2. Buck
Chapter 2
Buck
“ W ell boys, it’s time for me to meander home,” I said as I stood up.
“See ya later, Buck,” one local, Jim, said. We’ve been meeting up to play cards and darts for the last few years. They didn’t know my past like Mitch or Curtis, but they were good and honest men. “Next time, I’ll beat ya at darts.”
I laughed. “Good luck with that.”
A few other people were leaving when I stepped outside. I walked to my truck and slid into the seat. The cold air bristled with the hint of snow. The last vestiges of the last snowfall peeked around all corners of the city and mountain. I loved this time of year. Others may complain about the cold and snow, but it was my favorite. As my truck trudged up the mountain, I tapped the radio to blast my favorite rock music. The bass rumbled through my body as the growly screams filled the vehicle. The night was shaping up to be perfect. A figure emerged in the middle of the road, startling me. I careened to a stop, grateful there was no black ice on the small road. I jumped out and ran up to the woman.
“What on earth are you doing here?!” I screamed.
The plump woman turned around, her hand pulling her thin jacket tighter against her body. She waved her phone above her head. “Hello. Sorry! I’m trying to find reception. My car broke down a few yards back and I figured this little hill could help.”
I laughed. “You’ll find no service on this part of the mountain. What are you wearing? It’s gonna snow soon.”
She looked up at the sky. “I don’t see anything.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s about to start. I have a guy in town that can fix your car. It’s late. We can’t call him in the morning. He has a newborn and his husband will kill me if I call at this time.”
“Your guy?” she asked in a light tone. She tried to hide a smile behind her hand.
“A friend of mine. He fixes everything for me. He’s had a hard lot the last few years, and he has a baby. Whenever I can send him more work, I send it his way. Where’s your car? You can stay with me for the night.”
“What about the other mechanics?”
“Small town. There aren’t many. Oh, my guy’s not officially a mechanic. Plus, the snow is coming in. The one tow truck company—which is only a father and son—will be prepping all their trucks with snow plows since the city ignores the smaller roads at first. We could call from one of the bigger towns, but it would be longer.”
The stranger rolled her head backwards as she stomped her foot. “I don’t have time for this. Also, what if you are some sort of killer?”
I shrugged. “You want to walk a few miles in this cold to the nearest place? You aren’t dressed for the weather.”
She pouted and crossed her arms. I couldn’t help glancing at how it pushed her luscious breasts together. I shook my head and walked back to my truck. “It’s much warmer inside my truck.”
She huffed and stomped towards my truck. I grinned as she plopped inside my truck. “Fine. But no taking advantage of me. I’m passing through to a job.”
I raised my hands and laughed. “Want me to get your stuff?”
“Yes, please,” she said in a nicer tone. “I’m sorry. I’m stressed. Name’s Mitzi.”
“Like your name. It’s cute, like you.”
She turned away from me. “It shouldn’t be too long to get my stuff with your truck. Guess you didn’t notice my car a few years back?”
“No. I was lost in thought. Sorry. I almost killed you, though. Standing on top of a hill on a curve in the dark was a stupid move.”
I slowly put the car in reverse and meandered backwards. Luckily, I knew these roads so well, I could practically drive them blindfolded. Every curve and valley was imprinted in my mind; I knew them as well as the back of my hand. It didn’t take long to find her car. I stepped out and grabbed her suitcase from the backseat.
Mitzi opened the door and yelled, “Hey, I need my backpack! Front seat.”
I saluted her as I picked it up. “Got it.”
“You’re the best!” she yelled as she shut the door. Dropping her things in the truck's bed, I shambled back to the driver’s seat. As I started the car, a snowflake fell from the sky. I pointed to it.
“Told you it was going to snow,” I said as I drove to my house.
“Ugh, I didn’t hear them say that on the radio when I was driving!”
“You’re in the mountains, love. It snows sometimes.”
“I booked a hotel in thirty minutes away,” she pouted.
“Well, guess you’re going to miss it. Hope you weren’t meeting anyone special. My guy is good, but depending on how bad it is, it’s gonna take a few days.”
Mitzi groaned. “I’m so going to lose my job now. I needed to go interview some people.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I was given this stupid ultimatum. Write a good article or get fired,” she muttered. “I had an idea, but if it’s going to be days…”
“Oh. Here’s my place,” I replied. I parked my truck near the porch. “Nice and toasty inside. I’m Buck, by the way.”
Exiting out of the truck, I could hear her giggles. I walked around the truck, grabbing her items from the bed. She walked to the front porch and waited. “I could have grabbed those.”
I shrugged as I placed them on the porch. “I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I didn’t take them.” Twisting the lock of the door, I opened it. I started to point to the rooms on the first floor. “Kitchen, living room, up that small flight of stairs, my office, the room you’ll stay in, my room.” I bounded up the stairs and pointed to the door. “At the end of the hall is your bathroom.”
I placed her stuff inside her room before turning towards her. Now that we were inside, I could get a good look at her. She was tall and thick all over. She was wearing tight leggings and a loose tee shirt. Her brown hair, pulled back in a messy bun, had escaped strands that tickled her neck, the pink tips catching the light. Her eyes were an emerald green with swirls of brown coming from her pupils and a pert little nose dotted with brown freckles. I grinned down at her.
“When was the last time you ate?” I asked.
“A few hours ago. I had a hot dog from a gas station,” she stammered.
Shaking my head, I gripped her biceps and tugged her down the stairs. “You need proper food or you’ll waste away.”
A barking laugh escaped from her mouth, and she covered it quickly. “Oh, god, sorry.”
I let go of her at the bottom of the stairs and turned. “It’s okay. Good to hear a laugh around here.”
She flashed me a tight smile and nodded quickly. “It’s a bit late to be eating right now. But for real, no one has told me that I’d waste away. Best joke of the day.”
“I’m not joking. Let me take care of you. And if you go to bed with a gas station hot dog in your belly, you’ll likely turn radioactive.”
More of her laughter filled the air, and I smiled. I glanced at her and felt a warm feeling in my chest. It had been so long since I had been by myself with a woman. I had walled myself off from love for so long, and now I was regretting it. Or her presence was showing me how much of a fool I was.