Rhett

I'm on my second beer. I was only going to have one, but Colt made me feel a little guilty about trying to go home so early.

"How's it been going with the team? I heard about the mooning incident at the festival." He chuckles.

"Oh yeah, that. For the most part it's going great. That particular one is a little wild but it's hard to be upset when I see a lot of myself in him. He's a good kid but he likes attention. He was also skating laps for it at our last practice though." He laughs.

"You? Wanting attention and basking in the limelight? I never would have guessed." His words are steeped in sarcasm and I shove his shoulder lightly. "But seriously, you settling in with them alright?"

"I am. I didn't know how I would feel, but I actually love coaching so far and we haven't even had a game yet."

"That's great. I'm excited for you man. Does this mean you'll be staying? I heard you may have gotten a few offers to coach an AHL team."

"Where did you hear that?" And I wonder if Winnie has heard that as well.

"Knox mentioned it when I ran into him the other night. He was talking—well bragging a little about how proud of you he is."

"Well I did get a couple offers, but this is where I want to be."

"Good to know. It's alright having you around I guess."

"Ah, you really missed me huh?"

"Oh, save it for your girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" I look at my beer. I mean I guess I would consider Winnie my girlfriend, I'd like her to be more.

"I'm assuming you've already found someone to hook up with. You've been back in town for almost a month now." He chuckles. I take a few swallows of my own beer before answering. I don't like lying to Colt.

"Maybe." Well if that isn't 1000% an understatement.

"Ooo…who is it? Do I know her? Probably, everyone knows everyone in town."

"Yeah you know her." Probably better than most people. "It's still new." Ish. I mean technically this time we've only been seeing each other the last month or so.

"Hmm…you're playing this a little close to the vest. You must really like her."

"I do." The more I'm around Winnie the more I want to be around her. It feels a lot more than like at this point.

"You're not giving anything away."

"Just not a lot to say yet." There's a ton to say, I just need to talk to Winnie before I can say it. I notice him looking out behind me again with an annoyed expression. I glance behind me and see Marigold walking next to guy, holding onto his arm with both her hands and laughing lightly. When I look back at Colt, his eyes are narrowed and his jaw is clenched. Interesting. He seems like he may be jealous. I know this because that's how I felt the night of Winnie's birthday. I clear my throat.

"What about you? Anymore ladies you've met up with?"

"Naw, I haven't had time really. I've been training three new guides and no one has really caught my eye lately." That's surprising.

"Really? No one?" He takes a long drink of his beer.

"No one I can do anything about." He says, looking out into the slowly dwindling crowd and I know he's tracking Marigold again.

"So, how goes the rafting business?"

"It's good. These last few months have been crazy with all the tourists on vacation, but it will be slowing down soon."

"Yeah, I bet. The water always gets busy that time of year. I can't wait to get out there this weekend."

"I'm glad we're going. I should probably head out. I've got a big group I'm taking out tomorrow so I'll have to get to the outpost early."

"I've gotta get home, too. I have lunch at mom and dads tomorrow and I was late to the last one."

"And Mary gave you hell about it?" He grins.

"Actually no. I think she was just so excited to have me back, but I don't want to push my luck."

"No. You do not. I'll see you next weekend."

"See you then." I clap my hand on his shoulder as I walk by.

When I get home I realize how tired I am and my knee is starting to ache again. I stayed too late at Winnie's last night, or not late enough—like the whole night. I look out my window to her house. It's dark and quiet. I pull out my phone to send her a text. I'm tempted to send her a ‘U up? Text' for a laugh, butrefrain. Instead I send ‘Miss you. Wish I was with you.' After 10 minutes with no reply I come to conclusion she's asleep.

I go get an ice pack and lay down on my bed. As I feel the bite of the ice sinking into my sore knee, I'm hit with loneliness and longing. I fall asleep wishing that, instead of my pillow, it was Winnie's hair I was burying my face into, letting it tickle my face. When I wake up in the morning it's her honey eyes I want to be seeing.

I grab my phone and check the time, 9am. I'm tempted to go straight over and see if she's awake but then notice I have a message. ‘I missed you last night, too. I was wishing you were in my bed with me.' Time stamped 8:15 this morning. She's up. And I don't want to wait another minute to see her. I get up to change into some sweats and a tshirt. I'm out my front door in five minutes flat, no shoes on and I'm at her door in six. I knock and hear her light footfalls. Then I hear a small thud followed by a low curse and smile. She pulls the door open and I'm greeted by the most beautiful scene I've ever had the privilege of witnessing.

She's smiling wide at me, her golden eyes still sleepy. Her hair is mostly down and untamed. I look down to her bare feet, toes painted a deep shade of green, then up her legs to tiny pajama shorts that are barely showing because of the huge sweatshirt she has on. A sweatshirt with my first pro teams logo on the front. I look back to her face again and her cheeks are pink. Perfection.

"Hi," she says softly.

"Turn around." She raises a dark eyebrow.

"What?"

"Please," I almost beg and she gives me an incredulous look but does as I ask. There it is. Holloway in big bold letters across her upper back. I like the sight of my name on her more than I ever thought possible. I sweep her legs with my arm and she flails before grabbing onto me tightly.

"Rhett! What are you doing?" Her worried tone turns into giggles and I shut the door with my foot and lay her down on the couch following so I'm laying on top of her.

"Morning, Darlin'." I take a second to study her face this close. "God, you're gorgeous." She blushes and hooks her thighs around me. I kiss her languidly, lazily then with more force. I kiss her until neither of us can breathe and she's humming into my mouth. I'm breathing hard as I nuzzle into her neck and she huffs out a laugh.

"I like how you say good morning." I grin.

"Yeah? You should see how I say good night." I expect laughter but instead I'm met with her stiffening slightly under me. I sit up enough to see her face.

"Winnie, I was only kidding. We'll take it slow this time."

"Maybe I should," she says seriously.

"You should what?" She clears her throat.

"See how you say goodnight." I open my mouth but nothing comes out. "Maybe tonight?" she asks. My mouth goes dry. I don't know if she means what I think she means but I'm hoping I do.

"Please," I say and she laughs then.

"Two pleases in one day. How very polite."

"Polite?" I run my nose up her neck and whisper in her ear. "Maybe later we can see how polite you can be." I feel her shudder and her breathing changes. I slide a hand over her ribcage and she arches into my touch. I kiss her neck and she lets out a little gasp. I love this woman. I love her smart mouth and her laugh. I love that she's clumsy but doesn't let it stop her from doing things. She doesn't let anything stop her and she wants to be with me. The thought of having her has me floating. She means everything to me. I sit up and pull her with me. She looks warm and flushed and a little dazed. I smile and kiss her lips once before standing. Her pout is so pretty.

"I've gotta go do a couple things and get ready for family lunch. I'll pick you up at 11." I lean down and grab her face in my hands and kiss her long and hard then kiss her checks and nose and eyes as she laughs at me.

"Okay, go before I pull you back onto the couch with me." I would let her. In a heartbeat.

"I'll be back in…" I check my phone. "An hour."

"Okay. I'll be ready."

"You better be." I wink and walk towards the door.

"I will be. I'm excited to see your family and really excited to see Hazey." She stands and walks me out, pulling me into a kiss at the door that starts innocent enough but turns into something else pretty fast. I'm panting as I pull away. "I'll see you soon." She grins and nods.

"See you in a bit." I make it to the gate before I look back. She's still standing in her doorway leaning to one side, smiling. I blow her a kiss and she rolls her eyes but then pretends to catch it before shutting the door.

I can't stop the goofy smile on my face. Even after all these years, I still feel like a teenager in love for the first time. Now I need to get a few things from town before I pick her up in…45 minutes. That's not much time so I better hurry.

I am back on Winnie's front porch 47 minutes later. She opens the door before I can knock.

"You're late, Holloway."

"Only by two minutes." She grabs her purse and a tote bag. "I have some strawberry bread to bring." She always has baked goods on hand. I take the bag from her. "After you." She smirks, shuts her door behind her and locks it. She's wearing another sundress with a slit on the side that I want to slide off her shoulders and her sneakers.

"Again with the manners," she says as she pretends to fan herself, so I grab her around her waist as she walks by and kiss her, then slap her ass as she giggles. "Hmm…that was not very polite. I may have to talk to your mom about this." She shakes her head at me.

"Go ahead. See what happens."

"Are you threatening me? And why am I kind of into it?" I toss my head back at that. She's always catching me off guard. It's one of my favorite things about her. I open her door then the back one to put her bag in. I shut hers for her after she's inside and walk around to the driver side. I reach over and put my hand on her thigh and she covers my hand with both of hers.

"Alright, lets get this lunch over with so we can get back here, alone, as soon as possible." She giggles and I want to hear that sound for the rest of my life.