Love Me ~ Like That (35 page)

“It’s really nice to meet y’all,” Denise says.

Denise’s southern drawl is thicker than any of ours. Clay puts his arm around her shoulders, talking about how great she is and the girl is beaming.

“Clayton, you can just go on and on with those sweet words.” She laughs and puts one hand to her chest.

Denise is a looker, or would be if I wasn’t engaged and all. She has long legs, a tiny waist and big doe eyes for Clay. Can he not see what is right in front of him?

“Lizzie, I have you working with me in the stable.” Clay announces to our group. “Denise and Bailey, y’all are setting up the front office. Cash, I need you to finish hanging up the warning signs.”

“Clayton, I thought I was going to help you in the stables.” Denise whines and actually puckers her lips.

Lizzie looks at Bailey, and they both have to cover their mouths to keep from laughing. Denise does look kind of like a duck.

“I don’t have time to train you today, Denise. Lizzie has experience working with horses already and I could use her help. You will be working in the office mainly anyway so I want you to get it the way you like it, sweetheart.” He gives her a pat on the back and dismisses her.

“Lizzie and Cash, if you will come with me, there is a good bit to be done. Cash, the first signs need to be hung in the barn.” He turns toward the barn without another word. Lizzie and I follow him into the barn. He gives me instructions for the signs first, then he and Lizzie walk further into the barn.

“Are you and Denise dating?” Lizzie asks Clay.

“No, but I would like to be dating you. I’ll even cook you dinner, and then you can cook me breakfast,” he tells her with a wink.

“Look, Clay that shit might work for some silicone Barbie doll like Denise, but not me.”

Whoa! I’m glad I’m over here for this because that was some funny shit right there. I laugh, but I stop when they both look at me. “I’ll be over here with the signs.” I clear my throat then walk away putting up the signs around the stable. I can’t hear their conversation anymore, which is too bad. How can I help Clay if I can’t hear what he is doing wrong? Everybody should be in love like Bailey and me.

The love of a good woman will change a man and make him see things differently. When we get old and our bodies change, and our hair turns gray, Bailey will still have that good heart. I fall in love with her over and over again each day.

If it’s true that everything happens for a reason then I’m glad Bailey dated Hendrix. It showed her the difference between a boy and a man. A man that worships the very ground she walks on. You have to weed through the bad seeds to find the one that will make the best fruit.

People say my generation has lost romanticism. Well, not all of us have. I want Bailey to feel like my queen, so if that means writing her a love song, then I’ll do that. If it means taking her on picnics in a field of wildflowers then slowly making love to her for the rest of the day, I can certainly handle that, too. Holding hands while we walk, sweet kisses, and even sweeter words are all things my girl deserves. If that makes me pussy whipped, I’ll be the happiest pussy whipped person who ever walked. It makes me happy to see her happy.

We have busted our asses all morning getting everything ready for the charity event this afternoon. At the last minute, everything comes together. When children arrive with their families, they join in the various activities. The main attraction is the horses, but I think our booth comes in a close second. Lizzie and I are running the funnel cake booth. I was supposed to do this with Denise, but Lizzie traded with her. Cash and Clay are doing the pony rides, and Denise is at the donation booth. The other volunteers are scattered out doing other games and activities for the kids. The kids were invited to participate free of charge. Clay wants to be able to offer these services free for anyone who can’t pay. So fundraising will be a way of life for him. That and his music.

“I can’t wait until tonight to hear Clay sing. Cash says he is phenomenal, that he puts him to shame.” I tell Lizzie, and she rolls her eyes at me. “If you roll your eyes at me again, I’m going to pop you up the side of your head with this spatula. What has you all pissed off today?” I laugh.

“Nothing, I’m not pissed off. I’m just tired from getting up so early.”

She sure could have fooled me. We work the stand in silence for a few minutes. All the kids who come up with their parents for a funnel cake are so cute. Some are really shy and that’s okay. They get their treat and are off to the next fun stop.

“How is Denise? Was she nice to work with? She seems so fake to me.” Lizzie says.

“She was really sweet, I think she has a huge crush on Clay. She wants to double date with Cash and me.”

Lizzie stops what she is doing and stares at me for a second then picks up the dishcloth and wipes the counter top.

“You’re not interested in him, are you, Lizzie?” Earlier today, I thought I saw a spark of interest in her eyes, but she doesn’t like the way he comes off with his joking.

“Me? Oh my goodness, Bailey, how can you even think that? He and I together would be like water and gasoline. That just wouldn’t work. I don’t fall for that crap. You’re the hopeless romantic, not me. I’m balls to the wall, call ‘em as you see ‘em, don’t take no shit, rocker chick. He is a little too good and a lot too country for my taste. I bet he doesn’t have any tats. He wouldn’t know what to do with me.” She laughs.

“Sounds like you’ve been thinking about it a lot if you’ve got all that figured out.” I lift my eyebrows in challenge.

“Shut up, Bailey.” She turns around and busies herself.

“You like him, don’t you?”

“He’s not my type, Bailey. You know I like my guys a little rough around the edges. One who knows how to take charge and give it… Oh, never mind Ms. Hopelessly in Love. I don’t like the sweet and gentle.”

“Lizzie, you never know how someone will be until you give them a chance.”

“Bailey, he is too sweet and mushy. I want hard and bad.”

Night finally falls. Cash thankfully brought a blanket for us to sit on and has it up front and near center stage. Clay has a stage set up under a huge tent, and his band has their gear all ready to go. I didn’t realize how official they were. Their equipment looks expensive to my untrained eye.

Cash pulls me close and snuggles me, I love being in love! There isn’t any place I would rather be. There isn’t anything better. Maybe I am a hopeless romantic. What’s wrong with that?

“Is he going to sing our song?” I’m sitting in front of Cash with my back leaning against his chest.

He reaches down and kisses the tip of my nose. “You’re going to have to wait and see, Bailey.” He looks over and asks Lizzie. “Does she try to sneak peeks at her Christmas presents too?”

“Yes, she is horrible. She can’t wait to give gifts, either. When she buys something, she will either give it to you early or give you so many hints that you know what it is.”

They are both laughing at me.

“See if I buy either one of you anything for Christmas.” They gang up on me constantly, but I love that they get along. It makes things so much easier, especially since Cash will be part of our family soon.

Clay comes onstage and does introductions of his band members and thanks everyone for coming out and for their donations. The band starts playing their first song. Lizzie has been on her phone since we sat down, texting with friends. She looks up with a shocked look on her face and leans over to us.

“Why is he singing a Nine Inch Nails song?” she whispers to me.

I shake my head, “This is by Johnny Cash, and he was a legend. That’s who my man candy was named after.”

“Bailey, I know a Nine Inch Nails song when I hear it, I’m not stupid and I know who Johnny Cash is too. I watched “I Walk the Line” with you, remember?”

She huffs at me and picks her phone up and starts typing. She turns her phone toward me.

“Cool. Nine Inch Nails covers this song, too,” I say.

“Nine Inch Nails doesn’t cover this song. Trent Reznor who
is
Nine Inch Nails wrote the freaking song. That makes this amazing.” She looks at me like I’m stupid.

I shrug and pick up my phone then show her Johnny Cash’s version.

She watches Clay on the stage, not taking her eyes off of him.

“What do you make of that?” Cash whispers in my ear, then proceeds to kiss down my neck. He knows that drives me wild. I’ve already threatened to take him into Clay’s office and make use of that desk. It is just begging to be used.

“I think if you keep kissing my neck, you are going to become an official member of the porta potty club.” I sigh. He can keep it up. I don’t mind at all. He can take me right here in front of everybody. My inner kink goddess is open for business.

“That’s disgusting, but I wasn’t talking about that.” His fingers are playing in my hair.

He is keeping everything PG here in front of all these kids, and I want to jump him right here, right now. I already forgot the question he asked, he distracts me so easily. “What was your question then?”

He motions over at Lizzie who looks mesmerized by the music.

“She likes good music.” I turn a little bit, “Do you want to know what I like?” I lick my bottom lip, getting ready to pounce on him.

“I would like to call my brother, Cash, up here.” Clay announces from the stage. “He has helped make all of this possible and I want to thank him. Cash, would you come up here, and bring Bailey too?”

I’m going to kill Clay. I do not get up in front of crowds. He is a dead man.

Cash takes me by the hand and leads me up to the stage. Everyone is clapping for us, but they are merely being nice. Cash takes the microphone from Clay and one of the volunteers brings out a stool for me to sit on, but I don’t plan on being up here long enough to need that. I smile at him as a thank you but hop onto the stool anyway.

Clay jumps off stage and goes to sit by Lizzie.

WHAT. THE. HELL. Then our song, “Give It All We Got Tonight,” starts playing and my man is singing to me. Hot tears are rolling down my face, I have the sweetest most romantic man alive, and he loves me. He looks into my eyes the whole time. Everything else slips away and it’s only Cash and me. We are out here in the late autumn air, and my heart is so full of love for this man. How could I ever think I wanted to leave a life like this? This is perfect. Leaves are in full color. Lightning bugs are out brightening up the night with little twinkles. A cool breeze gives me gooses bumps and the man of my dreams is singing me our song. When Cash finishes the song, he gets a standing ovation, but we are too busy to notice. I’m right where I want to be, where I need to be, wrapped up in Cash’s arms. Right where I’m supposed to be.

The End

LOVE ME ~ WITHOUT REGRET

Chapter 1

Lizzie

“How about him, he looks like he would have a big cock?” Aubrey checks out the guy at the end of the bar.

“I would break him, he’s too little,” I muse. None of these guys are really my type, they are all too “good” and I like rough around the edges. We need to head out to another bar, but I have ulterior motive for being here.

Aubrey and I reached the bar about an hour ago and I’m ready for the band to start playing. Even though this place is hopping, there isn’t anyone here that is really doing it for me. We get our new drinks from the bar and test them with our swizzle sticks. I don’t mind going home with someone but it will be on my terms. There won’t be any date rape going on with this chick unless it’s me doing the raping, with a willing participant.

“Have you gotten picky? What’s been wrong with you here lately, you’re going soft.” Aubrey downs her drink. So, I down mine too, ready for round three. Who will be the lucky guy that will get to buy this round? Damn there isn’t anyone interesting here and I wore my favorite outfit.

I have been saving up for this pair of ankle boots for a couple of months and they looking fucking hot on me. They aren’t going to go to waste tonight. These are so steampunk! They are black leather Hades Oxfords. They lace up and have three buckles on each side, with five inch metal heels. They also have some cool metal gear work on them too. They are totally kick ass. They go perfect with my black, leather, barely there, mini skirt, and my black tank with a Harley and skull cut out on the back. I don’t know why I’m wasting how good I look here. Almost everyone else is in denim, freaking redneck. I mean I dress that way too but OH MI GAWD! Can these people not wear something different? My makeup is heavy tonight with thick black eyeliner, flicked up on the sides. My lips are ruby red and full. I’m ready for some action, but I’m in the wrong bar for that tonight.