by V. Vaughn
I’m not ready to race away, so I say, “Coffee would be great. Just cream, please.”
Water rushes as he runs the machine, and I ask, “So why did you want me to come here?”
“I wanted you to see I was taking good care of your car. You strike me as the kind of girl who doesn’t let things happen without some input.”
“That’s a nice way of calling me a control freak, isn’t it?”
“Maybe.” Bosun hands me a mug and doesn’t let go right away. “Or maybe I just wanted to see you again.”
Oh boy, just when I was cooling down, he ramps me up. I ask, “So you can add me to the list of conquests?” Crap. Why did I just say that?
“Katie’s got me all wrong.” He takes a sip of his coffee and stares at me.
I wonder what it is he’s not saying. “How’s that?”
Bosun sets his cup down and reaches for mine to do the same. He tugs on the belt of my jacket to pull me close. His hands land lightly on my hips. “I like women, and I like to date. I don’t lie, I don’t cheat, and I don’t stay with someone who wants more from me than I can give.”
I place my hands on his chest. This time I press hard enough to feel the ridges of his muscles flex under my palms. “Fine. I like men, and I like to date. I don’t lie, I don’t cheat, and I don’t fall in love.” My lips burn for his, and I stare at his mouth longingly. He pulls away and takes a deep breath, as if I’m affecting him the same way.
Katie was right. If he’s going down, so am I.
CHAPTER THREE
Bosun offers to drive me home, but I’d already arranged for Katie to come back for me when she finished her grocery shopping. I had just recovered from my close encounter with Bosun and picked up my coffee mug when I hear my friend’s voice boom in the garage. I turn toward the sound to see a black-and-white version of her on a small television screen.
Bosun walks over to it and pushes a button. “We’ll be right out.” He glances at me. “I guess it’s time for you to go.”
I nod.
“Do you play pool?” he asks.
“I’ve played, but I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered the game.”
“Good.” He places his hand at the small of my back to guide me back to the waiting room. His breath tickles my neck when he whispers in my ear, “I hate to lose.”
Normally I’d have a quick comeback, but nothing about Bosun has me acting normally, so I don’t reply.
Katie asks, “All set?”
“Yes.” I turn to Bosun. “You’ll call when Cherry’s done?”
He gives me a sly smile. “I’ll call.”
“Great, thanks.” This time I manage more than a toddler’s wave, but the way I flutter my fingers is almost as bad.
I slump in the passenger seat of Katie’s SUV. “I’m pathetic.”
Her windshield wipers begin to thump at a steady beat when she turns on the car. “Spill it.”
“I’m acting like a twelve-year-old with her first crush. I almost kissed him.”
“Devon.”
“I know, I know. He’s a player. I’m going to get hurt.”
“No. That’s not quite it.” She rakes a hand through her hair. “Look, there’s more to this than I can tell you right now.” Katie glances at me. “Please, take it slow. Please?”
I chuckle. “If you’re asking me not to sleep with him on the first date, fine. But I gotta tell you... he’s got some moves.”
Katie winces. “Stop. That’s my brother-in-law.”
“So what is it you can’t tell me? Is he an ex-con or something?”
“No. I shouldn’t have said anything. There’s no reason you can’t date him and have a good time.” Puddles splash as Katie pulls into the parking lot of my apartment complex. “To practice. We both know your Mr. Right has a sexy accent.”
“Mais oui, ma cherie.” The dream of a French lover and my future in Paris has begun to fade. I pulled out that fantasy anytime people asked what I was going to do after high school. Somehow, being a hairdresser didn’t stack up to my friend’s college path, so I came up with an adventure that made people give me the same praise they’d given Katie. I’d even convinced myself it’s what I wanted. But the stagnant bank account balance I maintain for the trip says otherwise.
Metal is cold in my hand as I pull the door handle, and Katie touches my arm. “Hey. I’m sorry I’m being such a mom. Bosun is super hot, and you should go for it.”
I wink at her before stepping out of the car. “Then I will. Because if you knew what those pecs felt—”
“Got it!”
We’re both chuckling when I wave goodbye. My neighbor’s black cat is on my doorstep when I approach, and the glowing eyes startle me. “Spooky, geesh, you almost gave me a heart attack. I’m going to have to get you a glowing collar.”
She meows, and I lift her up and tuck her into my body as I unlock my door. Her purring rumbles against my chest, and I cuddle the wet kitty. Winter Valley is a small town, and the one affordable-but-safe apartment complex caters to a wide variety of residents. On one side of me is Myrtle, an eighty-year-old retired librarian, and on the other side is Frank, a thirty-five-year-old school teacher.
I set my purse and the cat down to hang up my coat. Spooky rubs against my legs, begging for a treat. I make my way to the kitchen, and a cabinet clicks when I pull it open. “Myrtle says you’re getting fat, so I’m not supposed to do this.” I pull two treats from a plastic bag and squat down to give them to Spooky. “This is our secret, okay?”
The cat rubs her head against my hand, and I scoop her up to go sit on the sofa. Her fur is silky soft under my hand as I pet her. “There’s this guy.” The cat begins to purr. “I know. He’s beyond dreamy. All muscles, with hair long enough to grab, and sparkling blue eyes. But Spooky”—I sigh—“you should see his mouth. The things I want those lips to do...”
My phone buzzes with a text, and I set the cat aside to go get it.
It’s Bosun. Tomorrow night 7?
Giddiness makes me let out a little squeal, and I reply, “Sure, where?”
“I’ll come get you. Where do you live?”
My fingernails click as I type out my address, and nerves set in. I have a date with a guy who makes my emotions oscillate between lust and anger. He sets me on edge in a way nobody else ever has. And Katie hinted at a dark secret that has her warning me to stay away. Could he be any more tempting?
I drop to the couch, and Spooky climbs into my lap for attention. Am I attracted to the bad-boy aspect of Bosun? The way he leaves me speechless with his teasing when that’s usually my forte? Or is it because my body hums with desire when I so much as look at him?
I lift the cat into the air and nuzzle her nose. “What do you think?” She opens up her mouth to let out a meow, and I think Spooky is telling me I should stop worrying and just have fun. Or that she wants to go home.
I open the door to rain splattering down from the gutter into the gully below. I didn’t bother with my raincoat, and I jog down my steps and up my neighbor’s quickly. Myrtle answers the bell right away. She tsks at me as I hand her the cat. “You’ll catch a cold, running around in the rain without your coat, Devon.”
“I’m fine. I hope you don’t mind that I kept Spooky for a while. We had a nice chat.”
“Any time. Thanks for bringing her home.”
A car splashes by as I walk back down the steps, and I glance past the road to the woodlands across it. For the second time tonight, I’m startled by a pair of glowing eyes. I wonder if it’s another cat or something wilder. When I get to my door, I turn around to look for the animal that was watching me, but it’s gone.
CHAPTER FOUR
As much as I love working on people’s hair and talking to my customers, I’m not sure I’ll ever enjoy having to discuss the weather in detail multiple times a day. Linda, my soccer-mom client, says, “It’s crazy how warm this spring is. My tulips are already coming up.”
“I know. We still had snowbanks at
this time last year.” Foil crinkles as I take a piece from her to slide under a thin section of he hair. “I heard it was supposed to hit eighty today.”
“I don’t doubt it. I bet we’ll have a hot summer.” I paint color chemicals on her hair for highlights, and she asks, “Do you still have that cute little red Bug?”
I sigh. “Yeah. But it’s at the shop right now.”
“Oh no. What happened?”
“I was rear-ended.”
“Oh, that’s the worst, especially when you find out that insurance claims it’s partially your fault.” She hands me another piece of foil.
“Yeah. Well, fortunately I didn’t have to make a claim. The guy who hit me happens to be an auto mechanic, and he’s helping me out.”
“Oh, nice. What shop?”
“Lindholm Auto Repair.”
Linda smiles at me, and I guess she knows Bosun. “Have you met the owner, Bosun, yet?”
My cheeks flush. “Yes. He’s the one helping me out.”
“Wow. I wouldn’t mind him rear-ending me.” She winks. “But of course I’m old and married, so I’ll have to live vicariously through you.”
I chuckle, and Linda says, “I’ve heard he’s quite the eligible bachelor. He has a successful business and owns a home over by Silver Lake. You’d do well with him, Devon.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to settle down. But that body?” I raise my eyebrows at her in the mirror.
“That’s how it starts. And before you know it, you’re driving a car full of screaming kids to a soccer game.” She sighs. “It happens so fast.”
“So that’s how it happened with Steve?”
“Pretty much. The first time we met, I felt a tingle I never had before. Our first date was at Pete’s.”
Pete’s is a local bar and where most people go to play pool. I smile at Linda as I wrap up the last highlight. “It just so happens I have a date with Bosun tonight, and I think he’s taking me to Pete’s.”
I plop down in the chair next to her, and we swing to face each other as she says, “Oh, honey, look at you. You’re excited.”
I nod. “And so nervous. I never get anxious about a date.”
Linda reaches over and grasps my hand. Her skin is unusually warm, and she grips me tighter than I would expect. “Maybe he’s the one. Listen to your heart tonight. Don’t make the mistake I did by running away in fear, because I almost lost Steve.”
Bosun Lindholm may unsettle me, but he’s no Mr. Right. The dial of the timer grinds as I set it, and I recall the way I trembled when Bosun was holding me. “I don’t know about that, but he’s definitely Mr. Right Now.”
Linda grins at me. “Then I expect to hear all about your wild love affair when I come back in six weeks.”
“Will do.” I walk away with the things I need to rinse in the sink. I flip the lever, and water rushes over the bristles of the paintbrush I used to apply color. They’re soft in my fingers as I massage them clean. There is something different about the way I feel toward Bosun. I’ve been thinking about him all day, and I can’t remember a time I was this excited to go out with a guy. It feels good.
***
The pile of clothes on my bed is a small mountain. I text Katie. “Help! I can’t figure out what to wear on my date with Bosun.”
“Where are you going?”
I fall back onto my mattress and bounce. “To play pool. Pete’s?”
“Light-blue western shirt, tight jeans, heels—do you even own flats?”
“Funny. Why the blue shirt?”
“Hint of cleavage when standing. Big time when leaning over to take a shot.”
Of course. I giggle, thinking about seducing Bosun, and reply, “I love you.”
“You should. Have fun.”
After I’m ready, I pace my apartment. I know I should have dinner, but my stomach is too jittery for food. And I don’t know if Bosun planned on us eating. Nothing’s worse for a guy than to take a girl out to eat, and she doesn’t. Although he isn’t coming until seven, and that’s after dinner, right?
I inspect my nails for the hundredth time. I’m overthinking this and need to stop making myself crazy. I wander to the kitchen and decide a yogurt would be a good plan so I don’t get drunk on one beer. My refrigerator door pops open, and I grab a small container.
The plastic seal tears off, and I dip my spoon into the creamy contents. Just as I finish force-feeding myself, I hear a rumble, and I race to the window to peer out into the darkness lit by complex lights. A motorcycle? Bosun is dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket. When he takes off his helmet and shakes out his hair, I imagine him in a shampoo commercial.
From what little I know about bikes, his looks fancy, with its gleaming chrome and sexy lines. My heart races, and I swallow down my panic at the thought of having him between my legs while I hold on tight. That man sure knows what he’s doing, picking me up on a bike. I smirk, imagining how well it must work with his conquests.
I walk away quickly so he doesn’t catch me gawking. Oh man, I’m going to need a warmer jacket. Are heels going to work on a motorcycle? My panic attack stops when a knock sounds on the door, and I take a deep breath to compose myself.
This man serves up a side of sass without trying, so I decide to go on the offense. I open up with a big smile and cock my hip as I place my hand on it. I lick my lips. “You sure do wear leather well. Come on in while I find a warmer coat.”
Bosun chuckles before he says, “You look great too.” I walk away, adding a little more swing to my step. The moment I get in my bedroom, I roll my eyes at my behavior. Are you really going to be able to keep this up all night, Dev? And if you do, are you prepared for what might happen? I grab a winter parka and return to my date.
He asks, “Have you ever ridden on a bike?”
I pull my door open, and Bosun follows me out as I say, “Once or twice.”
He waits for me as I lock up. My heels click in staccato as we descend the stairs and move down the walkway. He says, “I brought you a helmet. I hope you won’t mind what it does to your hair.”
I want to laugh, because clearly he doesn’t know about the small hairbrush and travel hairspray I carry that can fix almost any bad hair day in less than a minute. “I’m sure I’ll manage.”
When we get to the bike, Bosun hands me a red helmet. It’s shiny and appears brand new. I glance at him and smile. “I like the color.”
He nods. “I couldn’t picture you wearing something ugly. Besides, it’s sized for a woman’s head and much safer.”
I drum my fingernails on the fiberglass and try not to gush over his sweet gesture. “Thank you.” My nerves are still working overtime, and my hands shake as I lift the helmet to my head while he takes my purse and places it in a small compartment. I say, “Tell me about your bike. I know next to nothing.”
My fingers fumble with the strap until he pushes them away and does it for me. The buckle clicks, and he says, “It’s a Ducati. But all you need to know is how to hold on and lean with me.”
Nice. I expected him to go on about the amazing features. He swings a leg over and turns to look at me. I step up next to the bike and climb on behind him. Bosun grabs my legs and pulls me snugly against his body. He says, “Squeeze tightly if you need to.”
I slip my arms around his waist, and the heat of him between my thighs makes me flush. “I think I’ve got it.”
The engine revs as the kickstand snaps into place, and we’re off. We fly though the night, and the power of the machine under me and the man in front of me quells my nerves as I hold on for the ride.
CHAPTER FIVE
We arrive at Pete’s too quickly. I wish I’d yelled for him to take a longer route, because the sensation of being in the open air with the wind and darkness was exhilarating. Bosun parks us near more bikes, many of them as nice looking as his. I wonder if this is the grown-up version of the truck club.
When I take off the helmet, I bend over and finger comb my blond hair t
o give it volume. It’s naturally straight, with just enough body it can curl, and I’ve cut it to frame my face. I know it will fall right when I whip it back as I extend again. I discover Bosun watching me, and I think I see lust in his eyes. The man appreciates a sexy hair flip.
He asks, “Do you need to use the mirror?”
“Nope. I’m good.”
“Nice. I didn’t expect you to be so low maintenance.” He places his hand at the small of my back to guide me toward the entrance, and my skin tingles at his touch. You’d think the fact that he was just pressed against a more sensitive place would have made me immune.
We walk toward the colorful neon lights of beer signs and into a dimly lit area. Small tables are spaced out with high bar stools, and there’s a decent-sized crowd. Just enough people to make it fun but not so many you can’t find a seat or hear your conversation. With it being a small town, I’m not surprised to see people I know, and I wave to a few while curious eyes watch us make our way to the bar.
Bosun grabs the hand of a guy that walks up to him, and they slap each other on the back. “Derek. Good to see you, man.”
“You too.” He turns a smiling face to me. “And who do we have here? She’s the prettiest thing I’ve seen in ages.”
I smile and am about to say my name when Bosun wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me against his body. “This is Devon, and she’s off limits.”
His voice is a bit stern, as if he’s laid some claim on me. But Derek doesn’t seem to take it an insult, and winks at me. “I’m Derek, and if you get tired of this guy, I’m available.”
I chuckle at his flirting, and Bosun leads me to the bar, making it clear the conversation is over. A number of men seem to be interested in us, and I ask, “Do you come here a lot?”
“Enough. Most of these people have been my customers.”
I glance around at the women and notice that a few are my clients too. I suppose over the years that number will grow. “Makes sense. I see a few of mine in here too.”
