Chapter Eight
Kennedy—Mason TX.
I STOOD WITH MY BACK against the door and touched my cheek with my finger. I felt the familiar shock run down my spine. That has never happened before. His admission that he wanted to see me again has shocked me. When I saw him in Nashville and stood next to him I wanted to lean into him, but I stopped myself because I have never felt anything like that from someone I just met, especially a guy. I heard his door close and I let out the breath I was holding and walked over to the bed. I climbed in and just laid there, starring at the ceiling. Maybe I should have let him stay at Mom and Dad’s house, Wait. No. He came here to see me. I wonder if he was being truthful because he also came here to try and talk me into going back to Nashville to sing, and that isn’t happening. I know I need to tell him why but I am not ready to share that with him yet.
I roll over and look out the window. I see the moon casting a beautiful glow over the pasture that my horses graze in during the day. I felt like going out there with a blanket and looking at the stars to try and think this through but I really need to sleep. Jeff is coming back over tomorrow to help me with a new mare we bought last week. She needs some training and Jeff is good at that. Also, I need to decide if I want to breed her or not. She would make a great race horse but do I want to get into that? I’ll talk to Jeff about it. I know I have all of this to do tomorrow but all I can think about is the sexy guy sleeping in the bedroom next to me.
I tossed and turned all night and when it seemed like I finally went to sleep, the alarm goes off. I wanted to throw the damn thing across the room but I don’t. Instead I get up and quietly make my way into the kitchen to start the coffee but I am stopped dead in my tracks by the guy sitting at the bar, bare chested and sexy as hell. He has a tattoo which I didn’t see before. He’s drinking coffee and reading the paper. I lick my lips that have suddenly gone dry. I am so screwed.
Jeremy looked up and smiled. He had on wire rimmed glasses with morning stubble on his face. I could see the tape over his ribs and the bruising across his chest. It’s look’s so painful. His face was still red and I could see the abrasions but it’s not as bad as yesterday.
“Good morning, how are you feeling?” I force my feet to move towards the coffee pot. I look down and realize I’m still in my pajamas and bare feet. I really should have put a robe on or sweats but he’s already seen me. “How did you sleep?”
“Not much.” sounds familiar. “Couldn’t get comfortable.”
“Yeah, I didn’t sleep much either.” Why the hell did I tell him that? I look up over my coffee cup and he’s smirking at me. Does he have any idea what he is doing to me? “I was up late thinking about all that I need to do today.”
“Do you mind if I tag along?” He asks me.
Is he crazy? “You need to stay down and rest.”
“I just want to watch and see what you do here.” He smiles.
“Alright but only if you promise to not over do it.”
“So what do you have to do today? Feed the horses, do paperwork?” He really has no idea what I do.
“Umm No, I have a neighbor coming over to help me with a new mare that I can’t seem to train. Plus, I need to clean out the stalls and feed and brush the horses. One of the horses might need new shoes so I need to check that too.” He just stared at me, mouth wide opened. “And if I have time, I need to give Rufus a bath.”
“You do all of that by yourself?”
“Yep, this is my ranch. Has been for about three years, I inherited it when I turned twenty-five.” I turned to fill up my coffee cup and I heard the front door open.
“Hey Sweet’s, where are you?” Ari Johnson, my neighbor yelled as she walked into the kitchen with her mouth suddenly wide open and a smile forming on her face. “Hells Bells girl, are you keeping something from us?” she asked as she stood there staring at Jeremy. I rushed over and grabbed her by the hand and dragged her through the living room out to the front porch.
“Be quiet Ari, he’s just a friend. Well kind of.” She pulled me down onto the steps and looked at me.
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph don’t hold back now. That is one hot shirtless guy in your kitchen and that tattoo is something else.” She said. I rolled my eyes, Arianna has a way with words.
“It’s a long story Ari, let me just say I met him in Nashville when I won a chance to record some songs at the studio he works at. I never picked the CD up so he came down here to give it to me.”
“Holy Hell, Kennedy. He came all the way to Mason Texas from Nashville just to give you a CD and now he’s staying in your house?”
“Well he was kind of in an accident on the way here and didn’t have anywhere to go. I didn’t think he should stay with my parents so I’m letting him stay with me until he can get a new rental car and he’s able to go home. That’s all there is to tell, Ari.” She just looked at me.
“Are you serious? You have a hot guy staying with you and you aren’t doing anything at all? Girl, trust me if I wasn’t married to my own hot cowboy I wouldn’t think twice about jumping him.” That made me laugh, she always knows what to say to bring a smile to my face.
“Ari, he lives in Nashville where he has a job and a life. I don’t want to start something with him and then have him go back to Nashville, leaving me with a broken heart. Been there, done that. That’s why I’ve been focusing on the horses and the ranch. I am tired of my heart being broken.” I looked out at the barn, not wanting to think of the guys that have hurt me.”
“Sweets, do you know how many times Jeff was an asshole and broke my heart before we got it right. Too many to count, you will eventually have to take a chance or be alone and miss out on so much.” She gave me a hug, holding on tight. “Take the chance, he must like you or he wouldn’t have made the trip from Nashville just to see you.”
“He said he wants to get to know me, but I’m scared.”
“Scared is good. It means that you actually might feel something for him.” She looked at me with that all knowing look of her’s. “As the great Katharine Hepburn says. Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get. Only with what you are expecting to give, which is everything.”
“Have you been watching Katherine Hepburn movies again with your mom?” I shook my head.
“I have watched so many of her movies I can probably quote them in my sleep and yes we were over at my parents house, while Jeff and my dad watched the game my mom insisted on watching a movie while the kids played.”
“So, did you have a reason for coming over so early this morning or did you just want to be nosey because I’m sure everyone in town knows that a stranger is staying in my house?” I asked. Trying to change the subject.
She winked at me, I knew it. “Oh right, Jeff will be over in about an hour to help you with the horse. He had to go help Gunner fix some fencing. They seem to have lost a couple of cattle.”
“I know! One of the escaping cows ran across the road in front of Jeremy, that’s what caused him to swerve and hit the tree.”
“Holy crap, seriously? Is he alright? I’ll let Gunner know.” She said as she started to get up.
“My dad called Garrett yesterday while we were at my mom’s office. He’s got bruised ribs and abrasions on his face from the impact of the airbag. Mom said he will be fine. He just needs to rest.” I said as I wrapped my arms around my knees.
“I’m glad he’s alright and remember what I said.” She winked and jumped in her Red Jeep. I watched her drive away and sat there for a while, thinking about what Ari said. About taking a chance. Can I do that? Can I open my heart again? I would like to but I am not sure I can.