I’m little nervous about today. I hope Jamie has a good time. I just want to show her a little of life here in Kentucky. She’s all city; her only true country experience has been her time here when visiting Whitney.
My reason is a little selfish. I can’t help but think about being more with her. More than… well whatever it is we are. I don’t think there’s a label for it. In my mind, if I can make her fall in love with the country, then maybe, just maybe, she’ll want to be here all the time. Maybe she’d be willing to give up life in the city and be here with me.
Like I said, selfish. She’d be leaving her family and everything she knows, but my business is here. It’s too much to think about, and too early to be thinking it. I can’t help it though; she’s got me twisted.
“First stop is the shoe store.” I reach over the console and rest my hand on her thigh.
“First kiss?”
I smile. “Stacy Hall, seventh grade.”
“Seventh grade, huh? Let me guess, spin the bottle?”
“Nope. It was our first dance. Dances don’t start until seventh grade here. David bet me I wouldn’t ask her to dance. I did, and of course he had to pay up. Then we went double or nothing that I wouldn’t do it again and that time kiss her.”
“So you just went for it, huh?”
“I mean, there was some planning and strategic moves, but yeah, I won.” I wink at her before turning my eyes back to the road.
“I see. Care to enlighten me?”
“You know. I had to tell her how good she looked, even went as far as telling her she was the prettiest girl there.”
“Was she?”
“She was. What about you?”
“Jason Jeffers, eighth grade.”
“Spin the bottle?”
She laughs. “Seven minutes in heaven. You ever played?”
“No. What exactly is it? Wait, maybe I don’t want to know.”
“It’s easy. We used dice and the two highest numbers, one guy and one girl, had to go into another room—usually a dark closet—for seven minutes. The idea is you do… well, whatever you want. It was always insinuated that there was lots of kissing to be done, and maybe a base or two.”
“Maybe we should play,” I suggest. “I’d love to be locked in a dark closet with you running the bases.”
“You need more than two players. I mean, a girl has to have options.”
“The fuck you do,” I growl.
She leans over the console and kisses my cheek. “So testy,” she mock scolds me.
Pulling into the shoe store’s parking lot, I don’t even bother putting the truck in Park before I wrap my hand around her neck and bring her lips to mine. I let my want for her seep into the kiss as I stroke my tongue against hers, tasting her.
“Truck works too.” Her voice is breathy.
“Only one problem with that, darlin,’” I say kissing down her neck.
“Hmm, wh-what’s that?”
I trace my lips up her neck and nip at her earlobe. “I need more than seven minutes with you. I’m not sure even seven hours will be enough the first time I’m inside of you.”
“We could test that theory. Today,” she says as an afterthought.
I want to take her home and ravish her. I ache to feel her. “Shoes,” I say instead. I finally park the truck, lucky I didn’t drive through the damn building, and pull the keys from the ignition.
“What kind of shoes do I need?” I point down to my hiking boots. “We’re going hiking?” Her face lights up. “That sounds like so much fun.”
“It’s going to be in the high fifties today. Not too hot and not too cold. Miller’s Peak is just about twenty miles from here. It’s not huge, about a mile to the top. Nothing drastic.”
“Is it super steep?”
“No, it’s gradual. I wouldn’t do that to you on your first hike. Now let’s get you some boots so we can get this day started.”
“Lead the way.” I guide her to the women’s section and there are tons to choose from. “What am I looking for in a hiking boot?”
“Waterproof, for sure, and comfort.”
“I need your help,” she says, the grin still lighting up her face.
“These are the ones I have. What size?”
“Eight.”
“Have a seat and I’ll bring you a few options.” It only takes us about twenty minutes for her to find the pair she says “feels like walking on clouds” I assured her that was good considering all the walking we’ll be doing. I grab the boxes and place the others back on the shelf, then head to the counter to pay. I’m sliding my wallet in my back pocket when she reaches me.
“I could’ve paid for them.”
“I know that, but I wanted to. This was my idea, so my treat.”
“I’m too excited to argue with you about this. Just remember that when you come to Chicago to visit me.”
“Whatever you say, darlin.’” I grab the box and then her hand, leading her out of the store and to the back of my truck, where I let the tailgate down. I set the shoebox down, then turn and grab her hips, lifting her to sit on the tailgate. Stepping between her legs, I cup her face and kiss her. Mindful that we’re in a crowded parking lot, I pull away a hell of a lot sooner than I want to.
“Thank you for the boots.” She kisses my cheek.
“You’re welcome. Let’s get you out of these.” I lift her leg and unzip one of the sexy black knee-high boots she’s wearing. I set it beside her, then make quick work of taking the other off. “I’m going to throw these in the truck.”
“Too many damn laces,” she grumbles when I return, fighting with one of the boots.
“Here.” I hold out my hand and she practically throws it at me. I quickly lace it up and hand it back to her.
“Show-off.” She sticks her tongue out at me.
“Watch it.” I lean in and kiss her. I have the second boot laced by the time she has the first one tied. This time, I place it on her foot and tie it up. “Ready?” I ask, placing my hands on her hips and lifting her off the tailgate.
“I could’ve jumped down.”
“I have no doubt, but then I would’ve lost the chance to have my hands on you. No way am I going to let an opportunity pass me by.” I smack her lightly on the ass and follow her to the passenger door, which I open for her.
“I also know how to open doors.” She smirks.
I wait until she’s climbed inside and has her seat belt on, then lean in and kiss her again. It’s just a quick peck, but it’s my lips against hers and that’s all that matters. “I know you can, but I was raised to open doors. No way will I go against that. My momma would scold my ass if she found out.”
“So you only do it to stay on your momma’s good side?”
She’s trying to get a rise out me. What she doesn’t understand is that she already has. All she has to do is breathe or let me hear her voice when she’s hundreds of miles away and I’m hard as a fucking rock. Not exactly the rise she’s hoping for, but it’s because of her all the same.
“No, what I’m saying is that I’m a gentleman. I was raised to treat women with respect. Especially the woman in my life. And you, my dear, are that woman. So stop your bitching and let me take care of you.”
“I guess I can’t argue with that.”
“No.” I kiss her one more time before shutting her door.
The drive to Miller’s Peak is filled with questions about where we’re going, what it’s like, and whether it’s packed this time of year. Jamie is vibrating with excitement, and I’m glad I decided to bring her here.
“So how many others have you brought here?”
“Well, in high school there would be groups of us that would take hiking trips. David, Aaron, Evan and I have hiked the higher one, Anderson’s Peak, a few times.”
“So your high school girlfriend?”
“Nosey Nell,” I tease her. “No, not my high school girlfriend. I’ve never really had a serious girlfriend. I’ve dated, sure, but never someone where I felt like I knew it was going to be long term.”
“You’ve never been in love?”
I think about how to answer her questions without sounding like a jackass. “I’ve cared about a few girls. My longest relationship was about nine months, I guess. That was my senior year.”
“Did you love her?”
“No. I cared about her, but… It never felt like forever.”
“Did you tell her that you loved her?”
“No. I’ll never lie to you, Jamie. What you see is what you get.”
“That’s what you’ve said before. I just… most guys—”
“Stop right there. I’m not most guys. I’m a man, and I will never lie to you.”
“I know. I mean, I feel like I can trust you. It’s not that I don’t. Please don’t think that. I’m just learning about you. I want to know you—I mean really know you.”
“I’m an open book for you. I’ll tell you anything you want to know. You have to promise me something though.”
“What’s that?”
I pull into the parking lot and turn off the truck. “You have to stop thinking there’s someone else. I’m not seeing anyone, thinking about anyone, or kissing anyone but you.” Reaching over, I tap the end of her nose. “It’s you, Jamie. Until we figure out what this is or where it could go, there will be no one else for me. Hell, I couldn’t even if I tried. You’re under my skin, darlin.’”
“Deal. So, are we going to hike this mountain or what?”
I throw my head back in laughter. “It’s not exactly a mountain. Miller’s Peak is more like a really big hill that rewards you with an incredible view once you reach the top.”
“Let’s do this.”
She reaches for the handle and jumps out of the truck. I follow after reaching into the back seat and grabbing my backpack.
“What’s all that?” she asks, pointing to the bag.
“I packed some waters and a few snacks. Beef jerky.” I grin. I plan on taking a break once we reach the top, wanting to watch her take in the beauty while I take her in. I offer her my hand and she accepts without hesitation, lacing her fingers through mine.
“Can you believe I’ve never been hiking?”
“City girl,” I tease, bumping my shoulder with hers.
“Sad but true. I’ve never had the desire. Everything has always been within walking distance: museums, concerts, sporting events, plays, parks—it’s all right at your fingertips. I never felt the need to venture out. It’s just recently that I realize what I’ve been missing.”
I give her hand a gentle squeeze. I like to think she’s referring to me, but I keep my mouth shut. No way am I going to risk ruining this mood, this day with her. Not going to happen.
“Let’s see. We’ve already hit on first kiss, so how about virginity. How old were you?” she asks.
“Sixteen. It was a fumbling two-minute disaster, but I assure you my skills have come a long way since then.”
“Same. Johnny Crow, junior prom, in the back if his mom’s Ford Taurus. Pretty much the same outcome, though I think it was a fumbling one-minute disaster. I too have since honed my skills.” Her voice is husky.
“I could have done without that tidbit of knowledge,” I growl.
This causes her to laugh. “Come on, you shared your improvements.”
She’s got me there, but I still don’t want to hear about it. Losing her virginity is one thing—the guy was most likely a first-timer like her, and I can live with that—but I don’t want to think about the others after him. The ones who helped her hone her skills. That has me wanting to punch every fucking one of the nameless, faceless bastards. “Not the same thing.”
“Sure it is. You think I like thinking about you with other women? Especially when I’ve yet to be added to that list?”
I stop walking, which causes her to jerk as I hold her hand tight in mine and pull her back to me. “Not the same thing. The others didn’t mean a fraction of what you do. I think about you all the time. The sound of your voice causes a suck-ass day to be better. Seeing your name on my phone screen with a new message tilts my world on its axis. No one has ever mattered as much as you do. I feel it here.” I place our hands over my chest. “It’s an ache I feel down to my toes. No one else has ever scared the living shit out of me for how deep I felt for them. I’ve never given a woman the power to break me. You have that power and I don’t even know what we are. What this is? I’ve yet to feel your warmth when I make love to you and I already have all these feelings coursing through me. Can you imagine how it’s going to be when I do? When I slide in deep and claim you as mine? That’s what’s going to happen, Jamie. You’ll be mine. I’ll fight to make that happen, but I refuse to take this to that level until I know we’re on the same page. We live in different worlds right now, and I don’t know how to fix that.”
“I don’t either but I want that. All of it.” Her voice is firm and I know she means what she says.
“We’ll take it one day at a time. We’ll get to know each other, even if it’s information that has me seeing red. We’ll enjoy our time together and see where that takes us.”
Rising on her tiptoes, she presses her lips to mine. “That’s an adventure I look forward to.”
I wrap my arms around her and hold her against me. I feel ripped open and raw from my confession, but I’m not one to hide behind the bullshit. I wasn’t expecting to drop all that on her today, but damn if I didn’t need to tell her. I needed for her to understand what this is for me. She’s not just a weekend fling when she comes into town. It’s her, only her, until we can figure out where this attraction and all these feelings lead us.