Authors: Kristi Rose

Tags: #contemporary romance, #Contemporary Women, #Family Life, #Genre Fiction, #romance, #short stories, #women's fiction

Kiss Me Again (7 page)

He held up his phone, and the picture was of her sitting outside by a campfire with her family. "Andee loves her family the most. This includes her friends. This includes me. That means everything to me." He placed his hand over his heart as he told the last bit to the group.

Andee continued to cry softly in her hands, pausing to take a breath when Kevin Norman tossed her a box of tissues.

"I need a moment. Can you do the next one?" she asked Buck.

"Sure. The last place we laughed is the same picture from the first question. Our couch--or rather, our house. Same night from last week."

Andee thought back to when she'd cut the arms off his T-shirt and laughed through her tears. "I'd forgotten about that time. I put the movie we watched after dinner with your parents. We laughed at the movie." Her voice raised an octave. "But your answer is so much better than mine." She grabbed another tissue and sobbed into it.

"Andee. Why don't you go next?" the reverend suggested.

She nodded, sucked in some shaky breaths, and scrolled through her phone. "My spouse's goal? I think he has a few, but I selected this. It's a shot of a twelve-point buck. He'd love to bag one of those."

Buck nodded in agreement.

"Is that your goal, Buck?" asked Reverend Parker.

"It's one of them. Sure."

"But is it your immediate goal? Is it the thing you think about all the time?" He held up his hand to stop Buck from talking. "Think about it for a second. I'll come back to your answer. Why don't you show us what you said was Andee's goal."

"OK. Well, Andee's easy as she has her goals outline by decades. Her goal for ten years is to buy a vacation home, in twenty years is to retire early, and thirty years is travel a lot." His picture was of the goal thermometer she kept on their fridge.

"What's that?" Lisa asked, leaning forward to get a closer look.

"It's my goal chart. It keeps me--I suppose us--on track."

"That's a lot of pressure," Kevin said.

"Yeah, and we all know how you handle pressure. You lose your job, and I go back to work. We switch roles and you go crazy on me. Crazy," Lisa said, pointing her finger at Kevin.

"It's hard staying home with kids all day. It's not for me." Kevin crossed his arms in defiance.

"No. Responsibility isn't for you. Being a grown-up isn't for you. Working as a team like Andee and Buck--that's clearly not for you."

"OK. Time-out. It's not your turn yet. But this is good stuff. Last question, Andee. Buck. What are your dreams?"

Andee put her phone on the floor and stood up and faced Buck. They were going to get to the root of what was going on between them. "I don't need a picture--"

"My dream is to make Andee happy. Even if that requires sacrifice on my part."

"And has it?" asked Kevin.

Buck stared at Andee. She could see he was searching her face while seeking words, but the hesitation was all the confirmation that she needed.

"I would never want you to give up on a dream just to make me happy." She took a step toward him.

"But you've worked so hard to get to this place, and you desperately want a vacation home. You and Lorelei have worked every day for six years. You deserve a reward." He leaned toward her, reaching out to brush her arm.

Andee pressed a finger to her chest, pointing. "I deserve you being honest with me about what you want. If you don't want a vacation home then we'll regroup. Because what I 'desperately' want is you."

"So, Buck, let's go back to what your goal is. Does that have something to do with this? What was your fight about today?"

They answered the question at the same time.

"Buck was keeping something from me." She crossed her arms.

"She wants me to go back to work for my father," He said flipping his hand toward her.

"What?" They said in unison, searching each other's face.

"I heard you when you said you didn't want to go back to work for your dad. But you never said why. You've always said you put too much blood, sweat, and anger into that job to walk away so easily. I thought you wanted to take over the business. Then today, all that's changed."

Buck shook his head, and pressed his thumb in the space between his eyes. "Let Cal have it. I'm tired of hating every day when I go to work."

"How long have you felt like this?" She stepped toward him, wanting to offer him comfort.

Buck shrugged. "I think forever, but over the last year it's gotten worse."

Over the last year,
they'd
gotten worse. Could this be the why? Since when did Buck feel like he couldn't talk to her? With this realization, her heart broke all over again.

"Why didn't you ever say anything? How am I to know what you want if you don't talk to me? Keeping how you really felt from me made me think you were hiding something."

"I wasn't sure what I wanted or what I was going to do about it. So I sat on it."

"And went around like everything was normal. Except you were constantly grouchy, started drinking more, and you didn't sleep. When you say you aren't sure what you want to do, it scares me. What if what you want is what this guy wants?" She pointed to Kevin.

"I said I wasn't sure what I wanted. I'm sure now."

"For the love of God, Buck, then tell me," Andee cried.

"I want to open up my own business," he said with a shrug.

Andee clasped her hand over her mouth and sank to the floor.

"It's not that bad, really, Andee. I got it all figured out--"

"It's not that," she said, shaking her head. "I'm so relieved. I thought you wanted someone else. I thought you were bored with me and my frumpy style and frizzy hair. The fact that I still wear clothes from ten years ago, and I'm not very spontaneous."

Buck came down on his haunches and reached for her. "Babe, I love you. You're my life. My best friend. If I start my own business, you're going to have to give up the vacation home. Shoot, you'll have to give up vacations, and a whole lot more. I'll be gone a lot and work even more than I have in the past. Then there's the risk. It'll change a whole lot."

Andee fell into him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him close to her. "I'll shred that stupid thermometer as soon we get home. We'll make new goals. New plans. You sacrificed all that when Lorelei and I opened the diner. Why would I do less for you?"

"Because I'm supposed to take care of you," he answered.

Andee pushed away from Buck, the force knocking him back onto his rear. "Said a Neanderthal man from the sixties. I thought we were a team." For good measure, she punched him in the shoulder. "You know the timing of this is perfect. Lorelei and I are hiring additional staff so I'll have more free time. If we aren't going to have a vacation home to go to, I could use a new project to keep me busy. Lorelei and I have been talking about a second business, a food truck. But with the baby coming, she doesn't have the time. I might be able to help you with your new business if you're interested."

Buck rubbed his shoulder and smiled. "Really? Because that would be awesome."

Andee smiled. "I'd have to see your numbers, of course."

"Of course." He opened up his arms and she moved into them, loving how she felt wrapped in his embrace. "It's such a relief to finally tell you," he whispered in her ear.

"I'd feel pretty confident in saying that once the doors of communication are fully open and the channels are safe--even when the discussion is a hard one--areas of your life that might also be suffering will get better as well," added Reverend Parker.

"I think he means you should wear your hooker boots to bed tonight," Buck whispered in her ear.

"All right. Let's move on to the Normans. Lisa. Kevin. You all ready?" Reverend Parker picked up the box of tissues Andee had been using earlier and handed them to Kevin, who, Andee noticed, was hiding his face in his shoulder and looked to be crying.

"I'm a terrible husband." He sniffed.

"And father," Lisa added.

"OK. Let's not attack anyone," encouraged Reverend Parker

"This is going to be awful," whispered Andee.

Buck nodded and held her tight.

EPILOGUE -Two Years Later

With a gently push
on the shovel's handle, Buck scooped up the sandy soil and tossed a soft mound into the wheelbarrow. He smiled at the photographer from the paper and waited for him to snap his picture.

The small crowd clapped and Buck caught Andee's eye then winked.

"Mr. Swift," the reporter called and waved him over. "A few questions, please."

"Sure." He watched Andee walk toward him, her heels sinking in the soil, laughter on her lips as she made the journey.

"Three stores in two years. That's incredible growth. This fourth store is the first outside of Lakeland. Care to share your secret for growth?"

"Behind every good man is a better--and likely smarter--woman. At least, that's the truth in my case. When I told my wife I wanted to open the first Swift Oil and Auto, she pulled out her accountant's hat and mapped it out for me. She saw potential in ways I hadn't and knew when to take a risk when I hesitated. That's my secret. That and providing a quick, quality oil change and auto needs to people with busy lives. That's the goal of Swift Oil and Auto."

"Thanks for your time," said the reporter, who ended the conversation with a handshake.

Andee came up from the side, grabbed his arm for support. She lifted one shoe and tried to shake the dirt off the heel.

"You look awfully hot in that skirt," he told her.

Andee slid her foot in the shoe and pulled her blouse away from her chest, shaking it back and forth in hope of getting air movement. "Next time you break ground on a store, do it in winter."

Buck slid his arm around his wife's waist. "That's not what I was talking about."

Andee blushed and swatted him lightly at his chest. "Oh, Bucky."

"But since you mentioned it, my pickup is right around the corner. It has A/C. We can go there and fool around. It'll be like old times. Like we're back in high school."

"Or like last week when we did that after we walked the lake." The flame in her eyes matched the fire that burned inside him for her. Seventeen years with the same girl and he wouldn't change a thing. He was hers for life. She was his turtledove.

"Kiss me," he said craving to taste her.

She leaned into him, pressing her length to his and delivered a soft, sweet lingering kiss. When she pushed away he admired how sexy she wore her new business suit. But more than anything he loved the look she was giving him now, an open smile and inviting eyes.

"Give me your keys," she said holding out her hand. "I'll meet you there in five minutes."

"Deal." He passed over his keys, and when she turned away, he gave a light slap to her rear and pulled her back toward him. "Kiss me, again."

~THE END~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristi Rose was raised in central Florida on boiled peanuts and iced tea. She's been lucky enough to travel the world, has lived by an active volcano, almost fell off a German Alp, and eloped in Arkansas. No matter where she is, she enjoys watching people and wonders about their story. That's what Kristi writes about: everyday people, the love that brings them together, and their journey. Kristi is a member of RWA.

Where to find Kristi Rose:

I love meeting new people. Come connect with me on any of the following social media sites. Thanks.

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THANK YOU

Thank you for reading
Kiss Me Again.
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