Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Zita had never been so horny. She hated that word.
It sounded like something a teenager would use in some cheesy eighties movie.
But that’s what she was. She’d spent every night but one hanging out with Sage in the last week.
He’d asked her to stay in town while the crew packed up the set and moved to the other side of the state, and she’d happily agreed.
They’d finished the original three Star Wars movies and moved on to the more recent ones.
She had to agree with him that the older movies had a certain…
something that the newer ones didn’t. But she still enjoyed the storylines and was now a total fan.
That could be because of the person she’d been watching the movies with though. Sage took the time to explain things she didn’t understand, and he didn’t give her crap when she teared up during sad or poignant scenes.
But the best part of the last week was getting to know Sage better.
She enjoyed spending time in his company, and the more she was around him, the more she liked the man.
She felt giddy pretty much at all times when they were together…
and heated, as if her blood was hotter than it should be when they sat together in his big ol’ chair.
His hand on her leg felt like a brand, and it was all she could do not to rip off her shirt and beg him to have his way with her.
But she was also enjoying the pace they’d set. She felt no pressure to sleep with him. Urgency and desire, yes. Pressure, no.
She hadn’t spent the night again, even though she kind of missed waking up in his arms in the middle of the night.
She’d never had such a compulsion to sleep with another person before.
She preferred her space. Liked being able to spread out in bed.
To not have to worry about someone else when she rolled over in the middle of the night.
But she was beginning to realize she’d only preferred that because she’d never been with someone like Sage.
Someone who made her feel safe simply by being in his presence.
Now, they were leaving for the other side of the state.
For a town called Fallport. It would be their home base for the next part of filming.
Everything she’d read online about the town made it seem like an awesome little community.
A few years ago they were made famous because a paranormal show about Bigfoot was filmed there, and someone from the cast was murdered.
They now had an annual Bigfoot expo, and the gazebo in the middle of town had a permanent chainsaw carving of Bigfoot proudly displayed beside it.
They were also known for something called Pickleport, a summer festival complete with a parade and booths and everything a small-town event should have. It sounded like a Hallmark movie town come to life, and Zita couldn’t wait to see and experience it for herself.
Almost all of the crew for the movie was staying at the Mangree Motel and RV Park.
It sounded hokey and cheap, but the pictures online made it seem charming and quaint.
There was even a pool, though it wasn’t open yet.
The production company had rented out the entire motel for the crew, but Logan Striker and Harry Grubbner would be staying at a bed and breakfast called Chestnut Street Manor.
It was really the only “high end” place to stay in Fallport.
Zita didn’t feel slighted by that, however.
The only other options for the crew were a couple of chain hotels out by the highway, farther away from the quaint little town.
And she’d much rather stay at a local establishment that put money in the hands of small business owners than a huge corporation.
Fallport also had one of those big box stores near the main highway that led into town, as well as some chain restaurants, but she was most excited to see the town square and all the locally owned businesses.
The bakery, the bar, the used bookstore.
And especially the coffee shop. The diner also looked amazing; the stained-glass window in the front was a work of art, and she bet it looked even more beautiful in person.
All-in-all, she was looking forward to this shoot more than any other she’d been on. And it wasn’t just because of the location—which was much better than some warehouse where sets had been built—but because of the man she’d get to spend even more time with.
When he’d asked her to stay in town, Sage had also offered to drive her to Fallport, instead of Zita taking the bus the film company had rented.
The equipment had been sent out days ago, along with most of the crew.
All that was left was transporting the few employees who’d stayed behind in Norfolk, doing online prep for the upcoming on-location shoot.
She took him up on his offer without hesitation.
She’d been in a car with Sage several times in the last week, but figured spending a few hours with him on the road would tell her even more about his personality.
Did he speed excessively? Did he get overly pissed at other drivers around him?
Did he text while driving? All things that would turn her off and might give her second thoughts about getting involved with the man.
Who was she kidding? She was already “involved.”
He was the first person she thought of when she woke up and, because of his habit of texting her to say good night, the last person she thought of before she fell asleep.
And she didn’t think she had anything to worry about with him behind the wheel of his Jeep.
The man was a freaking Night Stalker helicopter pilot.
Of course, the two weren’t exactly the same, but she doubted he’d be so great at his job, and then be an asshole on the road.
Her bags were packed and she was waiting for him when he pulled up to the motel. She had a goofy grin on her face, but she couldn’t help it. She was so looking forward to spending much more time with him this week, since he’d be on the set full-time, rather than spending all day on the naval base.
He was also grinning as he got out of his Jeep and came toward her.
He grabbed both her large and small suitcase, making them seem way lighter than she knew they were, and she shifted her backpack and purse on her shoulder as she followed him to the back of the vehicle.
His duffel bag was already there. Then he moved to the passenger side and held open the door for her.
He’d done that every time he’d picked her up, and it never failed to make her feel all warm and gooey inside.
It was a five-hour trip to Fallport, and everyone involved in the movie had an orientation and logistics meeting later that afternoon.
All told, it took six and a half hours to make it to the small town at the base of the Appalachian mountains, after a stop for lunch and because traffic getting out of Norfolk was horrendous. But for once, Zita didn’t mind.
She and Sage talked nonstop. She felt as if she knew him even better by the time they were pulling into the Mangree Motel’s parking lot.
Just as she hoped he knew her better, as well.
They’d talked about everything from their childhoods, their parents, how she got interested in being an EMT and involved in the movie industry, to how difficult the training and tests were to become a Night Stalker.
She’d also learned more about Laryn and Mandy, and the awful things they’d been through.
She was even more impressed with the two women than she’d been before, and that was saying something.
What they’d each experienced was horrific, and Zita was so glad they had men like their boyfriends, who were there for them both during and after their ordeals.
Zita met Sage at the front of the Jeep and they walked into the small office at the Mangree together. There was an older woman behind the desk, and she greeted them with a huge smile.
“Hi, I’m Edna. My husband and I welcome you to the Mangree. We’re so happy you’re here.”
“Thanks! I’m Zita Darlington, and this is Obadiah Engle,” she said.
“Hmmm, I’ve got Zita on the list, but I’m so sorry…I’m not seeing you,” Edna replied with a frown, looking at Sage.
“It’s probably under Obi-Wan,” he said.
“Oh! You’re right. My husband and I kind of chuckled when we got the list of names. Obi-Wan, like Elvis or Prince. Only one name, huh?”
Zita giggled.
“Something like that. Except I’m not a famous musician.”
“And you’re not dead,” Edna deadpanned, her gaze roaming up and down his body in appreciation.
Zita couldn’t hold back another chuckle. Edna had to be in her seventies, and the way she was eyeballing Sage was hilarious.
To his credit, he didn’t seem uncomfortable in the least.
“I’m going to put you in room twelve, it’s right next to the office,” the woman told Zita.
“It’s nice and safe. If you need anything, you can come here.
We’ve hired a trustworthy young man to work the overnight shift.
He’s a gamer,” she added in a whisper. “Plays Dungeons and Dragons almost all night, says he’s thrilled that he gets paid to do what he loves. ”
“Cool,” Zita said with a smile.
“And you, young man, are in room twenty-two.”
“That’s fine,” Sage said.
“It’s too bad it’s too early for the Bigfoot Expo or the Pickleport Festival. They both take place in the summer, and this place is packed with tourists. But then again, it’s probably for the best, as the motel would be all booked up. We’re happy for the revenue your movie is bringing to the area.
“There are little fridges in your rooms, and microwaves too. We don’t allow toasters or hot plates, as there was a small incident a few years ago where the entire motel almost burned down after a guest left the burner on and placed a few plastic bags too close to the thing.
“We have no restaurant here at the Mangree, but you can’t go wrong with Sunny Side Up in town.
Or the Sweet Tooth, our local bakery. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that Grinders has the best coffee and fancy coffee-flavored drinks on this side of the state.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Here are your keys.”
She handed over two real metal keys, not the plastic key cards that so many motels and hotels had moved to.
Zita took it and smiled at the woman. The Mangree Motel might look like a typical low-budget place to stay from the outside, but the friendliness from the owner made it feel homey and comfortable.
She just hoped the rooms were as nice as Edna.
“And we don’t tolerate any funny business here,” Edna said sternly. “Quiet hours are ten to six, and safety is our first priority. If you see anything hinky, let someone know and we’ll contact Simon, our police chief.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sage replied.
“Sounds perfect,” Zita told her.
Edna smiled. “You two have a good day now. I hear you have a meeting over at the high school gym this afternoon. Have fun exploring the area, but don’t be late to your meeting.”
Edna was as grandmotherly as Zita could imagine, and she wasn’t exactly surprised that she knew their schedule. Small towns were much like the sets she worked on…gossip thrived in places like this.
“We won’t. Thanks for the tips,” Sage told her.
“You’re welcome. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to come find me.”
“Thanks.”
They headed out of the office, and Zita found herself still smiling as she looked up at Sage. He also had a small grin on his face.
“I like her,” Zita blurted.
“Me too. What do you want to do before our meeting?”
“Go to the square. I want to see all the places I’ve been reading about online.”
“You got it. How about we check out our rooms, put our stuff away, then meet back here in about fifteen minutes? Is that enough time?”
“Perfect,” Zita said. And it was. She’d much rather spend her time exploring than hanging out in her motel room until it was time for the meeting.
After getting their bags from his Jeep, Sage walked her to her door, which was a nice thing to do. It wasn’t as if he wouldn’t be able to see her entering and exiting her room, since his door was down a straight pathway at the other end of the motel.
Zita unlocked her door and walked into her room.
It was a typical space, with two beds, a dresser, TV, a tiny table next to the window, and the bathroom toward the back.
But it was different in that there were what looked like homemade quilts on the bed, and the walls were bright, not beige and boring.
The floor also wasn’t covered in industrial carpet, it looked like an easy-to-clean synthetic tile of some sort.
It also smelled…good. Really good. Like vanilla, which made Zita’s belly growl.
“Wow, this is nothing like I expected,” she said.
Sage was standing respectfully at the doorway.
He’d put her suitcases just inside but hadn’t followed her into the room.
“It’s nice. Really nice,” he agreed. “Hopefully mine will be just as cool. Though I wouldn’t put it past Edna to save this room for single women, since it’s close to the office and so nicely decorated.
And I saw security cameras outside pointing at the entrances to the rooms. It’s cool that she’s so security conscious. ”
“I hope your room is just like this one.”
Sage simply shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter, as I’ve slept in some pretty awful places. No matter what the room looks or smells like, it’ll be a step up from some…accommodations I’ve experienced.”
Zita frowned. She didn’t like the thought of him sleeping in crappy conditions.
“Don’t look so worried. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Edna and her husband aren’t going to make one room beautiful and ignore the rest of them.”
She wasn’t worried about his room. But she nodded anyway.
“It’s going to bother you, isn’t it? How about we meet at my room in fifteen then? You can see for yourself that I’m not living in a hovel while you’re here in room twelve in the lap of luxury.”
Zita quickly nodded. She was curious as to what the rest of the rooms looked like anyway, so she wasn’t going to turn down the chance to have her curiosity appeased.
She watched Sage turn and head down the walkway. She stepped into her room after he disappeared into his own…but not before he saw her staring, and gave her a big smile and wave before closing his door.
She closed her own door and stood there for a moment before grabbing the larger of her suitcases and putting it on the bed.
She had time to quickly unpack and freshen up before she met Sage and they explored Fallport.
She wasn’t sure which she was looking forward to the most—the tour, or spending more time with the man she was falling for.