Chapter 26 Honey
HONEY
After I change for the third time, I get desperate and call Cynthia. “I need your help. What do I wear on my date tonight with Beau?”
“Depends. Where are you going?”
“Dinner and country dancing.”
“You’re not afraid someone will see you?”
I run my clammy hands down my skirt. “I can’t live by my father’s edicts forever. Besides, we’re driving a few towns over, so it’s less likely.”
“Is your dad still upset with you?”
“Furious.” For once, I’m grateful my dad is still out of town. “I was hoping he’d tell Ian to leave me alone, but that asshole keeps leaving me messages.”
“Ian still calls you?”
“You’d think he’d get a hint. But he’s like, ‘I’m so sorry, baby. You’re the only one who’s important to me. I promise I’ll make you happy.’ Gag. I don’t even know the man. And it gives me the creeps when he calls me ‘baby.’”
“Un-fucking-believable,” she mutters under her breath. “Want me to kick his ass?” Cyn sounds genuinely pissed.
“No. Not yet, at least. But seriously, what do I wear? Jeans or a little skirt?”
“Skirt. It’s easier to get some dick that way.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “We’re going back to his place afterward, so I don’t think that will be an issue. I’m actually a little nervous. We haven’t had sex since that time in my SUV.”
“I thought you guys hooked up last weekend?”
“We didn’t do the full deed. We did other things.” Things I’ve been thinking about the entire week. “I got the feeling he didn’t want to push me or go too fast.”
“Why can’t I find a man like that? Ugh, I just fall for assholes every single time. It sucks.”
“I’m sorry, Cyn. You deserve a great guy too.” When I see the time, my eyes widen. “I have to go. He’ll be here soon.”
“Have fun! Don’t get knocked up!”
“Wise words. Thanks.” I hang up and run to the bathroom where I apply some lip gloss and fluff my hair.
I’m wearing a thin, button-up cotton top with a pretty lace pattern and a flowy skirt that’s a little longer in the back.
And since we’re two-stepping tonight, I’m wearing my cowboy boots.
This will have to do because I don’t have time to try on any more outfits.
When Beau rings my doorbell, my heart skips a beat. I have to take a deep breath to calm down. I go downstairs to open the door, and he smiles when he sees me and holds out a bouquet.
It’s not the monstrous bouquet of red roses that Ian sent me. It’s smaller, but so beautiful.
I bring them to my face to smell the delicate petals. “How did you know pink peonies were my favorite?”
“You had a notebook on your desk that had similar pink flowers. I wasn’t sure if they were peonies, but I knew they weren’t roses.”
“My planner has peonies and butterflies.” Leaning up on my toes, I kiss him. “Thank you. The flowers are lovely.”
After I put my bouquet in a vase with water, I grab a sweater and lock up. But as we walk to his car, I notice something odd. “Why’d you park a block away?” Because there are empty spots in front of my place.
He opens my door and helps me into his truck. “Didn’t want your brothers to drive by and give you any flak.”
Beau’s surprisingly thoughtful. “I’m sorry this isn’t easier.”
“It’s okay. You’re worth the effort.” He winks and shuts my door, while I sit here and swoon.
I check him out as he walks around the truck. He’s wearing a long-sleeved dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves that show off his muscular forearms. It’s tucked into a pair of worn jeans that mold to his muscular thighs. He’s also sporting brown cowboy boots that match his belt.
When he gets in the cab, the scent of his spicy cologne fills the air.
I try not to get sidetracked by his sex appeal.
“I’m sorry we have to be so secretive. My father will be home in a few days.
I’ll tell him about the wedding. If that goes well, maybe…
maybe in a few weeks I can tell him a little more? ”
He smiles as he reaches over and grabs my hand. He brings it to his mouth and presses a kiss to my wrist. “Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you. If you want me to come with you, I’ll be there.”
“I’m not sure he’ll respond well to that, but perhaps we could get to that point?” Everything is a question because it’s not like we’re official. “I don’t want to put the cart before the horse.”
“Am I the horse?” he asks with a smirk.
Feeling my face flush, I roll my eyes. “If you’re asking if you’re hung like one, you already know that answer.”
He barks out a laugh, and my blush deepens. “You’re damn good for my ego, Honey McAllister.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “What I’m trying to say, rather inarticulately, is that if we think things are moving ahead and want to pursue this, then yes, I’ll talk to my father.”
At a light, he tugs me to him and presses a quick kiss to my lips. “Just giving you a hard time.”
“You mean like how you left me hot and bothered in the dressing room yesterday?”
He shoots me a wolfish grin. “Don’t worry. It wasn’t one-sided. You didn’t notice me limping around afterward?”
We flirt all the way to the restaurant, which is about half an hour away. I’ve never smiled so much in my life. Once we park, I take in the rustic stone building in front of me that’s all lit up with a canopy of bistro lights.
I nod in approval. “I’ve heard good things about the Veranda.”
“They have a live band in the back.”
Smiling, I hook my arm in his as we make our way inside. The hostess seats us in a booth. We decide to just order appetizers and share, so we get spicy chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, and nachos.
We both order beer, but when the waitress brings them by, she apologizes because the bottles still have their caps. “Let me take them back to the bartender.”
“That’s okay. I can handle it.” I reach into my purse and pull out my bottle opener, which is a gold cowboy boot. After I pop off the caps, I hand Beau one. We clink our bottles, and he grins.
“To first dates.”
“To first dates.” I take a pull of my beer. “Though I have to say, this isn’t exactly a first date.”
“What would you say it was, then?”
Glancing down at the table, I smile. “I’m not sure. But I feel like everything that’s happened between us recently has an asterisk.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve never gone on a first date with a man I kissed at a masquerade party.”
“Ah, yes.” He leans back with a sigh. “I was wondering when we’d discuss that night.”
“Do you not want to? I feel like I should explain how I ended up there. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious why you were there.” Because I assume it was for the women. But his answer shocks me.
He peels the label off his beer. “I needed to help Rhett pay the mortgage. We were short by two grand. My friend said he could get me into this elite party where they’d be playing poker, and I thought maybe I could win the money.”
“Were you able to do it?”
He nods. “I started with a hundred, and maybe half an hour later, I had what I needed and walked away. Gave the money to my brother when I got home.”
I’m struck by the depth of his kindness. “That’s really cool. How’d you learn poker?”
“My brothers, mostly Rhett and Isaiah.” He motions to me. “What about you? Why’d you end up there that night? To lose your virginity?”
“You remember that?” How embarrassing. “Actually, Cynthia dragged me to that party. She didn’t tell me where we were going.
At the time, she was my new college roommate.
She was fun and spontaneous, and I didn’t want to be the sheltered girl on our dorm floor.
I didn’t realize none of the women would be wearing tops.
I’m not sure Cyn knew that either because she stole the invite from her stepbrother. ”
“So you got in over your head.”
“You could say that.” The waitress drops off our food, and we each fill our plates. “Beau, I had no intention of giving my virginity to just anyone.”
“But you were gonna give it to me? Someone your family hated?” He looks genuinely confused.
I hope I don’t regret this confession. “Someone my family hated, but I had a serious crush on.” He just stares at me. “So yes, I was going to give you my virginity that night, not to just do the deed, but because I’d always liked you.”
“Well, damn.” He looks down at his plate. “I kinda blew it, huh?”
I laugh and drag a mozzarella stick through the marinara. “Maybe a little.”
“Jesus, Honey, I’m sorry. This apology is long overdue, but I’m really sorry. I was an ass that night. You didn’t deserve my anger.” He scrubs his face. “I don’t remember what all I said, but I know I was a dick.”
“You accused me of being sent by my brothers, maybe to entrap you? So they could beat your ass when they found us together, I assumed.”
“God, I’m dumb.”
“I get it. I was hurt at the time, but a part of me understood.”
Beau shakes his head. “The worst part is that I just left you there. I should’ve made sure you got home okay.”
“You sent your friend with a hundred for an Uber.” I laugh when I think back to that. “Did he give you my message?”
He chuckles. “You told me to shove that money up my ass.”
“Yup.” I hold up my beer. “Here’s to building new memories.”
“Better memories.” He reaches over to clink his beer.
After I take a pull, I stare at the handsome man across from me. “That night wasn’t all bad. Having you come to my defense against that asshole who was grabbing me proved you were a really good guy.”
He lifts a brow. “Which is why you didn’t talk to me for seven years?”
I sniff. “You hurt my feelings. I felt really rejected. I wasn’t ready to let go of that.”
Reaching across the table, he grabs my hand.
“I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, Honey. Truly.
” He looks across the room like he’s trying to gather his thoughts.
“At the time, I felt like getting with you was robbing the cradle. I didn’t wanna take advantage.
Now I don’t think a four-year age difference is a big deal. ”
“Let’s not forget that since then I’ve also kicked your ass at the Rattlesnake Ridge Ranch Rodeo.”