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“Tillie Carter, if I were young again, you'd be in trouble,” he says with a smile. For a second, I try to picture what he'd look like at my age. He was probably a looker back in the day. “I'd show all these young bucks around here just what they're missing out on.”
I can't hide my blush as I laugh. "Hush now before you get in trouble." I can't help but tease him.
"I'm serious. Oh, and speaking of trouble, I heard through the grapevine your friend Emily West is going to be rolling back into town," he whispers loudly as he leans over like it's a secret. “Watch yourself around her, Tillie. That girl is bad news.”
I shake my head. “I haven’t heard that. We don’t exactly talk these days, Mr. Simpson.”
"Just watch yourself," he says pointedly. It makes my heart happy he wants to make sure I'm all right. He really is special to me. "Are you still dating that lawnmower guy?" He wrinkles his nose as he asks.
I stare at him for a second before I bark out a laugh. "Lawnmower guy?"
I have to think about who he's referring to for a second before it dawns on me. Keith and I haven’t dated in a while, but I guess it’s just now making the rounds in smalltown gossip.
"Yes. You should never date a man who can't afford to drive a car when he goes anywhere. It just doesn't look right that he takes that thing everywhere."
That makes me laugh even harder. “Keith owns a landscaping business. He does yard work and plants flowers. He mows people's grass. That’s why he’s on the lawnmower,” I tell him, shaking my head. There’s never a dull conversation with Henry. Maybe that’s why I enjoy my time with him so much.
Mr. Simpson waves my answer away, clearly not believing me. “Doesn't matter. Him owning his own business should surely mean he can afford a truck like a proper man.”
I don’t explain that Keith has a truck. I’m not sure there would be a point. “No, we aren't dating anymore. We decided to part ways, but we're still friends.”
He scowls as he purses his lips a moment. “I thought he was dumb before, but if he lets you go, he's even dumber than I imagined.”
I look at him in shock as I start laughing again. “You're good for my ego.”
“I'm being serious. What you need is a good cowboy who knows how to handle a real woman.”
“Mr. Simpson,” I squeal.
“I said what I said,” he says, shrugging.
“Buttons? Is that you?”
I turn to look at the door in shock. I know that voice, although I haven't heard it in a long time. I can feel all the color draining from my face. Standing in the doorway of the store is Ryder Moore, cowboy hat and all. I glance at Mr. Simpson and then anywhere but directly at Ryder, wondering how I can disappear before I'm forced to talk to him.
Ryder
I haven't thought about Tillie since the year Emily, and I broke up and I went away to college. Honestly, I found myself thinking of her in ways I shouldn’t after our encounter at school one day and I got an up-close view of her curves. I made myself stay away from her. She was off limits because she was Emily’s best friend and for all our problems, I loved Emily at the time. Besides, Emily told me that Tillie didn’t really like me. That bothered me, but considering my reaction to her, it was for the best.
I walk deeper into the store, and I can't help but notice just how much Tillie has changed. She was pretty before, but she kept it hidden. Now, her beauty is on display and easily seen. Her body that she did her best to hide in school definitely can’t be hidden now. She has on a tight black t-shirt that accentuates her chest with her name tag on it. That makes me smile because I'm sure everyone here in town knows her name. I can just see the top of her jeans hugging her curvy hips over the top of the counter. She's always been a lot shorter than me, and I have to admit, I really liked that.I find I do even more so now.
Damn, she looks good. Time has been kind to her. More than kind. It shouldn’t surprise me, but when my body reacts to the sight of her, I’m shocked by how strong the attraction is. It takes everything in me not to adjust my hardening cock that is currently putting stress on the zipper of my wranglers. This hasn't happened in quite a while—a lot longer than I'd like to admit.
She used to wear these large, black rimmed glasses. Those are gone now, and I can only assume she’s wearing contacts. Weird as it sounds, I kind of miss her glasses. That thought has a smile playing on my lips as I take in the way her long, brown hair is pulled back into a messy bun, and even though she's likely worked all day, she looks great.Really great.
“Hey, Buttons.”
“You realize I hate that nickname, right?” she snaps, giving me a pointed look. I can see the corner of her pouty lips lifting though, I really want to make her smile.
I grin at her. “Yeah, but I love it.” I walk closer to the counter as Mr. Simpson takes his bags, nods at me, and walks away. “I didn't realize you still live in Pine Ridge.”
“It's home,” she says, shrugging. My gaze drops, taking in how her tits move in her shirt with that small movement. I look up before she can catch me looking.
“Maybe you'd find a home away from here if you ever left,” I joke.
“I'm not you, Ryder.” She shakes her head, looking like she'd rather be doing anything else but having this conversation. “I'm happy here.”
“I never told you I wasn't happy here,” I tell her. I don't even have to think about it. That's not a conversation I’ve had with many people.
