Reaching for her red wine, Rayna sipped it as she read the contracts in front of her. Looking up occasionally she kept an eye on dinner. After leaving Deacon this morning she came home to an empty house. The girls were already at school and after talking to Bucky she had decided that she wasn't needed in the office. It was a rare treat for her to have time for herself, without rushing around after the girls or Highway 65 demanding her attention. Her afternoon was spent pampering herself. A long relaxing soak in the bath was followed by an afternoon spent watching trashy TV. She literally couldn't remember the last time when she indulged in such pointless entertainment. Taking another sip of her wine, she returned her attention to the papers in front of her. Pushing her glasses back up onto her nose, she blew out a sigh of frustration. She had now read this same sentence for what felt like the hundredth time. Drumming her fingers on the bench, she glanced at the clock on the wall. Even though Deacon hadn't specified a time, she had thought he would have been here by now. Truth be told, she missed him. Their lives had seamlessly meshed together, it was like they had never spent anytime apart.
When she called the wedding off, she had told Luke that it wasn't all about Deacon, that she didn't recognise her life anymore. But it was about Deacon. The reason why she didn't recognise her life was that she had alienated Deacon, she had successfully pushed him out of her life. Without his support and guidance her life had rapidly spiraled out of control. It was amazing that Deacon had not only forgiven her but he had welcomed her back into his life. Memories of the dark times with Deacon had always held her back, always made her hesitant to 100% commit to a relationship. She knew that she loved him, and that she would always love him but previously that wasn't enough to overcome her fear. The glimpse of life without Deacon was enough to shake her free of that fear. The realisation that she was traveling down a road without him by her side shocked her out of her stupor. She was sad that she had hurt Luke in the process. She had loved him and she thought it would see her through the rest of her life. Looking back she could see that it was a pale substitute for the real thing.
The sound of the back door opening brought a smile to her face. Spinning around on the bar stool she was greeted with the sight of Deacon strolling into the kitchen. He was wearing a pair of well- worn denim jeans teamed with a cotton green v-neck t-shirt. Her eyes raked over him from head to toe, causing flutters to erupt in her stomach. Flicking her eyes upwards, she licked her lips as he approached her.
His eyes darkened with desire as he walked towards her. Sitting at the kitchen bench, she was wearing a beige polo neck sweater over leggings. He loved it when she dropped her polished look and adopted what he liked to call the 'day off' look. It had been years since he had last had the privilege to see it. Judging from her relaxed persona, he was predicting that she had spent a great deal of time soaking in a bubble bath, followed up with a terrible movie. Unless she had adopted a new routine over the years, a bath and movie was her way of not only pampering herself but of de-stressing. He gathered since she hadn't bothered to try and calm the curls of her hair, she hadn't left the house at all today. The reading glasses were a new addition, making her look even more endearing to him. Resting his arms either side of her, he lent down and placed a tender kiss on her lips. Pulling back he smile warmly at her before kissing her more heartily.
Her arms reached around him, and gently pulled him closer into her. Snuggling closer to him, she rubbed her feet up and down his legs, while her hands in the back pockets of his jeans gently squeezed his butt. Sighing into his mouth, her tongue dueled with his. Relaxing the pressure on his lips, she reluctantly released his lips. Her eyes spoke her delight of having him here. Smiling up at him, she gave his lips another peck before asking, "Hey."
Smiling, his eyes showed his amusement at her casual greeting. Leaning down, he slowly kissed her gradually increasing in passion. Breathing in deeply he inhaled the intoxicating scent that was Rayna. Grudgingly they broke apart, both breathing rapidly.
"Are the girls' home?"
Nodding her head, Rayna ran her hand over his jaw enjoying the feel of him beneath her fingers.
"They are upstairs doing their homework."
Tipping her head slightly to the side, she smiled before continuing, "Though judging from the sound of the guitar I'm guessing Daph is the only one actually doing school work."
Smiling at her insight, Deacon rests his forehead against hers, nuzzling her nose with his.
"How was pamper day?"
Murmuring her answer, Rayna gave him a quick kiss, smiling that he knew her so well. He use to always tease her that whenever they had time off the road that she would retreat away from the world and soak her worries away with a hot bath and a predilection for trash TV.
Sitting down next to her at the bench, he nudged her with his shoulder, "So was it a Xanadu or a 9 to 5 day?"
Laughing, "Um it was a Xanadu type of day! How did the interview go?"
Clearing his throat, Deacon grimaced as he thought back over the interview, "Um ye, good!" Arching an eyebrow in his direction, Rayna fixed him with a look. Deacon rolled his eyes at her before reluctantly relaying details. "It was what it was. Just your basic sort of interview, you know how it goes. They ask the run of the mill questions, then flattered you hoping that you will give up some sordid details. Luckily I learned from the best."
"Hmm, I wouldn't have thought that Candy would go easy on you. She had some forceful techniques when she interviewed me" Rayna said as she got up and checked on dinner.
"Ha! That she does, but she was very professional"
Rayna turned and gave Deacon a knowing smile, her lips twitching.
"Hmm right! Um, did you want a drink or something?"
Shaking his head, he traced a pattern on the counter avoiding eye contact with Rayna. He knew he would have to tell her that not only was she right about Candy being attracted to him, but that she actually made a pass at him. Leaning down on the opposite side of the bench to him, Rayna watched as Deacon avoided looking at her.
"So what really happened during the interview?"
Flicking his eyes towards her, he could tell that she was amused by his reluctance to discuss it. "Nothing much really."
Raising her eyebrows once more at him, she level her gaze at him and waited. Tapping his fingers against the counter top once more, he sighed before stating, "You were right."
Biting down on her lip, Rayna tried to control her laughter. Deacon looked so uncomfortable, she could tell he was embarrassed by what had occurred. His eyes remained fixed on the surface before him as he relayed Candy's behaviour during the interview. Rayna tried to maintain a sympathetic look on her face, but all she wanted to do was laugh. Deacon was always uncomfortable being the centre of attention, even when that attention was from an attractive female. Dragging his eyes upwards he risked a look at Rayna. Her eyes danced with amusement, while her lips were quivering as she struggled not to smile at him.
"Oh come on Ray, it's not funny."
Rayna could no longer contain her laughter. The look on Deacon's face just made her laugh even louder, he looked so offended by her lack of sympathy.
"I'm sorry Deacon but I did try to warn you." A grin twitched at the corner of his mouth, as he watched Rayna struggling to control herself.
Getting up from his chair he walked slowly around the kitchen bench towards Rayna. Attempting to maintain a serious look on his face, he stalked towards her. Rayna backed up as Deacon advanced on her, holding her arm out in an attempt to get him to keep his distance, she pleaded
"Come on now, you must admit it is kinda funny."
"Ray, there is nothing funny about being viewed as a sex symbol!"
Hearing this she abandoned all attempts of controlling her laughter. Wiping the tears from her face, she tried to answer him but every time she looked at him she started laughing again. Pinning her against the fridge, his arms locked alongside her he looked down at her, a smile on his face. Leaning down, his lips whisper soft against hers as he said,
"So it's ok that she kissed me?"
His kiss silenced any response from her. Pulling back slowly he smiled as she stood there staring at him with her mouth open, a look of shock on her face.
"She what?"
Giving her a crooked grin, he turned to walk away from her, a smug look on his face. Rayna recovered from the shock of what he just told her and grabbed the back on his t-shirt as he attempted to get away from her.
"Hang on, she did what?"
"She kissed me."
Rayna blinked at him with a confused look on her face,
"But…"
Sighing to himself, Deacon told her how Candy had kissed him as they were leaving and propositioned him. Rayna stared at him, struggling to put the pieces together. Frowning, she asked
"So….umm what did you say?"
Smoothing his fingers along her frown lines he smiled at her,
"I told her that I wasn't the same person she knew all those years ago and that it was unprofessional."
Smiling at his answer, Rayna nodded.
"You know you are awfully cute when you get jealous."
Rayna slapped his chest,
"I'm not jealous, I just don't trust her."
Smiling at her, he pulled her against him,
"Sure Ray"
"I'm not"
Kissing her, he spun her around and swayed their bodies to the Nina Simone cd she had playing. Rayna squealed in shock at being spun around the kitchen.
"You have nothing to worry about Ray, why would l want someone else when I have everything I ever wanted right here in my arms."
Beaming a large smile at him, she tightened her grip on him and kissed him softly. Whispering against his lips,
"Oh I'm not worried."
Standing in the doorway Maddie watched her parents. Seeing them joking around and having fun made her realise how much was missing when her Mom was with Luke. Maddie had been resistant to liking Luke but she had finally come around. Luke was a good person and he did make her Mom happy. But seeing her Mom with her Dad, Maddie could see the difference in her. Smiling she continued to watched them swaying to the music. Hearing Daphne coming down the stairs she turned to stop her sister before she burst into the kitchen. Hugging Daphne, they both watched in silence the scene in the kitchen. Daphne whispered, "I've never seen Mom look so happy." Squeezing her sister tightly, Maddie whispered back, "Me neither."
Backing up a tad, the girls proceeded to make a lot of noise as they entered the kitchen. Deacon lowered Rayna onto the ground as they both turned to watch Maddie and Daphne enter. "Deacon," Daphne screamed as she rushed over to hug him. Maddie smiled at her sister as she lent in and gave her father a hug.
"How long till dinner Mom?"
"Umm, not long. How about you set the table while l finish up here."
"Miss Daphne, how about me and you get out of the kitchen before we get given chores?"
Grabbing her hand, Deacon spun Daphne around before bring her back to him.
"Can I have this dance?" he asked her.
Giggling her response, she wrapped her little arms around him. Deacon lifted her slightly so that she was standing on his feet, and then danced them out of the kitchen. Rayna smiled at them, her heart bursting with love for Deacon. Not only had he embraced being a father to Maddie, but he had also showered Daphne with love. Standing there with a huge smile on her face, she watched as Deacon and Daphne laughed at each other. Feeling Maddie standing next to her Rayna wrapped her arms around her eldest daughter, kissing the top of her head. Maddie squeezed her back, whispering "Love you."
