The Right Moment

by Heatherly Bell

  She bumped her head against his chest. “Look at me, with all the impressive small talk. I’m so boring. I’m the mother of a teenage boy who’s about to get his driver’s license. What am I even doing here?”

  “You’re here to dance and show everyone you’re over that jackass. Now.” Holding her hand, he walked her into the saloon.

  The Silver Saddle was a classic honky-tonk owned by an Alabama native, Jimmy Hopkins and his wife, Trish. Like so many in their town, they were former military who’d found their second calling. The place was a classic throwback, with an often-broken-down mechanical bull in the corner they’d nicknamed Bertha. There were peanut shells on the floor. A stage was set up in the back where a live band played in front of a large dance floor perfect for line dancing. This was where Hud had discovered he’d actually liked country music. Or maybe what he’d really enjoyed was the challenge of learning the choreography of a line dance.

  “Hiya, Hud,” Jimmy said from behind the bar. “Hey there, Joanne. Long time.”

  Hud led them to the bar to fist-bump with Jimmy and he ordered them both drinks. Jo took a seat on the bar stool next to him and took a pull of her beer.

  Not two seconds later, Trish, Jimmy’s wife, walked up to Jo and hugged her. “Oh my God, Joanne. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, yes. I’m totally fine.” She seemed to awkwardly accept the hug, patting Trish’s back.

  “Did you know Jimmy and I broke up a few weeks before our wedding day? Obviously, we got back together. Really, it was all my fault... By the way, I never liked Chuck anyway...” She went on and on, and after a bit Hud tuned her out.

  He exchanged a look with Jimmy. After Joanne had assured Trish one thousand—or so it seemed—more times that she was doing well, thank you, Trish finally seemed to accept this. At that moment, the band began to play Tim McGraw’s “A Real Good Man.” The dance floor exploded with couples, and Hud tugged Jo on to the dance floor.

  “Let’s show Trish how well you’re doing.”

  They fell into a natural rhythm on the dance floor as she kept in step with him. Jo smiled up at him, and he hoped her earlier worries were forgotten for now. Her hands came around his neck, announcing to everyone that tonight wasn’t exactly business as usual for them.

  Her hands were soft and warm. Despite the fact that he took pride in knowing how to two-step, he missed a step while staring at her full bottom lip. He recovered quickly, and pulled her closer, hands settling low on her waist. Then lower still.

  Dancing might be mostly about form, but it also involved understanding your partner. It was about leading, but also sensing where she wanted to go and taking her there. Moving in time with the music. Recovering when you missed a step.

  Hud had done that for most of his life, just not always on a dance floor.

  She met his gaze, never missing her footing. Completely in time with his movements. Satisfaction spiked through him that this beautiful and wonderful woman was in his arms. He didn’t deserve her.

  The public nature of this night was new territory, but it also felt natural. Easy. Comfortable.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, one hand drifting up and down her spine in a gentle caress.

  He wanted to know that she was here tonight and in this relationship 100 percent. That there would be no regrets to jumping in full throttle with him. This relationship might seem quick to some but considering they’d been circling each other for over a decade, not so much. Not for him.

  She was his. And he was hers, if she’d have him.

  “I’m so good.” She tilted her head and rose on tiptoes. “I’m claiming you, Hudson Decker. Tonight, you’re mine.”

  “Always have been.”

  Heart slamming against his ribcage he took his cue and bent to kiss her full on the lips in the middle of the crowded dance floor. As the song ended, he broke the kiss, conscious of the hush that had come over the room. But unable to break contact completely, he pressed his forehead to hers.

  “If anyone has any questions about us now,” Jo said, “they just haven’t been paying attention.”

  He would have to agree.

  * * *

  Joanne strutted off the dance floor with Hud, trying to ignore the looks she received from some of the women in the room. They ranged from happily surprised, to envious, and dialed straight into angry ex-girlfriend territory. Well, too bad. They’d all had their chance with him and now it was her turn. Hud looked so good on the dance floor, moving with such practiced ease, holding her with confidence. When he’d swung her around in his capable hands, she’d entirely forgotten that she was the boring mother of a teenager and remembered that first and foremost she was a woman.

  And the Tim McGraw song was perfect for Hud. He might be a “bad boy,” but he was also a good man. A regular hero firefighter. A leader in the community. He’d come such a long way from the rebellious boy that wanted to drive fast cars and break a lot of hearts. They danced a few more songs, then headed back to the bar for another drink and this time when Trish approached Joanne and pulled her to the side it was with zero pity in her eyes.

  “Oh, girlfriend, way to bounce back! Hang on to that one.”

  Turning away from Trish, she spied Hud at the bar, casually reaching for his wallet from his back jeans pocket. He caught her eye as if he’d sensed she was looking, smirked and winked.

  “Thanks. I better get back.”

  “Run.”

  She didn’t run, not her, no sir, but she did rather quickly dash to his side. “I’m having so much fun. We should do this more often.”

  He waggled his eyebrows. “Yeah?”

  The band had started another song, “Friends in Low Places,” and it had become hard to hear above the music. “I said we should do this more often.”

  “I know,” he said, or she thought he said. She wasn’t all that skilled at reading lips.

  Her skills lay elsewhere. Over the years she’d acquired a fair amount of skill at reading people and this was Hud, after all. She knew everything about him. Hud’s heated looks and touches were telling her that he wanted her. He was almost making love to her on the dance floor with his hands, with his hot gazes. Hud was a red-blooded man who loved sex. Tonight, she was right there with him.

  He was mid-pull on a beer when she reached as high as she could on her tiptoes and tugged him down to put her mouth near his ear. “I want to go home and have sex now!”

  Hud looked as though he would spit out his beer in surprise, then he swallowed and grinned. “That’s a pretty damn good offer.”

  She hoped so. Tonight, she wanted to show him that she’d learned her way around the bedroom, too. No wallflower, she knew how to please a man. She didn’t think she’d ever felt this kind of longing and desire wrap around her. They’d been so close to being together again until they’d been interrupted. She didn’t want to wait another day. Another hour.

  “Let’s go,” he said, slammed his beer down and took her hand.

  He followed her home in his truck. Jo observed the speed limit, thinking of her son, but found herself pushing it. As soon as she parked, Jo rushed up to the door to unlock it. Hud was right behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist from behind. She wiggled her butt into his crotch, hearing him groan.

  “I’ll get this door opened.” The lock that stuck half the time was stuck again.

  “Let me,” he said, and took the key from her.

  But they were both a little too distracted by each other and as he bent toward the lock, she licked his neck and kissed it, making him groan again. Then he took her in his arms, key and door forgotten, and kissed her, warm and wet and deep. She opened to him, giving him a preview of coming attractions as her tongue tangled with his. He pushed her up against the front door, pinning her there, and continued to shower her with openmouthed kisses. They were both breathing heavily when Hud st
opped everything.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I... I can’t believe I’m saying this, but—”

  “But what?” Fear gripped her hard and wrapped around the back of her knees. He couldn’t change his mind about them now. No, no, no. She was taking him to bed to have wild, hedonistic sex with him.

  “I want to make you wait.”

  “Wait for what?”

  He winced. “For us. To be together again.”

  “You said that with a straight face. Good job. That’s funny. Okay, let’s go inside.” She turned to work on the lock again, but he whipped her around to face him.

  “I mean it. I’m not having sex with you tonight.” His words were not agreeing with his gaze, which looked pained.

  “Hud, why not? Why are you doing this?” She pulled on his forearm. “This is what we both want.”

  “Because, Jo, I want to slow us down. I want to court you.”

  Court? Who even said that word anymore? “What are you talking about?”

  “We jumped right in once before and that didn’t work out so well. This time I want a change. And I need you to be sure. I keep telling you this is different for me, well, this is how I show you.”

  That was sweet, she had to admit. She still hated the idea. “Couldn’t you find some other way of showing me?”

  He pressed his forehead to hers. “Believe me, I’ve racked my brain. You’re smarter than me. Come up with something. Anything. I’m begging you.”

  Damn, Hud was adorable when he begged. On the spot, she couldn’t think of a single thing. He was right. Delaying the sex they both wanted to have and actually going out on dates to get to know each other was the opposite of what they’d done before.

  “I think you’re right,” she said, miserably. “Waiting is the very opposite of our past. And we’ve waited this long...”

  “What’s another week or so?”

  “That long?”

  “Negotiable.” He chuckled. “I could be talked out of a week.”

  “It’s going to be my mission to talk you out of waiting that long.” She pouted.

  “Good night, Jo.” He pulled away, almost prying her hand from his waist. “I’m calling you tomorrow.”

  “What’s tomorrow?” She had work in the morning, and no idea what he had in mind.

  “I’m calling to ask you out on a date.” He took a couple of steps down.

  “Yes.”

  “Yes, what?”

  “I’ll go out on a date with you. I’m just trying to save time here.”

  He smiled and her heart gave a powerful tug. “You are so damn cute.”

  “I think the word you meant is sexy.” She did a shoulder shimmy.

  His gaze darkened with heat. “That goes without saying.”

  “No, you have to say it. Often. I’m sexy.”

  “Noted.”

  He walked slowly toward his truck and she loved watching the way it seemed he fought with his own body to move each step. He didn’t want to go. She loved that he didn’t want to go but he was forcing himself to do it anyway. She stood feet planted on the porch, carefully watching him, hoping he’d have a change of heart. Knowing all the while that he wouldn’t. Past history told her that when Hud made up his mind, nothing and no one could shake him.

  In his truck, he rolled down the window. “Hey, sexy, I’m going to watch you walk inside.”

  She struggled with the key a little more and then it finally came unlocked. Opening it, she made a big show of walking in, then watched from the window as he drove away.

  * * *

  Joanne felt much better the following morning. Sexual frustration aside, she understood what Hud was trying to do. It made sense. After all, he knew better than anyone her six-month rule. She never slept with a guy before dating him exclusively for six months. After that, if all went well, another six months before a man was ever introduced to her son. Sue her if she’d done away with “the rules” for Hud. He was the exception, as he’d been around before she made the rules. She’d known him for far longer than six months and he’d known Hunter for his entire life.

  But if he wanted to “court” her, she supposed she’d let him. He’d been very cute about it, after all.

  “Still no word from the Taylors?” Joanne asked Nora later that morning at the shop.

  “No, and this is getting rude.”

  “It passed rude a few days ago. Seems like they’ve found someone else.” She hated the thought but had to consider it.

  “They paid for your designs. That would be crazy and wasteful to hire someone else. Plus, they loved them.”

  “Maybe I’ll have to pull out all the stops,” Joanne said. “And fight for the business like I did once before. Start over. Pitch them another idea.”

  “There you go.”

  Joanne’s phone buzzed with a text from Hud.

  Picnic this afternoon.

  Really? A picnic?

  She texted back:

  Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?

  Hud: Meet me on Wildfire Ridge. I’m picking up a shift here today. Get Rachel from doggy day care and bring her. She’ll love it too.

  “Hud wants to take me on a picnic,” Joanne said out loud.

  “Aww,” Nora said, clutching her chest.

  “What’s wrong with me that all I want to do is jump his bones?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you. We are talking about Hud Decker, right? Hunk-a-licious.”

  “Shouldn’t I be interested in more than sex, though? That’s a little shallow of me.”

  “Not when you consider that you already know he’s right for you in every way. He’s your best friend and you know everything there is to know. All you need to know now is if you can move into that other, ahem, area, so who can blame you for wanting to fast-track it?”

  Because of the only problem in this new and tenuous situation. Joanne wasn’t sure that Hud was perfect for her in every way. Fun and carefree? Yes. Slightly dangerous in that oh-so alluring way? Uh-huh. But she’d been craving stability and security for so long in a relationship. She’d wanted something that would last. More children, without any possibility of being a single mom again.

  Then again, she’d thought Chuck could give her that and it had all been a big, fat lie. She wondered why and how she’d convinced herself she could have security and a future with Chuck, of all people. She hated the first answer that came to mind, but she’d never thought that any other woman would want Chuck, so he was a safe bet. He also had a plan for his future and shared it often.

  Later that afternoon, Joanne headed to pick up Rachel and drove up the hill to Wildfire Ridge. She loved this area and its stark and rugged beauty. Hud spent a lot of time here now, both as a part-time guide and head architect of the controlled burns. For years, they’d warded off another wildfire and the wildlife had slowly returned. Mountain lions and deer dotted the hill at times and didn’t bother anyone as long as they were left alone. Of course, you really didn’t want to have a little dog run loose deep in the hills, but Rachel would be on her leash and wouldn’t stray up into the farthest parts of the ridge, where the mountain lions tended to roam.

  “Okay, we’re here.”

  Joanne still wore her work clothes, a wraparound red dress and matching flats, because she hadn’t wanted to take time and go home and change. The September waning sun would set before long. They’d had a long summer, but soon autumn would arrive, her favorite time of the year even if it meant shorter days and longer nights. She’d just bet Hud could keep her warm all fall and winter long. And just like that her mind was in the gutter again. She couldn’t wait to be in bed with him, cuddling, sharing heat, sharing... Everything.

  Parking in the designated area, she climbed out, clipped the leash on Rachel and began walking up the trail
to the hill. The ground was dusty after a long hot and dry summer but the trees, here for longer than the town, stood firm and tall. They’d weathered rain, drought, and fires with their deep roots. Wildflowers sprouted up here and there across the ridge, spreading a splash of color. Yellow and orange. Purple. The sky was a clear blue and the air smelled crisp and clean with hints of impending autumn. No wonder Hud loved it here.

  Twigs snapped as she stepped over them. Wildfire Ridge Outdoor Adventures had been started by Jill, with activities for those Silicon Valley types seeking so-called extreme sports. They had guided hikes into mountain lion territory, wakeboarding and waterskiing on Anderson Lake, rock climbing and ziplining. Joanne had been here once, on Family and Friends day right before their opening and not since then.

  She spied Hud in the distance dressed in the guides’ uniform, tan cargo pants, boots and a matching long-sleeved black tee pushed up to his elbows. He was speaking with a small group, possibly the one he’d taken on a guided hike. When he turned and caught her eye, he winked and then nudged his chin. And there a few feet in front of her and to the left under a tree was a blanket spread out with a cooler on top.

  “Oh my gosh, he really meant a picnic.”

  Joanne set Rachel down on the blanket and snooped inside the cooler. She found cold beers and what appeared to be salad containers and sandwiches from her favorite deli in town. He’d even brought doggie snacks for Rachel.

  “You’re going to like this,” she said, picking one out for Rachel. She’d been so good on the car ride, sitting on her haunches like a real person.

  She turned to give it to Rachel, and... No Rachel.

  The leash was gone, too, which meant she’d taken off. Cursing herself for not setting the leash under the heavy cooler, she stood and frantically turned in a circle. She couldn’t see Rachel anywhere, and then out of the corner of her eye she saw a white blur. Rachel! Headed toward certain death, no doubt, if she got anywhere near mountain lion territory. But damn if Joanne would let that happen. Hud would never forgive her. Rachel was a cute dog with a ridiculous name who’d never hurt anyone.