by D. R. Graham
I smile a little bit. His joking mood is exactly what I need right now. “Sorry if you were looking forward to the dance. You can take me home if you want to go back.”
“I wasn’t looking forward to the dance. I was looking forward to maybe seeing you.”
Ah, very charming, Mr. Crofton. “It’s pretty late. Were you trying to be fashionable?”
“No. I had an emergency at work.”
“A sustainability emergency?”
He chuckles. “I guess it wasn’t exactly a life or death emergency, but I had to take care of it before I left. Do you want to talk about why you were crying?”
I stare out the passenger window and tap my thumbnail against my front teeth as I debate about how much I want to tell him. Part of me feels like talking and getting it off my chest. Part of me wants to sweep it all into the U-Haul and forget about it. Finally I say, “There are aspects of my old life that I miss, but they’re not good for me, so I have to say good-bye to them. Sometimes it’s really hard, and it hurts a lot.”
Leland doesn’t say anything, but I can tell that he’s listening.
We’re driving away from the city on a country road, so I ask, “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“An attempt at being romantic kind of surprise, or a shack in the woods with torture devices kind of surprise?”
He laughs. “I’m attempting to be romantic.”
He’s sweet. “If I see any evidence of a shack, I will stab you in the eyeball with my metal nail file and steal your car.”
“Noted.”
My phone buzzes with a text from Cooper wondering if I’m okay. I respond with a quick “yes” so he won’t worry and put my phone away. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
He smiles and glances at me. “No. It’s just me.”
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Because it’s the first time you’ve asked a question about my family. It almost feels like you’re trying to get to know me.”
“Mmm. Don’t get used to it.” I roll my eyes and grin, enjoying the easy feeling that I get when we banter. The station on the radio is also relaxing. It sounds like jazz or something. “Is this the kind of music you like to listen to?”
“I like to listen to all sorts of music. This is the type of music that I play.”
“Play on what?”
“The piano.”
“Hmm.” I wrinkle my nose to tease him.
“What? You don’t like the piano?”
“The guitar or the drums are cooler.” I grin at him in a smartass way and he laughs. “Seriously, though, Cooper likes jazz. Is that what this is?”
He nods.
“Cooper would probably like talking to you about it. He doesn’t know a lot of people who are into jazz.”
“Definitely. Maybe I could show him my vinyl collection someday. Is your mom doing better?”
Whoa. That abrupt change in subject was a quick way to destroy the easy mood. I shrug and look out the window. “She’s out of the hospital.”
“What was wrong with her?”
I glance at him. He appears genuinely concerned, but I’m not ready for that kind of get-to-know-you conversation. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
He nods as if he wants to be respectful, but doesn’t fully understand why it’s an issue. He turns the car onto a side road that is bumpy and dark. A sign points to Marin Lake. I’ve heard of it, but never been. My family didn’t do things like picnics or days at the beach.
“Isn’t it kind of dark to go to the lake?”
He shrugs. “I like it here at night. It’s peaceful.”
“So, you bring girls up here all the time?”
“No. I come here by myself.” He parks the car near the shore, then looks over and stares at me for a while as if he’s contemplating something. “Okay, fine. I brought one girl up here and we made out in my dad’s car. That was years ago when I first got my license.”
“Are you thinking that we’re going to make out?”
“Well, I’m not going to turn you down if that’s what you want to do, but I actually had something else in mind.”
“Really? What’s that?”
He opens the door and steps out of the car. I watch as he pulls his sweater over his head and unbuckles his belt. He hops around to take off his shoes and trousers, then walks toward the lake with just his boxer briefs on. It’s a bit more forward than I would have expected, but the view is nice, so I’m not complaining. He waves for me to join him. I step out of the car and wrap my arms around myself as I walk to the shore. He drops the briefs and wades into the water.
“Nice ass,” I shout.
“Thanks. I work out.”
“I see that.”
“Are you coming in?”
“Uh, it’s a tad cold to be skinny-dipping.”
“Nah, the water is basically the same temperature all year round.” He leans back and glides along the water.
“Really? Why does it sound like you’re gasping for breath?”
“Well, it might be a little cold when you first get in. Woo! Just a little cold.” He swims around for a while, so I sit on a log. The water does look serene and inviting. “Come in.” He gestures for me to join him.
“I’m not skinny-dipping with you. I barely know you.” A branch snaps behind me. I spin and search the darkness for movement. “What was that?”
“Probably just a raccoon or something.”
“Let’s go, Leland. I don’t like the thought of wild animals lurking in the darkness waiting to attack me.”
“Come in the water. I’ll protect you.”
“No. I’ll just sit in the car.”
“What if it’s a bear? A bear will tear right through the soft top and eat you up.”
I glance at his Audi convertible and change my mind—not because I actually believe him—but because being alone in the car with my thoughts about Aiden would hurt worse than being mauled by a grizzly. I remove my shirt, kick off my boots, wiggle out of my pants, and pop open my bra. I leave my underwear on and run into the water holding my arms across my chest. Leland laughs at me. I swim close to him, but not so close that we are touching.
“All right, you got your excuse to come in the water and you’re safe from bears.” He steps forward and places his hands on my waist. His fingers tighten, but he seems to be trying to keep a distance between my naked body and his.
“I didn’t need an excuse,” I tell him. “If I had wanted to come in the water I would have just come in.”
“And you did. So, what does that say?” His mouth hovers close to mine. The warmth of his breath caresses my lips. He moves one of his hands and slides it up along my jaw toward the back of my neck. There is only a dim light coming from the moon, but it’s bright enough to see that he is staring at my lips. His eyes reflect the moon as it bounces off the ripples in the water.
I lick my lips and wait but, instead of kissing me, he smiles, spreads his arms out, and swims away. Impressive. Those are some top notch moves. If he had a tattoo, I’d have to admit that this scenario is slightly appealing. “You’re a tease, Mr. Crofton.”
He laughs. “We haven’t even been on a date. You didn’t think you were going to get any action without agreeing to a date first, did you?”
“It’s a bit insulting when you were embracing my mostly nude body, and instead of kissing me you go for a swim. Even Sam kissed me when he had the chance.”
“Agree to a date.”
Hmm. That’s bordering on bossy, which for some demented reason I find attractive. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Oh yeah. Would you please agree to go on a date with me?”
Good. He’s assertive, but also willing to concede. This could potentially work, depending if there is a spark. “Kiss me first. I need a sample of what I’m getting myself into.”
He obediently swims toward me and stands up. The water streams over his chest and makes him look
shiny in the moonlight. “So, it’s all right for you to tell me what to do?”
“Yes. That’s how it works.”
He rests one hand on my waist, one at the side of my face, and leans in until our lips press together. He doesn’t try to touch my exposed body. His hands remain politely where they are. He opens his mouth a little and kisses me with more urgency—the urgency of someone who has been waiting almost a month to do it. I’m not sure if it’s him or the skinny-dipping, but it’s a really good kiss. There is definitely a spark.
I kiss him back and let my hands explore his upper body a little. Another snapping sound comes from the forest, so I break our kiss to whip around. I wait for a bear to thunder out of the trees and plunge into the water to get us.
Leland laughs. “So, about that date, do we have a deal?”
With my hands on my hips—not that he can see them beneath the water—I stare at him as if he’s under inspection. “That performance warrants one date, but you’re going to have to take it up a notch if you plan on having a second date.”
He smiles and salutes me.
It’s a bit cold, so I glide through the water in a breaststroke to stay warm.
“Do you think it’s romantic here?” he asks.
“Yes.” I turn over onto my back and float in the direction of the shore. “When is this agreed-upon date going to occur?”
“Well, I can’t this weekend because my parents are hosting a Crofton family reunion at our cottage. I would invite you along but, trust me, meeting my family on the first date is not going to work in my favor.”
“Anything is better than my family.”
“Was your dad Albert Desrochers?”
“What?” I tense and drop my feet to stop floating.
“Okay, don’t be mad, but I was curious when you said he was murdered. I researched it a bit.”
I’m not sure what to think about him snooping. I mean, it’s my own fault for blabbing about it in the first place. It’s normal that he would be curious about someone he wants to date. He probably should have asked me, though. Then again, to be fair, I wouldn’t have answered if he had. I guess we would have talked about it eventually anyway. I don’t know. “What did you find out?”
“The newspaper articles said he was shot and it was assumed to be gang related.” He stops swimming and stands in the water chest deep. “It said he was a high-ranking member of an outlaw biker gang.”
“Imagine that.” And, this evening is over. Apparently, I don’t appreciate the snooping. I wipe the kiss off my mouth with the back of my hand and wade out of the water toward my clothes. What was I thinking? “Take me home.”
Chapter Eight
I get dressed and then sit in the car, pissed that what happened to my dad is going to follow me wherever I go.
A few minutes later, Leland slides into the driver’s seat fully clothed, starts the engine, and turns up the heat. “I don’t care who your dad was.”
“I didn’t ask if you did.”
“I also found some articles about how he was charged with murder, but only convicted of manslaughter.”
My hands tug at the hem of my shirt. I doubt the article mentioned that the reason my dad only did three years in jail was because the motorcycle club paid off the judge. “I don’t want to talk about my dad.”
“Is that your mom’s wedding ring you wear on your necklace?”
I rest the palm of my hand over it. “No.”
“It looks too modern to be your grandmother’s.”
I raise my eyebrows and press my lips together to show my utter dislike of this topic of conversation.
“Is it yours?”
I don’t answer. Instead, I fan out the wet ends of my hair and stare at the strands as if they’re under a microscope.
He chuckles. “You weren’t joking when you said you needed a U-Haul.”
“Nope. You don’t even know the half of it.” I toss my hair back over my shoulder and slouch toward the door. “Let’s just go.”
“We haven’t set a date for our date yet.”
“I’m not going on a date with you. We come from completely opposite worlds, and I’m not interested in being your pet project, your excuse to piss off your mommy, or your experimental phase in slumming it.”
“Do you have a serious self-esteem issue or something?”
“Uh, no. I respect myself enough to not be used by someone who thinks he’s better than me.”
“I don’t think I’m better than you.”
I roll my eyes, irritated that he thinks I’m stupid enough to fall for that. “Take me home.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” he says, trying to tease me.
“Ha-ha.” I pull out my phone to call Cooper to see if he and Sam will pick me up. Leland places his hand over the phone and stops me. “I told you,” I warn him, “I carry a metal nail file. Unless you want to be blinded, I suggest you take your hand off my phone.”
He seems more confused than offended. “Why is it so hard for you to believe that I might actually like you?”
“Because guys from your world only like girls from my world for one reason.”
“Where’d you learn that, the motorcycle club?”
“Fuck you.” I yank on the handle, kick the door open, and take off running down the dark dirt road. I can hear him close my door and turn the car around. The headlights scan the forest and eventually the beam lands on me, so I pump my arms and run faster. My lungs are not used to working so hard. Ow. He drives up beside me and rolls the window down. After a few minutes, I slow down to a walk—partly because my boots are not designed for running and partly because I’m getting dizzy from the exertion. He doesn’t say anything. The only sound is my gasps and the gravel crunching under the slow rolling tires.
“How’s Wednesday night?” he asks quietly.
I cross my arms and keep walking. When we are almost at the end of the dirt road, I finally stop and face him. “What else did you dig up about me in your research?”
“Nothing. But I assume that your mom is an alcoholic or a drug addict and that’s why you don’t want to talk about why she was in the hospital. I’m also pretty sure that your brother is into Sam—and since I saw you pull a knife on that guy at the party, I’m going to assume you would hurt anyone who hurt Cooper. I’m also thinking that your ex is an outlaw biker who you’re trying to stay away from, but it’s not easy since you’re still in love with him and possibly married to him.”
I sigh and stare out at the darkness for a while. That was unexpected. I don’t know whether to be impressed or annoyed. “Very observant.”
“Would you like to get back in the car?”
“No, and I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell all your friends at the country club about my past. I don’t want people to treat Cooper differently because of things that have nothing to do with him.”
“I’m not going to tell anyone, and you might be interested to know that everybody there has secrets they don’t want anybody else to know.”
Something about the way he said that makes me believe him. “Everyone?”
“Everyone. Get in.”
Honestly, the idea that everyone has skeletons in their closets makes me feel better. I slow down to let the car pass me, then walk around the back. It stops rolling and he leans over to open the passenger door from the inside.
“Are you going to stab me in the eyeball?” he asks as I slide in.
Not fully recovered from getting my back up, I stare out the window instead of answering. I had a school counselor who tried to teach me cool-down strategies to use when I got angry. Unfortunately, I never quite mastered them.
We don’t speak as he pulls back onto the highway and heads toward the city. The radio still plays jazz softly. The drive feels long because of the silence. It’s almost one o’clock in the morning when we turn into the mostly empty country club parking lot. He pulls up next to the Mercedes and looks at me as if he’s trying to assess where we stan
d. “I would still like to take you out and get to know you better, if you don’t mind.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re interesting.”
I study his face, trying to sort out my feelings.
“You want a fresh start, right?” he says.
“Yes.”
The corner of his mouth angles up. “And you like me a little bit, right?”
“I don’t know.” I stare out the window at the trees that line the golf course. There are a million reasons why dating Leland would be good for me. The most compelling reason is that I obviously need something to prevent me from going back to Aiden. I glance at Leland, wondering if he could maybe be that something. “Wednesday doesn’t work for me,” I finally say. “I’m auditioning for a play on Wednesday.”
“Which play?”
“West Side Story.” Ironically.
“How about next Saturday?” he asks.
“Okay.”
He smiles and seems genuinely excited.
“Thanks for the drive.”
“Anytime.” He narrows his eyes in jest. “If you get the part of Maria, I don’t want to be your Tony because I’m pretty sure that dude dies at the end of the play.”
“I probably won’t get the part. I don’t have the training that everyone else has, and I’ve never done a professional play before.” I grab the door handle.
“Hey.” He reaches over and holds my elbow. “You’ll be perfect for that part.”
More than you even realize. I turn and abruptly lean over to kiss him. He seems a bit shocked and doesn’t react at first. When he recovers and kisses me back, I pull away and get out. “See you next Saturday. Don’t be late.” I swing the door shut and walk over to the Mercedes. He waits to make sure I get in okay and lets me pull out in front of him. He follows me until I turn onto Elizabeth and Blaine’s road and then honks before continuing straight.
As I park in the driveway, my phone buzzes with a text from Gylly: What’s his name?
I glance out the back window wondering if he’d been following us. I can’t see him, and I probably would have heard the bike if he had been. None of your business.
It kinda is my business.
