17. Gemma
17
Gemma
T oday has definitely gone very differently than I thought it would and its only lunch time. I felt so hopeful walking into this adorable little diner. Now I’m staring at my club sandwich feeling like a popped balloon. Brooks took off an entire day to drive me out here for absolutely nothing. I know how much a day of work means to him and I feel awful. I look down at my hands in my lap and start to roll the beads of my bracelet between my fingers.
Without looking up to meet his eyes I blurt, “I’m so sorry you had to miss a day of work for this. I know you guys need every hour you can get preparing for winter and today is such a waste. I didn’t mean to...”
“Gemma," Brooks cuts me off mid-sentence. “You didn’t do anything. Shit happens. Today isn’t wasted. It’s only lunch time.”
I look up at him confused. “How is the day not wasted? We got nowhere and by the time we get back to Sunflower Springs it will be close to sunset.”
Brooks’ eyebrows knit together, and he rubs his chin. “Let’s not waste it then. I’ve only ever been to Harmony Falls to purchase cattle. I’ve never hung out or explored the town. We can find a place to crash overnight and come back here tomorrow morning to try our luck again.”
My mouth falls open. Who the hell is this man? Because this is not the cranky rancher, I’ve been spending my days within Sunflower Springs. “Are you serious right now? You’re willing to miss not one but possibly two full days of work? Brooks we didn’t even bring anything with us to stay overnight.”
Brooks looks amused and actually laughs at my semi-panic. “It’ll be good for us both to take a day off and relax. If you’re that worried about pajamas or spare clothes, I’m sure we can grab something at one of the little shops on main street. So, what do ya say?”
I’m not sure if I should worry about his weird behavior or cry over how sweet this is. He may be acting like it is no big deal to skip work, but I’ve been around him to know that it is a very, very big deal to him. He must really feel like we are on the right track here. Maybe he thinks it’s the key to getting rid of me and skipping a day of work is worth the time he will get back in the end once I’m gone. I start to feel a rain cloud above my head considering that option.
I force myself to look Brooks in the eyes and try to read his face. I can’t find any hint of animosity or regret. I only see sincerity and is that excitement? Surely, he isn’t actually excited about exploring the town. I take a deep breath and try to remove myself from my head. Brooks cocks an eyebrow and I about melt. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I start nodding.
“I’m down,” I reply as I let the excitement of a relaxed day of exploring and having Brooks to myself wash over me.
After we pay for our meal, we hop back into my car and drive a couple of streets over to what Brooks says is Main Street. The weather is mild today and there is a light breeze, so we decide to park in an empty lot and walk to the little stores we see peppering the street on both sides. As we walk down the little sidewalk, I take in all of the colorful storefront window displays and hand drawn signs out front. Each of these stores are similar in size and shape but each seems to boast the personality of the individual who owns it. Something about the character of the bookstore draws me into it first. Brooks lets out an over embellished groan and I laugh. In an attempt to be just as overdramatic as he is, I grab his hand and act as if I have to put all my effort into pulling him into the store with me. Before I know it, I am fully immersed in the shelves and all that they offer. I look up to see Brooks a few isles away just as engrossed in a book he has found. Interesting. I would never have taken him as a reader. But I guess he does spend a lot of evenings alone with Ace in his little house. I tuck that little nugget of knowledge away for later.
We continue down Main Street talking and laughing and checking out all of the little shops. When we seem to have run out of shops to visit, we wander into another little diner for some dinner and then finish it off at the ice cream parlor near where we parked. Everything feels so free and perfect. I wish these moments here with Brooks could last forever. He is the sexiest man I have ever seen when the weight of the ranch is not resting on his shoulders.
We both agree it is time to head to the hotel. Brooks called ahead and booked a room on the advice of the diner owner this morning, but we don’t know much else about the place. We get into the car, and I immediately punch the address into the GPS. We follow the directions easily and are at the hotel in minutes. That should have been our first sign that things were going too smoothly.
“No, no,” Brooks clarifies again. “When I called this morning, I explained that there were two of us. We need two rooms.”
“Or at least two beds with lots of space in between them,” I pipe in. Brooks gives me a side eye, so I don’t think he appreciates my help.
“I don’t know what you want me to tell you. There is a reservation for one room, with one bed. I do not have another room to give you. I can call the hotel two towns over and see if she has rooms.”
Brooks looks at me with uncertainty in his eyes which is not a look I am used to from him. It takes me off guard and I blurt, “No thank you. We will take the room here.” I look at Brooks and offer, “It will be fine. We will make it work.”
I try my hardest to keep my frustrated facade up while silently praying that Brooks is doing the same. I’ve wanted nothing more than to strip his clothes off all day and let him have his way with me. I am certainly not going to complain about the opportunity to sleep beside his rock-hard muscled body all night without even having to admit how badly I want to. I feel smug and satisfied with the way this is turning out, until the anxiety starts to creep in.
I am pretty sure this is a horrible idea. Or maybe it’s the best idea. I don’t know. The tension has been building between us since that fucking storm last night. And now we are going to stay the night together in the same room. No. Not just in the same room. We are staying together in the same bed. This is insanity. I am totally going to end up sleeping with this sexy rancher I just met a few weeks ago. Well at least I hope I am. Does that make me a whore? I am pretty sure that does in fact classify me as a whore.
I pull out my phone.
Gemma: Liv! Help!
Liv: What’s wrong?!
Gem: I think I’m a whore