by Vicki Green
I lean down and kiss her forehead, lingerin’ there. “I think I might need to get a cup of this amazing coffee.” She smiles and turns to Tiffany. Tiffany nods, her smile just as big.
“Coming right up, sir.”
I release my hold and she walks over around to the other side of the counter. Tiffany stands and walks into the back room, out of sight. I walk up to the counter and smile. “So I take it things went well?”
She picks up a cup, pouring coffee into it. The aroma sweeps over me and my stomach growls again. She looks up and laughs. “It went very well. How about a cinnamon roll too?” I laugh myself, feelin’ a little embarrassed. She hands me my cup, then grabs a small piece of waxed paper and slides open a door, then picks out the biggest cinnamon roll in the display case. “Come on, I’ll sit down with you.”
“Uh, don’t you want me to pay?” My brows lower. Thought I’d be her first payin’ customer.
She walks around and heads towards a booth by the windows. I follow and sit down across from her. She sets my coffee down, along with the roll on a plate, in front of me. “Nope. Not today! I’m too happy. It’s on me.” I nod and smile. She reaches across the table and takes my hand. Hers is warm from holding the cup, soft, and delicate. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Memphis. I can’t ever repay you for your kindness. I feel….” She stops, her head workin’ on what she wants to say. I can see the concentration on her beautiful face. “I can’t even describe how I’m feeling right now.”
I squeeze her hand, not wantin’ to ever let go. “As long as it’s happy feelings then that’s all that’s needed. Are you happy, Sadie? Really happy?” It’s a stupid question by the look on her face, I know. But I want her to tell me.
“I’m beyond happy, Memphis and….” She hesitates again but her smile never leaves. “I have to tell you….” My ears pick up, intently listenin’. “My feelings for you. I can’t describe them either. Honestly?” My heart starts pickin’ up its beat. “I feel so much for you. I’m not sure what to call it, exactly, but….” She’s killin’ me here. “All I know is I want to be with you. I miss you when you’re not around. I long for you to hold me in your arms. When I walk into a room and see you, my heart beats so fast that I can actually feel it pounding in my chest. You take my breath away. You make me feel cared for, special. A woman.” She sits there waitin’ for my reaction but after hearin’ all that with all the feelin’s that overwhelm me, I can’t speak. Her smiles slowly fades as she starts to pull her hand away. I tighten my grip, slide out of the booth and into hers. My mouth covers hers quickly as my hand slides up her face, my fingers inter her hair. Her lips are soft, warm, and wet. She moans. It’s deep, guttural, and travels straight down to my aching cock. God, I want her.
I hear the door open but I don’t care. I don’t want to stop. I want more. She smiles against my lips and moves back a breath, placing her forehead against mine. “Does that mean you have similar feelings for me,” she whispers, her voice still hoarse.
I laugh, and my smile cannot be any bigger. “Mine are the same, maybe even more. I want to take you home right now, make love to you, and show you just how much I feel about you. But….” I move back, her eyes shining that light green from the sun coming in through the window beside us. “Right now we have business to finish.” She grins and nods. “And I have a few surprises for you. Kind of congratulation presents.”
Her brows raise high up, creasing her forehead. “Really? I love surprises!”
Instead of moving back to my seat, I pick up my coffee and slide the roll over to me. “Well, let me finish my amazing coffee and roll and then we’ll head over to the bank. Henry’s already waitin’ for us.” She kisses the side of my face.
“Maybe I should go get me a mocha to help celebrate.”
I let her out but she’s back before I even eat half my roll. When we start to leave, I give Tiffany a big hug. She’s excited and I’m happy for both of them. It doesn’t take long at the bank. Henry had the paperwork ready to open her new account and transferred her money immediately. Then he told us Tiffany had already called him about the shop purchase and he said he would have the paperwork ready for Sadie to sign by tomorrow. She’s so excited she could bust by the time we get into my truck.
“So, I’m thinkin’ you might need to get a vehicle to get back and forth to town.”
She looks at me beaming with happiness. “Oh, geez. I hadn’t even though about that. I probably should get something that drives well in snow, huh?”
“Yeah, probably,” I chuckle thinkin’ about another surprise I can give her. Now I’m so excited I could bust.
We talk about different vehicles on the way. When I park at my house I can hardly stand it anymore. I get out and run around the front of my tuck, open her door and help her out. Instead of walkin’ towards the house, I pull her to the garage. “Where are we going?” She smiles. I lead her to the door and she backs up a step when I lean down and pull it up. There sits somethin’ I haven’t driven in quite a while.
“It’s a bit dusty, haven’t really taken it out in a long time.” I walk into the garage, open the door and climb in, startin’ it up. It roars to life. I look in the rearview mirror at her. She’s standin’ there, hands coverin’ her mouth and her eyes wide in shock. I get out and walk over to her, graspin’ her arms. “It’s not new by any means but she’s yours if you want her.”
Her eyes move up to mine. “Are you serious? This is too much, Memphis. You’ve already done so much for me. I couldn’t.”
I relax. “This was Ma’s then it became mine after I was old enough to drive. After Pa passed, I ended up takin’ his truck, seemed more useful.” I turn looking at Ma’s SUV, puttin’ my arm around Sadie. “Ma loved this car, said it could get through a blizzard. I think it did a time or two. I think she’d be right proud knowin’ it went to my girl.”
Her head snaps to me. Her face softens, tears brimmin’ in her eyes. She throws her arms around my neck as she moves in front of me. “I can’t thank you enough.” She looks up at me, tears flowing freely down her face. “Your girl,” she whispers through her smile.
I lean down so fast, my mouth covers hers. My hands grasp her face, careful of her wounds. Her hands move up around my neck, then she pushes off my cowboy hat as she rubs against my hair. I know some women don’t like short hair, ‘specially how short mine is, but she seems to like it. That’s all that matters to me. We stand there embracin’, kissin’, for a long time then finally we pull back, our breathin’ heavy. I look deep into her eyes and smile. “My girl.”
“I love the sound of that.” She beams.
“Well, go sit in your new car. Take her for a drive if you want to.”
She walks to the car and gets in. I take the time to go to my truck and carry in everything I bought into the house. By the time I have it all arranged in the living room, she walks in the door. “Memphis? Where are you?” I stand there waitin’ patiently. Okay, not really. I’m about to burst in excitement but I don’t wanna to ruin it. I can’t wait to see the look on her face.
“Memphis?” She gasps, covering her mouth with one hand. Tears are already fillin’ her eyes. “Oh, my God, Memphis. What did you do?” She looks around the room and then back at me. “You’ve done way too much!”
“Nothing’s too much when it comes to you, baby. Besides, this house needed to come into the twenty first century or at least the twentieth.” A burst of laughter leaves her mouth as she walks over to me, puttin’ her arm around my waist, her hand lays on my stomach. I look down and kiss the top of her head, my arm moves around her shoulders and my hand grasps hers. “This is a celebration and some things I should have gotten awhile back. What do you think?”
She looks up, leanin’ to kiss my mouth, and smiles. “It’s amazing! I can’t believe it. You truly spoil me.” She kisses me again and then lays her head on my shoulder.
“Well, I don’t have cable way out here, but I ordered satellite. It’ll be here in
the mornin’ but I did get a Blu-ray player and picked out a few movies. But this….” I remove my arm and walk over to the couch, sittin’ down and pattin’ the cushion beside me. She walks over, sits, and places her hands on her knees. “This is somethin’ that I got for you and for me. Needed this a couple of times already. Ain’t goin’ through that again.” I hand her the box. I had them wrap it up in paper with a bow. Mines in a sack so I’ll wait ‘til she’s opened hers first. She smiles as she pulls the ribbon, the bow falling apart. She’s obviously not a woman who daintily removes wrappin’ paper. I laugh as she rips it off but her face shows confusion when she looks at what’s inside. “What? You don’t like it.” My shoulders slump in disappointment. She looks over at me and frowns.
“Oh, no, babe! I love it! It’s just…. You spent way too much on me and I have a cell phone at home. I hate you wasting your hard earned money on something I already have.” She leans over and kisses my lips that I had no idea where poutin’.
I feel so relieved. “Darlin’, I wanted you to have one now, just in case. I don’t really want you outta my sight at all but if for some reason you don’t have another choice, I want to be able to get ahold of you, or you to be able to get me. It’ll make me feel better. See? I really got it for me.” I laugh and she joins in, makin’ me feel better. I pull mine out of the sack and show her. “Got one for me too.”
She fans herself with her hand. “Oh, my, Mr. Johnson. A big screen TV, a Blu-ray, and a cell phone? You’re really movin’ up in the world.” She laughs and I don’t hesitate grabbin’ her arms, pushin’ her down on the couch and start ticklin’ her. Both of the boxes fall to the ground as she screams and thrashes around. “Memphis! Stop!” Her giggles are priceless but her yellin’ makes her voice go in and out so I stop. It’s hoarse enough with her cold. I feel bad for makin’ it worse. She stops suddenly, her eyes searching mine. We’re both breathin’ heavy, our chests rising and falling against each other’s. “Memphis, I….” Her hand moves up and traces the side of my face, startin’ above my ear and all the way down until she outlines my lips. “I want you.” Her voice is rough, breathless.
My eyes close briefly and when I open them I see the desire in hers. “Oh, darlin’. I want you too. So badly. But not like this. I want it to be special, mean somethin’, and be a good memory.”
Her lips part, and her breathin’ coming out in wisps. “Anything with you will be special.”
I smile. My heart so full, my body filled with aching desire. “Can we get you well first? I want nothing between us when we make love for the first time.” I kiss her full lips, warm and soft. “I also want you well so your endurance will keep up with me all night.” I waggle my eyebrows. She smacks my arm softly and laughs. I can’t imagine a better moment. Yes, I can. The first time we make love.
Sadie
I can’t believe all the things he got me. He’s so unselfish, caring, loving, and when I smacked his arm, it didn’t even indent. At. All. His muscles so strong, so tight, it didn’t even flinch. Damn! Feelings overwhelm me at his words. I want to make love with him so badly but he’s right. I need to get well. We have time. Damn, I should have gotten a vibrator while we were shopping. No. I want only him inside me. I feel like I’m floating on cloud nine when I have a sneezing attack. He climbs off me, grabbing my arms and pulls me up. There are tissues in front of my face when I finally can open my eyes. “Thank you,” I mumble as I blow my nose and then start sneezing again. All of this makes my face throb and ache. Damn cold!
“I’m gonna go make you some soup. Want a sandwich too?” I’m about to answer when other voices sound behind me.
“I’ll take one!”
“Me too! Dang, look at that TV!”
Mac and Dallis walk around, looking at the TV and whispering their appreciation. Ha, they’re like two big kids at Christmas. I guess I’m feeling a bit like that myself. Memphis leaves to the kitchen and I get my new cell phone out of the box and start looking at it while Mac hooks up the Blu-ray to the TV. Once our food is ready, Memphis brings it all into the living room, and we eat around the coffee table, watching a movie. It’s some comedy, and I’ve not had this much fun laughing with everyone in a long time. I look at everyone, laughing and I sigh. Emotions over take me. It’s like these guys are my family now and I couldn’t be more happy.
I feel his hand on my leg and look up at him. I had moved to laying my head against his strong arm, my legs curled behind me. “You okay, baby?” Baby. I feel like I swoon every time he calls me that or my favorite, darlin’, in his southern drawl.
“I’m perfect.” I smile as he kisses my nose.
We end up watching two movies and after the last one my eyes grow heavy. Mac and Dallis say goodnight and I snuggle into Memphis deeper. “You need to take some more cold medicine and get a good night sleep. The satellite people will be here pretty early in the mornin’.”
“Mmmm,” I reply groggily.
He lifts my body effortlessly and carries me to his room then lays me on his bed. I feel him remove my clothes then put a t-shirt over my head. I roll over when he climbs in and wrap my arm across his flat stomach. I’m so comfortable, warm, and feel like I’m home when he puts his arm around me then, I dream of him.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Tina!!!!!
I’m so freaking excited! I’m buying the coffee shop in town. The owner is retiring, and, not only is the coffee to die for but it’s cheaper than Starbucks. The coffee is out of this world!!! OMG!!!!! I wish you could be here right now! I miss you, bestie! Oh, shit! I didn’t even think about what that would mean. I won’t be coming back. Now, I’m sad. Maybe you could move here? You need to come for a visit and soon, see for yourself just how beautiful…
I stop when I hear a knock on the front door. Memphis is outside with the satellite guy and Mac and Dallis are working. I look at the email and then get up, walk to the door and open it.
“SURPRISE!”
All I see is a ton of balloons but the voice is very familiar. They move them to the side and Tina’s face appears. “What? How?”
She laughs. “Ha! I never thought the Sadie Tisdale could ever be speechless. Come here, girl.” Her arms move around me, the balloons hitting me everywhere, and my mouth is still open in shock. She finally releases me and I step back, letting her come inside. “Wow! I love this place! So…. So…. Country!” I laugh, gaining my senses back. She turns around and slams a bag into my stomach. “Here.”
“Oomph.”
“Shit, sorry. You okay?”
I cough and then sneeze. “Yeah, just a bad cold. I feel like my head could explode. What’s this?” She pats my shoulder looking regretful.
“It’s your laptop, cell phone and some of your clothes. I took the liberty of getting your stuff. Your dad was actually kind of nice. Weird. You’re welcome.” She scrunches up her face, making me laugh.
“You must be, Tina. Glad you could make it.” His rough voice makes me turn around quickly. He’s standing there smiling like a kid who knew a secret and it was now out in the open. I walk up to him, poking my finger in his chest. A chest I might add that is very firm and solid.
“You knew?” My voice cracks as my eyes squint.
“Yes, I knew,” he says bending down to my eye level and grinning.
“Ugh! And you!” I point my finger at Tina. She doesn’t waver. She’s tough like that. Well, to me anyway. “I was just about to send you an email asking if you could come here and ‘Poof’! There you stand.” She laughs and looks around then bends to the side looking at Memphis.
“Uh, honey? Where can I put these balloons and where’s my room?”
Memphis laughs and walks over to her, taking the balloons. “Sadie, you wanna show her one of the rooms upstairs?” Then he looks at Tina. “I’ll go get your luggage.”
He starts to walk off when she walks up to me and puts her arm through mine, and we start towards the stairs. “Damn, bes
tie. He is fine. F. I. N. E. Fine.” I hear Memphis chuckle behind me, and I roll my eyes. I take her upstairs, and she decides on the room I was using so I move my stuff into Memphis’ room, hoping he won’t mind. Then, we go back downstairs just as Memphis brings in her luggage.
“Looks like you’re planning on staying awhile.” He’s got four large suitcases in his arms.
“Oh, that isn’t even half of it,” Memphis says as he gives me a grin. What are they keeping from me now?
I walk to the door and look outside. Her Jeep is sitting in the drive, back is open, and it’s full of her stuff. What the hell? I turn my head and a smile starts creeping on my face. “You drove? I thought you flew?”
She laughs, walking over to me and puts her arm around my shoulders. “Bestie, when your daddy called me and told me you were gonna live here and that you bought yourself a coffee shop, I said, ‘Tina, you should go be with your Bestie and work there with her, making your homemade, delicious pastries’.”
“No!” My mouth is wide along with my eyes.
“Yes! So here I am!”
I grab her, holding her so tight I can’t even breathe. “Oh, my God! Tina!” We both stand there squealing and jumping up and down.
“I’m almost scared,” Memphis chuckles.
I release my hold and run to him, jumping up in his arms. Good thing he’s a good catch. I kiss all over his face. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
He laughs but doesn’t stop me. “It wasn’t my idea.”
I move back but an inch and look into his eyes. “Yeah, but you’re helping her and me. You’re so wonderful. Thank you.” I slide down his front, feeling every single one of his muscles on the way. I turn to Tina and smile. “Come on, girl. Let’s help get all your stuff inside and get you settled.”
