“You grow up with a movie nut like my mom andsee what you know about movies.And yes, it takes a while to dryout a pair of jeans.”He paused and smiled at her, “You could justleave them off, you know.”
She looked confused and he started laughingagain, heading back into the bathroom.That man can beexasperating, which is hard to do when he’s wandering around in hissexy underwear.God, do all cowboys wear boxers?
Sandy came back in with his robe and laid iton the bed by her.“Put that on for now.We’ll put your clothes inthe dryer first thing.”She motioned for him to turn around.“Really?After last night?”Her eyes narrowed and he turned aroundsmirking.
Wiggling into his robe, she sputtered,“Sandy, I need to get out of here before Jesse shows up.What ifsomeone sees my car here?What will you say?What will we say ifanyone starts asking questions?”
“I can understand about Jesse, but I don’tcare what anyone else thinks.You and Jesse are the only ones thatmatter to me now.Accept it or not, it’s the truth.”
“Sex can be either binding or breaking,Sandy,” Lily whispered.
“Was that just sex, Lily?I thought we weremaking love.And which do you want it to be?This is literally theday after and I, for one, am thrilled.How do you feel?Take a deepbreath and tell me.”He looked at her so earnestly that she tookthat deep calming breath and then another.She took several more tocalm her quaking nerves.
Lily sank back down on the bed and Sandy satbeside her.“Tell me.What do you think?We have to learn tocommunicate.I know we don’t know each other very well right now,but I want to know everything there is to know about you.”Sandystroked her face softly with gentle fingers.“I never expected tofeel this way ever again after my wife died.”
They had discussed his wife’s death lastnight.He’d told her that losing his wife with Jesse just a babyhad about done him in.Meeting Lily was the best thing that hadhappened to him in a very long time.He smiled slowly, “What do youthink?”
She looked at him in resignation and closedher eyes.His touch on her face brought back all the sweet memoriesof last night.Last night in the barn… Last night in his bed...This morning in his bed.She sighed… Lily had seriously neverwanted a man so much in her life.
“I…want…you.”That’s all she needed to sayand he was kissing her again.Kissing her lips, her throat, hershoulders.
Much later, she pushed away from him andstruggled to get up from the bed.“I’m so hungry!I could eatleftover red velvet cake!”
“I think we can do better than that.We canalways continue this later.”He winked at her.Lily felt her faceflush.“Okay, let’s get up and get the day moving.”
After doing various bathroom necessities andgetting into some of his clothes that were too big, Lily joinedSandy in the kitchen.Bacon was sizzling and he was scramblingeggs.The aromas made her stomach rumble.“What about Jesse?Won’the be home soon?”
“Nope.I called Mom to keep him until 4:00this afternoon.I figured we could have breakfast and lunch beforewe return you to your humble cottage.How about it, Cinderella?Maybe before the clock strikes two?”
“Oh, ha.You’re a regular riot, you knowthat, Mr.Johnson?What would your cows say if they heard youtalking so frivolously?Really…what kind of cowboy are you?”Lilywalked up behind him and put her arms around his waist.Sandyleaned back and kissed her.
He didn’t hesitate.“I’m a cowboy in love.And what are you, Miss Teacher?”
“Oh, Sandy, can it happen this fast?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”She thought for a minute andgrinned.“Well, then, I’ve got a song for you and it’s from thatwonderfully romantic movieSouth Pacific.You rememberSouth Pacific, don’t you?”She rolled up the sleeves of hisWestern shirt and waved her hands in the air.
“How can I forget it?Between you and Jeanne,it’s all I hear about.So sing me the blooming song already,” hegrumbled, going back to his eggs.
Lily took a deep breath and sang,
“I’m as corny as Kansas inAugust.
High as the flag on the Fourth of July.
If you’ll excuse an expression I use,
I’m in love with a wonderful guy!”
She danced gracefully around the kitchenwhile she sang, twirling a few times and spreading her arms outwide like the actress in the movie did at the end of the song.Herlovely singing voice echoed through the bright kitchen and struckhim in the heart.
Sandy openly stared at her.
With a lump in his throat, he croaked, “I’vealways loved that musical.”He took her in his arms and kissed herfor all he was worth.Smoothly back her pretty hair and glancinginto her smiling, raven eyes, Sandy was hooked for sure.He thoughtthey’d make a good couple, as solid as that one hundred year-oldoak growing in his back yard.Strong… unwavering and that’s what hewanted,neededdeep in his soul where it really counted.
* * *
