Chapter 10
10
Betty-Ann sets a final platter of food onto the table, a giant bowl of potato salad. “There. That’s everything.”
“Ma, sit and eat something, will you,” Dakota says as Betty-Ann goes back to the sink and starts washing dishes.
“I’ll eat up whatever the boys don’t want. Anyway, I’m on that special diet the doctor gave me. No butter and not too much meat on account of my cholesterol. Takes all the fun out of it, if you ask me.”
“I’ll make a plate for you. You said yourself they’re locusts, Ma. It’ll all be gone.”
Betty-Ann shrugs. “Well, they’re working hard, they need the fuel. And I want to encourage them. They’re doing a good job out there. Dakota, I made a batch of lemonade that’s chilling in the fridge. Would you take it out to them and tell them lunch is ready? ”
“Sure, Ma. You want to come, Rox? Or do you want to stay for more grilling and matchmaking suggestions?”
“I love you all,” I tell them, getting up and taking my plate to the counter. “And thank you for that wonderful meal. But if I eat another bite I will literally burst.”
“Don’t you dare do any dishes, Roxanne Savannah,” Betty-Ann scolds me. “You’re on vacation.”
“I can put one plate in the dishwasher.” But she’s already taking it from my hands.
“Do as your aunt tells you.”
“I thought you said you weren’t her aunt,” Earl says.
“Oh, be quiet, you old geezer,” Betty-Ann says, with love.
I grab some glasses to put on the tray Dakota is setting up with the large pitcher of fresh-squeezed lemonade and some of the still-warm buttered biscuits.
“See y’all soon.”
I open the screen door for Dee and we walk out onto the porch, making our way toward the barn. Beyond it, the harvester is bringing in the baled hay, load by load. I can see Luke, Leo and Nate at the far side of the barn. The barn doors are open wide and the brothers are stacking the bales in the barn.
Shirtless.
We get closer and the sun is beating down in golden, dusty beams, directly onto the three of them, like God wants to showcase his masterpieces in perfect, luminous light .
Whoa.
The gangly boys I once knew are now big, muscular, sweaty men. I’m pretty sure every girl in Tennessee would pay good money to watch the Boone brothers throwing hay bales around in the hot sun.
The twins are gorgeous and they know it. They’re young, cocky show-offs.
But it’s not the twins I’m looking at.
Nate Boone’s lean, boyish frame has filled out into a god-like specimen of full-blown freaking manhood. He’s got the physique of a hard-working farmhand who must also work out. His muscles are taut and defined, glistening with sweat, rippling as he lifts the hay bales and tosses them to Luke to stack onto the mountainous pile.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
I used to gaze at him when I was a girl, knowing for a fact I had never seen a more beautiful human being. He was perfectly made even then.
But now, he’s more than just beautiful.
He’s hot as fuck.
And this is more than fascination. It’s a deeply-buried craving that opens a flood gate inside me, surging through my bloodstream.
I want him.
He’s the one I waited for.
I stand there, transfixed by the way his abs flex and quilt as he picks up a hay bale, the sculpted strength of his muscled, suntanned arms, the way the bright sunlight reflects off his too-long dark hair, tinting it shiny shades of red and gold.
Holy Dream Come True, Batman. He’s perfect.
He looks up.
And then he smiles. That old crooked smile I remember so well. Like he can’t help himself. Almost like he’s…happy to see me.
His eyes are on my face, as darkly spellbound as I feel. Then his gaze moves over my body, taking in the fit of my tank top, my short jean shorts, my long bare legs, my cowgirl boots, before making their way back up to my face.
Nate’s eyes paint warmth onto my skin, and deeper. I can feel his effect inside me, where it’s somehow turned me into a ripe fruit that wants nothing more than to… be eaten.
I don’t even know what’s happening.
It’s a slow motion awakening, and whatever beast is coming to life, she is hungry . I’m aware of a transformation taking place and I vaguely try to stop it, but I can’t. I might as well try to stop myself from breathing.
I fall in love with him.
Just like that.
Right then and there.
Sure, I already loved him, from afar. A benign sort of worship that was more of a crush or a wish you don’t really expect to come true.
This is different.
I fall in love with him. Like, hard . With a lusty ferocity that grips my heart like a hot squeezing fist that needs what it wants.
“Hey, Rox,” he drawls, swiping some burly arm porn over his forehead to wipe away his sweat.
I want to lick his dirt-smeared chest like I’ve never wanted anything in my life.
His eyes are light, the color of whiskey on ice, and that usual frown of concentration and Getting Shit Done are suddenly gone. He’s so handsome I forget to breathe.
Luke and Leo both stop what they’re doing to watch their older brother, as though his relaxed, charmed, lazy grin is wildly out of character. Then they glance at me. Then back at Nate. Leo elbows Luke and they’re both grinning like Cheshire Cats.
“Well, well, well,” is all Luke says, but it’s enough to break whatever trance Nate and I are locked in.
A light nudge pokes into my rib. “Rox?”
“Oh. Yeah?”
“I was just saying, can you take the tools off that hay bale so I can set this tray down?”
“Oh. Sure.”
“‘Bout time, Dakota,” Luke laughs. “I was about to die of dehydration.”
“Then carry a water bottle with you like a normal person would.”
“I’m trying to save the planet.” Luke downs the entire glass of lemonade Dakota just handed him .
“Get yourself a Stanley like a good little metrosexual. The planet will be fine.”
“Who you callin’ a metrosexual?” Luke looks offended.
“What even is a metrosexual?” Leo stuffs a whole biscuit into his mouth.
“Someone with more manners and dress sense than you, who wouldn’t stuff an entire biscuit into their mouth like a Neanderthal.”
“Mm phumpgry,” Leo protests.
“Nate must qualify, in his Armani and deluxe, high-tech mansion.” Luke elbows Nate.
“Nate is the last person I would describe as a metrosexual,” Dakota laughs. “Nate’s more like a he-man with brains. And one extremely expensive suit.”
“So there.” Nate elbows Luke back, but it’s stronger than Luke’s shove was and Luke pretends to almost fall over, which makes Nate smile. He’s in a good mood today, reminding me of the carefree kid he used to be, running through the fields with my brothers and playing guitars all night long.
And now I’m curious. “High-tech?”
“Didn’t you get the grand tour?” Luke asks. “Our boy here has all the bells and whistles, down to the ambient lighting and the stereo with sensors that recognize the sound of your voice. His house will actually play your favorite song when you walk into a room.”
“Is that right?” I’m impressed. And it’s true, I didn’t even go inside his house last night. We didn’t get that far. We were too busy radiating with the buzz of seeing each other again to even get past the porch.
The same thing must be occurring to Nate. “Come by later and I’ll show you around, if you want to see it.”
Luke grins at Leo, raising an eyebrow.
Nate ignores them. “I’ve got a meeting until around five. Daisy’s with Tobias. Baking a cake. He’s taking her to a birthday party later this afternoon. Her first sleepover.”
“Wow,” Dee says. “That’s a big deal, Nate. You think she’ll be okay?”
We all know about the nightmares. “I told Harper’s mother Kristie to give me a call any time of the night if Daisy wakes up in the night. It’s just down the road so I can go get her if she needs me to. She’s really excited about it so hopefully she’ll be okay.”
“You should check out the house, Rox.” Luke’s not about to let it go.
“Sure. I’d love to see it.”
Nate’s eyes hold mine and the heat in them burns me all the way down to my soul.
I glance over at Dakota and a light smirk brings out her dimples. “I’d come with you but Tobias and I have some stuff to do before the hoedown tomorrow night. And no, we don’t need help.”
Well.
I don’t overthink it. But if Dakota, Luke and Leo are all entertained by the idea of Nate showing me his house—alone, just the two of us—then it’s almost like…this long-bu ried thing between us isn’t quite as forbidden as it used to be. I mean, Betty-Ann basically gave us her blessing, in a roundabout way.
Not that there’s anything to give her blessing about , of course. It’s just…a whole different vibe than it used to be.
I don’t know if my brothers will be as understanding, but I’m hardly going to worry about them. Most likely I’ll have a civil glass of wine with an old friend and then be on my way. Besides, God knows all three of my brothers allow themselves to dive into their romances with gusto, whenever and wherever the mood strikes.
I’m not fifteen anymore so as far as I’m concerned, it’s none of their business anyway.
Nate says to Luke and Leo, “I better hit the shower and head over to the Barrington site. You two can take it from here.” Then he puts his hat on his head and tips it at me. “See you later, Roxie Tucker.”
At least he didn’t say see you around .
I guess it’s a date.