Teach Me To Live (Teach Me - Book One) (20 page)

As I was walking to the café, I spotted the Bundles & Bumbles flower shop. It was a quite little mom and pops shop and I figured why not grab the girl flowers, too? I didn’t know which flower she liked, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t one of those guys who plucked one of the beautifully crafted bouquets from the bunch. I knew people went to school for this shit, putting together bouquets, but they didn’t do one like I wanted.

Walking into the shop, I was greeted by an older lady who smiled brightly at me. Her wrinkled eyes looked me over once, twice, three times, before she announced. “I like your tattoos. Very colorful.”

That’s an odd, but welcomed response. “Thank you,” I smiled kindly in reply. “Is it possible for a guy to make his own bouquet?”

She raised a brow, “You want to make your own bouquet?”

“Yes, please.”

She nodded. “Can’t say I’ve heard that request before.” She gestured to a room in the back of the store. “There’s a flower fridge in the back. You can pick all the flowers you want and, well, you can make your own bouquet. I’ll have to charge each flower separately, mind you.”

“That’s great,” I smiled, making my way to the back. When I opened the door to the flower fridge, I found a copious amount of flowers. They were all arranged by type in deep white buckets.

Shrugging, I set about arranging my bouquet. I grabbed nearly one of every flower, arranging them haphazardly in a bundle in my hand, before stepping from the cold fridge. When I appeared, the woman behind the counter turned and her eyes widened. “Well, that’s a bouquet the likes I’ve never seen before, and I’m seventy-two.” She smiled, leaning forward to whisper. “I’ve seen a lot, young man.”

I chuckled, because I could only imagine all that she had seen in her seventy-two years. “It’s for my girlfriend.”

She cocked her head. “Really?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Care to explain?” She waved her hand at the mess of flowers I held.

I shrugged. “Why appreciate a bouquet of only a few flowers when you can have one with everything? Why appreciate only one kind of beauty when the world can offer so much more if only we open our eyes?”

She stood peering at me for a long while before asking, “How old are you, young man?”

“I’ll be twenty-one in September.”

“You’re wise beyond your years,” she announced. “I hope you’re teaching your girlfriend to see the world, and all its beauty, through your eyes.” She smiled gently. “You have beautiful eyes, young man.” She laughed. “Both literally and figuratively,” she leaned over the counter to whisper again. “And I can say that because I’m old. I’ve earned the right to free and obnoxious speech.”

This woman was great. “Yes you have, ma’am.”

“Ma’am,” she waved. “The names Beatrice, but you can call me Bea. Don’t know what my mother was doing calling a poor thing like me Beatrice.” She shook her head. “Awful name, it is.”

“It’s nice to meet you Bea. My name’s Austin.”

“Austin,” she repeated. “Now, your parent’s must like you. That’s quite an appealing name.”

I grinned. “They think I’m cool.”

She giggled, sounding younger than her years as she wrapped the bouquet, rang up my flower bill, and sent me on my way, wishing, “Make sure you give your girl a kiss with those flowers.”

I didn’t bother with the coffee shop as I moved back to my truck. I’d gotten sidetracked by flowers. But that was what life was about for me. Something new and beautiful, something I wanted to experience, sidetracked me all the time.

My phone beeped and I knew Madison had texted me back. Pulling it from the pocket of my jeans—yeah, I was wearing jeans in this hot sun and I would be changing promptly first thing when I got home, I read her text.

Madison:
I’ll be ready. XXX

Damn, the girl was adorable. Even when she was being weird and doubtful and mouthy and disheartening, she was adorable.

I started my truck and drove straight to her house. I couldn’t wait to see her. I also couldn’t wait to kiss her, which I would do, as Bea had instructed.

I pulled into the long driveway, tapping the break, and putting the old beast in park. Madison was sitting on the front porch with her mother. I watched as she stood from the dark whicker chair, pulling a beach bag onto her shoulder. I knew what that bag meant. She’d be staying the night again. I couldn’t fucking wait.

My eyes moved from the bag to her body. She’d changed from her jeans and tank top into a cute little dress. The base was yellow with a sheet of what looked like a thick yellow lace overtop. The dress hugged her tight at the small of her waist and was cut straight across her breasts. It had no straps and it fell half way down her thighs. She looked delicious.

Her brown hair was down and hanging over her shoulder in waves I wanted nothing more than to lose my hands in. If her Mom weren’t walking toward my truck at her side, I would have done just that. But as much as I loved spontaneity and following through with the urge to kiss her, I doubted her mother would appreciate the tatted kid who was planning on keeping her daughter for the night, to ravish her. At least not in front of her. As I said, I liked living and I wouldn’t mind living a little longer.

Opening the door of my truck, I stepped out with the messy arrangement of flowers. Madison’s eyes moved instantly to the arrangement and she smiled so wide, I felt my heart squeeze in my chest. Damn, she was beautiful when she smiled. I still remember the first time I saw her smile. It hit me then with the force of a wrecking ball, knocking me straight on my proverbial ass. Fucking hell . . .

“Hey,” she breathed. Her feet did a little skip toward me before she stopped. She was happy. “How was your day?”

I felt my eyes flicker from my happy girl, to her mother. The older version of Madison also looked happy. Albeit a little curious, but for the most part, happy.

Madison moved closer to me until her front was pressing to my side, she stood on her tiptoes and asked breathily, “Are those for me?”

“I,” I looked to the flowers and then down into her face. “They are.”

“They’re beautiful!” She announced, plucking the flowers from my hand and shoving her face into the lot of them. I listened to the sound of her deep inhalation, and then I listened as she sighed a moan. “They smell so good.” She tilted her head to the side, studying the mess of flowers. “Fresh.”

“I’m glad,” I couldn’t stop the smile from pulling at the corners of my lips as my girl pulled away from me to skip toward her mother.

“Smell these!” She commanded and her mother dipped her face to the bouquet without ever dropping her eyes from mine. “Don’t they smell amazing, Mom?”

“They do, darling,” she lifted her head once again, her eyes still on me. “Interesting choice in bouquet, Austin.”

She knew my name. That meant Madison had been talking about me. What had she said? And what on earth had happened today to make my girl so happy? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I loved that she was this happy, but I wanted to know why. I wanted to know everything that made her smile and I wanted to make sure she got more of whatever that was. If it were a relationship with her mother that put this smile on her face, I would find a way to make sure I never jeopardized that. I definitely cared about Madison, my girl.

Coming back to the here and now, I figured I’d reply to her mother. “I wanted her to have one of everything beautiful. Not sure what her favorite flower is,” I shrugged. “But I wanted to give her them all.”

Her mother’s shoulders straightened and a smile, although unwilling, pulled at the corners of her lips. She was almost as beautiful as Madison when she smiled. “I think you’ve completed what you set out to do.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

She cocked her head to the side as she stepped forward, holding out her hand. “Austin, I am certain we will be seeing much more of each other considering the feelings my daughter has for you,” At this, I saw Madison’s cheeks color red. I grinned and her mother went on. “I would like it if you felt comfortable enough to call me Karen.”

I nodded, taking her hand in mine. “It’s nice to meet you, Karen.”

“Likewise,” she said. Her eyes moved for the very first time from my face, to my body. I knew she was taking in the tattoos, and I wondered what she was going to say. “Interesting choice of art. You’ll have to tell me about them some time.”

She didn’t want to know about the story behind my tattoos, but I nodded to placate her regardless. “Sure thing.”

“Well,” she stood back from me before placing her eyes on Madison. “I should probably let you two get on with the rest of your day.” Her eyes swung back to land on me. “Be safe.”

I wasn’t quite certain what she was telling me to be safe about, but I nodded and offered her what I hoped was an easy grin. Then, I held my hand out to Madison, who slipped hers into mine without any hesitation at all. At this, her mother’s eyes widened fractionally and I watched from the corner of my eye as a little breath rushed from between her lips. Was this an odd thing for Madison to do? Touch freely?

“Have a nice evening, Mrs, urgh, Karen,” I fumbled my words and she smiled.

“You as well, Austin.” And then she called. “I love you, Madison.”

“Love you, Mom.”

At this, I walked Madison around to the passenger side of the truck. I opened the door and helped her climb into the cab. I couldn’t help but grin when she dipped her face back into the flowers and inhaled. God, my girl was something else.

Closing the door, I rounded to the front of the truck where Mrs. Avery was still standing, watching. I knew she knew Madison couldn’t hear her, and I knew that was the only reason she said what she did.

“My daughter is delicate, Austin,” she spoke quickly. “Her heart isn’t like all the other girl’s hearts. She’s hesitant and uneasy about trusting. She doesn’t take risks and she’s not about adventure, but she trusts you and she wants to take risks with you. Be gentle to her heart and be kind as you show her how to jump over the ledge. Take your time with her and understand that you are her first. Her very first—so take care. She’s my baby and she’s precious to me.”

I didn’t really know what to say, other than, “Yes, ma’am.”

She shook her head. “Karen. Call me Karen.”

“I’ll take care of her every day that I’m breathing,” I promised, knowing that it was a copout if there ever was one.

“I trust you will, Austin.” She pulled me into her arms and hugged me quickly. “Thank you for making her smile. Now go.”

Stunned, I watched as she turned and walked back up the drive.

That woman was nothing like Madison had made her sound. I didn’t really understand what had happened considering I thought the woman was going to detest the thought that I was with her daughter.

Shaking the thought from my mind, I turned back to the truck where Madison was watching me curiously. I wouldn’t tell her what her Mom said, but I knew she’d try to get the words out of me. Moving to the driver’s side of the truck, I climbed inside.

“What was that about?” She asked, sounding just as stunned as I felt.

“Your Mom told me to be good to you. And to take care of you,” I figured that was explanation enough.

“She hugged you.” She stated dumbly. “My Mom,” she paused, stuttering. “She hugged you.”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “That surprise you?”

“Completely,” she breathed. “That’s very unlike her.”

Apparently the Avery women were just being unlike themselves today. Again, I didn’t say what I thought. Instead, I put the truck into reverse and asked, “What did you tell your Mom about me?”

When she didn’t reply, I looked to her. She was fidgeting with the bouquet in her hands, blushing. “Um,”

“Sweetheart, she knew my name,” I informed her of what she already knew. “I know you were talking about me today with her.”

“Well,” she sighed, clearly not knowing how to continue. “I did, um, talk to her about you.”

“What about?”

“She knew I wasn’t home last night,” she informed. I’d figured her Mom had realized this when she saw me dropping Madison off early this morning. Still, I didn’t interrupt her. “So, she asked me if we were serious.”

“What did you say?”

“I said we were,” she stuttered. “A-are we?”

“I thought so.” I smiled softly at her and she sighed in relief. Damn, she was always so cute.

“Okay, good.” I’m pretty sure she was talking more to herself than to me. “Because that’s what I told her.”

“Anything else?”

At this, her face got really red. When she pushed her face into the big bundle of flowers and inhaled deeply to hide her blush, I knew whatever it was she was keeping from me was good.

Signaling onto a side road, I pulled onto the shoulder of the dirt road and put my hazards on. I shifted the truck into park and popped the buckle of her seat belt.

“Austin,” she breathed when I slipped my hand around her waist, tugging her across the bench seat. “What are you . . .”

She didn’t get time to finish talking before my mouth was on hers. A small gasp fell into my mouth and I devoured it completely. She tasted sweet, like cream and sugar. She always tasted sweet and I knew I could kiss her until my very last breath and it wouldn’t be enough. She was a decadent addiction and I was hooked. But I liked it. Wouldn’t change that shit for nothing.

When she reached up to place her hand on the back of my neck, pulling me down to her, closer to her, I was helpless to do anything more than deepen the kiss. So that’s what I did. I deepened the kiss. I kissed her hard. I devoured her. I owned this moment.

She opened her mouth to me and I slipped my tongue past her lips, moving mine against her hesitant one. She kissed me slowly and I pushed for more. I wanted her to lose herself, her control, as she had last night. Watching her reserve fall away for something wild and uncalculated was brilliant.

I pushed in farther, deepening the kiss even more. Her breath was shaking when she moaned. My free hand moved to her waist, over the soft material of her dress, before lowering to her hip. She gasped when I continued moving my hand south, only stopping me when I met with the smooth skin of her bared thigh.