The Atwood Ranch was located on a winding dirt road about twenty minutes outside of Ennis, Texas.

It wasn't a very big city; a suburb of Dallas, it had a population of less than 20,000. Even with the growing number of chain restaurants and big brand stores, it definitely still had that small town feel whenever I drove through.

"You can look through my CDs if you want," John said suddenly, breaking through another long stretch of silence between us. He looked at me for a second, seeming to realize how silent he was being and looking almost apologetic about it.

"Alright," I said softly, opening the compartment he'd motioned to and grabbing the leather case. His collection was very varied, from classic rock to outlaw country, with some more mainstream country mixed in. I saw Tim McGraw on a CD cover and immediately made a grab for it.

"I haven't listened to his latest stuff all that much," John pointed out when the first track on the CD started to play.

"He's so great! I went to see him live a couple years ago - I was a junior in high school so about seventeen... Anyway, I went with my best friend and a couple of other people... Brad Paisley is another one I like, I got to see him live more recently... again with Maisy... He puts on a good show..." I grinned, leaning back into the seat and watching him.

His seat was pushed back to accommodate his long legs; he seemed so confident and at ease on the road, with one hand gripping the wheel and his other arm, the one closest to me, resting lazily against the armrest. His fingers were drumming against the leather to the beat coming from his radio.

He remained silent, his dark eyes hidden underneath the sunglasses he wore.

"Never been to a concert before," he said finally, his expression unwavering.

"I only started goin' to them when I was a teenager," I admitted. "I suppose they do get pretty loud, and being as short as I am... plus with my luck... I usually end up standing behind this really tall guy with his girlfriend on his shoulders or somethin'," I laughed.

"Who's your favorite artist?" John asked me. I was surprised, it wasn't like him to attempt to push a conversation forward.

"Oh gosh, that's a tough one," I laughed. "Um... I want to say Luke Bryan, but that's just so cliché... I suppose in terms of lyrics... Some of Brad Paisley's older stuff is pretty amazing... Then and We Danced... they'd make the perfect weddin' songs... His newer, goofier stuff is great too... I love all of the songs on his latest album..." I rambled, feeling myself flush. He probably didn't really want to know all of this.

"So you're into all of that cheesy romance stuff," John chuckled. It was more a fact than a question. I ducked my head and let my blonde waves act as a curtain to hide my blush. "Nothin' wrong with that, don't get me wrong... so am I," he added and I regretted not looking at him then to gauge his expression.

Was he trying to flirt with me?

I was too caught off-guard to respond and he didn't speak either, so another long stretch of silence fell between us, with nothing but the music to keep me from completely losing my mind.

Fortunately, we arrived downtown soon after and I quickly escaped the confines of his truck. The sun was blazing and the air was a little muggy, but still I felt as though I could breathe ten times easier. He was really doing a number on me, and the worst part of it is... I was pretty sure he knew.

I couldn't tell if he felt the same way or if he was just humoring me. Was I still just some cute little kid to him that kept following him around everywhere?

"That way," John said after we'd entered the store and he took a few moments to look up at the signs above the different aisles.

He seemed to know exactly what he was doing and where he wanted to go, way more than I did, so I followed him, the smell of plants, rubber and metal hitting me full force.

"This," he told me after turning into a specific aisle and walking about halfway through. "...is what we're lookin' for. You've got a bunch of different sizes... so you've got to be careful... you need the 1 ¼ ones... these ones here..." he instructed, picking a carton off the shelf.

"Okay, you seem to know your stuff, I trust you," I said softly, smiling.

We grabbed a few other things while we were there and then went to the office supplies store just a few streets down, making one final pit stop at the music store so that John could get some new guitar strings.

"I didn't know you played," I said dumbly.

"I never took any formal lessons or anythin', it's all just self-taught," he shrugged.

"Even more impressive," I told him, wondering if he could sing too. "I played the saxophone in high school for a semester... and by 'play' I mean I blew in it hoping to God some kind of sound would come out and that it wouldn't be too awful," I giggled.

"I've never been much for wind instruments either," John chuckled.

Music seemed to be a good topic of discussion for us; John had this energy about him when he talked about it, and for once he seemed to have more than just two or three words to say. It was refreshing to listen to him, and kind of endearing really.

We ended up driving to Buck's after that; it was a small, locally-owned bar and grill with live entertainment pretty much every night - mostly local talent, but every once in a while we'd get some slightly bigger names.

"I haven't been here in years," John drawled. "Still looks the same," he added. The old, brick building definitely did look a little out of place nestled between all of the newer businesses with all of their fancy neon signs, but that was probably the best thing about Buck's: it was timeless... it was... home.

We entered the bar together and immediately my gaze fell on the pretty blonde waitress behind the counter; she was busy talking to a customer and only noticed me a few seconds later.

As it was the middle of the lunch hour, the line was quite long. John stood in front of me, tall, brooding and silent as he waited. I watched as he was called over by a redheaded waitress, and my eyes shifted away when I saw the flirty smile on her face.

I shouldn't be jealous, but I kind of was.

"Hey Carly," the pretty blonde waitress greeted me when my turn finally came. I made my way over to her.

"Hey! I forgot you were workin' today," I grinned.

Maisy was my best friend since childhood and, technically speaking, my second cousin. She'd never met her dad - my mother's first cousin - however, so her ties to my side of the family were pretty much clipped at the root.

She was taller than me by a couple inches, but still considered short by normal standards. She was a very pretty blonde with the most beautiful and intense eyes I'd ever seen; they were a greenish blue, the same color as the summer waves crashing on the coast.

"Who's that hot guy you came in with?" she asked in a hushed whisper, glancing rather obviously in John's direction. In the time it took for me to get to my turn in line, he'd already ordered and made his way over to a table for two.

"He used to work for my dad," I replied, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "He came back yesterday lookin' for his old job back... He was in the army for a while," I explained, feeling the need to explain myself for some reason.

"Holy shit, is he the guy?" Maisy squealed. I glared at her, silently urging her to keep her voice down. "The one with the dog tags?" she added excitedly.

"Yes," I blushed.

"Oh my God," Maisy gushed.

"Yes, I crushed on him, now shut up about it, okay? I was just a kid," I told her hastily, cursing my eleven year-old self for trusting my best friend, and for not realizing that this kind of embarrassing information would only come back to bite me in the butt.

"Hon, that wasn't just a crush; you wanted to flippin' marry the guy," Maisy smirked, glancing over towards the table John was occupying; she beamed at the older man and when his eyes darted up to meet hers, she actually waved.

John glanced behind his shoulder, and then looked really awkward for a second when he realized she was waving at him. He seemed unsure how to react.

"He's adorable," Maisy giggled.

"Just give me my usual," I grumbled, wagging my debit card in front of her.

"Aye, aye," Maisy grinned. "So what's he like?" she added.

"Oh my God, please, let's just not," I sighed.

"Would you rather I ask him myself?" Maisy wriggled her brows, and knowing her I knew better than to doubt her. She really would go up to him and it'd be all kinds of embarrassing for me.

"Fine... he doesn't talk much... but then he does open his mouth and it's like... I don't know... He's not what you'd expect, y'know? He looks like this guy you really don't want to mess with..." I trailed off, thinking of his impressive build and all of the scars. "But in reality he's just this big ol' dork," I giggled.

"Sexy dorks are the best kind. Snag him up girl, before I decide I want a piece of that ass," Maisy grinned.

"Oh my God, I don't even know why I'm best friends with you... I'm not gonna just... never mind, it's not like that," I rolled my eyes. "Besides, I think Darryl might object," I added, gesturing towards the engagement ring adorning her left hand.

"Right, him," Maisy said with a careless wave, as if only now recalling that she already had her own fella at home. "I'm kiddin', I'll keep mine... but seriously, have some fun... even if it's just rebound, what's the harm?" she shrugged.

"It's not rebound. I'm way over David," I shrugged. He was my ex-boyfriend; we dated on and off all throughout high school, and to be honest I was miserable the whole time we were together. He wasn't good for me, and it took me way too long to realize it.

A middle-aged woman cleared her throat behind me and I realized how long I'd been standing there, just talking. I blushed.

"Sorry, I'll be right with you," Maisy said, although I could tell by the expression on her face that she would have liked to tell the woman to kindly fuck off.

Maisy was very lovable like that.

"Thanks," I smiled when Maisy finally handed me my Tuscan chicken sandwich and an iced tea. "Text me after your shift," I added quickly before making my way over to John, feeling her gaze on the back of my head the whole way there.

A/N: Hey guys! So it's the weekend and I have no homework, so hopefully y'all can expect some more chapters to come your way over the next three days!

This is supposed to be a light, feel-good read, so that's why the chapters aren't very long. I do apologize for things being a little slow at the moment... I'm still in the "introducing the characters and setting the scene" part of the novel... but have no fear, soon enough things will pick up!

I've been dedicating these chapters to people that have read, voted and/or commented on LTH, so check them out if you have the chance, they're all definitely worth it! This chapter goes out to erosfully, who I met briefly in the forums. :)