Memories on the Ozarks (Close)

[pa1ndru1d]

“Look, I’m sorry. It was mean and cruel.” Matt sighed heavily. Dan suddenly felt awkward. He mumbled something about forgetting something and sneaked out the back door.

“I don’t know if any answer would be good enough.” He started again, “But, you had been falling all over me every year. I know, I treated you like the dorky little girl always in my way, but, I grew to expect it. That summer. You stopped. You found that Toby kid.” He shrugged. “I guess I got jealous.”

Dan stood outside the door and leaned against the house taking deep breaths. He was getting pissed off at Matt, and that made no sense what so ever. These things had happened nearly two decades ago and Dan hadn’t even known either one of them then.

 

[TabascoKV]

“You were jealous because I wasn’t irritating you?” Looking at him with a perplexed expression on her face, not sure what to make of it. She watched Dan leave the house, unsure of whether to stay or go after Daniel. Reaching up, she tucked her hair behind her ear.

“It was cruel.” Nodding, she shrugged her shoulders. “But I can’t really hold something against you that you did as a kid.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Matt looked ashamed of himself. “I think I was jealous because I wasn’t getting the attention any longer. It was no secret that you had a crush on me. Hell, my baby sister rubbed it in nearly every night.” Matt moved in closer to her, lifting her chin with his rough hands. “I really am sorry, Beth. I regretted it completely when I found out that that was your last summer there. I had plans on apologizing to you, but you never came back.” He looked into Beth’s eyes

“I appreciate you not holding it against me, but I’d like it better if you’d forgive me.”

Dan stood by the door and rolled his eyes. What a dick. He thought. He decided that he couldn’t take any more and began to walk toward the barn. As he passed by the dog house, Stanley came out wagging his tail, begging for a scratch. Stanley was the ranch mascot; he was a gray mottled border collie. Dan surprised himself as he knelt and scratched him behind the ears. “At least you love me, huh.”

Where the hell did that come from? What is going on with me?

 

[TabascoKV]

Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink when he brought up the crush she’d had as a child. She inhaled a shaky breath as he closed the distance between them. His calloused fingers felt rough against the smooth skin on her face, sending a shiver down on her spine. Lifting her eyes to meet his, she was convinced that he could feel her heart beat pounding in her chest. She forced a small smile on her face, shrugging her shoulders, trying to act as nonchalantly as she possibly could.

“You’re forgiven.” Her voice came out in a near whisper as she looked up at him, feeling tiny against his tall stature.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Matt, his blond hair falling into his eyes, moved his other hand up to the back of her head and kissed her. His lips were partly open and he closed his eyes. He was lost in the moment and that moment stretched into an eternity.

Dan, hoping that Matt and Beth had cleared things up, finished scratching Stanley and walked up to the screen door of the kitchen; he paused when he saw the two of them kissing, his hand still resting on the handle of the door. He was a conflict of emotion, but it was shock that was written on his face.

Becca had sworn off men and Matt loved his wife and daughter.

Yeah, he thought as he started walking home. He needed the air and the truck would have interrupted them when he fired up the engine.

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth was taken by surprise when he kissed her, and all those memories of wondering what he would taste like were finally satisfied. A small moan of surprise was stifled between their lips as her hands rested against his chest. It took her a few moments before reality hit her, and she pulled back, an apologetic look on her face. Her face was flushed, and there was a yearning in her lower regions. But this wasn’t right. He was married, and even though his wife had walked out on him, he was still somebody’s husband.

“Matt, I’m sorry. I can’t do this.” There was a look of fear in her eyes accompanied with a wanton gaze as she stared at him. Her chest heaved slightly, wishing she could be one of those women who gave in to what they wanted without a second thought. Her thoughts turned to Daniel, and she wondered where he’d gotten off to. A pang of guilt erupted inside of her because they had driven him away.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

When Beth pulled back, the realization hit him as well. “Oh, God. Sheila. Beth, I’m so sorry. That was completely… inappropriate.” Matt looked horrified, of course it was with himself. The worst of it was that he wanted more – so much more.

Matt looked around and noticed that Dan had left; he suddenly felt that he was in a very bad place being here alone with her. “Beth… Thanks for supper. I think it’s time for me to go.”

*

Dan was taking his time on the long walk back to his cabin. He didn’t have anything else to do, so he stared at the stars and allowed his emotion to calm down and fade away. He really hadn’t known what he was doing anyway. All he had really had was a fading memory regarding a photo of someone that had been built up in his mind to be something special…

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth stood there silently, nodding as he thanked her and left. Her lips were tingling from his kiss, and she reached up, touching her lips with her fingers. Leaning against the counter, it took her a few moments to regain strength in her legs. When the sound of Matt’s truck faded, she walked outside, her arms wrapped around herself. Her eyebrows furrowed as she saw Dan’s truck, but no Dan.

“Dan?” Calling out, she walked around the house trying to find him. When she approached the truck, she saw the keys in the ignition. Sliding in, she started the engine and drove down towards Dan’s cottage. She saw his silhouette against the headlights, and stopped when she got close enough. Turning the truck off, they were immersed in darkness, save for the moon and the stars.

“Dan? What are you doing?” She jogged up to him, walking beside him when she caught up to him.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan heard the truck coming and wondered what had happened. He hoped that he hadn’t inadvertently interrupted. He was a bit surprised when she started walking beside him.

“I didn’t mean to walk in on you two.” He didn’t stop walking as he spoke. “I came back up and didn’t hear you talking so thought you was done. You was busy, so I took off. Beautiful night for a walk, don’t you think?” There was no animosity, no jealousy, no agitation; there was only an eerie calm to his voice.

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth felt her stomach drop when he admitted that he had seen the two of them. She stopped for a brief moment, but immediately picked up her pace again.

“I’m sorry. What happened shouldn’t have.” She was having a hard time keeping up with him, and finally had to reach out and pull him to a stop. “Please…stop. Talk to me. Why did you leave in the first place?”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

He stopped when she pulled on his arm, turning toward her. Dan had thought he had come to terms with everything, as if it all had been magically resolved – finished; but when she touched him, his arm began to tingle and it spread over his body.

Dan was surprised that she would even need to ask. “Becca… You have no reason at all to apologize to me. What you do is your choice. It’s ok. Really.” Dan only wished that his heart would get on board with the logic.

 

[TabascoKV]

She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to defend herself or apologize to him. After all, Matt had kissed her. There was something about the way Daniel was acting unnerved her. She stared at him, trying to get to the bottom of him. He was so hard to read.

“You didn’t answer my question. Why did you leave in the first place?” Her voice came out a little more impatient than she had intended for it to, and she sincerely hoped that what he could see of her face reflected her true demeanor.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

"Sorry, I thought I had." A smile was on his face, but his eyes still showed a blank slate. "Things were just awkward. When he admitted to spreading that awful rumor and was sorta jokin' about it. I just felt uncomfortable - figured you might need some time to sort things out." Dan shrugged.

"So, I left. I just went out and spent some time with Stanley. When I got back, that was when I realized that I was the third wheel. It really ain't a big deal, though."

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth felt more guilt than she probably should have. It was no lie that her attraction to Daniel was becoming even more difficult to ignore, but it was easier to pretend it didn’t exist with him. Biting her bottom lip, she felt more uncomfortable with his compliant attitude. She couldn’t even pick out a saddle without an argument from him.

“Daniel, you aren’t a third wheel. What happened was an accident.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Daniel didn’t even try to suppress the chuckle that built up. “An accident? Did you trip and fall on his lips?” There was true merriment in his eyes.

He held up a hand. “I’m only playing, Becca. It’s ok. Really. What you do is your business. I have no place to say anything at all.” He thought for a moment and decided that he really didn’t want to have this discussion any longer. Dan would rather have been alone, but in order to prove that everything was really all right he came up with an offer.

“Is Matt still up at the house…” He started to ask, “No. Scratch that. It doesn’t even matter. You still feel like havin that ice cream, or maybe some coffee?”

 

[TabascoKV]

“He kissed me, Daniel.” She was beginning to feel irritation building up inside of her. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she had to make a conscious effort to keep the biting mark that ripped through her from surfacing.

“No, he left.” Speaking quietly, she realized that she still had her hand on his arm. Dropping it, she exhaled, looking almost defeated. “If you want. I think I left the ice cream sitting on the counter.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

“Ahhh. That kinda surprises me.” He said without thinking. “Not that you are unkissable, by any stretch.” Dan quickly corrected. “Just that he did it. Especially now.”

He was unsure quite how to continue, or if he even should, so he let it drop completely.

“I uhh… would love some ice cream AND maybe some coffee.” Dan smiled, hoping his effort to prove that everything was ok would come through.

 

[TabascoKV]

She had taken his comment in a different direction until he continued. Her eyes narrowed slightly, thinking back to the ‘hussy’ comment from before. Beth had quickly come to terms that Matt was only acting out of a need to fill since his wife had left him. Sighing, she handed over the keys to Dan’s truck.

“Let’s go.” She slid into the passenger side of the truck, assuming he’d rather drive his vehicle. The drive back to her house was quiet and awkward, and she had never been more grateful for something to do as she put a pot of coffee on. She grabbed two fresh bowls from the pantry, the other three having completely melted. The ice cream in the container was incredibly soft, and she easily scooped it out.

“Do you want fudge?”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

“Helllll yeah. Load me up.” Dan leaned against the kitchen table and watched her work. There was something about a woman in the kitchen that just got him going, and Becca was surely pleasing to the eye.

Dan had no idea what was going on with him and dealing with this woman. All she had to do was touch him and he turned to mush. She infuriated him, but he felt the need to protect her all the same. He had never, never felt like this about any woman. Oh, he had had connections. And he had had some great sex. Even the greatest sex left him feeling empty and didn’t compare with a single brush of Becca’s fingers along his rib cage.

He realized he had been lost in his head there for a bit when she turned with the bowls of ice cream and he was staring at her ass.

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth smirked at his response, and did just that. She covered his ice cream with the chocolate, leaving no ice cream to the visible eye. When she turned, she caught him staring, and immediately blushed. Her gaze dropped briefly before rising back up.

“Here you go.” Handing him his bowl, her blush only deepened when his fingertips brushed against hers. She picked up her own bowl and, instead of sitting at the table, walked into the living room and curled up on the couch. She took a bite of her ice cream, avoiding his eyes for the longest time. Finally, she cast a look at him.

“So, tomorrow I’m going to attempt to ride Brisa.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

He ate the ice cream and his mind kept roaming to places it shouldn’t be. He wanted to be eating the ice cream off from her flat belly. Dan watched the fire until he saw her eyes glance his way, then he caught her gaze.

“Dinner was delicious tonight, Becca.” He said at the same time she mentioned riding Brisa. “If you think she’s ready. Do me a favor, though, chirp me before you do. I’d like to be there.” Dan lifted the bowl and scraped the last bit of fudge and nuts into his mouth. He wanted to ask if Matt was upset when he left but wasn’t sure about the situation, so he let it lie.

 

[TabascoKV]

She cast him an apologetic look as they spoke at the same time. She nodded at his request, taking another bite of ice cream. It was hard not to notice his strong jaw and the coziness his stature depicted. He made her want to scoot up next to him and cuddle up.

“I think she’s as ready as she ever will be. She’s grown used to the saddle.” She took another bite of her ice cream.

“Where did Becca come from?” Looking at him curiously, she tilted her head ever so slightly, causing a strand of hair to fall across her cheek.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

“I completely trust your instinct,” Dan said, regarding the horses. He shook a little as a chill from the ice cream caught up with him. The couch they were sitting on was angled in front of the fireplace, Dan at the end farthest from the fire and Becca nearest, but turned facing him.

“Do you mind?” He asked as he motioned toward the middle of the couch. Goosebumps had appeared on his arms. “Becca? Oh. That. I…” Dan scratched his head as he scooted to the center of the couch, the fire’s glow warming him a little better. “I didn’t like having to call you the same thing everyone else did.”

He hoped that hadn’t come out as weird as it sounded to his ears. “What I mean is, we were kinda thrown together in this, by a horrible tragedy, we have a special… relationship that goes beyond like and dislike. We have no choice but to trust each other." Dan turned to look at Becca as they sat so close together he could feel the heat emanating from her body as much as from the fire.

"You trust me because the ol’ man put me in his will and he trusted me to run the ranch. I trust you to keep your uncle’s dream for this farm… alive.”

 

[TabascoKV]

Beth looked at him curiously as he spoke, not quite sure what to make of what he said. Shaking her head as he moved closer, his aftershave drifted into her vicinity. He smelled so good. She forced her attention back to the ice cream in an attempt to forget how easy it would be to move even closer to him.

“I’ve never had anybody call me that before.” Setting her bowl down in her lap, she rubbed her hands together in an attempt to warm them. “I hated being called Rebecca because it was what my parents called me. Uncle Joe was the one who started calling me Beth.”

Gnawing on her bottom lip, she looked up and watched him as he spoke. Nodding slowly, she looked away for a brief second before returning her gaze back to him.

“When I first got here, the only reason I trusted you was because of my uncle.” Her words were softly spoken, and she focused her attention on the flames. “Now I trust you because of you.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan listened to her and his eyes continued to be drawn to her lip. The way her teeth kept working at it…

He wasn’t sure what to do.

“Yanno, Becca.” His tone was light and the fire danced in his eyes, but there was also another twinkle there. “You keep gnawin on that lip of yours and you might hurt yourself,” A light bit of color crept into his neck, “then someone might just have to kiss it and make it better.”