“I call. What you do have there Lady Luck?”
“I have a full house. Ladies over kings. Looks like I just took you down.” Oh shit, she’s an even better poker player than me. Her name suits her well. Lady Luck.
“You sure did. Damn. You played me well. Did you know what I had this whole time?”
“Yep it’s not hard to read you. You were squirming in your seat and I saw your eyes flash across the board. You were a dead giveaway.”
“You may have to teach me a thing or two about playing. I thought you had a pair, but not a boat. Damn.”
Jax and Ryan crowd around me, joining me in the loser’s circle. I lose track of Addie, not knowing where she ran off to. I have unfinished business with her. I’m not backing down now. I still want to take her out, win or lose.
After the guys move along, I search for her inside and turn up with no such luck I wander outside and find her in the barn checking on the animals.
“Hey you played a good game in there, maybe someday you could sit down and teach me how this reading people thing works.”
“It’s not hard. You pay attention to their gestures, and the hands they play, how they’re betting. Its not all that hard to do.”
“Well you should play pro. Your tourney name could be Lady Luck.”
“I wouldn’t want to waste my time on trying to win at playing cards, I’d rather be winning at life. My career, my family, my home. Those are the things that make me a winner.”
“No you’re right. I just see you playing at a pro table, as part of the November nine.”
“Jeremiah, do you really want to take me out on a date sometime? You’ve hinted a few times and I was curious.” She says shyly, I tuck her hair behind her ear leaning into her a little closer.
“I was hoping you’d catch on. Yes, I would love to take you out sometime. We both need a little more fun and laughter in our lives. How about Saturday night? “I ask.” I’ll pick you up at six?”
“Where are you taking me?”
“A night out on the town. Dinner and dancing. Wear something sweet and girly for me.”
“You don’t like the way I dress?” She says looking down at her jeans and red flannel shirt, its unbuttoned giving me a peek at her luscious cleavage. What I wouldn’t do to be her tank top underneath hugging her frame.
“I could look at you wearing scrubs and still think you’re cute. But I’ve never seen you in a dress before. A proper date deserves proper attire.”
“Okay. I’ll raid Jessa’s closet.” This girl. She’s so sweet and innocent. I love the cute things she says, and the fact that it feels like I’m hanging out with a friend and not a girl. She’s quirky and cool, calm and active. I never know what her response will be, and I always get side tracked while eyeing her down. She’s got a sexy body, with curves in all the right places. Her ass... ahh I could squeeze perfectly in the palm of my hand. Her hobbies and interest are similar to mine and we compliment each other. We come from very different backgrounds, but our values are the same. When I look at her sometimes, I feel my whole world come into view. I feel like the earth has moved to bring us together. It’s a weird feeling when you don’t understand that your head and heart can feel so differently about some one. I want her in my future but I’m scared to give my heart over again. I also can’t believe that it’s taken me theses past few months to really put the effort out there to get on with my life. I kind of regret turning her away all those times she offered to help me. I could’ve been getting to know her. I could’ve been starting my life sooner than now.
Now, I’ve got homework to do. Where do you go for good food and dancing?
CHAPTER 6
Jeremiah
I’ve thought of her so much lately. She’s the opposite of Cam and maybe that’s what surprised me. She’s so different than what I thought I wanted. I told myself to be careful and not give my heart away so easily. But I’m finding it harder than I thought to just let myself walk away. I’m afraid of letting her go and regret knowing there could have been something worth fighting for. There’s not one single thing about her that doesn’t drive me wild. It’s nearly everything!
She mirrors me. We are very alike and also very different. We mesh. And when I look at what my future would be like with her, having her by my side always, it makes me wonder if turning my back on her is the smart thing to do. She may frustrate me sometimes, but I’m finding that it’s actually a turn on, with her attitude and sassy mouth. I can’t help but get hard when she back mouths me, or has some crazy remark. Sometimes It’s the surprise of her responses, and that shocking tongue. It’s so funny to hear some of the sexual innuendos she gives me knowing she’s never actually been in that situation. I’m hoping our date this weekend goes great. From what Jax told me, or rather warned me, was that she’s never dated. This will be her first everything. He told me if my intentions weren’t honorable he’d come after me, he knows where I sleep.
I reassured him that I’m not looking to score and walk away. I’m not interested in just sleeping with her and turning my back on her. I told him my heart is healing, but she’s the one healing it. I need her around. She may not know it, but she’s helping me get through this hell I’ve been in. And when she’s around the gloom in my life disappears. She adds sunlight and happiness. I’m not a man to take and take, she’s given me a lot and now I’m ready to give back to her. She deserves all the happiness in the world, I’m going to show her what its like to have a man give her everything she needs and wants. I’m willing to let her set the pace, I’m not going to force her into anything she’s not ready for. If she wants to wait till marriage to give her body away I will respect her, and hope that one day I will be that man.
“As long as you don’t break her heart, I’m okay with it. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long ass time. She needs that extra spark that only a man can give a woman. She’s seen it in Jessa and I’ve talked to her about it.”
“When you met Jessa, did you feel anything, like from the start, or did it gradually progress over time?”
“The second I laid eyes on her, it was a connection unlike any other. I still get these chills when she looks at me.”
“When Addie and I met, I was with Cam as you know. And we hated each other. I know I took something away from her, I didn’t do it to knowingly to hurt her. And now when I look at her, she’s all I see. Everything and everyone is nonexistent.”
“Then I’d have to say you have it bad. And that your life is just beginning. You’re meant to be together, but take things slow, I’m glad that she’s finally found someone willing to see beyond her demons.
Huh. She has troubles? I would have never guessed. She’s always so confident, yet she is shy. And reserves her problems to herself. I wonder what it is that she keeps bottled inside.
“That first time I met her, my first thought was she’s hot tempered with an ugly attitude. I couldn’t understand her hate. Now that I know who she is and why she’s Addie, I literally cannot move away from her. It scares me that I’m falling so hard so fast, but there’s this underlining feeling deep inside me, that’s begging for her. It’s a yearning that I’ve never experienced before. When she’s near, I feel this electric spark, it’s a wild and crazy zing coursing through my veins. My body only knows her, it only wants her, needs her. It scares me to think that I will never be the same if she were to turn her back on me. I survived Cam leaving, but I wont survive Addie. “
She’s a life raft. I didn’t know I needed until I was sinking faster than I could swim. My house. Well I would only call it dwelling place, a shell, before Addie stepped in to help me. It’s now headed towards a wholesome home. The only part I see missing now is her.
Because of my shit hole, I’ve been hanging out at Jax’s house more and more when I know he will be home. Nothing comes to furniture and clean running water, I don’t have those amenities at my place and hanging out there couldn’t ever work. At least not until its complete.
&n
bsp; "Let's finish this match between the Cowboys and Packers. Your team is going down." I tell Jax.
"Your cowgirls aren’t looking so hot, not with that defensive line up. I'm going to pound your offense."
"Not with Clay Matthews, isn’t he still on the injured list." I get defensive about my favorite team and my favorite players.
"Rub it in why don’t you. I have still Rogers, the best QB in the NFL. I'm not worried."
"Hey guys, in ten minutes I need you to check on the twins. I need to grab a shower." Jessa tells us.
"No problem babe, I've got the baby monitor right here." Jax points to the walkie-talkie looking thing in front of us.
Our game got interesting in the 3rd quarter. The score is 28-3 the Packers, when the baby monitor goes off.
"Sorry, Jere duty calls, we can finish this up later."
"Hey boys, what's up?"
Addie enters the room just as Jax is making his exit.
"Nothing much, we were playing a few rounds of Madden, but someone needs a diaper change so he was just leaving." I tell her.
"I'll play for you Jax.” She says.
"Go right ahead, I'll probably still end up beating you." I smirk back at her, with a wink.
“How many times have I fooled you Jere? Don’t be surprised when I whoop your ass.”
“Whoop my ass with the Cowboys? Uh I don’t think so.”
“I have all sorts of distractions to make you lose.”
“Oh I bet you do.” Wow, is she flirting with me, or is it just me who is seeing Addie in this playful state? I could only hope she’s this way on our date tomorrow.
To my surprise she was able to score a few touchdowns, but unfortunately couldn’t beat me after all.
“You played a great game, you surprised by how well you could play, and we should hang out together more often. I like playing video games with you.”
“I’d like that, my brother is busy with adult and parenthood to worry about fitting time in for playing games with his little sister, anyway.”
“I loved playing with my sister growing up too. Come over anytime next week, we can have a tournament match showdown against our favorite teams. Order pizza and drink lots of beer.”
“Okay, we’ll I must be getting home now. My puppies need to be let out. And it’s my turn to make dinner tonight.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow Lady Luck.”
“Bye Jere.” She says as she’s walking out the door. Damn I hate it when she turns away from me. It’s really starting to get to me. I’ve got to find a way to fight this feeling off, its much too soon to be feeling this way about someone I hardly know.
CHAPTER 7
Addie
Tonight I’m gifting Jeremiah a date. Simply because I know we’d have a great time.
We have this weird chemistry. We love and hate each other. He gets on my nerves sometimes but he’s growing on me. He can be so sweet too. And at times I catch him staring at me. I’ve never felt this weird burning to my skin. Boys have never given me a second look before, most of the time I felt invisible to their eyes. I was okay with that growing up and I’ve been okay living without someone to look at me the way Jax looks at Jessa.
I’ve never been in a relationship, never been kissed, never had sex before. I’m a blank canvas, except for my run in with Adam and his friend last summer, even though nothing happened, or at least I can’t remember any of it. I’m a newbie through it all. I don’t have any expectations. We may just be better off friends.
My desire for him is growing though. I feel tingles in my belly, wetness in my panties, and when he smiles at me, I feel like my clothes will melt off. I’m not sure how much more I can take.
And then I wonder how I’m going to steer myself through my first official date. I asked Jessa to pick out my clothes, a dress as he requested and she helped me with my makeup and hair. I can only imagine what Jax has to say when he sees me come out of this room. And as it is, Jeremiah will be here any minute.
“My nerves are shot. I’m not sure if I’m cut out for this. I’ve never done this before”
“Stop fidgeting, you’ll be okay. Its just dinner and dancing.” Jessa tries to calm me down.
“I know. But I’ve never done this before. What if we don’t have anything to talk about? What if this becomes awkward for us all?”
“Don’t worry. It’ll work out. Y’all have some kind of crazy zing in the air when y’all around each other. We all see it, you just have to feel it, embrace it, and hope that it never fades away.”
“So I’m not blind to way he looks at me?”
“No we all see it too.”
“I’m just not sure what it means. He says he’s broken; he’s damaged and doesn’t want to bring me down with him. But the way I feel for him, when he’s stuck on me, I feel this burning in my skin, this yearning for something I don’t understand.”
“He has had a rough year too. You both have under gone lasting scars. Give him time to open up his heart to you, and you work on opening your doors too. It’s not a one way street. Any type of relationship involves patience, understanding and trust.”
“ I know I won the bet and offered him the prize that he lost, but I’m not so sure I can do this Jessa. I’ve never been on a date. What if I sink faster than I can swim?”
“Stop you’re torturing yourself. Think of this as a date with Ryan or Jax. You’re going out to have a great time. So enjoy it.” The doorbell rings, interrupting my melt down.
“That’s your cue Addie. Go show him how the country girls have a good time.”
“Are you sure I can do this?”
“Addie, you’ll never know until you try.”
Luckily Jax is tending to the twins and I forgo the protective words only a brother can give. Thank God, I would’ve been more embarrassed if he had been here to ask a thousand questions. I open the door, just as he is knocking.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m gonna be honest and say, this is my first date ever with someone other than family. I’m nervous and I hope we have a great time.”
“You’re nervous? You should feel my forehead and neck. I’m sweating bullets. I’ve only picked up one girl for a date, and she was my best friend since kindergarten. But I can guarantee we will have a blast tonight. Shall we?”
He holds out his hand for me to take. Glancing back at Jessa, I smile and turn back to the man who makes my skin tingle and burn, with just that sexy smile. Oh my God my panties are soaked!
He leads me to the truck. His black F250, I swear he doesn’t know how country he can be. He says he’s not, but living in the country, in a farmhouse, with a big truck. He’s country. I don’t even realize I’m blushing.
“What did I do to earn your smile?”
“I was just thinking how you said you’re not a country boy. But you don’t realize you are one now.”
“I guess I am.” He smiles that wicked smile of his, dimples on both cheeks, straight white teeth. And his eyes, a dark amber, I could get lost in his soul staring so deep.
When he helps me climb in, leaning into me. I swear I feel him breathe me in. Shutting my door and running to the driver’s side, he climbs in and turns to me.
“Addie, I planned to take you out to eat, at a very nice restaurant but I changed my plans.”
“So where are you taking me? Do I need to go change into jeans?”
“What you’re wearing,” he glances down at my exposed thigh and back to my eyes. “Will be just fine.”
There goes my tingles and shocks of an electric current, zapping through my veins. The way he looks at me makes me feel so weird and different. I’ve never felt this way before, and I’ve yet to figure out what it means. For now I’m going to follow Jessa’s words, I’m going to embrace it and feel it.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope. Its a surprise. You’ll find out soon.” He turns and winks at me.
He turns up the music.
“Who
is this?”
“Who is what?”
“The music, who are we listening to?”
"The cover song is titled Hurt. it was written and produced by Nine Inch Nails, but this is Johnny Cash singing. Isn’t it cool to hear such an idol sing a song in a different way?"
"No. I’ve grown up listening to Garth brooks and George Strait and even Johnny, I love all the modern singers too. And I’ve ventured out to listen to indie rock country mix. My favorite is Pistol Packin Mama. They’re from Fort Worth, but come to town a few times a year. You’re going to have to listen to them with me next time they’re here. Their music is a lil bit country, blues, and rock all rolled into one. They have this song about stealing a dead mans gold, and burying his bones in the woods.”
“They sound pretty cool. Let me know, I’d love to join you. I have a weird addiction to live music. It’s never the same from one show to the next. I hate the cookie cutter music, the ones you hear over and over on the radio. Oh and I love hearing battling duels too.”
“They are pretty cool. Their bass guitar is hilarious and his girlfriend is sweet too. I hung out with them after the last show. You and Paul might actually get along well, he’s a computer geek too.”
“Hey now Lady Luck. I’m not a computer geek. I don’t wear pocket protectors and suspenders. And I’m not nerdy.”
“You work with computers and is as smart as they are right?”
“Yeah. I know a thing or two.”
“Then you’re a computer geek. Just one very hot nerd.”
“You think I’m hot?”
“Okay, it’s going to your head. Yes you’re hot, now pay attention to the road so we don’t end up killed.”
I glance over at him, and his smile is a mile wide. I’m glad I decided to go with him, even though he’s a loser.
“I can feel your eyes on me. Tell me what you’re thinking?” he says
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