Free Just A Small Town Girl by J.E. Hunter

sleeping and after the way you three spent the night last night. It was like the family this little boy deserves,” she bounced Riley on her hip to indicate him.
    “How did you know about last night Rose?” I asked, a little surprised.
    “How do you think my dear?” she busied herself with entertaining Riley.
    “Fisher told you?” I was seriously confused
    “No!” she laughed and shook her head, “I have other sources!” she waved her free arm around in the air as if there was a crowd of people telling her all of my secrets from right there.
    “Oh,” I couldn’t manage a better response.
    “Oh is right Piper Lee. Now, why don’t you let me watch Riley while you get a shower? I’m sure you’ll want to wash that Puck off of you before Fisher comes by to get Riley,” she dismissed me, turning her back and walking into the kitchen to make Riley a snack.
     
    I left the water on after I finished washing. I let the warm droplets drip down my face and soothe my muscles. Whatever makes the shower a perfect place for daydreaming and reflection took over and before I knew it I was lost in thought.
    I had a problem. Puck was becoming more aggressive and I was in way over my head. I hadn’t thought nights out with our group of friends constituted a relationship, but to him it obviously did and I had no idea how to make that clear without making him even angrier. I knew Rose wouldn’t be there every time he started to scare me or grabbed me a little too roughly.
    I ran my fingers over the five red dots on my wrist, turning darker and angrier by the minute. I didn’t think he meant to grab my arm so tightly, I didn’t think he was trying to hurt me, but I wasn’t sure that made a difference.
    Rose was gone when I walked back into my living room. Fisher stood where I’d left her, singing a song I recognized as one of his own to his son as he danced across the carpet, rocking the baby slightly to a silent beat. I leaned against the wall, unwilling to interrupt the private moment. Riley smiled and cooed back at his father, almost singing along in his own little baby way. The sound of their combined voices soothed me. I closed my eyes, welcoming their distracting sounds.
    My eyes fluttered open when I felt Fisher’s finger trace the strap of my tank top before running along my collarbone. The warm tingles his touch sent through my skin almost distracted me from the reason he was touching me. I’d seen the neat impression left from Puck’s teeth while I was dressing, but I hadn’t expected anyone to pay close enough attention to notice.
    “Do I know you well enough to say I’m worried?” he dropped his hand before I could swat it away.
    “I don’t think it’s about how well you know me. It’s more about how much you care,” I looked into his eyes, sincerity swirling in with the brown-making me feel vulnerable.
    “I care,” he raised his fingers to brush wet strands of hair away from my eyes before dipping his head to touch our lips together. The gentlest meeting of our lips sent a shock through my system. In the three seconds we were connected a need for Fisher passed through my body, planting a seed of attraction deep in my veins and forcing me to acknowledge the chemistry between us.
    When he pulled away and looked into my eyes I thought I saw the same acceptance until he spoke.
    “Sorry,” he mumbled, dropping his hand from my cheek.
    “No problem,” I mumbled back, stepping around him. I wasn’t really sure how to respond and I needed space until I figured that out, “Are you hungry? I can make sandwiches,” it wasn’t the most graceful subject change, but it worked for me.
    “Sure, sounds good,” he mumbled, I imagined his face was strained to match his voice, but I didn’t turn around to look. Instead, I made my way to the kitchen and began situating lunchmeat atop slices of bread.
    A few seconds later Fisher joined me, placing Riley in his high chair with some cheerios to play with while