Love You to Death (26 page)

“I...I was...We...” I floundered, moistening
my lips.

“Cort, not tonight,” Gideon said.

“You’re just as curious as I am,” Cort
insisted.

“Leave it.” Gideon sat up.

“Why?” Cort pressed on, ignoring the warning
in Gideon’s voice.

Maggie must’ve sensed the same brewing
argument I did. “Ask her somethin’ else, Cort,” she said, rubbing
his thigh.

Cort’s inquisitive eyes lingered on me for a
few heartbeats then he finally smiled, saying, “Who’s the first boy
you ever went to second base with?”

It was so typical of Cort to make it a sexual
question. He was one big raging hormone. But it was safer than the
first question, and I was relieved to answer it.

“Jeremy Weathers. We were at a basketball
game. He kissed me. I kissed him back and before I knew it he
slipped his hands under my sweater. I smacked him in the face. He
cut his lip on his braces. He deserved it. Little twerp.”

Cort howled with laughter. “I guess that
counts.”

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Something was holding me down. I couldn’t
move. My hair was caught too. I gave it a jerk. A thousand rockets
launched behind my eyelids.

I cracked an eye open then quickly closed it.
The sun was blaring through the window like Christ’s second coming.
What was wrong with me? I searched my memory then groaned—all that
champagne. Ugh, that’s stuff packs a solid kick.

I carefully twisted onto my side and came
face to face with Gideon. He was asleep, his face taking on a
boyish look in silent repose. I watched his mouth work in small
twitches, wanting so badly to trace his lips with my finger.

While I stared, Gideon’s lips curled upward.
My eyes flew to his, they were opened half mast and hazy with
dreams. Neither of us said a word. His arm was draped protectively
over my waist. We were clothed, but under the covers. The last
thing I remembered was feeling very sleepy and Gideon tucking me
in, kissing the crown of my head and whispering for me to not let
the bed bugs bite.

Staring into Gideon’s warm brown eyes made my
heart tremble and stall. In the quiet of our soundless conversation
I suddenly didn’t care about the little details anymore. All my
plans and strategies for leaving—they just disappeared. I didn’t
want to be anywhere that Gideon wasn’t. As long as I was with him
everything else would work itself out.

“Mornin’,” he whispered in a sexy, rough,
morning voice.

“Morning,” I croaked. My voice was far from
sexy and I was certain the smell was worse which is why I brought
the sheet up to cover my mouth before I spoke.

“How’re ya feelin’?”

“Like someone shoved the Lollipop Guild into
my head and told them to welcome me to Munchkin Land.”

He chuckled. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

He flung the covers off and sat up. I slowly
followed him. It was worse sitting up. My stomach churned
dangerously. Okay, maybe I wasn’t hungry.

“Yeah, I was thinkin’ you might change your
mind,” he said, walking over to the window to draw the curtains
closed. The pajama pants rode low on his hips, tapering down to his
bare feet. His naked back was a canvas of muscle that I couldn’t
seem to keep from staring at.

“Maybe some tea and toast?” he suggested.

I nodded gratefully, holding my head in my
clammy palms. I scanned the room, noticing we were alone. “Where’s
Maggie and Cort?”

“The love birds slept in my room.”

Say no more.

“I must’ve passed out. I’m sorry. I’m a real
lightweight when it comes to alcohol.”

“I noticed.” He picked up the phone receiver
and dialed out.

I slipped into the bathroom. I heard him
ordering as I shut the door. Looking in the mirror, I decided I
looked as bad as I felt. I splashed my face with cold water and ran
a brush through my hair. Then I noticed I was wearing the matching
top to Gideon’s bottoms.

Where were my T-shirt and sweatpants? I
pulled the hem of the shirt up and let out a ragged breath, still
wearing my panties. I couldn’t remember anything.

Think!
I said to myself, clenching my
teeth. There was no way I could have slept with Gideon and not
lived to remember it and every minute detail. Horror of horrors,
what if we did and I didn’t?

“This is yet another reason why people
shouldn’t drink.” I told the disgusted reflection in the mirror. I
quickly finished and opened the door. Gideon was propped up on the
bed, flicking through the limited channels on the TV.

He looked at me and his smile fell. “Are you
okay?”

I nodded. How was I going to ask him if
we...if I...Good Lord, I couldn’t even form the thought.

“You look pale. Come lay down” He patted the
space beside him.

I remained where I was. “Gideon...”

“Yes?” he prompted when I hesitated.

“About last night...” I ribboned the hem of
the shirt through my nervous fingers. “I don’t remember much—”

A smile stretched over his face, revealing
his pearly whites.

“What about it?”

He was enjoying this! I narrowed my eyes into
slits and snapped, “I’m wearing your shirt.”

“So you are, darlin’. It looks good on you
too.” He winked at me.

“So, did we?” I growled, half with annoyance
and half with trepidation. I released another nervous breath. If
ever the day, or night, came when I could wrap myself around Gideon
with nothing but the lights on then I darn well wanted to remember
it!

“Did we
what
?” He furrowed his brow.
Then the light bulb went off. His eyes rounded, and his mouth
quivered. If he laughed I was going to launch myself at him and
strangle him. “No, no, of course not. That idiot Cort spilled
champagne all over you trying to teach you how to do the sprinkler.
I loaned you the shirt.”

His cavalier tone sounded like sleeping with
me was the farthest thing from his mind. Maybe even something he
would never consider doing.

“You don’t have to sound so disgusted by the
idea.” I tossed over my shoulder as I searched for my overnight
bag. I found it hiding in the corner of the closet. I threw it on
the bed with such force it bounced before settling on the mattress.
I unzipped it, pulling out a pair of jeans and long-sleeved cotton
shirt.

Gideon crept up behind me, laying his hands
over mine, stilling their movement. His chest pressed against my
back, his warm skin filtering through the thin material.

“Disgusting is the last word I would use to
describe wanting to sleep with you,” his husky voice said into my
ear. “Believe me, Arden, it isn’t easy watchin’ you walk around in
here wearin’ my shirt and barely anything else. But I don’t think
this is the right moment or the right place for somethin’ I want to
take my time with. When the time is right and I know you’re ready,
not drunk, or hung over, then I’ll be showing you just how much I’m
lookin’ forward to it.”

He kissed the nape of my neck, enfolding me
in his arms. I leaned back against him, sighing.

“I think I love you,” I said. The minute the
words were out I wished them back in. Now I’d done it. I waited for
him to make a mad dash for the door. Instead, he turned me to face
him, keeping his arms around me.

“I
know
I love you.” He kissed me, a
long and lingering kiss. I was breathing heavy when he pulled his
mouth from mine. “Life is too short to play it safe when it comes
to how you feel. I learned the hard way that the ones you love
won’t always be around forever. You have to risk your heart. You
have to throw caution to the wind and take what’s offered before
it’s taken from you.”

“I know.” I nodded. “You’re right, but I’m a
little scared.” I admitted, snuggling closer to him.

“Me too.”

“There are things you don’t know—”
Things
I don’t want to tell you.

“Everyone has secrets. We’ll get to them in
time. I’m not goin’ anywhere... how ‘bout you?”

I shook my head. I would stay with Gideon
until he didn’t want me anymore, and I hoped that was long after I
was dead.

* * * *

One Year Later...

“Got us a real gully washer out there.” Sissy
blew into the kitchen.

Gale force winds followed her. Dead leaves
skittered across the tile as she used her body to close the door.
The waterproof gear she was wearing dripped a river onto the floor
around her feet.

“I got the kettle on. Go get out of those
clothes and I’ll make you a cup of tea,” I told her.

She raised an imperious eyebrow. “Don’t be
bossin’ me, gal. You just prep that turkey,” she said, stripping
out of the wet slicker.

It was a week before Christmas and the
Northern Star was having its annual open house. Last year I’d been
overwhelmed by the extravagance of the spread Sissy had put out. So
much food you’d think she was feeding a third world country. But in
the end, I was shocked to find very little was left over.

It seemed that not only the good people of
Winchester, but also a few other neighboring towns, as well as
friends and relatives, swooped in to celebrate the holiday. Good
thing there were so many guest rooms.

This year was no exception.

The kitchen counters were filled with
condiments and cheeses and meats and sweets. It looked like a
grocery store exploded.

“Where’s Aurora?” Sissy asked, sitting on the
low bench by the door, shucking her boots.

“We ran out of eggs. She went into town,” I
said, holding the turkey under the spigot, rinsing it off.

“I should invest in hens and save us some
money,” she griped.

I ignored her. It was only 7:30 a.m., too
early to spar with Sissy. I plopped the turkey into the pan and
began rubbing butter over the skin.

“The kids leave already?” she asked,
shuffling to the table.

“Yeah, about a half hour ago.”

Cort, Maggie, and Stewie were going to
Lexington to pick up Maggie’s gramma. Gideon and JD were on a house
call to the Double J Ranch, checking on a mare due to give birth in
a few weeks.

“You look green around the gills this
mornin’,” Sissy commented.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired.” I flicked a
quick smile at her. The truth was I’d been tired a lot lately. The
last few mornings I’d felt queasy, unable to eat breakfast until
almost lunch time. I hated being sick. I didn’t want to miss the
open house. I knew if I confessed to feeling ill, Sissy and Gideon
would put me to bed.

“Hmph. Young girl like you should be able to
handle stayin’ up all hours of the night and workin’ all day,” she
said, turning the burner on for the tea kettle.

A familiar burn crept across my face. I
should be used to Sissy and her insinuations, but in the six months
I’d been sharing Gideon’s bed, I hadn’t quite gotten to the point
of being comfortable with her knowing it.

She was old fashioned. At least once a week I
heard the comment, “He won’t buy the cow if he can get the milk for
free.” I guess I was the cow. I wanted to tell her the cow wasn’t
for sale so it didn’t matter, but I couldn’t say anything. I
considered Sissy’s comments the price I had to pay for keeping my
little secret.

I mean, it wasn’t as if Gideon and I jumped
into the sack as soon as we confessed our love. In fact, Gideon was
the one who procrastinated. He wanted me to be sure I knew what I
was doing. Especially after I told him I’d never had sex
before.

In the last few weeks he started talking
about marriage. I did my best to steer him away from it, but I
sensed he was going to ask me that all important question sooner
than I wanted. I dreaded telling him no.

“You hear me, Arden?” Sissy grouched. “Kids
never listen these days.”

“I’m sorry. I was daydreaming,” I said,
twisting to face her. She was letting her tea steep, stirring the
bag in her cup of hot water.

“I asked if you wanted to go back to bed. I
can put the turkey in the oven.”

I wanted to holler, “No way”. But I didn’t
want to hurt her feelings. Sissy was not good in the kitchen.

“No, I’m fine, really.”

Sissy shrugged, making her way to the table
with her steaming cup and snatching two cookies from a tin.

“That goober, Les Houghton, better be on his
best behavior, briggity old bird,” she said, crunching on a bite of
her cookie. “Sherriff Packer promised to keep an eye on him, but
the good Sherriff does a fair bit of drinkin’ while he’s here so I
can’t count on him to do what he says.”

“We’ll all try to watch out for Mr.
Houghton,” I said, tying the turkey legs together before covering
it and sliding it into the oven.

“Alright. That’s done.” I washed my hands,
dried them, and picked up the list Aurora had made. Scanning it
quickly, I blew out a breath over my top lip, fluttering my new
bangs.

“I think I might take a little nap.
Everything is done until Aurora gets those eggs—”

“Fine idea, go on.” She made shooing motions
with her hands.

I still had my own room. I didn’t sleep there
much, but it’s where I kept my clothes and took my showers.
Crossing the room to the bed, I pulled the comforter back and
climbed in.

* * * *

I was dreaming.

Gideon’s breath was hot in my ear. His teeth
nipped at my lobe. Warm tendrils of heat spread through my belly.
His arm slithered over my hip.

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Gideon whispered.

I smiled. It wasn’t a dream. He was laying
here with me, back to front, spooning.

“It’s almost noon,” he said, trailing kisses
down my throat.

“What!” I jumped to a sitting position, all
thoughts of love forgotten. I scrambled from the bed, pushing the
covers away. Gideon’s long arm reached out for me, to draw me back
into the warm bed, but I was quicker.