City Grown Willow – Part 2

Romy woke the next morning with a smile and for the first time in years, it wasn't fake. Dean had damn near swept her off her feet after only 24 hours of knowing him, and she had no idea what to expect today. All he had told her was to swing by his place around eleven. She took her time showering and getting dressed; slipping into a comfortable sundress, all the while thinking about their night before. They ate, and they talked about everything and nothing all at the same time. He learned about her drunk, overbearing mother and she learned about the strained relationship he had with his father. She told him about her big break, and he told her about life outside of the city. Dean had left her cabin at close to 10PM, neither of them really wanting the night to end, but knowing that any longer and the temptation to let the night extend into the morning would be too strong.

Romy had to remind herself that this wasn't what she came here for. This was supposed to be a relaxing time alone, to reflect, not to get over Oliver by get under someone else. But ugh…he was beautiful, and kind, and more of a man than any she'd met in her circle of friends.

Her stomach flipped when she got to his door. When she knocked, he called out for her to come in, and she crossed the threshold. The first thing that she noticed was the smell...it was heavenly. The next thing she noticed was the island covered in food. Strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple, bacon, toast, hashbrowns and eggs frying in the pan. And then there was Dean, in the midst of it all, looking just as delicious.

"Hey Romy, just in time. Breakfast is ready." He gestured for her to sit at the island, and she did, looking at all the food with wide eyes. "Oh no…you aren't a vegan or something, are you?"

She laughed hopping onto the stool. "Are you kidding? I grew up in Texas."

He chuckled. "'Nough said."

"So…did you invite an army over for breakfast?" she joked picking at a strip of bacon.

His eyes landed on hers roguishly. "I have a big appetite."

Her cheeks flushed in response to his double meaning. "I'll be sure to remember that."

…

He poured her more coffee as they finished up, and Romy leaned against the back of her stool. "That was amazing. I haven't had a home cooked meal like this in weeks."

"Well, I'm not the best cook, but breakfast…I can do breakfast." He cleared the plates, dropping them in the sink. "My mom was a nurse when I was a kid and my dad worked graveyards, so on the nights she was working I took care of my brother. And he-" he broke off in a short laugh. "He loved it because he knew that meant breakfast for dinner. That kid sure could put away some pancakes." She watched him as he reminisced about his childhood. "Good times." He added sipping his coffee.

"You two are pretty close?" She asked canting her head to the side.

"Yeah, he knows me better than anyone. And we've been through a lot together, you know, with my dad. He was always harder on Sam, and I couldn't help but defend him. It didn't always make things easier between me and my dad, but…he's my brother." He concluded, as if that was reason enough.

Romy smiled, reaching across and putting her hand over his. "He's lucky to have you in his corner then." He smiled, squeezing her hand affectionately. "So what now? Clean up? Hit the lake?"

"Oh…" he winced. "Actually, I have to head into town. Run some errands." His tone was regretful, and if he had it his way, he'd spend the rest of the day doing what ever she wanted.

Romy blinked. "Oh, yeah, sure! Of course…I'm sorry!" she rambled back tracking in embarrassment. "You aren't here solely to entertain me…obviously. I'll get out of your hair." She shook her head feeling stupid for her assumption. She was having so much fun, she forgot the circumstances.

She was just slipping off the stool when Dean rushed around the island grabbing her arm gently. "Or…" He hesitated. "You could come with me. If you want."

"Really?"

He grinned big. "Yeah, I mean, it's not anything that exciting, but I wouldn't mind the company. Especially yours." Dean added pulling her closer to him until she was flush against his chest.

How did he turn her into a giddy school girl with one look? "Okay." She breathed as he leaned down to kiss her. "I have to change though."

He looked down at what she was wearing in confusion. "I think you look beautiful just the way you are." He answered genuinely.

"Thanks…but this is a bit conspicuous." She rolled her eyes up with a wave of her hand. "It's a whole thing."

…

Dean waited in the living room as Romy got changed in the bedroom. "You know, not everyone in this town lives under a rock, like I do." He joked. "I understand if you aren't comfortable going into town."

"No, I want to!" She called out through the door. "Plus, I like to think I've mastered my disguise over the years."

Dean chuckled to himself. "Oh yeah? How's that?"

Romy emerged. "Hobo Chic. What do you think?" She struck a pose pushing her black cat-eye sunglasses down her nose to look at him.

Dean smiled. Her hair was tossed into a pair of messy braids but her head was covered in a black ballcap. She wore her hiking boots, jean shorts, an old white tee and a worn oversized plaid button up overtop. Even when she was dressing down, she looked amazing.

She was starting to feel nervous under his gaze. "What? Is it too much?"

He shook his head, striding up to her. "You're adorable." His hands found her hips.

Romy tipped her head up to look at him. "Think anyone will recognize me?"

"How would I know…I live under a rock remember." He teased back. She shoved him playfully and he had to wonder why it was so easy with her. Dean spent years barely even entertaining the thought of having a new woman in his life and now here he was with the most fascinating woman he'd ever met…and she wanted him.

…

The trip into town was a lot more fun than she expected it to be. They joked, they laughed, he showed her around and she fell in love with the charm of the small-town life. They parted for the rest of the day while Dean tended to the grounds and Romy took the time to take in the lake and relax, but her thoughts didn't stray far from him. The things Dean made her feel…she didn't even know she could feel about someone again. But the reality of everything was starting to set in. She would be gone in less than two weeks, and then it was back to the chaos of her life. It was enough to make her want to hide out here forever.

The next few days passed with a standing breakfast date. It was so comfortable and normal that she had to wonder if it was always supposed to be this easy or was he different somehow? With Oliver, it seemed like everything was a struggle; everyday was a fight waiting to happen and she was constantly picking her battles. And on the days that they didn't fight…he barely acknowledged she was there. But she was lucky, they said. Lucky that he would he would even look her way when he could have any woman he wanted. Not like it stopped him anyways.

"Hey Sammy." He greeted his brother with a surprised smile. He darted a look inside, keeping the door halfway closed. "I wasn't expected to see you today."

"Hey man, well we missed you up at the ranch yesterday. The girls were looking forward to seeing you." Sam mentioned casually.

Dean's eyes closed as he remembered. "Oh shit…sorry. Something came up and it totally slipped my mind." He darted a glance behind him again. "Look, now's not really the best time."

An amused smirk pulled on the younger Winchester's lips. "This wouldn't have anything to do with the girl you took into town the other day, would it?"

Dean tried to play it off nonchalantly. "Not sure what you're talking about."

Sam chuckled. "Oh come on Dean. You can't lie to me! Jessica said she saw you two at the market. But…" Sam shook his head with disbelief. "She said she could have sworn she recognized her."

"Sammy…it's not a big deal." He pressed.

"Dean, she said it was Romy Page." Sam laughed. "She's crazy, right? I mean, there's no way…" But the look on his brother's face said otherwise; resigned, silent, avoiding his stare. "You're kidding."

Dean held a palm up, telling him silently to keep it down. "Look…she's staying in one of gran's cabin's, okay? And…" he trailed off deciding how much he wanted to divulge. "We've kinda been hanging out." Ultimately, he chose to keep the details to himself.

"You? And Romy Page? Perfect Strangers, Underland…that Romy Page?" Sam's brows raised high on his forehead, completely unsatisfied by his brother's offhand response. "Hanging out? Yeah, I don't buy that. What the hell would a woman like that see in you, anyhow?" he teased playfully, giving Dean's shoulder a shove.

"You'd be surprised." The coquettish response came from behind the older Winchester. "It's okay, Dean." She reassured coming to stand beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You must be Sam. Dean's told me a lot about you." She held her hand out for him to shake, and he took it, snapping out of his stunned stare.

"Wow, hi! You are much tinier in person." He rambled off nervously, suddenly star-struck. "You could fit in the palm of my hand. Like Thumbelina." He Sam and Romy both chuckled at his joke but it earned a deadpanned glare from his brother, begging him silently to be cool. Sam cleared his throat. "Sorry. So, you're staying here?" he changed the subject quickly.

Romy nodded. "Yeah, just for a couple weeks. Your brother has been nice enough to show me around." She smiled up at Dean, who returned it easily.

Sam watched the exchange with surprise. It had been a long time since he'd seen his brother smile like that; so long that he almost forgot what it looked like. "Well, no one knows these mountains better than him, so I'd say you're in good hands."

Romy scoffed quietly to herself. And don't I know it. "Well, hey it looks like you're just in time for breakfast. And the way Dean tells it…" she shot the man in question a sly smirk. "If I want any of the good dirt, you're the guy to talk to." They let Sam in, and made their way to the island.

Sam scoffed. "Oh you want stories? I've got stories." He grinned mischievously, rubbing his hands together.

…

Before they knew it, the three of them were laughing; Romy almost in tears and Dean rolling his eyes indulgently as Sam did his best to bring up every embarrassing or ridiculous story from their childhood.

"No way…" She giggled out between laughs. "I have a hard time picturing that."

Sam chuckled. "Oh it was hilarious! Highest pitched scream I've ever heard."

Dean shot his brother a glare before turning back to Romy. "Okay, for context…it was the middle of the night, we were we all alone in the house, and I was twelve!" He finished defensively.

Romy bit her lips to conceal her laughter. "It was a cat."

"Well, I didn't know that!" They all dissolved back into laughter again.

The ringing of her cell phone cut through the air. "Oh, it's my agent. I have to take this." She placed a kiss on Dean's cheek as she passed, heading out to the porch for some privacy.

Sam and Dean both watched her go. "Well, she's great." Sam commented turning back to Dean.

"Yeah she is." Suddenly his face dropped, and he busied himself with tidying up as a way of distraction, which was noticed by his brother.

Sam narrowed his eyes, observing. "I haven't seen you look at a woman like that since-"

Dean's head shot up, a dark look in his eyes. "Don't."

"I'm just saying, Dean." He waited a beat, choosing his next words carefully. "You like her."

"Of course I like her." He grumbled back.

"But…" Sam prodded.

"But nothing."

The younger Winchester sighed. He was used to seeing his brother clam up when talking about his feelings. "Have you told her yet?"

"Told her what?" Dean knew what he was getting at, but he stalled, buying the time for a response.

"You know what." Sam waited for Dean to stop what he was doing and meeting his resolved stare. "Jo."

Running his hand over his face tiredly he sighed. "What would be the point, Sam? In a week, she'll be on a plane back to California…and I'll still be here. I'd rather not complicate it. We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow, right?" His words completely betrayed how he truly felt but his brother was a dog with a bone.

Sam was unimpressed. "Is everything a Bob Seger song to you?"

Dean gave him a flat stare. "Yes. You know this." He dropped his gaze to the counter, before meeting Sam's eyes seriously. "Look, could I get used to having her around, hell yeah. Do I think it's gonna happen…?" he trailed off regretfully, but guarded. "She has a whole other life, Sammy. One that I wouldn't fit in." he exhaled heavily. "So, it is what it is."

Sam felt for him; he really did. Life hadn't handed him the best cards, and every time he was close to getting something he wanted, it was ripped from him. But Dean took it all, shoved it down and pasted on a smile. He hoped for his brother's sake that this time would be different.

…

Sam left, leaving Romy and Dean alone, and despite his pleasant tone and easy smile, she could tell there was something wrong. She came up behind him at the kitchen counter, snaking her arms around his waist, and resting her cheek on his shoulder blade.

"Hey…everything okay?" she asked softly.

He wondered how she knew. "Yeah sweetheart, I'm fine." He flashed her a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Really? Because it's okay if you aren't. I mean…I'm not." That made him turn to face her with a concerned frown. "Talking to my agent…it just reminded me that I have to leave here. And I really don't want to." She looked up at him with sadness in her eyes, tears threatening to fall. He reached up to caress her cheek and Romy nuzzled into it. "I like you Dean."

He swallowed, feeling relieved and torn all at once. "I like you too. But-"

She cut him off with a shake of her head. "Can we not make some kind of excuse as to why this won't work? Can we just pretend like that's enough?" she asked pleadingly.

Dean hated that she was feeling just as conflicted over this as he was. It would have been easier if she was the one to give it a clean break. He could walk away knowing for a few moments he almost had it all. "If that's what you want." He responded in a raspy tone.

Something changed in her eyes, and she stepped back, unzipping her sweater and dropping it to the floor. "I want you." Dean watched in awe as she slowly undressed in front of him, her eyes never leaving his. She kicked her clothes to the side, standing in only her bra and panties before him. "What do you want?"

Dean didn't waste another second. He closed the small distance between them, lifting her easily into his arms as he crushed his lips to her desperately. Romy clung to him just as eagerly, moaning as his hands roamed up and down her back; one burying in her hair and the other gripping her ass and grinding her into him. He ignited a fire in her that tickled every nerve ending in her body, and had her sodden with desire. Dean was already hardening in his jeans as she rolled her hips over him, and he carried her effortlessly up the stairs to the loft.

He dropped her with a soft bounce on the bed, and he took a moment to commit the vision of her laid out before him to his memory; her chest heaving in the confides of her bra, legs splayed open invitingly, her dark hair spread around his white sheets and catching the sunlight like chocolate gold. Romy was staring up at him with her bottom lip caught between her teeth, and he shed his shirt and jeans with steadfast resolve before crawling up her body, kissing and caressing as he went.