Tennessee Whiskey

by Donna K. Ford

  The hunger the question brought to Dane’s eyes was dangerous. Emma’s stomach tightened, and her head buzzed. That one look was all it took for her to want to take Dane right there on the floor.

  “Do you really want me to answer that?” Dane said, her voice dropping to a husky whisper.

  Emma couldn’t hide her smile. She placed a glass on the bar along with a cold beer.

  Dane shrugged. “I guess that will do for now. But just the beer is fine.”

  Emma observed the crisp pressed gray button-up shirt that hugged Dane’s body, accentuating the muscles and curves without being binding. Her eyes drifted to the exposed skin of Dane’s chest where she had left the collar open. “You look good,” Emma admitted. There was something different about Dane that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She looked lighter, as if some of the trouble she’d carried had been put down.

  “So do you,” Dane said, her gaze lingering on Emma’s.

  Emma shook her head. “You’re a bad liar.”

  “You look beautiful to me.”

  Emma came around the bar and wrapped her arms around Dane’s neck. “Where have you been? I was worried. You could have told me you were coming. I missed you.”

  Dane placed a tender kiss to Emma’s lips as she wrapped her arms around her waist. She drew in a deep breath. “I went to see my father.”

  Emma pulled back. “What? Why didn’t you say anything?”

  Dane shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t want to jinx it, and I wasn’t ready to talk about it.”

  “How did it go?”

  “Good, actually. We had a lot to talk about. I think we’re finally beginning to understand each other.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Emma didn’t know what to say next. This wasn’t what she’d expected Dane to have been up to the last few weeks. If Dane had the answers to her past that she’d been searching for, there wasn’t anything left to tie her to Jellico. “Why did you come back?”

  “You have to ask? I made a promise, remember?”

  Emma smiled. “I remember.” She ran her hand along Dane’s thigh, the smooth dark blue denim warm beneath her touch as the heat rose between them.

  “How’s Curtis?” Dane asked, leaning closer, her lips only inches away as she brushed a strand of hair off Emma’s face, tucking it behind her ear. Emma’s skin tingled along the trail of Dane’s touch, sending goose bumps down her arms.

  “He’s better. As soon as he was strong enough, we had a long talk. He has set work hours here at the bar, and he’ll live with Lily until I decide on the new build, and even then, he’ll have a separate house. From now on he has to earn his own way as much as he can.”

  “Wow. That’s a big change.” Dane’s eyes widened with surprise.

  Emma shrugged. “I realized I wasn’t doing him any favors. He needs to be able to take care of himself.”

  “How does he feel about it?”

  Emma smiled. “He’s good, actually. He’s excited about his own place. I think he wants his girlfriend to move in with him, but that won’t happen until he finishes probation and proves he’s going to stick to the plan. She has her own limitations, but they’re good together, and her parents have been good to help out too. I hope he doesn’t mess it up.”

  “What about you?” Dane asked.

  “I’m still figuring that out.”

  Dane tossed back her drink, setting the bottle down with a pop against the counter. “Are you done here? I have something I want to show you.”

  “Sure. I was just keeping busy mostly.”

  “Good.” Dane took Emma’s hand. “Come with me.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Emma stopped abruptly just outside the door, her eyes landing on the brand-new Jeep. A lot had changed since she last saw Dane, and her stomach flipped as she wondered what other surprises Dane had in store.

  “Mind if I drive?”

  “Sure,” Emma answered, sliding her keys into her pocket. “Nice Jeep.”

  “Thanks. I made some changes while I was rehabbing.”

  “I can see.”

  Dane opened the door for Emma and waited until she was settled inside. “Close your eyes.”

  Emma had no idea what Dane was up to, but she was excited and a little worried. She was happy Dane was back in her life, but she wondered if this was just a stop for Dane, before she moved on. “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see. Now close your eyes.”

  Emma closed her eyes and covered them with her hands. She felt every bump and turn of the road. If she had to guess, she’d say they were headed to the farm.

  Dane stopped. “Don’t look yet.”

  Emma heard the rattle of a chain and the creak of an old gate. She was certain they were at the farm. She could smell the familiar scent of the hay in the loft and the tang of the pigpen.

  The next time they stopped, Dane pulled Emma’s hands away from her eyes. “You can look now.”

  Emma’s mouth fell open. She was stunned into silence. She stared out at a brand-new Airstream camper parked in the field behind the barn. She looked from the camper to Dane. “What’s this?”

  “I know you’re still staying with Lily, but I thought you could use your own space. Something a little closer to home until you can rebuild.”

  Emma was speechless. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “It’s okay if you don’t want to stay here. I’ll understand. I just wanted you to have a place of your own.”

  Emma shook her head.

  “It belongs to my father. He bought it last year but only used it a couple of times for hunting trips. I told him what happened, and he wanted to help.”

  Emma blinked away tears as she took it all in. “What about you?”

  Dane shrugged. “If you don’t mind the company in such a small space…”

  Emma threw her arms around Dane’s neck and kissed her. “Does that mean you’ll stay? You aren’t going to leave again?”

  Dane laughed. “l just want to be with you. But to be honest, I’m not sure Jellico is where I want to settle permanently. I want to take my photography in a new direction, and since this is mobile, I thought maybe we could take it on the road for a while. That would give us time to figure it all out and decide what we want to do together.”

  “Together?”

  Dane nodded. “Together.”

  Emma was speechless. She wasn’t sure what to think or feel. She was flooded with happiness, excitement, and love. But her elation was quickly diminished by feelings of responsibility and fear.

  “How is this real? You didn’t say anything about any of this when we talked. I wasn’t sure you would come back at all. I don’t think I can just leave. I have the bar, and I have to rebuild.”

  Dane took Emma’s hand. “I know I’m asking a lot. I had a lot to work through. I started seeing a therapist so I could start to work through my past. The one thing I am certain about is you.” Dane took a deep breath. “I know this is scary, but you can do this. We don’t have to see the whole world in one trip. We’ll come back here. You’ll still be able to do all the things you need to do.” Dane hesitated. “I didn’t want to say anything until I was absolutely sure. I don’t plan to ever make a promise to you that I can’t keep. I love you, Emma Reynolds. I want to show you the world. I want to see it all with you. You keep saying I have a different life, but it doesn’t have to be different. I don’t want to go back to my old life. I want to build a new one with you.”

  Emma wiped tears from her eyes. Had she heard right? Did Dane really just tell her she loved her?

  “You don’t have to answer right now. Let’s go look inside.” Dane took Emma’s hand. “It may be small, but it has everything we need. There’s even a bathroom.”

  * * *

  “What do you think?” Dane asked as she watched Emma explore the nooks and crannies of the camper.

  “It’s perfect. I just can’t believe you did this
.”

  Dane felt some of the tension ease its grip on her nerves, and she took her first full breath since she’d stepped into Emma’s bar.

  She knew Emma was overwhelmed, but her anxiety was getting the best of her. She’d told Emma she loved her. She had put it all on the table. All she could do now was wait.

  Emma took Dane’s hand and pulled her onto the bed. “So your plan is for you and me to live in this camper and travel around the world?”

  Dane lay down next to Emma and curled her arm around Emma’s waist. “Well, we can’t really take it around the world, but we can at least cover the United States and Canada. Maybe by then you’ll be ready to get on a plane with me.”

  “A ship,” Emma said firmly, her fingers moving along the buttons of Dane’s shirt, exposing the delicate scars that still looked too fragile.

  “What?”

  Emma pushed away the pain that struck her at the sight of the reminder of almost losing Dane. She kissed Dane’s nose playfully. “I want to go on a ship.”

  “Okay, we can go on a ship. Is that a yes?”

  Emma rubbed her hand across Dane’s chest. “Tell me again.”

  “Which part?”

  “The important part.”

  Dane laughed. “Oh, that.”

  Emma slid her hand to Dane’s breast, rubbing her thumb roughly across Dane’s nipple.

  Dane groaned as her eyes slid closed. She pulled Emma close, brushing her lips against Emma’s ear. “I love you, Emma.”

  The words were like fire igniting Emma’s desire. She kissed Dane hard, claiming her with her mouth. She had no idea how they were going to do this, but she was ready to follow Dane to the ends of the earth.

  “Where should we start?” Emma groaned as Dane bit down gently on her neck.

  “Right here seems like a good spot.” Dane kissed and sucked the pulse in her neck. “You smell like a field of wild lavender. Your breath is like the breeze stirring, moving me, your touch like the warm rays of the sun against my skin.” She kissed lower as she snapped open the buttons on Emma’s shirt. “Ah, and here. The curve of your body, the soft mounds of your breasts are like the contours of the mountains promising adventure and hinting of secrets to be found.” She brushed her lips over the thin lace covering Emma’s breast. “Oh yeah, I think I’d like to stay here for a while. Would you like that?”

  “Yes,” Emma whispered, running her hand through the short strands of Dane’s hair.

  Dane teased Emma’s nipple with her teeth before pushing the lace aside and taking her into her mouth.

  Emma pushed against Dane, her grip around Dane’s head pulling her against her breast, silently asking for more. Dane brushed her fingertips lightly along Emma’s stomach, reaching for the button of her jeans as she sucked and teased her breast. Effortlessly, she had Emma’s jeans open and slid her fingers inside, cupping her.

  “Oh, and there’s this very special place I love most of all. I’ve been dreaming about this place.”

  “Hmm.” Emma cooed. “Show me.”

  Dane kissed her way down Emma’s body until she was kneeling between her legs. She gripped Emma’s jeans in her hand and pulled. Emma lifted her hips and allowed Dane to undress her. Dane tossed the jeans to the floor and slid lower on the bed, nestling between Emma’s legs. She ran her tongue along the soft skin just above the line of lace covering Emma. She rubbed her fingers between Emma’s legs, feeling her clitoris swell beneath the thin fabric, the moisture seeping through, damp and hot against her fingers. Dane pulled at the lace with her teeth. Emma’s hips lifted, pressing harder against her mouth.

  “This place is warm. The smell is like a mountain stream, fresh and clean, inviting me into pools of invigorating water. I thirst for this place.”

  Emma’s fingers fluttered against Dane’s cheek and brushed through her hair. “Drink,” Emma whispered. “Put your mouth on me and drink.”

  Dane pulled the lace aside and slid her tongue through the soft wet folds, finding Emma’s clit swollen and hard. She sucked it into her mouth, lapping her tongue against it, circling until Emma writhed beneath her. She let go, stroked her tongue up and down the length of Emma, teasing the opening before sliding back up to take her clitoris in her mouth again. Over and over she sucked and licked, driving Emma to the edge, then pulling back. Emma was so swollen and wet, Dane ached for her, her own clitoris hard and pulsing. She wanted to taste every drop of Emma, drink her in, let the sweet heat of her fill her until she could hold no more.

  “Dane,” Emma begged. “Please.”

  “Hmm.” Dane sent vibrations of sound into Emma’s clitoris.

  “Oh God,” Emma cried. “Do that again.”

  Dane hummed as she sucked.

  “Oh God, yes,” Emma cried out, her body stiffening. Dane continued to brush gentle strokes of her tongue against Emma’s clitoris. Emma crested again, her legs trembling, body tingling, her heart soaring.

  Emma clamped her legs around Dane’s head holding her still. The power of the orgasm electrified all her nerve endings. She was certain she would shatter if Dane made one more move. “Don’t move. Give me a minute.”

  She jerked as Dane chuckled, sending more vibrations through her sensitive clitoris.

  Emma pulled Dane up and kissed her, filling her mouth with her tongue, tenderly nipping and sucking her lower lip. She pulled back and stared into Dane’s eyes. “There is nothing left of me that isn’t yours. You have me, heart and soul. I am hopelessly in love with you. I thought I would die when you left.”

  Dane kissed her tenderly, gently framing her face with her hands. “I didn’t want to leave. I don’t ever want to leave you again.”

  Emma pushed Dane on to her back and straddled her. “I’ll follow you anywhere. I have a feeling I’m going to like the places you take me.” She grinned. “But right now, it’s my turn.”

  Epilogue

  Emma hugged Curtis. “I’m trusting you to be good.”

  “I will. Don’t worry,” Curtis said with a grin.

  Emma cupped his cheek in her palm. “I can’t help it. But I know you can do this.”

  Curtis wrapped his arms around Emma and hugged her.

  Emma turned to Lily. “Thank you.”

  “Oh, honey, I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to see those pictures you promised. And don’t you worry about our boy. We’ll all look after him, and you know if he gets too big for his britches, I’ll have a piece of his hide. And don’t you worry—the bar will be fine. It’s a good change for Paul. He’ll take care of things while you’re gone.”

  Emma fought back tears. “I love you, Aunt Lily.”

  “I love you too, sweetheart. Now you get on out of here before I get my broom after you.”

  Emma wrapped her arms around Lily, comforted by her warm strength.

  Dane opened the door to the Jeep and whistled. Samson lumbered around the camper and jumped in the back seat.

  “Where’s Delilah?” Emma asked, looking around for the newest member of the family.

  Dane shrugged and whistled louder this time. A crashing noise sounded from behind the house. A moment later the beagle tore around the corner in a full run. She made a lap around the camper before realizing where to go. She leapt into the Jeep, knocking into Samson, who tossed a paw around her neck and began licking her face.

  Emma slid into her seat and closed the door. Dane reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together. “Ready?”

  Emma squeezed Dane’s hand. “Very.” She waved to her family as they drove off. It felt strange leaving. She had dreamed of this, but now that it was really happening, she was overwhelmed.

  “They’ll be okay,” Dane said reassuringly.

  Emma nodded and turned to Dane. Warmth and happiness flooded her. She wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Dane’s hand gripping hers reminded her that no matter where they went, no matter what came next, she was home. With Dane she would never again feel alone.

  “I know.�
��

  Delilah groaned in the back seat. Emma glanced back to see her resting her head on Samson’s back. He was sound asleep already. Delilah wiggled closer, almost lying on top of him. Emma laughed, understanding Delilah’s need to be as close to him as possible.

  “How long did you say it takes to get there?” Emma asked.

  Dane considered the question. “To the first stop or the whole trip?”

  “Just today.”

  “Six hours should do it. Why? Are you okay?”

  Emma smiled. “I’m more than okay. I’m in love.”

  Dane pulled Emma’s hand to her lips and kissed her fingers. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Me too.”

  Dane glanced to the sign at the side of the road, signaling they were leaving Jellico. She had come here looking for answers to her past. It turned out she found her future. She found her heart. Dane knew they had a lot to work through, but they would figure it out together.

  “Do you think you can put up with me for three months?”

  Emma squeezed Dane’s hand and leaned across the seat so that her lips were only inches from Dane’s ear. “Hmm, let me see.” Emma slipped her hand up Dane’s thigh.

  Dane groaned. “Careful, I’m driving here.”

  Emma drew Dane’s earlobe into her mouth and sucked, then released it with pop. “Three months of sleeping with you under the stars, watching sunsets together, cooking over a fire, exploring the world, mapping every inch of your body with my tongue.” Emma laughed when Dane clasped her hand stalling her wandering fingers. “Oh, I think I can handle three months. As a matter of fact, I’m looking forward to much more than that.”

  Dane chanced a glance at her teasing lover. “What do you have in mind?”

  Emma’s smile was radiant. “I was thinking more along the lines of forever.”

  Dane pulled Emma’s hand from her thigh and clasped it to her chest. “Forever works for me. I love you.”