7. Missy
Missy
“ I would love to go on a date with you,” I tell Griffin. It feels amazing to have his arms wrapped around me and Daisy. There’s a part of me that wants to stay like this forever, to shut out the real world and pretend it doesn’t exist.
His smile grows even bigger. I didn’t think it was possible. “I’ll pick you up at six. I have some errands to run.”
I nod my agreement, but before I can say anything more, my phone rings. Reluctantly, I leave his lap and cross the room to grab it from the nightstand. It’s Audrey calling. I had forgotten all about our afternoon plans for today.
As soon as I answer, she peppers me with questions. “What’s going on? Are you okay? I heard your place got broken into. It’s horrible. Do you need anything? How is Daisy? What can I do?”
The flood of questions puts a lump in my throat. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend I could rely on. The people of Courage County are becoming more than a community to me. They’re becoming my family.
“How do you know?” I ask the first question that pops into my mind.
Audrey chuckles and says, “This is life in a small town. You can’t swat a fly without everybody knowing about it. Do you still want to come over this afternoon? What can I do for you?”
I glance at him. He’s been listening to our conversation. He shakes his head. I’m disappointed, but I understand that right now his priority is keeping me and Daisy safe. So, I tell Audrey, “I can’t right now.”
She is quiet for a second, then she says, “I get it. He’s trying to protect you. Well, what if I bring some clothes over for you to try on? We can still make a girl’s day of it.”
I look at him again, and this time he gives me a thumbs up. I let her know it’s a go, and she says she’ll be over after lunch.
I hang up and let loose with a little squeal. “She’s coming over. I have a friend again.”
Something flickers on his face, maybe sadness and grief for me, but he covers it with a smile and says, “Yes, you do, sweet girl. Life is going to get a lot better from now on.”
He makes me breakfast, feeding me pancakes and eggs before he says he has to go meet up with Luke.
Even though he’s going, he tells me that Russell is still on the porch and that many of the ranch hands are patrolling the grounds. “We have a net set up. If anyone tries to slip through, we’ll know it. But if you think of anything I should know or you get scared, you can always call me.”
I give him my best brave smile and push on his chest, “Go and catch those cow-tipping teenagers.”
Then I lean up on my tiptoes and press a gentle kiss on his lips. After he leaves, I get a call from Lorna. I spend half an hour reassuring her that I’m fine before promising her that I will call her if I need anything.
The afternoon passes quickly. I alternate between playing with Daisy and watching daytime TV. I wanted to read the parenting book I’ve been reading, but my tablet is another thing I accidentally left behind at the rental.
Audrey arrives at noon. She’s brought food from Ernie’s Diner. She gives me a big hug, crushing me against her the moment she sees me. “I was so scared when I heard.”
“I’m OK now. Daisy is, too,” I reassure her.
“Logan called Griffin this morning. He and all of his brothers are willing to do whatever it takes to help you. You’re not alone anymore.”
I’m too overwhelmed to know what to say to that. I gesture to the bag of food. “Is there anything on the menu Lorna didn’t include?”
Audrey chuckles. “She did seem to put one of everything in here, including milkshakes.”
We eat lunch together, trading stories and gossip. Then Audrey shows me all of the clothes that she brought.
I try on nine different outfits until we settle on a vintage dress that’s blue-checked with a sweetheart neckline and puffy petal sleeves. It stops above my knees, and I love the way it swishes when I move my hips.
“I have the shoes for that,” Audrey tells me, producing white kitten heels. They’re open-toed, so our next activity is doing mani-pedis while we watch a raunchy rom-com that we both spend the entire time talking through.
By the time Aunt Dorothy arrives home from a long day of chores on the farm, I have been waxed, plucked, tweezed, and polished. Audrey even took the time to do my makeup and my hair. She’s made me feel pampered in the best way.
“I have to go. Logan will get cranky if he doesn’t have his dessert,” she tells me and Aunt Dorothy.
I frown. “You said you left him dinner to heat in the fridge when you left this afternoon.”
She giggles, her cheeks going pink. “I said I left him dinner. I didn’t say anything about his dessert.”
Dorothy cackles and shoos her away. “You go on. I got her now.”
After making me promise to call her first thing tomorrow morning, Audrey leaves with little Paisley Jolene.
Dorothy steps back to admire Audrey’s work and manages to hold onto Daisy, who is squirming in her arms. I think she’s getting close to the crawling stage. She loves to push up on her hands and knees during tummy time. “You look absolutely beautiful. But I think the dress is missing one thing.”
I look down, frowning. I could have sworn Audrey thought of everything. She even had a slip in my size. I’m wearing it now, the material soft and silky against my thighs.
Aunt Dorothy gestures for me to follow and goes into the guest bedroom. She disappears into the walk-in closet and returns a few minutes later, nudging me to stand in the full-length mirror in the bathroom.
When we’re in there, she fastens a string of pearls around my neck without letting Daisy grab the delicate strand. “These are genuine,” she says when I run my fingertips along the beautiful necklace. “It’s an heirloom that’s been in our family for three generations.”
I don’t know what to say to that, especially when she slips a matching bracelet on my wrist. It’s timeless and classic. She follows it up with earrings to complete the set.
She applies a coat of red lipstick to my lips. By the time she’s done, I look like a fifties pin-up model. I’ve never felt as glamorous as I do right now.
“Thank you,” I whisper to her.
The doorbell rings, and butterflies take flight in my belly. He’s here. Griffin is here for our date .
“I don’t want you to worry about a thing. I’ll be watching Daisy the entire time,” Dorothy says. In the other room, I can hear Russell answering the door and greeting my date.
“I’ve never been apart from her for so long. Will you call me if she needs me?” I ask, taking one more glance at myself in the mirror. What if this isn’t his favorite color?
“She’ll be fine. I’m going to introduce her to the love of my life, Magnum PI .”
Now that I think about it, the show’s star and Russell do share a striking resemblance. “When was the last time you went on a date?”
“Dates are for young people,” she says. “Now, let’s go see about your man.”
Russell and Griffin are in the living room, and from the looks of it, they’re discussing something intense.
But the moment he sees me, Griffin stops talking.
His gaze rakes across my figure, cataloguing every detail.
He licks his lips like he’s about to call off dinner and eat me instead. My cheeks heat at the thought.
“The dress is…”
“Perfect. Just like you.” He crosses the room in three strides to hold out a bouquet of roses in an ornate glass vase. “I don’t know your favorite yet, but I will soon.”
I bring the flowers to my nose, giving them an appreciative sniff as I study him.
He’s wearing dark jeans, and his cowboy boots have been shined.
His white button-up has been pressed, and his wavy hair is smoothed down.
I have a nearly overwhelming urge to reach out and tousle it.
I love those stubborn waves that do whatever they want. “Anything from you is my favorite.”
He beams at that.
“Let me put these down and get my bag,” I tell him as I excuse myself to the guest room to set the flowers down and grab my tiny handbag. It only has room for my cellphone and wallet, but that’s all I need tonight. It seems strange not to have a hulking diaper bag to lug with me.
He offers me his arm when I return, and after one more round of kisses with Daisy, I leave with him.
Outside, the evening air is humid from the earlier thunderstorms. It’s as if the world took a shower, and the bathroom is still steamy. But even the damp heat doesn’t dim the glow of happiness I’m carrying inside.
Griffin helps me into his truck, his fingers lingering on my hips for a beat too long. He likes touching me as much as I like him touching me.
As soon as we’re on the road, I roll down the windows. It’s humid outside, but there’s nothing like riding with the wind in my hair. It feels like freedom. I have that feeling a lot when I’m with him, like I can let go of everything and trust him to hold me together.
He does the same, rolling down his window.
Then I scoot across the bench seat like there’s a magnet drawing me to him.
The moment I’m buckled in the middle, he puts an arm around my shoulders.
The gesture is so casual and natural. It feels like we’ve spent our whole lives doing this.
For a moment, I can see it. Our future selves doing this at seventy, riding through town with the windows rolled down and honeysuckle on the breeze.
He drives to Liquid Courage, a bar and grill in town. It’s the only other restaurant besides Ernie’s. I haven’t been inside the bar before, but I’ve heard their cook, Anchor, makes an incredible steak.
“I’ve been wanting to try this place,” I tell Griffin once we’re seated in a booth with our drinks.
He gestures around the room. “It’s always been a good bar. It got even better when Harry sold it to Peyton and Ledger. They’re the ones who added a restaurant.”
“It has definite charm. Every day, I fall in love a little more with Courage.”
He smiles. “What were you doing with your life before Daisy came along?”