Southern Attraction

by Kaylee Ryan

  “Whit was just excited. She’s really rooting for the two of you. We all are.”

  “Explain to me how it could work.” It’s a question I’ve asked myself a million times since I dropped her off this morning.

  She shrugs. “That’s not up to us.”

  “My life is here, Liv. Our business is here.”

  “It is, and hers is in Chicago. The question is where is your heart?”

  “Heart? Jesus, Liv, I’m not in love with her.”

  “Not yet.” She grins.

  “Okay, old wise one. How exactly am I going to fall in love with her when she’s six hours away?”

  She shrugs again. “That’s all you, big brother, but it’s going to happen.”

  “All right, crazy girl. How was last night?” I point to the money laid out on the desk, changing the subject.

  “Good. An average Saturday night. And to think, you weren’t here,” she gasps dramatically.

  “You got them jokes,” I say, sitting in the chair across from the desk.

  She grins. “So when are you seeing her again?”

  I check my phone for messages and nothing. “I don’t know. The wedding, I guess.”

  “Did you all not talk about it?”

  “No.”

  “Michael Alan Wallace, you slept with her and just let her leave like it was nothing?”

  “Whoa, hold up.” I hold my hands in the air. “I didn’t sleep with her.”

  “She spent the night at your house.”

  “She did. She slept in my bed next to me, but I didn’t have sex with her,” I grumble.

  “Interesting,” she says, leaning back in her chair.

  Before I can ask her why in the hell she finds that interesting, my phone pings with a message.

  Jamie: Stopping for a bathroom break and snacks. A road trip is nothing without snacks.

  I smile.

  “Is that her?”

  I don’t answer her as I type out a reply.

  “It is. She’s texting you. You know she really shouldn’t text and drive.”

  “She’s not. She’s at a gas station, bathroom break,” I say, going back to my message.

  Me: I agree. What’s your favorite?

  I keep my phone in my hand before giving my attention back to my sister. She’s grinning like a fool.

  “So what’s she saying?”

  “Nothing, I just… fuck, Liv, why do you have to be so damn nosey?”

  “It’s my job as your little sister, so spill.”

  “I told her to check in, okay? It’s a long drive for her to be doing on her own.”

  “Aw, you’re worried about her.”

  “I just… she’s a beautiful woman driving six hours on her own. It makes sense to have her check in.”

  “And what happens if she doesn’t?”

  A million different scenarios of why she wouldn’t, of what could prevent her from checking in, invade my mind and my chest gets tight. “I go look for her.”

  Liv claps her hands. “This is better than I thought.”

  “What are you going on about?” I ask when my phone pings again.

  Jamie: Combos. The pizza-flavored pretzel ones. You?

  Me: Beef jerky. A road trip must.

  Jamie: I can honestly say I’ve never tried beef jerky.

  Me: What? How is that possible?

  Jamie: Just not something I’ve ever tried.

  Me: We must fix this. Next time I see you, you’re eating some jerky.

  “Earth to Mike,” Liv says, waving her hands in the air.

  “What?” I ask, reluctantly pulling my attention from Jamie.

  “You, that’s what. You like her.”

  “Of course I like her. What’s not to like?”

  “It’s more than that.”

  I shrug. “We’ll never really know since she lives six hours away. My life is here, my roots. Hers are in Chicago. We’re at an impasse.”

  “Did you discuss it?”

  “Fuck! No, we didn’t discuss it. We hung out, talked, got to know each other a little. Fell asleep and now she’s on her way back home. End of.” I stand from the chair. “I’m going to start on inventory.” I grab my clipboard and head to the stock room, leaving my sister and her interference behind.

  My phone pings.

  Jamie: I can’t wait. Getting back on the road. Check in later.

  Me: Be safe.

  I shove my phone back in my pocket and get busy. I take my time going through items that I already know we both need and don’t need, not wanting to deal with Olivia and her questions. I know she’s coming from a good place, but it’s pointless. Jamie and I are from two different worlds. She’s not going to move here, and I won’t leave Kentucky. This is home. I’ve never been that guy, the one who wants to get out of town, see what else is out there. I’m good here; small-town living is who I am.

  “Hey,” Liv says from behind me. “I finished the deposit—it’s in the safe. I also did a walk-through, and the closing staff did good. Everything’s done.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Mike,” she says softly. With a sigh, I turn to face her. “I’m sorry, I just want to see you happy. You deserve that. You work so much; I worry about you.”

  Now I feel like a dick. Tossing the clipboard on a stack of boxes, I hold out my arms. She doesn’t hesitate to step into a hug. “Love you, little sister, but I can handle my love life.”

  “I know.” She sniffs. “I’m just really happy, you know? David is so good to me, and I want that for you.”

  “It’ll happen. I’m in no rush to settle down.”

  “Love you too,” she mumbles before pulling away. “You need help with anything else?”

  “Nah, I got it. Thanks for helping out though. I’d like to see more of that.” I wink at her.

  “Yeah, yeah, I guess I deserve that after prying earlier.”

  “Glad you see things my way,” I laugh.

  “You going to be at Mom and Dad’s tonight for dinner?”

  “Yeah. Six, right?”

  “Yep. I’ll see you later.”

  Inventory done, I head to my office and start up my laptop, then spend the next hour placing online orders with our vendors. With nothing left to do, I lock up and head home. I have a few hours before I have to be at my parents’ and I’m restless, so I do a load of laundry before settling on the couch to watch some TV.

  As I flip through the channels, I wonder what Jamie’s favorite movie is. I make a mental note to ask her. I settle for The Fast and The Furious, the first one, keeping my phone in one hand, the remote in the other. The movie ends and I still haven’t heard from her again. Debating whether or not I should text her, I decide against it. I don’t want her to text and drive. Instead, I grab my keys and head to my parents’ early.

  “What a nice surprise,” Mom says as I enter the back door into the kitchen.

  “Hey, Momma.” I lean in and give her a quick hug. “Liv came in this morning and helped out, so I was done early,” I tell her. It’s a complete lie.

  “Sounds like you’re wearing her down, son,” Dad says, joining us.

  I laugh. “Maybe. I think she was more interested in being nosey, but we can go with your theory.”

  “Nosey?” Mom asks. I knew she would.

  “Yeah, Jamie came into town this weekend. She and I hung out last night when the girls got back from dress shopping.” I purposely keep my answer vague.

  “How is she?” Mom asks. I know she wants to know more, but unlike my sister, she doesn’t pry.

  “Good. She left a few hours ago to head back home.”

  “That why you keep looking at your phone?” Dad laughs.

  “I’m not,” I defend. “I know I did when I first sat down, but….”

  “You are,” he counters.

  “She’s supposed to text me when she gets there. It’s a long drive for a beautiful woman to be making on her own.”

  “I agree. Glad you’re looking out
for her.”

  “Oh he’s looking out all right,” Liv says, entering the room.” David chuckles from his spot behind her.

  “Hush, you,” Mom admonishes, opening her arms for a hug.

  “Are Whit and Aaron coming?” I ask, partly to change the subject and partly because all I need is both Liv and Whit ganging up on me.

  “No, they’re watching the kids for Evan and Kinley,” Olivia explains.

  I check my phone again—still nothing.

  “You heard from her yet?”

  “Not since about two.”

  “She’s probably just wrapping it up. If that’s the case she’ll call soon,” she assures me.

  I know that, but it’s Liv’s fault that I’m obsessing over this in the first place. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. She put the “what could happen” scenario reel in my head.

  I let my family distract me as I keep my phone in my hand, waiting for it to vibrate.

  “Well, we’re all here, so we might as well eat. It’s ready,” Mom says, pointing toward the big pan of chicken and dumplings on the stove.

  We all make our plates and settle around the table to eat. Mom and Dad talk about remodeling the guest bathroom.

  “That’s what I spent the day helping Dad with, only it was the master bath. Let me know if you need any help,” David tells my Dad.

  “I just might take you up on that,” Dad says.

  “What about you?” Mom asks Liv.

  “After I left the bar, I went home and did some laundry. Nothing exciting.”

  She passes over me, as I’ve already told them about my day.

  “How did shopping go yesterday?” Mom asks.

  “Great. Whit found her dress and then Kinley, Jamie, and I all got ours as well. It was actually pretty easy.”

  “Whit’s never been one for all the frill,” Mom says.

  “No, she hasn’t. The three of us got matching dresses, and unbelievably we agreed unanimously. After that, we just spent the day shopping for us. It was fun.”

  We spend a little more time talking and just catching up. I love these dinners. We were raised on the idea that family is important, and I enjoy spending time with mine. Liv, David, and I clean up while Mom and Dad head to the living room. Checking my phone, it’s a little after seven and still nothing from Jamie. It’s a six-hour drive, but she should’ve been home by now. Especially if she only made the one stop.

  “Maybe she hit traffic,” Liv says when she sees me check yet again.

  “Maybe.” I frown at the phone in my hands. The next hour drags as I keep it in my hand, fighting the urge to look for a message that I know is not there. “I think I’m going to head out.” I stand and stretch. “Thanks for dinner.” I lean down and kiss Mom on the cheek, then offer my dad my hand for a firm shake.

  “You want leftovers?” Mom asks.

  “Nah, I’m good. Thanks though.”

  I say a quick goodbye to my sister and David, then head for home, driving the entire way with one hand, keeping my phone in the other. Once inside, I go straight to my room and lie down on my bed. Her scent surrounds me. It’s hard to believe it was only earlier today that she was sleeping next to me. Seems like so long ago already.

  I light up my screen to check for a message at the same time it pings.

  Jamie: I’m home.

  Finally. I hit Reply, then decide I’m going to call her instead. Without giving it another thought, I tap her name and place the phone next to my ear. She picks up on the first ring.

  “Hey,” I say, clearing my throat.

  “Hi,” she says softly.

  “You run into traffic?” I ask.

  “Yeah, just right outside of town. I didn’t think I would ever get home.”

  Me either. “Glad you’re okay,” I say honestly. I’ll keep it to myself that I was really starting to worry about her.

  “All is good. Hey, let me call Whit real fast. I told her I would. I texted you first and don’t want her to worry.”

  “Okay. Talk to you in a few.”

  We say a quick goodbye and suddenly all is right again. Not just because she’s okay, but she told me first. Childish, I know, but it makes me smile nonetheless.

  I hang up and take a deep breath. He sounded concerned and then relieved that everything went okay with the drive. I do have to call Whit, but I could just as easily have sent her a text while talking to him on speakerphone. I need the time to wrap my head around this. Him.

  He called me.

  “Hey,” Whit says on the first ring. “You just getting home? I was starting to get worried.”

  “You’re not the only one, apparently,” I mumble before I can stop myself.

  “What?”

  “Mike told me to text him when I got home. I did and he just called me.”

  “That’s a bad thing because…?”

  I take a breath. “It’s not, I guess. I just… I’m not used to guys like him. He’s a lot to take on,” I confess.

  “Are you taking him on?” she asks seriously.

  “I-I don’t know.”

  “Why are you not still talking to him?”

  “I had to call you.”

  “Uh-huh, you could have sent me a text. I’m glad you made it home, now call the poor guy back. I’m sure he was worried about you. Obviously he was. He deserves at least a phone conversation.”

  “I know, I was just—”

  “Stalling,” she laughs. “Take it one day at a time. Maybe it’s something and maybe it’s nothing, but take each day as it comes and see where it goes.”

  “We live so far away.”

  “Semantics. Nothing that can’t be changed. Call him, don’t let the worry of distance and what if interfere. One day at a time,” she says softly.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Night.”

  Looking down at the screen, my list of recent calls is showing. Before I can give myself time to chicken out, I tap his name and place the phone next to my ear.

  “That was fast,” he says in greeting.

  “Yeah, just wanted to let her know I made it home. How was your day?”

  “Good. I took care of some things at the bar, hung out here a little and then had Sunday dinner with my family.”

  “You do that every week? Have dinner with your family?”

  “We try to do it at least twice a month.”

  “That’s great. I guess you all get along really well.”

  “We do. My parents are great, and of course you know Liv and Whit. What about you? Are you close with your family?”

  “Yeah, I’m an only child, but we’re close. We don’t do weekly dinners or anything, but I see them often.”

  “You have a busy week?” he asks.

  “Not really. Business has been slow lately. I was actually telling Whit and Aaron the same thing. I might try to plan another long weekend trip before the wedding.” I have no idea why I just told him that. I don’t expect him to want to see me.

  “Oh really?” he says. I can hear the smile in his voice.

  “Yeah, I just don’t know when for sure. I need to talk to my boss, but he’s great, so I’m sure it won’t be an issue.”

  “You driving down?” he asks.

  “More than likely. Aaron and Whitney offered to fly me there, but it’s just a six-hour drive. It’s not too bad.”

  “I hate that you do it all on your own.”

  “I only had to stop once for a stretch and bathroom break. It’s all easy driving.”

  “Yeah, but still.”

  I laugh. “It’s fine, promise. So what about you? Busy week?”

  “The weeks are usually slow, especially in the wintertime. Summer nights are a little steadier.”

  “What did you have for dinner?” I ask with a yawn.

  “Chicken and dumplings.”

  “That sounds good.”

  “It is. My mom is a great cook. It’s a perk of our Sunday dinners.”

  “I�
��m sure, a bachelor like yourself. Do you cook?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Just because I’m a bachelor, I don’t eat?” he laughs.

  “No, just not many singles do. Cooking for one isn’t easy and sometimes not worth the effort when you can grab takeout.”

  “Uh-huh,” he teases.

  “So can you cook?”

  “I get by. Nothing gourmet, but I can make Mom’s dumplings, although they never taste like hers.”

  “I’ll have to have you make them for me sometime.” Shit, what am I doing?

  “You tell me when and I’m all yours.”

  “Thanks again for this weekend. It was nice not having to impose on the happy couple the whole time.”

  “No thanks needed. That’s not why I wanted to see you, just so you know.”

  “Why did you want to see me?”

  “I have a million reasons why, but mainly I like you. You’re fun to be around, and I like getting to know you. Holding you and kissing those soft lips were just a bonus.”

  See, there are no guys in Chicago like Michael Wallace. None. “I had a great time.”

  “Me too, darlin.’ We have to do it again. Soon,” he says as an afterthought.

  “I’m going to hold you to that,” I say around another yawn.

  “Good. You’ve had a long day. Get some rest. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Night, Michael,” I murmur.

  “Good night, James.”

  I end the call before I beg him to talk to me longer; I could totally be on board with his deep sexy voice talking to me until I fall asleep. I turn off all the lights and head to my room. I’m exhausted from the drive, and I don’t want to do anything but replay every minute of my time with him this weekend over and over again.

  Changing into his T-shirt, I plug in my phone and climb into bed. Just as I’m about to burrow deeper under the covers, my phone alerts me to a message.

  Mike: Sweet dreams, beautiful.

  It takes great effort to not call him—hell, to not get back in the car and drive to him. This is crazy, this attraction I feel for him. How could we make this work? Would it even be possible? I toss and turn for a few hours before falling asleep to the memory of the feel of his lips against mine.