Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Cal whistled as he finished replacing the oil filter and slammed the hood of the old pickup closed.
He had one more oil change and his day would be done.
He glanced at the clock on the wall, and his heart rate increased.
Just a few more hours and he would be with a gorgeous banker he couldn’t seem to get off his mind.
He woke up thinking about Jolene. He went to bed thinking about her.
And he thought of her at least a thousand times in between.
Some of his thoughts were sexual—Jolene had completely surprised him with her lusty nature and willingness to try different things—but a lot of his thoughts had nothing to do with sex.
Jolene was an interesting, intelligent woman with a quick wit that made him laugh.
He enjoyed her company just as much as he enjoyed her body.
Talking with her was like drinking a cold beer after a long hard day of working in the sun.
She refreshed him. Relaxed him. And intoxicated him.
He counted down the minutes to their designated meeting times like a kid waiting for the last school bell to ring.
“Are we good, Mr. Daily?” Nathan called up from beneath the car, pulling Cal from his thoughts. The kid had turned out to be a fast learner and a hard worker.
“Yeah, we’re good, Nathan. You can take a break, then we’ll start changing the oil on the Toyota.”
“Yes, sir.” Nathan rolled the cart out from under the pickup.
He was a gangly kid who reminded Cal of himself at that age.
Although Cal couldn’t remember ever having Nate’s innocence.
Cal had to grow up fast after his father passed away.
Maybe that was why he was enjoying his secret affair with Jolene so much.
It had been a long time since he’d done something just for the fun of it.
Nathan had given him even more time for his secret rendezvous.
“I wanted to thank you for driving Cheyenne to rehearsals,” Cal said.
“No problem, sir.” Nathan ducked his head and blushed. It was obvious that he liked Cheyenne. Surprisingly, Cal wasn’t too annoyed about that. Of course, they were much too young to date. But playing Joseph and Mary in a Christmas pageant was as innocent as you could get.
“How are rehearsals going?” he asked. “Cheyenne doesn’t say much about them.”
Nathan cleared his throat. “They’re going good, sir. I think I’ll skip a break and just start on the next oil change.” Using his feet, he rolled the cart beneath the car in the next bay.
The oil change took longer than it should have because Cal couldn’t stop glancing at the clock every two seconds.
When they finally finished, he told Nathan to head on home and then proceeded to close up shop.
He whistled as he quickly put up his tools and sprayed out the bays.
He stopped whistling when Miss Gertie appeared in the open door of one of the bays.
He quickly turned off the water and started rolling up the hose. “Good afternoon, Miss Gertie. Can I help you?”
“My dad was a whistler.” She pushed her walker into the garage. “What song were you whistling?”
He knew exactly what song he’d been whistling. He’d been whistling Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” for the last two weeks. But he wasn’t about to tell a clever old gal who would have no trouble putting two and two together.
“I don’t really know. I was just whistling. What can I do for you?”
“You can’t do anything for me. Reba took away my driving privileges when I almost ran over her precious Roo.
” She snorted. “The dang rabbit should’ve stayed in the garden where it belongs, instead of hopping around in the driveway when I was trying to back out.
” She patted the cat on the head. “Butler knows to keep out of the path of cars. Don’t you, baby?
” The cat purred its agreement and Miss Gertie lifted her sharp gaze to Cal.
“So I hear you’ve been fixing up Emma’s pink house.
That blabbermouth Raynelle says she sees your truck parked there almost every night. ”
Cal cleared his throat. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I guess you’re close to getting it all fixed up?”
He hadn’t done one thing to the house, except move the mattress downstairs, so he had to lie through his teeth. “Yes, ma’am.”
Miss Gertie studied him intently before she nodded. “That’s good. I don’t want Jolene buying a house that will fall down around her ears.”
Cal’s eyes widened. “Jolene is buying the pink house? But she hasn’t said a word to—” He cut off and hoped Miss Gertie hadn’t caught his slip. “To Boone or Emma about it.”
“Because she hadn’t decided to do it until today when her daddy kicked her out of his house.”
Every muscle in Cal’s body stiffened. “Her father kicked her out? Why?”
“The ornery cuss doesn’t need a reason to be mean.
And I figure it’s more of a blessing than a curse.
It’s about time Jolene got out from under that man’s thumb and lived on her own.
” Miss Gertie paused. “Of course, change is hard. The poor thing was close to tears when I saw her at the bookstore talking with Emma about buying the house.”
Cal felt like someone had kicked him hard in the stomach at just the thought of Jolene crying. “I’m sorry, Miss Gertie. But I just remembered that I have an appointment. So if you’ll excuse me, I better get closed up.”
Miss Gertie’s lips moved as if she was getting ready to smile. Since he’d never seen her smile, he figured it was just a twitch. “I certainly wouldn’t want to make you late for an appointment.” She turned her walker around and shuffled toward Main Street.
As Cal pulled the bay doors closed behind her, he could’ve sworn he heard her whistling.
He stopped at the bookstore first. When he found it closed tight, he headed to the pink house.
Jolene’s Mercedes was parked in the driveway, along with Emma’s Civic.
Cal should’ve left Emma to take care of her friend.
But he couldn’t bring himself to leave. He had to make sure she was okay. Emma was the one who answered the door.
“Hey, Cal,” she said. “I should’ve had Boone call you and tell you that you don’t need to work on the house anymore. Jolene has decided to buy it.”
“Oh. Well, that’s real nice.” He glanced over her shoulder, hoping to see Jolene, but she was nowhere in sight. “Mind if I come in?” he asked. “I think I left some of my tools here.”
“Of course.” Emma stepped back and held open the door. “Boone and I sure appreciate you coming over to work on the house.” She hesitated. “Although I was wondering exactly what you’ve been working on.”
Since there was no way to lie when Emma had obviously looked around, he told the truth. Or at least some of it. “I’m afraid I haven’t been working on anything. I’ve been using your house as a place to get away and . . . relax.”
Emma laughed as she closed the door. “So that was why Jolene and I found the mattress in the living room.” Her eyes twinkled. “Taking some naps by the fire, Cal?”
His face heated. “Sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize. You work way too hard and I’m glad you finally got some rest. I’m sorry you won’t be able to use the house anymore as your secret hideout.”
Before his face could get any redder, Jolene walked out of the kitchen. Her eyes were puffy and her face sad. It was a struggle not to pull her into his arms and try to kiss the sadness away.
To keep from doing it, he shoved his hands in his front pockets. “Hey, Jolene.”
“Hi, Cal.”
“I heard you’re buying the house.”
Jolene sent him a wobbly smile that made his heart tighten. “I’m excited to be a homeowner.”
He nodded. “It’s a good house.” He stood there for a long moment trying to communicate with his eyes all his concern and caring before he cleared his throat. “Well, I guess I’ll look around for my tools.”
He headed up the stairs, feeling heartbroken for Jolene.
She was obviously upset, and he couldn’t help wondering what would make a father kick out his own daughter.
A thought struck him. Had Mr. Applegate found out about their secret affair?
That had to be it. Cal didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of it before.
The sound of the front door opening and closing pulled him from his thoughts and he headed back down the stairs. Jolene stood in the foyer looking completely lost. When she saw him, she attempted to smile.
“Emma went to the store to get some groceries. I tried to tell her I was fine, but she insisted on making me lasagna.” She lifted her shoulders in a sad shrug. “Although I don’t know what we’re going to eat it on.”
Cal didn’t hesitate to do what he’d been wanting to do since walking in the door. He pulled Jolene into his arms and held her tightly. He didn’t realize she was crying until her tears soaked into his shirt. She was breaking his heart.
“Don’t cry, Jolie. Don’t cry, baby. Everything is going to be okay.”
“I’m so embarrassed,” she said in a soft voice clogged with tears.
He rubbed her back. “So I guess your father found out about our affair.”
She sniffed. “No. We got in a fight about . . . something else.”
“Then what are you embarrassed about?”
She drew back and stared at him with surprise.
“I’m a thirty-nine-year-old woman who just got kicked out of her daddy’s house.
If that’s not embarrassing, Cal Daily, I don’t know what is.
I should’ve left that house long ago, instead of hiding inside like a timid little mouse afraid of my own shadow. ”
Cal couldn’t help but feel relieved. He thought her father had broken her heart. Instead, she was just a little humiliated. He could understand that.
“You want to know about humiliation?” he said.
“Try having a father who always wants something for nothing. Or having your wife run off and leave you. Or having the town view you as their number one charity case after your mama dies and your trailer burns down. I know humiliation, Jolene. And getting kicked out of your daddy’s house shouldn’t be humiliating as much as infuriating.
He was damned lucky to have you living with him and watching out for him.
If he can’t see that, then he doesn’t deserve you as a daughter. ”
She shook her head. “That’s what I wanted everyone to believe.
That I was doing my father a favor by living with him and taking care of him.
But the truth is I wasn’t taking care of him as much as he was taking care of me—or at least controlling me.
He told me how to do my job, how to dress, and what to drive.
And I let him because it was easier and less scary than living my own life.
I was afraid if I fell out of the nest, I might hit the ground.
” She hesitated and tears filled her eyes. “I’m still a little afraid of that.”
A strand of her hair had gotten stuck to her wet cheek, and he smoothed it back. “You’ll fly, Jolie. I don’t doubt it for a second. You’re one of the strongest women I know.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t blow smoke up my ass, Cal Daily.”
A few weeks ago, he never would’ve believed that Jolene Applegate would cuss. But she’d surprised him. Boy, how she’d surprised him.
He laughed and kissed her. He planned on a quick, friendly kiss.
But as soon as his lips touched hers, he didn’t feel friendly—he felt greedy.
She answered his hunger with hunger of her own.
Soon he had her pushed against the wall with her skirt lifted and his hand in her panties.
He had just gotten a feel of wet heat that made him lightheaded when the doorbell rang.
He pulled back from the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “Don’t answer it,” he said in a ragged breath.
“Jolene!” Luanne’s voice came through the thick wood of the door as clear as a bell. “We know you’re in there, honey. Open up!”
“I have to answer it,” Jolene whispered. “If I don’t, Luanne will barge right in. I didn’t lock the door.”
Cal sighed and gave her one more kiss before he drew back and smoothed down her skirt. “I’ll be back tonight.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Just the thought of Jolene waiting for him did nothing to soften his hard on. He held his cowboy hat in front of him as Jolene answered the door. The entire Simple Book Club stood on the other side with their arms filled with homemade quilts and boxes of dishes and glasses and pots and pans.
“Surprise!” They all said in unison.
Cal had always had a problem accepting charity from people, but Jolene didn’t seem to.
He watched her hug each woman who walked in the door and graciously thank them and make a fuss over the gifts they brought.
The women seemed be as happy about giving a few of their household items away as Jolene was about receiving them.
As he watched, Cal suddenly realized the difference between charity and friendship.