by Green, Vicki
“Tina!”
Sadie’s voice brings me from my thoughts. I stand and put my arms around her. She’s so lucky having Memphis and her twins are adorable. I’m so happy for her. “Bestie! How are you?” We both step back keeping our hands together. She looks so great already after having twins.
“I’m good. Wasn’t this just the best night?”
“Oh, my God! I about died when Trevor went down on his knee.” She nods rapidly, smiling. “So, Prie asked me if I could help out once her house was built. You know, with some cooking? I don’t want to leave you shorthanded though. I mean, it’ll be awhile before everything’s done there and opens.”
“Of course I don’t mind. I’m putting out a help wanted sign and placing an ad tomorrow anyway. You know I’ve been meaning to do that for a while but everything’s been so hectic I just hadn’t done it yet. I’ll see if I can get a couple of new hires. Business is so great anyway, we could use the help. Do you want to run over to Plites with me to check out things there?”
Plites is the next town over. It’s much bigger and yes, they have very nice looking cowboys there too. I nod. “Sure! Who’s watching Jared and Evie?”
She gives me a smile. “Memphis.”
I try not to laugh because he’s such a good daddy but….
“What? He’ll be fine.”
I rock back and forth on my feet. “Oh, I know. I didn’t say anything.”
She leans in and kisses my cheek. “Okay. We’ll go right after the shop closes.”
She walks away and I find myself still nodding. That’ll be interesting.
We have a great time talking and having fun until about eleven o’clock. I guess all the newlyweds want some privacy so I watch Trevor kissing Prie all the way out the door and then I bend down to grab my purse so I can head home. I grab the strap of my purse and start to stand only to knock my head into something hard. “Ow!” My hand covers the top of my head as strong hands grab my arms to steady me before I fall over. There’s a current of tingles running up and down my arms with the touch. I’m rubbing my head when I look up into the green eyes that are staring at me. They blink and I think he might feel that surge I felt too.
“Shit! I’m sorry. You okay, Beauty?”
His name for me catches me off guard. “I…. I’m okay. Did I hurt you?” He lets out a small laugh. “What did you call me?” Confusion sets in. Maybe I hit my head harder than I think. His hands are still holding onto my arms and I’m mesmerized by those green eyes.
He smiles and I swear it just went straight south. My legs push together on their own. He laughs and damn what a laugh. “No, I’m fine. Uh, Beauty?” His eyes stare into mine with such intensity. “Oh! Well, that’s the word that comes to mind when I see you.” Damn, that just made him that much hotter. Well, shit.
I swallow hard and just nod. I think for the first time in my life, I’m speechless.
“Tina!”
My eyes shift to Sadie and then back to him. His smile is still there, showing the whitest teeth I think I’ve ever seen. “I…. Uh. I gotta go.” Seriously, it’s like I can’t talk with him so close. His smell is intoxicating. I can feel the heat of his body. And what a body. Okay, I need to go before I say any more stupid things. I swear I have no filter. I pull the strap of my purse over my shoulder and walk past him, brushing against his arm as I move. Those tingles I felt earlier multiply and I start walking faster.
I reach Sadie and Shiloh and say my goodbyes and congratulations then do the same with Trevor and Prie, telling Colby and Memphis the same and make a hasty retreat. One day my mouth is going to get me in so much trouble. Wait! Oh, yeah. It already has. Several times if I think about it. I jump in my car and head to town. Would be nice to live out here closer to my friends but right now my apartment suits me just fine. It’s close to the shop and since I sleep like the dead, I can get there faster without being late. I walk inside, closing and locking the door behind me and drop my purse on the small table beside the door and head straight for my bedroom. I’ve never been a girly-girl, more of a tomboy, but Sadie always made me dress up to go partying, before we moved here. She was a wildcat where I was just along to take care of her. I didn’t mind though. She’s my bestie.
Finally in one of my favorite sleep t-shirts, I climb into bed and close my eyes. Green eyes glare at me and so begins a long night of tossing and turning.
The next morning, I sleep through my alarm, take a quick two minute shower and head to work. I think I might have had a couple hours of sleep but since I sleep like the dead, yeah, I heard nothing. Now it’s about one o’clock in the afternoon and I’m busy in the back making deli sandwiches with my special ingredient. It’s been freaking busy today but anymore that’s not unusual. Hence Sadie wanting to hire a couple more people. I walk out of the back room, carrying the tray of sandwiches, and stop cold. Nash. He’s standing at the counter talking to Sadie. Shit!
“I’m so happy for you guys. I’m surprised to see Shiloh today. Thought she’d be at home havin’ her honeymoon.” His grin is so sexy. I can feel the wetness in my panties. I’m in so much trouble.
“Oh, well, she said she needed to get a couple of things for the baby so she just stopped by for a minute.” She winks at him and I start carrying the tray again. Be nonchalant. Be nice but don’t come on too strong. Basically, just don’t be yourself. “Those look amazing, Tina.” I smile at Sadie as I walk behind her trying to balance the tray while sliding open the door of the display case. The door is stuck so I start pulling harder. Damn, I thought she was going to have Memphis fix this.
“I’d love to try one of those.”
His voice so smooth and deep makes me look up. I pull at the door and can feel the tray tipping in my hand. “No!” I scream as it starts to fall to the ground and I start lunging after it. “Ow!” I land on my butt, sandwiches destroyed all around and beneath me. It looks like a sandwich massacre.
“Oh, no! I asked Memphis to fix that door from sticking. I’m sorry, Tina.” Sadie is behind me trying to help me up but my feet keep sliding in my special ingredient that is all over the floor. “Here let me….”
“Oh, my God!”
I try to look up over the counter but all I see is Shiloh bending down, holdin’ onto her stomach. What in the hell? Sadie releases her hold on me and I fall back on my bottom hard. She runs around me, slipping and sliding on the mess, but finally makes it past and around the corner. I try to stand again but can’t get any traction. “OH!” I yell as strong hands grasp under my arms and lift me up with ease until I’m standing. I start to turn, only to slide in the mess, and those same hands grab my upper arms.
“Whoa there, Beauty.”
His voice melts my panties and those green eyes are staring into mine. I’m done for.
“Nash! Shiloh needs to go to the hospital. Can you help?”
He nods as he guides me a few steps over and out of the mess then does something I don’t think I’ll ever forget. He kisses my forehead and tells me he’ll be back later. I’m stunned and once again speechless as I watch him walk around the counter. I place my fingers over where he kissed. I don’t think I can ever wash there again. Instead of being almost twenty-one, I feel like I’m back in high school and my crush just kissed me for the first time. Thing is, it’s never felt like this.
“Prie’s on her way to help. I’m going with Shiloh to the hospital,” Sadie yells over the crowd.
I nod, dumbly. “Where’s Colby!” I scream back as they’re almost out the door.
“He’s on his way to the hospital.”
Whew! That’s good.
The day is long after that. Once I’d gotten all the waiting customers’ orders filled, I cleaned up the mess on the floor and Prie got here to help. I went into the back room and made more sandwiches, which sold out within thirty minutes and had to go ma
ke more. Well, those were a hit. Now it’s closing time and Prie just left. I’m finishing sweeping the floor when the front door bells rings. “We’re closed,” I say as I look up and into those green eyes. I swallow hard and start sweeping faster. I turn around, sweeping the mess into a pile, and then turn back around and look down at his black cowboy boots. Shit. I look up as I straighten into a standing position, gripping the handle of the broom a little too hard.
“Thought you might like a ride over to the hospital, Beauty.”
There’s that freaking blinding white smile again. I may be a little over my head this time.
The End
Back To Country
Success is hard work,
Finding the right woman is even harder,
Nash Harris comes from a good family and wealth. His pa had one of the best horse breeding ranches in Texas. After Pa died, Nash felt there were too many memories there for him to stay. He sold the ranch and moved to Montana, finding the perfect place to start over. He made friends quickly but there’s one woman who catches his eye that won’t give him the time of day. He may just have to up his game.
Tina Brogdon. She’s your typical overzealous girl, yet beneath it all she’s shy around guys. After moving to Montana to follow her bestie, she finds her new hometown a wonderful place to begin her young life. Tina has met a few hot and sexy men here and even in the next town over but none of them give her the ‘spark’ she’s looking for. Then a fiery redhead arrives and her panties go up in flames. Her non filter is normal but now she’s a bumbling idiot whenever he is near.
Acknowledgments
Golden – the amazing Furiousfotog
Thank you for allowing me to get the most incredible pictures from you for my covers. This whole series has your beautiful images on the covers and make the series what it is. I’m honored for our friendship and am so thankful for having you in my life.
Kathy – my wonderful Editor
I love how you’ve been with me since my first book and how our friendship has bloomed over the last two years. Thank you for your wonderful work and being in my life.
Kari – my extraordinaire cover designer
I’m so thankful that I found you, almost two years ago. Not only do you always know what I’m looking for in my covers but you always give it more than I could ever hope. Our friendship was created and I couldn’t ever ask for more.
Melissa – my unofficial PA
God, I’m so glad I found you! You brighten up my day, talk me off ledges and are always there for me. We’ll meet for the first time in Alabama and I can’t wait to hug you! Thank you for being my friend.
Mari – what a formatter!
I’m so glad that you were recommended to me. I loved being your guinea pig, letting you play with graphics on my paperbacks. Amazing doesn’t cover what they look like. You’re always there for me and have everything ready as soon as I send you my stories. Thank you so much! I can’t believe I might actually get to meet you. Hugs coming!
About the Author
Vicki Green grew up in Overland Park, Kansas and currently resides in Olathe, Kansas. Along with her husband and two teenage boys, she shares her home with her cocker spaniel’s Shadow and Mocha. She has been working full time at the same Company for 35 years. Her life has been filled with the most loving and caring parents, who are both gone now but are still in her heart and mind daily.
Vicki enjoys reading Romance books which is what inspired her to begin writing this book. She has always admired Author’s dedication and hard work. She had a dream that played out for over a year, came home one day after work and decided to put it on a word document to see how it read and that became ‘My Savior Forever’, the beginning of her Forever Series, and that’s where it all began.
Website:
http://www.vickigreenauthor.com/
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ VickiGreenAuthor
Twitter: @rileyks3
Goodreads Author:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/7112966.Vicki_Green
