Rhett (Rhett #1)(26)
Author: J.S. Cooper

"Rhett," she breathed against my lips. "What are you doing?" She pulled away from me with wide eyes. I stared at her for a few seconds wanting to kiss her again, but instead I started laughing.

"I wanted to show you how a real man kisses, so that you have something to compare a great kiss to."

"I see." She frowned. "I don’t know why you did that."

"I was playing around." I jumped off of the bed and smiled at her as if it were nothing.

"You can’t just do that." She stood up slowly.

"Sorry, it was a joke."

"I see." She touched her lips gingerly and she had a dazed expression on her face.

"What did you think of the kiss?" I asked her softly, unable to resist.

"I’ve had better." She grinned and I watched as she walked out of the room. Better, my ass! I thought to myself as I followed behind her. She was lucky she was my best friend or I would have gone back for seconds to show her that there was no one better than me.

***

"So, who’s ready for some baseball?" I walked into the yard and flexed my muscles as if I hadn’t just been kissing Clementine and enjoying it.

"Let’s get this party started." Jake hollered back at me and I grinned.

“Winners vs. Losers baby.” I ran over to him and held my hands out for him to throw me the ball.

“Where you been?” He looked at me curiously.

“Nowhere.” I laughed, guiltily and looked over at Clementine who was tying her shoes. I turned away and pretended that I hadn’t just overstepped a boundary. It was just in fun. It didn’t mean anything to either of us. It was just a kiss. Nothing more and nothing less.

“Elliott.” Penelope’s voice was loud and happy. I looked up and stared at Elliott as he made his way into the backyard. Of course she would like him. I frowned as I watched Clementine walking over to him with Penelope. Both of them were smiling widely at him and I felt my face growing hot.

“Hey guys.” Elliott waved to all of us and he gave me a short smile as our eyes connected. My eyes narrowed as I looked at him and I turned away without acknowledging him.

“Ass.” I muttered under my breath.

“What?” Jake asked me curiously.

“Nothing.” I shook my head and looked back over to Clementine and Elliott. I felt my face growing heated as I watched him giving her a bouquet of flowers. “Really?” I mumbled under my breath, feeling angry. “What a suck up.” I muttered. Why was he bringing her flowers? He was really trying to play a strong hand. I watched as Clementine smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek after taking the flowers. She looked happy and pleased and I frowned at her expression. Was she really falling for his crap?

“You guys ready to play or are we going to stand around in the sun all day?” I shouted out and I saw Penelope turn towards me with a smug smile.

“We’re ready.” She gave me a look and then turned back towards Elliott.

“Clementine.” I called out to her. “Can we get this game going?”

“Yes, Rhett.” She stepped back from Elliott. “Let me go and put these flowers in a vase. I’ll be right back.”

“I’m going to get a drink.” I turned to Jake and followed Clementine into the house.

“Wait up.” I ran up behind Clementine.

“What’s up?” She turned to me with a small smile.

“Just wanted another drink before the game. I can’t wait to kick you guys asses.”

“Okay.” She nodded and turned away from me.

“Also, about earlier. It didn’t mean anything. I was just playing around.”

“It’s fine.” She mumbled and I saw her face flushing.

“I know I’m an ass.” I tried to joke about it. “I was just being goofy.”

“It’s fine, Rhett.” She sighed. “Hey Nanna, do you have any vases? Elliott got me these peonies.”

“Oh beautiful, of course Darling.” Nanna rushed over with a tall vase. “How thoughtful of him.” She bent down and sniffed them.

“Careful, Nanna, you don’t want a bee to sting you.” I muttered.

“Oh, Rhett.” She smiled at me gently, her eyes glinting. “They smell wonderful, darling.” She rubbed Clementine’s shoulder. “I’ll have to sit down and have a longer chat with him later.”

“Chat about what?” I frowned at her.

“His intentions with my granddaughter.” She replied promptly.

“Nanna, no.” Clemmie groaned and I could see her face going red again.

“Isn’t it a bit fast for that?” I walked to the fridge and opened it slowly, feeling myself growing agitated.

“It’s never too early to find out a man’s intentions.” Nanna’s voice was soft. “If he’s serious about you, it’s important for him to know that you have a family that is looking out for you.”

“Nanna, we just started dating.” Clemmie’s voice was weak. “Do not say anything to him.”

“Say anything to who?” Mr. O’Hara bellowed out as he and Mrs. O’Hara walked into the house with some shopping bags. “Are you and Rhett finally dating now?” He grinned as he dropped the bags onto the floor. “Here we go momma.” He kissed his mother on the cheek.

“Dad.” Clementine rolled her eyes. “You know Rhett and I are not dating.”

“What she said.” I gave Mr. O’Hara a small smile as he gave me a quick hug.

“Good to see you, Rhett. We haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks.” He patted me on the back and stepped back as Mrs. O’Hara gave me a hug.

“You must come to dinner next week, Rhett. We want to hear how finals went.”

“They were fine.” I made a face.

“And how is your dad?” She asked me softly and looked me over with an interested face.

“Same as usual.” I shrugged.

“You’re looking very handsome, Rhett.” Mrs. O’Hara ran her fingers along my shoulders. “Such a handsome man, you’ve grown up to be.”

“Surprised?” I said and laughed.

“I always knew you’d be a handsome man.” She shook her head and smiled at me sweetly. “Even when you were a troublesome little boy.”

“That we did.” Mr. O’Hara nodded. “We always worried about what was going to happen when you and Clemmie became teens. We thought we’d have to ban you from seeing each other.”