Page 42 of From Rivals to I Do

“It’s not turning over?”

“Not at all,” I sigh. “I guess I’ll have to call Sparrow.”

“It’s getting pretty late,” Eli says. “Why don’t you just let me take you back home? No need to wake up your kin when I’m right here.”

“You sure? I really don’t want to be an inconvenience,” I say, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“It’s no big deal,” Eli says. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

I’m thankful for the ride, and as a bonus, I get to talk to him longer. The two us of sing along to the radio with the windows down, the wind whipping through our hair as we go.

I can’t help but frown a bit as we finally turn up my driveway and he parks his big old Ford in front of my house.

“Well, this is me,” I say. “Thank you so much again for such a wonderful evening.”

“I’m glad you had as much fun as I did,” he says as he squeezes my hand, and our eyes meet. I feel this intense desire to lean over and plant a kiss on him, the same feeling I’d felt when we’d been dancing at the bar. But, instead of giving in, I push it down and press a kiss to his cheek instead, leaving a red print on his skin, not wanting to seem like I was too easy or something.

“I’ll see you on Valentine’s then?”

“Definitely,” he says as I get out of the truck, waving to him as I walk to the door, saddened as I watch him pull away. I never expected to be falling so hard and so fast for another man, but here I am, doing just that.

It’s frightening and exciting all at once, but the fear is getting kicked to the wayside. All I can think about is when I’ll see him next.

Chapter eleven

Chapter Eleven

I’m not even sure if I’ve slept at all when the alarm goes off on my nightstand, but if I didn’t, I’m too amped up to even notice.

“Mornin’ Mel,” I say as I sit up. As I look at her photo, I feel a twinge of guilt crop up for the first time. “I know this is probably weird for the both of us, but I think you’d like her,” I say before I get up and head to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

It’s been mere days since I last saw Darla, but to me it feels like far longer than that. In fact, since I last saw her, the days have seemed to drag on. The feeling of her ruby red lips lingering on my cheek sticks in my memories.

“Hey, you almost done in there?” Mitch knocks just as I’m finishing up combing my hair.

“Yeah, I’m good,” I say as I step out into the hallway.

“Well, holy smokes, you look even more dapper than usual,” Mitch says.

“Thanks,” I say with a smile. “Hopefully Darla likes it as much as you.”

“Ah, you’re still seeing her?” Mitch asks, his smile smoothing into a straight line. “After all that drama she caused at the bar, I figured maybe you’d have gotten the hint.”

“Nope,” I say with a shrug. “She’s coming here for Valentine’s Day, actually.”

“Here?” Mitch asks, seeming to be surprised.

“Well, yeah, she likes horses,” I reply. “I figured it would be a nice treat for her.”

“I really think you’re making a big mistake here,” Mitch insists. “I’m telling you, Joseph says—”

“Respectfully, I’m not really interested in what he has to say,” I reply and gently push past him, heading for the kitchen.

“I’d say he knows her better than either of us,” Mitch continues as we both reach the kitchen. I open up the fridge and grab the milk, shredded cheese, and some eggs.

“I know you mean well, but I told you already, I like her,” I say. “Just because we have a difference in opinion about her, it doesn’t mean it has to be a thing.”

“She ruined Joe’s life,” Mitch insists.

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