Chapter 10
Pickup Man
Callie
Flopping down on the bed, I breathe out a sigh.
Holy shit.
That was the hottest thing I’ve ever experienced. I would never have guessed going to first base in the front seat of a bartender’s truck, during a thunderstorm, would be the highlight of my sexual history. I’ve never been so turned on in my life.
Pulling my phone out, intending to text Duke, I see I have a couple already.
Unknown
Callie, seriously. Please answer me.
Delete.
Cowboy Cash
Today has been so long but thoughts of a pretty blonde kept me going.
Want to get lunch tomorrow?
Three unanswered texts is probably too many. I can’t unsend them.
The text from Roger sours my mood a little but Cash’s make me smile. He’s so sweetly kind and cute. So different from Duke.
Were you thinking about yourself? You’re a pretty blond.
Who knew you were so obsessed with me?
I add a cheeky smiley face to the next text before opening my text thread with Duke.
I needed so many things out of today and you delivered. Best not-cowboy ever.
A ding and a text from Cash scrolls across the screen.
Cowboy Cash
So obsessed. It’s kind of becoming a problem, actually. So...lunch?
As I smile down at my phone, another text comes in, this one from Duke.
Grumpy Not-Cowboy
Happy to be of service, Sunshine.
My heart melts in the best way. At the same time, it cracks down the middle.
How do I choose what to do here? Cash, on paper, seems like the perfect man.
A roughneck cowboy with a sunny personality and an open heart.
Duke is a dark, moody bartender who is hard to read but seems to genuinely want to cherish and protect me.
I think the only way to navigate this is to not decide anything about them, for now.
Lunch tomorrow sounds great.
Cowboy Cash
Perfect. I love to eat.
I’m already overheated and overstimulated and his words make me tingle all the way to my toes. I can barely formulate a coherent thought in response.
Careful, Cash. Keep talking like that and I’ll start to think you’re interested in more than lunch.
Cowboy Cash
Darlin’, you have no idea.
Let me know when you’re ready for that ride we talked about.
Shameless flirt.
Cowboy Cash
Damn right, baby.
Throwing my phone down and pounding my head back in frustration, I make a plan. If I can’t decide what to do about the men who have consumed my brain, maybe I can figure out what to do with myself, in this town.
Changing into dry clothes and throwing my hair up, I make my way downstairs. Searching around for Mrs. Cox, I almost run right into a woman walking through the front door.
“Oh, sorry!” I say to her, stepping back.
“No problem. You know where I can find Lizzie?” she asks, tilting her head to study me.
She’s tall, maybe five-ten, a good four inches taller than me.
Thin with a very narrow waist, small perky breasts that, thanks to her height, are right at my face, or at least feel like it.
She stands in her tank top, braless, and low-slung skinny jeans, boots on her feet.
She’s beautiful, in an America’s Next Top Model sort of way.
“I was just looking for her myself. Maybe the kitchen?” I spin, heading toward the back of the house. “Mrs. Cox?” I call out once I’m in the dining room.
“Callie? Coming, hun!” she yells through the kitchen door. Swinging the door open, the smile on her face immediately fades when she takes in the waifish model standing beside me.
“Indie, what are you doing here?”
I back out of the room, not liking the tension.
“Lizzie, why are you still so mad at me? It didn’t work out with him. It happens.”
Oh, God. Is she talking about Cash? Is this supermodel running the streets of Inspiration also an ex-girlfriend?
I feel short, and a little dumpy, next to her.
Not only am I shorter than her, but I have large breasts, my belly is more squeezable than fit for low-rise jeans, and a round ass.
Roger used to use my insecurities against me, but I’m finally trying to accept myself.
But next to ‘Indie’? I feel woefully inadequate.
“It happens? Indie, you were married for a decade and you just got up and walked out one day.” A decade? Married? That’s a lot of history.
“Lizzie, what happened between Duke and me has nothing to do with you or this town. Never mind, coming here was a mistake.” She sweeps by me where I’m pressed against the wall outside the dining room.
My stomach drops into my feet. Duke? Duke was married to her. For ten years. They had a whole life.
Stepping away from the wall, I move to flee up the stairs.
“Oh, Callie. Did you need something or were you just looking for me for Indie?” she asks, her matronly smile back on her face. Her protectiveness of Duke has disappeared now with Indie.
“I wanted to talk about something with you and ran into her. So, Indie and Duke?” I ask, distractedly.
I shouldn’t be prying into his business.
In fact, I should just walk away. If I want to know something about Duke’s past, he deserves to tell me.
“I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business. ”
“It’s fine, dear. Everyone in town already knows, you may as well too.
About a year ago, Indie just packed her stuff up, after ten years married, and a few more before that dating.
I mean, you never know what’s happening in someone’s marriage, but no one saw it coming.
” She sits in one of the dining chairs, ready to tell her story.
I sit opposite her. “I think, least of all, Duke. He was blindsided. It was rough seeing how broken up he was. Gave her damn near everything in the divorce. Except that old bar.”
She seems upset about all of this, but I didn’t get the impression before that she and Duke were close.
“No one has seen a single woman catch Duke’s eye since.
He was perfectly faithful during their marriage and now I’m so worried he will just be alone.
Indie is getting remarried, of course, only seven months after the divorce.
I suspect she was here to ask about booking my rooms for the wedding party. ”
I sit, stunned. Only seven months. Remarried. Duke all alone. But Duke isn’t alone. His lack of aloneness was quite apparent earlier when I was grinding on his lap, something large and commanding between us. I blush and hide my face.
I seem to be the opposite of Indie the same way Duke and Cash are opposites. I don’t want to be some rebound tour, a new girl in town. Like a fun new plaything not privy to all their dirty deeds.
“Mrs. Cox, first, I want to extend my room another week, if it’s available?” I tell her, regaining control of the conversation.
“Of course, Callie. As far as I’m concerned, the little corner room is yours, as long as you want it.”
“Second, I’m thinking of hanging around for a bit.
I need to find some work, at least something part-time.
And I’ll need to find an apartment. You seem to be up to date on all the news around town, so I was hoping you might have heard something,” I tell her candidly.
It’s lovely here but if I’m staying, I need something of my own.
“I think I know of a few places hiring. I know Pete at the feed store is looking for a cashier, if that’s something you might be interested in. Or Mable’s?” Dani’s face flashes behind my eyes, the dirty look she gave me over my lunch with Cash.
“I don’t think waitressing is a good option for me. Pete’s it is.”
“I’ll just call over to his wife and let her know. She will take care of it.” She reaches over and pats my hand. “I can see you’re a good person, Callie. And Cash really seems smitten with you. I think Inspiration will be good for you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Cox.” I clutch her fingers.
“Call me Lizzie, dear, everyone does.”
Monday morning is another warm, sunny day.
I will admit, the weather in Montana in the spring is proving to be rather unpredictable.
May is right on the horizon and it’s warm enough for a t-shirt but I still need long pants, and I decide to break out my boots today.
I can’t pass for a cowgirl, or even pretend to be one, but I did have boots packed amongst my stuff in my car.
I squeal with pleasure; I get my car back today. Finally, I get to feel freedom again. Being trapped is one of my biggest fears, especially after Roger. I need the independence of coming and going.
Hey, Cowboy. I have to pick up my car today from Mick’s. Afterwards, I’ll meet you for lunch. Where to?
Cowboy Cash
How are you getting to Mick’s?
Walking?
Cowboy Cash
Nope, not when you can have a cowboy in a pickup truck at your beck and call. I’ll be there in 20.
Okay, bossy pants.
I guess I’m getting a ride. Swiping a little lip gloss across my full bottom lip, I smooth down my hair. I’ve put a bit of effort into my look today since after lunch I was planning to head over to Pete’s Farm Supply to see about a job.
I thump down the stairs and find Lizzie behind the desk.
“Hey, I’m going to pick up my car. I’m going to head over to Pete’s after lunch.”
“Great, I spoke to Vickie, and she let Pete know to expect you. I suspect it will all work out.” She gives me a wink.
Cash throws the door open with a flourish before I can head outside to meet him.
Today he has a crisp white hat on his head, a white t-shirt I can see his undershirt through, his standard tight jeans, a shiny belt buckle, again with a bull rider but a different one than last time, and his old, scuffed boots.
His arms look strong, shown off by his t-shirt, and I sort of want to bite one.
“Good morning, Aunt Lizzie!” he singsongs as he blows into the room like a tornado. Wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me close, he smells the top of my head, sighs, and says, “Good morning, darlin’. You ready?”
I think the smile on Lizzie’s face will blind us; she looks ready to explode at Cash’s appearance. “Yeah, I was just saying goodbye to Lizzie.”
“Then let’s go get your car. Love you!” he throws to Lizzie before ushering me out the door.
Outside, I stand frozen on the spot. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. Based on what I know about Cash though, this fits perfectly.
In front of Lizzie’s hotel is the biggest truck I’ve ever seen. A white Ram 2500 with heavy duty tires and black rims. It has four doors and is at least four or five inches taller than I would expect. I don’t know how to even get in it. It’s the perfect mix of show-off and cowboy.
“Uh, Cash, how in the hell do I get in this thing?”
“Don’t worry, darlin’. Getting in’s the easy part.
What happens once you’re there though…that’s the interesting part.
” I don’t miss the meaning in his words.
I can’t help but think a wet, shirtless, grumpy man makes the inside of a truck really interesting.
I shake my head to clear the thoughts of Duke.
He gives me a little boost onto the rail running the length of the truck before running to the other side and jumping in, like an expert. These men are so comfortable in their world. They exist in the same place, the same time, but they are so different in it.
We pull up in front of Mick’s in the giant truck, and I look over at him helplessly.
“I’m up here, now how do I get down?” I ask him, eyes wide.
He chuckles. “Down is what I’m best at.” He winks and I just shake my head.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who makes every single thing sound dirty, like you.”
“It’s a talent, darlin’. You haven’t even seen dirty yet.
” He jumps out and walks around the truck to help me.
He reaches up to let me slide down his body, his strong arms holding me tightly against him.
He stops my progress when our faces are aligned.
“The question is,” he leans in close, until we are sharing air, our lips almost touching, “do you like it?”
The sound I make in response to the butterflies filling my chest at his words—at his closeness—borders on pornographic, somewhere between a sound of affirmation and a moan. Heat low in my belly begs for release.
Leaning in, his mouth, right next to my ear, so close, his breath tickles me. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He slides me the rest of the way down before setting me on unsteady feet.
I walk away, a little wobbly, like a newborn deer. He chuckles where he leans against his truck, waiting for me.
The bell over the shop door jingles when I walk through, and Kayla pops her head up from behind the counter.
“Oh, hey Caroline. The little lady is all ready for you. Let me know if you have any issues, alright?” I see her look over my shoulder, so I glance back and see a very sexy cowboy leaning against his tailgate.
She looks at me but doesn’t voice her opinion if she has one.
“I went to school with Cash. You should see him in the arena.”
“The arena?” I ask.
“Ask him about it. He didn’t get that shiny belt buckle with his good looks. Though the way the girls act, you would think so.”
“Thanks, Kayla. Hey, you sure it’s okay if I text you? I might need some friends; I’m planning to stick around for a bit.”
She gives me a genuine smile. “Definitely.”
I take my keys and my receipt and walk back out to my cowboy.
He follows me back to Lizzie’s where I park in the lot, stroking the roof lovingly before barely succeeding in getting into Cash’s truck on my own.
He squeezes my hand across the center console before he heads out of town. “Where are we off too?” I ask.
“Just a little surprise. I know you’ve been here for a week but since you’ve been trapped in town, I figured you might want to try something that isn’t Mable’s.
” He turns into the parking lot of a little building next to a river, with an outdoor seating area featuring swings, picnic tables, and railings where you can sit and look at the water.
Following him inside, I discover it’s a counter service restaurant with hot dogs and grilled cheeses.
I order a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich with chips and Cash gets three hotdogs. We both get large lemonades, which are the largest I have ever seen.
“You weren’t joking when you said you like to eat,” I say, laughing, as we sit at one of the railings, side by side, our shoulders touching.
He gives me a side-eye followed by the most obviously sexual smirk I believe I have ever seen. I gasp. “Cash!” I scold and he breaks out in laughter.
I am so red I can feel it from the top of my head to the tips of my feet. He doesn’t miss it, and it makes him laugh harder.
“Scandalized, darlin’?” he says.
I stutter, unable to reply.
“You’ve got the prettiest blush I’ve ever seen.” He runs two fingers down my cheek, looking at me like I mean more to him than just a hotdog date by the river. “Seeing you let go and laugh, it makes me so happy.”