Free Love Me ~ Like That by Renee Kennedy

work?” I smile as sweetly as possible.
    He glances at his watch, rolls his eyes and looks at my boots again. He lets out a long breath. “Just forget it, Bailey. We are already going to be late.”
    He smiles showing those perfect white teeth. I look into his eyes that are normally so beautiful, and I get the impression that I’m so inadequate. My heart hitches a tad. I can’t believe someone like him even wants to go out with me. I will do everything in my power to keep him. I want out of this life and this town. Being with a man like Hendrix will ensure that I will be able to live a better life.
    We step outside. Immediately, he pulls me in for a kiss. I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips to his as I wrap my arms around his waist. My dress rises a couple of inches, and he uses the opportunity to grip my ass beneath my dress. His tongue eagerly peruses my mouth. He is always aggressive when he kisses me, showing me how much he wants me. I shift to move away and he pulls me in tighter. See, he’s making up for not liking my boots. Once he has me dazed with lust, he lets me go and walks to the car without another word. I am left standing, aroused and breathing hard.
    After he gets into his car, he looks over at me. “Well, come on, Bailey, I told you we were in a hurry.”
    I go to my side of the car and slide in next to him.

I’ve been looking for a good excuse to go over to the Jacksons’ all afternoon when I finally come up with offering to refinish those old rocking chairs. I’m ready to walk across the street to present my offer when that prick pulls into the driveway and disappears into the house. I wait, hoping he’s only stopping by for a few moments. I pace from the driver side to the passenger seat of my old work truck. I am rolling up the window when Bailey comes out of the house on his arm. I watch as he stops and kisses her long and hard then leaves her standing in the driveway while he climbs his ass into the joke of a car. Good, he is leaving. He calls back to her, and she walks around and gets into the car. He didn’t even get her door. I thought every man got the door for his lady, at least during the honeymoon period. I’m not in any hurry now to go over to the Jacksons’ so I amuse myself with the thoughts of how I can treat Bailey better, and what I would do if she were mine.
    An hour later, I stroll across the street to tell the Jacksons what I have in mind. As I’m about to knock on the door, I hear a crash from inside. Then Mr. Jackson starts hollering something I can’t understand, but he sounds panicked. Something is wrong! Instead of knocking, I go on in and see Mrs. Jackson on the floor. Mr. Jackson is bent down beside her. I immediately dial 911, but I’m not one to take chances. I bend down to check Mrs. Jackson’s vitals while I talk to the 911 operator. I look over at Mr. Jackson and see tears in his eyes. “Mr. Jackson, what happened?”
    He looks at me, his eyes wide. “Who are you?”
    I stick out my hand. “I’m Cash Wilson, I just moved in across the street, sir.”
    He nods and shakes my hand.
    “Do you know what happened to your wife, sir?”
    He shakes his head. “Will she be okay?”
    “Her pulse is weak and she’s unconscious, but she is breathing.” Thank God she’s breathing. No need to start CPR. “Is there someone we should call?”
    He pauses a few seconds then hands me a notebook. I look inside and see phone numbers written down. I look down the list for Bailey’s number, but the names aren’t in alphabetical order so I call the number at the top, “Hello, may I speak with Kathy Rose, please?”
    “This is Kathy.”
    The woman answering the phone sounds puzzled.
    “What is going on? And are my parents okay? Where is Bailey?”
    I hear fear in her voice. “Ma’am, I’m Cash Wilson, I moved in across the street a few days back. I came over a few minutes ago and heard your mom fall. She is unconscious and has a faint heartbeat. I think she