Chapter 11 #2
“I don’t know really. Maybe because you’re right in that for my entire life I’ve been considered a good girl.
I was the straight-A student. I was the kid who became a candy striper at the hospital at fourteen.
When I was sixteen, I was all about animals, every spare minute spent at a rescue.
Never a parking ticket. No chance I’d break the law.
I went about the paces thinking my life was planned out and all the pieces would be in their places when I needed or wanted them.
Then my parents died and everything changed. ”
Sliding her hand across the table, she squeezed mine. In the reflection of the golden light streaming in through the glass, I could see the concerned look on her face.
“I think I finally realized that life isn’t perfect and the pieces don’t necessarily fit together.
Or if they do then life and the future is just too predictable.
And you know what? I don’t want predictable.
I want a little wild and crazy sometimes.
I want to be breathless in the middle of the day for no reason at all.
When I die, I don’t want people to remember me as being the careful girl, the boring girl.
I want excitement. Is that too much to ask for? ”
I’d obviously caught her off guard. When I turned my head, her grin was supersized.
“What you’re telling me is that you need a little bad boy material in your life. That’s completely understandable. However, you can’t throw all caution to the wind based on a moment of desire.”
“I know. I’m still me.” Still the boring girl with very little excitement in her life.
“Are you serious that he’s living with you?”
“Yes, I’m serious. I don’t know for how long, until he can find a place after he gets his first paycheck. He’s going to work out a trade.”
“A trade. So this man is penniless.”
“I don’t know his full circumstances, Darlene, but instead of worrying about whether he’s a billionaire, he needs a break. We all do from time to time. I have room and guess what, he has contracting skills, which I desperately need. He’d already repaired a few items for me. So it’s a perfect fit.”
Her frown covered her entire face. “If my father pushed him out of the park then that means he was doing something illegal. I’m sure he checked his identification.
I could ask him what he learned just to be safe.
You’ve heard all the horror stories about women doing this very thing and ending up murdered in their beds. ”
“Thank you very much for the graphic imagery.”
“I’m serious,” Darlene huffed. “I think I’ll call my father.”
“Don’t do that. Please. Viper was trying to sleep in his truck.
With his dog. Who was dropped on the side of the road completely malnourished.
Maybe he doesn’t have much money, but his first thought was ensuring the puppy had food.
That’s why he was at the pet store. You know Roxie.
She’d been bound and determined to find out everything she could about him. ”
Darlene’s stare was still harsh, enough so I glared back before making a funny face. She finally smiled, but this time rolling her eyes. “Viper. You really like this stranger who suddenly appeared in your life.”
“I do. Yes, I am completely aware I need to be careful, but Ellie May adores both him and his pup.”
“Well, then if Ellie May likes him…”
“You know how dogs are. They can sense dangerous people from a mile away.”
She tapped her fingers on the table. “What do you know about him?”
With my wineglass in my hand that I slightly hid behind, I allowed a sweet, hot, and heavy vision to rush through my mind.
“What I know about him is that he’s been given a raw deal in his life and is suffering.
I don’t know why yet and I’m uncertain if he’ll ever learn to trust me, but I can tell his entire world collapsed on him.
He’s starting over and it would seem he has the odds stacked against him. ”
The few seconds of silence were almost unnerving. “I was right. You really like this man. I’m not going to try and tell you what to do, but be careful. You just sounded like you were describing yourself and everything you’ve been through.”
“Maybe so, but I have a place to lay my head at night and lock out all the evils of the world. He doesn’t. Or at least that’s what it seems.”
“Then do what you think is right. But… Do so with caution and keep one eye open at night. You might want to purchase a gun.”
“A gun? Are you crazy? I don’t need a weapon.” Although I’d thought about purchasing one weeks before. When I’d sensed someone watching me.
Following me.
I had no intention of telling her I feared someone had been on the property.
“I’m just worried,” she admitted. “But I guess if he’s the real deal, have a little fun.”
“You know what? I will.” A tiny shudder trickled all the way to my toes from a single thought about his hot, muscular body.
“Now that you have me all hot and bothered, confess all your sins. What’s he like?”
Her question was one that I wasn’t certain how to answer. But she’d hound me until I did. “He’s a combination of a bad boy and a hero wrapped up in a rugged, to-die-for body. Tall, broad-shouldered and with thick chestnut hair and sinfully gorgeous whiskey eyes that you could easily drown in.”
She took her time reacting, sitting back against the seat and placing both her hands on the edge of the table, her fingers squeezing until they were white. “How is he in bed?”
Since we were teenagers, we’d always mimicked each other. Since it was my turn, I fanned my face, providing her with a little entertainment via one of our favorite movies.
I closed my eyes, taking several deep, purposeful ragged breaths before running my fingers through my long hair. With a head toss, I stared up at the ceiling while allowing a slow and steady moan to escape. “Mmmm… Yes… Oh…”
She puffed out a swath of air as I continued, even tossing my head from side to side, my moans louder than before.
“That’s it. So good. Touch me there again.”
“Such a…” she managed. “Bitch.”
“Yes…” I whispered then slapped my hand on the table, jarring the dishes. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes!” With my head thrown back, I took several deep breaths, biting back a smile and counting to ten before dropping my head once again.
With a wicked smile on my face, I grabbed the rest of my sandwich. “He’s that good. You might want to switch to the chicken salad.”
“You are such a brat.”
* * *
Why did it feel like I was being followed?
I’d checked my rearview mirror several times like some crazy woman, certain someone in a dark vehicle had followed me all the way home. Then the afternoon sun had wiped out the ability to see anything for several turns. When I’d looked again, the person had disappeared.
Which meant I was slowly losing my mind. Just what I needed.
At least I could breathe a little easier in being home. Maybe my guest was still here. That could provide an entirely different sense of comfort.
Darlene was correct. I was a brat.
Tonight, I was determined to clean and get several boxes put together. With a guest in the house, I’d already been reminded of just how much clutter remained.
As I drove into the driveway, I was going a little fast since some jerk was on my ass. Which was why when I flew by the fence, I hit the brakes with enough force gravel dust spun from under my tires.
Then I backed up, uncertain what I’d seen was real.
My God. I shoved the gear into park and climbed out, moving around the back to stand in front of newly installed sign. What in the…
Viper.
He’d installed my sign exactly where I’d wanted to put it.
Exactly.
I did a little dance, whooping and hollering as I turned in a full circle. My sign was up!
Without asking me. Maybe I’d wanted to put it somewhere else. I was shocked, so much so I stood right where I was, gawking at it for at least five minutes.
Wow.
I wasn’t certain whether to be thrilled and thankful or angry with him for being so presumptive. When I pulled up to the house, I could tell additional work had been done. Wait a minute. He had not…
He had.
My handsome guest had replaced several boards on my deck so I wouldn’t fall through them again. I was so shocked I wasn’t paying much attention to the sound of two dogs barking inside. Two. Not one. With his truck parked near mine, I knew he was home.
After grabbing the armful of supplies, I glanced at the upstairs windows, wondering if he was watching me.
I moved across the fresh boards slowly. Then I backed up and repeated the actions not once but twice. A little giddiness formed as if the future looked much brighter. When I opened the door, I was bowled over with love, the two pups acting as if they owned the house instead of me.
Licks and kisses, both dogs jumping on me, which I adored.
“Okay. Okay. That’s enough, babies. Let Mommy put her things down.” I was captured by the way I’d presented myself as both belonging to me.
I couldn’t allow myself to get too comfortable.
When I walked into the kitchen, I was struck by how clean everything was. I’d left my cereal bowl in the sink with water in it, now finding it in the dishwasher. The counter had been wiped, the dog bowl was full of water, and the mail on the tiny kitchen table was in a neat stack.
More than that, he’d organized the dishes I was giving to charity, wrapping them in paper and placing them in the boxes that had been in the same place for a full month. All that was left was taping them shut.
The kitchen appeared huge.
Who was this man and why was he invading every aspect of my life?
Leaning against the wall, I took several deep breaths, fighting both nerves and millions of questions. Should I contact my godfather and learn more about Viper and his past?
That was the smart thing to do, but I obviously wasn’t interested in doing anything typical for the girl who’d planned out her entire life.