Crossroads (Chance City Series Book Three)

by Robin Deeter

  “Bridgette said that I must be getting bored with her and that it would be good for me to be with someone different. I was nervous at first, but it didn’t take long for me to get over that.” He let out a bitter laugh. “I did a good job, too, because the woman came back again later in the week. The fourth time I was with her, she told me that I was worth every penny she’d paid for me.”

  “Oh, Ray.” Carly was horrified that any mother could do such a thing to her child.

  Ray nodded. “You’d think I’d have been mad, but I wasn’t. At least not for that reason. I was proud and it made me feel manly. I was pissed at my mother because she was making money from me that should’ve been mine. Do you see how twisted that is? How wrong it is? I told the woman if she wanted me again that she’d have to pay me more and we’d have to meet somewhere else.”

  Carly quickly grasped where Ray’s mindset had been for so long. Women and sex had become nothing more to him than a way to make a living. He’d never had a crush on a girl and his first kiss had been with a prostitute instead of a sweet girl his own age. He’d lost most of his innocence at such a young age, and the last of it with his first meeting with the woman his mother had taken him to see.

  Shame seared Ray’s chest, making him rake a hand through his hair in frustration. “Ma was furious that I cut her out of my business, but by that point, I didn’t care. I was the one doing the work, so the money was mine, not hers. I refused to give her money after that. I told her that if she wanted booze and drugs, she’d have to earn them on her own. God! Isn’t that the sickest thing you’ve ever heard? I took to the business like a duck to water. I learned real quick what women wanted and how to keep them coming back for more.”

  Carly swallowed hard. “Why me, Ray? What made me different than all of those women?”

  Ray dropped down onto his knees in front of her. “Because you saw me for exactly what I am—was. You called me despicable, detestable, and I was. Johnny calls me a whore and I keep correcting him, telling him that I’m a hustler, like that makes me better somehow. But I’m not, Carly. I’m no better than Sandy’s girls, but I had to help Izzy. I shut off the part of me that cared about being decent, about doing what was right. My intentions in helping Izzy were good, but the way I went about it was wrong.”

  Carly reached up to caress his cheek. “Ray, I’m so sorry for everything that you’ve gone through. You were right about me when you said that I was just like other women. I acted like I couldn’t stand you, but I wanted you, so that makes me no better than them. It’s odd, but you and I are much more alike than people might think.”

  Ray covered her hand with his and kissed her palm. “That’s why I love you so much. You see the real me and yet you accept me. You’re the only one who’s ever done that.” He smiled wryly. “Johnny’s my best friend, but when he found out what I really did for a living, he almost ended our friendship. But you love me despite my past. I couldn’t fool you the way I did all of those other women. You challenge me and fight with me and excite me like no other woman I’ve ever met. You’re the only one I’ve ever let in.”

  Carly squeezed his hand. “You’re a much better man than you think you are. You’re funny and kind. You’re smart, talented, ambitious, and loyal. All fine qualities in a person.”

  “Thanks. Carly, I never thought I would find anyone like you. I love you and I need you. I want you for the woman you are, not for your money or because you’re the mayor. I don’t want you because of this deal we have. Will you marry me just because you love me and want me as your husband? Will you marry me so that we can make babies and have a happy life together?”

  Carly’s heart sang as she listened to him and saw the sincerity illuminated in his eyes. She couldn’t believe that this beautifully handsome man, who was younger than her, was even attracted to her, let alone loved her and wanted to marry her. That he would formally propose to her after they’d already agreed to wed told her how much she meant to him.

  With a radiant smile, she said, “Yes, Ray, I’ll marry you just because I love you and want to be your wife and the mother of your children more than anything.”

  Joy surged through Ray. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her urgently, conveying his love to her. Carly’s senses spun and she responded to him immediately. Their mouths melded and their breathing grew rapid.

  Ray embraced her, sliding his hands down her to back to grasp her shapely, trouser-clad backside. He pulled her against him, his ardor growing with every second. Ray craved Carly the way his lungs craved air and he’d never get his fill of her.

  However, his love went much deeper than that. He wanted to take care of her, to pamper her, and support her every day. His heart seemed to call her name with every beat and he intended to spend the rest of his life making her happy.

  Carly reeled when he suddenly pulled back from her.

  Thrusting a hand in his front jeans pocket, he said, “I almost forgot this.”

  She was shocked to see him pull a ring box from it.

  His expression grew somber. “It’s not the biggest ring, but I bought it with my own money.”

  There was no more beautiful ring to Carly than the small princess cut diamond ring Ray slid onto her ring finger. It picked up the moonlight, sparkling as much as the stars in the sky overhead.

  Tears glimmered in her eyes. “It’s lovely, Ray.”

  He let out the breath he’d been holding. “I’m glad you like it.”

  “I love it,” she assured him. “But I love you much more.”

  His wicked smile sent shivers of awareness down her spine. “I love you. How’d you like to make love in the wilderness with your new fiancé?”

  Carly looped her arms around his neck. “I’d love to.”

  She pulled his head down, giving him a fervent kiss that he matched with his own fevered embrace. The night seemed alive with magic as they sank down on the blanket together, their love sealed in a fiery blaze of passion that left them shaken by its intensity.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ollie perched on one side of the table, seeming to look his cards over carefully. His opponent, a grizzled old miner smiled as he watched the monkey’s eyes dart back and forth. Wheels sat closer to Ollie than he used to, making sure that he could protect his buddy better. He’d debated about whether to bring Ollie back to the Chowhound, but he hadn’t want Ollie to miss out on a good time.

  After another minute, Ollie laid his cards on the table, apparently calling.

  Chaz Parker swore good-naturedly when he saw Ollie’s three queens and two aces. “Hellfire!” He laughed and threw his cards down on the table.

  Ollie squealed happily and bobbed his head, understanding that he’d won. Wheels and Chaz laughed as Ollie reached his little hands out to the pot, dragging the money towards him.

  “I don’t know how he does it,” Chaz said. “It’s the damnedest thing.”

  Wheels helped Ollie gather up his winnings, putting them in his wallet. It was getting late and he wanted to get home to Nora. He still enjoyed going out, but he found that he didn’t have the desire to stay out nearly as long as he used to. If they went to Benny’s it was a different story, but Wheels didn’t like the idea of Nora coming to the Chowhound since it was a rougher crowd.

  Wheels was just putting his wallet away when Ollie let out a screech and jumped onto his lap, his little body trembling. Looking up, Wheels was startled to see Luther standing there. Immediately, he put his arms protectively around Ollie, his face settling into hard lines.

  “What do you want?”

  Luther smiled. “Just to say hello.”

  “Leave us alone, Luther. I don’t have anything to say to you. You got what you wanted, now get out of my way,” Wheels said.

  Luther’s expression turned sarcastic. “In a hurry to get home to that pretty little wife of yours, huh? How come you didn’t bring her tonight?”

  “Nora doesn’t like coming here,” Wheels said.

  Luther ru
bbed his chin. “Huh. I didn’t know that. I saw her here a few weeks ago. Of course, not out here. She was in the back.”

  Wheels saw red, but he kept his anger in check for Ollie’s sake. “You insult my wife again and I’ll finish the job I started a couple of months ago.”

  “I’m not insulting her. She was here. I saw her myself,” Luther said. “I thought she was with you and was just visiting the girls back there.” He gave Wheels a sneer. “Or maybe she was earning a little extra money for the wedding.”

  Chaz got up and shoved Luther. “Get out of here or I’ll beat your ass. Move it!”

  Luther regained his balance and chuckled, satisfied by the rage in Wheels’ eyes. “Have a pleasant evening, gentlemen.”

  “You ok?” Chaz asked Wheels as Luther walked away.

  Wheels forced a smile. “Yeah. I’m not gonna let him get to me. Thanks for getting rid of him, though. I really don’t want to end up in jail again. See you later, Chaz.”

  The older man nodded and gave Ollie a couple of pats on his head. “See ya, little fella. I’ll get you next time.”

  Wheels chuckled and quickly left, his mind mulling over Luther’s words as he made his way home.

  *****

  The kitchen and parlor were dark when he arrived at their house, but light shone from the bedroom doorway. Ollie leaped off his lap and ran into it. Nora’s laugh rang out, no doubt because he’d pounced on her.

  “If you’re home, that means that your daddy is, too. Wheels?”

  “Hi, honey,” he said, rolling into their room. “How was your evening?”

  Nora smiled and put her book over onto her nightstand. “Very nice. My folks came over. Pa isn’t happy with you because you didn’t invite him along tonight.”

  Relief that Doug hadn’t been with him flooded Wheels. “Well, we’ll go another night. I’ll have Ollie let him win at poker.”

  Although he smiled, it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Are you all right? Did something happen?”

  Wheels took his shirt off. “Luther showed up.”

  “Oh, no.” She gathered Ollie to her. “He didn’t start anything did he?”

  Wheels transferred over to the bed and laid down so he could take off his pants. “He tried to get under my skin, but my buddy Chaz was there and got rid of Luther for me so that I didn’t kill him.”

  Nora watched him as she petted Ollie, who was getting sleepy. “I’m glad Chaz was there, but you’re going to have to control yourself around Luther whenever you run into him.”

  After draping his pants over his wheelchair, he scooted up in bed, sitting against the headboard. “I know. It’s hard enough when he insults Ollie, but when he insulted you, it was all I could do to not smash his face in.”

  Nora’s eyebrows rose. “Insulted me? How?”

  Wheels rubbed her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, honey.”

  She gave him a stern look. “Carter, tell me what he said. I have a right to know.”

  Her tone meant that she wasn’t going to give up. “He said some nonsense about seeing you at the Chowhound before our wedding. He said that he saw you in the back. He must have gone to see one of Sandy’s girls. Poor Mrs. Kingsley.”

  Nora’s cheeks burned and she couldn’t speak for a few moments. “Yes. It’s terrible that he’s cheating on her. Shame on him.”

  Wheels noticed the tinge of pink in her cheeks and the way she didn’t quite meet his eyes. She also hadn’t said anything about Luther thinking she’d been at the Chowhound.

  “Nora, was Luther right? Did he see you at the Chowhound?”

  Nora closed her eyes and gnawed on her lip as she nodded. She hadn’t wanted Wheels to ever find out about her visit to Wendy, but there would be no hiding it now. Damn Luther’s hide!

  Wheels tamped down his annoyance, rejecting Luther’s insinuation that Nora had been there to entertain a man. Nora was a woman of principle and she’d never be unfaithful to him.

  “Why were you there?”

  Nora forced herself to meet his gaze. As uncomfortable as this was, she would never lie to her husband. She put a hand on his arm. “Please don’t be angry. I did it for us.”

  “Did what?” His heart jumped a little in alarm.

  “I went to see Wendy.”

  His brow furrowed. “Wendy? Why would you do that?”

  Nora’s blush deepened. “I needed some advice that I couldn’t get anywhere else.”

  Understanding dawned on Wheels. Embarrassment mingled with anger, making his jaw clench. “You went there to talk about me, my … issues, didn’t you?”

  Nora nodded, petting Ollie to soothe her nerves. “Please try to understand, Wheels. It was so important to me that I pleased you. Ma told me about sex, but hearing about it and doing it are two different things. I couldn’t talk to her about that, though, and I had no one else, either. I knew that Wendy would have the answers I needed.”

  Never had Wheels imagined that Nora would do such a thing. He tried to see the situation from her side, but he felt humiliated. It was a sensitive subject for him to begin with, and knowing that she’d been discussing it with the woman he’d slept with for so long made it even worse.

  “I see.”

  His wooden response and the hurt in his eyes made Nora’s heart sink.

  “I did it because I love you and I—”

  “Wanted to please me, I know.” He let out a short, sarcastic laugh. “Well, you certainly did and you do. No wonder you seemed to know what you were doing. I’ve taught you some things, but you weren’t all that shy on our wedding night. Now I know why. I thought it was just because you wanted me so much.”

  Nora laid Ollie off to the side and moved over closer to Wheels. “It was because I wanted you so much. Wendy told me what to expect and how to help things along, but you showed me what to do. Can’t you tell how much you excite me?” She laid her hand against his jaw. “Why do you think I want to make love with you all the time?”

  It was true that she was ready whenever he wanted her. They’d made love at all hours of the day and night. From her eager response to his kisses and caresses, he knew that she enjoyed it as much as he did. The honesty in her eyes reassured him to some extent, but niggling doubts remained in his mind. However, he didn’t want to fight with her.

  Stifling his negative feelings, he put his hand over hers and smiled. “I love making love with you, too. It’s ok. I understand, honey.”

  Nora could tell that he wasn’t completely convinced, but since he was trying to be civil about it, she decided not to rock the boat. “Thank you. I’ll put Ollie to bed. He’s all tuckered out.”

  Wheels smiled as he looked at Ollie, who had curled up at the foot of the bed. “He won thirty bucks tonight. More fruit money.”

  Nora’s smile was genuine as she scooped Ollie up and kissed him. “I’m so proud of you, Ollie. You’re so smart. We’ll buy you some bananas and grapes, all right?”

  Ollie made a few quiet, bird-like noises. Nora left the bedroom and Wheels’ smile faded. While she was gone, he worked hard to put this behind him and not let it bother him. He laid down, trying to put his mind at ease. When she came back, he put a smile on his face again and patted the bed next to him.

  “Put the lamp out and come to bed, sugar.”

  She did and cuddled up against him the way she always did, but the slight tension in his body told her that he was still upset. Resting her head on his chest, she squeezed her eyes shut to keep her tears at bay. She’d never meant to hurt him, only to ensure that their lovemaking was good.

  When Wheels kissed the top of her head and said goodnight, she murmured it back to him. It was clear that he didn’t want her that night and she couldn’t blame him. With an inward sigh, Nora tried to sleep, but it would be a long time coming.

  *****

  The situation between them remained tense for the next week. After a failed attempt to make love, neither of them pushed the issue. Wheels tried his hardest to move past it, but he coul
dn’t shake the embarrassment and anger that plagued him. He didn’t understand why he was so hung up on it.

  He couldn’t talk to Aaron or Brock about the situation with their sister and he didn’t want to talk to anyone in his family, either. However, there was someone who understood these sort of issues very well.

  Late one afternoon, he couldn’t concentrate on his work any longer. The situation with his wife weighed on him too heavily and he didn’t want to make mistakes with the machine he was working on.

  “Daddy, I’m done for the day. There’s something I need to go do,” he said.

  Vern’s expression held concern. “Are you feeling poorly?”

  “No, no. I feel fine. There’s just somewhere I need to go.”

  “Do you want help hitching Flash up?”

  Wheels shook his head. “No, thanks. I can do it.”

  “All right. You be careful, you hear?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He went over to the carriage house, finding Nora working on supper. A twinge of guilt made him decide to wait to leave until after they’d eaten. He didn’t want her to wait supper on him and he didn’t feel that it was fair to not eat the food she’d prepared.

  “Hi, honey.”

  She gave him a tight smile. “How was work? You’re home early.”

  He shrugged. “It was all right. I have somewhere to go once we’re done with supper.”

  “Oh? Where?”

  “I, uh, need to go talk to Johnny about something. I’d call, but they don’t have a telephone since they live so far out.”

  Something didn’t ring true in his voice and his gaze shifted away from hers. He was lying or at least not telling her the whole truth. “Is it about a special project?”

  He gave her a half smile. “Yeah. I’ve got something running around in my mind and I want to see what he thinks about it.”

  His evasiveness irritated her. She pursed her lips and turned away from him, going over to the sink to wash her hands. “Well, have a good time. I’m going over to my parents’. I don’t know when I’ll be home.”