Free Life's Next Chapter by Sarah Goodman Page B

is wrong with me?
    After my little wham bam with him, Luke didn’t talk much on the way back home. He’s probably thinking I’m the biggest slut ever. Give me a tormented man and the one way I can think of bringing him out of his ordeal is to slide up and down on his cock. UGH! I’m completely screwed in the head when it comes to men. Luke isn’t going to want anything to do with me.
    The drive was hell, my stomach was in knots and I developed a pounding headache from the tension I was wallowing in. Finally, after the almost two hour trip, the rest of the horses were unloaded, fed, and hydrated. Getting back into the truck, I look at my phone and there’s a text from Luke.
     
    Luke: Have dinner with me tonight?
     
    What, he wants dinner with me? I swear, I can’t read this man.
     
    Me: Really?
    Luke: Yes, really! I know we did things backwards, but I want to take you out on a date.
    Me: Give me a minute to call my grandparents.
     
    I call my grandmother to check in on the girls, and to ask if she and my granddaddy are up for keeping them one more night. She was getting concerned, so finally, I confessed to her I had a last minute date. She squealed with excitement! “Yes, dear, I would love to have the girls for another night. We’re making oatmeal cookies as we speak. You want to talk to them?”
    Nana is the epitome of what a grandmother should be. She does all the cliché things grandmothers are supposed to do. I remember the endless baking, painting, sewing, and gardening she did with me. She continues those activities with my girls, and my baby girls are blessed to have her.
    I talk to my girls, informing them they get to stay one more night. Julia is her hyper self, squealing and most likely jumping all over the place. I could hear Granddaddy reprimand her. Granddaddy is as cuddly as a teddy bear, but ferocious as a Grizzly bear. Let’s just say, my Granddaddy put the fear in me, and any boy that ever came my way. That’s why I didn’t have my first real boyfriend until college, where I was a couple hours away from him. My grandparents are a great balance. They instilled values in me that I carry on to my girls. After a ten-minute conversation with them, I reply to Luke at the next red light.
     
    Me: We’re on for tonight. I should be home in an hour or so. Are you still at the clinic?
    Luke: No, I am home now helping Danika pack.
    Me: If you want to spend more time with her, we can do this another night.
    Luke: No, I want to see you and take you out. Plus, she has some sorority thing.
    Me: I’ll call you once I get home. Getting on the highway.
    Luke: Drive careful, sunshine
     
    I can’t contain my smile as I floor it home. As soon as I walk in the house, I call him to find out what I should wear. He tells me something dressy, but not too dressy. He just wants to see me in a dress, I think. The poor man has seen me at my worst most of the time.
    Let’s not talk about me tearing apart my closest to find something that will bring him to his knees. Settling on a cobalt blue mini dress. Ella picked it out for me for my thirtieth birthday celebration. I don’t think I have worn it since. Throwing the dress on the bed, I walk into the bathroom for a much-needed hot shower, where I lather, scrub, and shave everywhere. I blow dry my hair and curl it in big loose waves. I actually apply make-up. Ella would be so proud. I give myself the smoky eye look, pink blush, and pink lip-gloss.
    Putting on the sexiest panties and bra I can find, I realize I seriously need to hit up Victoria’s Secret. Slipping on the blue dress makes me feel beautiful. The dress is actually somewhat loose on me, but looks impeccable. It has spaghetti straps, comes high on the chest, yet extremely low on the back. Last thing on are my silver strappy shoes and some earrings.
    I hear him pull up as I start down the stairs. My nerves are bursting and I’m starting to sweat. This is so new to me. I can’t tell you the last time I went