Sin's Flower

by Carlene Love Flores

  Their stash of refreshments sat tucked between them. The load of blankets she’d stretched and piled over the both of them hid her curves and all that poked out was her sweet cupid face. How embarrassing that he was the one shivering. He leaned closer to her, hoping to feel her heat, but got caught up on the steering wheel. Shit, he was pretty sure he’d just squashed her box of chocolate mintys.

  “I might have to do another candy run. Sorry.”

  Who were they kidding? He wouldn’t leave her alone.

  “It’s no big deal. Anyway, look the projector just fired up.”

  A black and white cartoon that had been colorized lit up the screen as a hot dog danced into an open bun. The neighboring car on his side was gonna be banging by the night’s end. And the one parked on Lily’s side might be rocking later but that’s because mummy and daddy had brought their young brood out. He lost count at five heads. They seemed to be surrounded by families and horny teenagers. Safe.

  Jaxon hung his arm against the Jetta’s door for a few more seconds, debating chancing a run and letting Lily stay warm in the car. Sweat wetted his pits.

  “Jaxon, you look like someone just asked you to decide between life and death. It’s okay, I don’t mind squashed candy. Still tastes just as good.”

  What would taste good smashed beneath his weight was her delicious womanly body and the neck he’d already sampled. Just looking at her bright pink lips and taffy colored hair made his mouth water with indecision.

  “You’ll miss the beginning if you leave now.”

  Those puppy eyes overruled his ass back down all the way into the seat. “Okay, staying put.” He manually pushed down his lock and then reached over and did the same to hers. The back doors’ locks were secure.

  “You okay?” she asked. Iron from the drive-in speaker pole to their rear clanked loudly as someone backed into it.

  He jumped.

  “Yeah, never better.” But he could feel sweat edging his hairline. He dug out the box of soft mints he’d mashed and shook a couple pieces into his hand.

  * * * *

  “Jaxon? Are you feverish?”

  “Nah, I’m fine. Here you go.”

  He handed her candy and then pushed their tray of onion rings onto the dash before nearly mashing those too. They fogged up the window and he cursed under his breath. Damn it was probably pretty tame for him. “Thanks.” She tried to sound cheery.

  He just nodded and with a hand clamped down on his lap, sat staring out the window. First his, then the back, then her side. What was up with him? Was he high? Drunk? Fighting the funk? Oh no, it was whatever bad experience he’d said he had in a place like this.

  The sky darkened minutes later. She glanced his way, wanting to at least mouth another thank you, but with him so focused on looking out his window, all she could see was the back of his head. The razored, dark blond hair called to her hand. Except for the longer pieces on top, it was cut short like the boys she saw coming and going from the marine recruiting office near the diner. Proud handsome young men. If Jaxon’s hands weren’t wrapped around the steering wheel so tight he looked like he could pop the thing off with the tiniest flick of his wrist, she would have considered rubbing her hand up the back of his head, feeling the prickle of the skin-tight buzz cut and then up to the sandy blond top where it was long enough to twirl. A move like that would have let him know she was dying for his kiss on her lips and his hands on her body. But then his head snapped to her as he searched her side of the outdoor theater.

  She didn’t want to call attention to what was bothering him anymore. Plus, she was quickly becoming entranced by the giant Technicolor visions of The Wizard of Oz. No, she wouldn’t pester Jaxon. Even though he looked like a man on his third consecutive shift of guard duty and it worried her. Instead, she settled back into her half of the front seat and tucked a quilt she’d stowed in the trunk under her arms.

  The unclaimed bag of Reese’s Pieces smelled like a scrumptious sugar-high sandwiched between her cherry Twizzlers and Jaxon’s untouched onion rings. Should she offer Jaxon a piece of licorice? Just as she pulled one of the long red candy straws out to hand to him, he jerked his head away from her, back to the darkness outside his half of the truck, and then back to her.

  “Open up, baby,” he said, offering her another mint.

  She did. He bit a small piece from the morsel first and placed the rest on her tongue. Lily watched the movie. Jaxon watched her.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Hey Tris, I’m home,” she called over lightly to the lump on the couch that was her preggers sister. She rolled over knocking the TV remote to the ground. Lily fetched it.

  “Hey,” she yawned. “How was the movie?”

  “Good. Perfect. Thought about Momma the whole time. I wish you could have been there.” They both eyeballed her stomach and shrugged. “But this little one is already too eager to come out into the world,” Lily cooed to Tris’s swollen belly.

  “So did Jaxon get any better once you were there?”

  “Yeah, about that. He really has something against drive-in theaters. But we had an okay time.” She stopped right there, at the safe point, keeping the rest of her feelings for Jaxon secret for now.

  “Well I’m glad you got to go. It’s a great little place. I was hesitant at first, just like Jaxon, but Lucky’s been going there his whole life with Luke and Bear. We go almost every weekend when it’s in season. We love it. Plus it’s kind of an inside joke.”

  “What? Really? Oh come on, you have to tell me now.” She crossed her heart and sat down on the floor right next to the couch. “Promise I won’t tell Lucky.”

  “Okay, well when I first met Lucky, it was because Jaxon had asked me to let him tag along on my way back to California from Tennessee. So we were at this gas station and you know, he was kissing me while the gas was pumping.”

  “Wait a second, so you were giving him quite the ride home, it sounds like. Geez, Tris. You hussy!”

  “You know it, now shush. So an elderly couple pulled in behind us and I got all shy.”

  “Yeah right.”

  “No, I really did. Then Lucky took over the pumping…” Lily tried not to bust out laughing at the unintended pumping pun to her sister’s sinful tale.

  “Shut up, oh forget it,” Tris said, irritation grating her words.

  “No please, please tell me the rest.” Lily zipped her lips with her finger.

  “Well, he finished pumping our gas and gave me some money to go inside and get snacks. But as I was walking away he mumbled something about my jeep being a sin wagon.”

  “Aww, just like Danny and Sandy in Grease.”

  “Exactly. And then I kind of told him I’d show him a sin wagon. The R rated version of Danny and Sandy of course.”

  “Oh God, I love it, Tris. That is so cool. You guys make me smile.”

  “Hey, it’ll happen for you someday too. Don’t be in a hurry. You’re only thirty-one years old, Lily. Okay? And Tom was just a bump in the road. Any word on those final papers yet?”

  Lily shook her head no and then jumped when Benny wandered past and on into the kitchen.

  He nodded at them, tilting his head back up but his eyes and nose were masked by his long shaggy bangs. “Hey Benny, need help?” Lily asked.

  “Uh. No. Water.”

  Aww, he was out for a little sleepwalking drink. They waited for him to pass back by to his couch. “Night night Benny,” Tris said as he scooted his long lanky legs past them and then collapsed.

  “He’s a real sweetie.” Tris winked at her.

  “Is there something in your eye, Tris?”

  “No, nice try. You know, Benny is a great guy. Sweet, tall, dark hair, cool funky style. Good manners. Hard working. Great with kids. Music trivia genius. There’s not an 80’s song he doesn’t know every word to and that includes all the glam rock.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa,” Lily sputtered out. “Those are all true statements. Thanks for pointing all that
out.” She gave her sister a meaningful stare.

  “I think he likes you.”

  “No you don’t and no he doesn’t. Not like that. You and I both know he’s lovesick over that Kirby singer girl.”

  “Erby.”

  “Right. And I’ve only known him for a month. What’s her deal?”

  “She’s a rock star.” They had a good laugh at that term. “They suck!” Tris snorted out.

  “You said it, not me.”

  “Shh, you’re cackling and you’re gonna make me pee and give birth.”

  Lily stilled and stopped to make sure Tris was just joking. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “So about that. I’ve been meaning to tell you there’s a women’s clinic not too far from us where you can get your annual exam, pap, birth control…”

  “Thanks. I know I’ve been lazy about getting set up with a new doctor. I think I’m gonna be here for a while so it’s probably a good idea.” Lily smiled because Tris’s face was smothered by a goofy grin.

  “You’re really staying? For good? I mean I was definitely hoping for that with the shop and I swear I’ll be back on my feet and helping with that at some point…” Now she was doing that frowny but happy weird smile.

  “Well, I really like Bugscuffle. And seriously, being around you and Lucky is healing. And yes, I love that we run a shop together. Even though I’m pulling all the weight right now, you slacker,” Lily said teasingly.

  “Come here.” They hugged. “That makes me so happy.”

  “Me too.”

  “Remind me in the morning and we’ll get out the clinic phone number, since you’re staying.”

  “Okay. You’ve got great timing. My Pill prescription is only good for three more months. Hopefully I can get in before it expires.”

  “Oh, okay. So you are actively taking it?”

  “Yes,” Lily said, drawing out the short word. “Why do you sound so shocked?”

  “I’m not, I mean….you haven’t said much about boyfriends. That’s all.”

  What did she say here? The only thing she was ever comfortable with was the truth but Lily had never been in this situation before. Rather than add to whatever Tris’s issue was over her and Jaxon becoming close, Lily divulged the ultimate reason for why she’d decided not to come off the Pill when her marriage had ended. “That jerk ex-husband of mine in Oklahoma taught me to always be prepared.”

  She wouldn’t lie about it but wasn’t ready to share that a disgusting picture had shown up in their dress shop mail box the other day. She didn’t want her sister thinking she was a trouble magnet. There hadn’t been any more contact so hopefully the still photo from the video was a one time, last ditched, parting shot at how she’d broken things off with Tom.

  “Okay. So, are there any other boys you’d like to talk about? Lucky’s got a really good friend who doesn’t live too far away. I could totally set you and Paul up.” Tris twisted her mouth, looking like she would enjoy some sisterly guy chat and for Lily to start drooling over the prospects of this Paul guy.

  Too bad there was only one man controlling her salivary glands at the moment. Maybe she could dish just a little with Tris. After everything else they’d shared…and this was even happy stuff. Not sad and depressing.

  “So I’ve been spending some time with Jaxon the past week...”

  “Oh geez, Lily. Really hun?”

  “See, I knew I wasn’t imagining you getting all grumpy whenever we were all in the same room. I don’t understand what that’s all about. You do realize that right?”

  Tris did not want to respond. Not with those twisted lips and disappointed eyes. But why?

  “Tris, you know I went to California because it was obvious you needed your best friend back. Right? I mean you seemed so happy when he first got here.”

  “Yes, Lily. By the way, thanks for not believing in that bush everyone else in the world likes to beat around. Not my little sis. Crap. Of all the things we’ve talked about, I don’t know if I’m prepared to have this one conversation with you. Or anyone for that matter.”

  Well what a way to scare the crap out of a girl. What in the world was Tris so afraid of and what did it have to do with Jaxon?

  What should she do? Did her sister need to get this off her chest? If it was something bad about Jaxon, Lily should probably hear it, considering how blinded she’d been over Tom. But being that blatantly honest just now had affected Tris differently than any of their other honest talks. Lily decided not to press.

  “Tris, maybe we can save this one for another time.”

  Tris nodded but added, “I’m sorry, Lily. I just feel so protective of you. I want you to find someone who is going to light up your life and make everything good.”

  Funny how she knew her sister was making a case against Jaxon but those were the exact ways he’d made Lily feel that week.

  “I understand.” She’d wanted to ask for some mutual trust but stopped short and instead tucked Tris’s warnings about getting involved with Jaxon into her heart’s back pocket.

  Hey, there was one safe guy who Lily knew she could honestly gush over. “How freaking hot is Stefan Calderon?” she asked Tris with a poke.

  Streamers may have well shot from cannons. “Oh lordy. You have serious issues, child. Stefan Calderon is a handful of hot-mess.”

  “I know! That’s why I have his face on my pillow. Tell me more about him, please?” she pleaded.

  Tris went on to lavish many details about the sexy lead singer of Sin Pointe onto her and she soaked up every bit. But in the back of her head all she could think about was Jaxon and him never seeing the still photos Tom had sent of them in bed. Oh yeah, and what in the world Jaxon had with Tris that was more unspeakable than her sister’s childhood abuse.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It was two days before Christmas and she’d vowed to spend as much time as was needed knocking out candy cane doggy sweaters and the remaining mommy and me holiday muumuu dresses due to customers that afternoon. She’d be doing some home delivery when all was said and done at the shop. Good thing she had a helper.

  Jaxon greeted a customer who wandered in. They spoke a few pleasantries and Jaxon brought the elderly lady up front with a dashing stride that made her proud. “Ma’am, this is Lily, she’ll be able to point us in the right direction.”

  “Oh, thank you, young man. Yes, Lily, I have a great granddaughter who was born a preemie and still doesn’t fit any of the stuff at the department stores. Might you have something tucked away here dear?”

  “Oh wow, well first off, congratulations. Um, about how much does she weigh?”

  The elderly lady dressed in a burgundy wool coat and swathed in what looked to be several neck scarves held up her hands to show Lily how long the baby was. “I think she’s just barely seven pounds as of yesterday. Which doesn’t sound like much but when you consider she was only three pounds at birth.”

  “She sounds like a downright miracle to me,” Jaxon chimed in which brought an undeniable rosy pride to their customer’s wrinkly cheeks.

  That was tiny. Lily didn’t think she had any preemie sized items left. She shared a quick look with Jaxon who stood holding the lady’s umbrella. Something about seeing him like that washed away the worries that had been bugging her ever since Tris’s warnings the night before. While Lily went to the back to search for something small and special, she overheard a sweet comment made by Jaxon’s customer.

  “Young man, thank you for being such a good helper. But I do have to say you should probably ask for some time off to go home and rest. Poor dear, those circles under your eyes.”

  All Lily heard in return was, “Yes, ma’am, I will do that. Thank you for supporting this shop. It means a lot to the girls who run it.”

  Lily returned as warmed as a pie sitting under a heating lamp but unfortunately without anything small enough. “Ma’am?” she prompted.

  “Oh dear, please call me Elaine.”

  “Mrs. Elaine, I
don’t seem to have anything but if you don’t need it right now, I’d love to make something up for your little grandbaby today and then deliver it tonight. Would that be okay? I feel so honored that you came looking here.”

  Elaine’s crinkled, hunched fingers clasped over her heart. “If that’s possible, I would love it.”

  Lily wrote up an order with Elaine’s color and pattern choices and then accepted a sweet kiss on the cheek. Jaxon walked Elaine all the way to her car. When he returned, if she hadn’t already believed he was an actual knight in shining armor, his words tipped the scale.

  “You know, I can handle doing more than just greeting customers. Make me up a list of what all needs to be done so that you can concentrate on creating. I’m serious, mopping, dusting, folding—I’ll take care of everything. That was very sweet what you did for Elaine.” He leaned down and pushed her hair out of the way so he could give her a quick kiss. Yes, most chivalrous gentlemen would have gone for the hand or cheek, but this was her Jaxon. And he was allowed to go for the neck whenever he wanted. “And consider me your delivery driver too.”

  He was like the rebel without a cause of Bugscuffle, with his ripped jeans and torso hugging black shirt that only covered him down to the middle of his forearms. She’d stolen him just as he’d stepped out of the shower and knew his blond hair was still dark and wet under the wool hat he wore to hide it. She’d never seen a more dashing man.

  “Yes, sir,” she smiled, giggling at how his stubble tickled her neck again. “I’d better get to work.”

  “Yep, you’d better do that,” said her sexy helper. “Don’t forget my list.”

  “Two down, two to go.” She held up a medium-sized pooch outfit.

  Jaxon walked his sexy strut, trying to distract her, she was sure, and sat on a stool nearby her work station, sorting fabric scraps by color.