Free Running Home by T.A. Hardenbrook Page B

talking with women before now, and I became a stumbling idiot when she was around? “Sweetheart, do you need any washing done before you leave? I’m about to throw in a couple loads, and I wouldn’t mind tossing yours in with the masses,” Aunt Patty asked as she finished putting away the last of the leftovers in the fridge.
    “That would be amazing, but you don’t have to. I’m sure I can find a laundry mat somewhere on the road.”
    “Nonsense; just run your little self-up those stairs, and grab what you need. Walker can show you the chute to send them down to the cellar,” Aunt Patty smirked.
    I glanced over at my aunt, as she gave me a little wink. “Yep, it’s just right up the stairs and to the left.” I pointed at the staircase.
    “Walker Mason, you go give that lady a hand , you hear? You’re momma didn’t raise you to be improper now!” Aunt Patty scolded as she shook her head and walked over to the cellar door. 
    “I almost thought your aunt was going to come over here with a wooden spoon and beat the living crap out of you ,” Sadie chuckled, as she headed up the stairs. 
    Maybe I did need a good ass kicking; I, apparently had lost all sense of my southern charm around this girl. It’s like she had casted a spell over me, and for some reason, I couldn’t seem to do anything right when she was in my presence.
    “Sorry , I don’t know what’s come over me; being around you makes me lose all of my proper upbringings,” I remarked, as I followed her into one of the guest rooms.
    Sadie abruptly stopped dead in her tracks, and her body tensed as she swirled around. Her face was laced with a questioning stare; one that took your breath away, and made your mind work overtime to remind your body to start breathing again.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Sadie, you know exactly what I’m talking about. For some reason, I can’t shake you out of my head since meeting you on the side of the road this afternoon. Shit, I even got smacked on the head by an old lady, because I wouldn’t share my thoughts on you to her. Even though I know absolutely nothing about you, other than your name and the fact that you drive an old piece of shit Ford, I feel like if you were to drive away from this town tomorrow it would be one of the biggest mistakes in my entire life. Sadie, I know this sounds absolutely crazy and borders on the line of insanity, but I need you to stay. Please stay in town. I want the opportunity to get to know you. Scratch that, Sadie, I need to get to know you. Please, for the love of everything good stay.”
    Sadie was silent as she studied my face. I didn’t know if I was still breathing after that admission. My heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest, and my ears were waiting for any sort of sound to be uttered out of those luscious pink lips of hers. I know I sounded like a lunatic, but I never would have been given this chance to express my feelings to someone, if Carmen had not run out of my life and left my heart with a gigantic hole that I never would have thought could be filled, until Sadie came strolling into my world.
    “I don’t know what to say,” she stammered , as she gazed into my eyes. I know she had to feel this connection; hell, the electricity was evident in the room. I closed my eyes and let out a small sigh. Regretfully, I turned around and started to head back down the stairs.
    “Walker wait,” she spoke as she rushed to the staircase. My body immediately halted as I turned to look into those sparkling blue eyes. “I feel it too. Have lunch with me tomorrow……..that is, if you are not too busy?”
    I smiled and grabbed Sadie’s hand. Bringing it to my lips, I placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. “I actually know the perfect café we can eat at,” I said with a grin.
    “Perfect, are you going to pick me up here , Officer Mason, seeing as my car is out of commission for a little while?”
    “I’ll take you anywhere you need to go. I’m just