Chapter 4 Stacey p.o.v

Stacey

He was flirting with me. What is it with this place and their hunky cowboys? I swear my ovaries were screaming being around them. Jaxon has brown hair and brown eyes. He's on the shorter side but he's a good-looking man. Then you have Cody who has blonde hair and blue eyes. All three look to be covered in tattoos. God, help me. If they keep looking at me like they want to eat me up I have no idea what will happen. I've only ever been with one man and I married him. I become a little nosey and look around at his gorgeous ranch house. When you walk in you have your kitchen and dining room to your left, on your right is the living room and what looks to be an office/library. Straight ahead are the stairs that lead up to the bedrooms. All hardwood floors and a beautiful fireplace in the living room. It doesn't feel like a bachelor pad but more like home. After we eat I help clean up the kitchen with Charles. Once we are done I head into the living room to check on the kids. Wouldn't you know it they are fast asleep on the couch and the guys are watching the cartoons? "I should get back to the house so I can get them into bed." "We'll help you, Stacey." All three of them pick up a kid and march outside to buckle them in the truck. I climb into the front seat and get ready to head home. Cody and Jaxon decided to come along and help get the kids inside without waking them. They already know what beds to put them in from earlier today. I look at my watch and realize that it's almost ten o'clock. "Well, I appreciate all the help today guys. And thank you for supper Charles, I say." "Not a problem Miss Stacey said Jaxon." "We'll be seeing you, Miss Stacey, Cody said." "Now you have my number just in case you need me. I'll be here within minutes, Charles says." After shutting and locking the door I make my way upstairs, to my room. I start unpacking clothes and bags looking for something to wear tonight. I find a pair of short shorts and a tank top. I throw back the covers and crawl underneath them. It doesn't take long for the events of the day to swallow me up and I fall asleep. I wake to pounding on the door. I race down the stairs forget to put on a bra and I open my front door to find Charles standing there with a picnic basket. "Oh, I'm sorry Miss Stacey I thought you and the kids would be up by now, he says." "What time is it I ask rubbing the sleep from my eyes?" "It's ten till eleven ma'am, he says." "Oh my gosh, I say facing him. I can't believe we slept this late. I better go and wake the kids, I say. Come on in Charles I'll just be a few minutes, I say." I rush upstairs and quickly change into denim shorts and a blue tank top. I race around getting the kids up. A few minutes later we are all joining Charles in the kitchen. "What's all this Charles, I ask?" "Well, I wasn't sure if you had made it to the store yet and I know you don't have anything to eat, he says." "Well thank you Charles but you didn't have to, I say." "I know I didn't ma'am but I wanted to help out, he tells me." "Well, I really appreciate it. Do you know of anybody that could watch my kids I ask filling the kid's plates with eggs, bacon, fruit, and toast?" "Well, there is an older lady in town that watches kids for folks around here, he says." "Do you happen to have her number, I ask?" "Yeah, I would hope I did because she's my grandma, he laughs." "Oh, she is? Does she have any room for three more until school starts, I ask?" "Well, let me go call her and find out for you, he says." He steps outside to make the call while we ate the wonderful food he made. A few minutes pass and he comes walking through the door. "Well, looks like you have a sitter now, he says." I jump up and race to him throwing myself in his arms. I don't know what came over me but the minute we touched I realized what I had done and released him. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what got into me." All he could do was laugh. "Honestly, it's okay, he says. I just want to make these things as easy as possible for you, he tells me." "Well, Charles I really do appreciate all that you have done for us, I say laying my hand on his arm." He wraps his hand around mine and says, anything for you darlin. I slide my hand from his and start clearing off the table. Why am I flirting with this man? It's only been a month since Dustin left me. He was my first for everything. I am practically throwing myself at him. In fact, I just did. I can't believe that I did that. "Well, I better head back and make sure those numb skulls haven't messed up anything, he says." It's almost like he doesn't want to leave but he soon walks out the front door. I hear the rumble of his engine as he takes off. I turn to my kids and Isaac looks angry. "What's wrong son, I ask?" "Mama, daddy wouldn't like you acting like that with that man, he says." "Honey, daddy isn't wanting to be with mama anymore remember, I say." "Dad is gonna come back and he won't be happy with that man, he says." "Okay how about we all finish getting ready and head to town to the grocery store, I say." This drops the whole conversation for another time. We all load up in my car and go to town. We find it right away with it being such a small town. I love the feel of a small town. I feel a lot safer in small towns. We get completely stocked up on groceries and supplies and then headed home. When we arrive we unloaded everything and then I lay Liam down for his nap. I'm so glad I don't have to buy any more diapers or pull-ups now that he is potty trained. Once done the other two go to play outside. It's nice being able to have the windows open so a breeze can flow through. I just stand there for a minute taking in my house and my kids laughing in our yard. The days pass into weeks and before I know it it's my first day at Rusty's. After dropping the kids off at Ms. Gloria's I head to work which is located on the square. I park my car and walk towards the entrance. I picked up my uniform yesterday, it was just a pair of black shorts and a few t-shirts with Rusty's Cafe on the front. I'll get the black slacks to come fall. I can't wait for fall to get here. Too bad summer just began. Summer here shouldn't be too hot, or so they say. As I enter people turn to look at the new waitress. I make a few mistakes over the next few weeks, but before long I get it. We are starting to feel like this is our home. Before long school will start up again so I start piecing together what I can for the kids. Over the summer Penelope turned six and Liam turned three so he will be starting head start this year. I don't see Charles much in the coming weeks between my work and his ranch. I've dreamed of him some nights. Wanting to feel his muscles in my hand again. Wanting to find out what his lips taste like. I want to know if he has tan lines. After getting the kids to bed I am exhausted and I just want to curl up and go to sleep. I lay there tossing and turning listening to the rain hit the tin roof. I'm on the verge of falling asleep when my phone cuts through the silence. I look at it and it's Dustin, what does he want at this hour? "Hello Dustin, I say flatly." "Stacey, is it really you, he asks?" "Yes, what do you want?" "Stacey, I want you to come home where you belong." "Wait... what'd you just say?" "I want you back."