Chapter 8
Dallas
I kissed Ginger. Walking off afterward was difficult, but she needs time. And if that means if it takes me a lifetime of waiting, I’ll do it. I’ll wait for her. I wonder what she thought about after she went inside her room. Hopefully, it was me.
Last night, I came back to the ranch not remembering how I got here. I know I talked to the others. Had some food. Spent time with Mary and Christopher. But all I could think about was the feel of my lips on hers.
Like I’m a giddy teenager, I touch my fingertips to my lips. Then I leave the bunkhouse before disturbing the others. I don’t want anyone asking me about an update on Ginger. I don’t want to take the time. I’m in a hurry to get back to town to see her.
I park at the community center at the same time that she gets out of her car and approaches the building.
As she reaches out to unlock the front door, I catch up to her, trying not to dance around like an excited Labrador in case she spent the night thinking about and regretting that kiss. I don’t want to have my hopes dashed.
“Morning,” I say tentatively, trying to figure out how she’s feeling.
Her smile is sunshine to my heart. “Morning.”
“I was thinking of taking you to breakfast,” I say, checking her reaction.
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression one I can’t read.
I indicate the community center. “Or do you need to get straight to work?”
“I have to set up the gingerbread photo cutout so that people can take photos using their head on a gingerbread body. Once I decorate the center’s inner doors to look like gingerbread doors, I’m finished.”
“So you only have a couple of hours work left?”
“Maybe not even that.”
I stroke my beard. “Then…how about you go with me and later I’ll stick around and help you.”
Ginger pats her abdomen. “I could go for breakfast, but I warn you. I’m a hearty eater.”
“I like a woman with a big appetite.”
“Is that right?” she murmurs.
“It is. Because I know I can keep her satisfied. If she’s interested, I mean.”
She doesn’t respond but I won’t give up trying to win over this woman I know is meant to be my future. I add, “Give me time. I can prove that I’m a good choice.”
She doesn’t respond to that either as we turn to walk down the sidewalk on the way to find food. But once we pass the coffee shop, she finally says, “I think you’re a really good guy, Dallas and—.”
I put my hand over my heart. “If what you’re about to say is a precursor to ‘get your ass in the friend zone’, stop before you break my heart.”
She glances at me. “I was going to say that I enjoy spending time with you.”
“Oh. Well, then continue. It’ll be difficult for me to listen to you sing my praises, but I’ll try to muster the strength to get through it.”
She laughs. “It’s too bad I didn’t meet you before…” Her throat works and all the laughter flees from her face.
“Before…” I prod gently.
She shakes her head, her expression pained. I wish I knew who or what hurt her. If it was a man, I’d unravel the bastard. If it was an event, I’d figure out a way to take on that pain so she wouldn’t have to ache because of it.
I reach for her hand holding on tightly like that’s where it belongs because it does. “I’ll feed you, and then I’m going to take you to a place a friend owns. It’s just over in the next town.”
“What is it?”
“I have a buddy who built a company dedicated to creating themed tiny homes. It’s called Galaxies. His business operates in several states. One is here and another is just outside of Lucky River.”
“Did he also once live at The Naughty List Ranch?”
“No. I met Calvin when he was visiting in town here while I was living with Mary and Christopher. The guy’s a genius. Graduated high school and got his master’s degree from college at the same time.”
“How’d you become friends?”
“A trio of bullies from the “good families” in his town followed him here and were beating him up behind one of the shops. I heard something going down and went to even the odds in that fight. He and I became friends and kept in touch even after I went to live with my birth family.”
“Does he choose the themes and personally build the homes?”
“He comes up with a lot of the themes, but he also has a team of architects now. Because of this business and some patents he owns, he became a multimillionaire. He’s actually probably a billionaire by now.”
“Will he be meeting us today?”
“No, he’s not in town and this branch is currently closed to the public since he’s renovating the building. But I’ve got the lock code and can go in whenever I want.”
I explain more about my friendship with Calvin while we eat breakfast, and she frowns when I get to the part explaining why he was bullied.
She takes a sip of water and presses her lips tightly together. Then she exhales heavily. “He was born with one arm.”
I nod.
“And people picked on him for something he couldn’t help. I hate that kind of injustice.”
“He got even. When he found out the bullies had high positions in the companies where they worked and were mistreating employees, he bought out those companies and fired those assholes.”
“Good.” She wipes her mouth on a napkin, and I lose my train of thought. Her lips are bow-shaped, covered in a beckoning pink shade of lipstick.
“What?” She quirks a brow. “Is there something on my lips?”
“No.” But I wish it was me. “Are you ready?” I rise as she does, and we head to the counter where I take care of the bill.
The drive to get to Galaxies takes a little longer than normal because even though this isn’t a big town, there are some tourists visiting. Plus, there’s the rush of last minute Christmas shoppers.
But finally, we drive past the sign welcoming us to Calvin’s hometown. From there, Galaxies is a few streets across the county line at the back of a sparsely developed street. Mainly because he bought most of the land. The building comes into view as we round a curve.
“That’s huge!” Ginger exclaims.
“Thank you,” I tease her.
Ginger blushes, then glances boldly at the front of my jeans. “I wouldn’t know.” She gets out of the car and waits for me.
I come around and say softly, “Any time you want to know, say the word and I’ll be happy to oblige.”
Her blush deepens. I love the bold mixed with shy way she has of flirting. We reach the front door and I punch in the code. When it swings open, lights flicker on, and we enter the building. “Motion sensors control those,” I explain.
She nods and I catch her looking quickly away from my lips.
“Anything you want to know about me or explore with me, I’ll tell or show you. That offer never expires.”
She gazes intently into my eyes as if she’s weighing her words. “We just met.”
“I know. Best Christmas ever.”
“You don’t really know me.”
“That’s what forever is for.”
“Dallas…I’m…” She waves a hand at her figure.
“Beautiful. I know. You don’t have to point out the obvious.”
She makes a frustrated sound. “No, I mean…I’m clearly a big girl.”
“Your body is tailor made for mine.”
“Seriously, Dallas. My size doesn’t bother me. I am who I am, and I don’t have body image issues. But some people—”
“Not me. I’m not some people.”
She sighs. “You might think you’re into me and yet change your mind in the end. You might see me naked and—”
“Never want to let you out of my bed.”
“And,” she stresses the word, ignoring what I said, “change your mind about wanting me. Especially if it’s forever.”
Her throat works and she turns her face away, but not before I see more than she probably intended for me to know.
I understand now. It was a man who hurt her. Had to be an ex. My hands clench into fists. I don’t know who the faceless guy is, but he’s clearly an asshole. And an idiot. Because only an idiot wouldn’t stick around for Ginger.
“I don’t know what your ex did to you or how he destroyed your faith in love, but I guarantee, I’m nothing like that loser.”
She bites her lip and I’m hoping she’s going to open up to me but instead, she turns away. “How many homes are already built and are set up here?”
I take the hint. “I lost count last time I visited. But I’ll show you my favorite one. Calvin says it’s a gift to me and he’ll deliver it to my ranch after the holidays.”
“I’d love to see it.”
I smirk, and she rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
We walk to the back of the building and Ginger gapes at the tiny log cabin home we stop in front of. “How beautiful!”
I tap my fist against the side of the wood. “It’s red cedar.”
She gestures to the top of the cabin. “That whole side with the windows—”
“It’s where the main bedroom is.” I take out a key and unlock the door. “And it has a skylight in the bedroom for stargazing.” I love seeing her delighted expression. “Come see the inside.”
Ginger exclaims over the small but high-end kitchen. “A waterfall chandelier?”
I shrug. “Calvin said something about leaves and nature in the design.” Décor isn’t my thing. Give me a decent saddle for my horse, a good cup of coffee and a comfortable bed and that’s all the décor I need.
She runs her fingers along the wall. “I love this. And look at that sofa. It’s vintage.”
“It’s not that comfortable,” I warn as she sits. “And my feet hang off the end.”
“It’s probably for show. But it’s all so amazing.”
“You’re welcome to tour it again after Calvin delivers it,” I say like it’s a foregone conclusion I’ll be in her life. That’s just the hope in me talking but it’s also determination because I will not give up pursuing her.
“I think,” she pauses, then says in a rush, “that I’d like that.” Her voice is husky and full of want.
I catch her looking at my lips again. The air between us thickens.
Moving slowly to make sure I’m not misreading the moment, I get closer, stepping into her personal space. I wait, scarcely able to breathe when she lifts her face and walks closer to me, putting her body against mine.
I can’t withstand the temptation any longer. I kiss her and it’s more than the meeting of our lips. It’s my promise. Someone was an umbrella over me when life rained, and I’ll be that for you. I won’t ever let you down. I won’t ever let go.