Georgia

Chapter 3

Caroline

He's a little over 6 feet tall, tan skin, deep brown eyes, strong perfect jawline covered in just the right amount of scruff, muscular body and that smile...oh my gosh that smile. He has to be a few years older than me, maybe 21 or 22. His hand is rough and calloused like he's spent a lot of his life working outdoors and I barely realize I'm still holding onto it. I let go, embarrassed and once again turning bright red.

"Are you here with Mr. Boyer?" He asks in a deep southern voice with a bit of a smile, obviously noticing my excessive blushing.

"I am, I'm his daughter." I say, internally kicking myself that I can't keep it together.

I've never been exactly graceful in any aspect of my life most especially when it comes to the opposite sex. I've always been shy and around the time girls my age were getting into boys, dating, worrying about makeup and clothes my mom was starting to get sick. My Friday and Saturday nights were spent by her side at home or in the hospital instead of out at school dances and football games.

I have exactly two friends back home. Michelle, who I met in a support group my dad made me go to after my mom passed, she lost her mom too. Michelle was my opposite in every sense of the word. She is gorgeous, curvy, with short black hair, almond-shaped brown eyes, she's outgoing and fun. Basically everything I'm not.

Then there's James, who I've known literally my entire life. We were born the same day, in the same hospital, 20 minutes apart. James' mom and my mom ended up sharing a room and became best friends. James is tall with dirty blonde hair and big hazel eyes. He's athletic, smart and funny. No matter how much our social standings in school changed, him becoming popular and me not so much, he's never stopped being my friend. We've been there for each other thru everything, he knows what I'm gonna say before I say it and I can read his face like no one else can.

"You sure you're ok?" Luke asks me with a worried look on his face placing his hand on my arm.

There's that feeling again, the stomach flip, the knees shaking. How can one touch have that effect me? "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." Stepping away slightly so his hand falls. "Have you worked here long?" I ask just trying to say anything to distract from my awkwardness.

"Family business, Tommy's my dad, so pretty much every day since I was 12."

I open my mouth to say something about my dad's plans for me and the family business that I'm probably gonna regret when Mr. Bryan and my dad walk up.

"Well darlin' I see you've met my boy." He says to me with a smile. "Mr. Boyer this is my son, Luke."

They shake hands and dad turns to me. "Mr. Bryan and I have a few more hours of work ahead of us then we're meeting up with his business partner for dinner. Would you like to take the car back to the house for now and meet us at the restaurant at 6?"

Luke's dad turns to mine, "Ya know this pretty little lady would be bored ta tears sittin' thru dinner with us old men discussing business. It's y'alls last night here, I'm sure Luke wouldn't mind taking her out and showing her a good time."

Luke says with no hesitation, "I wouldn't mind at all. I'd be glad to."

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Luke

The second we touch my heart feels like it's gonna pop out of my chest. I've never felt that before, not with anyone, not even with Katie.

Katie is a girl I met my freshman year in high school. Her team was down from Athens playing Leesburg High in basketball, Katie was a cheerleader. We started talking at a party after the game. We never got into an actual relationship, we both knew high school relationships and long distance don't work but we stayed close and met up when we could. Over all these years we've always managed to find our way back to each other and whenever we did it was like nothing changed and no time had passed. I'll admit I've always had it in my head that when the time was right she'd be the woman I'd marry. She just understood me better than anyone, she was there thru everything when we lost Chris, I felt things for her I'd never felt with anyone....well until now.

Caroline realizes she's still holding my hand and lets go. There she goes blushing again. I'm obviously having the same effect on her that she's having on me. I can't stop staring at her. She's beautiful. She's got this kinda lost look on her face, I put my hand on her arm asking if she's ok and this time I know she feels it too.

She's asking me about work when our dad's walk up. Her dad tells her to leave and meet up with them later for dinner. She can't leave, I need to know more about her.

I must have it written on my face cause my dad suggests I take her out. Tommy Bryan, you are my hero. Without even a second thought I agree.

"Seven o'clock sound good?" I ask.