Page 2 of A Little Thankful

He had me, but I wasn’t about to give in. “I never blush.”

“Never?”

“No. Never.” I straight up lied. I blushed all the time. Innuendo always caused it, no matter how I tried to control my feelings. Nothing worked. I was a blushing fool.

“Good to know because eating pussy is the farthest thing from my mind right now.”

Embarrassment washed over me like a bashful child. My face burned from the blush.

Still, I refused to back down.

“You’re reprehensible,” I told him hoping he’d back down.

“I love it when you use big words,” he continued to tease me.

“I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

He took a step closer, and I knew he could feel the heat radiating off my body. My heart raced and my palms felt tacky.

“Yet, you’re still here, speaking.”

He was so close now, if I wanted to kiss him it wouldn’t take much.

“Fuck you!” I whispered, staring deep into his caramel eyes, not wanting to offend anyone close by.

His smirk grew wider. “Just tell me the place and time and I’ll be there.”

I couldn’t help the satisfied grin that tugged at my lips as I turned and walked away.

He called after me, “You like me, Sage Pilgrims. I saw that smile. You can argue all you want, but you like me. Always have!”

And it was at that moment, whileSeptemberby Earth Wind and Fire blared over the airwaves, I couldn’t help the grin that grew even wider as Hunter danced around me, trying his best to get me to laugh, which I did.

As if it wasn’t enough that he could taunt me, but the guy was also a great dancer. He made me want to join him, but I held out even as he tapped my hip with his, and clapped his hands.

God, but he could wear me down like no one else.

I told myself over and over again to ignore him, but I couldn’t. He was right.

I liked him. I more than liked him. I’d crushed on him since forever.

He and Mace and even Forrest who did my taxes every year had always been in my most secret dreams. Any one of them would’ve been better than Arty, but again, I liked to please my parents more than I wanted to please myself.

Well, not anymore!

I’m fucking done!

I had no idea what had changed in me, but I had a feeling it had something to do with Arty’s embezzlement, and my gullibility. Plus, the conversation I’d just had with Hunter told me that I was more than able to attract my own men and I didn’t need or want my parents anywhere near my boyfriend decisions ever again.

And when I slapped my hip against his, and clapped my hands in rhythm with the song, I knew we were becoming friends… good friends.

Those days of being under my parents’ thumb were over. I was my own woman now, and it had all started with a pie eating contest… the contest that never was.

I PROBABLY WOULD’VE done well enough with consuming many pies, until the rains came. Once that happened, and most of the pies were destroyed in the downpour, everyone headed for cover, which led to closing up the fair for the night. The closing led to everyone having to head home, which led to my hitching a ride with Hunter, Forrest and Mace because my Mercedes got stuck in the mud in the lower forty of the parking lot.

Hunter, being Hunter, just happened to own a four-wheel drive, jacked up, super truck that could get through almost anything, so I took the ride when he offered.

Then when we got the text that our road had closed due to flooding, I was able to come to their rescue with my grandparents’ cabin.

---