by Cat Johnson
She turned in his arms to face him. “Mmm, it is. I love you.” Her eyes widened immediately after she said the word you. Her mouth opened and then closed, making it obvious that the confession had slipped out. “I meant it. I love it.”
Her confession knocked the air right out of Rohn’s lungs so that he sounded a bit breathless as he said, “I love you, too.”
“You do?” Bonnie bit her lip and looked close to tears.
“Yeah. I do.”
It was crazy. He’d barely been aware of her existence a month ago. He’d never noticed her until the prom, but that one meeting had been enough to hook his interest.
Throw in a handful of dates and countless hours thinking about her while they were apart and looking for her while he was at the farm, and that was it. His heart didn’t stand a chance. He didn’t want it to. He was ready and willing to fall for Bonnie. Thank God, she was too.
The relief that she felt the same had a smile bowing his lips. That smile didn’t go away even as he pressed his mouth to hers.
Her arms around him, Bonnie squeezed him tighter, pressing as close as two fully clothed people could get while standing.
He could kiss Bonnie forever, but it would be easier on both of them if she was sitting on the tailgate and closer to his height. As it was, with her a head shorter than him, he had to bend way down to reach her.
Rohn pulled back from her lips. He smiled again when he saw her beautiful face lit by moonlight. It was all he could do to take his arms from around her so he could turn and open the tailgate. Quick enough, he spun back to her and lifted her easily so she was sitting on the tailgate and eye level with him.
Stepping between her legs, he rested his hands on her waist, more than ready to get back to kissing her. She must have had the same idea. She fisted the fabric of his T-shirt and pulled him closer as her mouth crashed against his. She thrust her tongue between his lips and kissed him deeper.
The initial surprise that his little Bonnie Blue had let her inner hellcat loose soon gave way to sheer enjoyment as her tongue wrestled with his.
He was already breathless and getting hard from the intensity of the kiss even before she reached between them and he felt her hands on his buckle. She leaned back and their gazes met before she looked down to focus on her hands on his belt. His stomach rose and fell with his breath as he watched her open his buckle, then the button on his jeans, and then his zipper.
He was shaking by the time she reached her hand inside his underwear and he felt her gentle touch on him.
Her hand never leaving him, she brought her eyes up to meet his. “Rohn.”
“Yeah?” His voice shook as hard as his body.
“Can you climb up here with me?”
Hell, yeah. As long as she kept touching him, he’d do naked summersaults, if it would make her happy. “Okay.”
With his jeans hanging open and his underwear exposed, he hopped onto the tailgate. Sitting next to Bonnie, he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her while taking them both down until they were horizontal in the bed of the pickup.
She moved over him. He watched as she straddled his legs.
Bonnie above him was an amazing sight. Bonnie unbuttoning her jean shorts while over him was enough to make him fear he might pass out.
“You know, we, uh, can take our time if you want.” He made the offer even as he got so hard he could feel his pulse throbbing all the way through his erection.
“I know.” She wiggled out of her shorts, pulling them off each foot over her flip-flops, before she tossed them to the side.
He drew in a shaky breath as Bonnie, in nothing but a tank top and underwear, decided to pull that underwear off. He somehow forced his eyes to stay focused on her face, which was a pretty amazing feat since she was naked from the waist down.
She reached for him and pulled his length out of his underwear. The warmth of her hand in contrast to the cool breeze blowing had him shivering.
So did the knowledge of what they were about to do as Bonnie lowered her body over him.
He reached up and held her back with a hand on each of her shoulders. “You sure?”
“Yes. I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life. I love you and I want this.”
He wanted this—with her—more than she could possibly know. “I love you, too.”
His words brought a tiny smile to her lips before she leaned low and pressed a kiss to his. He didn’t question her again. There was nothing more to say, and when he felt the warmth of her body surround his, he wouldn’t have been able to form a coherent thought to speak, anyway.
Chapter Thirteen
Summer, 2015 (Present Day)
Bonnie knew she shouldn’t be there, but there she was, standing outside Rohn’s house about to go in for dinner. With him. Alone.
Why? For the same reason she’d said yes to his invitation to go with him to the reunion. Because it seemed the teenage girl who’d had a crush on him twenty-five years ago was alive and well inside her. All these years later she still couldn’t resist Rohn Lerner.
Reason and good sense abandoned her when Rohn was near—or even on the phone. That voice, deeper now than it had been when she’d known him, funneled directly into her ear, caused a shiver to travel through her, no matter how hot the thermometer said it was.
There was no use fighting it, so she might as well go inside and enjoy herself. Later, she’d worry about the future. Pushing that away, she strode to the front door.
Not wanting to arrive empty-handed, and knowing if she asked what she could bring he’d say nothing, she carried a six-pack of beer in her hand. She had no idea what he drank. That summer they’d dated neither of them had been legally old enough to buy a drink. The law had raised the legal drinking age to twenty-one just a few years prior to their turning eighteen.
Standing in front of the door without knocking or ringing the bell wasn’t going to get her inside anytime soon. And procrastinating was only making her more nervous. She raised her fist and knocked.
The sound of Rohn’s quick, heavy footsteps reached her before the door opened and she saw him, smiling but looking a little frazzled and very domestic.
She let her gaze drop to the dish towel, creatively tucked into the pockets of his jeans to form a makeshift apron. “Nice apron.”
He rolled his eyes and pulled the towel from its perch. “I’m sorry. Things took longer than I thought they would.”
“I can help you.”
“Nuh-uh. You’re not helping. I won’t allow it. You’re a guest. Besides, I’m pretty much done anyway. Come on in.” He tipped his head and took a step away from the door.
She held out the beer after she stepped inside. “Here. For you.”
“You didn’t have to bring anything, but thank you.” Rohn took the six-pack from Bonnie’s hands.
“You’re welcome. And are you kidding? My mother would have a fit if she knew I came to dinner and didn’t bring something.”
“You’re right. How is your mamma doing anyway?”
“She’s good. Enjoying the Arizona climate. It’s good for her asthma.” Bonnie responded to Rohn’s inquiry with her stock answer as he led her through his home.
The house was interesting. As Bonnie looked around her, she had trouble seeing Rohn in it. She’d entered through a door that led to a hallway.
There was a living area off to the right. Silver picture frames decorated the polished wood side tables. More frames were interspersed among the books on the shelves. A dining room was to the left, filled with a heavily carved wooden dining table and eight matching chairs, a sideboard, and a buffet.
Both rooms seemed so unlike the Rohn she knew. Then again, he’d been eighteen when she’d known him. It wasn’t as if they had experience decorating a house together. What teenage boy would know or care about home decor?
It wasn’t until they got farther into the house, to the kitchen, that she started to be able to see Rohn living here. Bonnie could picture him
making coffee at the counter. She imagined him leaning against the sink and watching the sunrise out the window over the sink.
More, she could imagine herself standing there next to him.
Bonnie yanked her mind off that fantasy, putting a screeching halt to what was a dangerous and pointless dream. She was cleaning out her dad’s house, selling or renting it, and leaving . . . but not tonight.
Tonight she was going to enjoy this dinner with Rohn. One look at that smile of his when he’d opened the door had her heart beating faster and she knew there was no way not to enjoy spending time with him.
Rohn put the six-pack on the counter and then tossed the towel onto the edge of the sink. “Something to drink?”
“Sure. What are you having?”
“I think I’m going to indulge in one of those nice cold beers you were kind enough to bring.”
“That sounds good to me. I think I’ll join you.” Alcohol could only help the ridiculous nervousness she felt around him.
Rohn reached out and pulled a bottle from the six-pack while glancing at Bonnie. “You want a glass?”
“The bottle is fine.”
He twisted the cap off and handed the longneck to her. The condensation on the cold bottle made her hand wet as she took a closer look at the kitchen.
A vase full of fresh wildflowers on the table caught her attention. Rohn must have picked flowers. The image of that—Rohn bent over in the field grabbing handfuls of Queen Anne’s lace, cornflowers, and daisies—made her smile.
He carried the remainder of the six-pack to the fridge, opened the door, and slid the carrier onto the top shelf. “I did pick up a couple bottles of wine, too, in case you wanted some. One red, one white, in case you get tired of the beer. The guy at the store said these two were good, so . . .”
“Rohn, believe me, I’m no wine expert. The few times a year when I buy a bottle for Mom and me to drink, I usually choose by which has the nicest label.”
He lifted one brow. “And how’s that work out for you?”
She laughed. “Surprisingly well.”
“Good to know.” He lifted his bottle to his lips and swallowed, his eyes on her the entire time. “It’s good to have you back in town, Bonnie Blue.”
“For now.” She had to remind herself as much as him that she was leaving. Eventually.
“For now.” He acknowledged that with a nod and then pushed off from where he’d been leaning back against the cabinets. “Come on out to the patio with me. I gotta throw on the burgers.”
Rohn looked so domestic flipping hamburgers on the grill that it had Bonnie feeling sad for the loss of what could have been. If she hadn’t left. If she hadn’t withheld probably the most important information of their lives from Rohn. If she hadn’t made that decision and done what she’d done . . .
Summer, 1990
The sun was setting earlier and the nights growing cooler. All that did was indicate that Bonnie needed to enjoy each and every second she had left with Rohn before she left for college.
She slipped her hands beneath the hem of his T-shirt and ran her palms over the bare skin of his lower back as he loved her. He thrust into her one last time, groaning, before he rolled to the side to lie next to her on a blanket spread in the back of the truck.
There was a sheen of sweat on his face in spite of the chill as he gazed down at her, a smile tipping up the corner of his mouth. She hoped he didn’t see the tears that just thinking of leaving him, even for the semester, had caused.
“Did you see the moon?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“It’s almost full. Just like it was the first night we were here together.” He rolled onto his back to stare up at the sky, but his hand remained on her stomach and he left one leg tossed over hers.
He was right. The moon had been almost full that first time they’d had sex, which meant that was a month ago. Bonnie didn’t need a calendar to see that her period was late.
Her heart knocked against her rib cage as realization crept in. They hadn’t been careful that first time. Or the second time, for that matter. It wasn’t until Rohn had snuck away to another town where no one knew them and bought a box of condoms that they started to use protection.
“Um, it’s getting late. Can you take me back to town?” She had to get to the drugstore before it closed and buy a test.
Rohn groaned. “I hate dropping you off in town and letting you ride that bike home. It’s not safe in the dark.”
“I’ll be fine.” Roadway safety was the last concern on her mind.
Finally, he sat up. He handed her the shorts and underwear he’d stripped off her an hour ago, before reaching for his own.
She was silent as they drove back to town as the fear gripped her. She somehow managed to hide her fear from Rohn as he kissed her good night and left her alone with her bike.
That’s when the adrenaline kicked in. Shaking, she rode directly to the drugstore and prayed she didn’t know the clerk or see anyone else she knew inside. Hiding the pregnancy test beneath a magazine, she carried both to the counter. She was happy to see it was some young guy she didn’t know manning the register.
Even so her heart pounded as she said, “Hi. Just these please.”
He didn’t look twice at her as he tossed both items in the bag and took her money.
Bonnie stashed the test into the waistband of her shorts, beneath her shirt, just in case and then rode home as fast as she could. Her parents were in the living room watching TV as she came through the door.
“I’m home.” She turned toward her room.
“Did you have fun? What did you do?” her mother asked.
“Melody and I went to the diner and shared a plate of fries and then we went to the drugstore and bought a new magazine. It’s the fall fashion issue.” She held up the plastic bag with the magazine inside as proof. Bonnie had become quite good at lying. “I’m going to brush my teeth and then head to bed early I think. I’m kinda tired.”
“Okay, baby.”
Luckily, her father hadn’t even bothered to glance in her direction. Instead he’d focused on whatever was on television and let her mother ask all the questions.
She headed first to her room, where she closed the door and pulled the box from its hiding place beneath her shirt.
Holding it beneath the edge of her desk in case anyone walked in, she pulled the desk lamp closer and read the instructions. She’d have to take the test to the bathroom with her and then wait for the results.
In two minutes she’d know if what she suspected was true or not. And God help her if it was.
Chapter Fourteen
Summer, 2015 (Present Day)
Rohn wished he had some whiskey. Or tequila. Or vodka. Hell, a single shot of anything that he could down to take the edge off.
Around Bonnie, he was as nervous as a schoolboy on his first date, but worse because now he was an adult and knew all that could go wrong in life and love.
Nope. The beer wasn’t cutting it. He took another swig from the bottle, anyway.
“So the boys who work for you are nice.” Bonnie glanced up from her plate.
They’d chosen to eat out on the patio. He appreciated that decision even more now as the warm breeze ruffled the hair around her face and the sun low in the sky cast a warm glow across her cheeks.
“They can be, when they aren’t busting my chops.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I could see how they might like to stir up trouble. That Tyler especially.”
Rohn let out a snort. “You ain’t kidding about that. He liked you, too, by the way. He said you were very pretty.”
“Really?” She looked surprised and embarrassed at the same time. “That’s sweet, especially since I think I might be double his age.”
“Not quite, but yeah, I know what you mean. Makes a man feel old around all these young bucks.”
“I think you hold your own, all right.”
“Thanks.”
“I like y
our house,” she said, leaning back in her chair and looking relaxed compared to how he felt.
Good thing Bonnie was so good with the small talk. If it were up to Rohn, they’d be in trouble. He feared that he’d been out of the dating game for so long that if he couldn’t talk to her about cattle or this year’s hay crop, he’d be hard-pressed for a topic of conversation. They could talk about the past, he supposed, but given their history together, that was a bit of a minefield.
He dipped his head to acknowledge her compliment. “Thank you. I did a lot to it right after Lila and I bought it. Structurally it was sound, but it felt . . .”
“Like old man Jackson had been living here for the past sixty years?” she suggested.
“Yeah.” He laughed. “Lila was really great with fixing the place up.”
“I can see that. The living room and dining room are lovely.”
“And you can tell I had nothing to do with decorating them.” He grinned.
“Pretty much.” Bonnie looked so beautiful when she smiled like that. Just like she had when she was eighteen. If only he could get her to do it more often.
Rohn drew in a breath and, with enough beer in him to make him brave, launched into what he wanted to know. “You ever take the plunge, Bonnie Blue? Ever get married?”
“No.”
Her answer was as interesting as it was encouraging. “Why not?”
“I guess I just never made it a priority.” She shrugged.
“What did you make a priority?”
“My career.”
“What did you end up doing, anyway?” Rohn couldn’t believe he hadn’t already asked what she did in Arizona.
It was as if he knew her, but at the same time, he didn’t know her at all. They’d been as close as two people could be all those years ago. Aside from those shared memories, they were strangers. He really did suck at communicating.
“I’m a teacher.”
He smiled at her answer. “That’s what you always said you wanted to go to school for.”
School. That had been what had taken her away from him. Or at least he liked to think it was. It had been easy to blame the university in Arizona and the academic scholarship she’d gotten rather than turning his attention to something closer to home. Like the possibility she’d just outgrown him and that was why she’d never come home for summer or winter breaks.