Page 46 of Handling Skylar
Anna Kate was beginning to get this sour look on her face as more people assembled around me. I was getting into character, even doing a Southern accent that wasn’t half bad. I recited how Scarlett had protected her pretty bonnet. I recited the line, acting like someone was going to snatch it away from me.
Jake’s deep voice came from behind me, reciting Rhett’s line about how Scarlett’s innocence affected him. I whipped around to find him parting what was now a large crowd, delivering my very next line. He walked around me and I tracked his smiling eyes. He went through the line and the motions of kissing me, leaning in and kissing me on the cheek just like Rhett had.
My heart melted that he would do this for me. The support from him bolstered me and we gave the crowd around us a lively show.
By then, Anna Kate’s face was contorted in anger and she stormed off when my hour was done and the whole crowd started clapping.
Jake put his arm around me and smiled. We bowed together laughing like fools.
“You are something else, Varsity,” I said giving him a lopsided smile.
He grinned at me, and I reveled in how at ease he was now compared to the last time we were standing in this square.
“I read the book. Don’t tell anyone. I just wanted to see what the hoopla was about, and I identified with Rhett. So I know a lot of the parts with him in it. I’ll come back tomorrow if you want.”
I giggled. “All right. We’ll give them a show for free. Anna Kate was pissed I didn’t fall flat on my face.”
“The only rule in the Bylaws states that a Suttontowne Belle can’t help an initiate. Nothing about anyone else.”
“You are so sneaky. I like that about you.” Having him to play off of was going to make this chore easier and extremely enjoyable. Reaching out, he grabbed a handful of hair and drew me toward him. As soon as I was within reach, he caught me around the waist and whispered, “You going to need some help getting out of this?”
“Hmm, I could muddle through it on my own. Are you offering?” I said batting my eyes.
He growled, his breath warm against my ear, he told me exactly what he wanted to do to me in all the dirty and forceful terms I completely embraced.
“Sounds like you’re my man.”
“And, you’re mybeautifulBelle.” He nudged me when I narrowed my eyes. “Hey, it pays off to be related to a Belle.” He chuckled.
I smacked him in the arm, marched into the middle of the crowd, took a deep breath and shouted the credo again while Jake grinned like the devil he was.
Chapter 13
JAKE
Remnants of a dream blurred when I surfaced from sleep, peripherally aware of a numbing weight on my arm. I shifted and stirred, pins and needles tingling through my shoulder, and I drowsily licked my lips and opened my eyes. The room was still dark, and Sky was sound asleep, her head snuggled in the hollow of my shoulder, her coconut-scented hair and skin smelling of jasmine and soft as silk. A glance at the bedside clock told me it was early morning.
Blinking the mental fog away, I gently drew her head onto my chest and flexed my hand against the prickly sensation. Rubbing my face to rid myself of the last vestiges of sleep, I bent my head and brushed a soft, lingering kiss against her forehead, smiling a little when she made a soft sound and turned her face toward my warmth. The majority of my day was spent smiling because I was either with Sky or thinking about her. She had been spectacular yesterday, and I was so proud of her. She’d personified Scarlett to the letter, delivering her planned rendition of that bonnet scene. Each twirl of her parasol, flick of her fan, and bat of her eye was perfection.
My body, already locked and loaded for this woman, only tightened more, but I had to get up soon.
I made a mental note to stop by the house to pick up my kayak and gear for our outing tomorrow. I wanted everything handled today so we would have the day to enjoy each other. It was a hectic time, things would even out and get simple again once the festival passed.
Simple was a misnomer. Maybe routine was better. My life was a complex mess right now, and I had to make some decisions once the festival passed. I would then get my answers from Daddy.
Brushing back the wisps of hair clinging to her face, I kissed her again, then cautiously rolled my shoulder. Easing the tightness, I leaned forward and stuffed two pillows behind my shoulders, setting myself into a more comfortable position before resting my still recovering arm along her hip. I stared into the darkness thinking about everything at once, my mind a jumble of disconnections and tasks.
First on the list was to inspect the progress on the store this morning, then meet with my employees to go over the plans for the Harvest Festival—inspecting the grounds for the upcoming tours and stocking the new store. I’d already lined up some local artisans, including my sister, Brax’s cousin Creed, several jewelry designers, Aunt Evie’s antiques and many more to make the new store into a charming, chic and quaint country experience. Of course, we’d be selling our pecan products as well.
Things were coming together, my momma was handling the antique carriage show, Daddy getting ready to Grand Marshall the parade which Boone and Booker were handling along with the decorations and landscaping for the town, the carnival merchants committing, with many applications for food and product vendors already pouring in. Brax was handling the music and the pecan cooking contest—pie and a “surprise me” contest for anything made with pecans. Our librarian was even putting together a history booth to educate visitors on Suttontowne’s rich past. It was coming together nicely.
But what left my gut in a knot was I was in deep here with Sky and this agreement we had for me to stay with her until I made my decisions would have to be sorted out. Once I figured out where my life would lead, I’d be able to make better plans. Except, I loved waking up with her in my arms, going to sleep with her at night, having her waiting for me when I came home. The loneliness I’d experienced since Chase left and my family had fractured, a sense of being disconnected, disappeared with this woman’s presence, her smile, her genuine and honest care of both me and my sometimes volatile emotions.
My breath caught, the air backing up as I realized for the first time in my life I was in love. Ilovedher. I closed my eyes, absorbing the recognition and achingly, painfully aware that she might not feel the same. It wasn’t a given that she had fallen for me, but I wanted that now more than I wanted anything—the orchard, reconciliation with my daddy, my next breath.
Releasing a heavy sigh, I gazed at her. In the faint light from outside I stared, tenderness and hope stirring in the deepest part of my heart. This woman with the strong bone structure, the beautiful features, those expressive hazel eyes behind the delicate lids and thick fringe of sooty lashes, everything that made up this complex and amazing woman, I wanted her in my life forever.
I wanted a family with her and that floored me. I hadn’t ever thought about that with all the women who had come into my life. Hell, I hadn’t even brought them home. She sneaked in there with her sunshine smile and the ability she had to make me laugh.
