Love Me ~ Like That (8 page)

I need to stay away from her. How will that be possible living right across the street? She’s probably at least five years younger than me. That’s a good reason to stay away. That, and she has a boyfriend. I don’t mess around with anyone in relationships. I can tell without even meeting him he’s a prick. She needs to know the difference between a man and a boy. That prick is a boy because a man would not have screwed her in a car, threw her out, then left. I have plenty of reasons to stay away. So, why can’t I stop thinking about her? She seems so sweet and funny. She is drop dead gorgeous on top of all that. I’m pissed off that asshole doesn’t realize how lucky he is to have her.

I make my way to bed, but I can’t get my mind off the little brunette beauty across the way. I truly want to make her mine although I don’t know what about her that makes me feel this way. I can’t put my finger on it. I have a sixth sense that being with her would be right. So, as far as I can tell, I have two choices here. Find someone else to occupy my mind, or get to know her better and maybe she will see that guy she is with is a jerk and doesn’t deserve her. Mom’s words ring in my mind, “One day you are going to meet a girl, and she is going to smile at you or laugh, and you will know she is the one.” God, that laugh will forever be in my mind.

I think we need to head to church tomorrow, too. Mom needs guidance and who knows there could be a whole church full of Baileys. Plus, everybody needs more religion, prayer has never hurt anyone. Maybe I will get some clarity from the great one above on what path I should be on.

“Bailey, get up or we will be late for church!”

Granny is at the foot of my bed. Heavens to Betsy, is it already time to get up?

“I’m up, Granny, I’m up.” I sigh, rolling over to look at the clock. It’s already 9:15, and she will want to leave by 9:45. I jump up and head to the bathroom. I hate to be in a rush but it is what it is. After showering and drying my hair, I get dressed. I don’t have time for my full makeup routine, but I put on some mascara and lip gloss for good measure. The mascara will at least make me look awake. I don’t know why I’m worried about how I’ll look anyway. No one will be at church, other than a few family members and people I’ve grown up with my whole life. Who cares what they think anyway? They have all seen me at my worse, plus I can go without makeup every once in a while.

I wear my navy dress today and my boots. I’m so glad they go with everything. I normally wear sandals with my skirts when I go out with Hendrix because I like him to see my toes all cute, but I really love my boots. Wearing boots is in style around here, for my old crowd anyway. I think it’s cute to wear them with dresses.

“Alright, are you guys ready?” I announce, coming out of my room in a blur. Granny is hanging up the phone after talking to someone. She picks up her Bible and gets her walker. Papa has his cane and he looks all dapper in his suit and tie. He loves going to church and talking to other men close to his own age. I’m all for any little amount of pleasure we can give him these days. Sometimes he seems depressed or lonely, and I can’t always figure out exactly what will make him happy again.

We get into their older model Buick. I don’t like driving their car because it is so big and I can’t park as it is, but taking the Buick makes things easier for both of them. When I’m at the end of the driveway, I notice Cash is leaving too.

Granny waves then points in the direction we’re going.

That’s odd. Why in the world would she be pointing? I pull onto the road and he pulls out behind me.

“Bailey, don’t run off and leave him. He is going to follow us to church.”

Say what? Why wasn’t I told this earlier? I look like shit today. “Why is he following us to church?” I ask.

“Everybody needs a home church. Margie was going to come too, but she is under the weather this morning.”

Great. Just great.
“I wish you had told me this earlier so I could have looked decent. I look horrible today. Look at these dark circles under my eyes.” I flip down my visor and my face is not a pretty sight. Dear Lord, why is he coming to church today of all days? He is going to look so good. Get it together, Bailey! I think I have some powder in my purse, I’m feeling around for the compact while keeping my eyes on the road. I feel it! Thank heavens! I rub the sponge under my eyes. This won’t take away all of my flaws, but every little bit of coverage I can get will help.

“Bailey, you’re dating Henry. You don’t care what other boys think, or that’s what you always tell me.”

I’m glad she isn’t a mind reader. I laugh to myself. “I am dating Hendrix, I just hate for new people seeing me this way, and you know first impressions and all.” See, I’m keeping my brain sharp. I’m thinking on my feet.

“If you say so. I thought you would have been more concerned last night when you had on those shorty shorts.”

She doesn’t try to hide her smirk. What has gotten into her today? I do love to see her so tickled, even if it’s at my own expense.

Cash meets us at the entryway of the church and is ever the gentleman by opening the door for us. He’s positively hot this morning.

Granny beams at him. “Thank you, Cash. You are such a sweet boy.”

He grins back at her.

Oh brother, they are making me wanna puke.

“You’re welcome, Mrs. Jackson. You’re pretty sweet yourself.”

Really?
I roll my eyes. He’s trying to impress us with manners and a good ol’ boy attitude. Get real.

I lean over and whisper, “You’re laying on the charm thick this morning aren’t ya, Cash?” He has a fine looking ass in those tight Wrangler jeans, and that blue shirt sure brings out the blue in his eyes, not that I’m looking. I don’t mean to be, but it’s right next to me. I’m not blind, and looking doesn’t hurt. I love Hendrix and we are meant to be together, I keep reminding myself.

The church service takes forever. Our pastor is always long winded, but he is really on a roll today. Cash is sitting entirely too close to me. His cologne smells yummy, not that I care, and I can feel the heat radiating off of his body. My own body is betraying me and I have to fan myself to cool down.

After three stanzas of Amazing Grace, we are finally dismissed. Amen. Everyone comes up to meet Cash, especially the single women.

“They smell new blood.” I lean in and whisper. I nudge Cash on his arm.
Get a life, ladies.

He is cordial to everyone, young and old alike. That’s life in a small town. Everyone knows you and all of your business. When someone new comes to town, they become all the talk. By dinnertime, everyone will know all there is to know about Cash, even if it’s all hearsay.

“Thank y’all for inviting me to come to church with you today. I think mom would love it here. May I take you guys to lunch?” Cash asks.

There is no way I can go to lunch with this guy. He is bad news for me. He
makes
me look into those beautiful eyes, and practically flaunts his ass in front of me. Not that I’m interested, no, I’m dating someone.

“We would love too, but I’m afraid we need to get back home. Papa doesn’t do well with changes. Church is about the only place we can get him to go.” I’m making this up because Papa could go, but Cash is hot. Plain and simple. If I’m around him with all of his smooth talking, I may give in to temptation, and I’m dating Hendrix.

“Maybe some other time then,” he says.

I wish he wouldn’t smile at me with that panty-dropping smile. “Yeah maybe.” I turn and make a beeline for the door.

Going to church today was both a blessing and hell. I’m always blessed because between the sermon and the old hymns, I feel balanced. The hell was sitting beside Bailey
the whole service. She was distracting me with her every move. The way she kept putting small strands of hair behind her ear. When she crossed her legs and her dress would ride up a little. She would fan herself, and I would get a whiff of her scent. Then her fidgeting and sighing kept me aware she was right beside me. I didn’t need to be constantly reminded how much I wanted to touch her.

She looked amazing in this navy dress that was a couple of inches above the knees. I have to say her cowboy boots with that dress is a huge turn on. Sexy as hell. Her hair was pulled up in some sort of bun that showed off her neck, making me want to run my tongue up her neck to watch her shiver. She didn’t have a lot of crap on her face today so I got to see her natural, fresh-faced beauty, which made me desire her all the more.

I don’t just want her physically though, I want to get to know her better and see more of who she is on the inside. I see the way she takes care of her grandparents—out of love, not obligation. That makes her even more beautiful to me.

That prick she’s seeing doesn’t deserve her. After how he treated her last night, I want to kick his ass. I saw exactly what happened in that car. He took what he wanted then left her, screaming at her like she was a dog. I don’t see how anyone can treat ladies like that. I don’t have a bad temper, but with him, I wouldn’t be able to control myself. I want to teach him a fucking lesson. But that probably wouldn’t get me into her good graces. My best course of action is to be a friend right now—a friend who throws out sexual innuendos and wants to fuck her ten ways to Sunday. No, I need to keep our interactions platonic until she wises up and gets rid of that jerk. Why do the assholes of the world get the best girls? Why are girls attracted to guys who treat them like shit? I’ll never understand that. Men are not meant to understand women. Just when you think you have one figured out, she changes her mind.