Chapter Eight

Skeet

 

Friday morning, I was up early and heading across town from the furnished executive apartment I was renting to my pop’s garage. I needed to get things set up for my date with Celeste. I wanted to rekindle an old memory... I wanted to enhance an old memory.

“Hey, Pop. What do you have around here in riding condition?” I asked strolling into an open bay where he was tinkering with some old Mustang...probably a nineteen sixty-six.

“What do you have in mind?” He was grinning.

He had been the happiest I’d ever seen him. “Do you have something you want to share with me?”

“Nope.” He was tight lipped. “Tell me what you have planned?”

I, definitely, wasn’t telling him what I had planned, but I was willing to tell him with whom. “I’m taking Celeste Archer out.” I don’t know why I thought I needed to use her last name. It sounded like a formal announcement.

“Do you know what you’re getting yourself into, starting up with her again?”

He had me wondering what he knew about her and what had happened in her life since I left. I knew he had always serviced the Archer’s cars and tractors, but I was never sure what my pop paid attention to. What did he know about the little girl? I wanted to ask but for some reason I felt like Celeste needed to tell me things.

We had so much to talk about but all I really wanted to do was hold her in my arms, kiss her and remind her how good everything used to be between us and how we could get it all back and more.

“I never stopped loving her, Pop. I needed to go away and become a man. A man she could be proud of...and you too.” I was feeling a little choked up.

“I’ve always been proud of you, Skeet. You were always a good kid. You never gave me trouble.” He stopped what he was doing and rubbed a clean rag along the back of his neck. “I don’t know what you did to upset her back then, but if there’s a chance history could repeat itself... Be smart. Do the right thing.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant by his words, but I had no intention of hurting or leaving Celeste again. “Do you have a bike I could use for tonight?”

There was that grin again on my pop’s face. “I don’t know why you want a bike... If memory serves me right, you took her out there in an old pickup truck.”

Holy mother of God! He did know what I had in mind and where and he was right I had driven an old wood-bed Ford.

“Do you—”

“Yep.” He answered without letting me finish, tossing me a set of keys. “Around back in a storage container. Take her out and wash her up before you take her out for a spin tonight.”

Doing as my pop told me, I unlocked the bay and found a dusty black truck with wood features—she was a real beauty. A beauty for a beauty. I hurried up and got her in running order to drive out to the farm.

“Well, that’s a blast from the past...” Celeste stepped right off the front porch steps and approached the truck, running her hand along the metal side of the bed. “I expected a motorcycle.”

“Next date,” I assured her with a smile. “A day ride. I promise.”

“I remember that truck and if memory serves me right, it broke down and you didn’t get Celeste home on time.” I swear my face heated hearing her father’s words and remembering the true story where the truck didn’t really have any problems.

“On time?! Try like the next morning—” Clancy, of course, had to get involved.

Conrad came out of nowhere with his own input. “Late morning.” He then turned to his father, Henry, and spoke, “You should’ve grounded her for that.”

Only Cordelia was missing to give her point of view.

“I’m a grown woman now. None of you need to worry about me.” Celeste opened the passenger door of the truck and climbed in.

They never had to worry about Celeste when she was with me. I’d never let anything hurt her... I may have hurt her in the past but that would never happen again. I’d say that I regretted my decision to leave, only I didn’t. I could’ve stayed and fought for her but the timing was all wrong for us.

“Time to get going.” I waved to the small crowd, otherwise known as her family, and climbed into the cabin of the truck and brought the engine to life. “I know this certain spot...” Celeste smiled at me knowing exactly where I was taking her. “...best place to watch the sunset and stargaze.” I could hear her words from years ago telling me how romantic it was as we sat in the back of the truck on blankets and had a picnic.

It was just as good...better recreating the first time I claimed her as mine; body, mind and soul. Celeste seemed be on the same page with me as we sat and opened everything for our new beginning. There was something sexy about the way she grabbed the wine bottle, carefully cut the foil and then expertly removed the cork, sniffing it once it was pulled free.

Pouring wine into both of our glasses and handing me one, she clinked her glass to mine. “Here’s to better food and drink than last time.”

I grinned. “There was nothing wrong with hard lemonade and sub sandwiches.” I had to talk my pop into buying the alcohol for us and he made me promise not to drink and drive. I could blame him for the reason why I didn’t bring Celeste home by her curfew.

“No, but they can’t compete with Sangiovese, lamb lollipops with mint chutney and crusty baguette.” She tore a piece of bread from the loaf and held it out to me. I leaned forward and took it out of her hand with my mouth, gently tasting her fingertips with my tongue. She smiled and touched her fingers to her lips. “Did they give you my favorite dessert?”

“Grilled peach and cheesecake brûlée.” Her eyes twinkled with happiness.

“You know...” She bit her lip. “I am going to be interrogated by the restaurant staff.”

“I was trying to make points.” I reached up and moved a strand of her dark hair that had blown in front of her beautiful face. “How am I doing so far?”

“Well...” She tilted her head to the side and licked her lips again. “You haven’t kissed me yet...”

I had no problem rectifying that oversight. With both of my hands reaching forward, I captured her face in between my hands, worked my fingers into her hair and pulled her close. Taking things slow, my lips lightly brushed over hers before tasting the culinary delights on her tongue. She made the dessert even more delectable.

I loved how she moved closer to me as I held her captive with my mouth.