Someone to Love

by Riley Rhea

  “What’s going through that handsome head of yours?” Lexi questions me with a slight smile on her face.

  After her last comment, I’m sure she thinks I’m thinking about sex, and she wouldn’t be wrong.

  “I was just wondering how you’re going to get back at me. I know you aren’t going to just let that slide now, are ya?” I glance over at her and raise a brow even though I know she can’t see me in the darkness.

  “Hmm… I don’t know, but rest assured I shall think of something,” she says.

  Oh hell, I can hear the mischievousness in her voice and there is absolutely no telling what she will come up with. I don’t get to ponder this thought long before we reach my house. I park my truck and open the door to get out, then I wait for Lexi to scoot to the edge of the seat before I scoop her up in my arms. Using my hip to slam the door shut I start walking toward the back door with Lexi still in my arms.

  Right where she should be.

  Where did that come from? The thought causes me to stumble over my feet a bit, but I manage to compose myself well.

  “You been walking long?” Lexi laughs.

  I should’ve known she wouldn’t let me get away with almost tripping without making fun of it. I don’t reply to her, instead, I laugh too. What can I say really? One minute I want to take things slow, and the next minute I find myself wanting to run away. What the fuck is wrong with me? I need to make up my mind already.

  “Unlock the door, woman, and stop laughing at me.” I try for a stern voice as she takes the keys from my hand.

  “Now, put me down Spencer,” Lexi says softly after she unlocks the door.

  “Why?”

  “Because.” What’s wrong with her? I study her face now that I can see it under the porch light. She is trying to avoid my eyes and biting her bottom lip. “What is it, Lexi? Just tell me.”

  “You can’t carry me through the door, Spencer,” she blurts.

  “Why not?”

  She looks me right in the eye before she replies. “Because I’m not your wife and you’re only supposed to carry her over the threshold.”

  Point well taken. I release her legs and let her feet touch the wooden porch, but I can’t make myself release her. Pressing her against the door, I hold her in place with my lower body against hers, and begin peppering kisses across her face, avoiding her lips every time she turns them toward mine. I don’t want to kiss her just yet because once I do there will be no stopping.

  Lexi affects me like no one before her and I can’t even think past her. I have a gut feeling that she is it for me. If I take the chance on loving her and she rips my heart to shreds in the process, there won’t be anything left for anyone else. I’ll just go back to being the closed off man I was before, looking for release when I need it and giving nothing back in the process.

  But the more time I spend with Lexi, the more I want to give her everything.

  Taking a step back, I gaze down at Lexi. When I look into her eyes, I don’t see anything there except openness. I think she is just as scared as I am, but we are on the same page, we want the same thing. We both want someone to love us with that all-consuming, earth shattering, and no holds barred kinda love.

  “Come on, let’s get some sleep,” I tell her as I turn the knob to open the door.

  “Sleep? Really?” Lexi smirks as she turns and walks through the door into my home.

  I have every intention of just holding her in my arms tonight. If this is going to go forward, we can’t keep setting the sheets, or the table, or anywhere else on fire.

  Watching her walk down the hall to my bedroom I find myself adjusting myself before walking through the door. By the way her hips are swaying she isn’t going to make this easy on me.

  Maybe I can start the ‘just holding her’ idea tomorrow. I think my sheets need some warming up tonight.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Lexi

  It’s funny how you can feel so comfortable with someone that you, in all reality, barely know. Lying in Spencer’s arms is the most peaceful place I’ve ever been. There’s no pretending to be anyone other than who I am. There is comfort, security, and being wrapped in his arms feels a lot like home to me.

  So much for our plan not to burn up the sheets. That only lasted about ten minutes. I swear there was smoke coming from this bed by the time we were through. I should play a little hard to get more often.

  I love to push him to the point that he loses all control. It’s like seeing a completely different side of him.

  In that moment Spencer is free. The walls are down and I can tell that this man is someone who has been badly betrayed. Yet there is this look in his eyes that tells me he wants someone to heal him and take away all that built up pain. He needs someone to love him and only him. I plan to be that person.

  I’ve been watching him sleep for a good half hour, studying all the lines and angles of his face in slumber. He looks absolutely peaceful. I want to be the one that makes him feel peace and comfort when he’s awake.

  I know it’s absolutely crazy to feel this way so soon, but something about Spencer Jacobs is completely different. I’m determined to show this man that no matter what happened in his past, that his future holds a different reality. Me.

  I’m going to be the one that knocks down those walls, the one that teaches him to trust again, and the one that shows him that true love is possible when you’re with the right person.

  Tracing his features with my eyes is no longer enough. I have to touch him. Raising my arm, I place my fingertips on his cheek and lightly trace his morning stubble. Closing my eyes, I let my fingers see for me. By the time I’m done I’ll be able to recognize his face by touch alone. Once I’m satisfied, I slowly open my eyes and look right back into his open eyes.

  “Morning,” I whisper.

  “Morning,” Spencer replies. He brings my fingertips to his lips and kisses them, one by one, his eyes never leaving mine.

  This is a memory in the making, and then the rudest most annoying sound ever begins.

  “Seriously, who invented the damn alarm clock? They should have been strung up by their balls!” I grumble.

  Spencer laughs as he reaches over to turn it off. “You know that without an alarm clock I’d be late for work every day? I don’t think Tucker would appreciate that.”

  “Oh, don’t you worry about Tucker, I can handle him. In case you forgot his soon to be wife and baby momma is my best friend.”

  “Yes, I know. Still won’t help me if work gets backed up because I lay in bed all day, no matter how much I would like to do just that.”

  “Yeah, me too. Guess we gotta get up now, huh? I need to be heading home so I can work on my sketches for the art show and you have to go to work,” I reply while getting out of bed.

  “What kind of sketches are you working on?” Spencer questions removing himself from the bed as well.

  “I have a few different ones to choose from, but I’m not really happy with any of them yet.” I shrug.

  “I’d like to see what you chose.”

  “Well then I guess you’ll just have to come to the show then, won’t ya?” I turn to look at Spencer and find him staring at the floor. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, Lexi, it’s all good, but I have to tell you now that I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it to your show.”

  Disappointment rolls over me like a tidal wave. I want Spencer there with me. I know he’s not fully ready to commit to me, but damn, it’s just an art show. “It’s okay, Spencer, don’t worry about it. You can see them after the show.”

  Nothing more is said between us as we both begin getting ready for the day. I really hate the silence, yet I know that he has so many barriers and safe guards in place that I can’t push too hard. I’ve already gotten more from him that I thought I would in such a short amount of time. There’s no need to push him and risk him running scared.

  When I finish dressing, I gather my other belongings and head t
oward the door.

  “Hey, where you going?” Spencer calls from the bathroom.

  “I’m heading home,” I reply as he strides toward me with a frown on his face.

  “You were just going to leave without so much as a goodbye?”

  I nod because I don’t know what else to do. He shakes his head slowly as he gets closer to me. I take a step back, not because I’m scared, oh no, I need the door to brace myself. This man has no idea how weak in the knees he makes me.

  Spencer stops a breath away from me, placing a hand on each side of my head against the door. “It’s doesn’t work that way, Lexi,” He whispers in my ear. He leans his body against mine, pressing me into the door.

  “How does it work then?” My voice is shaky. The affect he has on me is insane.

  “Like this.” He says softly before rubbing his whiskered cheek against mine. His lips meet mine, the innocent kiss goodbye turning into a toe curling, knee buckling, thank God this door is holding me up kind of kiss. Ending the sinful kiss, his lips flutter against mine as he whispers; “Now that is how I expect you to say see ya later.”

  No words need to be spoken, which is a good thing since I’m pretty speechless right now. I can’t wipe the huge smile off my face as I get into my car and begin heading home.

  * * *

  Spencer

  Letting Lexi leave this morning was a lot harder than it should have been. I’ve only known her a couple of weeks. She’s getting under my skin and ingraining herself into my life faster than I ever thought possible. When I’m in her presence, my heart soars and I feel comfort, but I’m still scared shitless. What if it’s all too good to be true?

  No time to dwell on it right now, I have to get my ass to work. Since Tucker and Brenna are getting married this coming weekend we have a lot of work to do. We still have to finish that old Chevy we’ve been restoring for a couple of weeks now.

  Pulling into Wade’s Garage, I notice Tucker hasn’t made it in yet. It’s an almost every day occurrence since Brenna moved in with him. Can’t say I blame him though. If I had a woman in my bed every morning I wouldn’t want to leave for work either.

  Opening up the garage isn’t a big ordeal and doesn’t take me but about fifteen minutes. I’m setting out all the tools we will need to finish up the Chevy when I hear Tucker’s truck pull into the lot. He strolls through the door whistling. I smile because I know he had a good morning too.

  “Bout time you brought your ass to work,” I tell him, trying to keep a stern look on my face.

  “I’m not that late,” Tucker replies, pulling out his pocket watch and looking at the time.

  He gets the goofiest grin on his face every time he looks at that damn watch. Two weeks ago I would have made fun of him for it, but now I’m starting to understand. I have a feeling if I was in his shoes, I’d smile like an idiot too.

  “So when did Lexi leave?” Leave it to Tucker to just come on out and ask a personal question.

  “About an hour ago…” I reply while grinning.

  “Hmmm.” Tucker hums while lifting the hood to the Chevy.

  “What does ‘hmmm’ mean?” I question him.

  “Y’all seem to be getting awfully close.”

  “What’s your point?”

  “Well, Spencer, it’s like this. I’ve known you for a little over two years now and I’ve never known of you to let a woman spend the night with you. In the past two weekends, you and Lexi have been pretty inseparable. What’s up with that?”

  “We are just taking things slow, man. She is definitely getting under my skin. Quickly.” What else can I tell him besides the truth? There is no sense beating around the bush.

  “Slow is good. You know the only thing I ask is that you don’t hurt her. I don’t want Brenna upset, and if Lexi is hurt, so is Brenna.”

  I nod to let him know that I understand. I really have no intention of hurting Lexi purposely. There are still things I need to tell her, I just don’t feel like two weeks is enough time for me to trust her and open myself up so completely.

  Tucker and I get to work , but the day seems to go by slowly, even though we are making great progress. I reckon it’s going to be a long ass five days till I see Lexi again. Tucker and Brenna’s wedding can’t get here soon enough. I can’t wait to see that little spunky redhead again.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lexi

  Five days later…

  Today is my best friend’s wedding and I couldn’t be happier for her. I wish I could have been with her this week to help her get everything prepared, but she assured me that her mom had it all taken care of. She insisted that I prepare for the art show, so that’s what I’ve spent the past five days doing.

  I was able to get a lot of sketches done, yet I’m still not satisfied with any of them. I’m beginning to get frustrated. I have four weeks left before the show and I have to find the perfect image to capture.

  After I finally gave up sketching last night, I went ahead and packed my weekend bag so I’d be ready to go early this morning. I’m about to head out the door when my phone beeps alerting me that I have a text.

  Spencer: Are you in town yet?

  Lexi: Nope bout to leave.

  Spencer: Grrr

  Lexi: Me thinks someone misses me ;)

  Spencer: U thinks right

  Lexi: Aww. Missed u 2 will cya soon.

  My heart skipped a beat when he admitted he missed me. We’ve texted and talked every day this week. We’ve only talked about our days and nonsense really. I still don’t know what happened in his past and I’m still not pushing him to tell me. Right now I’m content just to have him opening his heart up a little at a time. Before long I’ll root myself into his heart and he’ll never get me out. Well that’s my hope anyway. Enough swooning. I’ve got a two hour trip ahead of me, a wedding to get to, and a man’s arms I can’t wait to feel around me.

  Two hours later, I’m pulling down the long drive that leads to Brenna’s grandfather’s house. Tucker will be so surprised when he realizes they’re getting married right where it all began for them. They are absolutely perfect for each other and their story is what fairytales are made of. Maybe one day I‘ll get my happily ever after too.

  Walking into the house, I spot Lewis sitting in his recliner watching television. He raises his head and smiles at me as he gets up to greet me. “Well, looky there, if it isn’t the little spitfire,” Lewis says as he makes to pinch my cheek. I dodge his attempt, knowing from experience that it hurts like hell. Lewis lets out a chuckle before hugging me.

  “How are you today, Lewis?” I ask as I return his hug.

  “Doing good sweetheart. Now, Caroline is a different story.”

  “What do you mean?” I hope everything is okay. I figured it would be Brenna that would be a bundle of nerves today.

  Lewis returns to his seat and motions for me to sit on the couch next to it. “Well now, I’m sure Brenna told ya about what happened so many years ago. I didn’t know at first what Caroline had done. Had I known I would have put a stop to it long ago. Those two kids have always belonged to one another. There are so many wasted years between them now. Nothing we can do about that, but make sure they get hitched today and have a long and happy life together.” Lewis leans forward in his chair and faces me, “Caroline still feels horrible for what she did. I know she was just protecting our baby girl and all, I just wish she’d talked to me first so I could tell her that he was a good boy and nothing like the man that left her.”

  Wow, I don’t even know what to say. I think that is the most I’ve ever heard him say at one time that didn’t include a funny story or a joke. “I suppose we all make decisions in life that affect others, good or bad, but it’s meant to be helpful.”

  “You’re a smart girl, Lexi. And don’t you think I didn’t notice the way you and Spencer were together.” He looks at me knowingly.

  I feel the heat spreading across my cheeks. “Yes, sir, Spencer and I have been getting to know
each other.”

  “He’s a good boy. He’s got some demons, though, but I think you might be the one to help free them.”

  “I really hope so, Lewis. I really do.”

  “Now that’s enough mushy stuff, get yourself on upstairs and help my baby girl get all pretty for that boy. He’s waited long enough.”

  “Yes, sir,” I reply as I get off the couch and lean over to kiss Lewis on the cheek.

  As I begin walking up the stairs to see Brenna my phone chimes letting me know I have a new text message. When I look at the screen and see his name a smile stretches across my face. When I read his message, a laugh escapes me.

  Spencer: I see your car so I know ur here. FINALLY. Wanna meet me in the barn before the wedding? ;)

  Now, see here is the dilemma. I know I need to be with my best friend right now and make sure she is ready for her big day, but his invitation is so tempting. Just the thought of what we would do in that barn draws a moan from me and my panties instantly dampen. Holy hell. Decisions, decisions.

  * * *

  Spencer

  This has been the longest damn morning ever. At last, I’m pulling down the driveway to Brenna’s grandfather’s house, instantly spotting Lexi’s car. I look around hoping that I catch her still outside. Dammit, just my luck. She’s already inside. Hopping out of my truck, I decide to shoot her a text message and invite her to the barn before the wedding.

  I know there is no way she will meet me, but can’t blame me for trying. It’s been a fucking long week and I need to feel her against me even if it’s no more than a hug. It’s crazy how empty my arms feel without her.

  While walking toward the area where the wedding will take place, my phone vibrates in my hand.

  Lexi: Oh that is so VERY tempting. Too bad I’ve got bestie duties to take care of first. Raincheck?

  With a smile, I reply.

  Spencer: I’ll hold you to that.

  Once I reach the wedding area, I spot Tucker’s parents speaking with the preacher. I stand back a little ways not wanting to intrude on their conversation and wait to see if Lexi texts back.