One Day at a Time (Starting Over Series Book 4) (6 page)

She gave him a shy smile and shook her head. “No, it was easy.” She took a whiff of the air. “Whatever you’re cooking smells wonderful.”

He wasn’t that great of a cook, so he decided to grill a couple of steaks to go along with some cheesy twice-baked potatoes and a tossed salad. “Come on, I’ll show you what I’ve got.” He grabbed her hand and led her into his kitchen. He showed her the potatoes in the oven and the salad and steaks in the refrigerator. “I’ll throw the steaks on the grill in a few minutes. Can I get you some lemonade?”

“Yes, please.” He poured them both a glass and then led her out to his deck. “Oh my gosh, you’ve got a hammock! I’ve always wanted one, but I live in an apartment so that’s not going to happen. Can I try it out?”

Her excitement for something small like a hammock was endearing. “Have at it, babe. I’ll go get the steaks and throw them on, then I’ll come join you.” He kissed her quick and watched as she excitedly went to the hammock and crawled onto it, making him want to groan as her tight little ass stuck up in the air. She didn’t even realize how sexy she was, which made her even sexier in his eyes. Wanting to get back to her quickly, he hurried into the house and grabbed the steaks. He was just heading outside when his phone rang. Picking it up, he rolled his eyes when he saw it was Mac.

“Yes?” he answered, his voice laced with mock indignation.

Of course she got right to the point. “Is that her?”

“It is,” was his reply.

“She’s perfect. I approve.” The line went dead and he shook his head. Of course she was scoping out his backyard. She probably had been watching Tessa since she pulled into his driveway. Setting his phone down, he made his way outside. He froze at the sight before him.

Tessa was reclining on the hammock, her legs crossed at the ankles and her arms stretched out behind her. He could get used to that sight. He put the steaks on the grill, and then he went to her. He knew she had heard him walk up, because her lips tipped up into a smile.

“You may have to throw me out of this thing. I don’t think I’ve ever been this comfortable in my life.”

“Well scoot over, babe.” He carefully got on it and smiled when she turned to him, snuggling close.

He rested his hand on her, rubbing small circles over the expanse of her flat stomach. “So how was work?” His voice sounded rough in his own ears.

“It was good. I got those romance novels in that I was telling you about.” The girl could talk books, but it was sweet how excited she got talking about the latest book to cross her counter. She was a big supporter of indie authors and was always on social media, finding the next big author.

“The one about the MMA fighter?” How he remembered that he didn’t know, but was grateful he did when she gave him the biggest smile.

“That’s the one. I sold five copies before I left.” Her excitement was palpable. They were interrupted when the timer went off. He leaned down, kissed the tip of her nose, and got up.

He flipped the steaks and shut the lid. Going over to the hammock, he leaned over her, “Sorry, darling, but it’s about time to eat.” He reached out to her, grabbing her hand and pulling her up.

“Can I help with anything?” He led her up to the deck and pulled out a seat for her.

“Nope, I just need you to sit here and look pretty.” He’d never seen someone blush as much as she did.

They made small talk as he pulled the steaks off of the grill. They looked like they were cooked right, but he’d have to wait and see. He sat them on the table and excused himself to grab the rest of their food.

***

“That was so good,” Tessa said as she pushed her plate away from her. He was glad she had enjoyed the meal. They both cleared their entire plates. Conversation had been minimal while they ate, but it was comfortable.

She got up and grabbed their dishes. “Let me take care of these.” She didn’t even give him a chance to answer before he watched her retreating back into his house.

He pulled out a cigarette, placing it between his lips and lighting it. He blew out the plume of smoke, leaning back in his chair. Last week he’d asked her if his smoking bothered her, she had shaken her head and told him no, and that her brother used to smoke, but quit, except for the occasional cigar, when his wife got sick. Through the screen door he could hear her puttering around in his kitchen, and it filled him with an unexpected peace. He shouldn’t feel this way about someone he was still getting to know, but he couldn’t help it.

Deciding he didn’t want to be away from her any longer, he snuffed out his cigarette and went into the house. He looked around and saw everything was cleaned up already. “Thanks for this, but you didn’t have to do that.”

He watched her wring out the dishcloth he didn’t even know he had. After drying her hands, she came to him with the same sweet smile that always seemed to be on her lips. He snagged her around the waist and pulled her to him.

“Cash, it’s not a big deal. You made such a delicious dinner, it was the least I could do.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he buried his nose in her hair. It smelled lemony and fresh. He pulled away but tilted her head back so he could reach her lips. The kiss was gentle at first. Just the lightest touch of his lips against hers, but he quickly deepened the kiss.

He licked the seam of her lips, coaxing them open; the taste of her mixed with lemonade caused a moan to escape from deep in his chest. Her tongue touched his shyly, but the shyness quickly evaporated as her hands slid up into his hair, gripping it and pressing her body fully against his. Their touches had been pretty innocent so far, but now, now he had to really touch her. His hands slid down and up under her tank top. The skin of her back was soft and warm. He let one hand slidedown her ass until he felt the smooth skin at the back of her leg.
He squeezed with just enough pressure, his fingers slipping up her shorts until he reached the satin panties she was wearing.

His dick was hard and aching, and as much as he wanted things to go further with her, he wanted to wait. At thirty years old he’d never had a healthy relationship, and fuck if he was going to rush things now. He pulled his lips away first, his hands still touching her bare skin. Resting his forehead against hers, he caught his breath and tried to get himself under control. She still had her hands tangled in his hair.

“Cash?” she whispered.

“Yeah, darlin’,” he breathed out

Her cheeks went a deep rose color and she closed her eyes. “There’s something I need to tell you.” He tightened his grip on her. He was scared to even think what it could be. She looked up at him. “I’m…I’m a virgin.”

Wow
, he was floored. That was not what he was expecting her to say. Not in the least. He wasn’t sure how to respond. Was she telling him because she didn’t want him to try anything? His hands left her body with a jerk. He knew he screwed up when her eyes looked wounded, and he knew it was because of his knee-jerk reaction. She tried to back away from him.

He grabbed her face. “No, no, no. I’m sorry. I’m just…I’m just surprised is all. Why are you telling me this?”

“I-I just wanted you to know…you know, if things…if they went further between us.” Her cheeks were beet-red. “You know, if that’s what you want.”

He was beginning to think this was all a bad idea. He wanted her something fierce, but now that he knew how truly innocent she was, he didn’t want to ruin her. He didn’t deserve someone as pure as she was. But the more he thought about it, how could he walk away from her? She had awoken something inside of him. So for now he was going to be a selfish bastard because he wanted a little good in his life for once.

“Tessa, I won’t ever pressure you into doing something you’re not ready for.” He didn’t want her thinking he’d do something like that. He kissed her forehead tenderly.

“I know you wouldn’t. I just wanted you to know now, just in case that was a deal breaker for you. I-I don’t know how all of this works, and I figured it would be best to be honest with you.”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight to his chest. “Don’t get me wrong, I want you. I want anything you’re willing to give me, but we can take our time. If and when you’re ready to go there, I would love nothing more than to be that man.” That was the god’s honest truth.

He felt her lips against his neck, and just like that he had a hard on again. “Do you feel what you do to me?” He grabbed her hand and placed it over his covered dick. He heard her suck in a breath.

“Wow!” she breathed. Her hand slipped up and down his cock, and it ached to be let out. Covering her hand with his, he halted her movements.

“Baby, you need to stop or I’ll embarrass myself.”

Her brow was furrowed, but then her eyes were as wide as saucers. She looked nervously down at his cock, and he watched her bite her lip. She was killing his self-control and she didn’t even realize it.

Once he had himself straight, he gave Tessa a tour of his house. She seemed sincere in her appreciation of the work he was doing, asking questions about the updates he was making. He knew he was rambling on, but his home was his pride and joy. It was a three-bedroom ranch, the master bedroom had an en suite, but the other bathroom was in the hallway. One of the other bedrooms had a weight bench, free weights, and a punching bag. The other had a futon and dresser. He had wanted to decorate it for Abby, but he didn’t.

Journey and he had talked at great length about him repairing his relationship with his little girl. They both agreed they’d talk to her together when she was older. Now she was just too young to fully grasp why Journey and Dylan were raising her. She knew he was her dad, but she didn’t remember why she wasn’t living with him.

He shook his head and pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. He laced his fingers with Tessa’s and led her back outside, instructing her to get in the hammock. Again the sight of her cute little ass sticking up in the air mesmerized him. When she was settled in, he went around and lit the tiki torches. He ran inside and grabbed his guitar.

She smiled as he approached her, her eyes going to the guitar. “Are you going to play for me?”

“Yep. Make room for me, darlin’.”

She took his guitar from him as he slid in next to her. Once he was settled in, he took it back from her. His guitar always felt like an extension of himself. For as long as he could remember, he played. He and his dad would sit for hours just playing together, but when Cash started to play better than his own father, things changed. His dad had extremely high expectations of him.

When he wanted to hang out with his friends, his dad wanted him to practice. He quit sports and worked on his music and his song writing more and more. He quickly turned into the typical after-school special. He never smoked weed, but started popping pills. It was recreational at first, just hanging out with friends, getting high, and playing music. It spiraled out of control so fast.

“What is that you’re playing?” He hadn’t even realized he was playing.

“Nothing special, just some random notes. Do you have any requests?” He turned his head to look at her. The tiki torches cast an orange light on her face and made her eyes almost glow. She was breathtaking, and if he could keep her right there forever he couldn’t think of a better view.

“Okay, this was my mom’s favorite song, so you might not know it. “Leather and Lace,” by Stevie Nicks and…oh, what’s his name?” She looked up at the sky, murmuring to herself.

“It’s Don Henley.”

“That’s it! Do you know it?” They never really talked about what kind of music he liked.

“I do know that song. I’ve always had a freaky memory when it comes to music. Just give me a minute to think about it.” He strummed to the tune in his head and then began to sing.

***

The moment Cash opened his mouth and began to sing, Tessa lay there in stunned silence. His voice was smooth, but with just enough scratchiness to make it sexy. She watched his fingers strum the guitar with no effort whatsoever. She couldn’t help but sing along with him, and the words that were ingrained in her mind came out softly, words that had been forever burned into her brain since she was a little girl. Her mom had been a big Stevie Nicks fan and an even bigger Eagles fan.

She closed her eyes listening to Cash. As the night progressed, they stayed right in that spot. The hammock lightly swayed as he played song after song, his voice lulling her to such a state of relaxation she was afraid she was going to fall asleep.

When Cash finally put his guitar down, he turned back to her, pulling her so her back was against his front. “You play and sing beautifully,” she whispered. He squeezed her tight to him, kissing the back of her neck.

Neither of them spoke as they lay there, but they didn’t need to. It was one of those comfortable silences. Tessa’s eyes felt heavy, and she knew she should get up before she fell asleep, but she couldn’t force herself to move from that spot.

Tessa could hear the banging coming from the kitchen and ran quickly into her room. Shutting the door quietly behind her, she slid to the floor, hoping and praying her dad would pay no attention to her. He’d been drinking since he got up several hours ago. There wasn’t a time when she saw him sober anymore. Most days he’d ignore her, but there were days when he didn’t. She prayed today would be a day to forget she even existed.

She knew God didn’t hear her prayers when her dad pushed the door in. Scrambling across the floor on her hands and knees, she tried to get away from him, but felt his large hand wrap around her ankle.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” His speech was slurred, his eyes filled with such hatred.

He grabbed her arm, pulling her up from the floor so hard she was afraid he was going to rip her arm out of the socket. She tried to hold back the tears, but she couldn’t. The pain was almost blinding.

“What did I do?” she cried.

“Where’s the bottle? What the fuck did you do to it, you stupid retard?” he roared in her face. She had no idea what he was talking about. She knew better than to try and hide his liquor. She had the scars on her back to prove it.