“It’s sexy…you’ll look hot in that outfit, girl. Plus, I’m not the one who had it in my closet. If you were concerned about your ass hanging out then why’d the hell you buy it?”
“Okay… okay, I see your point.”
“Alright, I’ll let you get ready. Beau’s waiting for you in the living room, don’t take too long.” She winked and closed the door behind her as she left.
I was a bundle of nerves about tonight. I wondered what would become of things between us. I wondered what would happen if I actually stuck to my plan and let him treat me like a date instead of just a friend. Or a girl that he’s been in love with for years. I didn’t want to stay in my past, but sometimes it was hard to move on. I quickly threw on my clothing, opened the door to my room, grabbed my purse, and bounded down the stairs. I didn’t want to leave him waiting any longer for me.
Beau’s eyes scanned me from top to bottom and I watched his Adam’s apple dip and rise again. “You are a sight for sore eyes, Cass.”
“I’m… I’m so sorry I kept you waiting. I didn’t know you were ready to go.”
He walked towards me, arms open and I willingly walked into him. “Darlin’, I’d wait for you forever if I had to. I’m just glad you agreed to go with me.”
Reagan rolled her eyes. “And that’s my cue, cheesy brother.”
“You don’t like cheese, dear sister, you can leave anytime. Speaking of cheese, where is Rhett these days?”
Rea huffed and walked away. Siblings. I assumed it was this way with all siblings seeing as I didn’t have any of my own.
“You ready to go, sweetheart?” He leaned over to me and I felt his warm breath run across my cheek.
“Uh-huh. Sure am.”
We walked outside to get in his truck and I felt his warm hand resting against the small of my back. It sent a shiver down my spine, but I liked the comfort he brought to me. As we got to the passenger side of the truck, he jumped in front of me.
“What are you doing?
“What does it look like, Cass? I’m getting the door for you, being a gentleman.”
“Oh,” I said, shocked. Never in all the years Andrew and I were together had he gotten my car door for me. I’d always had to open it myself while he talked on the phone or yelled at me to hurry up. “Well, thank you,” I said with a smile as my face lit up with a blush.
“You mean to tell me no one ever opened a car door for you before me, sweetheart?”
“Well…no.”
“This lifetime has treated you so very wrong, Cassidy Mae. You stick with me and I’ll make sure you get treated how you’re supposed to be. Like a queen.”
Jogging around the front of the truck, he jumped in, started it, and we were off.
“Hey, pick out something to listen to, darlin’. We need some jams.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I’m not one of those ‘I drive, I pick the radio station people’. Now go on. You pick something you like.”
“Okay then.” I started flipping through the channels and landed on country music. The melodic beats of Jordan Davis’ Take It From Me, came on and I sat back and listened to the lyrics. Lyrics were some of my favorites. It was amazing how much music could turn a bad mood into a good one or make you think about your life and the choices you’ve made.
Like me, I’d made some crap choices over the last couple of years, but now I had the choice. Continue guarding my heart and keeping it under lock and key or letting it out and taking the chance that Beau would know how to take care of it without shattering it into a million gazillion pieces.
I looked over at Beau as he drove. Dark, wavy hair that touched his ears, a little more than a five o’clock shadow that skated across his chin, a defined jawline, eyes that were the deepest brown you’d ever seen, although I couldn’t see them right now because they were on the road. This man was stunning, gentle, kind, and had the charm on lockdown. I just wondered if I was making the right decision. Only time would tell at this point. I needed to let go and live. Let him take me on this date. Stop letting fear and the past consume my life. Let whatever happens, happen and finally accept the fact that I was growing feelings for this man beside me and I could no longer ignore that fact. The fairgrounds were only about thirty minutes from the house and we were there in no time.
Small children and families ran here and there as we entered the gates. Carnival rides and games were set up along the midway. A corn maze had been set up earlier this week.
I look over at Beau to find him staring at me. I flush under his intense gaze. These moments between us were becoming more frequent and each one broke down a tiny bit more of my barrier.
“Tonight is about you, Cassidy Mae, we’re going to do whatever you want to do.”
“Wh-What do you mean?” I stuttered, confused.
“You decide what you want to do and we’ll do it. Anything—tilt a whirl, rides, game booths, karaoke…”
“Okay…” I looked around at the abundance of options in front of me. “Corn maze or Bottle Toss?”
“I think the corn maze would be cool, but I’d hate to get lost in there with you. I may be forced to kiss you until someone finds us.” He winks at me and I can’t help the smile that creeps across my cheeks at his flirting.
“Bottle toss, it is.” We started walking toward the game booths and I couldn’t help but chuckle at his determined walk.
He turns when he hears my laugh and stalks back toward me. “I’m sorry… is something funny? You want to share what’s going on
