Chapter and Verse (10 page)

“
That’s twice now.”

“
Twice now what?”

He was noticing something I wasn’t and I needed him to fill in the blanks for me.

“
First tell me something.  What’s my type?  It’s from your viewpoint and I understand that.  Having said that, what do you think my type is?”

I shrugged because I thought it was obvious.  The fact that he’d never pegged it confounded me in a way.

“
Well, you seem to prefer blondes and chesty blondes at that.  You like women that aren’t stuck on themselves and they need to know when it’s okay to kid around and when it’s not.  You need to be respected and I get that.  You’ve earned that respect.  And above all else, there can be no expectations on their part.  No demands on your time or presence.  You want them to live in the moment.  They also have to understand that you’re in control.  That’s a hard limit.”

I stopped there because that was all I had, but it was enough.  I could see it on his face.

He reached over and took my hand, threading his fingers through mine.

“
You see a lot Dorothy Lincoln.  More than I do it seems.”

“
Did I get close?”

He met my eyes and held them as he spoke.

“
A lot closer than I thought you’d get.”

Now anyone else might see a double meaning there.  Me?  No way.  Our friendship might have fuzzy boundaries, but there were lines we didn’t cross.  We held hands and he always put his arm around me at functions, but there was no hidden meaning of any kind.  It was what it was and we both knew it.  I took what he said at face value and smiled.  He smiled back.

“
So I’ll call Mel’ tomorrow and see if she’s free.  You’re folks will be so confused at the influx of women, they won’t know who to harass.  Sound like a plan?”

“
Sounds like a perfect plan.  Oh - the house has five bedrooms so you and Mel’ will have to share a room.  Is that a problem?”

“
It won’t be the first time, so no.  We’ll both be fine with that.  I have to say I can’t wait.  I hope they like me.”

“
You’re the first girl I’ve ever brought home Dor’.  They’re gonna love you.”

His eyes twinkled in mischief and his dimples were prominently displayed.  I dropped his hand and crossed my arms.

“
Asshat.”

“
Evil cow.”

We both started laughing and the interview continued.

Melody was suspicious at first, but when I explained everything, she jumped right on board.  She did have a few question, which I expected.

“
Are his brothers as hot as he is?”

I had to think about that one.  They were attractive, sure.  But Deacon hot?  No way.

“
They all resemble one another, but they’ve got distinctly different personalities.”

“
Dor’, if you’re gonna give me the, ‘he’s got a great personality’ speech, I’m bailing now.”

“
They do, but that’s not what I’m saying.  Anton has dark brown hair and Deke’s build, but he’s got blue eyes and he’s more outwardly playful.  Pierce has Deke’s black hair, but Anton’s blue eyes.  He’s the shy one, so be careful with him.  Take your time with Pierce.  He’s a honeybear and everyone’s protective of him.”

“
Sounds to me like you’ve done your research pretty thoroughly.”

“
I’ve gotten to know them and I like all three.  You will too, wait and see.  Just for your info, we have to share a room.  Are you down with that?”

“
Won’t be the first time, no problem.”

“
Funny, that’s what I said.”

I told her the details and we decided that she’d spend Thursday night with me so that we were both ready to leave on Friday morning.

Deacon called promptly at seven a.m. and we were ready.  We walked to the parking garage and he bleeped a Jeep Cherokee.  I had no clue he owned anything remotely like it and my surprise must have shown on my face.  After stowing our luggage in the back, Mel’ climbed into the backseat and I took the passenger seat.  Deacon started the engine and pulled into traffic.

He told us that trip was a little over two hours and we settled in for the ride.  Once we were out of the worst of the traffic he reached over and squeezed my hand.  Mel’ was doing something with her iPad, ignoring us completely.

“
Were you surprised I owned a Jeep?”

I smiled at him and he released my hand.

“
I was actually.  You don’t seem like the jeep type.”

“
It’s fun to surprise you every now and again Ms. Lincoln.  I like that look on you.  I bought it because in the winter my folks’ place can be difficult to get to sometimes.  The four-wheel-drive comes in handy.”

“
Fair enough.  I’d like to get a jeep someday.  Something like this would be nice.  When I buy the place in the country, it’s at the top of my list.”

He looked over at me and smiled.

“
You have a list?”

“
I most certainly do.”

“
What’s on it?”

Why did I feel shy all of a sudden?  I’d never discussed my list with anyone and here I was blabbing away with Deacon.  I was beginning to understand how he made big business deals.  He had a way of making people relax around him and then, “Wham!”, you were sucked into his vortex and babbling like a brook.  I had to find a way of including that little gem in the book somehow.  I decided to try and divert his attention.

“
Don’t you have a list?”

“
Not really.  I’m more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of guy.  Back to your list.  What’s on your list Dor’?”

So much for diversion...

“
Not a whole lot.  I’d like an old farmhouse in the country on a bit of land.  Maybe a dog running around to keep me company and a Jeep with a snow plow attachment.  That would be cool.”

“
What about love?”

“
Quoting Heart lyrics now Deacon?”

He looked at me and narrowed his eyes before returning them to the road.

“
I’m serious.  I’d pegged you for taking the vows and ponying up the two kids five years in.”

“
It’s hard to take the vows with a golden retriever named Spock.”

He took my hand and pulled it to the center console, but he didn’t release it.

“
Come on babe.  Don’t sell yourself short.  If anyone can teach Spock how to recite wedding vows, it’s you.  You’re resourceful like that.”

I jerked my hand away and I got the full on dimpled grin.  I sincerely wish he’d quit doing that.  Those dimples were gonna be the death of me.

I turned my head away from him and stared out the window, watching the scenery change from traffic and ugly gray buildings to mini malls to sparse countryside.  He let me stew, lost in my thoughts.  When he spoke, it startled me I jumped a little in my seat.

“
Ladies, we’re here.”

He turned through the open gate of a sturdy metal fence and drove down a long gravel driveway.  He had no way of knowing that I was staring at my dream house.  It grew more perfect the closer we got.

He pulled up into the grass of the front yard.  There was another Jeep, a ten year old pickup truck, and a Honda Pilot parked in the actual driveway.  I could barely see a two car garage, obviously newer than the lovely old house, parked to the side and behind.  Spock didn’t live there, but that could be easily remedied.

We got out and I couldn’t tear my eyes from it.  The wide porch had the old-fashioned glider style furniture and two wooden rocking chairs.  The house was white with forest green shutters and a forest green door with three little windows in a fan formation at the top.  There was a picture window with lace curtains as well and I was absolutely positive at that moment that I would love his mother.

When I turned towards him, it must have shown in my eyes because his face softened and he smiled at me with our luggage in his hands.  He led the way up the porch steps to the front door, Melody and I close behind.  He turned to me before he put down the suitcases and reached for the doorknob.

“
Wait until you see the inside.”

He opened the door to multiple voices coming from somewhere inside and I just knew everyone was in the kitchen.  When you owned a house like this, that had to be where everyone eventually ended up.

Deacon put the three suitcases down at the foot of the stairs and kept on going.  Mel’ and I followed obediently.  As he drew closer to the laughter and conversation, his smile grew and his posture relaxed.  Deacon was home.

“
Everyone watch your language, the ladies are here.”

I smiled and slugged him playfully on the shoulder while Melody tried to find a way to close her mouth at the site before her.

Deacon greeted his mother first in a mammoth hug in which he picked her up and twirled her around.  She laughed and he greeted his father with no less enthusiasm.  His family appeared to be huggers, another piece of the Deacon Sloan puzzle fell into place.  This explained the hugs and hand holding.  He came by his touchy-feely nature honestly.

My sister and I stood on the periphery watching the family greeting one another, neither one of us inclined to make our presence obvious for a moment or two.  I feel bad saying this, but I’d completely forgotten about Melody until she leaned over and said, “I don’t know which one’s yummier.  May I try both?  Please?”

The blinking thing started and I couldn’t control it.  I leaned back and whispered, “Behave yourself young lady.”  She giggled and all eyes came to us.  The spell was broken and I knew what it was like to be a rabbit surrounded by wolves.

Surprise gave way to grins and I actually saw Deacon’s dad slap him on the back with the same twinkle in his eye that Deacon gets when he’s tickled by something.  This was going to be an interesting albeit tense weekend.

Deacon stood stock still as he watched his father’s approach.  Mr. Sloan smiled and gave a nod to Melody, but his radar was tuned to me.  When he was close enough to grab, that’s exactly what he did.  He pulled me into a hug that almost brought tears to my eyes.  My own family was affectionate, but we didn’t walk up and hug strangers.  We were Lincolns after all.  Mr. Sloan either didn’t get the etiquette memo or he clearly didn’t give a shit because he’d decided I was a member of the family.  I found myself hugging him back with the same fierceness so I guess I didn’t care about etiquette or memos either.

He pulled back and the twinkle remained, only this time, I saw dimples.  He wore his chambray workshirt and Levi’s like a champ and I could tell there were muscles under that shirt that came from hard work everyday and not from some gym or workout with a personal trainer.  The man standing before me was as solid as an oak tree and happy that I was there.  I found myself relaxing and smiling back as if we were family, all nervousness or doubt melting away.  I hadn’t even been introduced and I liked him already.

He kissed my cheek and took a step back.

“
I’m Grant Sloan, but please call me Grant... or Dad.  Everyone else does.  That beautiful woman over there in the apron is my wife Bree.  She’d love it if you called her Mom, but if it’s too soon, please call her Bree.”

His voice was deep and rich and I wondered if he sang in a church choir on Sundays.  My fanciful ideas were cut off in mid thought when Deacon opened his ornery mouth.

“
Quit mauling her Dad, it’s not what you think.”

Grant waved him away as if he were an annoying insect of some kind, but never took his eyes off of me when he answered.

“
It’s exactly what I think.  You only have to take one look at her to see that she’s your type Deke, even if she is ten times sweeter than you and probably more than you deserve.  You did good son.”

I kept smiling and now instead of blinking, I was batting my eyes playfully.  I heard a chuckle that probably came from Anton and a frustrated sigh that I recognized as Deacon’s.  I was so going to pay for my insolent behavior but I didn’t care.  Before Deacon could deflate my happy balloon, I had to take one more swipe at him in front of his parents.  I kissed Grant on the cheek and smiled at Bree who was more than happy to smile back.

“
Dad, I was telling Deke that just the other day.  He doesn’t think he has a type, but I reminded him that I was exactly his type.  He’s such a gentleman, so far he’ll only hold my hand or put his arm around me in public.  I’ve known him two months and he hasn’t even kissed me yet.”

I sighed for effect and Grant’s smile broadened.

“
He’s so romantic.”

That last part was thrown in for effect and let me tell you, I got a reaction alright.  Anton started rolling in laughter and Melody joined in at the sound.  I was dumb enough to hazard a look at Deacon and steam was coming out of his ears.  I was in so much trouble, I’d need waders to get out of this one.