Chapter 16
16
AURORA
I wasn’t surprised that the diner food was really, really good. I’ve been there more than a few times since I’ve come to Cherry Peak, and it’s never disappointed me. It’s been so long since I’ve had a real home-cooked meal, though, so maybe I’ve just forgotten what something less greasy tastes like.
My fingers curl tighter around my Styrofoam milkshake cup before I drop it and Johnny’s into the garbage can. They hit the bottom of the bag with a plop as I turn and take in a steadying breath. The ragingly loud noises outside are a reminder that Johnny is still here. My next inhale is stuttered.
I’m content with having him here. After we ate, I realized I didn’t want him to leave yet. I was relieved when he went out to his truck and hauled a tool box from the bed of it before starting to demolish my porch if it meant we got some more time together.
And demolish is putting it lightly.
I go to the front window and gawk at the instant view of him balancing a crowbar in one hand and rotted wood slats in the other. Each broken piece is tossed onto the growing pile in the yard. I’ve only been inside for two minutes, and it’s already nearly doubled in size .
He doesn’t need to be doing this for me. I’d never have asked anyone for their help with this place. It’s not mine to begin with, and soon enough, it’ll go back to sitting on the street empty, waiting for another renter to stumble by. But it would be nice not to worry about falling through the steps on my way to work every day . . .
A fist bouncing off the front window has me flinching before refocusing on the man now staring at me. Johnny smirks knowingly and rests his hands on his narrow hips, his head cocked.
His voice carries through the screen door. “You’re not allowed to hide in there all night, darlin’!”
“I’m not hiding! And it’s only been two minutes.”
He laughs, and intent on proving him wrong, I swing open the door and step outside. My eyes bug at the full state of the porch and the broken railings that now cover my yard. I’m grateful we decided to have dinner a bit earlier than I’d usually have it on my own. We’d have gotten a noise complaint from the neighbours if he started this at night.
“You work quick,” I tell him.
“When I want to. There’s a time and place for all kinds of speeds,” he replies smoothly, coming to stand at the bottom of the stairs.
The sexual innuendo isn’t lost on me, and I can’t help but play into it a bit, enjoying knowing I can do that with him. “I haven’t had a lot of experience with that, actually. Fast is usually my speed of choice.”
One hand slides into his pocket as his smirk stretches wider, bordering into smile territory. “Always?”
“Most of the time.”
“There’s still time to open your horizons and experiment. I’m always up to share some of my insight with interested parties.”
“Oh? And how many interested parties have you shared this insight with?” I ask, the question sounding just the slightest bit jealous.
He doesn’t seem to mind. Not if the obvious twinkle in his eye as he sets one foot on the bottom stair and leans closer is anything to go off.
“Give or take about . . . six.”
“Six?” I squeak, my jaw hanging open. “That’s it?”
He tips his head. “Yeah, darlin’. Six. That alright with you?”
“Why shouldn’t it be? You can add another six tonight for all I care.”
My outer shell grows thick as I retreat back a few mental steps, focusing on not flinching at my ultra-bitchy comment. He doesn’t need to ask me those sorts of questions. He shouldn’t.
My stomach sours thinking of hurting this man’s feelings, but damn it all to hell, I can’t do this. It’s better to stop playing into it right now.
I expect Johnny to look hurt by my words or maybe even just put off. But no. I find him leaping up the steps and moving toward me with a soft yet determined expression. His gaze is gentle and calm and unexpecting as it caresses my face.
“Even if I could physically tear myself away from you long enough to go add six to my tally, I couldn’t get there mentally,” he says, standing so close the toes of his boots touch my sandals. My breath hitches when he takes my hand in his, the calluses on his palm scratching my skin. “Been only one woman on my mind since I saw her, and I’ve been tryin’ to impress her tonight, but maybe I haven’t done a good enough job yet.”
“You have,” I blurt out before lowering my voice and repeating myself. “You have. I’m just not the one for you.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Why should you believe otherwise? I’ve given you nothing.”
He wets his lips and reaches up to remove his hat. His hair is wild, sticking up and parted a million different ways. Like him, I realize.
Without the hat, he doesn’t appear as tall and intimidating. Even still, as he has to dip his chin to meet my eye, I don’t feel like he’s a million feet above me .
“I’ve got three sisters, two moms, and have watched more fairy tales than anyone in their right mind. Love at first sight isn’t a taboo topic for me. It isn’t hard to believe in. Romance doesn’t scare me or intimidate me. It never has. And do you know what I felt the first time I saw you, Aurora?”
I shake my head, unable to speak. Too scared to. He moves impossibly closer and drops the hat before resting his hand on the wall behind me. I hadn’t realized I’d backed up against it.
My pulse thrums in my ears as he drops his head, and I bring mine back, my throat arched.
“I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. You were sittin’ at that table with your fingers tapping the way they do when you’re nervous or uncomfortable, and I knew I needed to get over to you. The woman with the sad but fuckin’ prettiest eyes I’d ever seen. I followed the tug I felt between us and only needed one minute with you to know that I made the right choice.”
“I don’t believe in love at first sight,” I say on a breath.
“No? Alright. So you didn’t feel anything with me that night? When I had you in my arms as we swayed between tables? Because you could have shoved me away at any time. God knows I’d have let you go without a fight if that’s what you wanted. I did let you go.”
That night was a blur of loud laughter, friendly conversation, and an undeniable discomfort that I felt the entire time sitting at that table. I didn’t know the people I was with, and they intimidated me with their closeness to one another. I was an outsider that didn’t know how to accept their welcome.
But then Johnny came over, and I just . . . I slipped. Suddenly, the thoughts in my mind had quieted, and I let myself get swept into the peace that he brought me during those few dances. He was comfortable and familiar in a way that had me running away the moment I pulled myself back together and realized what was happening.
It was terrifying. And every time I see him or speak with him, I feel that fear again. Because men like Johnny don’t stay in your life for a moment in time.
They stay there forever.
I was smart enough to recognize that that night, and I’ve reminded myself of it every day since.
Johnny exhales, the heat of his breath blanketing my nose. He traces every dip of my knuckles with his thumb and holds my fingers against his chest.
“I see all of those thoughts running through your pretty head, Rory, but I want to hear them. Tell me no—a real no—and I’ll leave right now. I’ll back up and let you find your father without me complicating anything. But if you tell me yes, I’m jumping in headfirst.
“I’ll be here every night fixing up this house of yours until I deem it safe enough and bringing you food at lunch. I’ve got a list of things a mile long that I want to show you and teach you out at the ranch, but only if you say yes. I won’t keep pushin’ if you don’t feel what I do. You’ve got my word.”
“I . . .” My throat is so thick I can’t even swallow properly. Heat engulfs my cheeks. “I can’t tell you no. That night was a lot for me too. There’s something here, I know that. But I’m not staying in Cherry Peak. I can’t make you any promises. I’m here for Wanda and Lee.”
I clench my teeth and look at the street over Johnny’s shoulder, not wanting to see the disappointment on his face as my words settle between us.
My muscles tighten when he softly curls his finger beneath my chin and turns my head, forcing me to meet his stare. His smile is unexpected and confusing.
“Why are you smiling?” I ask.
“Everyone thinks Cherry Peak is a blip on the map for them, but oftentimes, it’s never that. I’m more than ready to prove that to you, darlin’,” he answers.
“And if you can’t? You’ll hate me for leaving.” And I’ll hate myself just as much for hurting him .
He strokes his finger over the ridge of my jaw before swooping it up my cheek. “I don’t think it’ll be possible to hate you. But if I have to watch you leave, then at least I’ll be able to know that I had my time with you.”
“I’m kind of a bitch, in case you haven’t noticed.”
The sentence escapes me too quickly to stop it. Fuck, my cheeks burn now. I shut my eyes, attempting to pretend I didn’t just say that.
Johnny’s quiet laugh has me peeking them open again. His forehead falls to mine, and my lips tug at the corners.
“You’re not a bitch, Rory. I’ve never thought that.”
“If we do this,” I start, feeling something warm start to build in my chest. “Would you help me contact Wanda? Not as a quid pro quo or anything, but . . . I can do it on my own—it would just be nice to have someone?—”
“Name anything you need, and I’m here to help you get it. You’ve got my word,” he says instantly.
I release a breath. “Okay.”
“We can start tomorrow. Tonight, I have you to myself, and I plan on taking advantage of that.”
“What did you have in mind?” I ask tentatively, my eyes dropping to his mouth on instinct.
God, since when am I so horny?
His answer isn’t the one I expected. “Have you ever used a crowbar before?”