Whatever He Wants

by Bridgett Henson



  Whatever

  He

  Wants

  Bridgett Henson

  Empowered Publications Inc

  Leroy, Alabama

  © 2013 Bridgett Henson

  Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.

  All rights reserved.

  Cover photos by LCK Photography.

  This novel is a work of fiction. All characters are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual people or events are purely coincidental.

  Published by Empowered Publications Inc.

  26812 Hwy 43

  Leroy, Alabama 36548

  ISBN 978-0-9895857-1-2

  Acknowledgements

  I could do nothing without my Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for saving me, filling me with the Holy Ghost, and giving me a work to do. Make me astonished, Lord.

  A special thanks to my husband and children who keep up with my notebooks, steal my pens, bring me headphones, reheat my coffee, and eat leftovers and cold cereal while I’m writing.

  There are many who’ve influenced and helped to make this book possible, but most especially LaShay Long who always encouraged me through the good and the bad.

  I want to thank Tyler Chastain and Hope Morris for the long hours spent editing my typos and plot inconsistencies.

  Megan Crager, Natalie Napper and Jennifer Dixon, thanks for sharing your testimonies.

  Brother Willie and Sister Twila Long, you two have inspired me more than words can say. Thank you for your friendship and your willingness to minister to those in need.

  Thank you to all the preachers out there who brought me a word from God, especially Greg & Jessica Adkins, Justin Sullivan, Doug Chapman, Papa Hanks and Lamar Chapman.

  And thank you so very much to the Swinnea family.

  In loving memory of,

  Charles Devin Giles.

  July 10, 1988

  to

  March 25, 2013

  Author’s Note

  Although this is a fictional story, the characters struggle with real life obstacles. I have tried to show their temptation without tempting the reader.

  There is no graphic imagery in this novel, but if you are at an age where you haven’t experienced temptations of the flesh, please do NOT read this book.

  If, however, you have lived long enough to encounter the immorality of this world, this novel gives hope that through the blood of Jesus and the following of the Spirit there is no sin unforgivable nor unconquerable, and God has a specific plan for each of his children.

  I love to hear from my readers. Email me at bridgetthenson@millry.net, visit my website www.bridgetthenson.com, or friend me on facebook www.facebook.com/bridgetthenson.

  Sincerely,

  Bridgett Henson

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  Hangovers and three-year-olds didn’t mix. A lesson James learned a few months back. He dismissed an offer from a girl wearing a silly smile and pushed through the crowd on the porch. After working out of town for five straight weeks, he was anxious to see his son, but on the way to their rental, Isaac’s mom had texted him. Despite the car he’d bought six months ago, she and Isaac needed a ride. Her message hadn’t mentioned this party.

  As he stormed through the front door, a wave of music and smoke assaulted him. Where was Isaac? After last month’s fiasco, she knew better than to bring him to one of her drunken bashes. Searching for Kathy’s spooky black hair, he weaved through the living room mob and ignored the temptation to pray for Isaac’s safety.

  A brown-haired girl slouched against some guy on the worn couch. James lifted a rumpled blanket off the recliner and tossed it back down. No Isaac.

  In the kitchen, a pixie with pink-tipped hair watched a game of Texas Hold’em. He stooped down and checked under the table. Pausing inside the game room that ran the length of the house, he wiped his brow.

  Where was Isaac? And where was his nuisance of a mother?

  ~~~

  Joni sized up the guys in the room. There wasn’t much to choose from. Careful not to chip her professionally manicured nails, she flicked open the aluminum can. Maybe, she shouldn’t be so picky. It wasn’t like she hadn’t considered doing it. She just never had the opportunity. Not with anyone appealing, anyway. The others had made their choices and left minutes ago. She sipped the brew and suppressed a shudder. She’d prefer a cheap wine to the foamy drink, but at least this one wasn’t as bitter as the first can given to her by the hostess.

  She squinted, momentarily clearing her fuzzy head. Time was short. The fraternity brothers would soon arrive to assist anyone who had trouble finishing the game. One guy in particular gave her the creeps. There was a mean look in his eyes and she had no intentions of being here when he arrived. Maybe she should do eeny, meeny, miny, moe? Or maybe she should admit her mother was right and go home?

  No. If she wanted to belong somewhere other than under her parents’ thumbnail, she had to grow up. How bad could it be? Other girls seemed to enjoy it. She could do this. Now to find someone to do it with…

  If the tall guy in the corner could tear himself away from the Xbox, he might be a candidate. Another wave of dizziness clouded her thoughts. She shook her head and concentrated.

  On the coffee table, a simple pyramid design proclaimed the blond architect’s stupidity. The stack of cans leaned worse than the Eiffel Tower. She wanted someone with intelligence. The cute poker player in the kitchen needed a haircut, but she doubted a pair of scissors could plow through the gel build up. A guy across the table from him burped. Eeew.

  She circled back to the game room. There was a pool shark she wanted to investigate further. If he didn’t have dirt under his fingernails, he would do for the night.

  ~~~

  James shoved his way through the sea of dancers. In a darkened corner, behind the large speaker that divided the room, Kathy lit one end of a rolled cigarette and let the excess paper burn. She better not be smoking junk around Isaac. A small crowd gathered. When he rounded the speaker, the music volume dropped. Sounds from the pool table mingled with the chatter of voices. “Where’s my son?”

  Kathy flinched at his words and then flashed a plastic smile. “At your sister’s. The Street Preacher is in town.”

  He released a ragged breath and ran a shaky hand through his hair. With Sara, the worse place that Isaac could be was in church. Sliding his phone from his back pocket, he cringed at the time. Even a camp meeting service would have ended by now. Though he longed to see his son’s sweet face, he’d have to wait until morning. James pocketed his phone and refocused on Kathy. “Where’s your car?”

  “Stolen.”

  Laughter came from her other side. James cut his eyes to a guy in a gangster hat. “You think that’s funny?” The punk held up both hands and stepped backward. Kathy inhaled and passed the stub to a redhead wearing a skimpy top. Freckles decorated her cleavage. Smoke burned James’s eyes and he waved the pungent smell away from his face. “How can yo
u smoke that?”

  “Loosen up.” Kathy’s painted lips twisted into a sneer. “It’s natural herbs.”

  He grabbed her arm. “Where is the—” Hair like spun gold brushed past Kathy’s shoulder. A new girl rounded the pool table and stopped. Glossy pink lips sipped from a can and then puckered to a frown. Her sweater was the color of gulf water. It matched her eyes. Dark jeans hugged her curves. A fingernail tapped against the can as she studied some dude shooting pool. Boyfriend? She leaned over and inspected the hand steadying the cue. Her shoulders lifted and fell in what could have been a sigh. No, definitely not her boyfriend.

  James’s world stopped turning as her eyes greeted his. He treasured the gift of her sweet smile. Lashes fluttered and she glanced at his boots. White teeth scraped across her bottom lip as her gaze swept up his body. He shivered. Jade eyes sparkled, and then darted to his side and rounded. Soft lips parted as she gasped and spun away.

  Kathy snatched out of his loose grip. The calculated look on her face put him on guard. She raised a thin black eyebrow. “You want her.”

  He forced air through his lungs. “The car. Where is it?”

  Kathy tilted her head. “Joni!” The golden beauty looked their way and Kathy waved her over. James whispered her name under his breath. It suited her. She was more than beautiful.

  The weed had circled. Kathy took another hit and offered it to Joni. Thankfully, she shook her head. Kathy passed it around her. Two dainty thumbs indented Joni’s can. Despite the drink she’d taken earlier, liquid spilled over the top.

  “You don’t normally drink do you?” James swallowed the urge to kiss the pink stain from her cheeks.

  Though she smiled, her gaze dove somewhere near his boots and lingered.

  Kathy snorted. “Don’t worry about James. He’s a prude.”

  If only she wasn’t Isaac’s mother, then James would be free. “Don’t start with me tonight. I’m not in the mood.”

  “But he’s the perfect guy to help you out. If he still remembers how? He’s experienced with college life.”

  Joni’s head jerked up. A trembling hand covered her mouth. Face crimson, she abandoned her drink on a small table. “Who told you about that?” Her eyes darted about the room, looking everywhere but at him.

  Kathy inspected her blue fingernails and shrugged. “I promised to keep an eye on you.”

  Joni finally looked his way. “But he’s your boyfriend…”

  He captured her gaze. “No. I’m not.” Eight months ago, when Kathy showed up with Isaac, he’d dropped out of school to become a father, but reconciling his short-lived relationship with Kathy had never been a desire, especially given her drug use. She corrupted everything she touched. James couldn’t let her harm Joni. “But whatever you need, you don’t want her help. Trust me.”

  Kathy snorted. “James just pays the bills for Isaac’s sake. Besides, you have my permission.” She stepped between them and held the roach out to Joni. “Here. Smoke this. It’ll relax you.”

  Over Kathy’s shoulder, Joni swayed lightly. “I don’t know. I’ve never—”

  “Don’t.” James shuffled around Kathy. Joni didn’t belong here. He glanced over his shoulder at Kathy. “Quit it. She’s barely legal.”

  “I’m not a child.”

  He turned his head and stared into glazed eyes. Joni lifted her beautiful chin. “I can do whatever I want, but I don’t mess around with that junk.” She stumbled and he steadied her.

  Kathy snickered. “I thought Little Miss Perfect doesn’t do drugs.” Laughter flowed from the groupies surrounded her.

  Joni shook her head and blinked. “I don’t understand. Everything is fuzzy.” Dazed eyes frowned up at him. “I barely…”—she fell against his chest— “…sipped.” Blood raced through his veins, leaving him winded. “James.” On her lips, his name danced like a gentle breeze. He caught her by the waist before they both toppled over.

  “You can thank me later.” Kathy called over her shoulder as she strutted around them.

  “Wait!” He reached out with one hand and spun her around. “What did you give her?”

  “Nothing that won’t wear off by morning.”

  His palm itched to slap the smirk off her face. Instead, he let her go as Joni snuggled against his chest. He couldn’t stop his smile. “What am I supposed to do with you?”

  Laughter spewed from a guy beside him. “Dude, if you don’t want her, I’ll gladly take her off your hands.”

  He cringed at the thought. The gleam in those eyes stirred the protector in him. He pulled her around to his side—the side away from the ogling guys leaned against the wall. With Isaac at his sister’s, he wasn’t concerned about the little boy’s safety. Joni, on the other hand, needed his help. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”

  She blinked up at him. “Where you taking me?”

  He half carried her up the hall toward the front door. “Away from Kathy.” Joni needed a place to sleep off the drugs in her system. “Where do you live?”

  She stumbled into an ice-filled garbage can. “I’m in between homes at the moment.” Her dignified manner contradicted the slur in her voice. “Tomorrow, I move into my own place.”

  Now what? He couldn’t take her to his rental. His sister would preach hell and brimstone if she saw anyone in this condition. James shut the front door and closed out the party. Except for a guy passed out in the swing, the porch was empty. Joni dragged her feet. “Wait!” He let her wiggle out of his arms.

  She propped against a column and flipped a piece of paper from her pocket. “I’m glad I chose you. Give me a pen. I need to check you off my list.” Head tilted, she blinked twice.

  He opened his mouth to ask why he was on a list, but she lost her footing and he grabbed her as the paper floated into the darkness.

  “Oh no.” Reaching over his arm, she grabbed at the weeds. “My list.” Her legs folded and he lowered her knees to the porch. She raised her face and pled. “I don’t know… I don’t know how…” In the light streaming through a hole in the curtain, a single tear shimmered down her cheek.

  “Stay here. I don’t want you falling.” He released her to the concrete floor. His flashlight app illuminated the white paper against the discolored trash. “I see it.”

  “Yay!” Joni clapped her hands.

  He chuckled at her quick recovery and leapt off the porch. After retrieving the paper, he held his phone near. The note read:

  1.Go to Party. A smile punctuated this line and a blue check completed the first task.

  2.No Phone. Scribbles hid the second objective and traced a sad face.

  3.Have Sex. The huge red question mark confused him.

  4.Pledge to Kappa. Now, he understood.

  “You find it?” She had crawled to the edge of the porch. The hand on his shoulder tugged.

  “If you planned on using me to get in a sorority, you should’ve stayed sober.”

  Her lethal smile jumpstarted his pulse. “I’m not drunk.”

  “You’re on something. What’d she give you?”

  Long lashes fluttered in rapid succession. “Can I have my list back now?”

  He settled on the concrete beside her. “What’s the question mark for? Why not a smiley face?”

  She snatched the list from his hand and squinted down at the paper. “Oh, I don’t know if it’s happy or sad.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “I’ve never had sex.” Joni fell against him. “You’ll have to teach me how.”

  James groaned and rubbed his hand across the bridge of his nose. He stood and turned his back on temptation. He wasn’t a saint and he hadn’t been to church in five years, but even if it wasn’t on her wedding night, a girl should remember her first time. Come morning, Joni probably wouldn’t recall this conversation.

  A bump sounded behind him. Before he could turn, she pounced on his back. He staggered, recovered, and grabbed the backs of her knees.

  Her giggle shivered through him.

  “Joni, do
n’t do that.”

  Kisses rained along his jaw. Maybe they should go back in the house. She was wasted, and although his brain said she didn’t know what she offered…his body was having a hard time remembering.

  “James?”

  She was a spunky little thing. He shook his head as he waded through the tall Bahia grass. His truck was parked near the country road. “Yeah, Joni.”

  “You’re my knight in shining armor, sweeping me away from the wicked dragon lady.” She waved her arms, throwing them off balance.

  Intent on catching her, he twisted his torso and fell back against his truck. She tumbled against him and snaked her arms up his chest. “Oops!” Musical laughter and her lopsided smile mesmerized him.

  Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he caught her roaming hands and opened the passenger door. “Climb in.”

  Although he had to help her, she obeyed without argument. He jogged around the hood and slid under the wheel. Joni sat on her knees facing him. The CD played with the ignition and she sang along at the top of her lungs as he drove down the isolated road. He snickered at her slurred version of the lyrics. No doubt she’d sound beautiful sober. He turned left. Low pine branches canopied the dirt road which ended at a large hayfield. The sun would rise in a few hours. Surely by then she’d remember where she lived. He wheeled the truck around and backed to the gate, rolling down the windows before he killed the engine.

  In the faint moonlight, she jabbed at the radio buttons. “Stupid thing quit working.”

  He tucked a silky strand behind her ear. “I turned it off.”

  She frowned out the windshield. The song of a lonely bullfrog blended with the chirping crickets. “Where are we?”

  “Nowhere.”

  “We’re parking?” The hooded look returned and she inched close.

  Scrambling out of the truck, he escaped and shut the door, but leaned in the window. “We are not parking. We’re waiting for you to sober up.”

  “Oh.” Her face fell. “Figures. I never do anything so…bad.” Innocence radiated off her.

  Turning from the disappointment in her eyes, he waded through the brush, dropped the tailgate, and lay back on the bed liner. The large duffle bag he used as a suitcase pillowed his head. Counting the stars, he tried to forget her silken touch.