The girl from oceanography exited and eyed the two of them before making her way back to the party.
“Katie Parker, right?”
She swallowed hard while looking into his handsome face, aware that she felt weak in the knees. He was even more attractive up close. His mesmerizing, caramel-colored eyes looked back at her and she couldn’t help but notice right away tiny gold flecks circling the irises. His jawline was chiseled, and his lips were full and wet, no doubt from a sip of something he had just finished. His dark hair was tousled, and she had the sudden urge to bring her fingertips up to his head to get tangled in the softness.
When she realized he had read her full name on the tacky sticker attached to her blouse, she could feel her face grow hot. “Um, yes. That’s correct. And you’re Cow…Clay. Clay Watkins.”
His smile rivaled the sun glinting off the ocean. “Yes. That’s correct.” Was he mocking her?
“Well, it’s good to see you, Clay. How’s life?”
He shrugged and looked down at his boots while shoving his hands into his pockets, making his biceps more noticeable. When his bedroom eyes met hers again, she swooned. “Life is good. How about you?”
The way he was looking at her made her hands tremble with nerves. She grasped them in front of her skirt hoping he didn’t notice. What was happening to her? “It’s good.”
His expression was humored. “Good.”
They stared at each other for several seconds before Clay looked out into the lobby then back at her. Her heart sank, hoping that a lucky female wasn’t waiting for him, his next question taking her by surprise.
“You thirsty? Can I buy you a drink?” He seemed so relaxed and at ease. His invitation had her coming undone. The gorgeous male standing in front of her was nothing like the shy boy back in high school. His charm and easygoing attitude was a total turn-on. The Nelly lyrics inadvertently crept into her mind. It was definitely getting hot in here!
Katie swallowed and couldn’t help but smile. “Sure.” If Stacey could see her now…
He motioned his hand for her to walk ahead. As they entered the lobby, she started to walk back toward the ballroom. His hand was suddenly on her arm pulling her to a stop. Confused, she looked up into his face.
“I was hoping we could hit the lobby bar where it’s not so loud. Is that okay?”
“Okay.” She nodded like a bobble-head doll, her breath momentarily leaving her chest.
CHAPTER TWO
Clay Watkins was still shy around Katie Parker. It was one thing being in front of a crowd with a guitar in his hands, but entirely another being in front of the girl from high school he had crushed on. Seeing her after all these years took him by surprise. Walking into Lakeside High School that first day ten years ago as the new kid in town, he didn’t know what to expect. The day dragged on with people snickering behind his back, curious eyes watching his every move. The nickname, Cowboy, was instant, probably because of the sturdy boots he wore. The same ones his daddy had bought him at the boot outlet on the outskirts of Nashville for his eighteenth birthday. His daddy drove a big rig and couldn’t help himself wanting to give his son something special for the milestone birthday. The memory of opening that big box and pulling out the fragrant, sturdy leather while his father looked on with pride was one of the top three moments in his life. The bottoms of those boots had been re-soled countless times, the last right before his daddy’s funeral a little over a year ago. He hadn’t worn them since, the memories too painful.
When it came time for his first lunch experience at the new school, he followed the herd of kids into the cafeteria and went through the motion of standing in line and selecting his meal. He knew it was a good sign when they served fried chicken. He loved fried chicken. After he paid the cashier and walked out into the noisy area filled with the jocks, the preps, the goths, and the geeks, he stood there shaking in his boots, wondering where the hell to sit.
Katie Parker was an angel in disguise. The look on her youthful, beautiful face when she approached him was one of empathy and understanding. He couldn’t remember exactly what she said to him among the noisy chatter of the students, only that she was just about the nicest, most sincere person he had met that day. That and the fact her big doe eyes did things to his insides. She invited him to join her and her friends at their table.
Clay sat silently, for the most part, eating his meal and observing the group. He answered a few questions about where he was from and how his first day was going offering one-word answers, never getting too involved. Katie’s best friend Stacey was preoccupied with a big boy named Brent who seemed friendly enough. The two were practically sitting in each other’s laps. He recalled thinking Stacey was kind of cute, but she wore too much makeup, unlike Katie who was a natural beauty. He only ate with them that first couple of days, too shy to keep up the energetic conversations and the constant barrage of questions. Bringing a bagged lunch from home, he opted to sit alone in his pickup truck and eat in peace, jotting down song lyrics in an old spiral notebook he kept in the glove compartment. One of those parking lot songs was inspired by Katie’s kindness and when he would occasionally pass her in the hallway in-between classes, he always offered a genuine smile and polite “hello,” thrilled when she would smile back. He wished he had the guts back then to ask her out, but his shyness as a teenage boy was debilitating. Seeing her here, tonight at the reunion, was an unexpected surprise. Even more surprising was the fact that there was no wedding band on her left hand. Another sign.
“What can I get for you?” he asked.
“Gin and tonic. Tanqueray if they have it, please.”
He nodded and managed to get the bartender’s attention. “Tanqueray and tonic for the lady and Gentlemen Jack on the rocks for me.” The barstool was comfortable, and the room was much quieter than the big ballroom. This was more his style and put him at ease.
“Excuse me for one minute while I text my friend to let her know where I am,” Katie said as she pulled a cell phone out of her purse.
“No problem,” he replied.
The bartender efficiently mixed the drinks and placed them on white cocktail napkins in front of their seats. Clay thanked him and waited patiently for Katie to finish her text before taking a sip.
She sighed, shoving her phone back in her bag and looked right at him with a small smile gracing her full, pouty lips. The urge to tease those lips with his own and gently tug on them with his teeth caught him off guard. He realized he was staring at her mouth and quickly looked up into her eyes. Her brow was creased ever-so-slightly as if she were trying to figure him out. Quickly, he picked up his drink and nodded at her to do the same. They held the heavy glasses in front of themselves.
“What should we drink to?” she asked.
He cocked his head in thought. Words always came naturally to him when he was writing a song. Somehow, trying to come up with words with Katie sitting so close beside him made his mind go completely blank. He could feel heat creeping up his neck.
“I know,” she said. He inadvertently gazed at her full, dewy lips again and could feel a certain appendage stiffening in his pants. “Here’s to the brilliant, sexy company that you keep.” She confidently clinked her glass with his and bit her lip as if suppressing a smile.
