Covering the Carolinas (29 page)

“
Belle, I want you. Don’t
think that I don’t, but this isn’t the place or time. You deserve
so much more.” Continuing to worship me, he trails soft kisses from
my neck down my arm and to my hand, where he ends
the kiss like only a prince would… or should I say… a country
music god.

Chapter 6

After pulling myself out of my
country fairy tale, I leave Jake and go to my room, only to toss
and turn for hours. My mind races to thoughts of Jake and me at the
creek, Martin’s, the trestle, and that bathroom, which is only
inches away.
What the hell am I
doing?

Giving up on sleeping, I throw on
a pair of cutoffs and tank top before making my way out to the tire
swing out front. As I swing, I get lost in thought. My brain
wonders to all the thoughts that had me tossing and turning. Ever
since I can remember this is where
I would go to clear
my mind. It followed all the rules growing up, but felt like an
escape.

As I swing higher and higher, I jump out of my skin
when I hear Chase’s voice. Glancing over my shoulder, I see him.
“What the hell, Chase?” I inquire with a little anger in my
voice.

“
I just wondered if you were having the same
problem I was having.”

“
And what would that be?” I ask like a
smartass as I come to a complete stop on the swing.

Chase approaches me and begins to push me on the
swing. As he pushes me, I relax and think about all the times we
used to do this. “The thought of you and me.” Planting my bare feet
on the ground, I abruptly halt myself mid-swing, jump up, and face
Chase.

“
No, that’s not what I was thinkin’ about! Not
you and me! More like Jake and me!”

I can see the hurt in Chase’s eyes and the anger
bulging from his veins. As he gathers his thoughts, he doesn’t look
at me. Once he has his feelings and thoughts in check, he tells me
exactly what he’s thinking. “When are you going to wake up and
realize that this is just a getaway for him, Bella Blu? Did you not
see him checking out Lynds tonight? Lord only knows what happened
when they jumped, if you know what I mean.”

I take a step toward him to show him I’m not going
to back down. “You asshole! Don’t you dare say that! He’s
different. I know I shouldn’t have crossed that line, but it’s been
crossed whether you like it or not,” Then I back away and walk
toward the house, leaving Chase standing there alone.

Once I’m in my bedroom, I glance
out the window toward the swing. I see Chase sitting there, but not
swinging. Not wanting to apologize, I crawl into bed, only to toss
and turn even more than before. I shouldn’t have said that to
Chase. It was spiteful and not how I am. Letting my conscience get
the best of me, I grab my phone, send him a quick text to tell him
I’m sorry and hope he’ll still save me a dance tomorrow night at
Joe’s. When he doesn’t respond, a tear falls from
my
eye and eventually I drift off to sleep. Tonight has ended in
disaster.

Chapter 7

Waking up, I hear the tractor
going in the distance and several people laughing and
talking.
What time is it?
I peek at the clock and can hardly believe that
it is almost noon. I never sleep this late. Feeling a little upset
with myself, I jump up and throw on some old clothes. I had planned
to help Daddy on the farm today. I figured that Jake might like to
do a little farm
work.

I stop by the guest room, and it’s very evident that
Jake isn’t in here. Mama has brunch ready for me because breakfast
is definitely over.

“
Hey, honey! I saved you
some, but you better be glad I did. Those men ate like a house full
of teenage
boys. I don’t know what I would’ve
done with a house full of those!”

Shaking my head, I take the plate,
eat, and talk to Mama about
everything.

“
Bella, sweet girl. Let me tell you. Be
careful whatever you do, but know that if you choose Jake, things
will never be the same with Chase. He’s always loved you. Beau will
always support you, but it’s been hard on him. He wants out, and I
want to help him, but I don’t know how.”

“
Mama, I have Beau covered. I haven’t told him
yet, but if I headline, he’s going to work for me. It will open so
many doors for him. I was really mean to him last night, though.
Jake called us five-year-olds.”

Mama laughs as she sets her coffee cup back down.
“Y’all will always be that way.”

“
So, where is everyone?”

Mama points to the window, and I see Daddy, Beau,
and Jake out in the field working together. I smile as I finish my
food and then make my way outside.

“
Somebody could’ve woken me,
ya know? Someone needs to show you how to really do work on a
farm,” I tell Jake who is standing there in a pair of worn-out
jeans and cutoff T-shirt that he must have borrowed from
Beau.
Damn, who thought my
brother’s clothes could look that good on someone.

“
I think someone needed to rest up
after a long night on the tire swing,” Beau says, and I cut my eyes
at him.

Jake looks at me inquisitively, and I tell him he
doesn’t wanna know.

Shaking it off, he goes back to working, and I join
right in. After a couple of hours, we are all beat, and Mama has
lunch ready. We go in and enjoy before going to finish one more
task for Daddy.

“
Hey, Jake. I gotta go check the fence out by
the creek. You wanna go?” He gives me another curious look and
smirks.

“
Hell, yeah. I wanna go.”

Loading up the Gator, we take anything we might need
to repair a loose post or wire. It’s an easy fix, especially with
both of us working.

“
Wanna go
for a swim?” I wink.

“
I thought you’d never ask,” he says as he
takes off his shirt and tosses it onto the Gator before removing
his jeans. I know exactly what I’m about to do, but I decide to
keep his curiosity at its pique as we make our way down to the
creek.

Once we are there, I kick off my shoes, unbutton my
shorts, and shimmy out of them while keeping one eye on Jake. Yeah,
that was the right move. Then, I pull my tank top over my head and
toss it onto the pile on the ground before jumping in.

As I surface, I’m met by another splash and
automatically dragged underwater in one swift motion. When I reach
the top, I find Jake with eyes full of passion.

“
Belle, why’d you have to do that? Are you
tryin’ to kill me? I’m tryin’ to be a good boy.”

“
Well, now, who said I
wanted a good boy?” I ask as
I disappear under
the water and toward the rock island in the middle of the
creek.

As I begin to crawl up the rock, Jake comes up
behind me and pulls me back into the water. Falling backwards, I
land right in his arms. He turns me around, pushes me up against
the rock, and takes control like any good man would.

Chapter 8

After Jake and I have pushed every limit possible in
the creek, we relax a few minutes as the sun starts to set in the
sky.

“
I guess we better get back. We’ve got a big
night ahead of us tonight. I can only imagine what Cole’s got
planned.”

“
More like what Lyndsay and Chase have
planned,” Jake says. “You know they are the ones behind
it.”

“
I know, but that’s why I love them. They love
me for me.”

We climb out of the creek, and I put my clothes back
on before we make our way to the Gator. Jake does the same once we
reach it.

“
I really hate that this is gonna end
tomorrow,” he says as fear runs through my veins.

“
Whatcha mean?” I question.

“
I just mean all of this,” he replies as he
points to the farm. “This has been the best break I’ve ever had…
ever.” He places his hand on my cheek. Not giving him a chance, I
remove the space and place my lips on his and my arms around his
neck. Once we finish, he starts to laugh.

“
What’s so funny?”

“
You know we aren’t gonna get anything done on
tour now. We can’t keep ourselves off each other.”

“
That’s not a bad thing,” I say as I make my
way to the driver’s seat. “Come on, music god. We’ve got places to
go and people to sing our hearts to.”

Once we are back at the house, we go our separate
ways to get ready. Looking in my closet, I know exactly what I’m
going to wear—a strapless cream-colored mini dress with a brown
belt and a pair of Corral ladies Heart And Wing cowboy boots.
Gazing into the mirror, I know that I need to wear my hair down.
Once I’m finished, I stare back into the mirror, realizing how
proud I am of myself. I have become the person I always dreamed of,
and I have my friends and family to thank, but now I have someone
that understands it as much as I do… Jake.

As I finish putting on the essential accessories,
there’s a brief knock at the door, and when I open it, I see Beau.
He’s not dressed for Joe’s like I expected.

“
Are you not goin’?” I ask.

“
Nah. Y’all go have fun.”

“
Beau Bear! You have got to go!”

“
Please tell me you didn’t just pull the Beau
Bear card?

Batting my eyelashes, I reply, “You bet your ass I
just did!”

“
Seriously? You want me to
go with y’all tonight? I thought I might interfere with you two
lovebirds.” He sounds like the most annoying brother ever, but I
must have the word ‘guilty’ written all over my face because he
just smiles that
I told you
so
smile.

“
Not a damn word,” I say, pointing my finger
at him.

“
Well, my only comment is this. He’s a great
guy, but he’s not the one.” I give him a look that could kill as he
finishes his statement. “Have fun and enjoy life. You’re living
your dream. Don’t let a guy hold you back, but if I were a bettin’
man, I’d say you’ve already met your prince.”

Turning around from Beau, I don’t know what to say.
I begin to question Jake and me, Chase and me, and the decisions I
have made over the past few days.

“
Belle, don’t worry about what you do. I know
you enough to know that you will make the right one when the time
comes. I think Sarah and I might go, but you don’t need us tagging
along with y’all. We’ll meet y’all there.”

“
Aight, Beau Bear,” I say as I give him a hug.
We might fight like we’re five, but he’s the best brother a girl
could have, and one day I’m going to show him how important he is
to me.

As Beau turns to leave, I know I need to tell him my
thoughts. “Hey, Beau Bear?”

“
Yeah?” he asks as he glances over his
shoulder at the doorway.

“
Um, I’ve been meanin’ to tell ya. This
headline thing. If it happens, I want you on the road with
me.”

His eyes get the size of grapefruits. “Huh? What are
you talkin’ ‘bout?”

Making my way to him, I look him in the eye and tell
him. “I want you to design my set and make sure everything goes
like it’s supposed to! I trust only you for that!”

“
Really?!” he asks for reassurance. As I nod
my head yeah, he takes me and picks me up and gives me the biggest
Beau Bear hug of my life.

Once he puts me down, I grab my purse, and
Beau and I make our way into the hallway. I stop mid-stride and
gawk
when I see the most beautiful man
I’ve ever laid eyes upon. Closing the door to the guest room, I see
Jake in a pair of Double “V” Straight Shooter jeans that I don’t
think I’ve ever seen an ass look that good in and a blue plaid
pearl snap that is fitted in all the right places. He turns toward
me and smiles that perfect half-grin that drives me and every other
girl wild.

“
Belle, you look fabulous,” Jake says as he
approaches me and kisses me on the cheek in front of
Beau.

Not wasting another second, Beau takes his chance to
leave. “Belle, we’ll meet y’all there.” I nod, and Beau makes his
ways downstairs.

“
You don’t look so bad yourself,” I say as I
nudge him on the shoulder. “I don’t know how we’re gonna keep the
barflies off ya.”

“
Real funny. I don’t think I’ll have to worry
about that with you on my arm.”

“
Is that so, Mr. Bryant?”

“
Yes, ma’am. I believe so.
Now, let’s go; honestly
, I’m ready to enjoy a
night out with a small stage.”

“
I couldn’t agree more.”

Mama and Daddy are getting ready to leave the house
when we get downstairs.

“
Well, look at y’all! If I didn’t know better,
I’d think y’all were hot country stars or
somethin’,” Mama says. “Y’all have fun, but be careful. We’re
going out with the Morgans tonight.” She kisses me goodbye and hugs
Jake. Daddy gives us a nod on the way out the door.

“
You wanna eat here, or see what we can find
on the way?” I ask.

“
Oh, we’re stoppin’ on the way. I’d love to
have a good burger.”

I begin to cheese from ear to ear. “I think you just
stole my heart! I know exactly where we need to go. Come on.”

Closing the door behind us, we make our way to
Jake’s truck. I give him a one turn and stoplight direction to The
Depot, home of the best burgers this side of Charlotte. Pulling
into the parking lot, Jake looks uncertain. Placing my hand on his
leg, I reassure him that this is the best burger joint around.