Justified Love (The Southern Gentleman Series Book 1) (16 page)

Swoon!

Man of My Dreams
: Have you thought about what you wanna do today?

Carrington
: Hmmm…do you have some old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty?

Man of My Dreams
: And, by dirty you mean?

Carrington
: Not like that, although that’s not a bad idea.

Man of My Dreams
: I’ll see what I can drum up. What are you up to, Watson?

Carrington
: You’ll see.

Man of My Dreams
: Will I, now?

Carrington
: Depends if you can be on your best behavior. It seems like someone has a hard time keeping his hands to himself.

Man of My Dreams
: As I recall, a sexy young lady was the one pulling me in for a deeper kiss last night.

Carrington
: Busted! Well played, sir. Well played.

Man of My Dreams
: Uh huhhh! That’s what I thought.

Carrington
: How ‘bout I come pick you up around three?

Man of My Dreams
: As in three a.m.?

Carrington
: As in three in the afternoon. What could we get accomplished at three a.m. anyway?

Man of My Dreams
: I can think of a couple things.

Carrington
: You are going to corrupt me, aren’t you, Sherlock?

Man of My Dreams
: Yep. I’m going to make you beg for it - to the point where you won’t want any other man, again.

Carrington
: Challenge accepted. You better bring your ‘A’ game.

Man of My Dreams
: Oh, I plan to.

Carrington
: You’re awfully confident in yourself.

Man of My Dreams
: Only when it comes to you.

Carrington
: So you’re blaming me? :)

Man of My Dreams
: Absolutely. Are you complaining?

Carrington
: No way in hell.

Carrington
: So, where should I pick you up?

Man of My Dreams
: I have an apartment over off Cherry Avenue; Apartment 3C. Now that you know where I live, I don’t want to see any drive-by peeping, little lady.

Carrington
: Me? No?

Man of My Dreams
: As much as I would love to keep talking to you, my darlin’….

My darlin’!

Man of my Dreams
…I must go. Some of us have to go to work! Slacker.

Carrington
: Slacker huh? We’ll see about that.

Man of My Dreams
: Promise?

Carrington
: Of course.

Man of My Dreams
: I’m holding you to that.

Carrington
: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go get some sleep, Sherlock.

Man of My Dreams
: You too my gorgeous, Watson.

I was in so much shit!

Chapter 12

            “Why don’t you just go to a bar or a restaurant like ordinary people,” Harley said.

              “Because, this is way better and I’m not that kinda girl. I like getting back to basics and enjoying the outdoors. Like Daddy always said, “A little dirt, don’t hurt,” I defended shaking the cobwebs from my hand.

              “Well, I for one love it, but then again, I love everything outdoors,” Skye rang.

              “Thank you, Skye.” I shoved Harley.

              “So, are you going to be a new age woman, and make the first move tonight?” asked Harley.

              “I have a couple tricks up my sleeve I might pull out.”

              “Just as long as you don’t clang and bang like fucktard Tad, I think you’ll be fine,” Harley said.

              “Found them!” Skye yelled from across the barn.

              “It will be nothing like Tad, fucking, Berkley. You know, speaking of which, even when I was with Tad, I was trying so hard not to think of Colt. Maybe this is my sign we were meant to be together,” I said hopefully.

              “As if the fates are aligning. Mom did say that it’s going to be a full moon tonight. People turn cray-cray on a full moon.” Skye added.

              “Did you really just say “cray-cray?” Harley asked.

              “What? I heard it on MTV.”

              “Why do they even call it MTV? They never show music videos anymore. It’s just reality bullshit that anyone with half a brain cell would know when to steer clear,” I said.

              “Hey. I resent that,” chimed Harley. “I happen to love Awkward.”

              “You would,” mocked Skye.

              “Y’all are too much.” I responded.

●

              Packing up all my “date night necessities.” Fishing poles, check. Blanket, check. Lawn chairs, check. Cooler, check. Bait…shit. Trying to haul ass, I shoved everything into the truck, gunning it to Buddy’s Bait Shop and Tackle.

            Jumping out of Bessie, I was even shocked at myself for thinking of this plan. I loved going fishing as a kid with Daddy, and even Ol’ Man Johnson. Mr. Johnson was the one who taught me how to bait a hook, and what fish were up and running this time of the year. Walking into Buddy’s, I grabbed a case of Bud and a bag of ice to go with my carton of night crawlers.

              “Hey there, Carrington. I didn’t know you were in town.”

              “Hi, Mr. Watson. I’m just in town for a little while. It’s so great to see you.”

              I kept saying that, but I hadn’t made any headway with dad’s case. I didn’t even want to think about how I was going to handle this with Colt when I went back. Best not to think about it right now.

              “Ohh, I see. Got big plans today? Looks like you’re fixin’ to catch some catfish or bass.”

              “That’s the plan, Mr. Watson. Hey, how’s your wife doing? And those cute grandbabies of yours?”

              I knew I was in a hurry, but Granny always told me to be polite and respectful to my elders.

              She always said, “One day that will be you, and would you want youngins to treat you with disrespect?”

              “Oh, Martha is just dandy darlin’. The “babies” aren’t babies anymore, Miss. Mason. Can you believe they are almost thirteen and eleven?”

              “No way. I can’t believe that. Well, Mr. Watson, I have to head out, but it was great to see you. I’ll stop by on my way out of town to say goodbye.”

              “Really good seeing you, Carrington. Tell your Daddy and Granny I said hello.”

              “Will do.”

              Heading over to Colt’s, it was 2:57pm and I was running late. I hope he understands. Pulling up to the complex, it looked fantastic. The lawns on the property were manicured and greener than I had ever seen before. I have never been to an apartment complex so beautiful, but then again I never needed to here in Avery.
Wowzers! Why is it every time I know I’m going to see Colt, I get scared as shit?
Come on girl. Pull it together. Breath.
Just as I was about the knock on the door, Colt magically opened it.
Holy shit, he looked smokin' hot.
He was dressed in worn jeans and a worn Avery High School football shirt.  His T-shirt was a little snug, showing off his killer six-pack. He had on a broken in camo hat, which was sexy as hell.
Damn!

              “Hiiiii,” I finally spit out.

              “Hiiiii to you too,” he said.

              Leaning over he gave me the sweetest kiss, virtually making my knees knock together.

              “I wore flip flops, but I wasn’t sure if I needed my boots or what,” he said confused.

              “Flip flops are excellent,” showing him my flops with manicured toes.

              “Damn girl. You lookin’ sexy as hell. Turn around and show me what you workin’ with,” he said while twirling me around.

              I had taken much longer than expected to complete my “laid back” attire. I had on my “too short for church” jean shorts, bikini top covered with a larger tank. I had my hair down so it would cascade over my shoulder and down my back.

              “I’ve never been called sexy before,” I said slightly blushing.

              “Why? You are, Carr. You need to start believing me when I tell you; you are fine, sexy, gorgeous, beautiful, stunning, and so much more. We need to boost that self-esteem of yours so you can see the amazing person I see,” he said with admiration in his eyes.

              “You may just be the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Mr. Wilson,” I said.

              “Now you’re just being sweet, but I like it.”

              Grabbing his hand, “Let’s blow this pop stand. I mean, let’s get going,” I said with a laugh.

              “Good save.”

●

              “So this is Bessie, huh?”

              “This is my Bessie,” I said while patting the dashboard.

            “Wow, is that a tape deck?” Colt asked.

              “Sure is! Wanna guess what’s in there right now?” I asked.

              “Just the fact that you actually have anything in there amazes me already,” he said with a laugh.

              “We have a comedian, ladies and gentleman,” I said with a sly grin clutching the wheel.

              “Let’s see what we have in here,” he said pushing play.

              “Running just as fast as we can. Holding onto one another’s hands. Trying to get away, into the night, and then you put your arms around me and we tumble to the ground and then you say….” The music sang.

              “I think we’re alone now; there doesn’t seem to be anyone around. I think we’re alone now; the beating of our hearts is the only sound,” we sang in unison.

              “Well, look at you, Sherlock knowing the lyrics to Tiffany,” I said with a laugh.

              “I can’t deny she was one of the greatest female singers of the 80’s, although, Debbie Gibson was a close second,” he responded. I busted out laughing at his comment.

              “What? So I like my 80’s music,” he said with a smile.

              “You are too cute for words, Sherlock,” I said.

              “You’re not so bad yourself, Watson,” he said scooting closer to me.

              Leaning into me, he started kissing my neck, down my collarbone and stopping just shy of my chest looking at me for approval.

              “Didn’t your driving instructor ever tell you not to distract the driver while they are in a moving vehicle?” I said half hoping he wouldn’t stop.

              “Nope,” he said continuing to kiss down my chest, pulling my tank top down a smidge.
Sweet Jesus, we need to be at our destination;
now
.
Thankfully we were pulling up to Ol’ Man Johnson’s lake, just close enough to the dock so we could go fishing. Putting the truck in park, I rolled Colt over into his seat and straddled him.

              “I like this date already,” he said with enthusiasm gripping my hips. Leaning in I started kissing him. Kissing his cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose. I tilted his head to the side, kissing and licking up his neck to his ear.

              Slowly, I started to nibble on his earlobe whispering, “That’s for teasing me on the drive over.”

              Jumping off his lap, I snatched his ball cap and jumped from the truck. Sliding my hair through the loophole, I walked to the tailgate.

              “You have got to be kidding me!” he yelled from the front seat. Getting out, he adjusted his jeans giving me an evil grin.

              “You will be the death of me woman!”

            Pulling the tailgate down, I leaned over to reach in the bed. Teasing Colt, I was hoping I was giving him a hard on shaking my butt in my tiny shorts. Turning around, I could see Colt standing there with his fist in his mouth. I think my little plan worked.

            “Wanna help me with this gear?”

            Still not responding, I waved my hand, “Earth to Colton! Wanna help me? Snap out of it.”

              “Oh, yea, I can help. What do you need me to do?”

              “Grab the fishing poles and I’ll grab the cooler and bait.

              “We’re going fishing?” he explained.

              “Of course, silly. Now, help me get this gear out.”

            Carrying the fishing poles and cooler to the dock, I couldn’t help but smile like an idiot. I had waited for what seemed like forever for something as simple as fishing with Colt.

              “You look so content right now,” he said mirroring my expression.

              “I’m just really happy I’m here and with you,” I said with a smile looking up at Colt from under his hat.

              “Why are you staring at me?” I asked with a grin.

              “You are so mouthwatering with my hat on, and those cute cut off shorts; Lawd have mercy, baby girl. You, my darling, are a vision of southern beauty, and I’m diggin' it…a lot.”

              I was blushing uncontrollably. All I wanted to do was kiss him senseless at that very moment. Beating me to the punch, Colt leaned down and laid one on me. I couldn’t get enough of his delectable lips. When we kissed, it felt like a giant shockwave shooting through my whole body. I could sit here for days just kissing those lips. Colt was the perfect kisser too; gentle and yet the right amount of passion.

            Sitting on the dock baiting our hooks, we dipped our toes in the cool water.

              “I’m surprised you’re baiting your own hook,” he said sounding impressed. “Most girls wouldn’t even try to get their hands dirty,” he added.

              “Well, I’m not like most girls now, am I? Plus the bait ain’t gonna hook itself?” I retorted.

              “Thank God, you’re not. I can’t deal with stuck-up girls. They never want to get down and dirty,” he responded.