“Oh, no! Don’t tell me you’re leaving anything up to him?” Corra said, afraid of the outcome.
Tayler laughed. “He’s assured me he can handle that.”
“Girl, he can’t even settle on a best man,” Tracee added. “You know I love my cousin, but he takes too long to make up his mind. You’d better find a band yourself.”
Kyla spoke up. “I can help with that. There’s this really cool top-forty band at school that also does weddings. They perform around town all the time, so maybe we can get together and go see them.”
Corra shook her head from side to side, and Tracee snickered.
“What? Why are you laughing?” Kyla asked Tracee.
“Because she knew you were going to suggest a country band,” Corra said.
Kyla shrugged. “But, I’m telling you they’re good. The Jackson Brothers. They performed at the dean’s annual fund-raiser last year.”
“That’s the dean of agriculture, right?” Corra asked.
Kyla crossed her arms. “Okay, just forget about it. I guess you’d rather have some rap or old school band.”
“Nooo.” Everyone cried out in unison.
Tayler cleared her throat. “Kyla, thank you for the suggestion. It wouldn’t hurt to catch one of their shows before we count them out. Let me know when and where they’re playing, and I’ll get Rollin to attend with me.”
Kyla’s chin rose. “Thank you, Tayler. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
Corra and Tracee gave each other skeptical looks.
“Ladies, for the remainder of the meeting let’s discuss our outstanding projects. The other day Tracee mentioned expanding our food line with cakes and pies. I love that idea, and I know we can make that happen.”
“And don’t forget my educational program,” Kyla added. “Once my proposal is accepted, the Boyle County school system will become another customer for the farm.”
“Great, Kyla,” Tayler responded.
“And I’ve been keeping notes of all our wedding research. I think we have the beginnings of a bed-and-breakfast wedding package. Small, intimate weddings that book the whole house up. Other B&Bs in town offer wedding packages. But, they don’t have an on-site baker or caterer like we have. We can become a destination wedding venue, of sorts.”
Tayler laughed. “I love it. New products, new packages, I swear, we’re going to outgrow ourselves if we’re not careful.”
To Corra, all of these ideas sounded like things her mother would have loved to do herself. While everyone kept throwing out suggestions, she imagined her mother getting the house ready for a wedding. Dressing the house up for the occasion and having it displayed in the local paper.
Today’s meeting ended the way they always did, on the subject of men. Tracee stood up and gathered the empty plates from the table.
“Corra, you must be over there thinking about Chris,” Tracee pointed out.
“He’s the furthest thing from my mind right now.”
“Oh, Corra. Drop the act,” Tayler said. “We know how much you like Chris, and it’s obvious the feeling’s mutual.”
“Shoot, Corra, consider yourself lucky. Chris is a catch. I’ve been back for almost six months and haven’t had one date yet,” Tracee added, as she filled the dishwasher.
“Tracee, you need to stop being so particular, and see past a man’s exterior,” Kyla said.
“Chile, please.” Tracee rolled her eyes. “How are you going to give me advice when you’re married to your studies. I can’t even remember the last time I saw you with a man.”
Kyla glanced at Corra before clearing her throat. “You’re right, the University of Kentucky and my studies are my man. And right now I have a date with my research project.” She stood up. “My boss is probably looking for me now. If we’re finished I’ll get back to work.”
“Girl, give it a break. Rollin’s not looking for you. You’re just trying to get out of here unscathed.” Tracee laughed, as Kyla hurried around the table toward the back door.
“My personal business will remain just that—personal. If you need me I’ll be out taking soil samples.” She opened the door and rushed out.
Corra chuckled, “Kyla is such an introvert. If she was dating somebody she’d probably never tell us. But after the way she ran out of here, you never know.”
Tracee closed the dishwasher and turned it on. “So Tayler found Rollin, and Corra, you have Chris. Now baby sister might have somebody. I’m not doing something right.”
Tayler closed her laptop and stood from the table. “You’re not doing anything wrong. Just be yourself. There’s somebody out there for everybody.”
A few minutes later, Corra found Tayler at the front desk alone. She had something she wanted to talk to her about. She valued her opinion when it came to men. Tayler had far more experience with wealthy men than she had.
Tayler looked up. “Is something on your mind?”
Corra took a deep breath. “Actually, it is. I was supposed to see Chris yesterday, but he was busy. Instead, he called and invited me to the Kentucky Oaks.”
Wide-eyed, Tayler stopped typing. “What are you doing here? It’s today!”
“I’m not going.” Corra let out a deep sigh and leaned against the counter. “I told him I didn’t like crowds.”
“Corra, why did you say that?” Tayler asked, looking baffled.
Corra shrugged. “I don’t know. One minute things were moving too slow, then things started moving too fast. He’s not that same cocky kid I used to dream about. He’s this grown-ass man, with a lot of money, who wants to take me places and I’m just not used to that.”
Tayler sat back on her stool. “I remember a conversation we had last year about you finding a man that would love you and your children. Chris is that guy. So get used to it. You two belong together. I can see that, why can’t you?”
Corra shrugged. She could see it, but for some reason she was scared. Maybe it was because Eric was back. Eric hated Chris. But then she didn’t want Eric, so why was she scared?
Tayler crossed her arms. “Okay, Tracee’s looking for a good man. Want me to hook them up?”
Corra’s mouth fell open as Tayler burst into giggles.
Chapter 13
Corra needed something to take her mind off Chris having fun in Louisville without her, so she decided to take inventory for the gift shop. She picked her children up after school and brought them out to the house with her. Jamie and Katie loved everything about the farm, particularly all the wide-open space where they could run and play and just be kids. As long as they weren’t getting into anyone’s way Corra let them explore.
She walked into the kitchen just as Rita was preparing her famous lemonade and water with orange slices.
“What are you doing here at this time? Don’t the kids have afterschool activities to go to?” Rita asked.
Corra shook her head. “Not today. I came back to take a little inventory.”
“Well, grab one of those pitchers, it’s tea time.”
Corra jumped. “Yes ma’am.” She grabbed the pitcher with orange slices and followed Rita into the library.
“So, have you had Chris over for dinner yet?” Rita asked.
Corra bit her lip. “No. Besides, women don’t do that anymore. He takes me out to dinner.”
“I don’t care how much times change, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I know you’re a good cook. You learned from watching me and your mama.”
“Oh, I can cook, we just haven’t gotten that far.”
“What do the kids think of him?” Rita turned around and went back into the kitchen for platters of cookies. She gave one to Corra. They carried them into the library.
“They like him. But I’m careful about who I br
ing around them. I don’t want them to get attached to him and then he walks out of our lives.”
“Chris won’t do that.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“He’s a decent man, from a good family. I know his people. Besides, you two look good together,” Rita said with a smile.
Corra blushed and a big dumb grin took over her face. She covered her mouth with her hand.
Rita laughed. “Well now, I’ve never seen that before. You blushing over a guy.”
Corra removed her hand and laughed. “Oh, my God, I can’t believe I’m blushing like this. I feel so high school right now.” This was the type of conversation Corra missed having with her mother. She walked over and gave Rita a big hug.
* * *
By 8:00 p.m. Corra had enough of counting trinkets and boxes. She could be having fun with Chris right now, instead of going cross-eyed in a back storage room. She shut inventory down, turned out the lights, and made her way back over to the house.
Once inside, her cell phone vibrated. She had a text message and stepped into the empty library to see who it was.
Where are you? Chris asked.
At work, she replied. She hadn’t seen Chris in a few days, but it felt like months. She missed him.
This late? He asked.
Doing inventory. Plus the kids wanted to see Rollin, Corra responded. Chris didn’t respond to her right away, so she kept texting.
Having a good time?
No. He answered quickly.
Corra smiled. She didn’t want him not to enjoy himself, but knowing that he wasn’t having fun without her was comforting.
I’m sorry, she replied, sincere about that.
Me too.
When are you returning? She waited for an answer, but got nothing. After a moment, she put her phone back in her pocket and sought out her family.
Rita had gone home, and Rollin and the kids were in the family room watching a movie when she walked in.
“Okay you two, wrap it up. Time to go home.”
“Mom, can we finish the movie? Please?” Jamie asked from his spot stretched out on the floor.
Rollin appealed to her, “It’s almost over. A few more minutes.”
Corra concluded a few more minutes wasn’t unreasonable. “Okay,” she said, and sat down on the couch next to Katie.
At the climax of the movie, her phone vibrated again. She pulled it out to see another message from Chris.
Come out on the front porch.
Where are you? she asked.
On the front porch.
Corra frowned to keep from smiling as she got up and walked from the family room to the foyer. Her heart started pounding in her chest. She opened the front door and Chris stood on the other side. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Hey, lady.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked, as she stepped out onto the porch. “I thought you were going to spend the weekend in Louisville?”
He leaned in for a quick kiss on the lips. His soft lips sent a shiver through her body.
“I couldn’t stand being there without you. Since you didn’t want to come with me, I decided I’d rather be with you.”
She crossed and then uncrossed her arms, suddenly not knowing what to do with them. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know.” He pulled her into his arms for a long, wet and hungry kiss. Then he whispered in her ear, “Can you sneak away with me tonight?”
His kisses were starting to give her brain fog. For a few seconds she couldn’t think of what she was about to say. A flashback of them kissing in his pool house came to mind.
Corra whispered, “I don’t know, I’ve got the kids with me.”
He reached out and caressed her cheek. “I bet Rollin and Tayler would keep them for you.”
She took a step back. “Oh, I know what you’re up to.” She looked into those grayish-brown eyes of his, peering at her in the dim front porch light. He’d come all the way back just to be with her.
“Let me go check, I’ll be right back.” Corra knew Rollin and Tayler would have no problem watching the kids. She sought Tayler out and asked her first.
Chapter 14
Corra sat back in Chris’s car, nervous for the first time since they’d been seeing one another.
“Did you watch the race?” he asked.
“We did. Did you have the winner?”
He shook his head. “I think my horse is still coming around the track. I’ve never been good at picking horses. That’s why I let you do all the betting at Keeneland.”
“Then why did you want to go?”
He shrugged. “It’s fun. I used to go every year when I was in school. We’d drive down and hang out in the infield, party hop, drink too much and go home making plans for next year.”
Chris reached over and took Corra’s hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. Then he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Today wasn’t exciting at all. All I could think about was you. If you were with me it would have been exciting. Without you, it was just a bunch of drunk overdressed people bumping into one another.”
“I’m glad you’re back.”
He smiled. “You are?”
Corra couldn’t hide the overjoyed look on her face even if she’d wanted to. “Yes, I missed you. I haven’t seen you since what? Monday. And then you were going to leave me for the weekend.”
He shook his head. “It was Tuesday. And I’m sorry, I’ve been busy renovating my new place. But, you’re here with me now.”
“Exactly where are we sneaking away to?”
“My place.”
Corra’s eyes widened. She’d never been to Chris’s house in Danville. And she wasn’t quite sure it was safe to go home with him. It wasn’t him she didn’t trust, but herself. She could already feel her body temperature starting to rise.
As Chris drove, he listened to the sweet sound of Corra’s voice. He didn’t have any plans for the evening. He only wanted to be with her.
Once they reached the house, he pulled into and around the driveway that led down a slight slope to the back of the house. He opened the two-car garage and parked, then cut off the engine and unlocked the doors.
He walked around and opened the door for Corra. They walked up the stairs to the main floor into the eat-in kitchen. Before he’d moved into the house his Realtor recommended an interior decorator who he hired to complete the house. The day he moved in, it was fully furnished and had a homey lived-in feel. He took off his sports jacket and threw it across the couch, then proceeded to give Corra a tour of the house.
“Wow, do you even live here? I mean not a thing is out of place.”
“That would be Susan’s doing. My housekeeper comes twice a week.”
Corra gave him a wide-eyed nod. “You have a housekeeper. No wonder it doesn’t have that typical bachelor pad feel. Did you hire a decorator too? Because this looks like something right out of Traditional Homes magazine.”
He chuckled. “As a matter of fact I did. I don’t have a decorating bone in my body.”
“Neither do I really, but I would have had a field day decorating this place.”
She went on and on about how she would lay everything out. Chris listened to her, but all he could think about was how much he wanted to kiss her. He needed to take her upstairs to his bedroom and make love to her. Every day she walked around in his mind swaying her hips and glancing at him over her shoulders. A tingling sensation ran through him every time she glanced at him that way.
“But I love what your decorator did. This place looks like you. Upscale and manly.”
He laughed. “Yeah, that’s me all right, upscale.” He remembered he had wine in the refrigerator and hopefu
lly some of the cake his mother baked for him was still there. Once in the kitchen he picked up the remote and turned on the television for background noise. Corra took a seat at the dining room table.
“Would you like something to drink?” he asked, as he pulled out bottles of both red and white wine. He placed them on the counter for Corra to take her pick. The he reached back into the refrigerator and pulled out half a German Chocolate cake.
“Are you trying to put me to sleep?” Corra asked, as she joined him at the counter.
“Not yet.” He winked at her before reaching for two wineglasses and a knife for the cake. “My mother made the cake. She’s a talented baker, so let me warn you now, one piece won’t be enough.”
Corra slapped her hip with the palm of her hand. “One piece is all I need. Thank goodness I skipped dessert tonight. I’ve gained a few pounds since Tracee joined us.”
“Well, let me be the first to tell you it’s going to all the right places.”
“Thank you.” She blushed like a teenager.
Knowing he could make her blush made him feel good.
“Which do you suggest?” she asked, pointing to the wines.
He tore his eyes from her for a moment to pick up the bottle of white. “Moscato d’Asti pairs very nice with something sweet.” He proceeded to pour her a glass of white wine, but himself a glass of red.
He grabbed two dessert plates and forks. They took their cake and wine over to the kitchen table.
Corra took a bite of the cake and closed her eyes. When she licked the remaining icing from her lips, he wanted to reach over and help her out.
“Umm, this is so good, and moist.” Then she took a sip of wine.
Chris did the same.
After a few minutes of talking and eating, he noticed chocolate on Corra’s lip.
He leaned closer to her. “You’ve got something right there,” he said, before licking the speck of chocolate from her bottom lip.
Corra smiled. “Did you really just do that? That was a movie move if I’ve ever seen one.”
“Not original enough for ya, huh?”
The Only One for Me Page 8
