Southern Comfort

by Ciana Stone

  "I'd love to." She was thrilled that he would ask.

  "Yeah?"

  "Yes."

  "Well good. Maybe I could come by tomorrow morning and take you over to my place. I'd planned on working on it tomorrow."

  "Aren't you going to the festival tomorrow?"

  "Naw. I'll be there tonight and that'll be enough for me. But if you'd rather go to—"

  "No, I wouldn't. I'd love to come help you in your shop. I've been so curious about it; I'm dying to see it."

  "It's not much to see."

  "It is to me."

  "Well good then, it's a date."

  A date? She had a date with Riley? She felt a flutter of excitement. "Yes it is."

  Her phone rang and she looked pulled it from her back pocket. "It's Cody."

  "Go ahead."

  She gave him a smile and answered. "Hey Cody. I was just talking with Riley…. Yes, he brought some of my things from the RV. I hope you don't mind. Oh! Ok, hold on and I'll ask."

  She moved the phone slightly away from her face and looked at Riley. "Cody wants to know if it'd be too much trouble for you to give me a ride to the bar. Hannah is going to be late and Billy is busy with the pig so it's going to be a while before she can come get me."

  "Be happy to."

  "Thanks." She smiled and lifted the phone back to her ear. "He will. Thanks, Cody. See you later."

  She put the phone down on the table and looked at Riley. "So what time do you want to go?"

  "Around six?"

  "Works for me."

  "Oh, I almost forgot. Jimmy said he made some calls and he thinks he can fix your rig but it will take three to four weeks more to get the parts."

  "That long?"

  "Is that long?"

  "Well, it is when you're imposing on someone. I don't know if Cody will want me around that long."

  "If you keep her kitchen this clean she will. And between you and me, since you can cook that's a bonus. That girl can burn water."

  Analise chuckled. "Then I guess I'll just have to ask her."

  "Well, if she says no and you can cook, I'll put you up."

  "Really?"

  "It's the least a friend can do."

  Riley saw the surprise and something else register on Annie's face and for the third time since he'd walked into the house, their eyes locked. Damn if there wasn't something enticing there, the way her eyes darkened a bit and the slight flush that bloomed on her cheeks.

  It inspired thoughts he'd not had in a while. Sure there were lascivious thoughts, but Annie inspired imaginings of long walks at sunset, slow dances and kisses that could make a man lose track of time. It shocked him and it made him a bit nervous. Nervous enough that he moved away, went to the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of tea

  "So, what does your family think about you being stranded in Cotton Creek?" He searched the cupboards for a glass.

  "David thought the whole thing was hilarious and told me I should use it in a book."

  Riley took his glass back to the refrigerator and opened up the freezer section at the top. There was a pail of ice inside. He filled his glass and then looked at Annie. "Want me to fix you a glass?"

  "No thanks. I've had enough coffee today that my caffeine quota is way over the line."

  Riley chuckled. "So, your son is okay with you being here?" He filled his glass with tea and made another trip back to the refrigerator to put the pitcher away.

  "Yes."

  "What about your husband?"

  There was dead silence. Riley turned to look at her. "Annie?"

  She just stood there, smile gone from her face and her stance one of tension.

  "You okay, Annie?"

  She nodded and looked away for a moment. "I…I didn't tell you everything about my leaving New York."

  "Oh?"

  "I left for good. Left him."

  Riley leaned back against the counter. "I know you'd had some …some trouble."

  "Oh, like him cheating on me for the last three years with some woman young enough to be his daughter, and his family being investigated for fraud and money laundering and him threatening to burn the house down with me in it? Yeah, we've had some trouble."

  Riley was shocked. He knew Annie had not been all that happy and that she'd mentioned she was thinking of leaving but he figured it was just a couple going through a rough patch. "Investigated?"

  She nodded again. "I think he's going to prison, Riley. And even if he doesn't, I can't see the point in staying. He doesn't love me. He's in love with that girl. And oddly, that doesn't even hurt because I realized that I don't love him either.”

  As she spoke she realized that her words weren’t empty. Whatever hurt Rick had given with his infidelity had faded. She’d lost her love for him long before now.

  "The man I married disappeared a long time ago. He went into business with his family and became someone I didn't know and didn't really want to. I stayed for David, but he's grown now, all moved into an apartment in Cambridge and excited about his life.

  "There's nothing left for me there. So, I left him."

  "And bought an RV and toured the country."

  That brought the ghost of a smile to her face. "Yes. And came to Texas. I got to see my friend Katie, and make a new friend in Cody and I got to meet you. And that makes it worth it."

  "So, I guess if you're not planning on going back it doesn't much matter how long it takes to fix your rig."

  "You're absolutely right." This time the smile that formed on her face was full blown. "I'm free to do what I want. And right now there's nowhere else I'd rather be."

  That tore it. Annie was not married. Well, she was, but she'd left her cheating husband so she was a free woman. Riley couldn't handle what ripped through him. He and Annie were friends and no friends should be thinking what he was thinking at the moment. She was free and all he wanted was to get his hands on her.

  "Then let's get the rest of your stuff out of the truck."

  "Okay."

  Together they went out to his truck. There wasn't all that much, but it took two trips. They piled everything in the front room. "I think I should call Cody and ask her about staying before I haul this to the room that she let me use."

  "Okay. I need to get back home, and take care of a couple of things. Be back at six."

  "All right. I'll be ready."

  She walked him to the front porch and when he turned to face her, she reached out and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad you came over, Riley. I was really nervous about seeing you."

  "Oh, because of the –"

  "Yes, the movie star thing. You're always going to be that, you know. It’s part of who you are, but I'm glad I can see you for you – for Riley, I mean. And if you don't mind me saying so, I think he just might be every bit as special as Nate."

  Riley was in motion before he could stop himself. His hand reached out to cup her face. "Annie."

  "Yes?" Her eyes searched his and what he saw in them slayed him. If he didn't leave now he was going to make a huge mistake.

  "That's the nicest thing I've heard in a long time. Thank you."

  "What are friends for?" Her voice was just above a whisper.

  "Amen to that." He moved away. "See you at six."

  "I'll be waiting."

  Riley made it to his truck and blew out his breath. What in the world was happening here? He wasn't prepared for the feelings Annie Becke inspired, and didn't want to do anything to ruin their friendship.

  But at this point he wasn't sure he was going to be able to be around her and keep his hands off her.

  "Yep, you're screwed, brother," he said to his reflection in the rear view mirror. "Totally screwed."

  Chapter Nine

  Analise was ready twenty minutes early. She'd spoken with Cody about the amount of time it was going to take to repair her RV and Cody invited her to stay as long as she wanted. Analise was very grateful, and had put all of her belongings into the room she was using and
then had cleaned the entire house.

  Everything was ‘spic and span’ as her mother used to say, right down to the windows. Even with doing that, she was still ready twenty minutes early and sitting perched on the edge of the couch, waiting for Riley.

  She thought about calling Katie, but twenty minutes would not be enough time to tell her everything. Besides, Katie had been a bit freaked out since Analise was at her house. The last night Analise was there someone threw a rock through the front glass door of Katie's house.

  Naturally, Katie had called the police and they chalked it up to juvenile vandalism, but Katie didn't feel safe staying in the house until the door was repaired. Analise helped her go to the local Home Depot and get a piece of plywood cut to cover the door. They had to buy a hammer and nails but they got the door covered.

  And then Katie decided to go and stay with her sister who lived an hour away. Just until the door was properly repaired. She invited Analise, but that didn't seem right. Analise had never met Katie's sister and didn't want to impose. She thanked Katie and they said their goodbyes. Analise had found a campground to stay for the night.

  Since then, she and Katie had not really communicated much. Analise had let her know she'd arrived in Cotton Creek but had said nothing else about the RV breaking down or meeting Riley.

  Meeting Riley. God, what a shock. Even now she could barely believe it. Nate Bridges was her all-time favorite heart throb. She'd watched his films so many times she could recite the lines. And she'd been one of those fans who would pick up a tabloid in the grocery store just because his photo was on the cover.

  To meet him in person and have him turn out to be Riley had knocked her for a real loop. Thankfully their time together at the camping trip and then again earlier in the day had reminded her who he was – at least who he was now. She'd liked him for a year and had secretly wished that he could be some handsome cowboy that one day she would meet and maybe sparks would fly.

  That was primarily due to how nice he was, and his ability to laugh at things and make her laugh as well. Theirs was an odd friendship, she supposed. Conducted online, or via text with never even hearing the other's voice or knowing how the other looked.

  And yet, she'd become attached to him. Enough to drive to Cotton Creek just to meet him.

  She leaned back and closed her eyes, remembering the shock of seeing him for the first time, and then the feelings he evoked in her today when his eyes met hers and then when he touched her. It had been a long time since a man had touched her in any way, much less as something that gentle. And it had unhinged her.

  Now she'd be lucky to ever stop fantasizing about him.

  The sound of an engine had her opening her eyes and getting up to go to the front door. She could see him coming up the drive, a rooster tail of dust in the wake of his truck. He pulled to a stop in front of the house and got out. She pulled the front door closed behind her and headed in his direction.

  This was his day for surprises. If he'd thought he was attracted to Annie before, then he hadn't known the half of it. She was dressed in a pair of snug jeans that rode low on her hips with a long-sleeved knit top that clung to her body like a second skin. Worn boots peeked out from the hem of the jeans. It might not have affected another man in the same way, but to him, at that moment she was the sexiest thing he'd ever laid eyes on.

  They met halfway and stopped. "Well hey there, cowgirl."

  Annie laughed. "Hey yourself. You sure clean up nice, Riley Morgan."

  Riley was surprised. "Where the hell did that accent come from Ms. New York?"

  "Georgia."

  "Okay, I want to hear more, but first, you ready to ride?"

  "That I am."

  "Well, let's go."

  They got into his truck and he turned around and headed back down the drive. "So, Georgia?"

  "It's where I grew up."

  "What part?"

  "The mountains. Cleveland area near Wildcat Mountain. My family owns a campground there."

  "Wildcat Mountain? Well cut me off and call me shorty. And here I thought you were a big city girl."

  "Not really. I got a scholarship and moved to New York to go to college and … well you know the rest of it."

  "So did you stop and visit your folks on the way down?"

  "No."

  "Mind if I ask why?"

  "Not quite ready for them to say I told you so."

  Riley nodded. "I take it they're not a fan of the husband?"

  "Ex-husband. And no. They're not."

  "But they're still your folks."

  "Yes, and I love them. I'm just not ready for them to know what's happened. Not until I'm settled and can assure them that everything is fine. And I took a step toward that today."

  "What kind of step?"

  "I hired a lawyer to file for divorce."

  "That's a big step, Annie. You sure you want to do that?"

  "One hundred percent." She turned and looked him dead in the eyes.

  "Then good for you."

  "And another cause for celebration."

  "You have more than one?"

  "Yes. I'm going to my first annual Cotton Creek barbecue festival. I get to hear one of my best friends sing with his band, I'm going to see my other new friend, Cody and meet her family in a less dramatic manner. I'm gonna drink some beer, eat some pig, meet some new people and if I'm real lucky some handsome cowboy will ask me to dance. So I'm going to enjoy this night and try to remember every moment so I can call my friend Katie tomorrow and tell her all about it."

  "Well that sounds like a good time just waitin' to happen."

  "Damn Skippy."

  Riley burst out laughed and she reached over and pinched his arm. "What's so funny?."

  "Just …I just had this mental image of you in my head. This writer with an imagination as big as the ocean, more curious than a bag of cats – someone who loved to laugh and wasn't afraid to get her hands a little dirty but also of a big city gal, all slick and polished. And…" He cut his eyes at her. "In some ways you're just what I thought and in others not at all."

  She was silent and when he looked at her she had turned to look out of the window. "Annie? You okay?"

  "Yeah. I was just wondering. Are you disappointed?"

  "About what?"

  "About me. Who I am."

  Riley reached over and gave her a squeeze right above the knee. "Not a bit, Wildcat girl."

  She smiled at him and he was so caught up in looking at her that he almost ran off the road and might have done just that if she hadn't alerted him with a "watch out there Turbo, I'd like to make it to the party in one piece."

  "Yes, ma'am." Riley grinned. Not only was Annie a woman who turned him into the equivalent of a horny teenager, she was a friend that he genuinely liked being around. Maybe he should take a page from her book and stop analyzing and worrying and just enjoy the moment.

  When they arrived, the parking lot was packed, people tailgating, eating, drinking, talking and laughing. Voices called out greetings as they made their way to the bar. Riley had hold of Annie's hand, leading the way and had no doubt that by morning the gossip would be all over town about him and the ‘city woman’ who came to visit and broke down in the middle of town.

  Hell, there was already talk according to Cody. More than one rendition of him carrying Annie to the Sweets had been told. But that was the way of small towns. They stepped inside the bar and two seconds later a voice boomed out.

  "Well, it's about damn time."

  Cody rounded the bar to them. "Damn if ya'll don't look good together."

  Riley tensed. Cody was going to make Annie uncomfortable with talk like that, and if he was honest, it made him a little uncomfortable.

  "Don't we just?" Annie replied sassily, surprising him enough that he looked down at her.

  "Don’t get your boxers in a bunch cowboy. God that smell is divine. I'm starving. Lead me to the food."

  Cody laughed and grabbed Annie's hand. "Stick wit
h me."

  *****

  Annie smiled over her shoulder at Riley as she let Cody pull her through the crowd. Cody led her to a big table where a handsome couple sat. Annie recognized the woman as Mrs. Sweet and the gorgeous blonde woman next to them as Hannah.

  "Hey ya'll, this here is Riley's friend Annie. Annie you might remember my mom, Stella and my sister, Hannah."

  "Yes, nice to meet you under less embarrassing circumstances."

  Stella smiled sweetly. "It's a pleasure, Annie. I hope you and Riley will join us?"

  Annie looked at Riley and he grinned. "You know it."

  They took a seat. Riley beside the man and Annie between him and Hannah. "Oh, and this is my dad, Billy Sweet." Cody said. "And my little sister KC.”

  KC was as lovely as her sisters. She looked to be around sixteen and had a bright friendly smile.

  "It's such a pleasure to meet you." Annie said to Billy and then looked at KC. "All of you."

  She looked around at everyone. "I feel that I should know you all, I've heard so many wonderful things about you from Riley."

  "Been talking about us, eh?" Billy asked with a smile.

  "Billy don't pick." Stella scolded in a teasing tone.

  "I'm gonna go get the food." Cody announced. "Hannah, you wanna help?"

  "Sure."

  "I'll help." Analise offered. She was more comfortable with Cody around. Sitting at the table without her didn’t have as much appeal.

  "Oh you don't have to do that." Stella protested.

  "But I want to. Hannah, you sit. I'll go help."

  With that she got up and followed Cody into the back. The kitchen was bigger than she'd imagined and well laid out. There were five people fixing plates. Two men and three women. "Ya'll got my order up?" Cody asked the moment they walked in.

  "Your arms broke?" One of the men, a young lanky guy with ginger hair asked with a grin.

  Cody flipped him off with an answering grin and walked to the sink. Annie followed, washed her hands and after watching Cody, started filling plates in the same manner.