Bitter Hearts (A Southern Loving Book 3) (13 page)

“I
like them.” She did a small dance in her tan colored cowgirl boot with a cross
and angel wings on the front and on the toe of the boots.”

Hank
looked down and checked his watch; they had three hours before he had to
perform at the fair. “In that case, Jenny we will take the boots you picked out
along with the outfits.”

“Yes
sir,” they young sales clerk said, before disappearing to the back of the
store.

“What
are you doing?” Kari asked standing closer to him.

“It’s
a surprise.” He kissed her forehead, sidestepping he went to the counter and
placed his card down for the sales clerk to ring the items up.

“Why
are you buying all these clothes?” Even though Hank had impeccable taste, she
didn’t need a man buying her anything.

“I
like you and I want you to be comfortable on our trip,” he responded. His real
answer would have went something like this, I love the way you whiskey eyes light
up.

“I
must admit that everything in this store is nice.” Kari stood up on her tippy
toes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks.”

Hank
felt his heart quicken, Kari was genuinely having a good time. He looked at her
and opened his mouth, but no words came out. Kari returned the stare, just as
surprised. After a second, Hank continued to state, wordlessly. His grey eyes
had a faraway look in them.

Kari
sighed and looked away from him.

He
knew that she could feel the connection between them. He wondered how long she
could pretend like she wasn’t feeling what he was feeling every time they were
together.

“What’s
the matter, Kari?” he asked soothingly.

“What
do you mean?”

“Stop
being so damn coy. Tell me what’s bothering you,” he sighed, sounding exhausted
and stressed.

“There’s
no cure for falling for someone,” she said softly, and walked away from him to
look at jewelry on a display case.

“Would
it be all that bad?” he asked, his eyebrows raised. When she didn’t’ answer he
added, “What about the whole friends with benefits?” he said in a low voice,
just enough for her to hear.

Kari
laughed and shook her head. “Love only makes things worst with us.” She scowled
at a necklace before picking it up, placing it on the counter. Hank laughed at
her antics. “It’s not funny we both have been burned by love.”

“How
do you know a fulfilling relationship will make things worse for us?” He looked
up at her and smiled slightly.

“Alright
Mr. Jackson, the total is $710. Is that everything for you today?” the cheerful
sales clerk asked after she finished ringing the items up.

Kari
breathed a sigh of relief as the sales clerk interrupted their conversation.
Her life was calm, but there was this nagging feeling, Hank was the storm that
would bring havoc to her peaceful life she had for herself in Nashville.

Chapter Six

Kari
giggled as Hank ushered them from different food stands and vendors selling
different odds and ends. The Nashville Fair was in full swing.  Today would be
the battle of bulge for her, this was truly her first time experiencing a
country fair to its full effect. There was fried butter, beer and bubbled gum.
She munched on funnel cake.

“You
having fun yet, city girl?” Hank said.

“Yes!”

Kari
and Hank spent the few hours before he was due at sound check going on various
rides. She didn’t make anything out of it as Hank held on her hand tightly as
they maneuvered from ride to ride. They both were filled with happiness. Kari
didn’t realize how much of a couple they looked like until they ventured into
the crazy mirrors; were they a couple? Of course they kissed a few times during
the night and held hands since they arrived at the fair. Her heart began to
swell as she thought about how attentive Hank was with her. She shook her head
quickly and told herself to stop acting like a high school girl.

“One
more ride,” Hank said, pointing up the Ferris wheel.

“Okay,”
she said with a mouth full of funnel cake, she tossed the empty plate into the
trash and reached for the cotton candy Hank was holding for her.

They
sat down on a seat, as the attendant came and made sure latch was secure before
the ride moved higher and higher until they had an unbelievable view of the
fair below. Hank joined his hand with hers. He stroked his thumb across the
back of Kari’s hand; sending shivers through both of them.

“Do
you want some?” she asked softly.

Hank
saw a small piece of pink cotton candy on Kari’s lip. He smiled and leaned in
“Yeah,” he said, leaning in and kissing her passionately.

Pulling
away from him she gazed into his grey eyes. “You disgust me. I kind of hated
you on sight… but now I want to know more…I need to know more.”

“Why?”

“You
intrigue me.”

“I
tried not to notice you or the dimple in your cheek. Kari Hayes, I’m hooked on
you like a cold beer after a long hard day.

Kari
blushed. “What the hell?”

“I’m
a southern man,” he shrugged and looked at her seriously, “but you are
everything that a man needs after a hard day at work.”

 Kari
wanted to curse him and tell him to go to hell. “You’re still married Hank.”

“Divorce
proceedings have already been filed.” Hank put his finger against her lips.
“Let’s just date and see where this goes.”

“Fine,”
she conceded. “I will allow myself to just go with the flow.”

“Good,”
he said seriously. “You’re worth it.”

Kari
was shocked by his fervent answer. “You are too.”

“You
just made me feel special,” Hank said, with a sudden harden glint in his eyes.

Kari
looked away and focused her attention on her cowgirl boots. “Thanks for the
boots and clothes,” she said.

“You’re
welcome,” Hank replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

Kari
blushed again; she never was one to be at lost for words. Her mind was in
turmoil, wondering if she was reading too much into her relationship with Hank.

Picking
up his hand she looked at his watch, “Shit, you have sound check in thirty
minutes.”

“We
will get there in time,” he said, smiling at her once more.

“Do
you like it?” she asked when he looked her confusedly, she continued.
“Performing… I saw the gold and platinum records on the walls.”

“Austin
and I grew up listening to Johnny Cash. We both got separate record deals when
we went to Nashville. I still dabble a little bit in the country music scene;
write songs for Austin every now and then.”

Kari
bit a piece of her delicious sweet mouthwatering candy. “Why did you stop?”

Hank
reached over and pulled a piece of pink cotton candy and placed it into his
mouth. “My ex was insecure. There are groupies who live to snag them a rich
country singer; they don’t care about the wedding band on the finger.”

“Why
can’t you have both, music and love?” she asked, nudging him gently.

“I
wanted both but at the same time I wanted my wife to be happy and to feel like
she was secure in our marriage,” he said as he rubbed his thumb across her
hand. “Enough about my failed marriage, tell me why it’s so hard for you to let
your guard down.”

“I
think I risk too much by being vulnerable,” she chuckled uneasy. “Learnt that a
young age, my parents were never there, my nanny Rita is practically my second
mom.”

Hank
could hear the sadness in Kari’s voice. He pulled her closer to him “You build
this wall up to protect yourself from your fears…if you don’t lower them down
you’re going to miss out on so much.”

“When
my walls where down I fell in love with a man who was only using me for the
millions in my bank account. I need to control what happens to me.” Kari was
shocked on how easy it was for her to communicate with Hank about her past.

“Kari,
don’t repeat the same mistakes as my mother,” he mumbled. “My father
disappeared from our lives when I was four years old, my mom was always guarded
and suspicious of any and every one that came into her life.  She was unable to
follow her heart because she was afraid of what might happen.”

This
wasn’t the first time that someone told her that she needed to tear down the
walls that she erected after Sam. Those walls were to protect her from being
taken advantage of, failure and rejection. Kari never had trust issues; she
exposed her true self to Sam only for him to betray her. When the ride was over
they walked hand and hand to the stage. There were already a lot of people
eagerly waiting for the concert to start. 

***

Kari
stood backstage and watched Hank play the guitar naturally. She’d been too many
concerts, even being a special guest at an event. She wasn’t a big fan of
country music, but it was Hank and she enjoyed watching him strumming the
strings on the guitar and hearing his deep twang baritone voice while singing.

When
the song ended Austin spoke to the crowd. “Thank y’all for coming, but tonight
I’m giving you guys a special treat. Everyone, my cousin Hank Jackson.”

Kari
noticed how shocked Hank appeared to be but he masked it well. She could tell
that he truly loved being on the stage. Austin stood next her watching Hank
intently as he began to sing a song that Kari had heard him singing before.

“I’m blown away by her smile

I don’t know what it is about her

that makes me want to stay

See girl I’m digging on you,

You have my heart spinning and beating around

I don’t why I want to stay…”

Austin
chuckled softly at the surprised look on Kari’s face. “He’s talented, isn’t
he?”

She
nodded her head speechless; she didn’t want to take her eyes off Hank just in
case she missed something about him.

Hank
had a powerhouse voice that could rival any major country singer. His voice was
deep and mesmerizing; she could even hear a faint R and B influence in him.

When
the song ended, the crowd went wild and it was the moment Hank realized he missed
the most, being on stage was like home to him.  His fans always asked him when
he was going to start recording new music again.  He looked over at his muse
standing next to Austin clapping.

“I’d
like to thank my cousin Austin McBride, who graciously shared the stage with me
tonight. Being up on this stage tonight has inspired me to head into the studio
and record a few tunes.” The crowded erupted in cheers, Hank held up his guitar
pumping it into the crowd a few times before exiting the stage.

“You
were great,” Kari said, jumping into his outstretched arms.

“Thanks
honey,” he muttered in her ear, as he started to slowly come down from the high
from being on stage. This high was greater than any drug he could put in his
body, the feeling of adrenalin and joy. He gripped Kari’s hand as they made
their way to the trailer, as photographers took their pictures.

When
Hank stopped to talk to a reporter, Kari whispered to him that she would meet
him in the trailer. He nodded his head and kissed her on the cheek. She walked
away from him, taking a deep breath, she turned around and met his stare. There
were no words spoken between them only a smile.

Was
she in too deep? It was weird. Kari couldn’t help it. Hank was right; the
barriers that she had up were making her life needlessly limited. She hasn’t dated
because she was afraid to get hurt again. Could she learn to be vulnerable
again? The way Hank touched her and showered her with affection made her want
to open herself up to trust again. Not all men were cut from the same cloth.

***

Hank
walked into the trailer, Kari looked up and their eyes met instantly, she gave
him a somewhat innocent smile.

“Hey,”
he said softly.

“”Hi,”
she responded standing up. “Nice performance.”

They
continued to smile at each other; her eyes were roaming from the door, his lips
and back to his eyes again. “Have I told you that you one beautiful woman?”

“Actually,
you did.”

He
liked the way Kari tried to hide the fact that she was blushing. Standing so
close by her he could feel her body temperature rising. Or maybe it was because
he was on fire. Every time he was around her, she did this to him, all warm
inside. He could smell sweet perfume, reaching up he caressed the side of her
face.

“I
don’t have much to give; I’m lonely and cold without any direction.”

“Let
me give you company and show you that you don’t have to be lonely anymore,” He
kissed her lips gently, slowly, her hand wrapped around him.

Kari
pulled her mouth away from him. “Slow,” she said.

“Let’s
have a bond that’s now built on bitterness from the past or wallowing on the
pain that others have caused.” He lifted her chin up, staring into those
whiskey eyes. “We have so much to offer one another.”

“I
think it’s time for our road trip,” she said, kissing his cheek. Moving out his
arms, she started to gather her left over cotton candy, she was starting to
turn around when she felt Hank brush up against her butt. She closed her eyes
as his large hands roamed between her legs as she pushed against the wall.

“We
have a few minutes.” Hank’s deep voice caused tremors to run throughout her
body. His hands palmed her butt cheeks, massaged her stomach. His hot breath on
her neck caused her to become wetter. He pressed himself fully against her;
Kari could feel his manhood pressing into her ass. She bit back a moan as he ground
his hips into her.

He
turned her around and roughly pulled her to him. “Do you want to stop?”

She
shook her head no as his hands worked on the button and pushed her jeans as far
as they could go. Hank lifted her on the small table, and quickly disposed of
her boots and finish taking her jeans. He parted her thighs and smiled as he
pulled her shirt off.  A moan escaped her lips as a finger brushed against the
lips of her pussy. His mouth covered hers, as he added another finger into her
wet cave. Just as soon as he was kissing her, he dipped down and allowed his
tongue to probe her wetness. 

His
tongue explored her like he was on some type of inquisition that took her
breath away. Hank’s hand took hold of her breast, squeezing them before he
worked his way back up and ferociously attacked her nipples as he dipped two
digits into her soaking pussy. Kari screamed out in pleasure as his fingers
thrust far inside.

“Tell
me what you want,” he said in a husky voice that was laced with his southern
accent.

“Yess,
Yesss,” she moaned louder, as his tongue traveled all over her body; flicking
back and forth from one hard nipple to the other. “You.” With shaky hands she
tried to unbuckle his belt buckle, just when Kari was about to free her massive
prize Hank pushed her back until she felt the cold, wooden table against her
back.

He
began to rub her clit between his fingers. He spread her legs wider, his mouth
replaced his fingers. Kari thrashed on the table as Hank worked his mouth on
her. He licked and slurped her up like she was a bowl of soup.

“Hank!!”
she cried out, and came hard.

He
continued to lick her, as his hands caressed her nipples as waves of orgasm
roll through her.

Catching
her breath, Kari reached into Hank’s pants and took his engorged cock into her
hands. She smiled deviously when she heard Hank’s breath hitch in his throat.
She shrieked as he lifted her up, her stomach and breasts were pressed against
the cold table. Kari could feel his member against her ass. Reaching behind her,
she rubbed his thick, pulsating shaft.

“Enough,”
he said, pinning her arms above her head.

He
rubbed his member up and down her ass, teasing her to the point Kari was about
to beg for it. She scooted her hips off the table and offered her butt up for
the taking. She could feel Hank pointing his cock at her opening.