Chapter 8 Melody
Melody
The silence wakes me. By now I’m used to hearing Jonas in the mornings since he’s such an early riser. I drag myself out of bed to get ready for work and take the kids to school.
After a quick shower, I throw on my favorite short dress, then add a light sweater since the weather app predicted lower temperatures until midday. I put my hair into a ponytail, then hurry down the hall to wake the kids. It takes a couple of tries, but finally, they stumble sleepily from bed.
While they’re dressing, I hurry to the kitchen to start packing their lunches. A note on the refrigerator, held in place with strawberry-shaped magnets catches my eye.
The kids’ lunches are on the top shelf. Coffee is ready. He’d signed it as The hot cowboy.
I reread the note with a goofy grin on my face as Kaden walks in.
He flops into a chair and leans his elbows on the table. “Why do I have to go to school every day?”
I pocket the note. “Because you need to learn stuff.”
“I already know stuff.”
He begins to list the things he’s learned during the year so far.
“Well, you have to learn a lot more, so it’ll help you when you’re an adult.”
“But the teacher doesn’t teach cowboy stuff. And that’s what I’m going to be.” He stands and tips his chin stubbornly. “I don’t need to go.”
Raven had warned me Kaden might balk.
“Maybe you just haven’t gotten to the cowboy lessons yet.”
He considers that, then shakes his head. “My dad can teach me.”
“Wouldn’t he tell you to go to school if was here?”
“He’s not here.”
“Kaden, you have to go.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so. Now eat your breakfast.” I scurry from the kitchen before he can respond. I can’t believe I had to play the because I said so card. That was so mom-ish.
Maybe when I have my own kids—I freeze. I’ve never considered having children before. When did I start thinking that way?
Because of Jonas my brain informs me. Oh no. This is bad. My heart clenches. That man is not a part of my future. He’s just going to be in my bed. That’s all he wants from me. And I’m not disappointed by that.
I’m still working on convincing myself of that after dropping the kids off.
I still haven’t convinced myself of that after dropping off the kids at school. At the shop, I busy myself with tasks that take my full attention to prevent my thoughts from going places they don’t need to go.
It almost succeeds.
But then Jonas shows up.
Our gazes lock and it takes me back to last night’s kiss and how I’d stayed awake for hours afterward craving more.
His gaze darkens, dropping to my lips. He’s thinking about that kiss, too.
“I want to take you out,” he says abruptly, almost gruffly.
“Out where?”
“On a date.”
My heart pounds. Could it be possible that he’s interested in my heart? My mouth is too dry to speak so I nod.
His expression lightens and he grins. His smile is as sexy as he is.
“We need to leave right now. Can you do that?”
“But the kids—”
“I called Mom this morning and asked her to pick them up. I told her we’d come get them tonight.”
I cross the floor to switch the Open sign to Closed. The part timer is due in an hour and she’ll open back up. Then I turn and Jonas is standing close behind me.
“I need—” His nearness scrambles my thoughts.
“I know. I need, too.” He brushes his lips across mine.
It’s a light kiss and he doesn’t go any further though I wanted so much more.
As if he reads the need I’m feeling, he runs his thumb across my lower lip and says, “Soon.” Then holding my hand in his, he leads the way to his truck.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Coyote Bend.”
It’s a small town not far from Lucky River. “Why there?”
“Today’s the last day of a classic car show and I thought you might want to see it.”
“You remembered what I said about liking cars?”
He nods. “I don’t think I’ve forgotten a single thing you’ve said to me. Like when you said my strong thighs and dick won’t get that close to you.” He winks at me.
I smack my forehead. “Apparently, I wasn’t aware of the power of said dick. It’s like a siren calling here, nookie, nookie. Where are you nookie?”
Jonas laughs hard, then shoots me a look. I want to ask him why he wants to take me out, but what if his answer is he asked me because he feels obligated to do something with romantic undertones since we’re going to have sex?
It bothers me that I don’t want to ask.
We arrive at the place in Coyote Bend where the classic car show is held. There a few hundred people strolling around plus a few merchandise and drink vendors hawking their products from booths.
Row after row of cars fill the grounds, the restored beauties basking under the sun. I spot a red 1955 Thunderbird and clutch Jonas’s arm. “Look at that. Isn’t it amazing?”
“It is.”
I glance up to see him looking at me rather than the cars. I tear my gaze away and point. “That black convertible is a 1958 Impala. My grandparents used to own one. My grandfather gave it to my sister.”
“You sound like you wanted it.”
I shake my head as we stroll past the rows of vehicles with their perfect paint jobs and gleaming chrome.
“My favorite will always be the Mustang.” I nudge him with my elbow.
“And pickup trucks that have a country music song playing on the radio. Listening to that while sitting on the tailgate appreciating small town living is my thing.”
“Those trucks come standard with a cowboy,” he says. “Is that your thing too?”
I feel the weight of his attention on me. “Depends on who the cowboy is.”
“Sitting on the tailgate listening to the radio and appreciating small town living for a night…or longer?”
“I think that kind of appreciating would take a while to accomplish.”
He stops walking and puts his hand on my arm. “Like maybe years?”
I nod.
He stares into my eyes, and his voice low when he asks, “Like maybe forever?”
“That would depend on if the cowboy wanted that.”
“What if the cowboy was me? And he definitely wanted that?”
“If it was you…” I nervously chew the inside of my lip. “That would be okay.”
Right there among those shining cars with their powerful engines, Jonas kisses me.
It’s the kiss of a man saying I’m here. It’s the kind of kiss that offers a promise.
And my skittish heart finds shelter in that promise. The promise that this man doesn’t give a shit about my family wealth or connections. What matters to him is me. That’s what his kiss says.
And I’m going to trust that.
He lifts his head, smiles at me and holds out his hand. I slip mine into it. Outwardly, nothing has changed. But inwardly, everything has. I mentally and emotionally tore down the wall I’d built that had kept me from trusting him.
We spend the next few hours at the car show and once that begins to wrap up, we walk toward Coyote Bend’s main street.
Mature trees line both sides of the street giving us shade as we walk along the sidewalk in front of the businesses. We pass a coffee shop and the delicious scent of freshly brewed coffee wafts from the propped open front door.
Next to it is a bookstore with a window display featuring the newest arrivals. The door creaks as it opens and a customer leaves with a bagful of books.
“This place reminds me a little of Lucky River,” I say.
“They’re a lot alike. It’s a good town,” Jonas says. “Dallas’s wife, Ginger, is from here.”
“I didn’t know that.” I’ve known Dallas and Ginger for a few years, and they still act like newlyweds. We pass a small shop selling sweet treats and I inhale deeply. It reminds me of the cinnamon rolls I love from Dough Corner in Lucky River.
Jonas steers us around and we walk in to get cinnamon twists and drinks. Then we walk to the main square and sit on a bench to eat.
“It’s weird isn’t it?” I ask between bites. “Us together.”
“No,” he says after takin a moment to consider. “But to be honest, it makes my heart a little afraid. I don’t trust easily. Being brought back to the Home twice taught me not to believe good things would last.”
I gesture between us. “Are you saying you’re afraid to hope that we’ll last?”
He nods.
“I understand,” I say. “But you can ask Raven. When I love someone, I love forever.” What I said hits me. Love? Shit. He asks me out for our first date and I’m talking about love. I pick up my drink and clamp my lips around the straw while keeping my head bent.
Jonas takes my chin in his hand turning my face toward him. “Do you love me?”