Chapter 29

The day arrived when they were going to leave to go to Nebraska, where his parents lived. The bags were packed and placed in the trunk of his car.

They decided to drive, wanting to have the time alone before getting there. It would take them close to two days to get there, and they planned on staying in a hotel halfway there.

Once they’d been on the road for a while, he thought it would be a good time to talk to her about her father.

“Don’t you think it’s about time you talk to your father? It’s been weeks, and he keeps calling you. He’s really missing you, and I think you miss him too.”

“I’ve got nothing to say to him.”

“Baby, no matter what he’s done, he’s still your father, and the only one you’ll ever have. You should try to forgive him, or someday you might regret it, if something were to happen to him.

“I know what he did was terrible and it hurt you deeply, but there are always two sides to every story.”

She turned to look at him. “I just can’t get over how he married Claudia, and to know that she’s been cheating on him and he still sticks up for her and wants to be with her.

“If you ever cheated on me, even once, I would never forgive you or stay with you. Please, can we not talk about this anymore?

“All I want to do right now is enjoy this trip and meet your parents and see where you grew up.”

He placed his hand on her knee and gave it a light squeeze.

“All right, I’ll drop it for now. But if you ever want to talk to your father and want some moral support, I will be there with you, right by your side.”

“Okay, it’s a deal. Now, tell me about your parents. What are they like? Did you have a good childhood growing up?”

“My parents met when they were in high school. I was told it was love at first sight. They married right after graduation.

“They lived with my mother’s parents for the first couple of years so that they could save up enough money to put a down payment on their own ranch.

“Once they had enough money saved, they bought a piece of land, and my father and grandfather built the home that they live in today, the one I grew up in.

“Then they decided to start a family, but it took a couple of years before my mother got pregnant, and then she lost the baby.

“Three years after that, she got pregnant with me, and they were never able to have any more children. My father is a very stubborn man, hardworking, and as honest as they come.

“My mother, she’s an amazing woman. She has a heart of gold and is always helping people.

“She started dancing when she was just a little girl, and my father never stopped her from doing it after they were married.

“She could have had a career in it, and she did for a while, but then they wanted kids, so she stopped. But she loved it so much she decided to teach dance.”

“What was their marriage like?”

He smiled, thinking about them. “They had a wonderful marriage, so full of love and respect for each other.

“My father never raised a hand to her, and it was rare that he raised his voice to her in anger. Sometimes they would embarrass me when I came home from school and caught them making out.”

“My dad taught me to respect women. He drilled it into my head that I was never to lay a hand on a woman, no matter what she may say or do.

“He often told me that any man who strikes a woman is not a man but a coward. He was tough and firm with me, but never abusive. Honestly, no one could ask for better parents than them.”

“I bet you were popular with the girls in high school.”

He glanced over and smiled at her. “I did all right with the ladies. Many of my old sweethearts still live in that town.”

“Well, you better let them know that you are taken,” she said in a huff, crossing her arms.

He liked that she got jealous. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ve only got eyes for you. There’s not another woman in this world that can hold a candle to you.

“Well, we’ve been driving for quite a while. What say we stop and grab a bite to eat?”

“I’m glad you mentioned that because I was going to tell you I need to use the ladies’ room.”

A few minutes later, he stopped at a gas station and filled up his tank.

There was also a small diner across the street, so he told her to go on in and he would be there in a few minutes after he gassed up.

Roxie made her way into the diner and took a seat at one of the booths. She asked the waitress where the restroom was.

When she was done in there, she went back and sat down and ordered two coffees and asked for menus while waiting for Dexter.

She didn’t have long to wait. He walked in and sat down across from her a few minutes later.

Once they were done eating, they headed out again and drove for a few hours before stopping at a motel. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was clean and had a coffee shop right next door.

They were both tired by the time they stopped at the motel, so they went right to sleep, wanting to feel refreshed in the morning.

It was close to twelve noon when they pulled up to the Sinclair ranch. Dexter turned off the car and got out and went around to the passenger side and opened the door for Roxie.

“Well, this is it,” he said as she looked around her.

“It’s really nice, and much bigger than you described.” She took his hand in hers. “So, are you ready to go see your parents?”

Nodding his head, he looked toward the front door just as it was opening. “Yes.”

Holding hands, they walked up the steps toward a couple that were standing at the front door with big smiles on their faces.

“Mom, Dad,” he said, his heart beating like a drum inside of his chest.

“Dexter,” his mother said, throwing her arms around him. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said, wiping her tears away when she let go of him.

“Dad, it’s been a long time.”

“Way too long, son,” he said, giving Dexter a big hug.

“Mom, Dad, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Roxie.” Putting his arm over her shoulder, he introduced them all to each other.

“Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, I’ve heard so much about you, and it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Please, call me Amelia, and my husband Oliver.

“You both must be so hungry. Come on in. I’ve got lunch ready,” Amelia said, taking Roxie by the arm and escorting her inside, followed by her husband and son.

They all sat down at the big round table in the kitchen. Everything was ready. It was like Amelia knew exactly when they would get there.

For over two hours they talked and got to know each other. Dexter was caught up on everyone from town, as to who got married, who had children, and so on.

“You really have a beautiful home here, Amelia.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. We’ve been very happy here. Later you should get Dexter to show you around outside.”

“I’d like that very much.”

Amelia reached over and placed her hand over the top of Dexter’s.

“Why don’t you and your father go get your luggage from out of the car. Your room is ready, and I also made up the guest room for Roxie.”

“Mom, why would you make up two rooms?”

“You’re not married, so it wouldn’t be proper to share the same bedroom, now would it?”

“Mom, Roxie and I live together, so obviously we share the same bed.”

He knew his mother was a bit on the old-fashioned side, but he would have thought by now that she would have overcome some of her old ways, especially since he was a grown man.

“Dexter, it’s okay. I don’t mind,” Roxie said, not wanting to cause problems.

“No, it’s not all right,” he answered before turning back to talk to his mother.

“I’m a grown man, and Roxie and I are going to be sharing the same room. If this is going to be a problem, we’ll just leave and book into a hotel.”

Oliver took a hold of his wife’s hand. “Sweetcakes, our son is right. Times have changed. We really don’t want them going to the hotel, do we?”

Amelia went over to Dexter. “We haven’t seen you for years, and I don’t want you going to a hotel.

“I know times have changed and that people live together without being married, and I can accept that.

“Let me suggest that you and Roxie stay in the guest room, since your bedroom is way too small for the two of you.”

She was so glad when he gave her a big hug. The last thing she wanted was for him to leave so soon.

She needed him here, to spend as much time with him as she could before he headed back to New York. She would have to get used to the new ways, especially since she’d really taken a liking to Roxie.

After they unpacked, Dexter went out with his father to help with the chores while Roxie helped Amelia with dinner.

The meal was just minutes away from being ready when the men returned, smelling of sweat and horse manure.

When Dexter went over to kiss Roxie on the cheek, she squealed and plugged her nose. “Oh God, you stink really bad. Go take a shower before you try to kiss me.”

“All right. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said, chuckling as he gave her ass a light smack before walking away.

After dinner was over and the dishes washed up, Dexter took her outside and showed her around. The last stop was the barn where the horses were, which she really enjoyed, as she loved all animals.

“There’s fresh hay on the ground. What say we get down and dirty on it,” he said, pulling her into his arms and trying to kiss her.

She knew what would happen if she let him kiss her, so she stopped him.

“Your mother didn’t want us sharing a room, so I don’t think she would be happy if we made love here in the barn where she could walk in at any minute.”

“They’re not going to come out here now, and I know the horses aren’t going to tell her.”

She placed her hands on his chest, stopping him once again from kissing her.

“You’re just going to have to wait for sex until we leave to go home,” she said, walking away and heading back to the house.

“But we’re not leaving for a few days,” he said as he followed behind her. There was no way he was going to wait. He would have her tonight, he said to himself.

Later they all sat around having tea and dessert. Amelia showed Roxie some baby pictures of Dexter and told her some stories about the things he tried to get away with as a teenager.

It was getting late, so the women said they were going to bed, leaving father and son to enjoy a cold beer out on the porch.

“Son, I’m so glad you found someone to love. You’re a lucky man. She is not only beautiful, but very sweet.

“To be honest, when you called, telling us about her, we were expecting someone stuck-up and spoiled.”

“Not Roxie. She’s amazing.”

“I supposed she’s the reason you decided to give up being a bodyguard.

“Your mother and I were always worried when you were with the Navy SEALs, and then when you took on that job, our anxiety got worse.”

“She’s changed my life, made it worth living, and I don’t want to waste time being away from her for weeks or months at a time.”

“Son, I hope you’re going to marry that girl.”

Dexter ran his fingers through his hair. “Dad, I asked her, but she turned me down.”

“Why would she? I’ve seen the way she looks at you. It’s clear that she loves you. I don’t understand.”

He told his father how hurt she was when she found out that her father was cheating on her mother before she died.

How he was with his mistress when the accident happened, and that he married her two years later.

“She loved her father and mother so much and thought they had the perfect marriage. It broke her heart when she found out, and she swore she would never marry.”

Oliver looked over at his son. He could tell he was hurt by Roxie turning him down.

“Give her time. Show her how much you love her, and I’m sure she’ll change her mind once she knows for sure she can trust you.”

“I hope so,” he replied. “I think I’ll head up now. Night, Dad.”

When he got upstairs and saw her asleep, he removed his clothes and got into bed. She looked so adorable and sexy that he decided to wake her up the best way he knew how.

He got under the covers and climbed on top of her.