? My mind fought with my emotions. Yes, he had been acting inappropriately, practically following me around town, but the look on his face was anything but intimidating or scary. He was the one who looked downright scared.

“I just wanted to ask one question. Then I will go away and leave you alone—”

There was a loud slam of a car door. Ryder froze, his sentence trailing off. His eyes snapped to the parking lot behind us.

A loud, rumbling voice shouted, “Hey, you!” Behind me, a long, low whistle from Tex.

Jake.

I had forgotten that Jake and I had gone out to breakfast at the Grill that morning, he dropping me off for my shift and planning to pick me up this afternoon. Had I remembered sooner, I would have immediately told Ryder to hightail it out of there as soon as his car had pulled into the lot.

“Hey, you!” Jake shouted again. He was taking long, angry strides towards us. I looked over Ryder’s shoulder, watching my husband approach.

Ryder’s pale face blanched. He turned to face Jake, his back to me. I hurried around him, standing between him and Jake. I looked at Ryder. He held his hands up in the air in a ‘surrender’ type gesture. His mouth hung open as if to protest but no words came out.

Then, I turned back to Jake. Jake stopped two feet from me. My hand was held out as if to stop him from coming closer.

“What the hell are you doing here, man? At her work?” Jake’s hands went to his hips. “Buttercup—what is he doing here? Has he been bothering you?” Jake’s brown, livid eyes flashed at me, demanding an honest answer.

I looked to Ryder. A pink blush rose onto Ryder’s cheeks. He did not answer my husband. I looked back to Jake. Before I could answer, Jake took a threatening step towards Ryder. “Answer me, man. Why are you here at Buttercup’s work?”

“Jake—” I began but his flashing eyes did not move from Ryder’s face.

“Buttercup, it’s okay.” Ryder put a hand on my shoulder to move me out from in front of him.

“Don’t touch her,” Jake growled from in between his teeth.

I moved to Jake’s side, wrapping an arm around his waist. “It’s okay, Jake. I promise.” Jake looked down at me, his eyes still angry. He wrapped his arm tightly around my shoulders.

“I just came to ask Buttercup a question. I should have probably just picked up the phone, but I couldn’t get up the nerve. And then I never could muster the courage to come here and ask her, but today, I finally thought, ‘what the heck’.”

Dropping his arm from my shoulders, Jake moved within inches of Ryder’s flushed face. “What question could you possibly have for my wife?” he asked between clenched teeth.

Stepping backwards, Ryder ran his hand through his hair, his face further reddening. His eyes flashed to mine pleading with me for forgiveness.

I had no idea what to do.

Tex casually made his way over to us, stopping a few feet short of Ryder. He stood behind Ryder, out of the way, but close enough to intervene if necessary. My eyes shot to his with gratitude. Tex would help settle things down if they got out of control. I had seen him in a lot of high pressure situations, and he had a gift of dispelling the tension and bringing calmness.

Ryder began his choppy sentence. “I’m here to ask her about…” his mumbled words trailed off. His face looked pained at trying to finish his thought.

“Speak up. You’ve been sniffing around our town and my wife for far too long. Its time you come clean with your intentions or I’ll run you right out of Poke. Just like I did your brother.” Jake’s voice was low, dangerous and sent shivers down my spine.

A few other people started to gather around the doors of the building, looking at the three of us curiously. A little blonde peeked over the shoulder of the person in front of her. When our eyes locked, Cherry read the worried look on my face.

Cherry pushed her way past the other men who were blocking the door of the building, saying clearly, “’Scuse me, fellas.” Stomping her way over to us, she stood next to Tex, hands on her full hips. “Now, what seems to be the problem, Buttercup?”

At the sound of Cherry’s voice, Ryder lost all interest in Jake. Turning around to face Cherry and Tex, his gaze rested on Cherry. The flush left his face and a small grin played at his lips. The worry dropped from his features and a momentary beam of sunlight shone through his eyes. A broad smile spread across his handsome face.

“Hello, Cherry,” he said, speaking clearly for the first time that afternoon.

As Cherry looked over the tall stranger who stood before her, her own eyes lit up with that same sunshiny look, her face brightening. “Um… Ryder… is that you? Pre-med Ryder from Anatomy class? Well, I’ll be. How are you doing?” Her face stretched into a wide smile, her cheeks pinkening.

“I’m well.” Gesturing over his shoulder towards the south end of town, he said, “I finally made it to my residency. I’m over at the hospital in Clinton.”

Jake’s brow knitted in confusion. He gave Ryder a wary look, but stepped back, joining me. His arm twined around my shoulders, but not so tightly this time.

Ryder shot a grateful look at Jake, then took a timid step in Cherry’s direction.

All the usual sass dropped from Cherry’s voice as she spoke softly. “Doctor Ryder. That has a nice ring to it. Congratulations.” She shyly looked up at Ryder through her dark lashes. Her hands clasped before her nervously. I had never seen Cherry looking anything other than confident and take charge around men. Laughing away their interest in her or bowling them over with her sticky sweet charm. This was different. She wasn’t even trying to flirt. She looked… flustered.

Jake interrupted their conversation. “That still doesn’t clear up the matter of what the heck you are doing here in Poke town, miles from Clinton, on a Tuesday afternoon during Buttercup’s shift, no less.”

Cherry looked at Ryder, her face a mask of concern and nerves—and something else I couldn’t quite read. I looked from Jake’s angry face, to Ryder’s now fully humiliated one.

His eyes roved past Jake and landed back on Cherry’s baby blues. Answering my husband’s question, he was speaking directly to Cherry. “Buttercup’s not the only one who works on Tuesday afternoons.”

Silence fell over the five of us for a moment. Tex, stifling a laugh, looked down at the ground and scratched his head. Cherry’s eyes never left Ryder’s. Ryder continued.

“Cherry, I’ve been coming by on my day off—which happened to be scheduled on Tuesdays— and driving right past this building. Every time I tried to gather my courage, and every time I failed. Today, of all days, I finally got up the nerve to come here to ask your friend Buttercup,” my eyes darted to Jake’s as my name left Ryder’s mouth—there were storm clouds gathering there but I could breathe again—Jake was hearing Ryder out, “if she would ask you, if… if you remembered Ryder from Anatomy class at State.”

An awkward silence fell over us as Ryder, pink faced, looked to Cherry. Covering a chuckle with his hand, Tex retreated to the building, most likely to gossip with the guys. They were worse than ninth grade girls when it came to their whispered speculations.

Jake processing what had happened had a grin tugging at the corners of his full lips. I held in my sigh of relief—I liked Ryder enough to want to hear Cherry’s answer. If she turned this boy down—after he humiliated himself by driving by like a stalker, then literally put his life on the line with my husband— I was going to feel terrible.

Cherry’s eyes sparkled as she crossed her arms over her chest, cocking a hip out as she did, her confident nature returning to her.

“I do remember you, Ryder from Anatomy class at State. But why did you come all the way out to our tiny town of Poke just to ask Buttercup if I remembered you?”

It hit me, almost knocking the wind from me. This was the man Cherry would not say the name of. This was the one from college she had never forgotten about. The one in her anatomy class.

Ryder shuffled the dirt with the toe of his shoe. “I… I never got up the courage to ask you out at school. And I never forgave myself for it. I remember you telling our professor you were giving up nursing school and going home to Poke Town. To be an EMT. I graduated and started my residency at Clinton, but never got the little blonde from Anatomy class out of my mind. I knew Clinton wasn’t far from Poke, but I didn’t realize how close it was until I was cruising around on my day off and bumped into Buttercup. She invited me to her wedding. And told me she was loving Poke, volunteering as an EMT, and was making friends. Including a brand-new girl, she had just met at her first responder course, one named, Cherry.”

For the first time since I had met Cherry, she was rendered speechless. A pretty pink blush came to her cheeks.

Ryder took another step towards Cherry, still leaving a chaste distance between them. Jake and I looked on from the sidelines, the tension in Jake’s body melting away as he relaxed next to me. “Cherry, would you do me the honor of reacquainting ourselves over a cup of coffee?” Hope wrote itself clearly over his face as he awaited her response.

Arms still crossed over her chest, she wrinkled up her cute little nose. “Now, that’s going to be a problem, Doctor.”

Ryder’s face fell.

“I despise coffee.”

Ryder’s brow knitted in momentary confusion. Slowly, the smile returned to his handsome face.

Putting his hands on his hips, he gave a relieved laugh as he said, “Well, now. We can’t have that, Miss Cherry. What do you like?”

Her blue eyes sparkling, she announced confidently, “I like cupcakes. Jake brought some here for Buttercup and she shared them with me. They were the best I’ve ever had, and I declare my mouth has been watering for more ever since that day. I especially would like to try the Double Dutch Chocolate, which Jake here,” she gestured at my husband, teasingly, “whipped right out from under my nose and gave to Buttercup.”

I stifled a laugh.

“Cupcakes it is.” Ryder’s face beamed. “What time are you off?”

“In about fifteen minutes. I just have a few things I need to wrap up in there.” She gestured to the building behind us. As all our eyes cut over to the door, eavesdropping guys scurried hurriedly, suddenly busy.

Ryder’s face was positively beaming. “Well, I guess I will see you then.”

With a nod to Ryder, a wink to me, and a cheery, “Buh-bye!” Cherry bounced off in the direction of the building. Back to her old self, as she passed the few remaining rubberneckers, she sassed, “Get back to work you lot. Nothing to see here.”

When Cherry was out of earshot, Jake punched Ryder good naturally in the shoulder. “Why didn’t you say something earlier, man?”

Still staring at the door Cherry had just disappeared behind, Ryder grinned, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “I couldn’t. She just gets me all… tongue tied. I watched her every day during class, I almost failed Anatomy because of it. I never thought she would say yes—but I couldn’t handle hearing no. So, I thought I’d ask Buttercup to feel it out first to see if Cherry even remembered me. Today with the sun shining and this beautiful day I finally felt brave enough to pull the trigger.”

“And then I showed up,” Jake said.

“Yeah. But I owe you both an apology. I had no business acting like a stalker, driving by like that. Especially after what Buttercup went through with... you know… with my brother—I should have just manned up and asked Cherry out myself. Can you two forgive me for causing you stress?”

I answered quickly, “Of course, we do. All’s well that ends well,” I said, wrapping my arms around Jake’s torso.

Jake reached out his hand to shake Ryder’s. “I guess we’ll be seeing more of you now.”

Ryder shook Jake’s hand, his face sincere. “I wanted to apologize to you, Jake, on behalf of my family. I haven’t spoken to Thomas since last year. He had no business out here, coming after Buttercup.”

“I appreciate you saying that. I can imagine its difficult when it’s your own flesh and blood.”

“There is a heck of a lot more differences between me and Thomas than just our hair color. I’m sure Buttercup’s told you that. Hopefully, I’ll be around enough for you to get to know me well enough to realize that.”

Jake gave a nod. I reached out, hugging Ryder, hard. I was so glad it was as I had thought—Ryder was always the good guy I had known. And now, Cherry could get to know him too.

“Well, looks like I’ll be back in a bit. I’ve got just enough time to stop by the florist before I get Cherry. Y’all have a good day now. And thanks again for understanding, Jake.” Ryder turned with a wave and a smile, heading towards his little, blue car.

Once Ryder had sped away, giving a final wave over his shoulder, I turned to Jake. “I was surprised you believed him. How do you know it wasn’t a cover up to kidnap me, huh? He seems like a really dangerous character. How’d you let him get off so easy?” I teased, jabbing his ribs playfully.

Jake’s features settled into a serene look. His brown eyes locked on mine. When he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion. “I saw the look on his face when Cherry walked out.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s the same exact look I feel on my face every time you come into view. That’s how I knew he was sincere.”

“Oh,” I blushed. I was very familiar with the look he spoke of. It melted me to the core and made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.

“I just… felt bad for Ryder after that. It brought back all those memories of the feelings I had after I met you at your brother’s wedding. Wanting you but knowing the timing wasn’t right. When he asked Cherry out, I have to admit, I had my fingers crossed for him. I was pulling for the guy.” Jake laughed shaking his head. “When Ryder first told me, he had a question he had to ask you—before Cherry came out—I thought that man was sweet on you. Was going to ask if you’d have gone with him if things had been different. I tell you what, I was seeing red. I’m glad Cherry came out when she did.” Wrapping his arms around me, he looked down at me with ‘that look’ we had just spoken of, shining in his eyes. “I should cut the men of Poke some slack—there would be something wrong with them if they weren’t sweet on you. You’re perfect.”

“If I’m perfect than why are you always spanking my butt?” I teased.

“Perfectly naughty,” he mused, leaning down and nibbling on my ear.

Feeling eyes upon us, I untangled Jake from me. “Let me go and grab my stuff. And say bye to Cherry.”

“More like give Cherry the Spanish inquisition,” he said, poking the ticklish spot of my ribs. “I’ll drop you off at home but then I have to run down to Mr. Cooper’s ranch and check on a project for him. Our last game was last week, so I’ll be home tonight. I’ll cook us something.”

“Great,” I said, not really listening. Not only had the appearance of Ryder left me shaken, my mind was on other things. “Sounds great.”

“Okay. Now, I have a question for you.” His eyes narrowed, his hands remained clenched around my bottom.

My stomach dropped. All thoughts of tonight dropped from my mind.

“Did you know Ryder had been coming around here? He mentioned driving by on Tuesdays.”

“Kind of.”

His fingertips dug harder into my flesh, sending me up on tiptoe. “It’s a simple question, Buttercup. Deserves a simple answer. Yes, or no? Did you know Ryder had been coming around here?”

I couldn’t meet his eyes. “Y... Yes.”

“And you decided not to tell me?”

“I knew he was harmless—you saw that for yourself, today.”

“Yes or no.”

“Yes, I guess—”

“And what does that earn you, little girl?”

“Oh, boy.”

“That’s right. We will take care of it when I get home tonight. Now go get your stuff, and your gossip.”

With a kiss to my forehead, Jake was off to his truck.

I stood in the parking lot, my mouth hanging open, watching my husband walk off, whistling and getting into his truck. My breath caught in my throat.

I was in so much trouble.