This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)

CHAPTER 13

Kayla

The mid-morning sun was shining excruciatingly bright through the small open window. My corneas felt like they were on fire as I tried to see through my squinted eyes. There was a small breeze moving the old tattered curtain back and forth and I swear I contemplated getting up, but I had a major Vicodin hangover. I rolled over on the small bed, pulling the comforter with me and over my head, when I saw someone sitting in the chair across from me. I shot straight up and almost started screaming, before I recognized my grandmother's aging face.

"Holy hell, Grandma. You just about gave me a heart attack." I clutched my chest with one hand as I ran my long fingers through my hair.

"Don't need any of that, now do we." She giggled. "Now get up and get dressed darlin', we have things to do today."

I nodded and then quickly remembered that I had made plans to meet Madison at noon. "Hey Grandma, what time is it?"

"It's almost eight thirty, now get movin'." She patted my head like a puppy and I couldn't help but smile.

I knew I didn't have time for a shower, so I threw on my reserve outfit from my small duffle bag that I had managed to escape with. It wasn't much, but I was in the country and I highly doubted anyone cared what I wore. I pulled on the white denim shorts and canary yellow tank top, before running a brush through my hair and brushing my teeth. Because I was seeing Madison later, I swiped a bit of mascara on my lashes and headed out. I had left my house with my converse shoes, but I remembered that last summer my grandma had bought me a new pair of cowboy boots that she kept tucked away in the hall closet for when I came to visit. I searched my room for a pair of clean socks, but came up empty handed. I guess I'll have to ask good ol' grandma for a pair.

"Hey Grandma, I don't have a clean pair of socks, can I bo-" I was half way down the stairs when I caught sight of another older lady sitting at the dining room table with my grandmamma. "I'm sorry, I didn't know we had company." My grandmamma came rushing over to me as I hobbled the rest of the way down the remaining steps.

"Let me help you, dear. This is Lydia Raine. She and Jasper own the adjoining farm just up over the hill. Lydia this is my granddaughter, Kayla Anne."

I walked the remaining two feet over to shake Lydia's hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Raine."

"Likewise Kayla, and please call me Lydia."

I smiled and nodded as I took the seat across from Lydia and next to my grandmamma. I couldn't help but notice how much Madison looked like his grandmother. The resemblance between the two of them was uncanny. I found myself staring at Lydia, in a way that surprised me.

I felt drawn to her, almost as much as I felt it with my own grandmamma. Something about her made me feel comfortable and at ease. She was a lovely woman and looked to be at least ten years younger than Madison's grandfather. Her hair was a soft shade of white and she had it loosely pulled back into a low bun. Her face looked weathered, but not overly so. Her big green eyes stood out among all of her features, and her lips were almost as full as Angelina Jolie's. She was beautiful and I could only imagine what she had looked like when she was younger.

My attention was quickly brought back to the present conversation when I heard my grandmamma ask her about Madison. Up until this point, neither had said his name. My grandmamma was askin' about his plans now that he had graduated and I was extremely interested in her answer.

"I'm not sure about that boy, I tell ya. He says him and his band have a few shows to do and that's why he can't stay the full summer like usual. I'm okay with it, but Harold, not so much. He thinks that poor boy needs more discipline, but I say you're only young once, so ya might as well do something exciting and fun. I know Harold had a long conversation with him last night, after he had come back to the house. Maybe he got some more information from him."

Her and my grandmamma both took a sip of their sweet tea, as I reached over for a piece of pie that had been previously cut. Just as my fingers grazed the glass plate, I felt a cool hand slap down on it.

"You can have some pie, after you have some breakfast."

I smiled a weak smile, as visions of my mother broke through my head. I knew my grandmamma meant no harm, but it was the action in itself that had me feeling jittery. I excused myself and stood to grab myself a bowl of cereal, when my grandmamma caught me by the wrist. I cringed as pain shot up through my arm.

"I'm sorry dear, come back and have some pie. No reason to let it go to waste." She winked up at me and I knew she realized what her small action had done.

I sat back down and started forking bites full of blueberry pie into my oversaturated mouth. I was famished and I swear I could've eaten the whole thing given the chance. I couldn't even remember the last time I had eaten anything. I concentrated on my pie as Lydia and my grandmamma continued on with their conversation as though I wasn't even there.

"When will Madison be leavin' us?" My grandmamma's voice was curt, but sweet all rolled in one.

"Tomorrow will be his last day with us." Lydia responded.

I looked up at her through my lashes, trying not to attract any unwanted attention. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be hangin' out with Madison, so I kept my opinion to myself. I was surprised he hadn't mentioned that he was leaving last night, not that I would have remembered anyway. Still, I knew he was going to be trouble, just like my momma had warned me so long ago, but I refused to believe that he was that cruel to start something with me and then just up and leave.

Oh hell, what was I even saying, it's not like he wanted to date me. We had one late night conversation and I was getting all uppity about nothin'. But I would however, ask him about it when I saw him today. I glanced back at my grandmamma and realized that she said we had a lot to do today and I couldn't help but wonder exactly what that entailed.

"Grams, what are we doin' today? I promised my best girlfriend back home that I would call her today and spend sometime talkin,' if that's okay." It was sorta true, but Cami wasn't the reason I was asking to get away.

"I reckon you have nothin' more than what you have on to wear, so I figured we would head into town and get ya some clothes. After that, you're as free as a bird. Sound good?" She winked and I politely smiled in return.

A little while later, my grandmamma finally went to fetch me a pair of socks, which left Lydia and I to our own devises. I never expected her to say what she did, but I was grateful all the same.

"He's a good boy and if given the chance, he will be good to you just the same."

I wasn't exactly sure where this was all coming from, but I could only assume that she had either seen us talking or knew her grandson that well. "I'll keep that in mind." And then my grandmamma appeared at my side.

We said our good-byes to Lydia and I promised to come by and see her regardless of how busy I was. She told me that Harold was almost always gone workin' and that she would enjoy the company. I watched as she made her way to her small pickup truck and my grandmamma and I waved. I liked Lydia, and I think I was definitely gonna like being in Texas, even though it would seem my favorite thing about Texas would be gone soon.

After two seemingly long hours of shopping with my dear old grandmamma, I was in desperate need of a nap. I swear living here was going to turn me into an old lady. As we made our way back to the truck from town, I caught sight of an all too familiar face. Although I had only seen him at night, I was one hundred percent positive it was him.

He was standing outside of the feed store, talking to some girl in one of the sleaziest outfits I had ever seen. Her jean skirt was barely covering her ass, and her cut off tank top was exposing more of her stomach then I would deem necessary. I wasn't a prude by any means, but this girl just looked cheap and desperate, apparently his type. Once I pulled my eyes away from the tramp that was now touching him, I noticed just how handsome this cowboy really was.

Immediately my eyes were drawn his jeans that were slung low and tight in all the right areas, emphasizing his delicious ass. My eyes kept scanning up the rest of his body just as his hand slid beneath his black V-neck shirt, exposing just enough of his six pack to make my mouth water. His shirt clung to his sweat-ridden torso and his large protruding biceps. His tattoos were more prominent in the daylight and the sweat glistening in the sun only emphasized the color in the ink that covered him.

I licked my bottom lip, just as my eyes caught sight of his face underneath that dirty old baseball cap he always had on. Just as I was about to jump into the truck, his eyes caught mine and I found myself unable to look away. His hand flew out from under his shirt and waved in my direction. The girl he was talking to didn't like this very much, and I could feel her death stare from across the street.

I gave a quick wave and bounded up into the truck with my grandmamma. Suddenly, I was worried that maybe he forgot about our meeting up today. I guess I would find out in half an hour.