| JC woke on Friday morning and heard the shower running. He smiled as he crawled out of bed and headed downstairs, returning with two mugs of coffee just as the water shut off. Kelci came out of the bathroom a few minutes later with her hair in a ponytail and dressed back in her pajamas. "Good morning, beautiful." "Hi," she smiled and kissed him where he sat on the bed. "Did you know that's actually a song?" "What is?" "Good morning, beautiful. It's a country song, but I don't remember who sings it. What time is our flight again?" "9:05." ************ "Welcome to Kentucky and we thank you for flying US Air." They headed to baggage claim to collect her bag and his two, since he was heading to Orlando on Monday instead of back to LA with her. They found her modest Nissan 200SX in the parking deck where Rachel had said it would be. She drove the 30 minutes to her small apartment and led JC in. "This is nice." "Small, but we like it," Kelci smiled. "My room is this way." He followed her down the small hallway and into the smaller of the two bedrooms. The room was simple, but not plain. "I only have this single bed, but you can sleep here and I'll crash in Rach's room across the hall," Kelci stated as she moved around the little room, taking in the smell of home. "We can share. That way I can keep you close." She smiled up at him from the suitcase she was unpacking and shook her head. "I have room in the closet if you want to unpack and there's room in this drawer for your boxer briefs," Kelci said as she pulled her top drawer open, moving brightly colored underwear to the side. "I need some things from the store. Does garlic chicken Alfredo sound good for dinner?" "Sounds perfect. I'll go to the store with you." "Um...OK. Lemme finish unpacking then we'll go." JC looked around the room and found a small cluster of picture frames on the desk with more on the wall behind it. The ones on the wall contained cast and crew members of her films and all were framed in different colors. There were three frames on the desk. He recognized Rachel and Kelci smiling brightly in their graduation cap and gowns in the matching dynamic red frame. He smiled at the next photo of Rachel, three dogs, and what looked to be Rachel's parents in front of a modest two story house. The last photo, surrounded by the elegant silver frame, was of two thirty-something adults with their arms wrapped tightly around one another. The man had the same facial features as Kelci, but her eyes and smile were all the woman's. "Those are my parents," Kelci whispered as she took the frame from his hands. "It was taken the summer they left us." "You look a lot like your Dad, but that smile I love to see is all your Mom's." "Well...my Dad used to say so, too," she smiled as she replaced the picture. "Let's go check the supplies so we know what we need and make a list." JC sat at the table and jotted down the times she ticked off as she searched the cabinets. He watched her ponytail swing from side to side as she moved and they discussed the food for the weekend. The phone interrupted them a few minutes later and Kelci answered it. "Hello?" "C, you made it home, OK?" Rachel's voice cheerfully met her ears. "Yeah. How's Mississippi?" "Good...great actually. I can't talk long, we're going riding, but I wanted to tell you that the real estate broker is expecting your call about seeing the ranch. His card is on the refrigerator." "OK. Thanks, I'll give him a call." "One thing though," Rachel interrupted. "I told him your last name was Greene. Lance and I thought you'd get a more honest price if he didn't know you have money." "Smart thinkin'. Thank that handsome man by your side for me, please." "C," JC interrupted and she looked up. "Would you want to drive down there on Sunday for shrimp or something? You know, so you can see Rach, too?" "That'd be nice. Hey, Rach! Would you and Lance mind some guests?" Kelci asked with a wink at JC. "I would love to see you guys. Here. Ask the host." "Hello?" the deep friendly voice asked. "Hello, handsome. It's Kelci." "Hey girl! How's it going?" "So far so good. It's nice to be home...JC's is so...comfortable and all....but..." "Somethin' about your own bed," Lance chuckled with understanding. "So..some gulf shrimp sounds really yummy." "Ha! Stop hintin'. When can you get here?" She laughed before replying," Lemme call the real estate guy and talk it over with Josh. Probably just Sunday and Monday, but we'll see. Can I call you back at the number on the caller ID tonight?" "Sounds like a plan. Chat with you then." "OK. Take care of my best friend." "Will do. Bye!" "They are so cute," Kelci smiled as she hung up. "She seems to make him happy." "Shall we shop?" "Let's go. Um...would you mind if I drove?" "Why? Am I a scary driver?" "No," he chuckled as he snagged her keys from the counter. "You are a great driver. It's just a guy thing." She rolled her eyes and dug her VISA check card out of her purse along with her license then followed him out the door, trying to ignore the sudden onset of menstrual cramps. He grabbed his baseball cap and their sunglasses. "You can drive a standard, right?" she questioned as he pushed the button to unarm the car alarm. "Yeah. Ty's porshe is a stick. Relax and navigate." "Take a left then a right at the third light." He drove as instructed, finding the little store with ease, and pulled into an open parking place. They met at the front of the car and he grabbed her hand as they headed into the not so huge store. JC grabbed a cart and Kelci pulled their list from her pocket. They headed down the first aisle, collecting the pasta and sauce. "Kelci! Hello, dear," an older woman hollered from further down the aisle. "Hello, Ms. Pearl. How are you?" "My arthritis is acting up, but what can I do. I saw Love Her. It was very good. I smell an Oscar." The younger woman blushed, "Well...thank you for your confidence. How is your grand baby?" "Oh, he's growing like a weed." "I bet." "And who is this handsome man?" Ms. Pearl asked as she stood shakily. "Oh, how rude of me. Ms. Pearl, Josh Chasez. Josh, Ms. Pearl," Kelci spoke politely, her accent coming out more. "Awe...a nice French man...Louisiana?" Ms. Pearl asked. "Excuse me?" JC asked. "No, Maryland," Kelci laughed and Ms. Pearl continued. "A yankee...a tall, strong yankee...handsome, too...Good choice, Kelci. Would your Daddy like him?" "Yes, ma'am, I believe he would. And Momma would blush when he smiled and complimented her." "Well, it's nice to meet you, dear." "The pleasure has truly been mine, Ms. Pearl." "Oooh...smooth talker. Better hurry on before I snag him for myself," Ms. Pearl blushed and the couple headed past her. Once they were out of earshot, Kelci flung her arms around JC's waist with a laugh as he steered the cart to the meat section. He chuckled too as he reached around to swat her ass. "So...I'm thinkin'....we could be here tonight and tomorrow then drive to Mississippi Sunday early afternoon. What do you think?" JC asked as she picked out chicken for that night. "Sounds like a plan, man. What should we have for dinner tomorrow night?" "Um...how about we go out?" "Well...I thought we could have lunch out today and there's not a huge selection of place to go," Kelci informed. "OK. How about steaks?" "OK." They worked their way through the list until the only thing left was shampoo and Kelci knew of one other thing to pick up. JC steered the cart around the corner of the hygiene section and she winced a little at the young girls in the aisle. "Hey, Josh. Why don't you head up to the check out and I'll grab the shampoo," she offered. "Nah. I'll go with you." "Um...OK...I need something else from this aisle, too." "OK, we'll get it." "No. Look at me. I need something ELSE." He finally realized what she was talking about and smiled appreciatively, "Oh! Um...I'll meet you in line then." She nodded and collected the items she needed before joining him to unload the cart. Ms. Pearl was the only checker and JC quickly moved to sack their groceries as she rang them up. Kelci swiped her card and was waiting to sign the slip when the girls from the shampoo aisle recognized her. "Kelci Andrews! Oh my GOD!" "Um...Hi! How's it going?" Kelci smiled and saw JC steer the cart out the door. "We are all HUGE fans. Are you REALLY in the new Charlie's Angels?" one pretty girl asked with braces on her teeth. "Actually, I'm filming it now, but took the weekend off. Thank you, Ms. Pearl." "It was good seeing you, Kelci," the older woman smiled. "Well...I need to head out," Kelci said as she smiled at the girls. "Oh...OK..Um...could I get your autograph?" the taller blonde girl asked. "Sure." Kelci signed their notebooks then rushed out while they paid for their purchases. JC was waiting just outside the door in the car. She hopped in and he sped off. "Sorry I left you in there," he apologized. "No, that was wise. They were harmless, but with you, who knows?" He drove back to her apartment and they put things away. She grinned when he got the bag with the shampoo and tampons, but he handled himself well, placing both items on the bathroom counter. She stopped what she was doing and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a monstrous kiss. He was a little stunned, but quickly kissed her back. "What was that for?" he asked as he panted a little. "Nothing. Just because." "Whatever. I have a sister and a mom, remember." "Well, yeah. God, I'm starving," she sighed as she looked at the clock. 1:45 p.m. "OK. Lunch rush should be over. Wanna get some grub?" "Yes, ma'am." |