Chapter 28 Rhett
Chapter twenty-eight
Rhett
I’m unloading the last crate of tools from my truck when I hear the familiar crunch of tires on gravel.
It’s funny how something I’ve heard a million times can suddenly be my new favorite sound.
The way it makes my heart hitch would be medically alarming if it wasn’t followed by a smile that instantly calms my tormented heart.
The smile of a brilliant, brunette woman who was too smart, too pretty, too good for me.
But today, it’s not me causing that big smile; it’s my dog racing toward her.
“Did you just get home from a job?” Audrey greets me, and though she doesn’t understand much about my line of work, she is always sweet; asking about it, wanting to know more about something that seems so boring to me.
Today she was like a walking sunflower, her hair in a loose braid that laid over her shoulder. A yellow and white sundress clinging to her frame. Every set of eyes would be glued to her tonight, but that didn’t matter; she was coming home with me.
“I did. I’m just cleaning out the truck. I don’t normally have someone riding shotgun.” I wink at her, and she blushes. It happens every time I give her my full attention and it’s made me wonder if no one has ever taken the time to get to really know her.
It blows my mind, but I try not to dwell on it, because it only hurts to think about. All I can focus on is making sure she never feels that way with me.
“What, little ol’ me?” Audrey attempts a very adorable imitation of my southern accent and I pause, licking my lips and gazing at her. She squirms a bit, and I love it.
Dropping my tool bags, I hop down from the truck bed, take two strides towards her, and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her in. Her laughter fills the air as I kiss her softly, tickling her sides.
“Rhett! I’m going to kill you!” She pushes against my chest as I clutch her harder. I stop tickling her, but keep my hands wrapped around her small waist.
“I’d happily die by your hands.”
Audrey tilts her head. “What has gotten into you today? You seem extra…happy?”
I throw my hands up in playful defense. “I get to spend the whole weekend with my girl. What’s better than that?”
Audrey’s smile remains steady, but she stops moving, watching me closely.
“Your girl?” she asks calmly. “I didn’t think we were doing labels.”
“Well…” Pulling my baseball cap off to run my hand through my hair, I swallow against my throat but remain strong in how I feel.
Because I’ve never been so sure. “You’re right.
We said no to labels. And I’ll honor that if you still feel that way.
But Audrey…I’d be lying if I told you I was okay with you being anyone else’s.
You make me a selfish man…I want you for me. ”
Her chest rose and fell as her wild eyes steadied on mine.
She’s always analyzing, flipping things in her mind, assessing the risk.
Surely, I'm a risk. A country boy from Roseville who hasn’t been to half the places she has, who doesn’t have a fancy degree, or house.
No trust fund to keep her secure, just these two hands that would fight off anything that threatened her or her happiness.
Just a tin roof on an old farmhouse that I’d work endlessly to make sure she felt at home at.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. A woman like Audrey has a world of options, and I’m a drop of water in the tank of her life.
“There’s no one else but you.” Her response is slow and deliberate.
“So, I can introduce you to my family as my sexy, sweet, incredibly brilliant girlfriend?”
Audrey hesitates, but then nods, “That’s overkill, but girlfriend…sure.”
“Oh honey, I don’t think it’s enough,” I say, my voice rumbling in my chest as I step forward and push a loose piece of hair behind her ears, noticing her breathing quicken as I lightly run my hand down her jaw, cupping her neck, and pulling her close to me.
Our lips mere inches from each other; close enough I can see all the gold flecks in those hazel eyes.
“And so, this means I can introduce you as my rowdy, rough, handsome boyfriend?” she asks, her voice raspy. Her eyes go wide though, like she can’t believe she just said that aloud.
“You can tell people I'm whoever you want, as long as you know I'm yours.” I don’t let her get another word in, unable to hold back from kissing that perfect mouth.