Chapter 10 Taji Sloane #2
Before I slipped behind the wheel, Trucker kissed my head and closed my door for me. As usual, he didn’t head back to work until I was on my way.
But there was no turning back now.
He’d kissed me in front of others, in front of Esther.
People knew now.
They knew I was interested in Trucker and that he shared at least some of those feelings.
But no matter how much I thought about it all, and no matter how afraid I was of being hurt again, I couldn’t come up with a good enough reason not to try being with Trucker.
He had barely touched me and already I knew he’d keep me safe. He’d handle me in a way that I always imagined a man should treat his woman.
At home, I parked and cleaned the house to keep my mind from overreacting.
I even made dinner, baked a carrot cake and pulled out the ice-cream maker with my mother’s very own recipe. By the time Trucker came home, I was exhausted but excited to see what he thought of what I’d done.
As the darkness fell over Albright, we sat down to dinner together. I watched him intently, wanting to know what he thought of everything he put in his mouth. Trucker fed me from his plate even as he made me laugh.
He touched me every chance he had and never once touched his phone.
Even when the cell vibrated against the chair beside him, he focused on me.
I’d never had that before.
Dates always ended abruptly because the men would take calls in the middle of dinner.
One guy picked up and had the nerve to explain that, “oh, I have to take this. It’s my wife.”
Another reason I no longer lived in the city.
During dessert a sharp crash drew me from paradise and thrusted me back into the real world. Trucker moved like a soldier, putting his large frame between myself and the noise.
He then walked toward the window, and it was then I noticed the gaping hole.
Someone had tossed something through it.
Trucker removed his shirt and used it to pick up the rock that had the world slute written crudely on one side.
“Um—slute?” Trucker asked then glanced at me. “Am I missing something?”
“They meant slut.” I translated.
“What the hell?” He muttered, charging toward the door as an engine started.
“No!” I screamed, wrapping my arms around him from behind. “Please don’t go. Don’t leave me.”
Trucker paused and turned in the enclosure of my arms. He hugged me tightly, cuddling my head under his chin.
“Sprite, I have to—”
“Please?”
“Shh.” He whispered. “I’ll stay here.”
He led me to the sofa and sat with me. Once he got me a glass of water, Trucker sat next to me and rubbed my back.
“What is going on?” Trucker asked.
“Would you believe it’s because they believe I’m sleeping with you?”
“Come on, Taji.” He scoffed. “I’m not that big of a catch that someone would risk catching a case. Something else is going on here. Talk to me.”
I sighed.
“Taji—”
“I was raped.” I blurted out. “It was two years ago. I went out one night to have a couple of drinks. But I went by myself because as you can see, I have no friends. Someone spiked my drink.”
“Did you report it?”
“I would think the slute rock would answer that question.” I frowned. “They didn’t even look into it. The sheriff said that I shouldn’t have been out drinking and there is no proof I was actually raped.”
“Wait.” Trucker shook his head. “Didn’t you go to the hospital?”
I nodded.
“And did they take a rape kit?”
I shrugged. “They took some swabs, but I don’t think they believed me either. And because this is a small town, confidentiality means nothing. Because I wasn’t even out of the hospital and the news was all over the town. Everyone had already filled in the bist they didn’t know.”
“I’m sorry.” Trucker’s voice cracked. “That would explain the nightmares.”
“I had those pretty much under control.” I sniffled and drank more from the cup. “Then I started thinking of putting myself back into the dating world and, well—”
“I gave you nightmares.”
“No.” I vehemently shook my head. “I just—it’s not you. I promise. I’m just really nervous. The thought of having you touch me—”
“You’re still scared.” Trucker’s voice was so sad, it broke my heart.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Trucker framed my cheeks. “You never apologize for your trauma. Shit, and I was coming on so damn strong. Everyone was right about me—I’m an idiot.”
“Don’t say that. You didn’t know.”
“I should have calmed it down.”
“Well—I didn’t mind it.” I flushed but couldn’t shy away from him or this any longer. “I never told you to stop. Any other man, I’d have freaked out. But for some reason, you felt different.”
Trucker pressed his lips into a thin line before lifting his hand. For a moment, he paused as his large palm trembled and fell back to his side.
He’d wanted to touch me—I wanted him to touch me.
“If you want to find out who did this—I have a few friends.” Trucker said instead. “Amazing ones. They can find anything. If not, I’ll hold you when you need me to and be here for you in whatever way you need.”
“And you don’t think I’m dirty?”
“That’s not you talking.” Trucker grunted. “Don’t listen to Esther anymore. She has shit for brains and spits out word diarrhea.”
Happy to hear him say that, I hugged him again. “One of these days, I’m going to give myself to you, Mayson Calhoune.”
“Not until you’re ready.” His voice cracked. “I may not look like it, but I can wait. It doesn’t ever have to happen.”
“You promise?”
“Sure.” Trucker kissed my neck. “I promise.”
He carried me to my room and after I used the bathroom and changed, Trucker tucked me in, kissed my forehead and stood to leave. I caught his arm and pulled him down on top of me.
“Taji?”
“A real kiss, Trucker.”
“After what happened tonight, do you—”
“Kiss me.”
He hesitated so I reared up, rolled him over and pinned him to my bed. Before giving him a moment to think about what was happening, I kissed him, plunging my tongue into his heated mouth.
Trucker groaned, gripped my hips and returned the kiss.
“That’s better.” I whispered.
Trucker laughed softly. “Go to sleep. Tomorrow being the weekend, I’ll be here all day.”
“Can we do something on the weekend? Together.”
“Are you asking me out on a date, Sprite?” Trucker asked.
I giggled and rolled off him to push my feet under the sheets.
He rolled to his side and pushed himself to his elbow.
“Is that a yes?” Trucker pushed as he dragged a calloused fingertip down, between my eyes to the tip of my nose.
I nodded. “Yes. I’m asking you out on a date.”
“Okay, but I have some rules.” Trucker winked at me. “I’m very easy and for you I’ll put out on the first date.”
“Trucker!” I laughed out loud. “Good to know.”
Trucker exhaled loudly. “Sweet dreams Taji.”
“You didn’t say if you wanted to go on the date.” I managed.
I needed to hear him say it.
“I didn’t know I had to—did you really think I’d declined?”
I shrugged then tried to hide my face.
Trucker caught my wrist in a large palm and lifted my fingers to his lips for a kiss.
“The answer, Sprite, is yes, I’d love to.”
Satisfied, I sighed, pulled the sheets up to my neck and closed my eyes.