"Well, I guess we'd better get out of here. It's almost noon."
"Yeah. You still think you're dragging me out today to buy a new bed?"
"Hell yes. We're gonna put your new sheets to good use tonight. There’s no point in wasting them on your crappy old bed."
"Yes darling." He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “Are we stopping for gas on the way out of town?"
"Might as well. Goodbye, too big for two people house. I won't miss you."
"Okay babe. We're outta here." He opened his door and got in his car.
She noticed that he'd put on his steering wheel cover and his new seat covers. "So you liked your present?"
"Yep. Thanks baby."
"Thank me when we've broken in your new sheets."
"Can't wait." He gave her a wink as he shut the door.
She got into the mustang and repositioned the seat. She strapped her seatbelt on and started the engine, backing slowly out of the driveway. She waved at Tony. He pulled out behind her and they were on their way.
They stopped at a gas station on the edge of town a few minutes later. When he pulled up behind her at the gas pumps, he came around the car and pulled her into his arms. "I miss you already baby."
Removing his hand from her ass, ignoring the dirty look that a middle aged mother toting a toddler gave them, she said "I'm gonna go pay for the gas. Do you want something to drink?"
"Get me a couple of those energy drinks with the coffee flavor will you?"
"Sure. Is twenty-five good for gas? How full is your tank?"
"A little under half. That should be fine. Do you want to stop for lunch somewhere along the way?"
"Sounds good. I'll be right back."
She went in the store, picking out his energy drinks and a soda for herself. She paid for the drinks and the gas and went back outside. She gave Tony a quick kiss and then pulled away. "I think there's an exit with some restaurants about an hour down the road. Does that sound okay?"
"Sure. Lead the way my love."
They both returned to their respective cars, pulling back out onto the road. She turned the radio up loud to a rock station and let herself enjoy her new car. It really was nice she thought. It still had the new car smell, though it did have about 10,000 miles on it.
She kept checking her rear view to make sure that Tony was behind her. She was still worried about him and didn't like him being alone when she suspected that he was feeling worse than he'd ever let on. But he kept up with her and his blinker came on immediately when she pulled off at the exit.
There wasn't many choices of food. She pulled into a pizza place which boasted an all you can eat lunch buffet until 3 pm, pulling to a stop in the mostly empty parking lot.
Tony got out of his car, stretched and handed her a cigarette, giving her a quick kiss. "Figured you'd probably want one by now, nicotine addict."
"Thanks." She lit up and leaned against the mustang. "So we'll probably get back to town about five or so. Do you think there's going to be anywhere open to buy a new bed after you get back from buying your drugs?"
"Maybe. I have to go three different places. The guy who I get my weed from is totally anti-drug so there's no way in hell he'd be selling crack or meth."
"That's so funny. A pot dealer anti-drug."
"Do you want me to make Aunt Lori explain to you all the reasons that pot isn't a drug?"
"Even when it's used for recreational purposes?"
"Even then. Well, sort of. Aunt Lori's a lot better at explaining all of it than me. She’s into the whole legalization thing, always telling me about some new article she read that proves it can cure cancer."
"Wow."
"So there's got to be some intelligent stoners out there, huh?"
"Never said you weren't intelligent. And not your aunt either. But your aunt doesn't really think of herself as a pothead does she?"
Tony laughed. "She does. She'd smoke it if she didn't have killer migraines. It's Carl that it bothers so much. Not that it makes any sense because he wants to get stoned with her but he's sixteen. Nothing you think at sixteen makes sense."
"What about seventeen?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Nope, nothing makes a damn bit of sense until you're at least nineteen." He winked at her.
“I guess you'd better not ask me to marry you until I'm at least nineteen then huh? If I say yes, it wouldn't make any sense."
"Quit teasing me or I'll get down on one knee right here in this dirty parking lot in the middle of nowhere."
“That wouldn't be romantic at all now would it?"
"You're probably planning on asking me to marry you when you've just blown my mind with really hot sex so there's no way I'll say no."
"That's an idea." He took her hand as they walked toward the restaurant.
He insisted on paying. They ended up in a small booth at the back of the restaurant away from the family with six unhappy kids ranging in ages from toddler to teenager and the elderly married couple who did not look amused by the antics of any of the children which led Tory to believe that they'd never had any children of their own, let alone grandchildren; who were the only other patrons of the restaurant.
She couldn't help but find the toddler in the high chair who had managed to dump a bowl of pasta on the floor after getting the rest of it on, instead of in, her chubby cheeked adorable face which was framed by gorgeous dark ringlets, as anything but precious. And the little boy who looked about six who was pouting for some reason looked almost unbearably cute with his big hazel eyes that she could see clearly from across the room. She wasn't getting baby fever was she, she thought? Like Andi, who she thought was probably determined to make sure she was pregnant before graduation? No, she couldn't be, she thought sneaking a glance at Tony, who for once seemed unmoved by the cute kids across the room.
"What?" He’d caught her looking at him as he glanced up from his salad.
"Nothing."
"You were giving me a look like you were trying to dissect what's in my head Tor. So don't give me that. What is it?"
"Nothing, I swear." Her eyes have drifted back to the little boy across the room who was now helping his mother feed his little sister.
The dark hair of the little girl came from the mother she thought, who was a natural beauty. There was no way you could tell she'd given birth to her brood by looking at her. She was slim and ever patient as her son spooned a bite of pasta into his little sister's waiting mouth. The blonde hair of the little boy had been inherited from the father who was having a heated conversation with the oldest child, a teenager who was the spitting image of his father. She'd been thinking that the little boy with his dark blonde hair and hazel eyes looked a bit like Tony.
The teenage boy; who she noticed had a nose ring when he met her eyes from across the room, gave her a cocky grin before he turned back to his father. She thought that he had that same walking sex appeal quality that Tony had.
"Quit having sex with him with your eyes Tor," Tony said. "He's too young for you."
"He's not too young for me. He's gotta be at least sixteen. I think I heard him bugging his dad to let him drive on the way home when we first came in."
"Is that how you like your men? Pierced and tattooed?"
She made a face. "Tattoos can be sexy, depending on what they are I guess. And piercings can be hot on the right guy."
"And he's the right guy?" Tony gave her a disgusted look.
"I was looking at his little brother first. He kind of looks like you. You can see his eyes from across the room."
"But then you decided it was a good idea to have mind sex with big brother?"
"Tony quit it. I looked at him for like thirty seconds. I was only looking at him because he's got that same kind of sex appeal thing going on that you do. Like you haven't turned many a woman into a pile of hormones in her chair."
"Bet if I wasn't here you'd be over there getting his number."
"You want me to get up and go do it?"
"Damn Tony, is the caffeine getting to you? Why are you so damn crabby? It's not like you didn't give the mother a second look. You were telling me to quit getting so jealous. Now you're freaking out because some hot guy in a restaurant that's two hours away from home smiled at me."
"It wasn't just a smile. It was an 'I wouldn't mind having you in my bed and I don't give a shit if you're sitting there with your boyfriend' smile."
"So what if it was? He's a teenage boy. Teenage boys are cocky. You're cocky. Hell, good looking forty year old men tend to be cocky. I'm sure as hell not going to go chasing after some good looking guy who's eating lunch with his parents and five little brothers and sisters for goodness’ sake."
"I know." He ran a hand through his hair.
She noticed he was shaking slightly and wondered if it was from caffeine or some kind of withdrawal.
"I'm sorry. I'm just stressed Tor. How am I going to get my shit together in the time that it takes them to decide my mother's finally sane enough to let out of the hospital?"
"I don't know babe." She reached over and squeezed his hand. "But it's not helpful for you to want to start a fight with some guy who looked at me. I was getting sentimental about that gorgeous little girl with her curly hair and the little boy with your eyes and wondering what our kids would look like and you're getting jealous."
"I'm sorry Tor. I'm just so afraid of fucking up again and losing you forever. It drives me nuts when a guy like that or Johnny is busy picturing you naked."
"What about that waitress? I wanted to take her out back and beat the crap out of her. She had to know we were together because I don't think that I look young enough or mental enough to be still holding my big brother's hand do I?"
"Of course not Tor. You don't have to worry about me running off with some girl I see on the street. I'm with the one I want to be with."
"You don't think I am? I wouldn't have put you through the torture of meeting my mom and stepdad if I didn't plan on sticking with you."
She was trying to keep her eyes from drifting back to the teenage guy's ass in his tight jeans as he left the restaurant with his parents, his little sister holding tightly to his hand.
"I saw that," Tony said. But she thought he sounded more good natured now.
"What?"
"You know what. You were checking out Romeo's ass."
"You know how they say a woman's body is a work of art? I happen to think that a well-built guy's ass in a pair of tight jeans is an art form all its own."
"I'll let you look at mine all you want. I'll let you take a picture so you'll never have to look at another guy's."
"Mmm. Take a picture of your bare chest sweaty after sex too, and we've got a deal."
"You like me sweaty? You really are weird Tory."
"I only like you when I've made you sweaty." She grinned. "Let's get out of here or I'll make you stop by your house before you go to your aunt's and put your old bed to use one last time."
"Nah, you'd only be thinking of nose ring."
"As if I get half a chance to think about anyone else while I'm in bed with you."
He grinned. "It's nice to be gifted."
"Yes Tony. Are you ready to get out of here?"
"Yeah."
He left a tip on the table, though she wondered why he bothered when it was a buffet with self -serve drinks. No one had bothered to come clear the plates off of their table. But he had manners deeply ingrained from his parents or his aunt and uncle, most likely both. She had no doubt that he'd make sure his children grew up the same way. He held the door open for her. She walked out, squinting in the winter sunshine.
The family was still working on getting kids strapped into car seats and seat belts. She had to hold back a groan as they walked by the suburban because 'nose ring' was leaning over, strapping his little sister into a car seat, the muscles in his ass flexed, t-shirt riding up so that she caught a glimpse of tanned skin between his belt and where the t-shirt had ridden up. She almost breathed a sigh of relief when they were safely past, glad that Tony hadn't caught her practically drooling over the guy again.
She so needed to get laid she thought. When they reached the cars, she pressed him back against the passenger side of his car, giving him a long kiss. Pulling back she said "So unless we need to stop for a bathroom break or I decide that I really need a cigarette I guess we're making a straight run home then?"
"Guess so."
"Don't look so thrilled Tony. Don't tell me you're not looking forward to getting sweaty on your new sheets. I know I am."
"Of course I am. I'm not looking forward to going back to the ever so exciting life of being a drug dealer."
"What did you plan on doing with your life before you decided to be a drug dealer Tony?"
She turned her head slightly so that she could look at the passing suburban without looking too obvious. Nose ring was behind the wheel and damned if he didn't look hot she thought. One arm out the window, shoulder length dark blonde hair blowing in the wind, bad boy to the bone even with his brothers and sisters safely strapped into the back seats and his father beside him in the passenger seat. It should be illegal to look that good.
Tony was talking. She had to take a breath and say "What?"
He rolled his eyes at her. "He's gone now. You can let your jaw move back to its normal position."
"I'm not that bad.”
"Yes, you are”
"Don't tell me that you don't appreciate a woman when you think she's got a nice body. It's no different. I don't want to go to a strip show. Those guys may have nice bodies but you've got to have the face to go with it. Why don't you do a little dance for me when you get home? You my love have got the full package."
"Thanks, Tor. Just not quite good enough to keep you from having an instant orgasm over some sixteen year old guy with a nose ring."
"It doesn't hurt to look does it? It's not like I'm ever going to see the guy again. He's probably a jerk anyway."
"He looked like a real big jerk when he was holding his little sister's hand Tor."
"Oh yeah, and strapping her into her car seat."
"Yeah, I caught that too. You wanted to reach out and grab his ass; run your hands up underneath his shirt so you could feel his muscles."
"Oh, mean like I do to you?"
"I'm gonna take you home and make you forget that you ever saw Mr. Nose Ring."
"Promise?"
“Don't tell Andi about him. You didn't take a picture of him with your phone when I wasn't looking did you?"
"No." But only because she hadn't thought of it. "So what were you saying about what you wanted to do before you became a dealer?"
"Just that I was kind of like you are now, with no clue as to what I wanted to do."
"Sounds like a bright future for us all around huh?"
"You'll figure it out Tor. I will too. I sure don't want to end up thirty and working at some nine to five job that I hate with my mom still living with us because it's the only way we can afford to pay the rent."
"Were you any good at song writing?" She took a cigarette from the pack on his hood, figuring that if he was having a cigarette she might as well too.
"All I ever wrote was shit that was practically pornographic. It's not like I had any hopes and dreams of making it big."
“Maybe you can write the soundtracks for porn flicks."
"The songs they play usually don't have words. It's all that cheesy supposed to be sexy crap that you don't really hear after a while."
"You ever think about counseling?"
"I'm hardly going to ask Langston to pay for counseling now. My traumatic childhood is almost over."
"Not counseling for you you dork. You seem to like to take care of the walking wounded. Look at me. I could be your first success story. Drug dealer turned legit by the hand of one courageous teenage girl."
"It's not me who's doing it. You made the decision to turn your life around."
/> "But it started with you. Started with wanting to be better so you'd be proud to be with me."
"That came from you too. I didn't ask you to love me."
"Seriously Tory, think about it."
"Yeah, that's it Tony. I'll be a counselor for little girls whose mothers don't love them because there's only room in their icy hearts for a love of money. And you can write sexy songs that they have to beep every other word out when they play them on the radio. Our futures are set in stone now."
He shook his head at her, tossing his cigarette away. "Guess we'd better get back on the road huh?"
"Yeah. Do you still have the songs that you wrote for your English teacher?"
"Probably in a box in the garage somewhere. My mom threw the originals away but I had copies. Why?"
"Just curious."
He leaned down and gave her a kiss. "Don't daydream about nose ring when you're driving. You'll probably crash into a utility pole."
She laughed. "I won't. Can I think about being naughty in bed with you tonight?"
"That's probably not a good idea either."
"Spoilsport."
"'Ol spoilsport would prefer his girl to make it home in one piece."
"Yeah, okay. If you need to stop for some reason, call me."
"Yep."
She blew him a kiss as he opened his car door and got behind the wheel. She got behind the wheel of the mustang and strapped on her seat belt, starting the car. Tony gave her a wave as she pulled out in front of him.
They had been back on the road a little less than an hour when her phone rang. She glanced at it in the console. It was Tony.
She picked up the phone and answered the call. "What's up?"
"I need to pee and I need more caffeine. Is there an exit up ahead?"
"Um.” She tried to rack her brain for exactly where they were. She'd been driving kind of on autopilot which probably wasn't the best idea, but it had worked so far. The drive between Langston's and home was pretty boring, just a long stretch of road with highway exits few and far between. "I think there might be an exit a couple of miles up, but I'm not sure."
"All right. Keep your eyes open. Anything that has a restroom and coffee with work."
Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set Page 133
