by Jeannie Moon
At least, he’d thought they did.
“Come on. Let’s talk.” Brushing her tears away with his thumbs, he could see the hesitancy in her eyes. “Trust me, okay?”
She nodded and he felt awful, like he was the bully this time.
Grasping her hand, he led her to the enclosed gazebo near one of the barns. It was a large space they used for parties and events on the farm. It was outfitted with tables and chairs and some lawn furniture, including an old couch. Walking around the space when he closed the door behind them, Ally seemed to relax, even smiling cautiously.
“I remember the football parties you used to have here.”
“Fun times. We drove my parents crazy, but they were glad we were all here instead of getting ourselves in trouble someplace else.”
“I was so shy. I think I stood in the corner most of the time. You always wanted me there, but I felt strange. I don’t think your friends liked me very much.”
“That’s not true. They liked you fine. But they didn’t know you like I did.”
That was true. “Fair enough.”
Gavin walked to her and remembered that awkward girl with the wide smile who could beat him at his favorite video game, who loved movies, and books, and horses. He looked up and saw the dangling twinkle lights his dad kept strung in the rafters at the gazebo’s peak. “I think this is where we had that dance the night before I left for college.”
Her eyes went soft, almost pleading with him to let go of the memory. Tears threatened again as he pulled Ally into his arms.
“What was the song that was playing?” He knew. He’d never forget it, but he wanted to see if she did.
“When You Kiss Me,” she whispered. “Why are we doing this? Are you still trying to make a point?”
Was he? Maybe. “I don’t think so. When you’re close, I go a little crazy. I’m sorry about today in the diner. I was out of line.”
“You aren’t the only one who goes crazy.”
“We’re probably going to regret it, but I’ll go with you to the wedding. I can’t get there until Friday though. Is that okay?”
“That’s actually fine. It will give me a day to deal with all the logistics up front. I’ll still have some work to do, but at least we’ll be able to have some fun.”
“We should probably set some ground rules,” he said. “So we both understand the boundaries.”
By this time, they were holding each other close and swaying to the music in their memories.
“Will the boundaries include dancing?” she asked as she looked in his eyes. “I mean, it is a wedding.”
“Agreed. That wouldn’t be a problem.” It absolutely would be. “But kissing would cross the line.”
Ally nodded her agreement. “Sex is absolutely out.”
Gavin froze. He didn’t even realize she thought about sex with him. He, on the other hand, had been dreaming of making love to her since forever. “Of course.”
They were still swaying to the imaginary music. “It kind of sucks that we’ll miss out on that.” Ally pulled back and leveled her eyes right at his, locking him in her molten gaze.
“The kissing?”
She grinned. “No, silly. The sex.” Immediately, it was like someone flipped a switch. Ally froze in his arms. “Damn. I can’t believe I said that out loud.”
“Yeah.” Gavin stepped back. “Me either.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “Of course, we’ll have a room with a pull out sofa, or a second room, you won’t have to worry about me losing my mind. I hope.”
There would be nothing he’d love to see more than Ally cutting loose in bed. Just the way she made the comment about sex threw him into a meltdown.
“Sweet Jesus,” she whispered. “I need to leave. It was the dancing. It made me... crazy.” He watched her face flush from embarrassment. Gorgeous. “I... I haven’t been touched like that in so long. It was nice.”
There would be no hardship in touching her. He’d do it as much as she wanted, but at the same time, he was fighting to keep his physical response to her under control. Taking her in, everything about Ally was perfect, from her gorgeous hair and soft skin, to her big round eyes and her luscious curves... all Gavin wanted to do was put his hands on her. He was doing okay, until he caught her chewing on her plump, pink lips. That’s when he snapped.
There was a catch in her breath when he pulled her into him, hard and tight, and lifted her up. Ally was right with him, though, arms looping around his neck and long legs slipping over his ass. Her skirt was riding up, showing the creamy skin of her thighs, and he had every intention of helping that skirt ride up a little more. His hands slid up, caressing the soft skin, and finally cupping the globes of her ass. Touching her was heaven, and with the slightest suggestion, he’d take her right there.
There were a couple of things wrong with his plan. First, the only place he could lay her back was an old picnic table. No. When he made love to Ally, he wanted her in a big soft bed that they’d stay in for days. Second, even though the gazebo was a distance from the house, it was too public for what he wanted to do to her.
“God—” Gavin was holding her so close, he could feel every muscle, every movement, every breath. His memory flashed back to nights she’d fall asleep on the couch, curled next to him, while they watched TV. He loved the way she felt, how she smelled. Even now, the light scent of baby shampoo tickled his nose.
“Gavin? Are you going to kiss me, or what?” Her breathing was heavy; he could see her pulse firing rapidly in her neck. She was as worked up as he was.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Yeah.”
And he did. They clung to each other while Gavin’s mouth came down on hers with an edge of brutality. It was a consuming kiss, something meant to possess and devour. Earlier, when he kissed her in the diner, he’d been gentler, more deliberate, but this kiss was about control for him and for her. Their lips never stopped moving, allowing the friction to build; his tongue slipped into her mouth and she welcomed him, teasing it with her own.
This was the kiss they were too scared to share in high school, that they shouldn’t be sharing now because their paths were too different. But this woman, who pressed herself against his erection, who nibbled his neck and who made the most wonderful dirty noises, deserved all of him.
Gavin moved his hands from her ass to her hips; gripping her, he let his thumbs travel underneath the wispy edge of her panties. He teased the soft folds, and as she ground into his hand, welcoming the intimacy, Gavin felt warm wetness. She was ready for him, if that’s where they wanted to go.
Arching slightly, Ally tossed her head back, as little sounds escaped her throat. She smiled. “God, that feels so good. Going away together is probably a really bad idea.”
“Or a really good one,” he ground out. “Damn, Ally.” Her perfume—light and floral, feminine—gave him a buzz. Resting his head on hers, he let it seep into him. “You feel so good. Smell so good.”
Her head dropped onto his chest, and she made another little sound in her throat. “And you smell so... bad.”
Stepping down and back, Ally squinted her eyes at him. “Holy hell, Gavin,” she said on a laugh. “I know you were working on the fences, but did you roll in horse shit, too?”
Dumbfounded, it took him a second to catch what she said. He smelled bad? Sniffing his own armpits, he reeled. Then, he laughed, because the reaction was so Ally. Honest, no bullshit, she could always tell him the truth. The mood was broken, but that was probably a good thing.
That moment, strange as it was, drove home how much he’d missed her. But knowing they had to move past their near sex experience, he dished an insult right back.
“Excuse me, Princess,” he snapped sarcastically. “I didn’t just clean a few stalls today. I really worked.”
She stuck her tongue out at him in defiance, and the two of them dissolved into fits of laughter. It felt good to laugh like this, to sit with someone who knew you well, and find the humor in a
n awkward situation. Thank God she’d stopped where they were headed. Gavin was two seconds from carrying her behind the big barn and making love to her against the wall. They might not have even got that far.
Even if it were the greatest sex of his life, the fallout would have sucked for both of them.
“I think we dodged the bullet there.” Ally sat on a picnic bench and crossed her legs. “That would have been awkward.”
“The sex would have been amazing.” Beyond amazing, more than likely. Gavin already missed the feel of her. “But yeah, you’re right.”
“Amazing, but awkward,” she agreed.
He sat next to her and patted her knee. “Nice save.”
Her face softened and she dropped her head to the top of his shoulder. It was how they’d always been with each other. Close. Affectionate. It was nice. “You’re a fantastic kisser,” she said.
“You’re pretty good yourself.”
“Pretty good?” She was mildly indignant at his assessment.
“Gavin! Ally! I know you two are in that gazebo.” His eyebrows shot up as he heard his mother call from the house. “Come in to supper or I’ll send your brothers out to embarrass the two of you.”
“Great. We’d better get inside.” He grabbed her hand, and the moment wasn’t lost on either of them. Touching her was as natural as breathing to Gavin. He just didn’t think they had a chance.
“I think I’ll go home.”
“Mom won’t accept that, and you know it. Once she knows you’re here, you’d better be prepared to eat.”
As if on cue, his mother called out, “I made smothered chicken, Ally! I know it’s your favorite, so don’t you dare go sneaking off.”
Gavin bent over laughing when Ally’s eyes went wide in shock. “Did she hear me or something? That was weird.”
“Nah, it’s just Christine.” Gavin loved his mother with all his heart, but how she knew some of the things she knew, freaked him out. “Come on. Let’s eat.”
Chapter Six
Ally could have flown back to Seattle for a few days to deal with some projects, but she decided to stick around Marietta for a while and work remotely. Hell, she was the boss and that’s why she had a laptop and a cell phone. Gavin had left for Bozeman the day after their bone-melting kiss in the gazebo, but he wasn’t really gone.
For the last few days, she’d been getting pretty regular text messages from him about their weekend, mostly concerning what he should bring with him. She’d sent him a list of clothes and gear, and since he was bringing his truck, he’d have plenty of room. She’d arranged for them to have one of the glamping tents. Part cabin, part tent, it was a more rustic approach to the lodge, while still having a lot of perks.
One of those perks was a pull-out sofa. There would be no need for them to share the king sized bed, and the more Ally thought about it, the better it was. Maybe they could be friends again. They’d gone on for years that way until their emotions started messing them up.
Lisa had suggested a friends-with-benefits arrangement with Gavin, but Ally didn’t see how that would work. She and Gavin had a lot of strong feelings towards each other, and friends with bennies sounded like a disaster waiting to happen.
But her insides warmed at the thought of him touching her again. Memories from the other day, when he kissed her like a starving man and teased her close to orgasm, lingered in her mind. If she closed her eyes, she could feel him again.
The days she’d been home had been pretty perfect, even the tough ones. Ally found herself torn between her life in Seattle and the one she missed in Montana. For the first time in years, she had no burning desire to head back to the city she’d made her home, and she wished she knew why.
Being with her parents was nice, but it wasn’t like she wanted to move back in. She loved town, but she could see it getting boring. There was no nightlife. Few restaurants. Trendy shopping was a big no. Yet the charm of it all had gotten to her.
Gavin had gotten to her, as well. And as long as she was in the same state, she felt more at peace.
Crossing Court Street, Ally made her way to the library. She was going to try lunch at the diner again. Hopefully with her mother she’d be able to actually eat a meal. People in town were still chattering about the soul kiss Gavin laid on her in public last week. It had caused quite the stir, and Ally was getting the side eye from more than a few women.
And for some reason, Ally didn’t mind. She kinda liked it.
Being linked to Gavin romantically was strange for her, but again, she didn’t care. Maybe it was because they weren’t romantic, or maybe because it was keeping people guessing.
Also a new feeling for a girl who was known as being more than a little nerdy and predictable.
The library in Marietta was a small, pretty building that served the residents with a variety of programs. Her mother was thrilled to find a part time job working in the children’s department when she retired from teaching elementary school.
Louise Jenkins, the children’s librarian, was reading a story to a group of preschoolers and her mother was helping a young patron with a book on dinosaurs. It was a warm and wonderful place, and Ally smiled just taking in the vibe.
“Hey!” her mom cried out. “You’re here.”
“Shhhh,” Ally chided. “It’s a library.”
“Let me get my purse and we can go. I’m starved!”
Ally walked around the children’s room, looking at some old favorite books and browsing through some new books she’d never seen. Coming to the library was always special. From the time she was very little, to the study sessions with friends, the library had been at the center of her existence.
Her mother emerged and the two of them walked back across Court Street. Marietta was so predictable. The shops were practical, the food was good and simple, and the people were friendly and hardworking. Every place should be this way.
“So,” Mom began once they were seated in a booth. “How go the plans for the big wedding?”
“Good,” she answered. “Everything is confirmed. The ranch is ready for us. I think my dress will still fit after eating like a pig for the past week. The bride and groom are all set. I think it’s going to go off without a hitch.”
“That’s lovely, honey. Have you heard from Gavin?” And there was the question she was waiting for. Her mother was downright giddy Gavin had agreed to go with her. She didn’t say why, but she was ridiculously excited.
“I heard from him yesterday. He’s fine. Busy, I guess.” That’s it, Ally, keep it vague.
“Is he looking forward to seeing you?”
“I guess you’d have to ask him, Mom.”
They ordered their food and settled into small talk about the library, Mom’s retirement, and her father who was on a new kick at home. He was trying to automate everything, from lights to music to when the heat went on. It was keeping him occupied, but it was driving her crazy.
It was a pleasant lunch. Ally was enjoying her loaded burger and fries way too much when her mother sent her into shock.
“Maybe you and Gavin could just be friends with benefits.”
The rapid intake of breath when Ally heard her mother’s statement forced her iced tea down the wrong pipe, and sent Ally into a choking fit. Gasping and coughing wildly, her mother came around to the other side of the booth and slid in, frantically trying to help.
Friends with benefits? Holy shit.
“Oh, oh! Raise your arms honey. Here, let me help!” The next thing she knew her mother was grabbing her wrists, pulling them up over her head. God, this was humiliating. “Goodness,” her mother exclaimed. “You’re a big girl!”
The entire diner was watching her coughing fit while her mother treated her like a three-year-old, holding her arms above her head, shaking them around, and patting her back. “Breathe, Ally. Atta girl.”
“MOM! Stop!” The words came out on a hoarse growl as she tried to catch her breath. “I’m fine. Just stop.”
All the eyes? Still on them.
“What was that all about?” her mother asked. “It wasn’t the friends with benefits thing, was it?”
“Mom, please stop talking about it.” Ally hoped if she kept her voice down, her mother would temper what she always called her ‘teacher voice’.
“I don’t see the problem. It’s the perfect solution because face it, my dear, you seriously need sex.” No such luck on the volume. Her mother rose and went back to her side of the booth, completely unaware that her voice had carried through the diner and had stopped everyone mid-bite. Again.
Ally was becoming quite the lunchtime attraction. Great.
This would be all over town before supper.
Gavin would hear about it, too.
Craptastic.
“I’m available!” came a hopeful voice from the end of the diner.
The place erupted in laughter and Ally felt the heat rise in her face. Forget charm, this was the hell of small towns.
Gavin sprawled on his couch, exhausted from another marathon shift. The last thing he wanted was visitors, but someone was banging on the door of his apartment. When he opened it, he found his brother Dan, carrying a six pack.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Dan grinned as he made his way inside, tossing his hat on one of the chairs. “Hey to you too, bro.”
“Something wrong?”
Choosing a space on the couch, his brother sat and plopped his booted feet on the coffee table, popped the top off a bottle of beer, and handed it to his brother. “I guess that depends on your point of view.”
Gavin took a long pull from the bottle and sat next to his brother. A true cowboy, with ranching in his blood, Dan was probably the smartest of the five of them, but he had the least amount of formal education. A philosopher, a deep thinker, he only ever cared about working with the horses and had become known as one of the best breeders and trainers in the west.
