21
Time goes by slowly with Romi in my arms, and I love every second of it. We’ve spent as much time as we can together between working hours. It helps that she works close by, and I’m happy to be a respite when she needs a break.
I reneged on meeting up with the guys at Jackson’s again last week. Now they are all getting their panties in a wad. So Romi is going with me tonight, and she’ll get to meet the gang. I’m certain that Levi has filled them in about the happenings in my life and eased the shock factor of me bringing a woman for the first time. Over the years, there’s been plenty of hookups from the bar, but I have never walked through Jackson’s doors with a lady on my arm.
“Are you ready to go?” I snuggle her into me a little tighter and kiss her head as we cuddle on the couch.
“Sure, let’s go meet these friends of yours that you’ve given me rules to abide by when I am around them.”
“Yes, let’s go over those one more time,” I reply while we stand, and she walks toward the door.
“First off, don’t listen to anything they say or any old stories they try to tell me about you.” Her pointer finger lazily taps her chin like she’s in deep thought. “Next, Chevys are far superior to any Ford out there no matter what anyone else says.” She pauses, thinking some more.
“Good, and…”
“Oh, yeah, and you own all my kisses and dances for the night.” I reach out and grab her hand and twirl her in a circle and back to my chest, catching her and swaying from side to side, dancing to the imaginary tune in my head. Her light giggle feeds the music in my soul.
“That’s right, sweetheart. I’m going to be stingy; you are my dance partner tonight.”
The first night we danced I didn’t get to enjoy it and savor our time together wrapped in each other’s arms and moving to the rhythm of the melody. Tonight is different, and I’m going to live it up.
A short walk down Main Street later and the familiar song blares through the speakers as we open the door with Romi’s hand in mine. “Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy.” She chuckles, the song a clear indication for her to save a horse and ride me instead.
Three steps in, and I claim her with a searing kiss that lingers. Hoots and hollers ring out over the music, and I include a dip for good measure. “There,” I mumble the word into her lips. “Done.” She has a huge cheesy ass grin on her face. I love it because I know she’s happy. That’s all I ever want to do, to make her feel wanted, needed and appreciated. I’m such a sap around this woman, but that’s one hundred percent okay.
“Well, well, dear friend of mine. Who do we have the pleasure of meeting?” Jace hand’s me my usual beer. “And, what will the lovely lady be having to start off with?”
“I’ll take a Cosmo, please.” With a tap on the bar and a nod, he backs up to make my drink. “He’s sweet.”
“Yeah, it’s the bunch over there,” I jerk my head in the direction where the prowling guys wait for us, “that are the rowdy ones.” When I glance over, I see that Hayden has brought Summer, and I will be thanking him later. We won’t be the only couple here, plus the guys will be calmer with Summer around.
“They will be fine. Stop worrying. Hey, we got through my family at that party. This is a piece of cake compared to that.” She rubs my arm with a gentle stroke and offers me that beautiful smile I’ve come to love.
“You are right.” I lean in for another kiss just as I hear the clink of the glass of her drink hit the bar countertop. Still staring into Romi’s blue eyes, I thank Jace.
Let’s get this show over with, so I can get my woman back home and into my bed.
Slow deliberate steps with her hand cupped in the crook of my arm, we walk over to the guys that I have known most of my life, so I can introduce Romi and welcome her into what I can only hope is the rest of all of our lives.
“Hi, y’all, this is Romi. Romi, this is everyone. You’ll learn their names as the night goes on.”
“Hey.”
“Hi.”
“Hello.”
“Howdy, ma’am.”
“Nice to see you.”
“Oh my God!” squeals Summer while she jumps from her seat and bounces over to us and engulfs Romi in a hug. “Finally, another girl. Sorry, I am just so excited. Can you imagine dealing with these blokes by myself?” Her Irish accent is thick, and her words are coming out faster than we typically talk here, so it’s kind of hard to understand.
Romi doesn’t mind. She hugs Summer back, and the two act like they’ve been friends forever. I chance a glance over to Hayden to see his reaction of what just went down. He has that stupid, I’m goo-goo for that woman look all over his face, but throws me a wink and knows I’ve got the same look on mine.
Of course, we sit next to Summer and sip our drinks while Romi gets to know everyone.
“It’s great to see you again, Romi. I’m Levi, and that was Beck at the pond.”
“Oh, yes, it’s so nice to meet you too. Sorry for the intrusion the other day and stealing this guy away.” She places her hand on my thigh as she talks to Levi. The contact sends Big Tex’ into gear. As usual, I can’t get enough of this woman.
One by one the guys introduce themselves and all have polite conversations. I know I played around with Romi, giving her a few funny rules about tonight, but I make it a point not to rib anyone about what kind of truck they drive or make jokes because tonight is not about that, it’s about welcoming Romi into my world and making sure she is comfortable here. She needs to know that she is a part of this great group of men and lady for the long-haul, if not forever.
“Let’s dance,” I whisper in her ear. My body needs to be closer to her. I want her to feel what she does to me.
“Okay, excuse me, y’all. We’ll be back.” She is adorable and sweet. I wouldn’t have had to tell them anything and just got up and walked off.
Harley belts out an upbeat tune about a couple who sees each other in a bar, and they are hooked on each other at first sight. I spin Romi around the dance floor with jitterbug moves. This girl can dance. The best thing though, is seeing her smile reach her eyes and her little laughter out bursts as we twist, scoot, hop, twirl, slide and skip all around the floor.
The song ends, my heart is beating a hundred and eighty beats a minute, and I just fell even more in love with this woman clapping and cheering loudly to let Harley know what a great job she did singing the song.
No time is wasted between songs when she starts to sing a new tune with a slow rhythm this time. I pull Romi close, against my chest. The pulse through our bodies calms from the swaying motion of the Texas two-step.
“Are you ready for a break?”
“Yeah, can we go outside for some fresh air.” She lifts onto her tiptoes and places a kiss on my cheek.
“Sure can, come on.” With her hand in mine, we walk out the front door. Somewhere the leading role switches, and Romi is now pulling me off the sidewalk and down a narrow alley way on the side of the building. “Where are you…”
“Shhh.” She turns and pushes me against the wall, reaches up and pulls my head down to crash her lips on mine. Hard, passionate, like she can’t breathe without my lips on hers. I agree and return the same heat and desire in my kiss. The only way our bodies could be any closer is without clothing. Thank God, she wore jean shorts and cowgirl boots and not a skirt.