Back To Country (Country Love #4)(18)
"That was...." Amazin'. Awesome. Extraordinary. "So great," she whispers. Great? I step back and watch her rub her hands down her shirt in nervousness. "I mean. It was really, really great," she says louder. She walks over and gets another beer from the fridge, holdin' one out to me. I nod and she brings them over. Like the gentleman I was raised to be, I open both and hand one to her. "I don't know why I'm so nervous." She lets out a laugh. I know why. "I mean, I know why I'm nervous." She leans her hip against the breakfast bar. "I'm not used to this," she says, wavin' her hand between us. She reaches up and touches her lips. "It was – incredible." My smile grows, wonderin' if I'd lost my touch after all this time.
I mimic her and lean against the counter, takin' a swig of my beer, still smilin'. "I find that refreshin'." Her brow raises as she takes a drink. "No, really. So many women I've met are too stand-offish, or they'd rather throw themselves at a guy – that's too loose for my likin'. Then there are the ones that think they're God's gift." She relaxes. I lean over and cup her cheek. "You are perfect. You're down to earth. Genuine. The real deal." She melts in my hand. Her face softens. She's so beautiful. I know she's shy but surely there's many guys who want her attention. How did I get so lucky? I stare into her eyes for a bit, not wantin' to move. Finally, I reach out and take her hand. "How 'bout we go into the livin' room and sit a spell?" She smiles and gives me a nod. Her hand feels good in mine as we walk into the livin' room and sit down on the couch. Feels right. "So, tell me how you got to be such a great cook." She takes the final drink from her beer. I smile as I take the bottle from her hand and set it on the coffee table. "Is that somethin' you always wanted to do?" Leanin' back into the couch, I pull her with me, so close that I put my arm around her. She doesn't seem to mind as she looks at me with her beautiful smile.
She turns to me. "Well, it was more like survival." My brows lower in confusion. She lets out a snort and covers her mouth quickly. I let out a chuckle. "My parents are...." She looks around then finds my eyes again. "Let's just say, we aren't close." My heart softens even more for this girl – this woman. I can't imagine not havin' the love and closeness of my parents. Even though I was young when Ma passed, I remember feelin' loved. Then Pa was always there for me. We kinda supported each other but my pa's love was always there. Plus, I had Manuel and the others we had at our ranch. It was more like a family than employer – employee. We took care of each other, much like a family would. With the pat of her hand on my leg, I clear my thoughts. "It's okay. Don't feel bad for me." She leaves her hand on my leg so I cover it with my free hand, givin' it a squeeze. "I got used to it. My parents are a bit – pretentious. Okay, they are a lot. They're wealthy and wanted me to stay at home, live under their snobby rules and marry someone they picked out for me. Someone who is just like them. No thanks." She lets out another snort, and I can't help the chuckle that leaves my mouth. "They were never home and God forbid either one of them would ever cook. Our maid did all that. At a young age, I started watching Barb cook and even got into watching cooking shows. I found that I loved creating new recipes and trying out different things. Then there were so many times my wonderful parents would leave town for a weekend or a week at a time and give Barb time off so they wouldn't have to pay her, not thinking about the fact that they had a daughter at home who might need to eat." She takes a deep breath. "Yeah, so then it became survival to do it myself."
Tiltin' my head, I lower my brows. "So you were always an afterthought." It's a statement, not a question. My heart saddens even more for her. What kind of parents treat their kid that way? I don't get it.
She lets out a snort that I'm findin' endearin'. Wavin' her hand, she shakes her head. "Kinda. Most of the time I wasn't a thought at all. They'd come home and never spoke about it. I gave up trying to convince them that they were bad parents and snobby. So, when I turned eighteen, out into the world I went. I got a job at a restaurant and found a cheap apartment, one that really no one in their right mind would live in, but it was across the street from where I worked. Of course, my parents were appalled and offered me tons of money to move back home." Another snort leaves her mouth. "Then, they thought I was crazier than they'd already thought when I informed them I was moving here to be with my bestie." I shake my head in confusion. "Sadie." Oh! I nod and smile. "Now Mom calls me all the time, telling me what a disgrace and disappointment I am to them and still tries to get me to move home." She sighs. "It's exhausting."
My phone vibrates in my pocket so I dig it out. "Well, I'm glad you moved here." I look down at the text and smile then look back up at her. "I'm just sorry that up until now, you've had that kind of life. Everyone deserves a family who loves them." I squeeze her hand again. "Now. My family – Manuel, would like to meet you. Would you mind?"
Her luscious lips turn up into a smile. "Oh! I would love to." I take her hand and we stand. As we walk toward the stairs, my fingers push through hers. I see her eyes move up to mine then back down to her feet. I love her shyness. Love how her emotions fill her face, the blush that covers her cheeks. Her beauty is evident on the outside but fills her on the inside and shines through, makin' her lovelier than I ever thought anyone could be.
We reach the top step and I turn to the left. She follows readily until we get to the door of Manuel's bedroom. I reach for the doorknob but feel her pull back. Turnin' around, I smile. "It's okay. He'll love you." I squeeze her hand as I lean into her, placin' a small kiss on her forehead. "How can he not?" Leanin' back, I see her smile up at me, and she relaxes. I open the door, findin' Manuel sittin' up in bed, propped up with pillows.
"Mijo!" As we walk toward his bed, I release her hand and pick up the chair in the corner, bringin' it over and settin' it down next to him. Takin' her hand, I lead her there and help her sit down. "Ah! This must be Miss Tina?" His brow raises in playfulness. He's been wantin' to meet her. Bet he's been bitin' at the bit knowin' she was here in the house.
"Manuel, this is Tina Brogdon." He looks up at me and smiles, like he knows everythin' that's on my mind. Sometimes I don't think I hide my feelin's very well when it comes to him.
He reaches his hand out, as far as he can without bein' in too much pain, towards Tina. "So happy to finally meet the woman who's captured my mijo's attention." I watch as she takes his hand but instead of shakin' it, Manuel strains to bring it up to his mouth and kisses her knuckles. I clear my throat, feelin' a bit embarrassed.
"Well – I...." The blush that spreads across her cheeks is endearin', and I want to take her face in my hands and kiss her.
Manuel leans back, releasin' her hand. I can tell the movement is causin' him pain but he's tryin' to hide it. "Nash is a good man." He looks up at me and smiles. "Mijo. Why don't you go get me a glass of water and give me and Miss Tina a few minutes?" I raise my brows, partly in surprise but also in warnin'. What is he up to? He lets out a chuckle and winces slightly. "Go on. Don't worry. I won't give out too many of your weird ways and secrets." He laughs, and I can tell that one cost him some pain. I nod and look down at Tina. She glances up at me and gives me a small nervous smile.
"I won't be gone long." I give her a wink, tryin' to make light of it but inside, I'm a bit nervous.
As I make my way downstairs and into the kitchen, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Quickly, I take out a glass, fillin' it with water, as I pull my phone out and smile. The uneasiness I feel with Manuel alone with Tina has changed to a bit of relief by a text.
Grant: Open the freaking door! It's cold out here!
I chuckle all the way to the front door, swingin' it open to find Grant standin' on the porch holdin' a bag in his left hand, his right hand raised like he was ready to beat the door down. "Well hello, Grant." He gives me a smirk. "Wanna come in?" All of a sudden, I feel as if I'm havin' a party, one I didn't know I was havin'. How did my life go from loneliness to this in such a short time?
"Nash," he blurts as he walks past me inside the house. Anger radiates from him and leaves me standin' here confused.
"What's going....?" I start to speak but he whips around, droppin' his bag on the floor and puttin' his hands on his hips.
"Guys think they have it rough with women?" He all but screams. Raisin' his arms up, he waves his hands all around. "They should try dating a man!" He starts pacin' the foyer so I lean back against the door, crossin' my arms over my chest, and let him get it outta his system. I settle in as he flaps his arms, goin' on about how a guy cheated on him. I can't begin to understand his world, but it sounds a lot like mine. "And in my house!" I feel his pain. Guess we're pretty much the same where that's concerned. He stops and walks over to me. I stand up straight as he puts his hands on my arms. "How's Manuel?" Huh? "I've been going on about my problems and didn't ask you how he's doing? Still in a lot of pain?" I've never seen anyone flip a switch as fast as he can.