"Oh! She called in saying her daughter is ill." She shrugs.
"Oh, no! I hope she'll be okay." I hand change back to a customer and take another order.
"She says the flu is going around. I'm sure she'll be fine." She hands a customer their coffee and smiles. "Thank you. Next."
I walk over, get a plated sandwich and take it back to the counter, handing it and a cup of hot tea to a nice looking woman. "That'll be five twenty-six, please." She hands me six dollars.
"I just love your food and drinks. Keep the change." She smiles.
"Thank you. Have a great day." I take another order and grab a cup. "Why didn't you text me? I wouldn't have taken so long to come in and help," I ask Misty as I fill the cup and hand it to the customer.
She takes another order and starts filling it. "I did. Three times." Well, shit. I never even checked my phone. I was a little – busy. "It's okay. I've been managing."
I look at the small crowd in the shop and then at her. "As soon as this rush is over, please go take an extra-long break. You deserve it." She smiles and we continue to make our way through the crowd.
Half an hour later, the shop is nearly empty with the exception of the few people sitting and finishing their food and drinks. "Go take a long break. Go shopping!" I tell Misty.
"Oh! That's a great idea! Thank you. Are you sure?" She begins to remove her apron.
The bell over the door rings and I blow a big tuft of hair from my face, hoping we don't have another rush. I smile when I see Sadie walking towards the counter. "Hey, ladies. Need any help?" I give Misty a wink.
"I'll see you two later," Misty says walking to the back room. I watch her come out with her purse and coat and walk out of the shop.
"Just in time," I tell Sadie. "C'mon. There's a lull right now. Wanna cup of coffee or tea?" She nods and walks over to a table next to the windows and sits. "So, where are the kids?" I ask as I pour us both coffee. I take them over to the small table and sit down.
"Oh! Memphis is keeping an eye on them. They both aren't feeling very well today. I hear the flu is going around. I hope that's not what it is." She takes a sip of her coffee.
"I hope it isn't either. Funny, Misty said Pam called in saying her daughter has the flu." We drink in silence, both in our own thoughts.
"So...." She grins, holding her cup with both hands.
"So...." I grin back.
"I saw you leave with Nash last night. Rumor has it you didn't go home and just got here a little while ago." She takes a sip, her brow raise high.
"What are you my mom?" We both laugh. I take a drink, letting her linger a little. "He wants me to move in with him!" I blurt. Okay, so I'm not so good at keeping secrets or surprises.
"What? That's wonderful!" She reaches across the table and pats my hand.
"Wait here." I stand, run into the back room to grab my purse in my locker, and then return to the table, setting the small black velvet box down on the table in front of her. She picks it up and opens it, letting out a gasp. "He said it was a late Valentine's gift."
"That means...." She smirks.
"Yeah. I guess he's wanted to ask me for a while." I bite my lip.
"Are you going to?"
"Yes?" I start chewing on my cheek.
She laughs. "Tina. You're not sure?"
"Mostly?" She slides the box back to me and I pick it up. Taking out the key, I stare at it. "It's a big step." I look back at her and she nods. "We haven't even really had an official date yet." She nods again. "God! I'm gonna move in with my cowboy!" We both squeal. I look around quickly but no one notices us.
"When do you move in?" she asks excitedly.
"Well, between the shop and the boarding house, I think it'll only take a couple of weeks to get everything packed."
We spend the next hour talking about all things Nash and his huge house. Of course, I had to tell her all about last night too. That's what best friends are for.
Chapter Fifteen
Nash
I wanted to scream "YES!" from the top of the highest mountain. Wanted to run to every one of our friends' houses and tell them all the news. I wanted Tina to stay and make love to her all day and night. I didn't want her to go. She nearly didn't. We kissed. We fondled. Once we'd gotten dressed, we nearly tore each other's clothes off. But Bart texted me that another part of a fence broke down and the cows were scattered all over the place. Is this the world tryin' to keep us apart again? Sure feels like it.
"Guess you'd better go so you can get to work," I whisper as we stand next to her car. I kiss her, hard, huggin' her tightly.
"Guess you'd better get to fixing that fence." She kisses me back, tugging on my hair.
It took twenty minutes before she got in her car and I watched her drive off.
The day has been long, mendin' fences and gatherin' up all the cows that wandered off. Makes me wonder why in the hell the previous owners of this ranch didn't take care of things better. Then again, maybe that's why they sold it. Maybe it became too much for them, or maybe it just wasn't somethin' they could manage. Regardless, even with all the things that need updatin' here, I'm glad I was able to buy it. Over time, I'm sure everythin' will be like new.
Now, it's been a long time since Pa passed and a house has felt like a home. Large. Empty. Lonely. But there's nothin' like a woman to help fill the loneliness of a man's heart, fill his bed with love, and make new memories. Now, I'm truly blessed that Tina said she'd move in with me. Fuck if she don't make my heart skip a beat every time I'm near her. Sometimes it feels as if somethin's tryin' its best to keep us apart but I'll be damned if I'll let that keep me from gettin' the woman of my dreams. Of my heart. I aim to do anythin' to keep her. Nothin' will stand in my way.
After finishin' all my chores, I cook some steak and taters for me and the guys then flip through channels on the TV, mindlessly. By nine o'clock, I turn everythin' off and head up to bed. I'm lyin' here, with my arm underneath my head, starin' up at the ceilin' wonderin' what Tina's doin'. Did she have a good day? Is she closin' up the shop or already snuggled in her bed? Fuck if I don't wish she was in mine. Rollin' over onto my side, I stare at the wall, thinkin' about last night and early this mornin'. The look on her face when she opened my gift. She hesitated, at first, knew she would. It's a big step for her. One thing I love about her, drew me to her, is her innocence, everythin' being so new for her. I love that it's me that gets to give her so many of her firsts. I roll back over onto my back and start to get frustrated. Fuck, I'm so horny. But not just for sex. No. I want to make love to her, feel her beneath me. Lavish her entire body with kisses. Adore her. I move over onto my left side, pick up my phone from the nightstand and unplug the charger then move onto my back, again. I find her number easily.
"Hello." She sounds as if she's been sleepin' for a while. I look at the clock. Ten fifteen. Strange.
"Hey, Beauty." Just hearin' her speak even one word catches my breath.
"Nash. Are you okay?" Her voice is hoarse but now I'm thinkin' it's not from sleep. I hear rustlin' then she starts sneezin'.
"I'm on my way over," I say matter of fact. She won't go through this alone.
"No! Nash!" She sneezes again and blows her nose. "I think I have the flu. It's going around. I don't want you to take a chance and get sick. I'll be fine." She starts coughin'.
I jump outta bed and start pullin' up my jeans, holdin' the phone against my shoulder with my ear. "Nope. I won't hear of it. You're sick and I'm on my way there to help you. You shouldn't be alone." I start hoppin', tryin' to get my foot through the pant leg. "What do you need? I'll stop at the store on the way over."
"Really. I don't need anything." She starts coughin' again then more sneezin'. I set the phone down and pull my shirt over my head. "I don't want you to get this. Please, don't come over."
"Tina. I'm gonna take care of you. There's nothin' you can say that'll stop me." Puttin' on my boots, I run down the stairs and grab my coat from the front closet. "Just hang tight. I'm on my way."
"Nash. Don't – oh God!"
The sounds of her gettin' sick, echoes in my ear then I hear a click. Pullin' the phone away from my ear, I see the call ended. I climb into my truck, spinnin' the wheels against the pavement as I push on the gas pedal hard. She's sick and alone. I speed down the road and once in town, I'm thankful our grocery store stays open late. I go inside, hurryin' to get a bunch of oranges, juice, soup, and some over the counter medicine that might help her. I've never taken care of anyone before and have no idea what all to get. Hell, I don't know what she has at her place that I could fix her. I pick up a case of 7Up and head to the check out.