10. Something Wrong with My Heart

Dexter had gone completely still as his fingers felt a sizzle from touching her neck. He stared directly at her, liking what he saw. We both stared at one another for a long heated moment with many questions whirling around in our minds. At least I knew I had questions that I positively wanted and needed answers to.

Ms. Henry's blue eyes peers at them with a hint of a smile as she clears her throat, watching the powerful attraction right before her eyes between these two. Taesha rolled her eyes at Dexter, giving her attention to Ms. Henry's obvious hint that she was still in the room. 

 "So, was there really an accident?" Ms. Henry asked,  looking at the two of them. But before Taesha could respond, she heard him say. Dexter had gone completely still as his fingers felt a sizzle from touching her neck. He stared directly at her, liking what he saw. We both stared at one another for a long heated moment with many questions. 

"Yes! When I found her on the side of the road, she had hit a tree." Dexter states quickly. He didn't want Ms. Henry to get the wrong impression that he was some abusive man.

"I did not hit a tree! Something stepped right out in front of my car." She rolled her eyes at him, never feeling more embarrassed. 

"Depending on the road, that's possible. But are you okay, sugar? Ms. Henry asked Taesha.

"I'm fine, I think. But my new car is more injured than me." Taesha said, hoping the small-town mechanic could get her back up and running tomorrow.

"I can call Doc Edwards for you if you like him to look at your injuries." Ms. Henry offers.

"Please do. That would be helpful. We need to make sure you are all right." Dexter states, concerned once more.

"Thank you, but that's not necessary, Ms. Henry. It's just minor bumps and bruises. If you have an ice pack, that will help with the swelling." All Taesha wanted was a warm bath and an ice pack for her cheek and head. And a warm bed to sink into.

"Are you sure?" Dexter asked Taesha again.

"Yes, stop making a fuss. I'm fine. Oh, by the way, do you have internet?" Taesha inquires, asking Ms. Henry.

"Internet?" Ms. Henry begins to laugh. "Oh, no, honey. The only place you might be able to get internet reception, which is a big maybe, is to stand outside the utility office."

Dexter and Taesha looked at one another, forcing a smile.  

"Okay, you two love birds."

Almost in beautiful unison, they exclaimed. "We are not love birds."

"Anyway, my cabin rents for $250.00 a night. All the amenities you'll need are inside the cabin." 

"It's two cabins, correct?" Taesha asked.

"Yes, it's two. One cabin is for me, and the other cabin is the one I'll be renting out to you two."

Ms. Henry states. "If you need me for anything. I live out back behind this cabin." 

"So this is the cabin we are renting?" 

"Yes, honey, you sure you don't need to see Doc? You keep repeating yourself." Ms. Henry asked.

"No, but how many bedrooms does this cabin have?" 

"It has one bedroom, one bath, and  this lovely living room and kitchen/dining combined that you are standing in here."

"Oh, so this is it?"

An audible gasp escapes Ms. Henry's parted lips, and that's when Dexter says. 

"Thank you, Ms. Henry. How much is the rent again?" 

"$250.00 a night, handsome. You have some dreamy ice-blue eyes." 

"Ah, thank you." 

"Let's split it," Taesha suggested while opening her purse.  

"Don't worry about it," Dexter says as he slides the black credit card out of his wallet and onto the kitchen counter.  

Taesha repeats. "I said we could split it,"

Dexter utters a quick thank you to Ms. Henry again. Ms. Henry tells Taesha smiling.

"Honey, don't ever offer to pay. It's offensive to a real man, and I think this one is a good man." She winks at Dexter as he smiles.

Taesha was about to explain he was not her man. Good or bad!

"Come with me, handsome, so that I can swipe your card."

Taesha scurries out behind him. Dexter stopped so suddenly that Taesha nearly ran into his broad back. Turning, he caught her inches from his chest, and the awareness that had sizzled between them made that moment reappear. It was weird. He wasn't her type at all. 

Yet, she's experiencing such an overpowering need not to mind being touched by him. It had to be the cold and her emotions. She rolled her hands into fists to keep from acting on the impulse. 

"Listen," she said haltingly, "you seem like a nice enough person."

Dexter looks down at her. "And?" With one eyebrow raised. The expression transformed his pretty face and gave him a manly look. 

"I was going to say I want to carry my part of the bill. I know you have no way of knowing this about me. But I pay my way. I don't take anything from a man I don't know. 

"And?" He asked again with that same intense expression. 

"Men always expect something back. So, as soon as I can get to an ATM. I will be paying for my half of the bill."

Dexter nodded and smiled at her. That expression transformed his handsome face and gave him a boyish look. 

"Alright," he said, with that gaze of pure interest. 

The more he was around her and heard her views and feelings. The more he became interested in getting to know her. Not because of the effect she had on his vision. He wanted to know her as a woman. He turned and walked out the back door to Ms. Henry's place.

"Fine." 

"You might want to put some ice on that cheek. The more you keep talking, the bigger your jaw is swelling," he said as he opened the back door to the cabin and went through it. 

Taesha stopped in her tracks and touched her puffy cheek. "Oh no, first it was my boots, then my new car, and now my face. She let out a heavy sigh. 

"Everything is going wrong. Even my heart is acting crazy.' She mumbled, walking out the back door behind the man she was finding harder and harder to resist. While repeating in a quiet tone, 'he's not my type.