by Terri Marie
“No, that isn’t it at all. I just don’t want to be stuck here for the rest of my life. There’s definitely a reason you came to Prairie. I doubt you dislike it as much as I do. I spent many years in this town. Finally I got to leave and go make something of myself. Then, out of the blue, I had to come back. Do you know what it feels like to be suddenly out of place without your say-so?” Of course you don’t, John. You have no wife, no responsibility, and…His eyes were looking down into hers. He had moved closer and she didn’t even notice; it just seemed to have happened. She gasped when he bent down and whispered in her ear.
“Katherine…I’m not the guy you think I am. I won’t even take you near my room. We can go for a walk. If I get out of bounds you won’t ever see me again. Just think about it…”
Katherine’s eyes closed while he spoke to her. Her body felt the ripples of something she’d never experienced so quickly. How could she say no? It was just a walk, and she didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to.
“Okay, I’ll come with you. Just the walk part though. I don’t think I’m comfortable going to your room.” Katherine refused to go through another hopeful situation with a guy that ended with lies, a one night stand, and never being called again. That’s what she got for succumbing to her desires. No passion, no love, nothing that was important to her.
Daniel smiled so wide. He took her by the hand and led her to his old pickup. He was getting used to the rickety beast. He opened the rusty door and Katherine climbed in.
“I meant what I said, Katherine, about your voice.”
“Thanks, but I really don’t believe it’s anything special. I can keep a tune but so can many others.” Katherine’s cheeks flushed, making her grateful for the darkness.
“No, that was only part of it. You sing like something I’ve never heard before.”
“I’m sure you sing pretty good yourself, John.”
“You so don’t want to hear me sing.”
“I will get you to sing.” Katherine allowed herself to laugh.
Daniel could feel her relaxing. He would normally have pursued and pushed the issue of bringing her to his room, using every trick in his seduction book to lure her to his bed. He was good at it and had done it all of his adult life. Most women required very little encouragement. But Katherine, on the other hand, wasn’t someone to be persuaded. Any attempts at luring this woman would make her run. That’s the last thing he wanted.
The stars were so bright across the sky. There was a gentle breeze, and the air was so clean. Daniel parked his pickup, walked around to her door, and opened it for her. Katherine let him take her by the hand to support her as she climbed down from the seat. Her soft curls blew away from her face, and when she had both feet on the ground she looked up at him. He smelled of clean and goodness, and if there was one thing that could weaken Katherine, it was a man who smelled good. She went to pull her hand away. She was fearful of the feelings that were soaring through her.
Daniel didn’t let go.
“Come with me and let’s walk,” he whispered. His lips were close to her face. He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek and looked back into her eyes. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look this evening?”
“No, I don’t believe you did. Does that mean I look ugly the rest of the time?” Katherine let out a soft laugh to try and tame the atmosphere that was lingering between them.
“Ever since the first time I met you I was taken back by your beauty. You are, indeed, a very gorgeous woman.” Daniel was used to women who went to great lengths to be beautiful. Katherine wasn't even wearing makeup and her face was perfect.
“Thank you, John. You’re not so bad yourself.” Katherine knew she had never seen a more breathtaking man in her life, but the last thing she wanted to do was reveal just how attracted to him she was.
Walking hand in hand, Daniel guided her around a natural spring, then through a field to a meadow that had wild flowers growing. The moon was bright and made her look angelic.
He could sense her nervousness, so Daniel stopped in the middle of the meadow, and with both of his hands he held hers and pulled her towards him. Their bodies were barely touching.
“Katherine, I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I’d never hurt you.”
“I’ve heard that many times, John. Every time a guy breaks my heart, I close up. I don’t want to risk letting anyone in. I just want to move on with my life and try my best to leave this town, leave my past, and be happy.”
“But you can’t see yourself being happy with me?”
“I don’t even know you, John. You showed up in town and I felt some things. I don’t believe in love at first sight and all that other crap. Been there, done that. Hopes of living a fairytale left me years ago. There is no prince, there isn’t a white horse, there isn’t a castle or happily ever after. Not for me anyway.”
“I like you a lot, Katherine, and I think about you.”
“Like me how? I’ve seen you look at me. That’s what most guys want. Nothing like a nice roll in the sack. I’m not like that. Do you know what it feels like to be promised things, then give yourself to someone just for them to never call you again? I’m done being stupid.”
“I’m not going to lie to you. I have definitely fantasized about being with you. But it’s more than that.”
“Okay look me in the eyes, John, and answer me something. Have you ever used a woman for sex?”
Uh oh. That’s all Daniel has ever done. He’s never had feelings for any woman other than for sex. If they were really good in bed he called them back. He never led the women he slept with into believing he’d settle down with them, or that they meant anything to him. But he was used too. He was used for his money, his power, his looks even. I don’t want that with her. His thoughts were surprising him. The first sight of commitment made him run.
“Yes. Yes, I have used women for sex. That was in my past, I’m not like that anymore.”
“Have you ever been married?”
“Katherine, I’ve never been married, engaged, or had a long-term relationship with a woman. I’ve never found anyone that I wanted that from. Not only that, I was very immature. What I needed was to grow up.”
“At least you admit it.” Katherine looked down at the ground, and a tear slid down her cheek. She knew he’d be no different.
Daniel placed his hand softly under her chin and raised her face to him. He wiped away her tear with the other hand. “Wait right here.”
Daniel ran into the darkness and came back with a small bouquet of wild flowers. He smiled and handed them to her. Daniel had never in his life hand picked flowers, nor bothered to pick them out at a florist. A simple phone call and delivery boy did just fine.
Katherine took the flowers and looked at him. “John, thank you for picking these for me, but I just think this is wrong. My body is telling me one thing being this close to you, but my mind is yelling at me to run. I’ve never listened to logic and reason. That’s why I’ve been hurt every single time.”
“Come here.” Daniel wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. “Does this scare you?”
“No…” Oh God. Katherine knew she should just back the hell up, but his smell, his warmth, and strength were causing her to move in closer.
“Look at me.”
Katherine lifted her cheek off of his chest and looked up at Daniel’s beautiful, perfect face.
“Katherine, may I kiss you? I’m having a hard time being this close and not kissing you.”
“Seriously, John, I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.” Katherine repeated as she slowly backed away.
Daniel wrapped his arms around her, running his fingers up through the back of her hair and bringing her mouth slowly to his. Not one movement was rushed.
Katherine opened her lips and let the soft, gentle kiss happen. Her legs became unsteady, causing Daniel to hold her even closer. She couldn’t ever remember being kissed so passionately, so deliberately, so sweetl
y.
This guy is too amazing to be single. He must have wreckage where he used to live. He’s probably married and looking for something on the side. Any cute girl who crossed his path would end up in his bed. Katherine quickly backed away.
“John, I should go.”
“I would love to see you again.”
“I don’t know. I’ll call you but I don’t think I’m ready to see anyone. Let’s just be friends, okay?”
Daniel’s jaw tightened. The ‘friends’ file. Me? I’ve never been put in there. That’s the line I give out!
Katherine started walking back to the truck and stayed about three feet in front of Daniel.
“Katherine, wait.” Daniel never begged for anything in his life, but he wasn’t beyond begging this woman.
“John, I just want to go home, I’m tired.” Katherine was crying softly.
“You’re not leaving because you’re tired. You’re running.”
“Let it rest, John, and just take me back home.”
“Stop!” Daniel took a couple of large steps and put his hand on her arm and gently pulled.
“What do you want from me? A quick lay?!” Katherine couldn’t stop Daniel from seeing her tears. The moonlight was on her face.
“You aren’t leaving like this. Come here. Even friends hold each other from time to time. I’ve grown up, Katherine. Maybe I haven’t settled down because I never found anyone I wanted to spend my life with.” Daniel pulled her into his chest.
Katherine buried her face and let the sobs out. She slowly sank down to the grass. She had never talked about this with anyone, especially not a man she just met.
But Daniel kept his word, sat on the grass in front of her, and just held her. Katherine cried until she thought she had nothing left inside of her.
“I’m so sorry, John. I didn’t mean to unleash all of that on you. I want to go home and go to bed.” Katherine, in all her shame, stood on her feet.
“I’ll take you home, but not until I know that you’re okay.”
“Why do you care?”
“I’m not who or what you think I am. Come with me, and I’ll prove it to you.”
Daniel held Katherine’s hand and walked the five minutes in silence toward the barn. When he reached the outside door, he opened it and turned on the light.
“Wow, I wouldn’t have expected it to look like this. It’s so pretty.” Katherine knew that he could see her red, blotched face, so she stared back down to the ground.
“I have a surprise to show you.”
Daniel shut and locked the outside door to his room, without thinking of what it would do to Katherine. She was beside herself with instant fear. He quickly opened the door that led to the stables, then found the light and flipped it on. Daniel wasn’t happy with himself for being so thoughtless. Katherine sighed with relief.
“This one is Patches, and this is Daisy. They’re such sweethearts. I was afraid of horses, but Rosie helped me out with that. You can pet them.”
Daniel approached Daisy and softly patted the side of her neck. Then the big white horse raised her head, and Daniel rubbed her soft nose.
“Come and pet her, Katherine. There are white horses. I might not be a prince or a magical knight, but I’m not going to hurt you.”
Katherine approached the horse, and after several minutes with both Patches and Daisy, she found herself smiling and laughing.
“Are you feeling better, Katherine?”
“Yes, thank you for…well, I obviously had a lot to get out of my system. Those are things I’ve never told anyone before.”
“Thank you for trusting me as much as you have. Let me lock up and walk you back to the truck. Hopefully, you’ll sleep like a lamb.” Daniel bent down and softly kissed her cheek. After locking up the barn, he held Katherine’s hand on the way back to the truck.
Katherine climbed in, and when Daniel started the truck, she turned on the radio. Without even thinking, she began to sing. He was in heaven.
The lights were off in the small town, and the bar area was dark. Daniel got out of the truck and opened her door.
“Thank you for a nice evening, John. I’m glad I went with you.”
“I’m very glad you came out there with me. But you aren’t going up to that apartment by yourself. It’s dark, and I need to know you’re safe.” He took her hand again and walked her up the unlit steps. Daniel took the keys from her hand and opened the door, turned on the light for her, then let her walk in behind him.
All Katherine could do was smile. “Goodnight, John.”
“Sleep tight, Katherine, and I hope I can see you again.”
Daniel saw that she wasn’t going to respond, so he smiled and turned to walk back down the steps. When he reached the gravel, he heard her.
“I’d like that,” she said and hurried to shut the door.
Chapter 5
Daniel tossed and turned all night long, unable to erase Katherine from his mind. He wanted to take her pain away and realized he had two people to prove something to; his father and Katherine. Working the soil all day gave him the monotonous motions to allow his mind to wander where it wanted to. His body, once again, was killing him.
He decided to help around the farm on Sunday instead of taking the day off, and Rosie was very grateful for his help. She was getting too old to work like she used to. It bothered Daniel to see her working as hard as she does. She shouldn’t have to work like this at all.
After a nice long, hot shower, Daniel climbed in his truck to head to town. He sat in the bar and waited. No Katherine. He got the attention of another waitress and beckoned her to his table.
“Good evening, hot stuff. What can I get for ya?”
“Is Katherine working today?”
“Nope, she’s off until tomorrow night, but she’s supposed to come in and cover for me for a few while I run up to the store real quick. Saw her leave earlier, but I’m not sure where she went. My name is Emily and I’d be happy to help you.” Emily winked and smiled at the handsome man.
“Thanks anyway, but I’m just going to head on out.” Daniel couldn’t wait to get out of there. Short shorts, a skimpy top, willingness…in his other life, Daniel would have definitely checked out what she had to offer.
His phone rang as he left the bar. The music was still pretty loud out front.
“What do you want, Carl?”
“I’m just checking on you, Daniel. Did you quit your job? Is that loud country music I hear?”
“No, I didn’t quit my job.”
“Really? We were wondering how long you would last. I figured you would quit after two hours and your father bet—“ Carl cut himself off and cleared his throat.
“Carl, I don’t really care how funny you and my father think this is. What you can tell him is that I’m not minding this little town at all.”
“Very well, Daniel. I’ll call you in a day or two to check in.”
Daniel hung up the phone. He was done talking to Carl; done with the games. He had only one person on his mind and she wasn’t around. Daniel was shocked at how worried he was about Katherine. He didn’t like her feeling so sad. I really want to see her again.
Rounding the corner on the edge of town, he spotted her. His stomach hit the ground. Katherine was embraced in another man’s arms. She kissed his cheek, then climbed into the passenger side of a Corvette. Are you kidding me?? Daniel wasted no time in flying right up beside the black sports car.
“Hello, Katherine. I’m so glad that you’re feeling better,” Daniel said through his clenched teeth.
“Katherine, who is this?” asked the tall, blond-haired driver of the Corvette.
“You like rich guys with nice sports cars? Is that it?” Daniel was so ticked off. “So, it’s money that rings your bell?”
“Look, back off before I help you out.” Blond Guy said threateningly.
But Daniel didn’t stop. “You were so worried about me using you, and here you are using him. What you didn’
t want to do was come right out and tell me that I’m not the free ticket you wanted. Isn’t that it, Katherine?”
Katherine sat there, embarrassed, pissed off, and hurt. “Get out of here, John.”
“You heard the lady, leave.”
“You women are all alike. Did you know that, Katherine? You are not who I thought you were.”
Blond Guy gave Daniel a dirty look and revved the engine of his Corvette.
“I’m going to go, Katherine, and you’re right, I guess this never was a good idea.” Looking Blond Guy in the eyes, Daniel said “Your car’s a piece of shit.” He didn’t dare say anything else for fear of exposing his identity, not to mention stepping out of his truck and kicking Blond Guy’s ass.
