AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The drive into town was shorter than normal. I had Vanessa’s hands in mine throughout and when she’d tried to pull away; I held on tight.
“Don’t let go.”
The Ramshackle was a small bar where they served food and drinks in abundance. Their pork chop and steak were out of this world, coupled with the ambiance of the place, which made it one worth experiencing.
I’d found it in my first week at the house after my accident. Full of anger and resentment at the world and fresh off firing my first nurse, I’d asked Roger to drive me around the town while I silently cursed at the entire world.
We’d stumbled upon The Ramshackle when we heard the noise of music and laughter coming from it. Disgusted by my company, I asked Roger to drive me into it. I was being a masochist and thought that the sight of so much happiness would only make me feel worse.
It had turned out to be the other way around by the end of that day. Of course, it had not been a bundle of happiness after, but it was the first time that I had not felt completely shitty.
Vanessa stood by the side while I stepped out of the car. I noticed how she had not offered to help because she knew how much I hated feeling helpless. After struggling to come out as graciously as I could (which was not much at all) we finally made it into the bar.
It was country music night, one of my favorites, and ‘Little White Church by Little Big Town was playing on the jukebox. The Ramshackle was nothing like its name showed; it was clean and the smell of frying steak hung in the air 24/7.
I smiled at Vanessa when I saw how excited she was as she looked around the somewhat crowded bar. I’d notified the owner beforehand, so they had kept a table for us before we arrived.
“Mr. Christian, this way, please.” The waitress led us to our table at the end of the room, but close enough to the stage that we could see any performer on stage.
“Wow, this was nothing like I expected.” Vanessa finally said.
“What, you were expecting a bougie Italian restaurant, weren’t you?”
She has a chagrined smile on her face when she finally answers; “Okay, maybe not bougie, but I was expecting something fancy. This is different. "I love it!”
I chuckled at her excitement.
When the menu came along with wine, she refused the wine and asked for water instead. I made a mental note to ask her if it was simply a matter of choice or if there was more to her choice.
I had dinner of steak with baked sweet potatoes wedges for myself while she took her steak with coleslaw. Her moan when she got her first stake left me with a raging hard-on for the rest of dinner.
The singer on stage was singing a slow song; Traveling Soldier by Dixie Chicks; one of my favorite country music and I couldn’t help it. Even with my still aching leg, I stood to my feet and pulled her into my chest. She did not utter a single word of protest as she walked smoothly into my arms, her hands went around my chest while my hands circled her waist.
It was the perfect date I’d ever been on, and it had everything to do with the woman in my arms.
Chapter 18
Vanessa
Thedrivebackhomefrom The Ramshackle took longer than expected, our hands laced together, and my head was resting on his shoulder, I was a little dizzy from all the spinning we’d done while dancing and it had been a while since I felt such utter serenity.
Roger drove us through the expansive driveway into the garage, and we left together. We are holding hands as we climbed the stairs and he walked me to my bedroom door.
“I had a great day today,” I said to him. “Thanks for taking me out.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I had a great day too. The best in a long time.” He replied, and my smile was embarrassingly wide.
My back was against the door and he was in front of me, his body pressed against mine so tightly that there wasn’t any space between us.
There was a short and intense silence, where for a while, his head pressed against mine, and we breathe each other in.
“Come in,” I said to him, feeling bold.
I didn’t have to say it twice before his hands slipped behind me to open the door, walking me backward just as his lips descended to mine. My hands cup his face and slipped into his hair, threading through the soft strands.
I pressed my back against the closed door and my hand left his hair down to his t-shirt, taking off the shirt over his head and flinging it to the floor.
I heard the loud clatter of his walking cane hitting the floor and his hands worked on my sweater, flinging it to the floor as well. I am in just my bra and leggings while he is wearing only his jeans.
