Chapter 42

The church the Radissons attended was about eight miles away from the ranch house. It was a quaint structure, built from sturdy brown bricks with ivy creeping up one side. A modest steeple rose above the roof, topped with a simple white cross. The parking lot surrounding the building was nearly full by the time Dayton and Shayna arrived, signaling that the evening's concert would be well attended.

Dayton parked the truck, and they stepped out into the crisp night air. The church was nestled amid rolling hills, giving it a serene, picturesque setting that seemed to invite peace and reflection. As they approached, the warm glow of lights spilled out from the windows. Shayna felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

Inside, the wooden pews were quickly filling with people of all ages. The scent of polished wood and faint traces of incense mingled in the air. The interior was simple yet elegant, with stained glass windows depicting various biblical scenes, their colors muted in the dim light.

The two of them found a seat next to Jack, Charlene’s fiancé. He was a quiet young man with light brown hair neatly combed to the side and a slender build that hinted at a life of hard work and dedication. Shayna had never met him before, but his gentle demeanor and the warmth in his eyes immediately put her at ease. He wore a navy blue suit that, while not new, was well-kept and suited him perfectly.

"Hey, Jack," Dayton greeted, shaking the young man's hand firmly. "Glad you could make it."

Jack smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Wouldn't miss it for the world," he replied. He turned to Shayna and extended his hand. "You must be Shayna. Charlene's told me so much about you."

Shayna shook his hand, noting the calluses that spoke of a man who wasn't afraid of hard work. "It's nice to finally meet you, Jack," she said warmly. "Charlene's very lucky to have you."

Jack's smile widened, and a hint of a blush crept up his neck. "I'm the lucky one," he said, glancing toward the front of the church where Charlene was chatting with some friends. "Charlene's... she's something special."

As they settled into the pew, the congregation began to quiet down, the hum of conversation fading away. Shayna took a moment to observe the people around her. There were families with small children, elderly couples, and individuals who all seemed to share a deep sense of community and belonging.

Before the program began, Shayna and Jack shared a few more minutes of conversation. She learned that Jack was not only a local rancher, but a local carpenter, known for his meticulous work and honest dealings as well. He had grown up in the area and, like Charlene, had deep roots in the community. From their brief interaction, Shayna could see that Jack was kind-hearted and dependable, traits that would serve him well as Charlene’s husband.

The program began with a service. The minister welcomed everyone with a warm smile, his voice resonating through the hall. The choir began to sing, their harmonies filling the church with a beautiful, uplifting melody. Shayna found herself relaxing, the music soothing her frazzled nerves. She glanced over at Dayton, who caught her eye and gave her a reassuring smile.

After the concert, the congregation slowly made their way to the adjacent hall where the buffet was set up. The hall was adorned with festive decorations—twinkling fairy lights and colorful bunting. Long tables laden with a variety of dishes stretched across one side of the room, and the delicious aromas wafting through the air made Shayna’s stomach rumble in anticipation.

Dayton led Shayna towards the buffet, weaving through the crowd of smiling faces and cheerful chatter. He seemed to know everyone, stopping occasionally to exchange pleasantries and introduce Shayna. She marveled at how effortlessly he navigated these social interactions, his easy-going charm drawing people to him like a magnet.

Charlene and Jack were already in line, chatting animatedly with a group of friends. Charlene spotted Shayna and waved her over. "Come on, Shayna! You have to try Mrs. Anderson’s famous potato salad. It’s the best!"

Shayna joined them, grabbing a plate and scanning the array of dishes. There were glazed hams, roasted turkeys, creamy casseroles, fresh salads, and a variety of homemade breads. The dessert table was equally impressive, with an assortment of pies, cakes, and cookies that looked almost too good to eat.

As they filled their plates, Charlene continued to point out various dishes and share little anecdotes about the people who had prepared them. Shayna found herself laughing and enjoying the sense of camaraderie that filled the room. It was a stark contrast to the often impersonal and hurried meals she was used to in the city.

They found a spot at a large round table near the center of the room. Shayna took a seat between Dayton and Charlene, with Jack sitting across from them. The conversation flowed easily as they dug into their meals. Dayton turned to Shayna, a smile playing on his lips. “So, what do you think of our little community gathering?”

Shayna smiled back, taking a sip of her iced tea. “It’s wonderful. I can see why Charlene loves it here so much. Everyone’s so welcoming.”

Jack nodded in agreement, his eyes sparkling with pride. “That’s the beauty of a small town. Everyone knows everyone, and we all look out for each other.”

Charlene chimed in, her excitement evident. “And it’s going to be even more amazing at the wedding. We’ve got so many people helping out, it’s going to be a real community affair.”

The evening wore on and Shayna and Dayton hung back to help with the clean-up. Shayna and Dayton helped clear the tables, stack chairs, and tidy up the hall. The warm sense of community and shared effort made the task enjoyable, and Shayna found herself laughing and chatting with new acquaintances.

Just as they finished, Brady walked over. His brown eyes twinkled with curiosity and a hint of amusement. Dayton looked up and smiled, greeting him with a handshake and a pat on the back. "Brady, good to see you. How's everything going?"

Brady, Dayton's cousin and the local sheriff, grinned. "Busy, as usual. But things are good." He turned his attention to Shayna, his expression turning friendly. "Hey, Shayna. How have you been holding up?"

Shayna smiled, shaking his hand. "Nice to see you again, Brady. I'm doing well, thank you."

Brady chuckled. "Glad to hear it. Though, how are the repairs coming along with the van?"

Dayton intervened, his tone casual yet concerned. "We've been meaning to get that sorted. With everything going on, it slipped my mind to check on the spares I ordered. Thanks for reminding me, Brady."

Shayna was a bit exhausted from being on her feet longer than usual and on the way back to the ranch, she leaned her head against the seat and sighed with contentment.

Dayton glanced away from the highway to look at her, “Did you have a good time?”

A wide smile curved her lips, “Oh, yes.”

The quietness and the fact that they were alone again began to settle in on Shayna. Trying her best to ignore it, she looked at him and smiled again. “Thank you for taking me. I’ll never forget this night.”

Dayton would always remember it, too. It was a good thing they were already in the driveway at the front of the house; otherwise, Dayton would have simply stopped the pickup on the side of the highway.

“Dayton, what are you doing?” she gasped when he reached for her and pulled her towards him.

“Making damn sure you don’t forget tonight, or me,” he growled softly.

Forget him? How could she, when her heart, every fiber of her being seemed to be beating just for him?

His one hand slid into her hair, while the other cupped the back of her head and urged her face up to his. Shayna couldn’t stop herself and a soft sigh parted her lips and as she caressed his face with a silent invitation.

Dayton let out a low moan and closed the small gap between their lips. Shayna put her arms around his neck, smoothed her hands across his back and sank herself into the heat of his kiss.

Dayton had never tasted anything as sweet and intoxicating as Shayna. Each time he touched her, kissed her, it was like a whole new journey for him. She hadn’t just awakened his sex drive again. No, she’d shaken up everything inside him. And where Dayton had only been existing before, now he felt alive and thirsty for all the things he’d been without. The touch and the love of a woman.

Breaking the contact between their lips, he gasped, “Oh, Shayna! I want to make love to you all over again …”

More than anything, Shayna wanted to simply draw his lips back down on hers, guide his hands to her breasts and let her body show him how much she wanted the same thing. But she couldn’t do that. She had to move on from here, make sure it never followed her or spilled over onto Dayton or his family.

“Dayton, I—don’t go around just having sex with—”

Suddenly his hands were cupping her cheeks, his gray eyes were delving into hers. “Shayna, you’re not hearing me. I didn’t say I wanted to have sex with you. I said I wanted to make love to you.”

Was he trying to say that he loved her? Both joy and fear burst inside her, making an anguished groan slip from her throat.

Laying her palms against both sides of his face, she said softly, “I’m not the same person anymore, Dayton. You—”

Suddenly his hands were on her shoulders, urging her down on the pickup seat. “I don’t want to hear about your time in New York, Shayna. I want to know if you want to make love to me, too?”

With the heat of his body covering hers, his hand cupping her breast, she couldn’t lie to him. How could she say no, when all she could think about was the fire in her body and the exquisite pleasure of having Dayton cool the flames?

“Yes. I do want to make love to you,” she whispered truthfully.

A groan, exultant and deep, ripped from his throat and then his mouth was back on hers, tasting, teasing, begging her to show him exactly what she wanted.

She returned his kiss with a fierce passion. At the same time, Dayton reached for the buttons on her dress. Before he could get the last one undone, he lowered his head to the curved mounds above the cups of her lacy bra.

Shayna gasped as his teeth grazed her soft skin, nipped delicately at her nipples through the thin French lace. Fire was racing along her veins, mounting an attack on her senses and creating an ache inside her such as she’d never known.

“Oh, Shayna. My sweet love,” he mouthed against her, his hand already moving her dress up her thighs.

Far beyond resisting him now, Shayna reached to help him. At the same moment, the sweep of headlights flashed the cab of the pickup.

Dazed, they looked at each other in shock. Finally, it was Dayton who cursed under his breath.

“It’s Mother and Charlene.”

Startled, Shayna pulled the top of her dress together and fumbled as she tried to gracefully exit the pickup. She ignored the shooting pain in her ankle and practically ran into the house and down the hallway to her room long before the other two women parked the car.

Dayton remained in his truck. While he was angry with himself for letting things go so far, he seemed calm. His breaths were ragged and he sucked in long breaths of the cold night air in an effort to calm his racing heart.

The house was dark by the time he decided that he was ready to go in. His body may have been cold on the outside, but there was a fire burning in his body, one that he couldn’t control.