Chapter 31 – Gentry
thirty-one
GENTRY
I’d waited all day to hear from Ainsleigh about how her interview and therapy session went.
I’d finished up for the day and made my way to the main house, needing to see my girl.
Once inside, I found her. Ainsleigh hadn’t heard me enter.
I closed the door as quietly as possible and leaned against it, just taking in the moment between her and her mom.
They had music playing softly as they both danced around the kitchen.
The smell of barbeque sauce and homemade biscuits filled the air, causing my stomach to growl.
Thankful for the music so they didn’t hear me, I continued to watch her, so happy and carefree as she laughed with her mom as they plated our food.
She turned around to take one of the platters to the table, finally noticing my presence.
She jumped back, the platter teetering in her grasp, but she managed not to drop it as she regained her composure.
“Way to sneak up on a girl, cowboy,” she joked as she walked over to the table and sat the platter of barbeque chicken in the center.
“You two seemed so focused, I wanted to take a minute and enjoy the moment,” I admitted.
I left my spot in front of the door, walking over to her and pulling her in my arms. I gave her a chaste kiss on the lips, not caring that her mother was likely watching. I wanted to love this woman out in the open and I didn’t care who saw.
She blushed as I pulled away, and she finished helping her mother set the table.
Her brothers and father joined us shortly after, and we all sat down to enjoy the meal. I didn’t taste a single bit as my thoughts were focused on getting Ainsleigh alone so we could talk.
It was the longest dinner of my life. The minutes seemed to go by at a snail’s pace as my foot bounced beneath the table.
When dinner was finally over, it took every ounce of restraint I had not to pull Ainsleigh out of the house and into the loft.
Of course, we helped her mom clean up dinner; I had to do my part around here, after all.
The moment the last dish was dried and put away, I grabbed Ainsleigh’s hand, and we left the house without saying goodbye to everyone. I swear I could hear her mom and dad chuckle to themselves as we shut the back door.
In record time, we made our way down the path and into the barn. I took the stairs at a fast pace, but Ainsleigh kept up with me the entire way.
Once we were in the loft, I finally felt like I could breathe.
“Why the hurry, Gentry? Where’s the fire?” she asked as she sat in the middle of the bed, her legs crossed, worry in her eyes.
I had to refrain from blurting it all out. That was a surefire way for her to put up her defenses.
“Are you okay?” I asked as I sat on the bed in front of her. What I really wanted was to have this conversation with her in my arms, but my need to look her in the eyes as we talked outweighed the need to hold her.
“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” she asked, clearly confused.
“This is coming out all wrong,” I said with a shake of my head. My thoughts were a tangled mess.
“Just take a breath. I’m going to go to the bathroom, and when I come back you can start over,” she suggested, and I was thankful for the reprieve so I could get my thoughts in order.
Her phone lit up and vibrated on the bed. I shouldn’t have looked, but curiosity won and I glanced down to see the email notification. The title of the email read Job Offer-Lundry Media, and the first line was in the notification congratulating her on being selected for the role.
I smiled knowing she’d kill it in the interview.
The floor creaked as she walked back into the room. The bed dipped, but I couldn’t look at her without revealing what I’d seen. I also couldn’t keep it from her either.
“What’s wrong, Gentry?” she asked as she seated herself in the same position as before.
“Your phone lit up. I wasn’t trying to go through it or anything, but I saw the email notification.”
She picked her phone up and gasped as she clicked on the email. Her eyes scanned the contents before she placed the phone on the bed with a sigh.
“It’s a great opportunity, but I’m not taking it.” My curiosity piqued.
“If it’s such a great opportunity, what’s holding you back from accepting?”
“During the interview, he brought up the presentation I had to present during the interview in Virginia and how passionate he could tell I was with the type of company I’d been given.
It made me think of the inspiration of that presentation—which was this ranch.
It made me fully realize that I’m meant to be at the ranch.
That I could do so much good here. I could bring the ranch to the next level and since Loretta told me about her retirement, I’ve had endless ideas.
The decision was a no-brainer.” She reached out and linked our fingers together.
Hearing her confession, I couldn’t be happier that she’d made the decision to be on this ranch. Here with me and her family.
“I’m so proud of you, butterfly.”
“Thank you, cowboy. It feels good to finally know where my life is headed.”
“How’d the therapy session go? Are you feeling okay afterward?” She was nervous about her first appointment, and I worried that it had dredged up more than she could handle.
“I feel much more comfortable with this therapist than the one I saw in Virginia. While we did discuss some hard topics, I didn’t feel like she forced me to discuss things I wasn’t ready for.
Next session will be harder because we’ll talk about the loss of the baby, but she did recommend journaling and to continue the breathing techniques.
She helped me talk through some decisions I need to make, and I feel like I’m moving in the right direction for my future. ”
I didn’t press her to elaborate. She’d tell me in her own time.
“I’m so proud of you for taking the next step and getting the help you need to heal. Anytime you need to talk to me, I’m here for you, butterfly,” I encouraged as I pulled her into my arms.
“Thank you. You’re too good to me, Gentry Parkhurst,” she said as she pulled back and looked me in the eyes.
Her forehead rested on mine as we stared each other in the eyes.
The three words I longed to say to her were on the tip of my tongue, but I refrained from speaking them aloud.
I wanted to wait for the perfect moment to say them.
She pulled back and stretched and yawned.
Even though I wanted to spend more time with her, she’d had a long day with her drive into the city and having both appointments.
“Why don’t we get you back to the house so you can get some rest? You’ve had a long day,” I suggested.
“But I want to spend time with you,” she said as a pout formed on her lips.
As much as I wanted her all to myself, she needed her rest.
“You can spend more time with me tomorrow. You need to get some rest.”
She reluctantly agreed, and we made our way back to the house hand in hand.
We stopped at the back door, and Ainsleigh turned toward me, wrapping her arms around my middle.
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, and her head rested on my chest as I took a deep breath; her vanilla scent filled my nose, and I let out a sigh.
Just the smell of her brought me such comfort that I never wanted to let this woman go.
I kissed the side of her head and reached into my back pocket to pull out the butterfly I’d made her.
Pulling back, I slipped it into her hand. A smile lit up her face, and my heart squeezed. God, I was so head over heels in love with this woman. Just her smile could bring me to my knees.
“Goodnight, my beautiful butterfly,” I whispered as I turned and walked away before I begged her to spend the night in my arms.