“Or actually,” Dusty continued, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, “I don’t know if you did.”
My stomach delighted like a thrill seeker’s roller coaster ride when he looked at me with his signature expression. Part earnest, part mischievous, and part sweeter than honey. Perhaps I didn’t have to wake up from my dream quite yet.
I glanced back at my grandparents huddling over the phone, talking loudly and arguing
about the best time that would work, before saying in a low tone, “I have very vivid memories of making good on our bet.”
“Oh, I do too,” he assured me, eyes sparkling. “But I recall kissingyou. The kiss you gave me was so similar to the very first time, I just want to make sure you feel good about your effort.”
I leaned closer. “Oh, that kiss? That was just a test.” His eyes widened appreciatively, as I continued, “I wanted to see how badly you wanted me. And it appears you wanted me pretty bad.”
He chuckled, looking at me in a way that filled my belly with heat. “You’re not wrong there.”
“Then you better watch your back, Bennett. Because there’s another one coming and this one’s going to knock your socks off.” I let my gaze fall on his lips before lifting my eyes upward in what I hoped was some sort of seductive manner. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Just my socks?”
I smacked his arm lightly while he laughed.
He leaned closer to me, his lips a mere inch from my own and whispered, “Game on.”
With that, he stood, saying something about having cattle to feed. I stood up to follow him outside before my grandpa told me he’d go out this morning with Dusty.
“No, Grandpa, you’re going to the doctor, I’ll handle the chores.”
“We’re going this afternoon, but one more morning out working isn’t going to kill me. You stay inside and keep warm and help your grandma with lunch.”
I looked over at Dusty, pulling on his coat and boots, who was nodding in agreement with my grandpa. “Good idea, Bob. She was just saying how she hadn’t got my pie made yet.”
At my glare, he only grinned and stepped out onto the front porch, closing the door behind him, my grandpa trailing not too far behind.
I stood up and gathered my empty water cup, walking over to where Grandma stood beaming near the sink.
“Not a word, Grandma.” I tried to be stern but when I met her gaze we both dissolved into giggles. Mine was a bit embarrassed and hers delighted. She clapped her hands with glee before enveloping me in a warm hug.
“I had a feeling about you two the second you told me he was downstairs.”
“Grandma, it’s been two days. We’ll see what happens.”
She smiled, grabbing a large bowl out of the cupboard. “I’m just saying, I was right. That’s all. Now, I’m getting all the ingredients out for a chocolate pie. I believe you said you wanted to make him one?”
I scoffed, but took the worn out recipe card she offered me and studied it. It didn’t look too hard. “I never said I wanted to make it. But I guess I do owe him a pie.”
“A pie is how I caught your grandpa’s attention, you know?”
I gazed at her then, her curly white hair wasn’t as pronounced or robust as it usually was, with her not able to shower the past couple of days. But beyond that, she wore a lime green, flowy long-sleeved shirt mixed with navy blue slacks, completely bejeweled with necklaces, dangly earrings, and bracelets. Her bright red lipstick stained across a wrinkly face only accented a beautiful woman with enough spunk and liveliness for all of Wyoming.
I smiled her way. “Oh, I think you had plenty that caught his attention, Grandma. The pie was just a bonus.”
She pinched my cheek. “Well, sweet girl, I’ll leave you to it.”
At my panicked face, she laughed. “It’s not hard. I have all the faith in the world you can pull this off. Besides that, I need a shower if we’re going into town today. Who knows how long this power will stay on?”
My ears perked up at that. “Do you think it might go off again?” And plunge the four of us into another day of remote, isolated bliss?
“Probably, but the roads are cleared, so the power going off won’t fix your immediate problem.”
She made her way toward the stairs. “But you kids will work everything out just fine. I have no doubt."
