After The Storm Blows Through

Chapter Seventeen

Lexi's POV

I swear since we got back from Nashville last week Brantley had been nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I immediately put my face in my palm. I just sounded like my mother! He had come in the kitchen earlier after working on something outside with Kolby saying he had to go to Athens and pick something up.

He kissed me on the cheek, grabbed his bike keys and called out that he would be back later. I stood there stunned for a minute as I heard the bike rev up and take off. Well ok then. I headed upstairs to our room to unpack the last few of my things I'd brought back from Tennessee.

We had argued briefly on the way home over Jana. I hadn't exactly been thrilled with him for not telling me that she had tried to call him once the news of our relationship broke. But after talking it out and him swearing that something like that wouldn't happen again I thought we had settled it.

Arggh... I swear when that man gets home I'm making his tail sit down and tell me what's bothering him or I'm one upping his mama's threat and changing the code to the gun cabinet.

I hung the last shirt up in our closest and walked over to pick up my Kindle off my nightstand. I made my way downstairs to the back deck. I had Meghan March's latest book Real Dirty calling my name. (FYI...the inspiration for the lead in that book is mighty familiar  😉) I got curled up on the porch swing and dug in. I got lost in my own little world like I was prone to do when I was reading.

Brantley's POV

I had made it back from Athens right on time. I walked into kitchen to set my keys down and listened to see where Lex was at in the house. Not hearing anything, I walked quietly to the open French doors that led to the back deck. Sure enough, she was curled up on the swing with her Kindle in hand. I leaned against the door and watched her. She had on a loose pair of purple shorts, her hair piled up in a messy bun and I couldn't help but smile as I read the words on the black tank top, Bottoms Up.

I looked at the time and quietly backed into the house to go finish what I was doing. I slipped up the stairs to change out of my riding clothes and grab a quick shower. Whole time I was in the shower, I couldn't help but grin thinking about Lex and how lucky I was to have her in my life. I dried off and slipped on a pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt before splashing on some of my cologne then padding out of the bathroom barefoot.

I went down the hall to the music room and pulled the bag I'd hidden in there the other day before we left for Nashville. I walked back into our room and unloaded that bag where it needed to be. I looked around and smiled to myself. Perfect or at least I hoped so. I made my way back downstairs.

I noticed the sun was slipping behind the trees as I paused in the kitchen to connect my phone to the outdoor speakers on the deck. I queued up the playlist I needed as I hit a switch on the wall and made my way toward Lexi.

Lexi's POV

I was so lost in my book, I didn't realize the sun was setting until I saw a light out of the corner of my eye. Sitting up I stretched my back and looked around and noticed hundreds of twinkling white Christmas lights wrapped around all the columns and poles of the deck giving the growing twilight a soft glow like fireflies.

I sat my Kindle down and couldn't help the gasp I let out. I heard a quiet chuckle and saw Brantley walking on bare feet toward me with a soft smile on his face. I didn't even know he had made it back. He pulled his phone out and tapped on the screen before sliding it back into his pocket and reaching a hand down to me.

As he pulled me to my feet I heard the opening cords of a familiar song. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close starting to sway to the music. I twined mine around his neck and looked up at him with a soft smile on my lips as I followed his lead. I couldn't help but mess with him a little.