“Coffee?”
She frowns. “I’m not sure.”
“Food?”
“Maybe?”
I sit on the side of the mattress and hand her the glass of water from the little table next to her side of the bed.
I let that thought marinate for a moment and decide I like the idea of her claiming the other half of my bed.
“You’re doing the thing again.” She returns the half-full glass back to me.
“What’s that?”
“Being kind and taking care of me.”
I shrug off her accusation. “I’m basically treating you like a houseplant by watering you.”
“Odin.”
“Yes?”
“The end of the evening is a little blurry. Too many spins plus too much moonshine isn’t a good combination.”
My lips press together as I try to contain my amusement at her silly ramblings.
“You have a terrible poker face.” She flips the quilt over her head, muffling her words. “What did I do?”
“Nothing to feel guilt or shame over.”
The top of her head and then her eyes reappear. “Your answer indicates something was said, or done. I didn’t get sick did I?
“No.”
“I woke up in your shirt.”
“I put you in it last night. Your dress was too pretty to sleep in.”
“You liked my dress?” Her brow furrows.
“Sure. You were the most beautiful woman at the party, though I prefer you as you are now … in my bed and mostly naked.” In the soft morning light, she glows. No filter needed.
“You could be naked in it with me.” She pats the pillow next to her head.
“I wanted to let you sleep off the moonshine.”
Her warm brown eyes widen before she ducks beneath the covers again.
“Darlin’?” I peel back the layers of fabric until I expose her face.
“I remember being outside the barn with you. We were dancing and singing. No, I was. You were dipping me.” She gazes out the window. “I may have said something I shouldn’t have.”
“Look at me.” I wait for her to meet my eyes before I continue. “I promise you didn’t.”
The truth stretches between us, connecting us to our individual memories of last night, both of us holding our breath, waiting for either confirmation or denial.
Searching her face for doubt I don’t find, I bring her wrist to my mouth and press my lips against her pulse. I’m stalling, an unfamiliar nervousness quickening my heart rate. Expressing my emotions and sharing my feelings with another human is new for me. With a steadying breath, I decide I’m willing to brave the unknown with her.
Still holding her wrist, I sit up before speaking. “The words you said last night were something I’ve been thinking about for a while now. I worried it was too soon to say I love you, but I do. I’m falling in love with you, Daphne.”
Her inhalation catches in her throat and the rims of her eyes fill with tears. “You love me?”
“I love you.”
She hasn’t repeated her declaration. I’m on the edge of panic and ready to backpedal. Maybe she didn’t mean it. Perhaps it was simply drunken babbling signifying nothing more than random thoughts.
“I love you, Odin.”
Relief carries me away on a current of happiness. Scooping her into my arms, I lavish kisses on her mouth and neck. The oversized shirt is discarded along with my clothes as we strip each other bare. Our lovemaking is frenzied, tangled layers of love and lust. I make sure she orgasms before me, holding back until her body achieves its release. Right before I come, I kiss her, repeating “I love you” between each breath until my mind goes blank with pleasure.
As we lie sprawled across my bed, Daphne’s head on my chest, our breaths slowly returning to normal, I stare at the ceiling and wonder how I got so lucky.
A shower follows before we crawl back into bed to eat the simple breakfast I prepared.
Sipping a cup of coffee, I ask about her plans for the day and week.
“Even though I don’t go to church anymore, I like to take Sundays off to do nothing whenever I can. During the season, I’m always working. What about you?”
“The only thing I want to do is be here with you.” I kiss her shoulder.
She bites into a piece of toast. “Sounds like heaven.”
Daphne’s phone pings repeatedly with new texts.
“Do you want to check your messages?”
“No.” She casts a dirty look at the device on the table a few feet away.
Two more notifications quickly follow.
“Could be a work emergency.” I lean over her to reach for the phone and hand it to her.
“Even more reason to ignore it.” Despite the statement, she reluctantly accepts it, and her eyes widen as she reads the texts. “I have to get back to the park.”
“Is everything okay?” I’ve never heard this tone in her voice. Fear coils itself around my spine.
“I’m not sure. Can you give me a ride?” She’s on the move, locating her bra on the floor and then pulling her dress over her head.
“Of course. Let me put Patsy in her pen and I’ll meet you outside.”
We don’t say much on the drive over to Cades Cove. She’s staring out the window, lost in thought, and I don’t want to pry. If she wants to tell me, she will. Occasionally, she’ll tap out a message on her phone.
“Where am I going?” I ask once we’re on the loop road.
“Visitor center.”
When we arrive, I scan the area for signs of an emergency. There’s no smoke in the air. I don’t see a fire engine or ambulance, no panic in the eyes of the people milling around. Appears everything is fine.
“Am I dropping you off, or should I stay?” I pull into a turnout and pause.
“Stay. Please.” She grips my hand. “I love you, remember that. Nothing changes how I feel.
“Okay.” More confused than ever, I park the truck. “I love you too.”
She gives me a soft kiss but doesn’t allow me to deepen it before she’s opening her door and jumping out of the cab.
I exit a few seconds behind her.
Daphne runs across the parking area and into the arms of a guy dressed in an expensive black coat and boots straight from the streets of Manhattan.He stands out like lipstick on a pig—not that I’d ever apply makeup to Patsy. Simply put, I’d notice him even if he weren’t hugging Daphne.
When he sets her down, she grins and simultaneously swipes away tears from her cheeks. It’s impossible to ignore the happiness surrounding them like a bubble, the love in his eyes as he gazes at her apparent even from ten feet away where I’m observing their tender moment like a creeper.
Jealousy constricts my chest like a jacket that’s too small. My lungs can’t fully expand to inhale.
Whoever this man is, I don’t like him. Moreover, I don’t like how Daphne beams at him like he’s the sun, the moon, and the best birthday cake wish come true.
Unhappy with my current state and unwilling to stand around as an outsider to this love-fest, I turn on my heel to return to the truck.
“Odin?” Daphne’s voice halts my steps. “Come meet Isaac.”