CHAPTER 1 #4
The only other person I’ve ever heard say something like that was Dad.
He’s always told the story about the day he met Mama.
Says he knew the minute he laid eyes on her that she was meant to be his for all eternity.
If I were to guess, Emmett’s thinking something similar because I’ve never seen the look of shock, awe, and desire on his face before.
If the friend is right, then maybe Dad has been onto something all these years after all.
Emmett
The urge to take her home with me and discover every inch of her body with my tongue is almost overwhelming, but something inside of me wants this to be more than just tonight.
I barely know this woman, and yet I already know in my heart that I want to know everything about her.
I lean down and kiss her again, her lips an addiction I suddenly find myself afflicted with.
I break the kiss and look into her eyes, the eyes that seem to reflect what I’m feeling back to me.
“I wanna invite you home with me, beautiful. But I don’t want this to just be about tonight, so I’m not gonna.
I’m gonna ask for your number and ask you to go out with me tomorrow night on an actual date because I don’t think I can wait longer than that to see you again.
” She bites her lower lip, and I watch the wheels turning as she looks around.
She speaks as she shakes her head. “I made plans with my friends for tomorrow night already, and I can’t cancel on them.
Keeping my word is important to me.” As disappointing as it is to hear that, I know it shows that she’s got principles, which, if I’m honest, only makes her even more attractive.
Knowing I can’t wait till my next free weekend to see her, I have an idea.
“So how about this…” I tell her my idea, and the smile she gives me is enough to light up the room and make my jeans feel like they’re restricting my blood flow.
I kiss her once more before I start to lead her back to the table, where laughter and voices can be heard from across the room.
Not able to stop touching her, I keep a firm grasp on her hand as we walk back, mostly unnoticed except by Cash, who, without a doubt, is going to give me shit later.
It’s like he’s physically incapable of not making a smartass comment or two.
We spend the rest of the evening enjoying our friends' company. I have to say, Kinsley’s friends are as intelligent and quick-witted as she is.
It was fun to watch them keep Cash on his toes.
Someone’s gotta catch him by surprise sometimes.
It’s past midnight when Kinsley’s friends decide to call it a night.
They all get up, and I watch Christy help Hanna to the door along with one of Cash’s coworkers.
Kinsley turns to me, and I can tell she’s thinking she’s gonna say goodbye here.
Hell no. No woman, especially one whom I’m seeing, is going to walk out to their car alone.
My mama raised me better than that. Cash goes with his buddy to walk out Kinsley’s friends.
“Darlin’, if you think I’m gonna let you walk out to your car all alone, then you’re sorely mistaken.
Ada and Brooks Wood raised us better than that.
” I take her hand to lead her out when she speaks up.
“Us? Is it just you and your brother Cash?” I shake my head.
“Nah, there’s four of us. Me, Waylon, Cash, and Willie.
” We step outside, and the rain has stopped.
It’s March, so rain is almost a given here.
I look over to Kinsley, and she looks like she’s trying to work through something.
“So are you the only one not named after a country singer?” She’s definitely observant.
“Yep. I’m named after my mom’s grandpa. He basically raised her, so she wanted her firstborn named after him. My brothers were all named for her favorite male singers. If we’d had any sisters, I’m sure they would’ve been named Patsy, Loretta, June, or Maybelle.”
Kinsley stops in front of an SUV. It’s older, but you can tell it’s been kept in good condition.
She gestures to it with her hand. “This is me right here.” She clicks the key fob to unlock the doors so her friends can get in.
I don’t want to let her leave, even though I know it’s only a couple of hours till we’ll meet up again.
She looks up at me and gives a small smile.
“Guess I’ll see you in a few hours?” We just met, so she doesn’t know she can trust me at my word.
She will. Holy shit, Wood. Pump the brakes a little.
Gonna scare her off if she knew what was going through my mind.
Great. I’m scolding myself. Answer her, dipshit.
I nod. “Yep, you will. I’ll be there for sure, beautiful.
” I realize I don’t have her number and that just won’t fucking do.
I take my phone out, unlock it, and hand it to her.
“Put your number in my phone so I’ve got it.
That way we can text or call each other.
” She takes my phone and types away. Within a minute, her pocket vibrates, and she takes out her phone while she hands me back mine.
“I’d better go. My friends are nosy bitches and are listening to every word we say right now.
” A huff comes out of the car, and one of them speaks up. “Not every word!”
Both of us laugh as we hear the other one smack whichever one let that slip. I lean down and give her a quick chaste kiss. “See you soon, darlin’.” She nods and gets in the driver’s seat. I step back as she starts up her vehicle and wait until she drives off.
Cash, who didn’t go back inside like his buddies, stands next to me.
“So…what was up with that, big brother?” I look over at him after Kinsley’s car is out of sight.
“I’ve never seen you react to a woman like that.
You didn’t take your eyes off her all night.
Let alone that kissing that could melt the ice at the North Pole.
” I sigh and rub my forehead as I search for the words.
“Fuck, I don’t even know. I just know that she’s someone that I need to get to know.
” How can I explain it when I don’t understand it myself?
“It’s like her soul is calling to mine, and I’m just in the passenger seat along for the ride. ”
Cash bumps his shoulder with mine as we walk over to our trucks.
He looks like he’s actually thinking about what I said.
He stops at our tailgates and leans against his.
Since we’re parked next to each other, I lean against mine and wait him out.
I can see he’s brewing a thought or something.
It could be a dump, but that would have him tearing out of here like a kid on the last day of school.
What? We’re guys, and you better believe that’s still something talked about.
“You think what happened with you and her tonight is close to what Dad’s always said about the first time he met Mom?
” Ain’t that the million-dollar question?
“Hell, I don’t know. Maybe. I mean, I just met her two hours ago, Cash.
All I know is I feel this primal need to get to know her better and to kiss her as often as I can.
I’ve never felt this before, so I’m just gonna ride it out and see what happens. ”
Cash gives me a shit-eating grin that tells me he’s gonna annoy me with whatever comes out of his mouth.
“Well, it ain’t like you got a shit ton of experience to go on.
You married Meg, who was your first real girlfriend in college, and she’s a lesbian.
You’ve almost been a monk since your divorce.
At least you might end up getting laid a few times, and that just might relax that stick you get up your ass sometimes. ”
I swear, Mom and Dad must have dropped him on his head a few times, or they found him on the front porch, because he’s not my brother.
I only have two. “First off, Meg was not my first girlfriend, and second, I have not been a fucking monk since she and I divorced. I just haven’t found someone worth getting to know beyond a night or two.
” Cash rolls his eyes because I don’t play the field like he does.
It’s just never been who I am. He takes his keys out of his pocket and turns to leave.
“Whatever. For what it’s worth, her friends seem cool, and it was nice to see you smilin’ again.
If you get to know her more and still really like her, don’t fuck it up.
There ain’t that many good women in this town who would give an ugly mug like you a second look.
” Asshole. He looks at me, and I glare at his punk ass.
He laughs and gives me a quick wave. “See you at dinner Sunday.” He’s an asshole, but I also know he’d have my back without question.
Same with Way and Willie. Time to head home and try to sleep for a couple of hours, though I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop picturing those eyes long enough to sleep.