Under the Open Sky

Chapter Thirteen

“Thanks for the ride,” Amanda waved to Jenny before she closed the passenger door the following Friday night. School was officially out for Christmas and she had just returned from hanging out with some friends in Dede’s basement.

Noting that the house looked empty, Amanda climbed the front porch steps and let herself inside. A note lay on the hall table.

Mandy,

Taking Naomi to a meeting at church, we’ll be back late.

Love,

Dad

Amanda dropped the note back onto the table and bounded up the stairs to put her purse away. She knew Trent was in town because she had seen his truck at the diner as she and Jenny were leaving. Amanda dropped her purse onto her desk and returned downstairs to glance around at the empty rooms. Was Cade with her brother or was he still working on the engine her dad had asked him to look at? Amanda decided to see and let herself back out to make her way toward the barn; Big Boy dogged her steps. The bright moon reflected off the fresh snow so well that it lit her path perfectly. Amanda entered the barn and found the lights already on. Big Boy, a growl emitting from his throat, rushed to an open stall. An answering growl and hiss let Amanda know he was picking a fight with one of the barn cats. Sounds from one of the back work rooms propelled her that direction where she found Cade washing his hands in a second, smaller sink.

“Burning the midnight oil?” Amanda queried.

“Hey, Manny; just finishing up with the motor your dad asked me to look at. What brings you out here?” Cade was drying his hands and moving her direction.

“The house is empty. I decided to see if you had jumped ship too.”

“Nah, I wanted this done so your dad could be using it. Where are your dad and Naomi?”

“Some meeting at church. Did you get it working?” Amanda nodded at the small engine on the table.

“I think so. I decided it was a little late to put it all back together tonight. I was about to tidy up and head back to the house myself.”

Amanda shed her coat and leaned against the work counter to watch Cade as he put tools away. She found herself studying his thick hair and brilliant blue eyes. His scar caught her attention.

“How did you get the scar?” she finally asked.

“Oh,” he grimaced slightly, “my dad.”

“Sorry I brought it up.”

Cade shrugged. “You didn’t know.”

He had a nice straight nose, she noted as she fell silent again. His lips were appealing too. His upper lip was thin, but nicely shaped; his lower lip full, sensual even, though she had never actually applied that term to any one before tonight. What would it be like to kiss him and be kissed by him, she wondered?

Cade glanced up at her and froze, his gaze holding hers. Feeling something arc between them, Amanda swallowed hard. Amanda pushed off the counter and rose onto her toes as she slid her hand to his neck and pulled him forward until her lips met his; she felt his neck tense beneath her hand. She kissed him lightly, before pulling back only slightly, her lips hovering next to his as she waited for him to make the next move. A moment later his mouth was on hers, one hand on her neck and another at her waist pulling her closer.

Amanda, following his lead, returned his kiss. When his mouth urged hers open she obliged. She felt as though every nerve in her body had suddenly come alive; her skin on fire. When she had imagined kissing a guy she hadn’t counted on it feeling quite like this.

They were molded to each other now, his hands at her waist, still trying to tug her closer. Amanda wrapped both arms around his neck, one hand sliding into his hair; it was as thick and soft as she had imagined it. Cade’s hands slid low on her waist his open palms still pressing her closer a moment before he released her so suddenly she stumbled and caught herself on the counter. She watched him swallow hard, his breathing as uneven as hers before he found his voice.

“Damn it, Manny! What are you trying to do?” Cade shoved a hand through his hair. “Not only are you the boss’s daughter; you’re jail bait!”

“I’m sorry,” Amanda blinked at him in confusion. How had she ended up kissing him? “I didn’t mean to…I was just wondering what it was like to kiss a guy and…I didn’t mean to,” she shared honestly.

“You’ve never kissed a guy before?” Cade’s expression was one of disbelief.

Amanda shook her head and shrugged. “I’m sorry, Cade…as I said I was…curious; I didn’t even realize what I was doing,” she could feel tears threatening; the last thing she wanted was for him to see her cry.

“What, you thought I was a safe bet? I’m hardly that, Manny.”

“I said I was sorry okay?” Amanda turned, grabbed her coat and hurried from the barn.

“Manny! Amanda!” Cade called after her.

Amanda broke into a run until she came to one of the large shade trees beside the drive and stopped to lean against it as her tears spilled over. How humiliating! What had she been thinking?! Amanda glanced up sharply when she heard the crunch of footsteps in the snow and frowned at Cade as he approached. Couldn’t he leave her to her humiliation in peace? Amanda turned to leave; she was stopped by Cade’s hand on her arm.

“Look, Manny, you are beautiful and smart and sweetheart you don’t kiss like a novice; you’re also way too young for me,” Cade paused before continuing. “Your father made it possible for me to go to school and you are his only, underage daughter; you are so off limits it isn’t even funny. I want to be your friend, Manny. Can we be friends, please? I don’t want to hurt you; I don’t want you to hate me. Please say we can be friends?” Cade’s gaze was imploring her.

“I really didn’t mean to, Cade. I want to be your friend too; I don’t know what came over me back there,” Amanda shared.

“Are we okay?” he asked.

Amanda considered her options. She could swallow her humiliation or she could hold onto it and avoid him. The thought of not seeing him, writing him, and being with him when he was home made her heart want to break.

“We’re okay,” she nodded and offered a tentative smile.

“Good. Here, let me help you put your coat on; it’s cold,” Cade took it from her and helped her shrug back into it. They walked toward the house, neither speaking for a moment.

“Do me a favor, Manny?”

“What’s that?” Amanda glanced over at him.

“Don’t be kissing guys like that.”

“You sound like my brother now,” she accused.

“No, I didn’t say no kissing as your brother would say. I’m saying don’t be kissing a guy like that,” Cade opened the door for her to proceed him into the house. “It’s dangerous,” he informed her.

Amanda paused and glanced up at him. He offered her a sardonic smile, his eyes giving away the affect she’d had on him. Amanda felt her stomach flip as pleasure swirled through her and left her heady. She moved past him and removed her coat to hang it in the closet. She couldn’t stop the smile that tilted her lips or the compulsion to glance over at him where he stood beside her.

“Damn, Manny; I liked it better before you found your confidence,” he accused.

Amanda moved into the living room and seated herself in the corner of the sofa. She didn’t need a mirror to know her cheeks were flushed, she could feel the heat in them. She found a program on TV and tried to follow the plot to little avail. She kept glancing over at Cade, often finding him watching her. She was relieved when she heard a vehicle in the drive.

“Hey, Mandy; Hey, Cade. Where is everybody?” Trent questioned as he entered.

“Dad took Naomi to a meeting at church,” Amanda explained. “Jenny had to be home early tonight so I had to come home early too. Did you have fun?”

“I guess, just visited with a few friends mostly. How’s the engine coming, Cade?” Trent seated himself in one of the recliners.

“I think I’ve got it. I’m going to finish putting everything back together tomorrow and try it out.”

“Anything exciting happen tonight?” Trent asked of his sister.

“Nope, boring night,” Amanda shook her head and congratulated herself on not even glancing in Cade’s direction.

“I think I’m headed on up to bed,” Trent announced.

“Good idea,” Amanda agreed. She was ready to shut herself away and mull over the night she’d had.

“Guess I will too,” Cade stood.

Leaving only a hall lamp on for her Dad and Naomi, Amanda turned off the TV and followed her brother. At the top of the stairs Trent turned toward the bathroom; then paused to turn to his sister.

“Night, Mandy.”

“Good night, Trent.” Amanda turned to bid Cade goodnight to find him standing arms crossed and leaning against the stair rail.

“What’s wrong with you?” Amanda demanded.

“I think my ego may take some time to recover,” he informed her.

“Oh?” Amanda frowned at him.

“Boring?”

Amanda smiled, “I can always tell him,” she shrugged. “Hey, Trent,” she called.

Cade grabbed her and slapped his hand over her mouth.

“You want to attend my funeral?” he whispered furiously.

“Yeah?” Trent called.

Amanda was giggling as she managed to free herself. “I love you!” she finally called to her brother.

“I love you too,” he returned, his tone somewhat quizzical.

Amanda was still laughing as she crossed the hall to her room. She paused at her door to turn back to Cade. Smiling and shaking his head, he was leaning against her brother’s door. Trent stepped from the bathroom and looked between them quizzically, his gaze saying he was almost afraid to ask.

“Night, Trent, Night, Cade,” she offered before closing her door and leaning against it; her smile returned. She finally pushed off the door and changed into her pajamas. She sank into the chair of her dressing table and slowly pulled her brush through her hair as she thought over the events of the night.

She could still feel Cade’s lips on hers when she closed her eyes. She had never expected a kiss to have the ability to so thoroughly rattle her. For the first time she understood what her brother was always trying to warn her of. That heady rush and sheer surge of pleasure that came from sharing contact and kisses with someone you already liked. She somehow doubted that just anyone would be able to make her feel that way, though; at least she certainly hoped not! Amanda shook her head and resumed brushing her hair, only just becoming aware that her hand had dropped to her lap.

So she and Cade were friends. Amanda grimaced. Friends. She met her own gaze in the mirror and shook her head. More than friends, only they couldn’t be; not really. So that left them friends. She snorted. Right. Amanda laid her brush down and pressed her hands to her cheeks. Good grief, there was something tangible between them; she had only just accepted that tonight. It was what Jenny had been saying she realized and grimaced. Not good. If Jenny saw it…what was she stressing over? Cade would return to college in a few weeks and she would return to high school and maybe by summer whatever it was would have passed. She certainly hoped so. Didn’t she?

Amanda dressed for the party the next evening; she changed several times before settling on a slim line jean skirt that fell just below mid-thigh and a red baby doll top with long fitted sleeves and bust before flaring to just below her hips. She added her boots, straightened her hair, applied make up, and opened her door to go downstairs. Her brother’s door stood open as though he was watching for her and Amanda moved to poke her head in the door.

“Hey what are you up to?” she asked the two seated inside.

“Being bored,” her brother surveyed her with a frown. “Your legs are gonna freeze off,” he predicted.

“I’m not planning on hanging around outside,” she informed him. She glanced in Cade’s direction to find him surveying her appearance appreciatively.

“What are you two doing tonight?” Amanda queried as she entered the room and seated herself at the desk.

“Don’t know. Be careful tonight, Mandy.”

“I will,” she promised her brother.

“Good.”

Amanda glanced at her watch and stood. “I guess I should be getting downstairs; they’ll be here soon. You two have a good night,” she offered them a smile and started downstairs. She turned to survey them curiously when they followed her.

“Just thought I’d see you off,” her brother offered. Amanda, a smile pulling at her mouth, turned. Her brother was funny; irritating but funny.

“Hey Pumpkin, you look nice,” her father noted as she entered the room.

“Thanks, Daddy,” she grinned.

“Very nice, Mandy. I wouldn’t have chosen boots but you look very feminine,” Naomi noted. Amanda had come to realize that feminine was somehow her aunt’s standard.

“I think that’s them,” Amanda announced at the sound of a car in the drive.

“You let him come to the door; a young man should always come to the door and greet a young lady’s family,” her father instructed as he stood. Amanda grinned and moved to kiss her dad’s cheek. Her daddy was the best. A knock on the door prompted Sterling into the hallway; Amanda followed. Dropping her bag by the hall table, Jenny was the first through the door; she would be staying the night with Amanda after the party.

Glancing around nervously, Chris entered. He looked nice in a pair of fitted jeans, a blue western button up, and his boots. He looked every inch a tall handsome cowboy; which was exactly what Amanda liked.

“Good evening, Mr. Jennings,” Chris greeted her father; then had to clear his throat.

“Good evening, Chris,” Sterling returned. “You are to have them home no later than eleven- thirty, is that clear?”

“Yes, Sir,” Chris nodded. “Hey, Mandy,” he finally greeted her; his gaze swept over her once.

“Hi, Chris,” she returned nervously.

She was glad that her first date was a double; this was nerve wracking! She watched Chris’s glance bounce off something behind her and turned to find her brother standing, arms crossed, as he surveyed the young man critically. Beside Trent, Cade stood hands part way in pocket, his own gaze intense on the young man. Amanda sighed, both amused and annoyed at the pair. When Cade caught her looking at him, he winked and Amanda had to bite her upper lip to keep from smiling. She turned back to the door to find Jenny watching her with a taunting smile.

“See you later, Daddy,” Amanda kissed his cheek.

“Have fun and be safe,” her father instructed.

“We will,” Amanda offered as she pulled her coat on and stepped out the door.

“You look nice, Mandy,” Chris finally complimented her.

“Thanks, Chris,” she smiled up at him. Jenny let Amanda and Chris climb into the back seat before seating herself up front. David had a small car rather than a truck as Chris did and had offered to do the driving.

“I hope Chloe’s cousin is cool and fun or this evening may be a dive,” Jenny offered.

“Guess we’ll see,” Amanda offered. It didn’t take long to reach the large house on a small amount of acreage on the opposite side of town. The house was blazing with lights, cars parked up and down the length of the driveway.

“Come in and welcome. I’m Lilly; Chloe’s cousin. Just lay your coats on the bed in the first room on the right down the hall,” Lilly pointed them in the right direction. Amanda and Jenny took the lead and laid their coats on the already crowded bed. The mountain of coats looked ready to topple but stayed put under the weight of four more.

The main living space was open, a large wall of windows overlooking the mountains in the distance; a hand full of teens lingered in the open kitchen and dining room around an assortment of snacks. Music pounded from a doorway across the room, a stairway leading down to the basement.

“Jenny; Mandy, the Dynamic Duo!” Chloe spotted them as she left the pantry. Someone, Amanda still wasn’t sure, had taken to calling Jenny and Amanda the Dynamic Duo and it had stuck.

“Hi, did you put your coats away yet? That’s the only bedroom Lilly didn’t lock. She’s taking her promise to keep us from drinking or stealing away to the bedrooms serious. She’s being totally cool over all though,” Chloe rambled without ever giving them a chance to answer.

“Come on, most everyone is downstairs. They haven’t gotten the basement completely finished or furnished yet; that’s partly why Lilly was so willing to let me throw a party. That and Steve is out of town so it wasn’t like we’d be getting on his nerves.” Chloe kept the chatter up all the way down the stairs.

They emerged into the basement, the room painted but floors still cement, to find chairs and a couple of worn couches pushed against the wall. Teens packed the space, a few dancing in the center of the room but most lingering around the edges in groups. At the other end of the room, a patio was lit just past two French doors.

“Where’s Dede?” Jenny finally got to ask.

“Last time I saw her she was hanging on every word Troy said. Did you know she has developed a crush on him?” Chloe’s eyes were bright as she shared this information.

“I kinda thought so after last weekend,” Jenny referred to the way Dede had laughed at nearly everything Troy had to say.

Amanda lingered and talked with different friends and danced a couple of slow tunes with Chris as the night wore on. Chris, as a date, wasn’t the most interesting person she had ever met. Not like she really had any dating experience, she mused, but she had spent more time talking to others than she had her date. He mostly had stood around watching her; Amanda was beginning to wonder if she had some mysterious new growth on her head. Every so often Amanda caught a glance of Lilly moving through the crowd setting out more food or drinks but over all she tended to forget she was there.

When Chris grabbed her hand and pulled her out the doors onto the patio, Amanda, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the cold, followed.

“It’s crowded in there,” Chris commented as he moved to the corner of the patio against the house. Amanda followed, dusted snow from the retaining wall and then seated herself on it.

“It is,” she agreed. The patio was empty; everyone else had the sense to stay inside, Amanda mused, but didn’t complain.

“Having fun?” Chris asked her.

“Mm huh,” Amanda nodded.

“Good.” Chris seemed at a momentary loss. “You’re not like most the girls I date, Mandy.”

“How so?” she asked.

“Most of them would come out here with the expectation that I wanted to kiss them. You’ve made yourself comfortable and don’t seem to give a damn.”

“I’m sorry,” she smiled, “you want to kiss me make your move; I’m not a mind reader,” she informed him.

Chris smiled. “Like I said, you’re not like most the girls I date. Come here,” he tugged at her hand. Amanda hopped off the wall and let him pull her close. His moth closed over hers. His kiss was nice, his lips soft and plying but she was relieved to find that it didn’t send her senses reeling. When Chris pulled her closer and deepened the kiss, Amanda broke it gently and stepped back to smile up at him.

“We should go in; I’m cold,” she suggested.

“Right,” Chris looked rather dejected. Amanda followed him back into the house and spotted Jenny moving her way.

“Where have you been?” Jenny claimed her hand and dragged her through the crowd.

Throughout the evening, Chris pulled Amanda aside to steal kisses. Amanda wasn’t sure whether she was amused or mildly put out. By the time they left the party she was relieved to be escaping her date.

Her father was waiting to make certain they returned home safely and on time when they arrived; then bid them goodnight. Naomi was already asleep. There were two bedrooms downstairs, one belonging to her aunt and the other to her father. The upstairs was Amanda and Trent’s domain with a couple of spare bedrooms, one that doubled as her aunt’s sewing room and one bath.

“So I notice you and Chris kept vanishing,” Jenny teased as they climbed the stairs.

“I swear he is obsessed with kissing!” Amanda vented as they topped the stairs.

“Who’s obsessed with kissing?” Trent demanded; Amanda nearly jumped out of her skin.

“None of your business,” Amanda returned irritably. She should have known her brother would be waiting to grill her, she mused. “What did you do, stand there all evening waiting to pounce on me the moment I came in?” Amanda demanded of him.

“Chris kissed you?” Trent was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and expression stormy.

“Yes, shocking I know, a guy kissing his date,” Amanda rolled her eyes and stalked toward her room.

“Mandy, don’t walk away; I want to know if he tried anything,” Trent was coming her way now. Cade stood in her brother’s doorway watching their exchange.

“No, he kept his hands at my waist and when I said that was enough and I wanted to stop, we stopped. Are you satisfied?” Amanda decided to get it over with. Her brother was nothing if not stubborn.

“Good. Amanda you are too young to be making out with guys,” Trent looked truly upset now.

Amanda sighed. “How old were you the first time you kissed a girl, Trent?”

He looked stormy; his jaw clenched in response.

“How old; you opened this can of worms,” Amanda crossed her arms and waited.

“Fourteen,” he admitted.

“This conversation is over,” Amanda turned to leave.

“Wait,” Trent grabbed her arm.

“What?” Amanda snapped.

“He was the first though right? You aren’t in the habit of letting guys kiss you?”

“Look, Trent, I had my first kiss this year and no I am not in the habit of going around kissing just anyone. I had a huge crush on Chris last year and yeah, I wondered what it would be like to kiss him. It was nice but not earth shattering. That is more than you need or deserve to know,” Amanda offered.

“You still have a crush on him?” her brother demanded.

“He’s good looking and I like him okay but he’s kinda dull,” she admitted before kissing her brother’s cheek. “Good night, Trent. Good night, Cade,” she waved to him.

“Night, Manny,” Cade, his expression unreadable, nodded.

Amanda closed her bedroom door and blew out a frustrated sigh.

“Your brother is intense,” Jenny was grinning.

“I know,” Amanda admitted before pushing off the door to change into her favorite gown.

“So Chris’s kiss wasn’t earth shattering huh?” Jenny teased as she pulled her own gown over her head before removing her bra and pulling it out through the sleeve.

“No.”

“Gina seemed to think so when they were dating last year,” Jenny referred to another of their friends.

“Good for her,” Amanda plopped onto her bed as tossed her own bra onto her dresser.

“I notice that you dodged your brother’s question? Tell me, Mandy, was Chris your first kiss?” Jenny’s hazel eyes were bright with curiosity.

Trying to decide how to answer, Amanda stared at her friend.

“He wasn’t was he? Do tell, Mandy, prior to this year you certainly weren’t hanging out with a large number of the opposite sex.”

“I said it was this year did I not?” Amanda delayed answering.

“I can’t recall you disappearing off with any guys before tonight. You been making out in the church basement?” Jenny was enjoying teasing her now.

“Ew! No. Not only can I not think of a single less romantic place to kiss a guy I can’t think of a single guy there I would want to kiss.”

“So who have you been kissing, Mandy?”

“None of your business,” Amanda muttered as studied her fingernails closely.

“Okay. So I kissed, David, not tonight, a couple of weeks ago when he and I went to the movie together. And I kissed Ben Moore last year at a school dance and my first kiss was Jason; a guy from this resort we went to on vacation. Now you know my dirt; fess up,” Jenny supplied.

Amanda smiled and shook her head, “Kiss and tell all you want.”

“Come on!” Jenny was looking irritated now. “Where did you kiss this person? Outside, in a car…where?”

“A barn,” she confessed.

“Oh that’s romantic,” Jenny was laughing now.

“Trust me, I wasn’t that aware of my surroundings,” Amanda shared.

“Ooooh really?” Jenny leaned forward her arms around her legs. “Tell me more?”

“Okay, so I was in a barn with this…guy and I was wondering what it would be like to kiss him. I don’t even remember deciding to kiss him, I just did.”

“And?” Jenny prompted.

“He kissed me back.”

“That’s good; it indicates interest…and…” Jenny waved her hand for her to continue.

“It was amazing. I felt like my whole body was suddenly on fire. I have never felt anything like it before. We were kissing and all pressed up against each other. I kinda understand what my brother was warning me about now.”

“Dang, Mandy, when you decide to do something, you go for it don’t you?” Jenny’s smile was wide.

“I started it; he finished it.”

“So this guy, he steps back says ‘Thanks, that was nice,’ and that was it? It sounds like you two were really caught up in it,” Jenny demanded.

Amanda winced. “No, he kinda freaked.”

“Why would he freak? If he kissed you back….” Jenny’s sentence trailed off as her eyes widened. “Damn, Mandy, you kissed Cade, didn’t you?”

Amanda sighed. “Please don’t get him in trouble, Jenny.”

“I won’t. I mean if your brother kissed me tomorrow I sure wouldn’t stop him and I wouldn’t tell anyone either. Except you, of course.”

“I’m not sure I would want to hear about it,” Amanda smiled.

“But I’d have to tell someone!” Jenny was smiling again. “So when did this happen?”

“Last night,” Amanda admitted.

“So last night you were kissing Cade and tonight you were kissing Chris? Wow, Mandy.”

“I didn’t intend to kiss, Cade,” Amanda insisted.

“No wonder Chris’s kiss was rather disappointing. I would imagine that Cade has a lot more experience than Chris.”

Amanda felt the heat climb into her cheeks and laid her head on her knees.

“I really didn’t mean to,” she reiterated.

“So what did he say, when he flipped out I mean?”

“He reminded me that I was the boss’s underage daughter and asked to be friends.”

“Which is why he’s always flirting with you?” Jenny’s voice was heavy with sarcasm.

“That’s all we can be, Jenny,” Amanda reminded her.

“Yeah,” Jenny sighed for her friend. “You won’t always be the boss’s underage daughter.”

“I figure this thing will pass, Jenny. I have no reason to see it as anything more than a crush on an older man.”

“And his feelings for you? He obviously really likes you, Mandy.”

“I’m too young and will be for a little more than two more years. I’m sure it’ll pass,” Amanda insisted.

“You keep telling yourself that,” Jenny nodded as she leaned back against the footboard, her expression smug.