though. Is he worth it? I mean, sure he’s hesitant to share, but that’s what people who’re in a relationship do. They share their troubles and their triumphs too.”
“We’re dating. That’s all for now. He’s busy. I’m busy. We see each other when we get the chance. As long as he’s not seeing anyone else when he’s got the chance, we’re all right. I like him. A lot. He’s strong. He’s got a good heart. Love that dog of his. Man who’d treat a dog like that is a good man.”
Tate nodded. “I tend to agree. I just want you to be happy. I want him to be worthy of you.”
She grinned at her sister, putting her head on Tate’s shoulder a moment. “Me too. I want him to share. I want to earn his trust. For now, where we are is all right. I’m taking it one day at a time.”
“That’s fair.” Tate tipped her chin toward where Matt sat with his daughters. “I just want you to have that too.”
“Oh so do I. I wondered if I’d ever be ready for such a thing, and more and more lately I’m totally sure I am. I want a passel of babies and a husband. I want to plant flowers out in front of my house and I want my babies’ daddy to tease them about eating dirt.”
“You’ll have it. I know you will. Matt changed everything. I had no idea really. I never expected that sort of fidelity and constancy. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world to share this with him. I can’t wait for you to have that as well.”
“He’s only been back a few months. Things are going slow and that’s okay. For now.”
He missed her.
Joe glanced at the salon as he closed up the garage and headed home. It had been nearly a week since he’d seen her last. They’d spoken here and there, but he wanted to touch her. To hear her voice as she was right next to him instead of over a phone.
He’d convinced his father to go see someone. They’d had an appointment just two days before and were waiting to hear back. It gave him some measure of comfort, though waiting was tough now, with the promise of some relief just over the next rise. Maybe.
He paused in his driveway. Pulling his phone out to text her.
You around?
He waited a few moments until she replied.
I am. How are you?
There’s a distinct Beth-shaped spot in my life and it’s empty. Wanna fill it?
A pause.
Is this a booty call, Mr. Harris?
He snorted a laugh and Buck barked.
I was thinking about a slice of pie at the Sands first.
Pie? Why didn’t you say so? I’ll be waiting for you to pick me up.
Your wish is my command.
He got Buck out of the car and into the house. He needed to brush his teeth and his hair too.
His phone pinged one last time. A picture she’d taken of herself with one brow raised. The accompanying text said, Oh yeah? After pie. My commands will be a lot nicer then.
She was waiting for him, her hair up in a high ponytail, face with only a trace of makeup. As they were moving toward fall, it was still warm in the evenings, but not stiflingly hot any longer. Gone were most of the shorts and tank tops women had worn so often. She wore a skirt though. He loved her legs, so he wasn’t complaining.
“Hello there, Mizz Murphy.”
She looked him up from his toes to his face. A smile on her lips. “My goodness you’re even better than pie.”
That deserved a kiss.
But when he pulled her close and brought his mouth to hers, it wasn’t a quick hello. He was drawn in to that sweetness of her lips. The lushness of her mouth. Her taste.
He’d been inside her. More than once. Had kissed all the best parts of her. And he still yearned for more.
He finally pulled away, nearly going back again when she licked her lips as if to get one last taste.
“Come on then. Before I forget about pie and ravish you right here on the doorstep.”
“Like that’s incentive to leave?”
He tugged her toward his truck. “I need to eat. The calories will help me do what I have planned for you.”
She laughed and let him help her up
“We’re dating. That’s all for now. He’s busy. I’m busy. We see each other when we get the chance. As long as he’s not seeing anyone else when he’s got the chance, we’re all right. I like him. A lot. He’s strong. He’s got a good heart. Love that dog of his. Man who’d treat a dog like that is a good man.”
Tate nodded. “I tend to agree. I just want you to be happy. I want him to be worthy of you.”
She grinned at her sister, putting her head on Tate’s shoulder a moment. “Me too. I want him to share. I want to earn his trust. For now, where we are is all right. I’m taking it one day at a time.”
“That’s fair.” Tate tipped her chin toward where Matt sat with his daughters. “I just want you to have that too.”
“Oh so do I. I wondered if I’d ever be ready for such a thing, and more and more lately I’m totally sure I am. I want a passel of babies and a husband. I want to plant flowers out in front of my house and I want my babies’ daddy to tease them about eating dirt.”
“You’ll have it. I know you will. Matt changed everything. I had no idea really. I never expected that sort of fidelity and constancy. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world to share this with him. I can’t wait for you to have that as well.”
“He’s only been back a few months. Things are going slow and that’s okay. For now.”
He missed her.
Joe glanced at the salon as he closed up the garage and headed home. It had been nearly a week since he’d seen her last. They’d spoken here and there, but he wanted to touch her. To hear her voice as she was right next to him instead of over a phone.
He’d convinced his father to go see someone. They’d had an appointment just two days before and were waiting to hear back. It gave him some measure of comfort, though waiting was tough now, with the promise of some relief just over the next rise. Maybe.
He paused in his driveway. Pulling his phone out to text her.
You around?
He waited a few moments until she replied.
I am. How are you?
There’s a distinct Beth-shaped spot in my life and it’s empty. Wanna fill it?
A pause.
Is this a booty call, Mr. Harris?
He snorted a laugh and Buck barked.
I was thinking about a slice of pie at the Sands first.
Pie? Why didn’t you say so? I’ll be waiting for you to pick me up.
Your wish is my command.
He got Buck out of the car and into the house. He needed to brush his teeth and his hair too.
His phone pinged one last time. A picture she’d taken of herself with one brow raised. The accompanying text said, Oh yeah? After pie. My commands will be a lot nicer then.
She was waiting for him, her hair up in a high ponytail, face with only a trace of makeup. As they were moving toward fall, it was still warm in the evenings, but not stiflingly hot any longer. Gone were most of the shorts and tank tops women had worn so often. She wore a skirt though. He loved her legs, so he wasn’t complaining.
“Hello there, Mizz Murphy.”
She looked him up from his toes to his face. A smile on her lips. “My goodness you’re even better than pie.”
That deserved a kiss.
But when he pulled her close and brought his mouth to hers, it wasn’t a quick hello. He was drawn in to that sweetness of her lips. The lushness of her mouth. Her taste.
He’d been inside her. More than once. Had kissed all the best parts of her. And he still yearned for more.
He finally pulled away, nearly going back again when she licked her lips as if to get one last taste.
“Come on then. Before I forget about pie and ravish you right here on the doorstep.”
“Like that’s incentive to leave?”
He tugged her toward his truck. “I need to eat. The calories will help me do what I have planned for you.”
She laughed and let him help her up
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