Chapter 2 #2
“I remember them now. Fucking idiots,” he huffs a breath and I have to laugh at the disgust on his face. “We’re not a one percenter club anymore Emily. You’ll be safe with us. Poppy and Ford will be safe with us. Will you come home with me?”
We stare at each other for what seems to be a long time but I’m sure it’s only seconds. He’s sincere, I can tell. Living the life I have, you learn when someone is bullshitting you and he’s not but I still need clarification.
“And how is that going to look, Deck? This trailer isn’t much but it’s all I have. I’m putting a lot of trust in you if I move. What would I be moving to?”
“I understand darlin’ and I know we’re asking a lot of you. Do you own the trailer?”
I nod my head.
“Okay so you can rent it out right?”
Again, I nod because yes, I could. “What about the one Ford and Poppy were living in?” he wants to know.
“They own it.”
He’s nodding and I can see the wheels turning as he takes a look around the park. Yes, it’s run down but you can see those who try and those who don’t. Most people living here are good people just trying to get by, but like anywhere else you always have a few bad apples.
“Do you know who owns the park itself? And who rents their trailer and who doesn’t?”
“I do.”
“Let me think on this and have our tech guy find out some information but I think I’ve got a business idea for you.
But until then, I’ve got a cottage at the back of my house.
Our homes are built behind the clubhouse so you’ll be safe.
It’s not a huge place but I think you’ll be comfortable and you’ll still see Poppy and Ford every day.
Maestro’s Old Lady and my daughter and her family live on the property too.
If you’re not happy you’ll still have your trailer. ”
“But Emily,” Deck says, suddenly serious, taking hold of my hand he gently squeezes it ensuring he has my attention.
“I’m a straightforward man with not a lot of time left on this earth.
I’ve lived a hard life and I’ve got some regrets but I’m not going to let this be one of them.
For the first time since Ruthie passed away, I find myself attracted to a woman.
In a few short years I’ll be seventy years old.
I'm not letting this opportunity pass me by. I’m offering you the cottage for now but darlin’ be prepared to be wooed because I want you in my house and in my bed as soon as I can persuade you of it. ”
My mouth falls open and I gape at him. First of all, how the hell is this man nearly seventy, second of all what the actual hell?
Talk about being straightforward. But in a way I could appreciate it because he was right; neither of us was getting any younger and I could appreciate his straightforwardness.
I was sorry to hear about the passing of his wife and the way he spoke about her it was clear he’d loved her a lot.
That alone should have given me pause but if he came to care for me even half as much then I figured I’d be a lucky woman.
Not that I’d let him know that….at least not yet.
Deck taps my chin lightly and I realise I’m still staring at him and he’s waiting for an answer.
Snapping my mouth shut I narrow my eyes at him.
“Fine,” I agree, then hold up my finger as he goes to talk.
“I’ll move into the cottage because I’d like to still have contact with my grandkids, and Deck, that’s what they are.
They’re not my blood but I’ve been looking after Ford since he was in diapers.
” His eyes soften when I tell him this. He picks up my hand, kissing the back of it.
“Thank you, darlin’, that makes my old heart happy that they had someone looking out for them.”
“We’ll give it three months to see how it works out and then we’ll re-evaluate,” I tell him.
He grins at me and I shake my head because this man is gorgeous and I have a feeling I’m going to have a hard time protecting my heart from him.
“Leave it with me darlin’. You go and pack what you want. Poppy and I’ll go and tell Maestro to get another truck and prospect down here. You’ve made an old man very happy.”
Snorting out a laugh, “Stop with the old bullshit.” I roll my eyes. “You’re probably in better shape than men half your age.”
Deck smirks as he stands and runs his hands over his waist that's maybe not as trim as someone in their thirties but he’s by no means fat.
“Thanks for noticing, darlin’. I’ll have to up my workout now that I’ve got a younger woman,” he grins and winks at me before bending and scooping Poppy into his arms and sauntering away.
“Holy shit,” I mutter, resting my head back on my chair. The man was a whirlwind.
When he wanted shit done, he wasted no time in doing it either. Three hours later, with my trailer packed up, I was in my car following behind trucks and bikes to my new home.
This morning I’d got up with my only intention being to get through the day spending time with Ford and Poppy until work tonight. Then all our lives were derailed and here we were. All of us are starting new lives.
Maybe I should have been worried but all I felt was flutters of anticipation on what life was to bring. Deck had been right; we’d reached an age where we should grab life by the hands and ride that fucker until we couldn’t anymore.
I fully intended to do just that. It was like I’d been sleepwalking for however long and I’d suddenly woken up and realised that life had been passing me by.
Well, no more. I had a new family to get to know, a new home to set up and a man that was determined to drive me to the brink of insanity with every little touch.
And my libido…that sucker that I’d thought long gone. Well, she seemed to have woken up with a vengeance.
I wasn’t altogether sure what to do with all these new feelings running though me but I was going to have fun finding out.