You’re All I Need to Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell
Wilder
Iprobably had ten minutes to finish preparing my next surprise for Tally.
After two hours of line dancing in Ridgway, we were exhausted. So tired that she fell asleep on the ride home, her head in my lap while I stroked her hair. She looked beautiful and peaceful and, every time I looked at her, something felt strange in my chest.
When we pulled up in front of the main house, I told her what her next surprise was—a long soak in the huge bath we had. She had one in her cabin,but ours in the house was better.
“Hey, Tally ho,” Bertie greeted her as we walked up the porch steps. “Everything is ready for you.”
It seemed Lily had roped her daughter in to help. The sleeves of her sweater were rolled up but were damp at the cuffs. The smell of lavender was more potent than usual so if I had to guess, I’d say she was also in charge of the bubble bath.
“There’s a lot of bubbles and I also put some nice eliption towels out for you.”
“I think you mean, Egyptian, Bertie girl,” I said, stroking a hand down her hair.
“That's what I said.” The look of consternation she gave me would have floored a lesser man. She then turned to Tally. “Say goodbye to Uncle Wilder, ‘cause he’s got things to do.”
“What things?” Tally asked, frowning.
“You’ll see. Now Uncle Wild, you go and see Momma in the kitchen, she has everything you asked for.”
She started to usher me inside the house, her tiny hands pushing the back of my thighs.
“Can I at least say goodbye to my girl first?” Looking over my shoulder, the effort she was putting in to get me to move was more than a little amusing. Her face was screwed up with the exertion as she blew her bangs from her eyes.
“Nope. You got places to be and things to do, now move it cowboy.”
And that was the last I’d seen of Tally for an hour or so, but if Lily and Bertie kept to my schedule she’d be back in less than ten minutes.
I looked around the space of her cabin and gave myself a mental pat on the back. Everything looked perfect. It had to be because I needed to show Tally that I was serious about this, about us, whatever we would be.
It was already dark outside, that sapphire ocean that Tally loved, with only a few stars and a dim moon casting little light, so I was glad I’d made Nash promise to walk her over. Our security was second to none, but who knew if the little Irish Leprechaun was still hanging around.
One last check had me throwing another log onto the wood burner, butotherwise I was satisfied. Wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans, I looked toward the door, hoping like hell that she liked it. The dancing had been great, we’d laughed a lot at the fact that I kept forgetting the steps, but this was different. This was more intimate and might be too much for only our first day of dating.
I’d put a blanket in front of the fire with a meat and cheese platter and a bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket—not red because I knew it gave her migraine’s. There were cushions from the sofa, a wool throw and some sticks so we could toast marshmallows later. Tally’s radio was tuned into an easy listening station, currently playing the low rich tones of Marvin Gaye. The music mixed with the gentle pop and hiss of the fire, creating the perfect soundtrack for what I hoped would be a memory we’d both treasure. With that and the candles in the fireplace casting dancing shadows across the walls, it was everything I’d wanted it to be for her. Everything I hoped she’d love. Cozy and intimate.
When a few seconds later I heard the click of the door, my heart started to hammer faster than I thought possible. It was the anticipation of seeing her. It made my chest feel tight.
“What?” Tally fell back against the door, wide, shocked eyes looking around the room. “Wild, it’s beautiful.”
Moving quickly to stand in front of her, I took both her hands in mine, dropping a kiss to her knuckles. “This is your next surprise.”
Her gaze moved over my shoulder, still taking everything in. “It’s a picnic.” Whispered words of awe steadied my heartbeat.
“I know you wanted to go up into the mountains for one, but it’s kinda cold out there. And,” I said with a breath, “I’ve had some of my best memories in front of that fire and I wanted to add another.”
The wonder in her eyes made me feel ten feet tall. Made me feel like I wanted to give her the world, if that was what she wanted.
“It’s perfect.”
There was an urgent desire to take her to bed, then forget the picnic. She looked so beautiful. Her hair loose and wavy, a little damp at the ends, her cheeks pink from the cold and smelling of lavender.
“Let me take your jacket.”
Tally turned and let me help her, while she kicked off her boots. They landed next to mine which were placed neatly next to the door and the idea of that being my future caught my breath. I was racing ahead, I knew I was, but since I’d admitted I wanted more I’d started to feel impatient for it. Like If I didn’t have it now, I might lose it. It and my mind.
