He slid his hand under my shirt and splayed it across my stomach. The rubbing of his thumb back and forth across my skin, his promised words in my ear, and his strong arms holding me tight was enough to set my mind at ease. I closed my eyes and drifted but not before hearing him whisper in my ear, "Sleep my beautiful girl." His?
I woke the next morning to find myself alone. It took a minute to figure out where I was. Outside the window I could hear talking and laughing but the closed blinds didn’t allow me to see who was there. Looking around the room, I noticed it was just as nicely decorated and clean as the kitchen. The king sized bed was centered in front of a large plasma T.V., mounted above an oak dresser. There were nightstands on each side of the bed with matching lamps and a chaise lounge in the corner that was covered in throws, making the room look cozy and warm.
I got out of the bed feeling energized and alert. The pain in my head was barely noticeable, and the pain in my leg was completely gone. I went to the bathroom, freshened up, pulled my hair back, and then started rummaging through the drawers to find something to put on. I managed to find a pair of grey sweats and socks, which would have to suffice since I only had heels. Voices from the kitchen reminded me that I was not alone and I was going to have to face Mr. Beautiful, looking like a train wreck. I tried my best to smile and seem at ease as I walked towards the kitchen. I had not expected to see a room full of women when I walked in.
“Well, I’ll be damned. The princess can walk on her own.” My eyes settled on a leggy blonde who held a glass of soda in one hand and an unlit cigarette in the other. She wore a bright orange t-shirt that said “Do Me” in bold letters with black leggings and boots. Her face was pretty, with big blue eyes and lips covered in red gloss. Her bobbed hair was slightly teased and laid perfectly with not a strand out of place. I recognized Red from the bar, propped up against the counter with a huge smile plastered on her face. The other two women, who could have been twins, were staring holes through me like I had offended them just by walking in the room. You could tell by just looking at all of them that they belonged on the back of a motorcycle. They appeared rough around the edges, but classy in their own way.
“Let’s go smoke,” the blonde said letting herself out the kitchen door that led to the carport. The twins followed, leaving me standing like a fool, watching them go.
“Honey, that bitch is gonna rip you apart unless you grow some balls,” Red said smiling over at me.
“Good Morning, Red. It’s nice to see you too.” Her head fell back and she laughed so hard I couldn’t help but laugh too, not really knowing what was so funny.
“Luke will be in shortly. Make yourself at home,” she said then disappeared out the kitchen door to join the others. I was left standing in the kitchen alone once again. I fixed a glass of orange juice and tried to recap all that had happened since last night.
Here I was, in the house of a complete stranger, being laughed at by what appeared to be an ex. Who did she think she was? He invited me over here. He slept with me last night. It was me who he had given his undivided attention to, and I would be damned before some bitch said something to try and make me feel like shit about it.
I wanted to see Luke. I wanted him to hold me like he held me last night. I didn’t want this to be a one night stand and I knew it, but first I was going to have to put that bitch in her place. I placed my glass on the counter and opened the door, prepared to brawl if need be when I looked up into the eyes of Luke.
“Leaving already?” he asked flashing me his winning smile. It took my breath away. I stood speechless, staring at him in his ripped faded jeans and black T-shirt. How had I slept in bed with this man and not taken advantage of him? He was the sexiest man that I had ever seen. His arms bulged from his shirt and his smell was so intoxicating, I swayed at the scent of him.
“I’m fine,” I replied breathlessly.
“That I’m aware of gorgeous, but where are you going?” he asked smiling.
I took a deep breath and gathered my wits. I didn’t want to mention that my plans were to put Blondie in her place so I just smiled and said, “I was actually coming to find you. Did I leave my clutch in your truck?”
“No, you must have left it at the bar. Red brought it in with her. It’s on the table. Hungry?”
“Starving,” I replied stepping back and letting him in. “I have to go to town in a few. Maybe we can grab something to eat?”
“I’d love that,” I said a little too quickly.
He smiled, “I just have to grab a few things. I’ll meet you at the truck.” He turned, walking toward a part of the house I had yet to explore. I went back to the bathroom to gather my things, stopping long enough to make the bed, and headed back out to the garage. I had forgotten about the bitch crew, but was quickly reminded when I stepped into what appeared to be a gossip circle where I was the topic of conversation.
“Dallas!” Red said, smiling brightly as always at me. “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you earlier. This is Maddie,” she said pointing to the blonde I was growing to hate, “and Monica and Jennifer.”
“How nice to meet y’all. Sorry we got off to a bad start. I’m Dallas, the princess bitch that was cared for and pampered by Luke last night.” I said looking directly at Maddie who looked like she had been slapped in the face. Red busted out laughing, and before Maddie had a chance to retaliate Luke walked out saying his goodbyes. Perfect timing.
“Well ladies, as always, I hate to leave great company, but I must get going. Make yourselves at home.” He walked over to Red, planting a peck on her lips and giving hugs to the others. Seeing him kiss Red did nothing to me, but when Maddie wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his neck, I almost lost it. She shot me a “go fuck yourself” look, but made sure to shield it from Luke. He grabbed my hand after hugging everyone goodbye and led me to the truck. Opening the door for me, he made sure I was in and settled before walking around to get in, giving me just enough time to flip Maddie the finger before he came into eye range. Feeling satisfied, and much like a Jr. High drama queen, I smiled with contentment as we pulled from the driveway and headed out.
Chapter 3
The front of Luke’s house appeared to be a lot larger on the outside than what it was on the inside. It was beautiful, made of wood that gave it a log cabin look. The yard was landscaped perfectly and I could see what I thought was a shop in the back. The driveway was concrete, but the road we pulled out on was dirt and lined with large pines all the way down as far as I could see. Where his house stood, about a half- acre, was the only area that was not covered in trees.
“This place is amazing,” I said, mostly to myself.
“Thank you. I have two hundred acres of seclusion right by myself. I built it myself too, from the ground up. I even cut and cleared the timber with a little help from some heavy machinery,” he said with a sense of pride in his voice that I couldn’t help but admire.
“You should be very proud. That’s a great accomplishment.”
"Enough about me, tell me a little about you," he said to me, wearing that sexy smile and looking me over like it was the first time he noticed what I was wearing.
"I borrowed some of your clothes, I hope you don't mind," I said, feeling a little embarrassed.
"They look much better on you than they do on me."
We had finally reached the end of the road and he pulled onto the highway heading north.
"So, where are we exactly?" I asked, once again avoiding the subject of me.
"South of Hattiesburg, just on the Forrest County line."
“Have you lived here all your life?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation away from me. He let out a light laugh.
"I know what you’re doing Dallas and it’s not going to work. Tell me about the woman who is responsible for this smile on my face." He said, pointing at the face that I had become so infatuated with.
"There's really not a lot to tell," I said, turning to look out the window. I
didn't like feeling exposed. I didn't want to open up and get too close to this man when I had no idea how long this, whatever this was, was going to last.
"I don't believe you. Tell me. I would really like to know you better." The sincerity in his voice and face instantly put me at ease.
"I was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Herman and Kay Knox. My father was a real estate investor and my mother ran a clothing boutique downtown." I smiled to myself, remembering how graceful she looked sashaying from one customer to the next. "She would always let me sit in a chair facing the dressing room, applauding the ladies that came out in an elegant evening gown or cocktail dress. She had such a way with fashion. My dad always wanted her to take it further. He even offered to open up her very own exclusive line, but she said her happiness was right there, in that little boutique she had dreamed of having since she was a child. I can still see my dad walking in there, sweeping her off her feet and kissing her like they were sixteen again. I don't think love like that exists anymore," I said, my eyes glossing over at the memories. The aching I felt in my chest was heavy. It had never ceased. Even after all these years the pain was still there.
"What happened to them?" Luke asked, breaking me from my thoughts.
"My mother was closing late one night. There was a charity ball that weekend and most of the locals shopped there, so she had been pretty busy all evening. I was in Panama City with some of my girlfriends for spring break, so she was alone. A group of men were later seen leaving the store on foot. She had been shot and killed. The police wrote it off as a robbery, but my father knew better. Most of her customers used a charge account and only a small amount of money was taken. After that, my father spent weeks trying to solve the mystery. He kept saying that it was an inside job. I never knew what that meant and I never asked because he had distanced himself completely from me. Six months later, he was found dead in his office. The autopsy revealed it was the result of a brain aneurism, but I think it was a broken heart."
Luke reached over, grabbing my hand and bringing it to his lips. He didn't say anything; he just held my hand and let me cry. I had never opened up to anyone like this before. I knew in that moment, that I felt something for this man.
"After that I moved to Mississippi to live with my grandmother in Collins. I left everything; my friends, my life, my hopes and dreams. I was seventeen and I had nothing. My grandmother did the best that she could to raise me, but at nineteen, I lost her too. So, I got my shit together, went to college, got a degree in business, and took after my father investing in real estate. That's it. Now you know more about me than anyone I’ve ever met," I said, my tears subsided and my impassive face back intact.
"I want to know everything about you. I have somewhere I have to be tonight but I would love it if you would join me," he said, looking at me in that way that melted my heart.
"I'd love to, but you have to feed me first," I said smiling at him.
He laughed, picked my hand up and kissed my fingers once again, "For you, Miss Dallas, anything."
We pulled up outside of a run-down building just off the highway. The outside was painted blue with Christmas lights strung from one end to the other, even though it was September. Beer signs covered the front, helping to hide the wear and tear of the structure. A huge sign stretched across the top giving the place the name, Donnelley’s.
“Don’t judge the quality by the outside. This place has the best steak around,” Luke stated, pulling the truck up to the front door.
“I don’t have any shoes,” I said, even though by the looks of this place they were not rendered necessary. I was hoping my lack of proper attire would be enough to convince him of a drive thru rather than the outlandish place he had brought me too.
“Do you really think that I would take you out looking the way you do in public? I ordered out,” he said winking at me and letting me know that he was joking. I sighed in relief, which must have been obvious because he laughed as he got out of the truck and walked inside giving me a view of his great ass.
Bored, I turned the volume up on the radio and found it was tuned to a country station. Funny, I placed him in the hard rock genre, definitely not country. And not only was it country, but it was classic country. I often listened to that myself. Merle Haggard was singing about the good times being over and I sang along with him word for word. My concert came to an end when Luke appeared carrying a large brown sack that smelled so good it had my mouth watering.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I just ordered you what I always get. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.”
I had not realized until that moment how hungry I was. It took a tremendous amount of will power to keep me from digging in like a savage.
“Well, it smells wonderful,” I said with a smile.
“So, where do you live babe? I figured we could take this picnic to your place. Unless you have a boyfriend you’re hiding there,” he said without looking at me.
“The only man in my life goes by the name of Neo. He’s a seven year old black lab who loves me unconditionally, no matter what,” I replied. “And to answer your other question, I live on the Flemming Plantation. It’s off of highway ninety-eight.”
“Are you serious?” he asked, looking at me like I had lost my mind.
“Yes, I’m serious and don’t go telling me that I’m crazy.” I knew what it must look like. After the massacre in 1993 where all four family members were brutally murdered by the wife’s secret lover, the plantation was put on the market, but never sold. A small real-estate company bought the plantation in hopes of selling it off piece by piece. They were only able to sell the acreage that surrounded it leaving the ten gated acres along with the house and barn, where the family was found dead, to be overgrown and neglected. I bought out the company about two years ago and have since restored the magnificent house to its former glory.
“I wasn’t going to say you were crazy. It just surprised me that you would own something with such a tragic history,” he said, still looking at me like I had lost my mind.
“Well, I think it’s a lovely place and when I purchased the company, the house came as a bonus. When I went to look at it, I couldn’t help but feel like it was a part of me. If it makes you feel any better, I only learned of the tragedy after I decided to keep the house,” I said defensively.
“I’m sorry if I offended you. If it’s a part of you then I’m sure it’s amazing,” he said, smiling and knocking down my protective walls once again.
“I’d really like to get my car first, and then you can just follow me out there.”
“You don’t need your car,” he said with finality in his tone that let me know the subject was not negotiable.
“Yes, I do,” I replied. Not wanting him to think he had complete control over me, although I knew he did.
“No, you don’t. I’ll get someone to bring it to your house later. You already agreed to be with me this evening anyway.”
“I don’t want someone that I don’t know driving my car and coming to my house,” I said, getting more than a little aggravated at his proposition.
“Do you not trust me, babe?” he asked, giving me a daring look. “Well, I really don’t even know you,” I snapped back at him. Where had that come from?
“Well, we’ll just have to work on that, now won’t we?” he said, never letting his eyes leave the road.
I didn’t argue. I had agreed to join him this evening and just the thought of not seeing him caused my heart to ache. So, if that meant giving a complete stranger access to my car and home, then it was a risk I was willing to take, because I did trust him. I just didn’t want him to know how much. Not yet, anyway.
We drove the rest of the way in complete silence. Luke never asked for directions. He knew exactly where we were going, which wasn’t uncommon considering the history of the place. We pulled up to the gate and I gave him the key code to let us in. Not wanting to ruin the rest of our evening, I turned to face him.
�
��I’m sorry I snapped at you. I’m just use to always being in control. I do trust you,” I admitted.
“It’s cool, babe. I’m sorry, too. I just assume responsibility and control over everything. It’s my nature. I’ll try to be a little more lenient in the future,” he said with a heartwarming smile that made my chest swell. “Wow, this place looks amazing,” he said looking out at the property.
Most of the property had been cleared of any trees giving a full view from just inside the gate. The left side looked like an open field which ran all the way to the tree line adjoining the neighbor’s property. The massive black wrought iron gate stood tall all along the edge of the field. The grass was a lush green color and cut short. The right side, where the paved driveway curved around, was landscaped with seasonal flowers and shrubs. A stone garden patio equipped with a fire pit, swing and small fountain sat near the fence. It was slightly hidden from view by crape myrtle trees giving it a secret garden feel. The house loomed big before us. The red brick was slightly faded and the weathered shutters gave it an old look. We pulled under the open carport at the back of the house and Luke’s eyebrows shot up at the sight of the old Ford pickup truck parked next to us.
“To haul things with,” I said. He still looked at me quizzically, not fully convinced. “Seed, mulch, fertilizer, the dog… Did you think I would put that stuff in my car?”
“You just don’t appear to be the type that would do all this on your own,” he said, almost like a question. I could tell he was trying not to offend me.
I laughed. “Yeah? Well you don’t seem much like the hard core biker type either. I’m not even fully convinced you are a biker. Don’t they usually ride motorcycles?”
A Ride or Die Kind of Love Page 78