Page 67 of Opposites (Never) Attract
“Oh honey, they like you. They love you. You were just so young when you left,” I said, trying to console her. Only that’s not what she wanted. Not really. She just wanted to cry, so I closed my mouth and I let her.
“Everybody hhhhaaa…hhhhaaates my idea,” she panted. “And fucking Jared is…the worst!”
I cupped her face in my hands and pulled her back so I could watch all the expressions on her face. And yes, it was snot that ran from her nose and covered my chest.
There was anger and resentment and confusion and fear.
This woman was a complete one-eighty from the polished, locked-down woman standing in front of the conference table, leading her trading partner colleagues into battle.
No one sees this woman. Ever. Except me.
It was a heady thought. And it filled up my chest with this strange weight I didn’t understand. Like sand, but sharper.
I brushed back her blond hair, noticed how fucking swollen her lips were, and wanted to devour them.
No kissing. Those were her rules, because she needed some protections. I got it. Fencing worked for a reason.
In her current state, I didn’t want to take that away from her, so I restrained myself.
She sniffed and I figured I needed to get her home quickly, because the only options she had for a tissue were her sleep shorts or ripped t-shirt.
Or…the sleeve of my denim jacket. I smiled as she ran the sleeve under her nose, not once, not twice, but three times.
Good thing laundry day was tomorrow.
“Deep breaths,” I told her.
She tried a couple of times and failed, but by her third attempt, she was finally taking in actual oxygen.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Nothing to be sorry about.”
“I don’t know what just happened,” she said, looking truly confused. “I didn’t even cry at my dad’s funeral.”
“You’ve been storing up a lot inside you, darlin. It was bound to come out.” I pushed her back a step and bent down to pick up my shirt. I tossed it on and fastened the first couple of buttons. I’d need to be careful that my dad didn’t see the two knee sized mud stains on the back.
Just thinking about them made me hard again.
Another wipe of her nose with my jacket. “I really am sor-”
“Don’t,” I said, cutting her off, with my finger over her mouth. “Don’t you dare apologize. You feel safe letting go with me. I’m a big dude and I can handle it. So don’t apologize for giving me a little bit of yourself. Okay?” I didn’t tell her what an honor it was to see some part of her that she never showed anyone else.
She nodded.
“Come on, now, I’ll walk you home. Button up my jacket over your pretty tits, please. Because they are awfully distracting. Oh, sorry. Breasts. I’m told tits is vulgar.”
She chuckled, but did as I asked. We left the barn with her hand in mine, which felt really good, and I led us back to the house.
“Am I going to have to climb up the tree?” she asked. “Because I don’t think I have it in me.”
“No, love. You can go in through the back door. Your momma doesn’t leave it locked. The exciting part is sneaking out, not sneaking in. Because the deed’s already been done.”
It was a clear night and the stars above our heads twinkled. I felt sated, but beyond that, I felt like I’d been just the thing that Sunshine Calloway needed tonight.
I don’t know that I’d ever been that for another person.
We walked around to the back of the house, to the patio and the steps. It was getting wild back here and I made a mental note to come out with the weed whacker and take care of the burdock and spurge.
