Kentucky Blues

When Sam entered her line of vision, pulling on a tee, Elise’s hold on the doorknob tightened. My, oh, my, the years had been good to him. Those broad shoulders now boasted cut muscles, his upper arms were toned enough to do pull-ups on, and he had abs rivaling any on those late night TV commercials. Lord knew, she certainly understood what her mother saw in the man.

“I bet you’re hot, huh?” Sam stepped past her into the yard.

“Excuse me?” Elise blinked and stared into his guileless eyes.

“The weather. Sultry, sticky, hot.”

“Oh, yeah. Hot. Uh-huh. It’s June, you know. Summer’s here.”

Well, didn’t she sound like the world’s biggest babbling fool? She shut her mouth and set off at a fast pace, hoping Sam would decide the effort wasn’t worth it.

He moved up beside her, matching her pace as they walked toward the end of town. They covered several blocks before the silence was broken.

“Your mother’s a remarkable woman.”

Elise slanted an irritated glance toward him.

“If your reason for tagging along is to ask for my mother’s hand, you’ve got the wrong kid. Tim’s the oldest. And a guy. I can give you his cell number if you’d like to get his blessing tonight.”

Sam reached out and wrapped his fingers around Elise’s upper arm, slowing her as they approached the wide expanse of lawn by the public library. Turning her toward him, he said, “The reason I tagged along, as you call it, is to settle this once and for all. Your mom’s great. Someone should have snapped her up a long time ago. But they didn’t, and I don’t intend to.”

“Ah.” Elise started walking again, her feet making a hard slap against the pavement. “So you’re going to live in sin until you get tired of her, break her heart and disappear. Great plan.”

“I’m not the one who ran,” Sam said quietly. “That was you.”

Elise stopped in her tracks, whirled around and stared at him, hands on her hips.

“We’re not discussing ancient history, we’re talking about the here and now. We’re talking about Mom and you, not some ridiculous cow-eyed crush I had on you before I knew there were other men in the world.”
One look at his face and Elise knew she’d gone too far. She stepped back and kept stepping back even as Sam moved toward her. Finally she bumped into a light post, reaching behind her, grabbing it with both hands to steady herself. Sam kept coming until she felt his breath on her face. Trapped, she fixed her eyes on him. Her heart pounded, her body trembled and her breath caught in her throat. The scent of soap and aftershave teased her as Sam placed a hand above her head, on the post, and leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“I’m renting a room from your mother and that’s all,” he murmured, his breath hot on her cheek. “You’re the one I’ve dreamed about doing this to for years.”

Her breath caught as his lips covered hers, and five seconds later, she was seventeen again, lost in a kiss that was hard and desperate and sweet and tempting, all at the same time. His body pressed against hers, chest against breasts, thighs against thighs, his hard need against her soft belly. Her hands moved up and wound themselves into his hair, his hands moved to cup her derriere. Weak with sudden and unexpected need, she leaned into him and allowed herself the pleasure of rising passion. Her body filled with throbs and tingles long forgotten, a moan rising as his tongue tangled with hers.

The revving of a motorcycle turning the corner broke their embrace, a harsh reminder they were on a very public street in a very small town.
With a low curse, Sam stepped back, buried his hands in his pockets and stared at Elise for a long minute.

“Wow,” he said finally, his lips curving into a smile.

“Yeah,” she said. “Wow.”

He tucked a fallen strand of hair behind her ear before tracing the curve of her cheek with a finger.

“Now do you believe I’m only renting a room from your mom?” he asked.
Elise nodded, although she didn’t know what to believe. Sam couldn’t kiss her like that if his relationship with her mom was anything more than platonic. Or could he? She had no idea what kind of a man he’d become since he’d disappeared from her life, but she was definitely staying in Brookville long enough to find out.