Page 5 of Haystack

Trent puts a hand on my cheek. "Liv, I never stopped loving you. Not for one damn day."

I lean away, but he catches me by the wrist and tugs me back toward him. I fight between my better judgment and the desire that flickers in my stomach.

“I don’t—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“Relax doll, I don’t give a shit if you don’t want to say it back and I don’t want to marry you right now. All I want to do is dance with you. Come on down to Travis’ Tavern tonight. Let me dance with my girl.”

“Okay.” But somewhere deep inside of me, the truth echoes.One dance will never be enough.

CHAPTER3

TRENT

The familiar tuneof an old George Strait song sets the scene for what I already know is going to be an incredible night. The place is packed, but of course, it is. There isn’t anywhere else to be on a Friday night in Findlay. The dim lights of Travis’ Tavern cast a warm glow over the old wooden dance floor. I’ve got a couple of drinks in me already and the most beautiful girl in the world on my arm.

Back at the house, her eyes widened in surprise when I kissed her. For a moment she just gazed up at me. My stomach clenched and I wondered if I'd gone too far. Then she smiled, slow and sweet, and rose up on her toes to meet my lips with hers. I exhaled, I knew my girl was back.

There were always going to be chapters of my story that belonged to Liv. But now, I get a chance to write a new ending to our story. She’s going to be mine all over again and that starts tonight.

Every time I look at Liv’s curvy body in that flowy, white dress, my lips curl up in anticipation. Her tanned legs tucked into her cowboy boots with her wild hair flowing behind her is the stuff of my wildest dreams. I want all of her.

When the twang of a fiddle announces the start of the line dance, I can already feel the heat radiating from her body. The dance floor is crowded with couples spinning and stomping to the music. I pull her onto the center of the dance floor.

Boots pound out a rhythm on the floor of the old honkey tonk. She loops an arm around the back of my neck, and I’m home. I hold up my hand, spinning her under my arm, then plant my hand firmly on her waist.

Song after song, we move in time with the music. Our bodies stay perfectly in step with each other. Our hands stay clasped, our eyes locked. The rest of the world fades away until there's only the two of us. The way she’s looking at me sends tingles down my spine. She traces circles along my back and I arch to meet her touch. I can’t keep my hands off her.

When the band winds down, I pull her close to me. She drapes her arms around my neck and I stare into her eyes. My heart pounds in my chest. This girl just does something to me.

I pull her off the dance floor and give my brother a nod behind the bar as we pass through the backdoor. Travis knows what to do next.

The night air is still warm as it swirls around us. As soon as I get Liv out back under the stars, I take her in my arms. The song starts playing and even out here, we can hear it as clear as day. Liv understands what I’ve done without me having to explain.

“Rascal Flats? I haven’t heard this since that one road trip we took to the beach.” She looks up at me with a smile, the moonlight reflecting in her eyes. “And…Bless the Broken Road?”

“It seemed right. This album is a part of our history, isn’t it? Besides, I know the guy who owns this place so it was easy to ask for a favor.” I let out a chuckle and pull her into my arms.

We sway to the music and I hum the lyrics into her ear. Nothing else matters now. She looks up at me again and I take in the warmth in her eyes. An easy smile plays at the corners of her lips. I run my fingertips along the soft round edges of her elegant body as I dip her low and pull her back up against my chest. Liv’s heartbeat pounds as erratic as my own.

She doesn't say a word and she doesn't need to. I can feel it in the way she presses closer and lays her head on my chest. My world is right again and hers is too. The song ends, but we keep swaying. Clinging to each other under the stars.

“Come on, let's get out of here.” I wrap her fingers with mine.

Liv lets out a deep breath. “Trent I can’t go home with you tonight. It isn’t fair. I’m going to let you down all over again. Maybe not right this minute, but I run when things get hard. You know that better than anyone.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t ask you to go home with me tonight. We’ve got that pole barn all to ourselves for the night. Besides, don’t you think you should let me decide whether loving you for one night is worth the risk?”

Liv pulls back, taking her hand from mine. Color stains her cheeks, but she doesn’t move away. “And you’re okay with this being just for the night?”

“Doll, I know exactly how I want this night to end. And if you want it too, then come with me.” I hold out a hand to her.

I see the yes flicker in her eyes before her body has a chance to respond. Without a word, Liv laces her fingers with mine and we walk toward the pole barn.

* * *

We explode through the door in a frenzy of gasping and kissing. My lips press against Liv’s hungrily, and I taste the whiskey on her tongue. I touch every inch of her and she comes alive under my fingertips.

Liv slides her hands under my shirt and across my chest. I gasp at the sensation of her cool touch on my hot skin and it ignites me. She traces the lines in my stomach leaving a trail of goosebumps rippling up in the wake of her touch.

---