Dirt Queen

by Nora Blake

  “We’re gonna have to miss another sunrise.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because I don’t plan on letting you go back to sleep anytime soon.”

  His hand left mine and moved back to my thigh as he looked at me with his sexy grin. I kept my eyes on his as his hand moved higher and higher between my thighs. I bit my bottom lip when his fingers started moving to their own perfect rhythm against me, each movement bringing more intensity.

  He brought his lips to mine, playfully biting my bottom lip. “Happy I woke you up now?” he whispered against my mouth.

  I closed my eyes as the pleasure intensified. “Fuck yes,” I breathed out.

  He grabbed my hips and carefully pulled me down until I was on my back. He moved on top of me and his lips trailed the spots on my neck that drove me crazy.

  “I can’t get enough of you, Sarah,” he said breathlessly against my ear. “I love you so fucking much it hurts.”

  “Show me how much,” I whispered.

  And that was it …

  A single whisper in the dark to cause us to become completely unhinged. Communicating in a way only our bodies could because there weren’t words to describe just how much we truly loved each other.

  I went into the garage where Nick and Aaron were on the laptop ordering some parts. I sat on Aaron’s lap and looked at the screen to see he was ordering new tires and wheels. His were complete trash after the wreck. I was starting to get better about him racing again. Dad would give him great pointers, and I knew Aaron would do everything to avoid another wreck like that.

  “What do you think of these?” Aaron asked Nick as he turned the computer toward him.

  Nick looked at the car and then at the computer. “I think they’ll be fine. The price is good too.”

  Aaron moved the computer back in front of him and did all the steps to order them. I hopped off his lap and walked over to the car with him and Nick. Everything was looking great.

  “Seatbelts should be in next week with the tires. Won’t be long and we can take her out for a test run,” Aaron said as he lifted the hood. “Doesn’t the engine look great?” he asked me with a huge smile.

  “It looks great!” I kissed his cheek. “Don’t forget I’m taking pictures of you and the boys later. You did say Melany said we could get them long enough to do them, right?”

  “Yeah, she knows we’re meeting her to get them.”

  I nodded and looked at Nick. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

  “I actually have a date tonight,” he said, puffing out his chest all proud.

  I laughed. “Oh, really? Why am I just now hearing about this?” I asked, looking at Aaron.

  “Because I had no idea either.” Aaron chuckled. “Who is she?”

  “Morgan Smith. You probably don’t know her. We actually went to high school together. I saw her in the grocery store and we exchanged numbers. She’s hot, we clicked, so I thought why the hell not.”

  Aaron touched my shoulder and sniffed. “Our boy is growing up.”

  I laughed and wiped his fake tears. “What will we eva’do?”

  “Very funny.” Nick rolled his eyes. He wiped the grease from his hands on a towel and set it on the tool box. “I’m gonna head home and get a shower. Have fun with the pictures.” He hugged us both, then left.

  I looked at Aaron. “You should go get cleaned up too. I can’t wait to take pics of you and the kids. I want to get one blown up and hang it above the fireplace.

  “Will you be in them, too?”

  “If you want me to be.”

  “Duh.”

  I kissed him. “Then I’ll bring my tripod so we can get a few with me in them.”

  “Damn right you will.”

  I laughed and took his hand. “Come on.”

  We locked up the garage and headed inside.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Aaron

  I was a sweaty, nasty mess. Work kicked my ass today. I walked into the house and laughed when I saw Sarah vacuuming the area rug in front of the couch, “Your Song” by Elton John blaring from the stereo and her belting out every word. She didn’t even notice me walk in. I snuck up behind her and grabbed her hips, making her jump and drop the vacuum cleaner.

  “Jackass!” she yelled with a huge smile on her face.

  I laughed and kissed her before turning off the vacuum cleaner. She was about to turn down the music but I grabbed her hand and pulled her against me. I started dancing with her, singing the words, totally butchering it.

  She reached up and looped her arms around my neck, her smile reaching her eyes. “What are you doing, baby? You hate Elton John, as a matter of fact—”

  I shut her up with a kiss and spent the rest of the song dancing and holding each other close.

  When it was over, she reached up and ran her thumb across my cheek. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “You do?”

  She nodded excitedly and took my hand. "Come here!"

  She led me into the bedroom and on the bed was a 30x40 framed photo of her, me, and the boys in front of the old barn behind her parents’ house.

  "I had it framed after work."

  “I love it!” I picked her up and swirled her around. “It’s the best surprise ever.”

  She buried her face against my neck, and I could feel her lips break into a smile against my skin. After I set her down, she went over to the dresser and picked up an envelope.

  "These are for Melany. They are the pictures I took of just the boys. I figured you could give them to her when you get them this weekend."

  “I will.” I tilted her chin up and kissed her. “I love you.”

  "Always."

  She stepped back and made a face. "You get a shower, I'm gonna go start dinner."

  “You could do that or …” I grinned. “You could join me.”

  She tapped her chin like she really had to think about it, but I didn’t wait for her to answer. I picked her up and flung her over my shoulder. She was squealing and kicking her legs so I slapped her ass before walking toward the bathroom.

  “I’m only taking a shower with you under one condition,” she said through her laughter.

  “What’s that?” I asked, setting her down.

  “Sing my favorite Elton John song to me again like you did the other day.”

  “Baby, I will sing any song you want for the rest of our lives if it makes you happy.”

  Her smile could’ve reached the stars it was so big. “Promise?”

  “Cross my heart.”

  “Just don’t say the ‘hope to die’ part and we’ll be good.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me before starting to undress, leaving a trail of clothes on the way to the bathroom.

  I laughed at Nick as he swore up a storm. He had just hurt his thumb and was acting like a big baby.

  "Mother fucker!” He kicked the hammer he dropped after he hit himself with it across the floor. He shook his hand a few more times before looking at me. "I'm glad you find that funny." He laughed a little.

  “The fact you hurt yourself wasn’t funny, it was the fact that you were jumping around like a toddler throwing a tantrum.”

  Nick picked up a tire. "We still mounting the tires today? I know you mentioned you and Sarah going out for dinner earlier, so I didn't know if we'd have time."

  “No, let’s wait until tomorrow. I need to go get cleaned up.”

  "All right, cool. I'll just finish the decal layouts then."

  “Thanks, bro.” I smiled at him. “I’ve been thinking a lot about asking her to marry me.”

  "It's like you two are already married.” He chuckled. "When do you want to ask her?"

  “I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet. I think tonight I’m just going to test the waters.”

  "She'd say yes. You two are made for each other." Nick picked up one of the decals. "Marriage isn't for me. That date the other night sucked."

  “It’ll be for you when you find th
e right one.”

  He chuckled. "One day. And can I just say that you're a lot nicer of a guy now that you're finally getting some?"

  I laughed. “Ya think?”

  He nodded. "For sure. Now, go get ready. I'll get these decals set then lock up."

  I started out of the garage but stopped and looked at my brother. “You know you and Sarah are my best friends, right?”

  He nodded with his typical goofy grin. "Duh, sappy ass, and as you and Sarah say, always."

  I laughed and went inside to get ready.

  I found Sarah in the bathroom running the straightener through her hair. “Hey, sexy. I’m gonna go get ready, it won’t take me long.”

  She puckered her lips at me, and I leaned down to kiss her. I then went into the bedroom and started finding something to wear. After I was dressed, I met Sarah in the living room. She didn’t have to do anything and she was gorgeous, but when she did fix herself up … knocked me smooth off my feet.

  I grabbed the keys to my truck as she grabbed her purse and we headed out the door.

  "Are we taking your truck or my car?" she asked as she took my hand in hers.

  “My truck. If we don’t take my truck the middle seat will be jealous.”

  She laughed. "True."

  I wrapped an arm around her waist as we walked out to the truck. I held the door open for her.

  "Thanks, babe." She kissed my cheek and got in.

  When I got into the truck I automatically wrapped an arm around her. “So do you ever think about marriage?”

  She burst into laughter. "What?"

  “You know. Tying the knot.”

  She kept her eyes on me as I backed out of the driveway and pulled onto the road. “When it comes to you, I think about the whole package. Getting married, kids, growing old together and spoiling our grandkids."

  I couldn’t help the stupid grin that spread across my face. “Well, then let’s do it. Let’s go to Vegas and get married.”

  She laughed some more. "Vegas? Why Vegas, babe?"

  “Just us and no fuss. No families being demanding. It would just be about us. Maybe bring along Nick and Kait, but that’s it.”

  She leaned over and kissed my temple, my cheek, and then my neck. "Vegas sounds perfect."

  “It does, doesn’t it? Now, when to do it?”

  "Let's figure out when we can both get off work. We also need to ask Kait and Nick when they can get off."

  I looked at her for a moment before looking back at the road. “Sounds like a plan.”

  She laid her head on my shoulder, and sighed contently. "Can we not go eat dinner? I kind of just want to take you home."

  I laughed. We hadn't even made it a mile down the road. “I think that can be arranged. We can just order pizza.”

  "Aaron?"

  “Hmm?” I turned around and started back toward the house.

  "I love you, but saying it isn't enough. Like, I feel it deep in my bones. I just hope you know how happy you make me, and I can't wait to spend forever with you."

  “I feel the same about you, Dirt Queen. You’re my forever.”

  She tangled her fingers with my hand. "Always?"

  “Always.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Sarah

  My head was killing me. Stupid head colds were for the birds. I parked my car, then went to the garage where I knew Aaron and Nick were working. It was pouring rain so he ended up getting off work earlier than he had planned, so him and Nick were taking advantage of the extra time to finish his car.

  I went in and Aaron took one look at me and frowned.

  “I know I was supposed to help install the seat belt, but I’m just gonna go take a shower and lay down.”

  He came over to me and felt my head. “Take some medicine. I’ll make you whatever you want for dinner, baby.”

  I nodded and looked at Nick. "Don't keep him out too late," I teased.

  He laughed. "Yes, ma'am. Oh, I hear we're planning a trip to Vegas."

  That put a huge smile on my face, despite how shitty I felt. "Yes, we are. And remember, it's a secret. We'll tell family when we get back.

  Aaron kissed my forehead. “I love you. Go get some rest.”

  “Love you too.”

  After heading inside, I took a long hot bath, some NyQuil, and laid down in the bed, burying myself under the covers. I started flipping through movies on Netflix, hoping to find something to watch until I dozed off. After I found a movie, I texted Aaron and told him not to worry about dinner for me. I wasn’t in the mood for food.

  The movie was about thirty minutes in when I heard footsteps pounding down the hall and Nick screaming my name. I sat up just as he made it to my room. He was rushing around, grabbing my shoes and my purse, that’s when I heard the sirens.

  “Get up!” he yelled.

  “What the hell is going on!” I snapped as I started putting on the converse he handed me. “Why are their sirens? Where’s Aaron?” A gnawing sick feeling started brewing in the pit of my stomach.

  Tears poured down his face. “It’s Aaron! He’s hurt. It’s bad, Sarah!”

  That news kicked my ass into gear. I took off running down the hall and out the front door into the pouring rain only to be grabbed by a police officer, stopping me from going in the garage. I watched as medics rushed in.

  “You need to stay here,” the cop said sternly as I fought against him.

  Nothing in my head was making sense. Something was wrong. Bad wrong. I saw Nick hurry past me and to his truck. He cranked it as I begged for someone to tell me what the hell was going on.

  “There was an accident, and I need you to stay out here and let the medics do their job! Please, calm down!” the cop said, growing impatient with me.

  I stopped fighting and looked at the cop who held me. “Is he okay?” I asked, my body shivering as we were getting drenched.

  Nick came rushing over, and before I could say a word, he was picking me up and rushing me into his truck.

  He put me into the seat and started fidgeting with the seatbelt. “I’ll get it!” I shouted as I yanked on it until it gave way, and I buckled myself.

  Nick got in on the driver side and cranked the engine.

  I watched out the window as the medics carried Aaron on a stretcher into the ambulance. I couldn’t see him; the rain was pouring too hard down the window to get a clear view.

  I knew whatever was happening wasn't good, but my whole body and mind were numb. I couldn’t react. I just sat there, staring. I felt the truck move and realized Nick was backing out of the driveway.

  I stared at him blankly. “Nick?”

  His hands gripped the steering wheel and tears poured down his cheeks. “The tire … the beadlock …” His words trailed off into sobs as he tried his hardest to focus on the road.

  I looked ahead of us and saw the ambulance with the lights flashing. It was going so fast, and we had to be too if Nick was keeping up with it. I wrapped my arms around myself.

  “He’s okay, right?” I asked numbly.

  “I don’t know.” His sobs started to calm down, and he looked at me briefly before cranking up the heat.

  “What’s going on? What happened?”

  “I’m not sure. It all happened so fast … I turned around to grab some bolts, that’s when I heard a loud pop.” He wiped his eyes. “When I saw him lying there, unconscious, I called an ambulance. I think … I think maybe he broke his jaw. I don’t know, Sarah. I don’t fucking know,” he said, his sobs starting again.

  I tried piecing all the information I had been given together, but nothing was making sense. Aaron was okay. He had to be. Nick was a mess, so I knew it was bad, but he'd be fine. Nick was just overreacting. They were in the garage. What could've went so wrong?

  My mind spiraled into a thousand different scenarios as we pulled into the parking lot at the hospital. I got out of the truck, following closely behind Nick.

  I followed him until we made it into the lobby. I k
new he was talking to someone, but everything just jumbled into my brain, making no sense at all. All I could think about was Aaron and if he was okay or not. Nick grabbed my hand as we walked down the long cold hallway.

  Damn, I was freezing.

  I looked down the hall when I heard someone screaming out orders. It sounded a lot like Aaron's mom. I knew I should react because whatever was happening wasn’t good. I knew I should cry or something, but I couldn't. Instead, I held tightly to Nick's arm, shaking terribly.

  Nick and I were ushered into a waiting room by a nurse.

  When Nick sat down, I sat beside him.

  I kept my eyes on my shoes, shivering uncontrollably. Nick put his arm around me, holding me close to him. I only looked up when I heard his dad’s voice.

  “They won’t let anyone back there right now,” he said quietly. Tears stained his cheeks, and I was almost jealous.

  Why could everyone else show emotion, yet I sat there with a blank stare on my face, not able to react at all?

  “Nick, what happened in the garage?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. I turned to get some bolts. I only turned for a second.” His voice was so quiet

  His dad sat down slowly in a seat across from us. He rubbed his eyes and looked at me.

  "Everything is going to be okay,” he said, doubt evident with the way his eyes drew in and forehead creased.

  I knew he was just trying to be strong because that's just what you do in situations like this.

  Nick rubbed my arm trying to help with my shaking, I suppose. I looked at him and then at my shoes again.

  “Did they say anything to you?” Nick asked his dad.

  He shook his head.

  “Mr. Brown,” a nurse said as she came into the waiting room. “The doctor needs your help.”

  We all stood.

  “Why? What’s going on?” he asked.

  “Your wife won’t give up, and … Please come with me.”

  He followed the nurse down the hall, and I looked at Nick.

  “Give up?” I asked, my voice breaking like shattered glass.

  I started to run in the direction they went, but Nick stopped me.