CH 14 - #deadgiveaway
#deadgiveaway
Madison
Me: I saw Luke naked.
Meredith: We’re not having this conversation by text.
I giggled, knowing my sister was about to call me. Then she did.
“Hello there,” I said.
“Spill the tea right now.”
“I went to Luke’s cabin unannounced a little while ago.
When he didn’t answer the front door, I walked around back because I knew he was somewhere since his truck was parked out front.
When I rounded the corner of his cabin, I saw him standing under his outdoor shower without a stitch of clothing on.
He didn’t see me, so I took the opportunity to get a good look at his body. ”
“You saw everything?”
“I sure did. His big dick with dark hair all around it and his tight ass.”
“Oh, my God.”
“I already knew his dick was well beyond average size because of the bulge that’s always in the front of his jeans, but what I had imagined didn’t come close to reality.”
“Did Luke ever see you?”
“He did, after I said ‘Oh!’ really loud, and spun around to face the other direction. I totally acted as if I had just walked up and seen him. He fell for it.”
My sister snickered. “You are so bad, but so good.”
“I figured you would appreciate my latest report on Luke.”
“Did you go to his cabin just to say hi or what?”
“I wanted to give him a goodnight kiss.”
“And?”
“I did. It made the sexual tension between Luke and me jump up about thirty notches, too. It was so thick.”
“I’ve got a better saying for sexual tension. Call it ‘bangxiety’ instead.”
I burst out laughing. “Where did you hear that?”
“I read it on Instagram a few days ago. There was another part to the post that said if you regret banging someone, then call it a ‘bangover.’”
“That is hilarious!”
“Back to you kissing Luke.”
“What about it?”
“Was he still naked when you did it? Please tell me yes.”
“Yes, he was, but he also held his cowboy hat over his dick.”
“Damn, the visual I’m getting right now.”
“Right?”
“That kiss was your third one with Luke,” Meredith pointed out.
“Wish I could remember the other two.”
“Was your goodnight kiss a green light for that sexy cowboy to pursue you?”
“Not quite. I’m just dipping my toes into the water.”
“Why not jump in?”
“Because I still can’t see how in the world it could ever work between Luke and me due to the distance between where we both live,” I said, sighing.
“Lots of people have long-distance relationships. Granted, they aren’t easy, but when a couple sees each other again after spending time apart, it sure is magical. You know what they say about absence making the heart grow fonder.”
“I don’t know how much fonder I could get of Luke. I admire and adore him so much.”
“Sounds like Bella also does, going by what you, Mom, and Dad have told me.”
“She does. She’s got Luke wrapped around her little finger, too. Whenever you come out here, you’ll get to witness it for yourself. It’s the sweetest thing watching them together.”
“It’s a shame that Luke isn’t her biological father.”
“I’ve thought that.”
“Is Ty still coming to Amarillo to see Bella this weekend?”
“Last I knew, he was. He’s supposed to pick her up on Friday afternoon.”
“And take her to a hotel?”
“That’s the only option he has.”
“I don’t like the idea of my precious niece staying in a hotel with her jackass father,” Meredith said, irritation in her voice.
“Neither do I, but this is all part of sharing custody of Bella. She needs to see Ty.”
“I agree to disagree about that.”
“Just be glad you aren’t in my shoes, having to deal with Ty and his bullshit still.”
“I am glad. I just wish I could fix your situation.”
“It won’t be fixed until Bella is grown. Even then, I’ll have occasional interactions with Ty, such as when Bella graduates from college, gets married, has babies, etc.”
“You believe she’s going to do that in that order?”
“I hope she does. I want her to experience being independent, paying her own bills. That’s important for a woman to do. That way, if things go to shit for Bella with a man, she can flip him off and move on with her life, still standing on her own two feet,” I said, imagining her strength.
“She’s just like you, so I suspect she’ll follow your college-marriage-babies route. Back to Luke… Give him a real chance, Madison.”
“Funny you say that. Not long before the tornado hit, he and I were sitting in his kitchen when a country song came on, sung by a man, that essentially said what you just did. While it played, Luke stared straight at me, not saying a word. I got choked up, too.”
“Why?”
“Because I could see in his eyes how much he wanted me to give him a chance to love me right. Explain something to me, though. How could he feel so strongly toward me, considering how little time we’ve known each other?”
“For whatever reason, your soul and his connected. It’s obviously not a surface thing that either of you is feeling. Luke isn’t scared of it, though, while you are, which I understand after what you went through with Ty.”
“My fear is lessening every day, the more I’m around Luke.”
“I’m happy to hear that. You never know, perhaps your relationship with him is meant to be.”
“It’s a stretch for me to view it like that because he and I came from two completely different walks of life.”
“Makes you appreciate each other and where you’ve been. I think you and Luke can learn a lot from each other while having the most passionate romance either of you has ever known.”
“He’s such a phenomenal man. I was terrified when we were in his storm cellar, but he stayed calm and held me in his strong arms while I lost my shit, screaming and crying.”
“Luke is a protector. And need I remind you that he’s fine as hell?”
“Oh, I’m well aware that he is. I really wish you could’ve seen him naked standing beneath his outdoor shower. That image of him will always be with me.”
“I guess so!” Meredith chuckled.
“Hang on, I just got a text from someone.”
Ty: I’ll pick up Bella at 5:00 pm on Friday.
Me: Before you do, I need to know which hotel you’re staying at with her and the room number.
Ty:
“That was Ty, letting me know when he would be here on Friday,” I told Meredith.
“Are you nervous about letting him take Bella?”
“A little. He’s never been very watchful of her.”
“You might want to consider showing up at his hotel room to check on Bella.”
“Good idea. Shit, he just texted me again.”
“I’ll let you go.”
“Before you do, any idea when you’re coming out here?”
“It’ll likely be the weekend after Ty comes there.”
“I’ll be so happy to see you.”
“Same, sister.”
We hung up, then I reopened my text app. Ty hadn’t sent me another message.
Luke: I can’t stop thinking about your goodnight kiss.
Me: My first text from you is about my lips.
Luke: I’ve wanted to text you since we exchanged cellphone numbers after the tornado.
Me: Why didn’t you?
Luke: Trying to be cautious with you.
Me: Like I’ve been trying to be with you and failing miserably.
Luke: I don’t mind.
Seconds ticked by as my mind spun and my heart beat fast.
Me: I should let you know that Ty is coming to the ranch house on Friday to pick up Bella and spend some time with her.
Luke: How do you feel about it?
Me: Nervous because he isn’t an attentive parent, but I legally have to let him have his time with Bella.
Luke: Is there anything I can do to help you feel better about that situation?
I thought about it, settling upon exactly what I wanted Luke to do.
Me: Yep. Take me dancing at Midnight Rodeo on Friday night. Two whiskeys are all I’ll allow myself to have because I want to remember every moment with you, unlike the last time.
Luke: I still replay in my mind what happened between us the last time.
Me: I wish I could jump inside your mind to see it.
Luke: I wish you could feel it.
I took a deep breath, having picked up on the heat behind Luke’s words.
Me: So are you taking me dancing?
Luke: On one condition. You let me take you shopping for some real cowgirl boots first.
Me:
Luke: I’m serious.
Me: Don’t you like my fancy city girl boots?
Luke: Didn’t say that. But if we’re going boot-scooting again, I want you to wear legit cowgirl boots.
Me: Offer accepted.
Luke: Will this be an official date between us on Friday?
Me: I believe so.
Luke: Would you like me to take you to eat supper somewhere before we go to Midnight Rodeo?
Me: That would be nice.
Luke: Where would you like to go?
Me: Surprise me.
Luke: Will do. What do you think your parents will have to say about you and me going out?
Me: They will be thrilled. They think the world of you.
Luke: I think the world of them. They’re great folks.
Me: I need to get Bella ready for bed.
Luke: Before you do, thank you for letting me into your heart.
Me: Who said I did?
Luke: Your beautiful emerald eyes did.
Me: Goodnight.
I laid my cellphone beside me on my bed and stared at the ceiling.
Luke could apparently read me like a book.
While I’d been shielding the full extent of my romantic feelings toward him, he was upfront about his toward me.
God, what was this between us? I was pulled to him so strongly, and I desired him just as much.