Fireflies and Magnolias (21 page)

“Of course, I was never allowed to ride anything dangerous or fast. The most I ever learned to do was canter.”

He turned toward her like an avenging angel, towering over her in the darkness. “You mean to say you’ve never galloped before?”

“Not like that,” she replied, “but I knew I could.”

“Dammit, Amelia Ann.”

“Now don’t spoil things by getting your tail feathers all ruffled,” she told him. “What you gave me this afternoon, Clayton—riding my first Friesian and galloping with the wind rushing over me—it’s something I’ll never forget.”

His sigh gusted out. “Every time you exasperate me, you find a way to disarm me.”

This time she chuckled. “It’s part of my charm, didn’t you know?”

He stepped closer to her, so close she could feel the heat from his body, smell the earthy scent of horse on his clothes. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

“Dinner?” Her heart was pounding in her ears now, as much from his proximity as his invitation.

“If you don’t have plans, of course,” he said and stepped away, widening the distance between them again.

“No, I don’t have plans.” If she had, she would have cancelled them without a moment’s thought.

“Then let’s walk back to the house and leave the horses to run a bit more. Jimmy will bring them in later.”

There was a bounce in her step as they traipsed back to his house, and she knew she was grinning. Her heart felt like it was galloping in freedom across the expanse of her body, breaking past old limits and fears.

“Let me go and grab my keys,” he said as they came to the driveway.

He left her there in the silence of the evening. So, she wasn’t welcome inside his house yet. Well, she’d won a whole bunch of firsts today. This one could wait.

Especially since she thought she understood. If she went into his house, they’d be that much closer to his bedroom. The powerful attraction between them might have been on simmer while they were out riding the horses, but it had been there just the same.

He cared for her.

He’d actually admitted it.

And he’d kissed her so long and sweet her heart had burst.

She hugged herself and then went to retrieve her purse. After opening the car door, she sat down and flipped up the sun visor and stared at herself in the illuminated mirror. Heavens, she was a sight. Her hair was matted down from the helmet, and there were traces of dust on her face. Her mascara had run a little at the edges of her eyes, and there wasn’t a trace of lipstick to be found on her mouth. When she looked down at her shirt, she realized it was covered in horse hair and streaked with dirt. Horse saliva too, likely.

“Great.”

A form ducked under the topper. She jumped a mile.

“You look fine.”

“Good God almighty! I didn’t hear you coming.”

He squatted down beside the car. “Probably because you were muttering about your appearance.”

Turning in the seat, she frowned. “Ladies do not mutter. Clayton, I look a fright.”

“Then I’ll have to take you to a restaurant with low lighting.”

“Seriously. My hair’s a mess, and I have horse all over me.”

He drew her out with such a gentle touch, she didn’t fight him.

“We’re not going anywhere fancy, so you don’t need to fuss. You look beautiful.”

With the lights in the car still on, she could see his face, and the longing in it held her spellbound. His finger traced her cheek.

“Like I told you the other night, you always do.”

The memories of that time together, feeling his mouth and hands on her, made her sway closer to him. She wanted to be kissed again. Right now. He seemed to know it from the way his eyes detoured to her mouth, but he shook himself.

“We should go.”

The distance he was putting between them made his intentions clear. Clayton might have admitted he cared for her, but his steely control remained intact. She could tell he was fighting the urge to take her, to claim her…in more ways than one. And she could intuit why—he knew the first time they made love would be her first time ever. It would be powerful and special, and he didn’t want to rush it.

And that made her love him all the more.

The restaurant Clayton chose was more of a run-down country store called Mather’s. Gas lanterns illuminated a front porch whose paint had long since peeled away, leaving the natural wood. A fleet of worn white wicker rocking chairs danced a merry tune in the wind. The windows might be old, but they were sparkling. And when Clayton held the door open for her, she stepped onto old hardwood floors that were equally immaculate.

“I told you it wasn’t anything fancy,” he said, his hand warm and comforting on the small of her back, “but this is the best place for old-fashioned Southern comfort food I know.”

White, paper-covered tables were balanced with shims under their legs. None of the chairs seemed to match, but the effect was charming rather than chaotic. There were old posters on the walls from other eras advertising anything from war bonds to powdered grits.

“It’s lovely,” she responded, gazing over at him with a smile. “It seems to be a popular hangout.”

“Yeah, the place is more often packed than not. Fifty years ago, this place closed its doors as a general store and was converted into a restaurant. The locals have kept it busy ever since. This was my daddy’s favorite place to eat, so my mama kept bringing me here. Now it’s my favorite too.”

A server hurried over to them and exchanged a friendly greeting with Clayton, who introduced her by name to Amelia Ann. Soon they were sitting at a small corner table by a window overlooking a swamp. The sickle moon hung low over the trees, and the muted sound of trilling frogs washed over them.

“It must be nice to have this connection with your daddy,” she said, edging carefully around the topic. She knew he had trouble talking about his daddy.

He didn’t pick up one of the plastic menus propped between the antique salt and pepper shakers, probably because he knew everything that was on it. “It is. Mama’s been trying to get her fill before she moves, so she’s been coming here once a week for the last month. Florida won’t have anything like this.” His gray eyes dimmed a bit then.

“You’re going to miss her terribly, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Now let me tell you what’s good here.”

He ran her through the menu, everything from the gigantic hamburgers to the catfish, saying it was the best she’d ever taste. She took his advice and ordered it along with a side of collard greens and hushpuppies. Fried food wasn’t her usual, but this was an occasion worthy of splurging. Clayton ordered the hamburger and fried pickles.

“How is it Rye has never taken me here?” she asked, setting her menu back in its place.

He shrugged and took a drink of his beer. “Maybe he didn’t think you’d like this place.”

Given their upbringing, that was possible. He might think this place was too low-country for her tastes. Well, she was expanding her horizons, wasn’t she?

“Maybe my brother’s memory of the girl I was has kept him from seeing the woman I’ve become. I told him this morning that he needs to stop seeing me as his baby sister and let me make my own choices.”

His eyes shuttered, like he had a suspicion how that topic had come up. “Rye can’t help wanting to protect the women in his family. Some men are wired that way.”

Clayton was clearly one of them. She knew it, and what was more, she believed him capable of protecting her if there was ever a need. It was why she’d texted him at Jasinda’s apartment.

“You women give out mixed signals,” he mumbled, kicking back in his chair. “You want us to talk about our feelings, but you still want us to be macho and take a shot at anyone who threatens you. It’s not easy.”

She took a moment to form her answer. “It’s not easy for us women either, you know. Even in law school, there are times when I feel like I’m fighting against this good-old-boy Southern network. I need to fight that, overcome it, or I’ll never get anywhere. We want to be women, but we sometimes need to act tough to get what we want, which can be construed as too aggressive or mannish. So much for the path to independence.”

She made a face when he remained silent.

“But at Jasinda’s…I knew I wasn’t any match for her husband. I can’t always promise to know when I need to bring in…the muscle…but sometimes it’s painfully obvious. Thank you again for coming.”

“Anytime, princess,” he said. “Although don’t expect me to be overjoyed you’re still planning to work there…and make home visits.”

There it was. The root of a conflict she knew would rear its ugly head time and time again with him, with her brother. “I have to do it, Clayton.”

“I know you do. I even respect it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. How are Jasinda and the kids?”

Hearing him ask about them brought tears to her eyes. “Sorry, I’m more than a little emotional about them. I saw them yesterday. They’re doing okay. We filed the protection order, and given the immediate danger to Jasinda and her kids, a judge immediately signed it. You should have heard her when Felicia and I called her with the news. She couldn’t stop sobbing, and then she just kept thanking us.”

He reached for her hand.

She took it and swallowed thickly. “Jasinda’s agreed to press charges against Damon, which will help her case as we move forward. It’s going to take a while for the law to process everything, but they’re on their way. In the meantime, they’re safe…and that’s more important than anything.”

“I know we haven’t talked about it much because…heck…I didn’t want to upset you, but I kept your car for evidence in case Jasinda decides to involve the police. Destruction of property may not be much alone, but tacked onto everything else this Damon asshole has done, it establishes a clear history of violence. You can talk it over with Felicia and see what you’d like to do.”

That he would think like a lawyer in this case, just like her, made her feel another bond to him. They were using the law to fight for justice together.

“That was smart of you. I’ll let you know. Thank you again…for taking care of the car.” And oh God, she honestly hoped she wouldn’t have to see the damage herself.

His thumb rubbed her knuckles in a soft caress. “I know you told me not to say it, but you’re a miracle worker, Amelia Ann. You truly are. I was happy to do what little I could.”

She could only nod because her throat was closed with messy emotion. Seeing Jasinda and her two kids safely settled in the woman’s shelter was one of the greatest blessings of her life, and she was humbled to have played a part. And he had as well.

The server brought their food, and their conversation lapsed into silence as they ate. The catfish was seared to perfection. The restaurant’s cook was a master when it came to deep-frying because there wasn’t a trace of oil, and the breading was divine. The collard greens were filled with smoky bacon and a dash of vinegar. Clayton offered her some of his fried pickles, so she shared her plump hushpuppies. That exchange made her smile on the inside for the rest of the meal.

When he drove them back to his house, butterflies took flight in her stomach. She wanted him. He wanted her. Was she ready to give herself to him this intimately? Knowing herself as well as she did, she knew she’d be crushed if he stepped back afterward, and everything was too new between them for her to know how he would respond.

Once he was parked at the house, Clayton came around the truck and opened her door. “Do you want me to follow you back to your place to make sure you get home safe, or would that be too overly protective?”

So, he’d already made the decision for them. Had he done it for her or for him? She decided to find out. “What if I asked to stay tonight?”

His hand took her elbow and led her to her BMW. “You aren’t ready for that, and if we’re being honest, neither am I.”

Her gaze flew to his face as hope burst in her heart. “But you…”

“Yes, but this would be different, and we both know that.”

A huge pocket of air rose in her chest at his words. He was waiting for himself too, not just for her. Oh, this was too dear. “Will you at least kiss me goodnight?”

“Oh, Amelia Ann, what am I going to do with you?” he asked, framing her face with his hands.

They stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment before his mouth lowered to hers. His lips caressed hers, but soon it wasn’t enough. She opened her mouth to let him inside, and her belly tightened as their tongues danced around each other. Her breasts grew heavy, and she wanted more than anything to have his hands on them again. But soon he was kissing her cheek and holding her close, and she knew he wasn’t going to allow anything more tonight.

“Goodnight, Amelia Ann,” he whispered against her hair and then reached over to open her car door.

She nuzzled his chest and inhaled his scent of leather, musk, and wood smoke one last time, something she could remember as she fell asleep in her bed alone tonight. “Thank you for the most marvelous day.”

He pulled away and stood there, strong and steady in the dark night. “You’re welcome. Text me when you get home.”

Oh, how she liked hearing that. “Okay. Can we do dinner in the city sometime this week?” she boldly asked.

His fingers tapped on the car door like he was struggling with himself again. “All right. Let me know when you’re free.”

She leaned up to kiss his cheek one last time. “I’ll see you soon.”

Those gray eyes were filled with heat when she pulled away. “Get in the car, Amelia Ann.”

The order was said in the most husky, rough voice she’d ever heard him use, and oh the things it did to the places south of her belly button. “Good night.”

“Night.”

The whole way back to town all she could do was replay their time together. When she parked her car in front of her townhouse, she immediately dug out her phone and texted him.

I’m all safe and sound. Thanks again for a wonderful day.

His reply was immediate, and her heart burst at the thought of him waiting for her text.

I’m glad you’re home safe. Sweet dreams, princess.