I chuckled again, a little louder this time. It was cute how she worried that I would catch whatever was ailing her.
“Well . . .” I looked around. This was not the time to let nerves take over. “I wanted to see if you were free . . . maybe get a bite to eat or something.” I held my gaze intent on her. Her eyes narrowed then grew a little larger than normal. “But, it’s obvious that’s not going to happen. When was the last time you ate?”
She shrugged and then coughed harder. Quickly scooting to her side, I rubbed her back as her cough persisted. “You have any chicken soup? I could warm some up for you, or I could run to the deli and get some.”
She shook her head. “No, I need to do a grocery run, but this cold has been kicking my ass.”
“Well then.” I stood. “I’ll be right back.” I was sure she was going to protest, but I didn’t give her a chance. I was unlocking her front door in seconds. “See yah in a bit.”
My first stop was the drug store, where I ended up buying just about one of everything in the medicine isle. Then I swung by the deli and got her some chicken noodle soup. Thankfully the woman manning the counter didn’t question my request for more broth than anything else. Maybe my request wasn’t that odd.
I was back in Natalie’s driveway twenty minutes later, and when I let myself into her house, she looked worse than she had when I left.
“What did you do? Buy the whole store?” Her smile was soft as she eyed the bags I was carrying.
“I didn’t know which one you preferred, so I gave you options.”
“You didn’t have to. I appreciate it, though.”
I handed her a plastic spoon and the to-go bowl of soup and started unloading the bags. When I pulled out four different flavors of cough drops she laughed at me.
“You’re crazy, you know that?” Even sick her laugh was beautiful.
“Thank you.”
A little more color seeped through her cheeks from the soup alone. I watched as she sipped the broth, holding the bowl close to her chin.
“You’re welcome. You should keep hydrated when you’re sick.”
She nodded and took another sip. I got up from the sofa and grabbed another blanket off her blue chair. I wasn’t completely sure where the need to take care of her was coming from, but it was there, and it was strong. I held the blanket out, silently asking if she was cold. The way her eyes locked onto mine, going narrow then normal again had me wanting to pick her up and carry her to her bed where she should be resting.
Natalie’s arms opened wide, making room for me to drape her with the blanket. Once she was covered, I took the bowl from her, set it on the side table, and resumed my seat at the other end of the sofa.
Her eyes were heavy, and every time she blinked, it looked like she was forcing them to open again. She tried to stifle a yawn and failed.
“Come on,” I whispered, standing again and holding my hand out for her to take. “Let’s get you to bed.” I did my best to keep my voice low.
She nodded. It was funny that today she was the one for not so many words. I held her hand the whole way back to her room and tucked her under her blankets. A part of me wanted to curl in next to her and just hold her, but I didn’t. Would she have let me if I had tried?
“My mama used to take real good care of my sisters and me when we were sick as kids. Would always make us chicken soup—said it would warm our soul, heal us from the inside out.” I chuckled after saying that thought aloud.
“Umm hmm.” Her eyes looked like they were getting heavier. I sat on the side of her bed, admiring this beautiful disheveled woman. A few more thoughts of my mama came to mind, but before I knew it, Natalie’s eyes closed and her breathing became even.
I brushed a few strands of her hair away from her face and just watched her for a minute.
“I hope you feel better,” I whispered before tucking her covers around her.
Just about ready to let myself out, I noticed the box of tissues sitting on the sofa and a thought came to mind. A minute later, I was laying the box of tissues, her next dose of medicine and a bottle of water on her night stand. I might have also added a scribbled note. Sweet dreams. I hope you feel better soon.
AFTER CYRUS SPENT an afternoon taking care of me, my thoughts of him were constant. They were so constant that I was either going to have to go find him, or I was going to have to go out and distract myself. I opted for the latter.
The sound of my front door opening and closing followed by Monique and Addie giggling drew me out of my bedroom. They both looked hot, but Addie ’could’ve walked right out of Country Weekly magazine in her short, frayed denim skirt, white racerback tank top, and chunky turquoise jewelry.
The only person missing was Grace.
“Girl, you look amazing!” Monique said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’m going to go make us some drinks.” She stopped just shy of the doorway and glanced at Addie and me over her shoulder. “You better go hunt down those hot boots you promised.” As if to illustrate her point, she kicked one foot, showing off her flip-flops. I laughed, but Addie raised a questioning eyebrow at me.
“Monique doesn’t care for country music. So as a bribe to get her to come with us tonight, I promised her a pair of honest-to-god cowboy boots.”
“A good pair of boots will turn almost any woman’s opinion.” Addie smiled and winked at me.
“My thoughts exactly.”
“All right ladies, drinks are ready,” Monique yelled toward the living room. She placed three green, salt-rimmed drinks on the counter. We each lifted a glass in the air. “To good friends and a glass of liquid courage.”
Judging by our position in line, the bar would be packed, which was nothing new for a Friday night.
The line wrapped halfway around the building, and as we got closer, I didn’t see a single person being let in. Monique and I shared a glance and turned to walk to the back of the line. We made it two steps before Addie grabbed us by the elbows and steered us toward the door instead. The bouncer stood with his arms folded across his chest, a bored expression on his face blanking all the girls trying to talk their way in. But his eyes lit up when he spotted Addie walking toward him.
“Casper!” Addie squealed, sliding one arm around his waist for a small hug.
“Hey there, Miss Addilyn. I haven’t seen you in a while. How are you?” he asked, returning her side hug. His white face flushed after she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
“I’ve been great, and you’re right, it has been too long. I’d like you to meet some of my friends. This is Natalie and Monique.”
He looked over at the both of us, tipping his hat in the true cowboy gentleman form of greeting.
“Nice to meet you, ladies. Why don’t you go on in?”
We thanked him and were waved past the in counter too.
“So why Casper? He’s huge like he should be one of those wrestle mania guys,” I asked Addie as soon as we were out of earshot.
“First off, he’s white as a ghost, but he’s the friendliest, sweetest guy you’ll ever meet,” she tossed over her shoulder. Well, that was a good enough answer for me.
Addie pulled back the pewter handle attached to the ginormous wooden door, and loud music assaulted our ears. There were bars on both ends of the room with a large corral-looking dance floor right in the middle. The dance floor was filled with line dancers and, like I assumed before, both bars were at least two deep.
“Let’s get drinks,” Monique yelled over the music. We nodded our heads and followed her lead.
With drinks in our hands, we walked around and scoped the area out. There was eye candy everywhere, and I crossed my fingers hoping I was seeing with my own eyes and not beer goggles this early on.
The catcalls didn’t go unnoticed, but none of us turned to any of the guys. Why couldn’t a guy approach a lady properly? I definitely wanted a gentleman—maybe even a brooding one.
The DJ announced the next line dance w
ould be the Tush Push.
Addie squealed and swallowed her drink down until it was empty. Monique and I almost choked on our drinks as we tried to finish them as fast, but Addie was already pulling us toward the dance floor.
I went with her willingly, abandoning my almost empty beer bottle on a table we passed, but Monique hesitated. “I don’t know how to line dance!” Addie ignored her protests and continued to pull us along until we stood in the middle of the dance floor.
The beat vibrated through me. I was a little rusty, but once we started, it all came back. It also helped that I had an awesome pair of smooth-soled cowboy boots on my feet. There was nothing worse than trying to two-step in heels.
Addie and Monique laughed continuously at her attempts to learn the moves while I put one foot in front of the other, stomping my soles on the scuffed-up hardwood floor.
A minute into the song, a warm, strong body came close behind me. Some random had his hands on my hips and was keeping in line with me.
A quick glance over my shoulder had me grinning. He was sexy. He had the bluest eyes and the cutest smile, not to mention a jaw full of sexy two-day stubble. I smiled back, and he winked. Winked! I decided to let the innocent flirting continue.
As that song ended and the next one started, my friend linked our hands and twirled me around, expertly two-stepping me around the dance floor.
Our eyes met, and smiles were exchanged.
He leaned in close to my ear. “I’m Todd. You got a name?” Even his voice was sexy.
I nodded, and he turned his ear to my lips. “I’m Natalie.”
He held his smile, nodded back, and turned to my ear again. “You’re gorgeous. Pleasure to meet you, Natalie.”
I smiled shyly, not knowing what more to say as we continued dancing. When the song ended, I started to walk off the dance floor while Todd rested his hand at the small of my back and followed me.
I stopped dead in my tracks, and Todd’s chest bumped into my back. My eyes locked onto a backward cap wearing, brooding, yet captivating man.
Levi stood next to Monique and Addie, tipping his longneck back while Cyrus’s brown eyes studyied me with interest. I watched him carefully, and saw the moment he realized there was someone behind me. The change was instant. The interest flashed from anger to a slow smolder. If I had to pin down his look, I would say he was accepting some kind of unspoken challenge.
I turned around, reached for Todd’s neck, and urged him to bend close to me.
“Thank you for the dance, I had fun.” I turned to walk away, only to be halted by him grabbing my wrist.
Cyrus stepped forward, and I turned back to Todd. “I’m sorry, but my friends are waiting.”
His hand snuck to the back of my head, his mouth came down to my ear, and my skin prickled with heat, but it wasn’t Todd making me feel all kinds of fuzzy. Turning an inch, I watched Cyrus stride toward us with his jaw ticking in annoyance. His steps were long and controlled, but the look in his eyes was protective. Was Cy protective of me? I had no idea, but if it came down to Todd or Cy, there wasn’t a question of who I would rather spend time with. Finally, he stopped a foot away from me.
My hand went to Cyrus’s chest. It was an attempt to halt any kind of confrontation, but my mind went blank. With my palm pressed against him, I felt his strong pecs, controlled breaths, and steady heartbeat as he tried to contain whatever storm was raging inside him. Uncertainty flickered in his eyes as he glanced to me and back to Todd. I held my breath while I waited for him to make a move, and I would be lying if I said his caveman act wasn’t turning me on.
I forced the feeling aside and smiled straight into his narrowed brown eyes, which were growing darker. He blinked. A second or two passed, and slowly his muscles relaxed just a little. I turned back to Todd, who for some reason, was refusing to back down or away.
“Todd, thank you for the dance, but I need to get back to my friends.”
His gaze stayed locked on Cyrus’s face, watching his every move and probably making sure he didn’t get blindsided.
Todd lifted his chin. “This your man?”
I gave a tiny shake of my head and kept my hand securely plastered to Cyrus’s impressive chest.
“Then why is he acting like he owns you?”
Cyrus stepped closer.
“Cyrus, stop!” I warned him. Our eyes locked for only a moment before the flick of his tongue across his bottom lip brought my attention to his mouth. I know I hadn’t had much alcohol yet, so I couldn’t even use it as an excuse for thinking about what his tongue could possibly do to me. I turned back to Todd (for what I hoped was the last time). “Look, I don’t want any trouble, please.” I stalled a couple of seconds, pleading with my eyes for him to let it go.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I turned completely away from the two testosterone-fueled men and made a beeline for the ladies’ room.
Of course there was a line, but I waited anyway.
While washing my hands, I saw Addie and Monique practically shoving people out of the way as they rushed to me.
“Oh my gosh, Nat. What the hell! It was like you were in the center of a pissing match. Are you okay?” Monique’s eyes were wide.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“I think you should go out there and talk to him, neither one backed down after you walked away,” Addie said, looking over her shoulder at the closed bathroom door.
“What!” I pulled a paper napkin out of the dispenser, dried my hands and tossed the brown ball into the rubbish before hurrying out to find the guys.
Cyrus was standing a few feet away from where I had left him, and Levi was now next to him. To my far right, I saw Casper escorting a rather unhappy looking Todd toward the front doors. Looking back at the guys, Levi inconspicuously shook his head, warning me to tread carefully. Cyrus was too busy watching Todd get hauled out on his ass to see what Levi was doing.
The moment Cy turned and spotted me, his eyes softened a bit, making my feet falter. God, he was gorgeous. I tilted my head to the side . . . I really wanted to understand what was going on here. My steps faltered and then stopped altogether, and I tilted my head to the side. I was torn between saying something and continuing to openly gawk at his flexing arms.
He tipped his bottle back, emptying the contents before wiping his moist lips against the back of his hand and tossing the bottle in the nearest trash can. With hungry eyes, he strode directly to me, gently grabbed my wrist, and led me out to the dance floor.
I was lost.
I had no idea what he was doing, and he still hadn’t spoken one word to me.
I was twirled onto the scuffed hardwood floor, and he pulled me in close—too close. If I thought the feel of his chest under my palm was impressive, it was nothing compared to having my whole body pressed against his with his arm securely wrapped around my waist.
Why does this feel right?
We two-stepped silently around the dance floor, allowing our eyes and body language to hold a conversation. His hand slid a little lower on the small of my back while I moved my hand to the base of his neck. He pressed a little closer, and my eyes fixed on his lips. His head tilted to the side, and my chin tilted in invitation. Around and around we went, testing each other’s will.
Cyrus’s strong hand squeezed and loosened right before the song ended, which I blamed for my missing a beat. I couldn’t help but find it funny and threw my head back, laughing. I already knew that if I looked at him there would be no other reaction but the same storm he usually had brewing behind his eyes.
The next song was a slow one. Cyrus tightened his hold on me, his arm secured around my waist, and his other hand moved to hold the back of my neck, bringing us almost cheek to cheek. His scent intoxicated me. Light cologne mixed with soap and a faint hint of sweat. Resting my forehead against his shoulder, I enjoyed the feel of him.
Around the second chorus of the song, I tilted my head and was met with bedroom eyes. I licked my lips and swallowed, realiz
ing my throat felt dry and scratchy. I wrapped my hand around his neck, which flexed under my touch, and I pulled him closer to my lips. “I need a drink. Do you want one?”
He nodded. “Sure.” Again with the one-word answers, but at least I got him to talk. Cyrus locked our fingers together, and we walked off hand in hand toward the bar.
Passing our friends, I saw the cheesy grins plastered on each of their faces, but Levi’s must have been for the blonde he had pressed against him.
I squeezed my way to the bar. Leaning against it with money in hand, I waited patiently for the bartender to make her way to us. I pressed my body against the bar hoping she could hear me, and I felt Cyrus’s body press against mine. I ordered my beer and he followed.
“Fourteen,” she stated cheerfully, setting the bottles down on the bar and shaking her bare hourglass hips in tune with the music.
I reached across the bar to slide a twenty toward her, but Cyrus stopped me, and the bartender snatched his money instead.
Cy nodded to her. “Keep the change.”
She smiled at him sweetly, mouthed thank you and winked.
Huh, why did she get three words but I only get one? It was a silly thing to think, but still, it made me raise one eyebrow and turn to him. I lifted the brown bottle a little and gave him a snappy, “Thanks.”
My body melted into his as he wrapped his arm around my waist. His warm breath tickled my ear when he asked, “Something wrong?”
Lifting on my tiptoes, I pressed my lips so close to his ear they brushed his lobe when I spoke. “So, now I get two words? How long before I get three . . . maybe a whole sentence?”
His body stiffened, and he removed his arm from around my waist and backed up a step.
“I’m sorry.” I shouldn’t have said that. It was somewhat rude, and now, we were back to the intense brooding man who didn’t like to talk routine.
Nodding once, Cyrus kept his features steeled and tipped back his beer. Exasperated, I huffed out a breath, advising myself to shut up and enjoy my free beer.
We stood two feet away from each other surrounded by an awkward silence. A group of three young ladies strutted their way over to our posts. The blonde stopped and rubbed against Cyrus’s arm. From the side of my eye, I watched as she made her move.
Waiting on Faith (She's Beautiful Series Book 2) Page 5