Page 8 of Love Unbound
“Well, then how would us men ever get to flirt with pretty girls like you?” Free teased. Their eyes met and held for a long moment. Butterflies took flight in her belly, making her knees feel weak. “Where’s your car?”
Jodi pointed with her chin. “Over there. It’s the white Jeep.”
He nodded and smiled, his lips pulling back to reveal his straight, white teeth. His smile always did funny things to her. “Right, I knew that.”
He followed her to the Jeep, and she was acutely aware that the short jean skirt she wore left little to the imagination. She lifted the hatch and set the grocery bags in the trunk area, reaching forward to tuck them into the corner. She heard a low groan come from Free, and she straightened quickly, turning to look up at him quizzically. His eyes burned hotly as they met hers.
“You okay?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. He nodded and shifted his eyes away from her, allowing her a moment’s reprieve. She took a deep, steadying breath and reached up to close the hatch of the Jeep. She dusted her hands and smiled awkwardly up at him.
Glancing around, she noticed several people were watching them as they passed in the parking lot of the market. She licked her lips, suddenly nervous. She used to love the close-knit feel of the community, like an extended family. Now, she hated that everyone in town knew everything about her, and her personal business. Small town folks tend to do a lot of talking, and recently she had become a popular topic of discussion.
Wanting to break the awkward moment and distract herself from idle minds, Jodi murmured, “You’re up and out awfully early on a Sunday morning.”
“I needed to grab a few things that I forgot to pack,” Free shrugged, holding up the single paper bag in his hand. “What are you doing out so early?”
“Just picking up a few things for the shop for tomorrow morning,” Jodi said, tucking a wayward curl behind her ear.
“Oh? What shop?” Free asked curiously.
“My bookshop. I opened a bookstore a little over a year ago,” she said and smiled proudly. “Actually, a friend of mine and I did it together. We offer baked goods and coffee as well, so that’s what I was shopping for. When I’m not busy there, I try to find time to write. After my first novel was a success, I was given a three-book publication deal that I’m currently working on.”
Free’s face split into a wide grin, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “That’s awesome, Jodi. I’m proud of you. I always knew you would do it.”
Jodi couldn’t stop the beaming smile that came across her face at hearing Free say those words. They meant more to her than he could possibly understand.
“Thank you, Free.” Still smiling like a fool, Jodi said softly, “How is Shane doing with the big day just around the corner? These last several days are going to fly by.”
“As good as any expectant groom can be,” he chuckled, and their eyes locked. Jodi loved the sound of his laugh. The corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled, a testament to how long he’d been gone. He wasn’t the same young man that she’d met and fallen for all those years ago. “I guess I’m going to stick around and house sit for him and Cassie while they’re on their honeymoon.”
Again, Jodi couldn’t stop the beaming smile that spread across her face as she looked up at him. He was wearing the same black felt cowboy hat that he had been wearing last night, and his face was shadowed from the early morning sun. She hated how happy this news made her. She had sworn off men. Damn him for coming home now! “How long will you be here for?”
“At least three weeks or so,” he said quietly, his eyes searching her face.
She was so conflicted. Her heart was guarded for a reason, and he flustered her in ways she hadn’t thought were possible anymore.
“That’s really great, Free,” she said and smiled again, trying not to let herself be too excited that he would be home for nearly a month. She motioned toward the driver’s door and murmured, “I should probably get going though. It was nice running into you this morning.”
“Right,” Free said, his smile fading slowly. “I’ll see ya later, Jodi.”
“Bye,” she said as she stepped into the Jeep. She started the motor, but didn’t drive off right away. She watched out of the corner of her eye as he walked toward the same truck he’d been driving the day before. Jodi closed her eyes briefly and took arestorative breath. She opened her eyes just as he turned around and came toward the driver’s door. She rolled down the window as he got close. Setting his bag of groceries on the hood of her Jeep, he then rested his forearms on her windowsill and pushed his Stetson up over his forehead with his thumb.
“This might sound ridiculous, but would you like to get some ice cream with me tonight? I haven’t had Kilwins ice cream since I left, and I am dying for a double scoop of Butter Pecan.”
Jodi’s eyebrows shot up and she smiled over at him. His face was so close to hers she could see the flecks of darker teal in his eyes. Nodding, she said, “I would love to get ice cream.”
He smiled, his straight white teeth showing brilliantly against the dark tan of his face, his eyes crinkling at the corners again. “Great. Meet me downtown at let’s say, seven?”
“Sounds perfect,” Jodi murmured.
He touched the brim of his Stetson, lowering it back over his brow, shadowing the upper part of his face once more. “I’ll see you at seven, then. Bye.”
“See you,” she agreed, smiling once more.
Jodi was giddy the whole drive home. She was floating high on cloud nine. Putting some music on, she was in the process of putting her groceries away when there was a knock on her door.
Jodi turned down the volume of the music before crossing to the front door and swinging it open, her good mood fading instantly, replaced with trepidation.
“What are you doing here?” Jodi asked, her heart thundering in her throat.
