Free Trust Me II by D. T. Jones

Creighton found himself panting for air as he struggled to keep up with Sandra who ran at a steady pace down the road, around farms and homes of their new neighbors and over the grassy hills that dotted Yorkshire. She felt free and happy, a sense of calm washed away her recent bout of emotional outrage and for the first time in days, she felt relaxed and under control, like she could take on the devil himself and win.
    “Can…we…stop…” Creighton panted, stopping on the side of the road and leaning against a neighbor’s fence post.
    “How can anyone with a body as incredible as yours, be so out of shape?” Sandra asked, drawing in a deep breath to help control her breathing.
    “I pump…weights,” he said, panting. “I don’t…kill myself…on a dirt road. I can’t believe…you do this…every day.”
    “That’s why it’s easy, because I do it every day. I love running.”
    “No wonder you have…such a gorgeous body,” he said with a sly smile as he climbed up on the top of the wooden fence and drawing a few long breaths to slow his breathing. “There’s no way the extra calories of pasta can catch up to you. And here I thought I would be the one to work it off you.”
    “You still can, I just have a backup method in case your ideas aren’t enough.” Creighton laughed, watching as she climbed up the fence rung to sit beside him.
    “Are you feeling better?” he asked a few moments later.
    “Yes, thank you. I really needed this.”
    “My pleasure darling…sort of; I think I’m going to be too sore to walk tomorrow though.”
    “That will make two of us, but I doubt my fatigue will be from running.” Creighton laughed deep, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her temple.
    “Damned right,” he assured her. “Are you ready to go back?”
    “No, but we probably should. Rochelle will there soon and I would really like to just get this evening over with and start our lives together.”
    “We don’t have to go,” he assured her. “I’m sure my parents will understand if we take off early.”
    “No, this is our night and we’re going to enjoy it. I just need to keep my distance from Cathy for a while.” Creighton looked behind them as the sound of a door closed and saw the property owners’ step out of their back door.
    “When you’re ready to leave, you tell me. I won’t have anything else upsetting your day.” He climbed off the fence, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her down to her feet then turned to the couple who approached them and smiled.
    “Amanda, Richard,” he said looking from the tall, thin brunette man to the short, stalky red-haired woman. “It’s good to see you. I’d like you to meet my wife.” Creighton greeted the couple, shaking Richard’s hand and kissing his wife on the cheek. “Sandra these are the Parkers. I grew up with Richard and his twin, Robert.”
    “And then I came along a few years later,” Amanda smiled, reaching out and shaking Sandra’s hand. “It’s very nice to meet you. We were so happy to hear that Crey was getting married and even more excited that you bought the Marston place. It looks like you’re doing a lot of work getting it back in shape.”
    “We’re making a ton of improvements, that’s for sure,” Creighton said. “Once we’re finished, it will no longer be the Marston place, but the Ashford’s.”
    “Better than the Bachmeier’s,” Richard said.
    “Anything is better than that,” Amanda commented with a bitter look on her attractive face. “So why aren’t you getting ready for your reception?”
    “There is so much going on at the house, we just needed some air and my young bride here is a former track star, so she thought she could beat me with her talents.” Creighton said as he glanced down to Sandra, winking a dark eye to her.
    “And did she?” Richard asked.
    “She ran me into the ground,” Creighton laughed. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to walk come