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“Well, a member of an outlaw motorcycle get-up.” She averted her gaze, as if she was embarrassed to even say it.

“You like labels?”

“I’ve always had labels. Some I cherished,” She gave a thoughtful huff, before her voice changed just a little, “Others, I cried over.”

I flubbed my lips, and she started to list them for me.

“Well, let’s see, when I was little, my cousins called me Tater, because they said I was shaped like one.”

I instantly regretted the conversation.

“After that, once I entered pre-school, my mother began to enter me in pageants.”

“That when they started calling you beauty queen?”

“Hell no,” She spat out, unable to keep the laughter out of her tone, “No, they called me Bare-Foot Barbie, because we lived in a rural area of a pitifully poor county.”

“If they were pitifully poor throughout the whole county, how come the locals made fun of you for it?”

She shrugged, twirling a long strand around her finger, “Couldn’t say. Kids are cruel sometimes.”

I slid my arm around her and drew her close to me.

“The beauty queen title didn’t come until I was a teenager and won County one year. Next year, I ended up a contender at the state fair. They put a tiara on me and gave me a sash that I still have tucked away in one of the trunks; and it still took a while for me to believe that I’d done it.”

“I believe it,’ I instantly announced. “Hell, yeah, I believe it. You’re a beautiful woman; I can only imagine how those eyes must have looked when you were staring out at that crowd. A little Georgia mouse getting her first taste of admiration on that level. I bet you were smiling and wearing one of those big, fancy dresses.”

“Oh, I was.” She tilted her head and nodded. “Big dresses, big hair, and way too much lipstick and rouge.”

I pulled her toward me a little more and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I’d like to see you in make-up. I don’t think I ever have.”

She side-eyed me like I’d asked her to prance around in stilettos and a mini-skirt. I held my hands up defensively and laughed.

“Too far, Mister. Now, look at what you've done.” She stood up and straightened her clothes.

I laughed and stood with her, “Come on, I’ll get you home so Oakland doesn’t think I kidnapped you or something.”

“It probably wouldn’t be Oakland you had to worry about,” Brenna playfully smirked. “He might favor you more than Bert does.”

At the sound of his name Bert let off a pitiful howl.

“Damn mutt,” I laughed, opening her door for her.

“Leave that good boy alone, he’s cute.” Brenna chided, before pulling the door closed for herself.

I shook my head and hopped in the driver’s side. I wasn’t a fan of riding on four wheels, but it was tolerable with her beside me.

“When will I get to see you again?” I asked, as I pulled into her drive.

“I am helping Daisy with bingo at the church this afternoon, and tomorrow, I’m taking Oakland shoe shopping in the afternoon, but I am free after that for the rest of the week.”

“Sounds good, I’ll swing by to grab ya’ll for dessert after the shopping trip.”

She smiled, her gaze slowly climbing my face like she was trying to put every bit of me to memory, “It’s a date then, handsome.”

I watched on until she made it safely inside and drove back to the house. I needed a shower, and it was almost time for my meds.