Rhett
“Spread it around the stall.” I stood in the doorway and watched AJ as she used the rake to move the scattered hay around. The rake alone was almost as big as she was, but she insisted on helping out.
I tried not to laugh when she struggled. She didn’t let it faze her in the slightest as she continued to move from side to side. Her hair was wrecked, haphazardly sticking out everywhere. Yet even despite all that, she still made my heart race. How many girls would show up voluntarily to work without pay, and clean and refill eight stalls?
“You need my help, babe?”
“Nope,” she grunted as she used the rake to snatch up the next pile of hay. “I’ve got it.” I could sense her struggle, but she refused to give up. “But just so you know, you will be buying me dinner tonight, and dessert.”
“I’ve got your dessert,” I assured her, and she shot a glare at me.
“I meant a real dessert, you perv.”
I loved the comfortable atmosphere the two of us had fallen into. It was a friendship, with the amazing perks of lovers. We had it all.
“Fine. What if I offer ice cream, and chocolate syrup, hot fudge maybe?”
“Let me guess.” She grunted more as she continued on with her back facing me. “You are only offering those items because you expect me to offer up myself as a serving dish.”
A large hand cupped my shoulder, and I looked to my left just in time to see Uncle Gavin step up to my side. He was wearing a smile with an intrigued look in his eyes. Of course, AJ didn’t even know he was there and she just continued on as if it was only the two of us.
“I was referring to an actual dessert, Rhett, one we eat off a plate or out of a bowl, and not one we have to wash your sheets to clean up.” She huffed. “Last time I swear to it, I found syrup in places syrup should never be in and—” She spun around, and instantly her words fell silent. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth fell open.
“Please do go on,” Gavin said, waving his hand out in front of him.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing and AJ glared at me. “You knew he was there and you just let me carry on?” I shrugged innocently, but she didn’t buy it. “You, Rhett Jackson, are on your own.” She leaned the rake against the wall, ripped off her gloves, and tossed them at me. “I’m leaving, and on my way home, I’m stopping for cheesecake. Which I will each alone after a long, hot shower.”
She huffed past me, stumbling over a huge pile of hay in the process before quickly regaining her composure.
“Oh to be young again,” Gavin said with a chuckle. “I remember the time Maria and I—”
“Stop right there,” I told him, holding up my hand in the air. “There are some things I never need to know, and your dirty adventures with my aunt are among those things.”
I moved into the stall and grabbed the rake. “Since you’ve managed to run off my help, grab a shovel.”
“I didn’t run her off,” he added as he stepped in and began to help. “But I know what it feels like to be in the doghouse, so I’ll help ya out. You’ve got some groveling to do.”
***
I showed up at AJ’s house with a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream in one hand and cookie dough in the other. They were both her favorite and there was no way I was taking a chance of bringing the wrong one.
I stood outside the door waiting for her to answer, knowing that most likely she’d still be agitated. I also had full confidence that I would soon be able to weasel my way through that irritation and make everything all better again. She had a hard time resisting me, and, yes, I did use that to my advantage. But she also had the ability to make my knees buckle, so it was fair game.
When the door came open I looked up fully prepared to start on my way to apologizing, only it wasn’t AJ in the doorway.
“Evening, son,” a tall, dark-haired man greeted me. “You must be the Rhett boy I’ve been hearing my daughter grumble about unhappily for the last couple hours.”
Oh shit, I thought as I forced a smile. “That’s me,” I replied. “Though I’m thinking maybe I should deny the fact.”
Great first impression, I thought to myself as he pushed open the door and motioned for me to come inside.
“You sure got her feathers all ruffled up,” he added as I stepped past him. “Seeing her flipping through all the cabinets while she mumbled and wrinkled up her face, I knew I shouldn’t have found the humor in it, but I did.”
I turned around and watched as he closed the front door and then walked back toward the recliner only a few feet away.
“Word of advice, son, do not laugh at her when she’s irritated.” He let out a low whistle before chuckling once more. “I was waiting for fire to shoot out her nose and her eyes to start glowing red.”
“She threw her car keys at me the other day when she found me smiling.” His eyebrows lifted in curiosity. “Barely missed my forehead, had I not ducked at the last minute. She’s got a little fire inside her that’s for sure.”
It’s then he looked down and saw the bag I was holding. “Reinforcements?”
“Ice cream,” I said in response.
“Mint chocolate chip?”
“And cookie dough.” He nodded, and suddenly I feel a little less tense.
“Good man,” he stated, picking up the controller and began to flip through the channels. “I would have went for both options too. She’s in her room, third door on the left.” He points toward the hallway. “Knock, open, and duck. Those are my suggestions. If you get a pillow or hairbrush to the head, remember I warned ya.”
I walked in the direction he pointed, thinking how much I liked her father. Hell, I’d just met the man and found at this point I would have much rather hung out watching football with him than dodging bullets with AJ. I adored the girl, there was no doubt, but I preferred the sweet and cuddly versus the angry and dangerous version.
So, I took his advice—I knocked, turned the handle, and hid off to the side, with only my arm extended outward holding the bag in view. “I brought sweet stuff,” I said with a smile, “and I’m not just referring to myself. There really is something inside this bag.”
When she didn’t respond, I took a chance and peeked around the edge of the door frame with extreme caution. The moment she came into view, I swear my heart slammed against my chest cavity. AJ was curled up on her bed, atop the comforter. Her dark hair fanned out around her as her legs were all tucked up near her body. A soft snore filled the room as I moved in further, allowing myself to take her all in.
She was so damn beautiful.
Her lips were puckered up, one hand tucked beneath her cheek while the other reached out for the pillow at her side. Covering her body was my blue Georgia State University team shirt. It looked like it was four sizes too big for her. I’d seen her in my shirts before, but that was when I’d convinced her she was staying at my place and it was the only thing she had to wear. Now, seeing her here in her home, wearing my clothes, it was an even stranger feeling.
Lifting my hand, I trailed my fingertip along her jaw and over her lower lip. Her body shifted, and I couldn’t keep myself from smiling as I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips.
As I pulled back, I watched her eyes flutter open as she attempted to refocus. “Hey, baby,” I whispered. “I came in here fully prepared for you to toss something hard and dangerous at my head, but I found this sweet version of you, all curled up on your bed.”
“I can still throw something at you.” She smiled as she stretched, bringing my attention to her long, gorgeous legs. “I hate to disappoint you.”
“You could never disappoint me, sweetheart, you’re too perfect.”
“I don’t know about that. You’re just trying to soften me up so that I forget about earlier.”
“You're perfect for me,” I assured her and watched as she simply stared back at me as we both remained silent. There were so many times I wanted to tell her I loved her, only I was terrified that she would feel it was too early. I’ll admit I never thought I’d be feeling and thinking the things I was in regard to any girl, but I was head over heels, in real fucking deep with AJ.
“I brought ice cream,” I said, pushing back the feelings and swallowing past what felt like a huge ass lump in my throat. “Your two favorites, and I don’t even expect you to lick them off my body. Unless of course you want to, that is.”
“I can’t believe your uncle heard me talking the way I was earlier.” She covered her face and groaned. “How embarrassing.”
“He was young once.” I tried to soothe her, but who the hell was I kidding? I’m sure by now he’d told Aunt Maria, she had told my mom, and so on as it slowly trickled down the family tree.
“They’ll all think I’m some sex-crazed fool that’s corrupted their sweet Rhett.”
“Babe,” I said, causing her to only part her fingers and peek through the cracks. “They all know that it’s me who’s corrupted you.” I waggled my brows, causing her to laugh. “What do ya say we go dish out some of this ice cream and watch the game with your dad?”
AJ lowered her hands and her forehead wrinkled up as she looked back at me.
“What?” I shrugged. “I like that guy. He’s laid back and cool.” I grabbed her hand and yanked her up. “I think I made a good impression by showing up with the two things you love most when you’re pissed.” I held up the bag and shook it. “Let’s go hang with Mr. Duncan.”