by Avery Gale, Jess Buffett, Willow Brooke, Lynn Ray Lewis, Gracie Meadows
Great. “Okay, I will be right there. Have Lita take her a glass of water and tell Dr. Needles to just let her be. Now go on back to my office. I will be done in a little bit, I promise.”
“No hurry. I have tons of homework, and your computer has most of the answers without me having to go onto the internet even.” He grinned, showing off two gaps in the jack o’ lantern smile.
“Well, go get busy. I will help you with the rest when we get home.” She kissed his forehead and shoved him away playfully. Her eyes glanced back to see a now almost hyperventilating Tim frozen with his chin on the floor and his eyes mimicking those of a catfish. Yep. He knows now. Shit on a stick. Deny or truth? Which is the best way to deal with this? Deciding to attempt to avoid the situation, she nonchalantly started back on her path, heading out the door.
“Harley.” His voice was a low growl, raking over her last nerve.
She flung her hair over her shoulder and turned, expressing her irritation with each movement. “What!” Damn. That came out a little more mean than I intended. Her almost-yell made him jump.
“Shut the damn door, now. You know good and well what.” His eyes narrowed down on her in a feral stare, sending a jolt of electricity straight to her core. For the first time in years, her body betrayed her. Her mortal enemy had the gonads to make demands, and her panties were wet. Shit. How the hell could this happen?
The moment Tim laid eyes on the little boy, he about crapped his pants. There was no denying, no wondering. That was his son. From the same sandy hair, to the green glowing eyes, he was a miniature version of himself. Coming here was the hardest thing he had ever done. For so many years, he had buried his high school days, and that horrible time after prom, in the past. He’d fought those memories with all he had, trying to keep them locked away, until he set eyes on the one woman who had haunted his dreams and flashed through his mind every time he was with a woman. Now, in the matter of five minutes, everything had taken a full three-sixty. He had so many thoughts and questions rolling around in his head it felt like a demolition derby in there. Unable to make heads or tails of any of it, he opened his mouth and let the first thing that popped out start the conversation. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Tim could almost see the steam coming out of her ears. Her brown eyes all but turned red. In two stomps she was toe to toe with him and ready to let him have it. “Why didn’t I tell you? Why the fuck would I tell you? Do you honestly think I would want my son to know an evil, heartless son-of-a-bitch like you? He was conceived as a bad bet and a mean joke in your eyes. In mine, it was out of love. Well, until the next day and you and the others let me know otherwise. I cried every day until graduation because of all of you. Not a day went by I wasn’t teased and made fun of. Jackson is a loving, smart, sweet little angel. He is nothing like you! The only thing you two have in common is DNA, so back the fuck off! I am going to get your X-rays ordered, and will have the nurse take care of you from there. Next time, go to old Doc Redding, or better yet…one in another damn state.”
Harley’s body shook with rage. Her hands were balled up in fists at her sides, and he was pretty damn sure that if he so much as blinked, she would deck him. If he hadn’t been sure the one woman he had ever had feelings for hated his guts right now, he would think she was adorable when she was pissed. Probably not a good idea to mention that one right now. Ah, hell. Why not?
“You are cute when you’re pissed. Now, are you done with your little tantrum so we can talk?”
“Are you stupid? Did you get your head knocked off by one bull too many? I am done talking. There is nothing to talk about between you and I, EVER!” Harley turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, leaving him high and dry.
“I think that went well.” He sighed, knowing that his plan to come in and charm her off her feet and into his arms was not going to happen. This was going to take work…a lot of work.
Chapter Three
By the time Harley was finally able to pack up and head home, it was well after six. She had called in a pizza to pick up on the way home, so she’d be able to get Jackson fed, bathed, and in bed on time for school the next day. With her purse and suitcase in hand and Jackson in tow, she locked the doors and started toward her black SUV. The moment she rounded the rear end to the driver’s side, her eyes narrowed in on a determined looking Tim leaning against her door. “Jackson, sweetheart, go ahead and get in and buckled.” With a shrug he did, uninterested in who Tim was or what business he had leaning against their car. Once the back passenger side door was shut, she walked right up to him with her hands planted firmly on her hips, bags and all. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”
“I think I am waiting for you to get off work. Now, I am going to follow you home, and we are going to talk. Not yell, talk. Before you go getting your panties even more in a twist, please at least hear me out. There are a few things you need to know, and a few I would like to know.” Planted firmly against the door, he stared back in a Mexican standoff. Finally, after she could see it was useless to argue with the jackass, she nodded.
“Okay. After I get Jackson fed and ready for bed. Don’t follow me. Just come by after eight. Now move your ass off my door.” Harley all but shoved him away, got in, and drove off in a screech. With a satisfied grin, Tim walked over and got in his red Chevy truck. He had two hours to plan, and needed to get to work if he was going to make any progress tonight.
Around eight thirty, Harley heard the dogs barking and saw the headlights coming up the drive. Once eight o’ clock had passed, she had hoped he had chickened out and just decided to forget it all. Wishful thinking. Her dad had already retired for the night, so she wasn’t worried about him coming in or asking questions. Once the man went to bed, zombies could eat him in his sleep and he wouldn’t wake up. In school, her friends had always joked at how easy she had it. She could sneak people in or she could sneak out and never get caught. It was a useless perk, because she never did either. Harley tried hard to follow the rules. Her dad was the coolest, most easygoing parent in the world. Why would she go against him? Usually, as long as it was safe, he let her do whatever she wanted. There were rules, of course, but nothing she didn’t agree with. Even now that she was grown, it was no biggie living with him. If she ever wanted to bring a guy home, she could. If a man walked out of her bedroom at breakfast, he would probably offer coffee and eggs. Not that either of those things would ever happen, but if it did, everything would be copacetic.
Before he could knock, she had the door open and her poker face on. She couldn’t let him rile her. He wasn’t worth getting upset over. She had control of her emotions, and control over how she allowed anyone to make her feel. Never again would he knock her guard down. “Tim. Come in.”
He looked at her a few moments, seeming unsure as if she had a shotgun loaded and ready to drop in his chest if he did walk into the entryway. Finally he moved, keeping his head ducked and a softer posture. Immediately, he bent to take off his boots, knowing the glossy wood floors were a pain to take care of. In the south, most everyone removed shoes at the front door without being asked, and if they didn't, a smack with a broom was usually the punishment. “No, leave them on. You aren’t staying that long, and I will sweep and mop again in the morning. Just come in and let’s get this over with.”
Biting his tongue, he flipped his pant leg back down and stood, walking past her to the couch. It took all he had not to just grab her and kiss some damn sense into that strong-willed brick wall of a head. Shoving his hands in his pockets to keep from letting temptation take over, he plopped down in a leisurely sprawl, waiting for her to get off the high horse she sat on. With a huff, she walked over and sat in the recliner, perching straight-backed and rigid on the edge of the seat. He had to stifle a laugh at her stubbornness, but understood she had a good damn right to be huffy. Now, he had to make things right. Seeing Jackson had changed everything.
“Well, get on with it.” Her voice ripped through him like a sh
arp blade.
Cringing slightly, he went over the speech he had rehearsed all evening, and made a last minute forfeit. Nothing he had planned to say seemed even remotely good enough. Her glare grew more and more impatient, finally breaking his tongue free.
“Harley, I know that nothing I could ever say can make up for the pain and suffering I caused you so many years ago. I know you don’t believe me now, but I hope in time you will.” When she didn’t say anything, he went for it. It was now or never, and too much rode on the line for him to fuck up…again. “Melody Hall and I were not together. She wanted to be, and had told the entire school we were. Being how she was the head cheerleader and me the captain of the football team, everyone believed it because it was the stereotypical relationship. The bet that night wasn’t what everyone had said it was. All of the guys were sitting around one night after a game and were feeling a bit emotional from the big win we had just scored. Brandt Evans had just been dumped by Judy Pritchett, and was having a hard time with it. We all started trying to get him to cheer up and celebrate with us, so Nick Hughes came up with the great idea of daring him to ask Heather Lovett out. He had mentioned a few times that she was cute, and everyone knew what a good girl she was. Hell, the whole team had tried getting in her pants and she burned them all down.” He paused to see her reaction, but she still held the cold hard mask of a bitchin-charge that kept him treading lightly. Somehow, the assertive new Harley only turned him on more. She had been such a quiet, shy little thing, it was sexy to see the strong woman she had become.
“So?” So, she was listening. Her one word conversation acknowledgement was enough hope to help him finish.
“So, we all got dared that night to get over hurdles in life that were keeping us knocked down. For Nick, it was finding a way to make amends with his dad. The two had clashed since he had hit puberty, and he had vowed to put out effort. For me, it was to ask the one girl that I had a crush on since the eighth grade to prom. And…I did. Being a stupid teenage boy, getting in your pants was top on the list, but only because you had been tormenting me for five years.” Harley’s face went white. It took her a moment to gather her words, but when she spoke, it was the same sweet sound he remembered every night in his dreams.
“You had feelings for me?”
“Yes, Harley. I still do. I always will. You are the one that got away…or should I say, the one I shoved away.”
“So, why didn’t you stop Melody and the others? It was a living hell, Tim. I even ended up in three fist fights before graduation. They just kept escalating and escalating it.”
“I did try. I corrected everyone, but no one believed me. She was out for revenge, and her conniving, catty bitchiness was a force to be reckoned with. The guys didn’t care, and didn’t want to get involved in her drama. Because of who her daddy was, she had pull at the university most of them were set to attend.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, wow. When I saw you in town, it was the best surprise in the world. I had to head back out for the rodeo down in Tulsa, but when I got roughed up, it gave me the perfect opportunity to see you and explain.” Hope filled him little by little. Her posture had relaxed, and she sat back in the chair with her feet pulled up under her. She was still just the cutest little thing. Even now, all these years later, Harley still chewed on her bottom lip when she was thinking. She had the poutiest pucker he had ever seen, and watching her nibble her lip was the sexiest damn thing in the world, especially because she had no idea. Kissing those soft, plump lips had been even better than he had hoped for. Now, as he watched her, he could almost taste the sweet apple lip gloss she had worn that night. Her chestnut hair was shorter now, falling just below her shoulders in soft waves. The cut framed her face, and drew all attention to the soft, delicate features and contours of her face. With big, round brown eyes, she was the model of beauty. Her body had filled out some, curving in all the right places in perfect proportion with the large breasts that still looked freaking amazing. Tim had to shift his position to adjust the painful wood that ground into his zipper. Damn. I should have worn baggier pants. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to notice.
“So, what? You are hoping for forgiveness, then?” The little waver in her voice told him so much. She was hoping for more. Inside, he was fist-pumping the air. Outside, he tried his best to be the cool, suave guy everyone took him for.
“Forgiveness is only the first step of what I want. And now that there is Jackson… the stakes just rose.”
“Whooooa. Hold up there. Jackson isn’t and won’t be in any equation. It is going to take some time to comprehend and let everything you said soak in. There is half a lifetime’s worth of hurt and anger piled up.”
“I understand that, and am willing to do whatever it takes. I will get on my hands and knees every day if need be. Harley, I want to date you. The way it should have been back then. Dinner, dancing…take you to the drive in…maybe go to the Jim Dandy after and get an ice cream cone…that sort of thing.” On the last words he grinned. The idea of her snuggled up against him in the cab of his truck was almost more than he could handle.
The longer she sat silent, the more anxious he got. Emotions washed over her face, changing from sad to curious, to something else he couldn’t put his finger on. It was pure agony waiting to hear the final judgment. Just when he was about to jump up and run away with his tail between his legs, she let out a shaky deep breath and said, “Dinner. Tomorrow night, you can take me to dinner. I don’t want you just showing up here unannounced, either. I have barely dated in the eleven years of Jackson’s life for the sole reason that I refuse to have guys showing up taking ‘mom’ out. It is tacky, and I won’t have it. He has never been introduced to anyone I have dated. I like it that way.”
Tim almost couldn’t hold in his excitement. Finally! In his best attempt to keep from screwing it all up, he smiled and calmly answered, “Great. Thank you, Harley. Not just for the date, but for being such a great mother.” With that, he stood and walked toward the door. “I better get going; it’s getting late. I will pick you up around seven?”
For the first time, Harley let herself have happy thoughts about the sexy-as-sin stud in front of her. She may still have had pieces of her heart to put back together, but the infatuated little school girl was jumping up and down inside at the thought of going to dinner. It had been a major battle between heart and head, but heart had won out. Now, she needed to mentally prepare herself into giving him an actual chance.
Chapter Four
The next evening, Harley found herself rushing to get out of the office to head home. With way more spunk in her step than she should have had, it was impossible to keep the excitement at bay. The day had seemed to drag on and on, making it impossible to concentrate. Now came the moment of truth. Could she go through with it? Alarm bells went off in her head, but her heart did well at silencing them. She was really going to do it. Tim Kindle had confessed his feelings after all of these years. This was a fairytale come true…if it was all true. Skepticism stacked high, but being one to always forgive, she decided that it was worth a shot. Wasn’t it? Was she foolish to believe that those horrible memories could be erased? With a deep huff, she hustled around the house, getting dinner set out for the boys. She couldn’t hide her giddiness. Jackson had commented on what a good mood she was in after his snack of six cookies and chocolate milk only an hour before dinner. When her simple answer was, “I love you. Does a mom need a reason to break the rules once in a while?” He took it with a grin, not asking anything else in fear she would change her mind and swipe the cookies away. Mom wins. No questions by bribery.
It was a bit more challenging when Frank came in from feeding the cows. He had picked up on the sudden change almost immediately, and had started in on his subtle questioning to find out what it was. After dropping the first five, he cornered her in the kitchen. Keeping his voice low, he straight-out asked, “Does you bouncing like a flea have anything to do about the guest we had last nigh
t?” His eyes were twinkling with a knowing grin, making Harley almost drop the salad all over the floor.
She went into turbo damage control, spitting and sputtering in a failed attempt to deflect the situation. “I...he…we were just talking. He is taking me to dinner to discuss some things.” She managed to keep her voice at a monotone, hoping he didn’t see her sudden change of attitude about Tim. There. Plain, simple, and no information.
Frank reached over and clasped her hand. “You know, short stack, the boy can’t grow up without knowing his father. I understand why you did it up until now, but it seems to me the man has changed his ways since you two were young'uns. Now, I know you were heartbroken, but I also know his daddy and I talked shortly after. The only reason that boy is alive is because I knew he hadn’t been involved in the mess that happened after prom.”
Harley almost fainted. “You knew? How?”
“Yes, I knew. George and I talked, and both of us knew there was no way he was ready to man up and be a father. Neither of us wanted him to ruin any shot you two might have by young stupidity, so we just let things be and let time take over. Now, it is time. You need to give that man a shot…for you and for Jackson.” His eyes went tender and soft.
Harley was instantly pissed off. Knowing she best keep her mouth zipped until she processed and thought over his words, she chewed her bottom lip and thought about it. After a few minutes, it dawned on her that he was protecting not only her and Jackson, but Tim too. He was right. There was no way Tim could have settled down back then. It would have ended badly, with her even more broken than just thinking he had used her. “I didn’t know you knew, Daddy.” She looked down, almost shameful at not confiding in him sooner. Maybe he was right. Her heart sure the hell thought it was a good idea, and maybe she could get her mind on board. It was worth a shot…