by Hart, Lea
The bartender brought her sandwich and drink over, and she smiled and thanked him. The guy almost lost his balance once he was hit with her attention. Apparently she was giving it out to every man in the bar…everyone except Travis. Why wouldn’t she smile at him like that?
Cary sat up straight, folded her hands in her lap and took a deep, calming breath. “Thank you for your concern. I am, however, perfectly fine by myself. I appreciate your offer, but I’m going to decline. Consider yourself set free of any obligation.” She waved her hands at him as if discharging him of his duties.
Travis stopped laughing and looked at her in amazement, because no one ever dismissed him. “You’ve spread your charm all over this bar today. Why are you rude to me?”
Cary stood up and stomped her foot. “I’m not rude…. Quit saying that.” She realized she must have been loud, because several men turned to look at them. She smiled and waved to them. “Sorry to disturb you.” Sitting back down, she leaned toward Travis, “Please leave! I’m fine.”
Travis noticed her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were more green than hazel and her chest was pushing against the top of her dress as she stared at him. She was really pretty when she was mad, and it made him wonder what she looked like when she was turned on. An image flashed through his mind-it was of the two of them wrapped around each other….naked, kissing and slicked with sweat. He’d been off the Teams for six months and nothing. Now, in the middle of the dessert, some crazy witchy lady woke up every cell in his body. Great time for his libido to wake up. Damn inconvenient.
“The tow truck is going to be here in a bit. I’ll sit here, eat my sandwich and read my book. Nothing to worry about…..Please go about your day.” She wrung her hands as she looked down at her plate, finally pushing it away. “I’ve lost my appetite.” She moved it toward him. “You can have it.”
Great, his charm had made her lose her appetite. “Why don’t you have it wrapped up for later-take it with you?”
“I don’t think a chicken sandwich is going to hold up in this heat. Please…it will just go to waste.”
He ignored the sandwich and tried to change the subject. “What landed you in the desert in the middle of June?”
“I’m on a road trip and ignored a sound that my car was making. I was listening to a show on NPR and drained the battery in my cell phone, so I couldn’t call for help. Maybe I can get all of the bad luck out in the beginning of my trip and then enjoy my adventure for the rest of the summer.”
Travis leaned in and smelled freesia. Where in the hell had that come from? He hadn’t smelled that since he was a little kid. It was his mother’s favorite flower. Freesia, what the hell…? “So, where are you going on your great adventure?”
“I’m going to the Grand Canyon and then I’m going to see Mount Rushmore and probably Yosemite.” She leaned back in her chair and looked at Travis. “Maybe I shouldn’t be telling a stranger about my plans. Is that what you were saying about my instincts?” She shook her head. “Maybe you’re right.”
He watched as her shoulders slumped. She looked dejected and forlorn, and he felt responsible. “You’re probably fine. Maybe I’m just being paranoid. You’ve lasted this long without my insight. Hell, you walked into a bar, made friends and gathered admirers. Clearly you’re doing something right.” Not everyone was interested in his dismal view of the world. She expected the world to respond in a certain way, and it did. He expected something different and was rarely disappointed.
“Thank you.” She looked down at her tablet and read an email. “Well, you’re off the hook-the tow truck is on the way. I’m going to wait outside.” She gathered her things and went to pay her tab.
He watched her walk over to the bar and noticed several men track her. Too bad they didn’t have more time together.
Cary walked back and held out her hand. “Thank you. Have a nice life.”
Travis took her hand, and his head was instantly filled with the scent of freesia again. His whole world was reduced the size of a pin and the face of Cary. It was like being in the middle of a gunfight. Everything slowed down, and all of his senses sharpened. All he could feel was Cary’s hand against his as he leaned down to give her a kiss. “Have a nice life, Cary.”
He watched her stumble back and then collect herself. “Bye… Travis.”
She turned and walked out of the bar and out of his life. He experienced the same feeling of loss that he’d had when he retired six months ago. Maybe this was the delayed reaction that the head doctors were always talking about.
Cary sat outside and waited for the tow truck to arrive. She ran her hand down her face and replayed the feeling of Travis kissing her cheek. She quickly dismissed it, as she saw the tow truck pull into the parking lot. She was more than ready to take the next step on her great summer adventure.
CHAPTER TWO
Cary sat on a bar-stool in the local honky-tonk and enjoyed the music and her margarita.
She was stuck in town for a couple of days while her car was being repaired, so she’d decided to come out and enjoy the local nightlife. It had been fun shopping at the local feed store and a nice surprise to find out that they had clothes. The nice woman who worked there had helped with her outfit. Who knew that short skirts and cowboy boots were a thing?
She looked around and noticed there were lots of handsome men hanging around. Maybe one of them would be willing to dance with her. She sat on her bar stool and tapped her cowboy boot as she looked around. This was much better than watching a movie on Netflix. A handsome man came over, and she smiled at him as he sat down. Returning her attention to the dance floor, she studied the dancers as they moved around the floor. She was trying to figure out the dance steps when the cute cowboy leaned over and said hello.
“Would you like to give it a try? I can show you how.”
“That’s so nice of you, but I am afraid I’m not a very good dancer. I’ll probably step all over your feet.”
“Good thing I’m wearing boots, then.” He held out his hand and introduced himself. “Hi, my name is Paul and I’ll be your dance instructor for the evening.”
She looked at him and was immediately attracted to his flashing blue eyes. “My goodness, you’re cute. My name is Cary, and it’s nice to meet you.”
He took her hand and held on. “Come on, pretty lady. Let me show you how it’s done.” He led her to the dance floor and started to show her the steps. He placed his hands gently on her hips as he began to move her around. He felt her hands move against his chest as she looked down at her feet and followed along. He gently lifted her chin with one big hand. “Look at me and I promise not to let go.”
“As long as you promise.” She liked the way he smelled and the feel of his hand. This was the adventure she was hoping for. “I know that I’m a horrible dancer, but I don’t care. This is so much fun.”
“That’s what it’s all about, having fun.” He liked that she was unconcerned with how well she was doing and figured it was good sign that she was more interested in fun than appearances. The song ended and the band started to play a slow ballad, so he took the opportunity to pull her in close as they danced slowly to the song. It wasn’t every day that a pretty stranger showed up ready to have a good time. It must have been his lucky night.
As she moved around the floor, she started to believe she wasn’t boring after all. Eric might’ve been wrong when he told her that their breakup was all her fault. Maybe she was only boring with him and the life they had together. The man she was dancing with didn’t seem bored with her company. In fact, he seemed kind of excited. She twirled around the dance floor and relaxed into the arms of a very good looking man who seemed to like her. She needed to make sure that she did more of this, because she didn’t feel bored at all. In fact, she had never felt better.
********
Travis walked in and surveyed the crowd before making his way down to the bar. He found an empty chair and ordered a burger and beer from the bartender. The p
lace was busy for a Wednesday night. It seemed like the whole town was there. The bartender slid a beer toward him, and he nodded in acknowledgment. He turned around and surveyed the packed dance floor. He noticed a woman who had on a short skirt, and cowboy boots. Her legs were a mile long. She somehow reminded him of the woman he’d met yesterday at the biker bar. A waitress brought over his burger and he turned to thank her, and that’s when he heard the laugh again. He turned around slowly-afraid of what he was going to see. The woman who reminded him of Cary was twirled around by her partner, and that’s when he caught sight of her laughing hazel eyes.
He watched Cary dance closely with a dumb cowboy next to the band. Where in the hell had she found a skirt so short? She looked happy and relaxed out there in the arms of the over-grown boy who had his hands all over her. The woman had the sense of a grain of rice. First the biker bar and now a honky-tonk in the middle of nowhere. He drank his beer and waited for the inevitable cry for help. He didn’t want to have to save her, but he would. She clearly needed him, and he wasn’t the type of man to ignore something like that.
Cary enjoyed dancing with Paul, and when they were done, he was nice enough to get her another margarita. Several of Paul’s friends showed up, he introduced her around and she was having a great time getting to know them. Apparently they all worked at a local ranch and were real cowboys. They were all dressed like it, so it must be true. The band came back from their break, so Paul took her out again, and she did a little better. She still needed a lot of instruction, and Paul was more than willing to give it to her. Looking down at his hands, she admired how big and capable they looked and wondered if he had other big, capable parts. Looking up at him, she smiled and moved with him to the music.
Travis sat on his stool. Two hours had passed, and there was no cry for help from Cary. In fact, she was having a great time. He noticed that the son of a bitch who was dancing with her was taking every opportunity to get his hands on her, and she was doing nothing about it. In fact, she looked like she might be enjoying it. The guy finally headed to the men’s room, and Travis took the opportunity to have a quick chat with him. After he was done, he decided he’d better go over and check in with Cary and see how she was doing. She stood by herself on the edge of the dance floor, listened to the music and studied the dancers. Another man was making his way over to her, so Travis threw him a look, and the guy quickly backed off. She clearly needed him to keep an eye out for her, because there were a lot of men who thought they might have a chance with her. He slipped in behind her and whispered in her ear, “Are you waiting for me?”
She twirled around and almost lost her balance. He quickly grabbed her arms and kept her steady. She looked up at him with big, startled eyes, and nothing came out of her mouth. He took advantage of her shock and started to lead her out to the dance floor. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again…what a surprise.”
The band started playing a melody that he remembered from his childhood, and he started moving her around the dance floor.
Too polite to make a scene, she followed his lead as they began to dance. When she finally started to come out of her shock, she pulled him down and whispered in his ear, “Are you following me? How did we end up in the same bar?”
He liked the feeling of her voice in his ear and her breath against his neck. In fact, he liked it a lot. He twirled her around and leaned down and spoke into her ear. “My family has a ranch about a hundred miles from here, and I decided to stop in for something to eat.”
“That sounds slightly suspicious, and I’m not sure if I believe you.”
Travis hugged her and kissed her head as he led her around the floor. He was enjoying her company and decided that he liked the combination of her bossiness, innocence and sex appeal. This might just be what he needed to make the transition into civilian life. The music ended, and they remained in one another’s arms as people moved around them. He thought briefly about lowering his head for a kiss but decided not to at the last minute. She didn’t seem to be all that charmed by him at the moment, so he’d better give her some time. “Are you ready to head out? Can I walk you to the motel?”
“No, I’m not ready to leave. I’m having fun.” She looked around. “I wonder where Paul went?” She didn’t see him. “That’s weird…he’s been so attentive. I’ve been dancing with him all night and he hasn’t left my side.” Travis looked down at her innocently, and she didn’t buy it for a moment. “What did you do him?”
“Me…I didn’t do a thing. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Cary shook her head. “I know you did something, but I can’t tell what it is. Well, you can go. I don’t need a body-guard.” She slipped out of his hold, and made her way over to the bar and ordered another margarita. Only a boring person would leave this early. A person who didn’t know what fun was, and I’m clearly not that person. I’m someone who knows how to close down a honky-tonk.
Travis sat on the barstool next to her, ordered a beer and indicated to the bartender to put the drinks on his tab. Cary turned around and looked at him. “Don’t you have something else to do? That woman over there keeps giving you the eye. I bet she would love to dance with you.”
“Why are you nice and sweet to other people and rude to me?” He immediately realized his mistake, as he watched her eyes get squinty and mean. She gave him a hard glare as she proceeded to blast him.
“Poor you…big bad Travis got his feelings hurt. Get over yourself. Just because I’m not falling at your feet like every other woman doesn’t make me rude. Perhaps you’re rude for always telling me that I’m rude. I think you would be hard-pressed to find another person to corroborate your story. In fact, it would be impossible.”
She twirled around on her bar-stool, drank her margarita and looked around for someone to dance with. Travis wasn’t going to rain on her parade. She was going to have a good time even if it killed her. She noticed a handsome man smiling at her, and she smiled back, hoping he might come over and save her. He started to make his way over when he stopped, frowned and turned around. What the heck happened? She turned around and saw Travis looking in the same direction. “Did you just throw that man a dirty look?”
“Me? No. Why would you think that? How ridiculous!”
“Ridiculous, my behind. You did! You’re trying to poop on my party. Go away and find another woman to harass.”
“I’m sitting here drinking my beer, minding my own business, and I’m being falsely accused of malicious behavior. I’m starting to feel abused.”
“Oh suck it up. I have kindergarteners who have better behavior than you do. I taught middle school for five years, and I’ve never heard such a poorly concocted story.” She leaned back on her bar-stool and tapped her boot. “You have no game. It is really quite sad…because you look like a hard ass, but in fact, you’re not.”
Travis looked at Cary sitting on her stool in her short skirt with a mile of leg showing and started laughing. He hadn’t had this much fun since his last deployment with his Team. The woman could talk trash, and he liked that in a person. “Cary, I like you. Can I take you to the diner and buy you dessert?”
“I just insulted you five ways from Sunday, and you decide it’s foreplay. You have a very twisted mind.” She twirled around on her stool again and found that she’d finished her margarita. She motioned to the bartender for another one and started to look around again-hoping to find someone to dance with. She noticed a nice fellow a couple of stools down and was about to lean forward when she felt a large arm wrap around her waist possessively. She straightened up and turned toward Travis. “Seriously, you’re going to spoil all of my fun tonight?”
“I like to think of it as redirecting your fun-you have no idea what these men want. What happens if one of these guys gets the wrong idea and thinks you’re willing to sleep with them? What will you do then?”
“I’ll probably do a happy dance. Why do you think I’m her
e in this short skirt? It’s not because I think I’m at a church social. I’m young and single…..and not boring. I’m here to have fun and close down the bar.”
“Who was the asshole who said you were boring?”
She turned the other way and shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re are talking about.”
“OK….if that is your story. I don’t believe you, though.”
Her shoulder drooped, and she started to look a little defeated. “Before you got here, I was having so much fun. I met a cute cowboy, and he was teaching me how to dance. He introduced me to his friends, and they were friendly and had great stories to tell. I think they liked me, too, and I was looking forward to getting to know them. Then you showed up, and it all slipped away.” She downed her margarita, gathered her purse and pulled out some money for her drinks. “You win. I’m going back to the motel. I give up.” She turned around and started walking toward the door. “I thought Paul was going to kiss me tonight and you took that away.”
Travis quickly settled the bill and followed her out. He caught up with her out on the patio and grabbed her hand before she got away. “I’m sorry. I was just watching out for you. You seem so innocent, and I’m worried that someone is going to take advantage of you.” He ran his finger along her wrist and up her arm. He tried to pull her in, and she resisted. “I’ll kiss you.”
“The moment’s gone, and I don’t feel like kissing you.”
“Don’t hold back, Cary. Let me know how you really feel.”
“Am I the first woman who hasn’t fallen at your feet? I must be, based on the look that just crossed your face.”
“Women don’t fall at my feet. Why do you keep saying that?”
“Never mind. I’m tired, and I think the last margarita I had might’ve put me over my limit. I’m going to bed.”
