[WS02] Taming Alex (6 page)

“Oh, Grant,” she beamed, “these are beautiful.” He could see a hint of humor in her
eyes and wondered if she knew what he was doing.

“I saw them and thought of you and of our picnic the other day.” He actually heard
several people start to gossip right there in the diner and felt like laughing.

“They're perfect.” Then she stepped closer and hung her free arm around his neck and
purred. “How about another picnic this weekend?” She smiled and winked at him. He
could only nod in reply and was sure his face had just turned a deep shade of red
in front of half the town of Fairplay.

By the time he'd driven home after a very long lunch and dessert at the diner, he
was sure the gossip had changed about him around town. If his name was going to be
tied to anyone, he wanted to make sure it was someone he was actually actively pursuing.

He parked his truck in front of the barn and decided to check on the animals. He didn’t
know what made him choose to go inside the barn instead of the house, but something
called him to step into the building.

When he opened the door, the smell of gasoline hit him immediately. Throwing the door
wide, he started to frantically look around. He didn't smell fire, but knew that there
was no way he'd left that much gas in the barn.

Less than five minutes later, he was rushing into the house to call the sheriff. He'd
left everything where he'd found it. By the time
Stephen Miller, the local sheriff who'd been in office since Grant was two feet high,
pulled in to park behind his truck, he was steaming.

“Now, Grant. What do you mean someone tried to burn down your barn. It's still standing.”
The older man slammed his car door and took off his hat to wipe his sweaty brow.

“Someone wanted to burn it down, Sheriff.” He'd spent the time waiting for the sheriff
getting all of his animals out of the fume-filled building. “Just have yourself a
look.” He motioned towards the door.

“Whoo-wee.” The sheriff stood back and waved his hat in front of his face. “What do
you have in there?” He walked in and looked around. Grant knew what he'd find. Someone
had poured four of his five-gallon buckets of tractor fuel all over the barn. They
had even splattered some on the animals. But what had really disturbed him was the
matchbook sitting right inside the barn doors. It had been a warning.

“They wanted me to know they could have burned it all down.” He stood just behind
the sheriff, who was looking down at the matchbook from Mama's Diner.

“Well, damn.” The sheriff banged his hat against his leg. “I guess we'll need to sit
down and find out who you've pissed off lately.”

Grant laughed sharply. There was only one name running through his mind. It was the
first one that had popped into his head when he'd seen the matchbook.

“Travis Nolan.”

The sheriff turned towards him quickly. “Now Grant, don't you go throwing that name
out too quickly. We both know any trouble that boy gets into, his pa is going to sweep
it under the rug so fast, I can't even finish filling out my paperwork.”

“I know it was him. I stopped by the diner today and publicly made a move on Alexis.”
Grant registered the smile on the sheriff’s face. Then the old man whistled.

“Didn't even let the dust settle before you started to make a play on that girl, did
you?” He smiled again.

“No sir, not when I've waited forever for her.” He smiled a little when the sheriff
patted him on the back.

“You're a good kid, you know that. You take after your folks.” Then he turned and
looked back into the empty barn. “Well, I guess I'll fill out this paperwork and see
how far we get. I'll swing by the Nolan's and ask Travis' whereabouts. When did you
say you left the house?” He pulled out a little notepad and asked Grant a few questions
before walking through the barn looking for anything else out of place.

It took the rest of the evening for Grant to get the gas-soaked hay out of the barn.
The son of a bitch hadn't, thankfully, crawled up the ladder and gotten any gas on
the stacked hay. But it still ate at him while he shoveled and used the wheelbarrow
to pull load after load of ruined hay out of the barn. Once the place was fairly gasoline-free,
he moved the animals back in and fed and watered them. Then he drove into town and
bought himself a couple heavy-duty locks for both the front door and the back door
of the barn. He even grabbed a smaller one for his chicken coop.

Just around sunset, he watched Alex's car drive up and park behind his truck. When
she got out, he smiled at the pretty sundress she was wearing. The turquoise blue
suited her.

“Evening.” He'd showered off the stench of gas and was sitting out on the porch trying
to muster up enough strength to cook some chicken on the grill. “You look mighty pretty
tonight. Would you like to stay for dinner?” He walked over to her and pulled her
close as she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I hear you had some trouble out here.” She frowned. “Listen, Grant, I didn't mean
to cause…”

“Hush now, you had nothing to do with it and you know it. If you go around making
excuses for that sorry sack of…” He shook his head. “No harm was done. Just some soiled
hay. He was just being a sore loser. What about staying for dinner?”

She smiled and nodded. “I heard you have some new goats.” He smiled and took her hand
and started walking her towards the barn.

“First we'll see the goats, then we’ll go out back and grill us some chicken.” He
stopped and pulled her into his arms. “Then I'll take you inside and have you in my
bed.” He smiled down at her and was pleased when he saw a light flush on her cheeks.
He'd never caused her to blush before. It had always been the other way around. He
realized he could get used to having the upper hand.

A
lex's breath hitched. She'd been nervous the short drive over to his place. She knew
why she'd taken her time, putting on her prettiest dress, an extra spritz of perfume,
and even her brand new pair of underwear. She was going to sleep with Grant Holton,
and she was going to enjoy every second of her time.

When she turned down his drive, she stopped and tried to level her breathing since
she'd never been this nervous with anyone before. She looked at his house. The place
had belonged to several other people in the past, and it was their nearest neighbor.
It was a Verde-style stone ranch with a red tiled roof. It looked like it belonged
in the hills of California instead of East Texas. He'd changed a few things around
the place. He’d added a large wood swing on the front porch and had painted the barn
a bright red. There were some new bushes and flowers out front and along the drive.

It had taken all her willpower not to turn back around and just drive home. It had
nothing to do with Travis, and everything to do with how nervous she felt about the
new experience she was about to have. She knew this was a necessary step in getting
over things and moving on. Finally, she drove up. He was standing on the front porch,
looking sexy in jeans and a gray shirt. He smiled and everything felt right.

He took her hand, breaking her out of the spell, and walked her towards the barn.
There was a faint smell of gasoline lingering in the air. She'd found out what had
happened when the sheriff had come into Mama's to question her and Jamella. He'd asked
if they had seen Travis hanging around and if she knew if Travis had a matchbook from
Mama's.

Jamella had laughed at that one. Everyone in town had a matchbook from the diner.
They sat in a huge bowl right by the cash register. Jamella had ordered a thousand
of them a few years back from a company in China, but the order had been messed up
and she'd gotten ten thousand instead. They couldn't give the darn things away fast
enough. There were still ten boxes of them sitting in the attic at the diner.

Alex blinked a few times to let her eyes adjust to the dim barn. Then they walked
over to a short, small stall where three new goats were running around, butting each
other and playing.

“Their mother is in the other stall. She's pretty much tired of them and needed a
break.” He laughed as the three goats noticed them. All were now standing with their
front feet on the bottom rung of the gate, their short tails moving fast as they begged
for attention.

“Oh, aren't you three so cute.” Alex leaned over and tried to pet all of them, each
one pushing the others out of the way. “What have you named them?” She looked up at
Grant.

He shook his head. “Hadn't thought about it yet. They’re all females.” Then he smiled.
“You always had a way with naming animals. What do you think?”

“Well…” She stood up and thought about it. “Names for three sisters…” She tapped her
chin and paced a few steps away, then turned and walked back. “There were the three
sisters in the Greek mythology of the Gorgons, but those were evil and ugly sisters.”
She looked down at the cute goats. Then a big smile crossed her face. “I've got it!
Three sisters, too. How about the Powerpuffs?”

His eyebrows shot up, then he laughed. “Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup?”

When she nodded, he continued. “That's just rich.” He laughed again and nodded to
the next stall where a black-headed goat was demanding attention. “Mojo there is their
mother.”

She looked at him, then giggled. “Don't tell me you named her Mojo Jojo.”

He smiled. “I didn't, but the daughter of the farmer I bought her had, and well, the
name stuck.”

“Then it's settled.” She turned back to the goats. “Now we just need to decide who
is who?”

He laughed, then tugged on her hand and pulled her into his arms. “I have a few pigs
out back that I haven't named yet.” He smiled down at her and she felt her heart skip.
When his head dipped, she enjoyed the feel and taste of his lips against hers. His
taste was intoxicating, and she was very thankful that he didn't smoke. Travis had
always tasted of cigarettes.

Grant pulled back and brushed her hair aside. “If we keep doing that, we'll wind up
skipping dinner all together.”

“I don't mind.” She tried to pull him back down, but heard his stomach growl loudly
and smiled. “But I guess you do.”

He laughed. “I've been working hard all day.”

She sat out on his brick patio and watched as he barbecued chicken with some corn
and potatoes over the open grill. She realized she'd never grilled out with Travis
either. Come to think of it, there was a lot she hadn't done with Travis. He'd never
taken her out for an official date. Sure, they'd eaten at Mama's or at his parents’
place several times. They had even driven through a drive-thru in Tyler on multiple
occasions, but he'd never dressed up and taken her out for a fancy dinner before.
They'd never gone to the movies together, never—

“What are you frowning about? I promise you my cooking isn't that bad.” Grant came
and sat across from her.

“I'm sorry.” She shook her head clear of Travis and his many faults, then smiled at
Grant. “It's so hard, thinking of all the things I've missed.” She took a deep breath
and leaned back in her chair and looked around.

He tilted his head. “Yeah? Like what?” He took a drink of his tea and watched her.

“Like dates. Real dates.” She got up and walked to the edge of the grass. “Hay rides
in the fall, making out in a movie theater. Stuff like that. Travis never wanted to
do anything with me, not anything in public, anyway.” She blushed, realizing what
she'd just admitted to. “Sure, he liked to go to the Rusty Rail and hang out with
his friends.” She turned and frowned. “I always imagined I'd have a long line of guys
waiting to take me out.” She sighed and looked off into the distance.” She chuckled,
then turned again. He sat there, looking at her with a slight smile on his face and
she felt like a fool. She hadn't meant to tell him all that.

He stood up and walked towards her. “I always imagined you'd have a long line of guys
beating each other up just to win your hand.” He picked up her hand and brushed his
lips across her knuckles. It was the most romantic thing that had ever happened to
her. Her breath hitched and she actually felt light-headed with the simple light contact
of his lips against the back of her hand. Then, to her enjoyment, he turned her hand
over and placed another kiss on the inside of her wrist, sending heat up her arm and
all over her body.

“You smell so good,” he said against her skin, then nibbled on her wrist. “Maybe I'm
not so hungry after all.” He pulled her closer.

“Oh, no.” She pulled away playfully. “That food smells too good.” He chuckled and
tried to pull her closer, then nibbled on her neck as she held onto his shoulders.
If someone had told her a year ago that her knees would get weak from someone just
kissing her below her ear, she wouldn't have believed it.

During dinner, she looked at him across the small table and had never felt more nervous
in her life. She tried to talk herself out of feeling that way. After all, she'd had
sex before, plenty of times, with Travis. She didn't see what the big deal was. Although
she liked to think she enjoyed it, half the time she'd just wished it would end. But
Grant's kisses had awoken something in her that Travis never had. She knew there was
a lot more to be experienced and wondered how much she didn't know when it came to
romance
.
Would Grant see through her? Would he be able to tell that she still didn't quite
know what men liked or wanted? She was pretty good at faking things. Maybe he wouldn't
be able to tell.

She was so nervous that she hardly touched her plate. Grant frowned and asked, “Was
there something wrong with the meal?”

She tried to smile and flirt her way out of answering the question, but Grant just
looked at her, his eyes focused on her lips, waiting for the truth. She shrugged and
sipped her tea, then blurted out.

“I'm nervous, okay?” She thought she could see understanding in his eyes as he leaned
back in his chair. He almost looked like he was gloating.

“You?” His smile got even bigger. “You're nervous about what, exactly?”

She felt her face turning pink. “Us. You. This.” She motioned with her hands towards
the house.

He stood up quickly, then walked over and took her hands. Pulling her up next to him,
he wrapped his arms around her waist. “I'm so glad.” He kissed her softly on the lips.
“If you weren't nervous, then it wouldn't mean as much.”

“What?” She tried to pull back and look up into his eyes, but he shook his head and
rested his forehead against hers.

“You aren't the only one that's nervous.” His lips came back to hers in a slow, gentle
kiss that made her knees shake. “You do something to me, always have.” He started
to nibble slowly down her neck. “You make me weak. Make me feel like I can't control
myself.” His mouth was leaving a hot trail down her body as his hands started running
up her sides and back. “There is so much I want to say and do, but I've never had
the guts to.” He started walking them slowly backwards, towards the sliding glass
door. “It's okay to be nervous.” He pulled back and smiled at her. Then in one quick
motion, he pulled her up into his arms as she squealed.

It was another first in her book. She'd never been carried to bed by a man who was
about to make love to her. Her smile spread as she thought about all the excitement
that had been hiding right in front of her for years. Grant was more than just the
town's Goody Two-shoes. He was more complex than she'd ever imagined. Wrapping her
arms around his neck, she held on to him as he walked in the house, making his way
back to his room. She rained little kisses on his neck and nibbled on his ear as he
went.

At one point, he stopped walking and took her mouth with his, causing her head to
spin.
Then he moved more quickly and his breath was more labored. His hands shook as he
set her gently on the bed and looked down at her. “You're so beautiful. I can hardly
believe that you're here with me.”

She felt heat spread throughout when he looked at her like that. He stood next to
the bed, then slowly put a knee next to her hip and hovered over her. His hand came
up slowly, running his fingers down her cheek, her hair, her neck. She closed her
eyes to the gentle touch. She'd never been treated like this before, like she was
fragile. She wished he would speed up and just finish so these mixed feelings she
was having would ease. Then he lay down next to her and started kissing her again,
and she forgot all about speed. Instead, her mind was filled with what his mouth and
hands were doing to her, consumed by him, only him, as he slowly undressed her, using
skill she'd never experienced before. Little fires started on every inch of her skin
he touched. Her knee came up as he ran his hands over her legs, hiking her skirt up
until his hand rested on her thigh. Her fingers were holding onto his hair, but when
he pulled away, her hands dropped to her sides.

His blue eyes were cloudy as she looked deep into them. His voice was coarse as he
whispered to her, telling her how beautiful she was, how much he wanted her. Slowly,
he reached up and started undoing the small buttons at the front of her dress, his
eyes hungrily watching every inch of skin he exposed. When the front of her dress
was completely opened, he pulled the two sides away to expose her skin. Her eyes closed
as she felt his heated gaze on her bare skin. She couldn't have explained it if she'd
tried, but just having Grant look at her like this caused her to feel something she'd
never felt before.

“Please,” she moaned as she looked up into his face. Reaching up, she took his face
in her hands. “I need you.”

He smiled as she tried to pull his shirt over his head. He leaned back and quickly
disposed of the shirt. “I want to enjoy every inch, every moment.” His eyes heated
as he continued to pull her dress down.

Her eyes explored his chest and arms. He was so tan and toned; she'd never imagined
he'd look like this. She ran her fingers slowly over him until he stopped moving and
closed his eyes. Pushing on his shoulders until he rolled onto his back, she came
over him, straddling him with her legs over his hips. She felt his desire rub up against
her core and moaned at the hardness and length. Her hands held her up so she hovered
just above him. Her dress was hiked up, exposing her legs. Her top had been opened
and she was fully exposed. Her lips were only inches above his, and she felt a little
more in control. Then she closed her eyes and kissed him, his hands moved high on
her legs. His coarse hands gently rubbed against her soft skin. His fingers played
with the silk of her panties, played with the hem of the elastic until, finally, he
pushed it aside and touched her bare skin.

Her hips jumped then started to pump with his movements as he continued to touch her.
His kiss became more forceful as she moved above him. She felt her arms shake, then
he quickly reversed their positions again, pausing to remove the rest of her clothes,
then his own. Her smile faltered when she saw him standing next to the bed, fully
ready for her. Part of her mind screamed that this wasn't going to work, that being
with him shouldn't work
.
But something inside was determined beyond all reason, wanting him completely. He
leaned over and pulled a condom from his nightstand, then came back next to her, running
his eyes over every inch of her exposed skin.