I wasn’t fooling her. “It’s more than that. I’m not sure what your connection is with him, but I will tell you this, keep going to him. Visit him, hold him, feed him, let him feel loved. Love is what heals. We don’t know what God has in store for that little man, but you’re a kind and sweet person to go to him and care for him like you have. That tells me something about your heart and what kind of woman you are. I have no doubt your momma is looking down on you and is proud of you.”
Okay and cue the tears. Who the hell is Donna Brooks and where in the world did she come from? This wasn’t anything I wanted to hear right now. I was not a religious person and I had no clue if my parents were in heaven seeing and watching everything I did in life. I didn’t think they were anywhere. When they died, they died. I didn’t know if there was a God, so I couldn’t believe in the saying, “he had a plan for them.” Taking away a young girl’s family was not a plan. It was awful, and painful. Cruel. It ripped my soul out and shredded it. My parents were in the ground forty minutes from this baseball field and that’s what I actually believed.
I didn’t want to be rude to a woman who’s been nothing but kind to me, so I mustered a smile.
“Thank you.”
She patted my shoulder. “You’re welcome. Now, if my youngest boy could find a good girl, like you three, I’d be a happy momma.”
I was perplexed. “What?”
She waved her hand in the air. “That Wrigley is a thorn in my heel. I love him more than pie, but that boy is so lax about life, I don’t know if he will ever settle down. I knew my other three would, but him . . . well, I’ll fall off my rocker the day he brings home a girl and says she’s a keeper.” She chortled like she just told the best joke.
I was still caught up in the previous conversation when she threw another glass of water in my face. She spoke like Turner was settling down. No. No way, was it with me. I was only just beginning to relax with him and let him in. Could we at least have our first kiss before we started talking forever or settling down?
“Oh, your turn, honey!” Donna called my attention back to the game.
Right. Who the hell could hit a ball after all that mess?
I did okay ,for the most part, the rest of the game, but I knew Donna watched me. I realized just how much she watched everyone. This was how she knew things. She was an observant little thing.
Game time was over and time to wrap everything up after playing two more innings. It was dark outside, but a couple lights kept the field fairly lit. Mosquitos were getting a tad ridiculous and Keegan said they needed to go home to check on the dog. I was ready to go home to my cat and glass of wine. I felt dead on my feet.
“Hey, you,” Turner said to me.
“Hmmm?”
“Walk with me.” He took my hand and held me back.
The family cleared the field and drove back to the house.
“Did you have a good time?” he asked.
Besides discussing a couple subjects that I would have rather had my wisdom teeth removed again than talk about, I can’t say I didn’t.
“Yes. Your mom is quite the cook.”
“She is. She holds the records for the best Blackberry Pie and shrimp creole in three counties.”
I laughed. “Oh God, don’t talk about food. After playing the game, I’m ready for another full meal.”
He poked my side. “You could stand to gain a bit.”
I stopped walking. “Uh, no, sir. I’ve been eating anything I can get my hands on because of my crazy schedule at the hospital. Tonight is the first time I’ve had a homemade meal in over a month. Take out is all I have time for. And I certainly haven’t been hitting the gym.”
He gave my hand a tug, pulling me into him. The hardness of his chest made me breathe heavier. My other hand came up on its own accord and rested right over his heart. It was beating normally. Clearly, I didn’t affect him like he was affecting me. If someone took my blood pressure right now it would be sky high and they’d cart me off to the hospital.
“You’re kidding me, right?” he genuinely asked.
“Kidding you about what?”
“Your weight.”
I tried to laugh it off. “No. I mean, I’m mostly teasing, but it wouldn’t hurt for me to hit a gym every now and then so I can keep up with all the calories and chocolate cake . . . or pie, I’ve been eating.”
He wanted to smile at that one, I know he did, but he remained serious.
“You’re beautiful in every way, Annabelle. Sure your looks drew me in, but I’ve gotten to know you, and that heart of yours is huge. Gym or no gym, weight gain or no weight gain, you’re still the same person to me.”
I blinked rapidly. “You don’t really even know me.”
He leaned his head forward so his bright blue eyes were in a direct path with mine. “Oh, yes, I do. You may not share some parts of your life with me yet, but you will. In time, you will. And no matter what, it still doesn’t change how loving and beautiful you are in the parts that you have shown me.”
I was pulled back into that place that he was so good at putting me. A place where only Turner and I existed and I couldn’t even feel if my own feet were touching the ground. I was floating, and all I thought about was if I wished hard enough for him to kiss me, he just might do it.
“Those are some pretty strong words, Dr. Brooks,” I squeaked out.
He nodded. “Yes, they are.”
I had no clue how close we were to the house, how far we had walked, if the crickets were still chirping or if they were waiting for the same thing I was waiting for. But it was happening. Turner released my hand and placed both of his on either side of my face. One of his thumbs brushed my cheek so tenderly that I barely felt it whisper across my skin. Nope, definitely no gravity on planet earth right now. As he came toward me, I did the only thing I could do. I closed my eyes and gave in to the power of him, and I let him lead the way.
His lips were a soft brush over mine at first. Like stepping your foot into open water and seeing if it was going to be warm or cold. Warmth was all I felt. My heart fluttered, then came crashing to a halt when he came back and applied more pressure this time, allowing me to really feel the sensation of his mouth pushing against mine. Tentatively, I opened, barely enough to suggest I wanted more. He took my suggestion and ran away with it. Turner Brooks wrapped one arm around my lower back, pulling me flush to him, and his other threaded into my hair. His tongue danced along the outside of my lips before plunging into my mouth demanding more. I sighed and melted into him. This kiss was unlike those crazy, inexperienced first kisses. There was no learning if one person liked it fast or slow, soft or hard, more tongue or lips. Turner was all of it. He was moving his mouth in a demanding manner, before he’d slow his pace and I’d follow suit. Never in my life had I been kissed like this. I didn’t want it to end either. Not having any clue how long we stood like this, Turner kept the lead, but eventually ended the kiss with a tender peck, then sweetly kissed the tip of my nose.
My eyes were still closed when he said my name.
“Annabelle.”
“Hmmm?”
“How are you feeling?”
How was I feeling? Did I even have any feeling? I wiggled my toes and dropped my arms from his chest. I had no clue I had gripped his shirt so tightly that the material was now wrinkled. Yeah, I had some feeling.
I bit my lip and shyly looked down. “I’m good.”