Country Boy

Chapter 5

The next morning, we went to the lawyer for the reading of the will. Grandma left the majority of her estate to Dad, but also left a small sum to Jennifer and myself. The house went to Dad and the store space went to Jennifer and myself, which surprised Dad. After we finished with the lawyer, we went to the realtor. Dad put the house up for sale and he listed the store for Jennifer and me. They also arranged to have an estate sale for all of the items that we were leaving behind.

After we all had lunch together, I excused myself.

"Where are you going? Dad asked.

"I don't feel like staying cooped up in the house. I'm gonna go shopping."

"You look ridiculous, by the way," he added.

I looked down at my clothes. I was wearing a blue plaid long sleeved cotton shirt over a white undershirt, blue jeans, and my new boots.

"I think I look fine," I frowned.

"At least he's making an effort to fit in," Jen said, trying to be positive.

"He looks like a god damned redneck wannabe."

"Oh, Philip, leave him alone," Mom said.

We split up and I walked to the sporting goods store and looked around. They sold a ton of hunting equipment, it seemed. I didn't see anything I wanted, and I figured my parents and Jen were long gone, so I headed across the street to Butch's.

I smiled at Chris at the desk and asked if Butch was around. He told me that Butch was in the office in back and he was expecting me. I headed back to the office where Butch was sitting at the computer.

"Hi," I said shyly as I tapped at the open door.

He looked up and a big grin spread across his handsome face. "Hey, PJ."

"I'm not bothering you, am I?"

"Not at all," he said. "C'mon in."

I walked over to him. He stood up and put his arms around me and gave me a hug. He bent his head down and I could feel the whiskers of his beard and his hot breath tickling my neck.

"You're so tall," I whispered as I ran my hands up his back to his shoulders.

"Yup. I'm 6'4". What are you, about 5'8"?"

"Yeah."

"Mmm. You're the perfect size."

I felt his lips lightly brush along my neck and I pressed my hands into his back, urging him closer. His lips gently kissed a trail up my neck, around my jaw to my chin, then finally my lips. We kissed slowly and sensually for a few minutes before Butch finally moved away.

"You hungry?" he asked. "I haven't had a chance to grab lunch yet."

"Oh. I had lunch with Jen and my parents. But I can keep you company if you want."

Butch gave me a quick kiss and we stopped at the counter so Butch could to tell Chris that he'd be back in a bit. We walked across the street to Lucille's.

"Hey there, Butch," the red-haired woman behind the counter called out. "Have a seat anywhere."

"Thanks, Lucille," Butch replied.

We sat down in the first booth by the front window and Butch looked over the menu.

The red-haired woman hurried over to us with a sweet tea for Butch without even asking. She reminded me of that waitress Flo from that old TV show 'Alice'. She was in her forties, red hair pinned up in a bun, bright red lipstick.

"What can I get you, hon?" she asked me.

"I'll just have a Coke."

Butch put the menu back in the holder. "I'll have the meatloaf sandwich with fries. And bring PJ here one of your famous strawberry shortcakes."

"Comin' right up, sweetie."

After Butch finished his lunch and I ate every bite of my dessert -- and nearly licking the plate clean, we headed back to his store.

"Hey, Butch," Chris said as he stepped up to us. "Bud from Tifton got here a few minutes ago. He's out back."

"I should let you get back to work," I said.

"Wait," Butch said. "Come on out back. You can play with Duke while I take care of Bud."

I followed Butch out to the back of the store to the large greenhouse area. Butch told Bud he'd be right with him, and we walked through the greenhouse to the back yard.

Beyond the greenhouse was a large fenced-in grassy area. A big yellow labrador retriever came running up to the fence gate.

"Hey, boy!" Butch called out. "Hey, Duke. This is my friend, PJ. Say 'hi' to PJ."

Butch opened the gate and Duke moved back so we could enter. I crouched down in front of Duke and held out my hand for him to sniff. Duke smelled my hand and I reached up and petted him.

"I'll be right back, PJ," Butch said. He squeezed my shoulder and turned and went back in.

Duke ran and got a tennis ball and brought it to me. I threw it and we played catch and I ran around with him until Butch returned.

"Duke is great," I told Butch as I tried to catch my breath.

"He likes you a lot."

I shrugged and looked down at Duke, who was sitting next to me. I squatted down next to him and scratched behind his ears.

"He's a good boy," I said.

Butch smiled at me and I blushed and smiled back.

"Damn, you're cute," Butch whispered.

I blushed harder and gave Butch a bashful glance. I stood up and put my hands in my pants pockets.

"Are you busy tonight?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No."

"You wanna come over to my place? We could grab a pizza and some beer."

"Sure. That sounds good, Butch."

"I'll pick you up at 6:00."

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