Nine
A HEART SHOULDN’T experience the loss of a person twice in one lifetime. It wasn’t fair. When her mother died, Peggy was in grade school, and life as she knew it had ended. Her daddy had always been a quiet, serious man, but her mama could make him laugh until his stomach hurt. The three of them used to play games, watch television, and take the horses out every evening together.
Since her mother’s passing, her daddy had done his best raising her on his own. He was a great father, but Peggy missed her life before her mama died.
Now, losing a man her heart loved and her body yearned to be held by was a pain far greater than losing her mama.
She sniffled on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She wished she could ask her mom what she should do in this situation. She was sure Merle would have liked her. The chemistry between them was impossible to ignore. Or maybe she’d been blinded by her own desires all along. Perhaps she’d imagined him looking at her lips as if dying to kiss her.
Seeing him every day but not getting to be with him would surely torture her.
Merle was everything she never knew she wanted: handsome, serious, strong… so strong. She could watch him for hours unloading bales of hay like they weighed no more than a dry leaf. He’d changed a great deal since he arrived. He was almost indistinguishable. Dare she say he’d flourished while working on the ranch? He had, and from what her father had told her, Merle was the best worker he’d ever had.
A knock on her bedroom door pulled her from her thoughts.
“I’d rather be alone, Daddy,” she said, rolling onto her side to face the window.
The door creaked open, and she rolled her eyes. Figured he wouldn’t listen. She didn’t bother turning to face him. Maybe keeping her back to him would be enough to show him she wanted to be left alone.
“I want to talk.”
Merle? Her eyes bulged. Peggy rose to a sitting position. Sure enough, it was Merle and not her imagination playing tricks on her. He was leaning against the doorframe, handsome as ever with his arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes set on her.
“There’s nothing to say.”
“There’s plenty to say. And I’ll start.” He pushed off the doorframe and joined her on the bed.
Her heart raced having him beside her… on her bed… alone in her room. What would her father say?
“Does Daddy know you’re up here?”
Merle smirked. “He does.”
Something was different about Merle. He didn’t seem standoffish. Usually there was tension between them, like he was nervous around her. He didn’t seem nervous now.
Merle took her hand and kissed the top of it, and she nearly fainted, feeling his warm lips on her for the first time.
“I’m sorry I upset you. I’m sorry I ignored you the last few days. And I’m painfully sorry I made you cry.” His eyes darted over her face, and with his free hand, he caressed her cheek.
She held her breath as she relished the feel of his touch. A fresh batch of tears collected in her eyes.
“I… I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, her lip trembling.
“Nothing to say, sunshine. I was wrong and I apologize. If you can forgive me, I’d like to take you out on a date. A real date. How does Foster’s and the drive-in sound?”
“Merle, it sounds wonderful, but what’s changed?” She hoped he wouldn’t shut down again, but she needed to know why he was acting differently toward her. She loved it and never wanted it to end, but she needed to understand.
“I’ve changed. When I first came to the ranch…” He inhaled a deep breath and entwined his fingers with hers. “I was homeless.”
“Merle…” The first tear fell. Her heart broke as his eyes met hers.
“Living here has been the first home I’ve had since I was fifteen. I didn’t graduate high school, and I’ve only done odd jobs around town. I never had enough money to live off, only enough to buy a meal here and there.”
“God, Merle, I’m so sorry.” She squeezed his hand as another tear rolled down her cheek.
“Don’t cry, sunshine. It hurts my heart to see you cry.” He wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb. “Jensen, your daddy, gave me a chance when nobody else would. He believed in me, made me feel valued. I didn’t feel worthy of you, but he told me differently. He gave me his blessing to be with his only daughter. Do you have any idea what an honor it is to have his blessing?”
She smiled, her tears turning to happy ones. “By the look in your eyes, I think I have an idea.”
Merle pressed his forehead to hers, and she heard him inhale a deep breath. “I love the way you smell. Reminds me of clear blue skies, sunshine, and happiness. You’re my happiness, Peggy.”
“You’re overwhelming me. In a good way.” She giggled softly as butterflies fluttered in her stomach and her heart sang gleefully.
“Can I overwhelm you a bit more? With a kiss…”
She tilted her face up toward his. Lightly, Merle brushed his nose against hers, teasing her with anticipation. Finally, she would feel his lips on hers. She prayed this wasn’t a dream.
His hand glided up her bare arm, over her shoulder to her neck, leaving a trail of goose bumps in its wake. Her body trembled excitedly.
“Just as I imagined. Soft as silk.” He cupped the back of her neck, holding her in place as he stared into her eyes. “I’ve dreamt of this moment for weeks. I haven’t even kissed you yet, but this is the second-best day of my life.”
“What was the first?”
His lips hovered above hers, the tips of their noses touching. “It hasn’t happened yet.”
“It hasn’t?” she asked on a breath, her mouth dry and thirsting for his. “Then how do you know it will be the best?”
Merle didn’t respond. His lips gently captured hers instead.
Peggy hooked an arm around his neck and pulled him closer. The move seemed to motivate Merle. His hands went into her hair, and he held her there while he deepened the kiss. She opened her mouth, a gentle nudging for more, and he obliged, poking his tongue inside.
She’d never french-kissed a boy before. As their tongues mingled, she was glad she hadn’t. It was far too intimate, something she’d only want to do with a boy she liked a lot… even loved.
Next thing she knew, they were pawing each other and kissing fervently. Merle moaned into her mouth and abruptly ended the kiss.
“We need to stop, sunshine.”
“No…” She leaned toward him.
“Your daddy said no funny business.”
“Poo.” She pouted, not wanting to stop. “You never answered me. How do you know it will be your best?”
“Marrying you, Peggy, will be the best day of my life.”
And with those heartfelt words swirling between them, they fell into each other’s arms, kissing again.