Read Online Through The Pieces by Bobbi Jo Bentz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bobbi Jo Bentz
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present for Maggie until Christmas morning. She said we could pick it up tonight."
“Oh, I thought Annie was going to keep the present for me.” I was so excited for Maggie's gift. Maggie had always wanted a kitten, but Scott hated cats so it was never allowed. As an added bonus, we could not have stinky Boris over for a visit if she had a kitten. I shrugged. "Okay, I just have to close up and grab the presents and dessert at my place. Then we can go. Are you sure you don't mind having Maggie's gift at your house?"
"Not at all. When do you want me to bring it over?"
"Well, I want to wait until noon tomorrow to give it to her, or she won't want to open anything else. Then if you don't have other plans, we are going to eat brunch and watch A Christmas Story. You're more than welcome to stay and hang out. Unless you have plans with your family, in which case I completely understand." Why was I rambling?
"No plans with my family, and I would love to spend the day with you and Maggie. Thank you."
"Great, then it's a plan. Oh, why don't you spend time with your family?"
He shifted his gaze, glancing down at his feet, and abruptly changed the subject. "How about I go warm up the car while you close the store?"
He exited the building, and I was left wondering if I had upset him. Curious, I wondered why he didn’t see his family during Christmas and why he never spoke about them.
I closed up the shop and ran across the street. Buck helped me load up the car with the gifts and dessert, never saying a word. As we headed towards Annie and Matt's house, I broke the silence. "Buck, I am sorry if what I said upset you."
He kept his attention focused on the road so long, I thought he wasn’t going to respond, but eventually he slowed the car and pulled to the side of the road. "Not many people know this but my father is physically abusive to my mother. He would beat her on a weekly basis when I was younger. I would patch her up. My mother would never leave my father. She still won't, so I don't visit. I am afraid I will hurt him now that I am older and I know how wrong it is. I have begged her to leave, but she won't. She always chooses him. That's why I had to cut the ties with them. She didn't even seem sad about it. My father has also forbidden her to see me."
My heart broke for him and for the boy that had to witness such abuse. I turned in my seat and cupped his face, urging him to look at me. His eyes met mine reluctantly, the pain palpable. I wanted to kiss it away.
"Buck, I am so sorry you had to go through that." I understood why this man was protective of me and Maggie. All of his concern for us made sense. "Is that why you don't go by your first name?"
He only nodded.
"Thank you for helping me and Maggie."
He closed his eyes, and this time when he opened them, hope had replaced the grief. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine with a passion so intense that time stood still. My body was addicted to this man's mouth. I deepened the kiss and he gladly responded. A car honked at us, breaking the spell. We laughed.
"I think we should get to Annie's while I have some restraint left," Buck whispered.
"Oh, yeah, we better get there before people think we got lost." I tried but failed to compose myself.
"Claire, would you do me the honor and go on a date with me?" Buck asked.
"Yes." I could not hold back the smile that spread across my face.
He grabbed my hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed each of my fingers, setting them on fire. "You have the most incredible smile, Claire. The date is for a New Year's Eve bash the hospital puts on. Cocktails at six and dinner at eight, then some dancing."
Oh, I would definitely go for more dancing with him. "Sounds perfect," I answered, feeling excited.
We arrived at Annie and Matt's, and everyone greeted us at the door--even stinky Boris. We ate turkey with all the fixings, then went into the living room and drank coffee as the kids opened gifts. Buck sat
“Oh, I thought Annie was going to keep the present for me.” I was so excited for Maggie's gift. Maggie had always wanted a kitten, but Scott hated cats so it was never allowed. As an added bonus, we could not have stinky Boris over for a visit if she had a kitten. I shrugged. "Okay, I just have to close up and grab the presents and dessert at my place. Then we can go. Are you sure you don't mind having Maggie's gift at your house?"
"Not at all. When do you want me to bring it over?"
"Well, I want to wait until noon tomorrow to give it to her, or she won't want to open anything else. Then if you don't have other plans, we are going to eat brunch and watch A Christmas Story. You're more than welcome to stay and hang out. Unless you have plans with your family, in which case I completely understand." Why was I rambling?
"No plans with my family, and I would love to spend the day with you and Maggie. Thank you."
"Great, then it's a plan. Oh, why don't you spend time with your family?"
He shifted his gaze, glancing down at his feet, and abruptly changed the subject. "How about I go warm up the car while you close the store?"
He exited the building, and I was left wondering if I had upset him. Curious, I wondered why he didn’t see his family during Christmas and why he never spoke about them.
I closed up the shop and ran across the street. Buck helped me load up the car with the gifts and dessert, never saying a word. As we headed towards Annie and Matt's house, I broke the silence. "Buck, I am sorry if what I said upset you."
He kept his attention focused on the road so long, I thought he wasn’t going to respond, but eventually he slowed the car and pulled to the side of the road. "Not many people know this but my father is physically abusive to my mother. He would beat her on a weekly basis when I was younger. I would patch her up. My mother would never leave my father. She still won't, so I don't visit. I am afraid I will hurt him now that I am older and I know how wrong it is. I have begged her to leave, but she won't. She always chooses him. That's why I had to cut the ties with them. She didn't even seem sad about it. My father has also forbidden her to see me."
My heart broke for him and for the boy that had to witness such abuse. I turned in my seat and cupped his face, urging him to look at me. His eyes met mine reluctantly, the pain palpable. I wanted to kiss it away.
"Buck, I am so sorry you had to go through that." I understood why this man was protective of me and Maggie. All of his concern for us made sense. "Is that why you don't go by your first name?"
He only nodded.
"Thank you for helping me and Maggie."
He closed his eyes, and this time when he opened them, hope had replaced the grief. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine with a passion so intense that time stood still. My body was addicted to this man's mouth. I deepened the kiss and he gladly responded. A car honked at us, breaking the spell. We laughed.
"I think we should get to Annie's while I have some restraint left," Buck whispered.
"Oh, yeah, we better get there before people think we got lost." I tried but failed to compose myself.
"Claire, would you do me the honor and go on a date with me?" Buck asked.
"Yes." I could not hold back the smile that spread across my face.
He grabbed my hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed each of my fingers, setting them on fire. "You have the most incredible smile, Claire. The date is for a New Year's Eve bash the hospital puts on. Cocktails at six and dinner at eight, then some dancing."
Oh, I would definitely go for more dancing with him. "Sounds perfect," I answered, feeling excited.
We arrived at Annie and Matt's, and everyone greeted us at the door--even stinky Boris. We ate turkey with all the fixings, then went into the living room and drank coffee as the kids opened gifts. Buck sat
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