A Dance With The Devil

Stolen kisses young love

                        2 weeks later

Brantley's POV

I'm on my way to Kasey's flower shop, the purple magnolia, where the stunning purple magnolias are calling my name. I've got the little ones in tow, and we're determined to pick out some beautiful blooms for Mama's birthday from Kolby and me. I know Kasey has enlisted Kolby for deliveries today, and with Hannah helping her out, he's probably getting a double dose of instructions. Honestly, I think it's better him than me! How did I end up with a 9-year-old, a 6-year-old, and a 4-year-old? They're all excited to choose flowers for her big day. Mama is turning 60, and she keeps saying she feels old. But really, I'm only 41! Mama had me at 19 and my brother at 24.

As we arrived at the stunning purple magnolia, its vibrant blooms swaying gently in the breeze, I turned to the kids, their faces alight with excitement, and asked what they wanted to pick out for Gran. In unison, their voices rang out, "Pink roses!" The enthusiasm in their response warmed my heart. I smiled at Barrett, telling him he could sit in the front seat tonight, and he eagerly jumped out of the truck,rushing to help his little sister, who was still struggling with her seatbelt.

Once Braylan and I were out of the car, I noticed the tension etched on Kasey's face, a stark contrast to the cheerful atmosphere around us. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her close, and kissed her softly. In that instant, I could feel her stress begin to fade, if only for a moment. Just then, Kolby called out, "Hey bro!" as he and Hannah rushed out to load the SUV with supplies for the evening. Their energy was infectious, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

Leaning in closer to Kasey, I whispered that we needed five bouquets of different pink roses for Mama. She nodded, her expression softening as she reminded me it was for Mama's 60th birthday—a milestone that deserved a grand celebration. Looking up at me, she smiled, but I could see the tears welling in her eyes, a mix of joy and the weight of her responsibilities.

She shared that both her driver and counter girl had quit unexpectedly, leaving her in a bind and forcing her to call in Kolby and Hannah for assistance. Despite the stress, she chuckled, mentioning how Kolby was soaking up the attention from the older ladies in the shop, who were complimenting him on being such a handsome and strong young man. I couldn't help but shake my head at his antics, a mix of pride and amusement bubbling within me.

As we made our way toward the rows of roses, I could see the vibrant pinks and soft pastels calling out to us, each bloom a testament to the love we were celebrating. The kids darted ahead, their laughter echoing through the air, while Kasey and I exchanged knowing glances, both of us understanding the importance of this moment. It was more than just flowers; it was about family, love, and the memories we were creating together.

With each bouquet we selected, I felt the weight of the day lift a little more.

Mrs. Reid stood at the counter as I returned to hand Casey some cash for the flowers. She tried to argue with me, insisting that since I was her boyfriend, I should cover the cost. I told her that didn't mean I didn't have to pay for everything. With a scoff, she relented, and I kissed Casey on the temple and said good girl before moving some boxes around. Meanwhile, the kids were in Kasey's office, engrossed in something on the iPad. Mrs. Reid muttered that I shouldn't be kissing Kasey at her workplace, claiming it didn't reflect well on her and wasn't a Christian thing to do. I smiled and replied that it's not a sin to kiss someone you have feelings for. She shook her head, insisting she didn't come to see us being affectionate. Mrs. Reid then said it made her not want flowers from Kasey. I suggested she could go to Athens instead, explaining that I had a tough day and was here to help. I asked her to be respectful, but she just shrieked that I needed Jesus. I continued organizing Kasey's new order, smiling at her and saying, "Don't mind Mrs. Reid; she's just a nosy old bird. You know, she my dad dated in high school, and she never got over him marrying my mama."

She glanced at me with a sigh, questioning whether she was out of her mind for taking over the family business from Aunt Brenda and Uncle Jean, who had managed it for so many years. It was a daunting task, especially since all the employees had quit within three months of her arrival. I looked at her and gently reminded her that she couldn't lift half those boxes, and it was my responsibility to handle the heavy lifting. As she made her way back to the counter, a few more women from Mama's church and the prayer group entered, exclaiming that we should bless our souls. I couldn't help but smile at their words; they still saw me as a wild 21-year-old kid without a care in the world. After finishing with the boxes, I headed back to Kasey at the front counter, but she stopped me, pointing to Barrett, who was chatting with a little girl named Lila, two years younger than him and in his sisters class . We couldn't hear their conversation, but Kasey playfully nudged me, predicting that he would kiss her, and sure enough, he did, right on the lips. I noticed the blush on his cheeks as he handed her a little daisy before she fully send ran back to her dad. I was about to approach him to discuss his first kiss, but Kasey held me back, suggesting that he should come to me instead. I nodded and returned to wrapping my arms around her waist, kissing her deeply and passionately, pinning her against the counter with my hips and arms. Our moment was interrupted by a throat clearing; it was Kolby, standing there with a goofy smirk, teasing us that if I kissed her any harder, she might vanish. We both shook our heads as she handed me the bouquets for Mama, and I kissed her again, telling her how beautiful they were before loading up the kids and their flowers into the truck, as they clamored for Mama's flowers. 1. As we packed into the truck, the girls dozed off during the ride to Mama's. I glanced over at Barrett and asked, "What did you and Lila talk about?" I noticed he was dressed just like me, sporting a black cap that read "Son" and wearing black shorts, a black cutoff, and gray-and-black Nikes. When I looked into his little green eyes, I couldn't help but see myself reflected back. A blush crept onto his face as he confessed, "I asked her to be my girlfriend." I raised an eyebrow, and he continued, "She said if I wanted her to be my girlfriend, I had to kiss her. So, I did. I was a gentleman, just like you taught me." He added that he gave her a flower after she dashed back to her dad, saying she had to go. I reminded him that he would see her at school on Monday, and she giggled, calling him cute. I couldn't help but smile; my boy was growing up. I said, "Well, good job, son. You were a gentleman, but I think you two are a bit young for kissing." He looked me straight in the eyes and replied, "But you and Miss Kasey do it." I explained, "We do it because we're adults and we like each other." He then told me how much he liked Lila, saying his head felt foggy around her, his palms got sweaty, and he always wanted to protect her from the bigger kids on the playground. I smiled, realizing just how much he was like me. We spent the rest of the drive to Mama's chatting about school and his fondness for Lila.