Sweet Contradiction (14 page)

“I did say that, and I’m not the kind of man who would lie about something like that,” he growled at me. I realized a little too late that we weren’t slowing down to turn up the church’s driveway, instead we were bypassing it. I glanced over at Matt, who had a tick in his jaw from the force with which he had been grinding his teeth.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered lightly. “I’ve had a long day, I’m just a little on edge.” Matt nodded in my direction with his eyes never leaving the road. A few miles later we pulled off the road in front of a large wrought iron gate, where Matt got out to open for us to pass through. When he got back in the truck, I raised my brow, wondering where the heck we were.

When we pulled up to a large, red brick country home with a beautiful wrap-around porch and several trucks parked in the front yard, I was still clueless. It wasn’t until Matt opened the door for me to hop out of his truck and a slightly older, female version of Matt with his warm brown eyes and easy smile came out on the front porch, did I realize Matt had brought me to his family’s house for dinner. He didn’t take me church, no, he took me straight to his preacher daddy for a one-on-one intervention.

Matt’s hand on my back, gently pressing me forward, was probably the only thing that kept me from launching myself back into his truck and demanding that he take me home. When I reached the front door, four men had joined Matt’s mom there. Hunter was leaning against the wall, a huge grin splitting his face like he knew exactly the terror I was feeling from being surrounded by Matt’s entire family.

“Thank goodness you’ve finally arrived.” Mrs. Wright came over and put an arm around me, shooing Matt away gently. “There are only so many hours a woman can put up with this much testosterone in one room.” She winked and I relaxed just a fraction. “I’m sure Matt neglected to tell you he was bringing you here by the shell-shocked look on your face.” My mouth flew open to deny it, but she waved it off with a snort. “Men have no idea what terrors women face when meeting their boyfriend’s family for the first time.” I smiled. She wasn’t so terrifying. When we all shuffled inside and I turned around, I was faced by a wall of Wright men and a male guest whom I didn’t know.

“Beth … nice to see you again. Looking forward to the evening. I hope you’re not planning on any wagers tonight.” Hunter smirked and I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Depends on if I will have an honest chance. Unlike the other night at the fair,” I snapped.

“Oh dear, don’t tell me. The ring toss?” A larger, blue eyed version of Matt, who had a tattoo of thorns across his knuckles, chuckled and shook his head. I blushed and a small smile spread across my face.

“Won a date with that wager,” Hunter guffawed. I narrowed my eyes at him and he laughed even louder.

“I’m Daniel, by the way.” He stuck his hand out and I grasped it in mine. “The older, more handsome brother.” He winked and I laughed as Matt and Hunter protested with groans and barbs about his supposed handsomeness.

“Alright boys. Keep it down, you’re all equally handsome. Got it from your old man, after all.” Matt’s dad stepped forward, his blue eyes twinkling, taking me by surprise with their gentleness. “I’m so happy to meet you, Beth. Hope we don’t scare you away before the night is over.” He smiled broadly and I smiled in return as Mrs. Wright called out that we should all eat before dinner got cold.

We all sat down to a large wooden table weighted down with a veritable southern feast. My eyes rounded when I took in the enormous amount of food. Matt chuckled deeply from beside me, which sent shivers coursing down my spine.

“Don’t worry. This isn’t near as much as it looks, especially when you have five grown men who have been working outside all day bringing their bear-sized appetites with them.” I sat down next to Matt and his hand immediately found mine. He brought our clasped hands up and placed a gentle kiss on the back of mine. “I am so glad you’re here tonight,” he whispered into my ear, stirring wisps of hair around my face. I shivered and smiled over at him.

“I’m glad I’m here too,” I said, honestly. I only twitched once when Matt’s dad began a prayer over the meal.

“Dear Lord, thank you so much for my family, for the food we’re about to eat, for a good day’s work, and for the beautiful woman who’s always been by my side through thick and thin. Thank you for old friends and new. Amen.” I sat there for a second in mild shock as everyone started passing bowls and platters around the table. That was it? No hidden barbs, no hidden messages? Matt was grinning like he’d heard my thoughts when my gaze landed on him. He handed me a bowl of green bean casserole and shrugged as if to say “what did you expect?” I shook my head and scooped out the casserole onto my plate. What exactly did I expect?

“Beth, did you get to meet Keith?” Mrs. Wright touched the man sitting next to Daniel on the arm.

“I don’t think I did,” I answered. Mrs. Wright huffed and shot a rebuking glance over at her eldest son. He blushed under her momma-stare and wiped his mouth off with his napkin.

“Sorry. I’m not usually
that
inconsiderate.” Daniel grinned and placed a hand gently on the man’s shoulder. “Beth, this is Keith … my partner.” Keith smiled and squeezed Daniel’s hand, giving me a needed extra second to snap my mouth shut and pop my eyes back in their sockets.

It wasn’t the fact that Daniel was gay, not even close. I’d had several gay friends over the years—some of the best people I ever met were gay, but the fact that they were open about it right at Pastor Wright’s table had nearly knocked me off my chair. Not only that, but it was plain as day that both Pastor and Mrs. Wright adored Keith. Matt’s hand squeezed my leg under the table. One of Matt’s surprises, I thought. If he’d been trying to shock me and open my eyes a little … he’d succeeded.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Keith. You from the Salem area?” Keith had a light accent that I couldn’t place until he told me he was originally from Boston before joining the army, where he had met Daniel. Conversation flowed without pause and I found myself enjoying the evening. The food was delicious and I wasn’t the least bit shy about asking for a second helping of Mrs. Wright’s homemade apple crumb pie. The woman made her own vanilla bean ice cream, for heaven’s sake.

“So, has my thick headed son asked you to the barn dance tomorrow night yet?” Pastor Wright sat next to his wife on a double seated rocker out on the front porch. I was sitting in a rocker next to Matt while Hunter was lounging on the steps of the porch. Daniel and Keith had already left to go back to their place because they had an early morning on the following day. Matt groaned beside me and Hunter chuckled from his spot on the steps.

“What?” His dad asked with a wicked gleam in his eye. Now I knew where Matt got that look from.

“There’s going to be dancing, pie eatin’ contests, and a bake off. Should be a lot of fun, just about the whole town will be there.” Mrs. Wright sat back and snuggled into her husband’s side and sighed. “I do love a southern barn dance.” I grinned up into Matt’s laughing eyes and raised a brow.

“I was going to ask you …
later
.” Matt shot over at his dad.

“Well, in that case, I’d love to … oh.” Jen. I couldn’t leave her alone now, not when I knew how much she was going through. I shouldn’t be off leaving her at home by herself at night again.

“What is it?” Matt asked, his forehead furrowed in concern.

“It’s Jen … I really can’t leave her alone all night again.” I gave him a regretful smile and shrugged. I really did want to enter that baking contest. There would always be time to have fun, though … once I took care of Jen.

“Why can’t Hunter take Jen?” Mrs. Wright commented sweetly. “She could use a little fun, the poor sweetheart.” I glanced over at Hunter who had a look of utter shock and mortification on his face that his mother was actually playing match maker. His mouth hung open for a while before he gathered himself enough to snap it closed.

“I don’t need anyone to get a date for me,” he gritted out.

“I wasn’t trying to get you a date …” she sputtered.

“I’m perfectly capable of getting my own date …” he muttered

“I was just saying that she’s far too pretty and young to stay at home. And you could get out a little more too. You don’t think she’s pretty?”

“Of course I think she’s pretty,” he snapped.

“And you’re not doing anything tomorrow are you?” She shrugged her shoulder and I hid a smile. Matt was full out grinning next to me, enjoying his brother’s discomfort.

“No, I’m not doing anything tomorrow, but…”

“So if you think she’s pretty and aren’t doing anything anyway, I guess it would make perfect sense for you two to go together.” Mrs. Wright waved a hand as if that settled the matter.

“Well … I guess I wouldn’t mind getting out of the house for few hours,” Hunter replied with a scowl. His mom gave me a knowing wink.

“It’s settled then, Beth will break the news to Jen tonight and we’ll all go together tomorrow night.” Matt paused for a second. “Would you care to make a friendly wager around the pie eating contest?” I groaned when Matt, Hunter, and his dad all argued how they would be the winners this year. Evidently it was a pretty big thing to win the title of Salem’s Pie Pig. Who knew?

A profound weight had been lifted off of my heart by the time we left the Wright home. I guess stereotyping can go both ways. Did that mean I would be comfortable going to church and hearing hour long sermons? Absolutely not. But at least I could feel more comfortable around Matt and his family—and that’s all that was really important to me right then.

“Hey, where are you right now?” Matt asked from beside me.

“Just thinking about how much I enjoyed time with your family tonight.” Mrs. Wright was something else. I smiled as I recalled how she managed to get Hunter to do what she wanted without him ever realizing it. She had mad momma skills. “I’m also wondering if I should be concerned that you carry around an inflatable bed for your truck.” Matt brought our intertwined hands up and kissed the back of my knuckles, raising little goose bumps along my arm as he did. My eyes left the beautiful starry sky we were lying under in the back of his truck bed to find Matt gazing fixedly at me. My breath caught in my chest and I reached up to push a wayward lock of his hair off of his forehead.

“I’ve never taken a girl out like this before, sweetheart. You’re the only girl I’ve ever wanted to sleep under the starry night sky with. You make the stars shine a little bit brighter and the night bloomin’ jasmine smell a little bit sweeter.” My heart fluttered wildly at his words. No man had ever said such beautiful things to me before and I knew no man ever would again. Matt was one of a kind and every time we were together I fell a little more in love with him. I leaned over and kissed him gently, savoring the feel of his lips against mine, the complicated woodsy scent of him, and the way his arms held me gently as if he were touching the most precious thing on earth.

“I’ve never wanted anything as much as I do right now.” I murmured against his lips. “I’ve never felt more alive than I do when you’re touching me, Matt.” I melted into him as his mouth crashed down on mine, his lips soaking up my confession and his body showing me exactly how he felt. No matter how many years I live, I will always remember the tiniest details of that night out in the middle of a field, miles away from another human being. How the stars twinkled just for us, like a million, tiny, flickering candles lighting the night sky. How even though the evening was cool and flowers scented the air around us, that it was Matt’s embrace that kept me warm and his scent that lingered more vividly than any flower ever could. How that as we made love to each other, the world fell away and nothing else mattered except the rise and fall of our synchronized breathing, the wildness of our hearts, beating as one, and the words
I love you
floating all around me, planting themselves into my heart, as Matt whispered them into my hair.