by Sam Crescent
Casey smiled. She couldn’t believe it, but to her, Rusty sounded nervous. What did he have to be nervous about?
“You’d be surprised at what I actually did.”
“You didn’t go on fancy dates?”
“I did go on dates, if that is what you’d call them, but the men, well, some of them felt like a hot dog was just as good as a meal.” She climbed out of the car and looked up at Cole’s place. The last time she’d been here, she hadn’t even been allowed inside as she’d been underage, and whenever he was in town, she always heard him talk about refurbishing it. Cole had big ideas but rarely saw them through. In the time she’d been away, he’d done something about it, and it looked amazing. “Wow,” she said.
“Yeah. He stopped doing the whole ‘what ifs’ and just went for it, you know. I wonder if you inspired it.”
“Me?” she asked.
“Not long after you left, he started to make some changes.”
“I wonder why.”
“You always said you wanted to go and pursue your dreams, and you did. You left all of this behind to go and do that. It’s admirable.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t feel that way.
“Let’s go and check it out.”
“Do you come here often?” She wondered if he was on a date every single Friday night or if she was the special one.
“No. You’d be surprised. Come on.” He took her hand, leading her into the bar. Loud music was playing, but the moment she entered she saw a wall chart with fancy writing stating what new band was playing and when. She didn’t recognize them, but Cole had always said he wanted to play unknowns just in case one of them made it big.
It was how the first bunch of real bands was made, he’d always say.
The place was busy, no denying that. Most of the tables were full, and the scent of greasy fried food, beer, and sweat filled the air.
It wasn’t offensive, far from it.
The energy was incredible. People were laughing and partying, having fun.
She couldn’t help but smile from everyone. This was being back home. In the city she couldn’t enjoy something like this. This was what it meant to be back home. To relax in company.
Rusty took the lead, taking her to the bar.
She spotted Cole instantly. He had greying hair at the temples and ink all down his arms. Normally he had a cigarette dangling from his lips, but this time, nothing.
“Well, well, well, if it’s not little Casey Jones standing right in front of me. I heard you were back, and as always I’m the last to know,” Cole said, putting down the glass he’d been cleaning.
“Hey, Cole. How have you been?”
“I’ve been doing good, you know. Can’t complain. This little twerp called me and asked if he could have a table reserved for the two of you. Didn’t exactly wait around this time.”
“We’re not dating,” she said.
“This isn’t a date?”
“It’s a date,” Rusty said. “Did you get me my table?”
“You know it’ll cost you in time to come.”
“I know, and I’ve got no problem on working on any machine you want me to work on. You know that. I’m the best damn mechanic in town.”
“I’ve told you once, and I’ll tell you again, you’re the best damn mechanic around and you should be broadcasting that shit to everyone.” Cole slapped him on the back as he came from around the bar.
“I got you a table in the corner near the window. Once you eat, I can’t promise anything though. This place is full of animals, and none of them know any boundaries.” Cole led them to their table, and Rusty surprised her even further by pulling out her chair for her to take a seat.
“Let me know what you guys want. Just give me a shout,” Cole said, leaving them alone.
The moment they were alone, she felt incredibly nervous, which was crazy. They weren’t children, and she’d been alone with him in the car. This made no sense to her.
Picking up the menu, she hoped he didn’t see her shaking hands.
“You can order whatever you want,” he said. “I can recommend everything.”
She glanced through the menu, and it was difficult.
“What is it?” Rusty asked.
Looking at him, she nibbled her lip. “I kind of have a confession to make.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know if I should tell you.”
“Come on, you can tell me anything.”
“Okay.” She put the menu down and pushed off her face a strand of hair that kept on falling in front of her eyes. “It’s really not that big of a deal, but I tried it a couple of years ago and I haven’t gone back.”
“You’re starting to scare me.”
“I don’t eat meat,” she said. So far, she’d been able to avoid the whole food and meat debate with her parents, but most of the items on the menu were all meat. Chicken, pork, beef, and there was even shrimp.
“You don’t eat meat?”
“I’m a vegetarian.”
“Oh.”
“I don’t eat fish either.”
“Oh,” he said.
“Do you want to call the date off?”
“No, but if you turn the menu over, you’ll see the vegetarian menu. I can’t say your parents won’t know by the end of the night, but Cole put it in to attract more customers. He even makes sure there’s a preparation area in the kitchen so there’s no risk of contamination.”
“He does?” Rusty nodded. “How do you know that?”
“I helped install it. I’m a man of many talents.”
“I’m seeing that.”
He winked. “Order whatever you want.”
“You don’t have a problem with it?” she asked.
“Babe, why would I have a problem?”
“I don’t know. It’s weird. Don’t you think it’s weird?”
“No, not at all. It’s a thing. You don’t want to eat meat, don’t eat meat. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just pleased I didn’t take you to a chicken and steak place.”
This time she laughed.
Turning the menu over, she did see the bold heading of vegetarian options. Underneath the list of ten items, there was also a note saying they were working on adding vegan options and to please check back.
Cole really had gone all out.
“You ready to order?”
“Yes.”
She settled on a lentil ragu with a side salad while Rusty ordered himself a steak and potatoes.
“Do you want me to order from your part of the menu?” he asked.
“No. You don’t need to do that. I don’t eat meat, but I don’t stop others from enjoying it.” She folded her arms and leaned in. “So, erm, this is a date?”
“You knew it was a date.”
“No, you told me it was dinner.”
“And now I’m extending it to be dinner and a date.” He folded his arms exactly like her and leaned on the table. “So, what do you think?”
“I think you’re sneaky.”
“I’m sneaky.”
“I thought I was doing you a favor for coming and picking me up, but I hear that I’m not and it’s all just a ruse to get me here.”
“That it is.” He reached out, taking her hand. “I’m so glad you decided to come back home.”
“You are?”
“Yes. I missed you.”
She couldn’t believe he was saying these things, and her heart started to race just a little at first. His touch helped, and she liked his gaze on her. There had been a few times she felt herself remembering him when she was alone in the city.
Now was one of those times.
She had missed him.
They were never really close, but whenever they were in the same room together, there was always this … tension.
None of it made any sense to her, but watching him now, seeing him, she knew there was an attraction.
She hadn’t seen it growing up. Who could? They we
re two kids, but right now, the way he was looking at her, she knew. They wanted each other.
Had it been the same back then?
Their moment was interrupted as Cole put them down two beers.
“I’m driving tonight, Cole. Just a soda for me,” Rusty said.
He was the perfect gentleman. How did that happen?
“You can have one beer, man, you sure?”
“I’m sure. I didn’t come here to get myself whacked out. I came here on a date, and I’m going to make sure she gets home safely.”
****
So far, Rusty was only getting a few little smiles from her, and they were so fucking cute and sweet. He wanted her, and the more time he was in her company, the harder those feelings were getting.
She’d looked so adorable when she had told him she was a vegetarian, almost as if she was a little embarrassed by it.
There was nothing to be embarrassed about.
Her parents were known for their lavish barbeques and meat-filled get-togethers, but he doubted they’d be upset with their daughter.
Sipping on his soda, he wanted to get back the moment of where he was telling her exactly how he felt, but so far, she was just smiling and looking a little coy.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said.
Before he could say anything more, their food came out, and he couldn’t help but look at Casey’s plate. The portion size was huge, and it looked like any other ragu he’d eaten, not that he’d eaten a whole lot of pasta things. He’d never been big on pasta or rice dishes.
She leaned forward, closing her eyes and inhaling her food. “It smells so good. Do you want to try it?”
“Nah, it’s fine.”
“Are you scared of lentils?”
“Nope, I just know this is going to be more than enough for me.” He took a bite of his potatoes and watched her twirl some pasta around her fork before taking a bite.
She closed her eyes and moaned. “So good. This has got to be the best I’ve ever tried.”
He watched her eat a couple more mouthfuls, and he couldn’t take it anymore. “Let me have a try.”
She chuckled. “Here you go.” She pushed her plate a little closer and offered him her fork.
He took it and tried some.
“Oh, wow,” he said.
“See, amazing.”
It was good. “Next time I’ll have what you have.”
She had that sexy smile. “Next time?”
“You think this is a one date thing?”
“When it comes to you, Rusty, I don’t think I know what to expect.”
“You can expect to be wooed. You can call me Daniel,” he said.
“Everyone in town calls you Rusty. Did you give yourself that name?”
“No, my dad did because of always playing in the rusty cars out back. My clothes would be covered in it. I don’t mind the name.” He shrugged.
“That’s why I call you that. Everyone else does, and I like it. It suits you.”
“So how is your writing going?” he asked.
“My writing?”
“Yep. It’s the reason you came back. Tell me, have you done anything to it yet?”
“Now you’re starting to feel like my angry conscience. Have you done this yet, have you done that?”
“You wanted to write. I remember in high school whenever you wanted something done, you’d set yourself out a routine.” One day she’d dropped a whole lot of books, and as he helped her to pick them up, he’d happened to notice her routine planner.
“You know about that?”
“Yes. Why don’t you set something up like that? You always followed it in high school.” To see if she had, he followed her to the local library and lo and behold, she’d been there, studying. Even if it had bored her, she’d done it, because that was the plan she had.
“I can’t even believe you remember all that.”
“There is a lot I remember,” he said. “How about I help you out?”
“You?”
“Come by the office. I’ve got a spare desk. I can get it set up for you. I take it you have a laptop?”
“Yes.”
“Bring it with you. I’ll get you set up, and you can start to write. You won’t get much in the way of distractions. Most of the time people’s cars break down at the most inconvenient of times, and so they come to me. They are not planning to stick around. You’ll be able to write and enjoy your time there as well. Also, let’s face it, I’ll be there.”
She laughed again.
He liked making her smile and seeing the enjoyment on her face.
“What do you think?” he asked, when she didn’t say anything.
“I’d like to give it a try. Anything is better than doing nothing.”
He was going to be able to have her in his life for a lot longer, and he liked that. He wanted to fist pump the air, but instead, he smiled and winked at her.
“You do the winking thing a lot.”
“Oh.”
“It’s sexy. Don’t be worried about it. It’s hot.”
He didn’t even realize he was winking at her.
They finished their meal, and he listened to a couple of her tales from the city, mostly about a few authors who were nervous about their book deals and signings, and how she helped. Even though she was an editor, she did everything she could.
He saw the happiness in her eyes as she talked about her job, but not the spark, not the fire. The happiness she was presenting to him was fake. She was lying to herself and to everyone around her.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked.
He hated to dance and had never really found much rhythm.
“Sure.”
“Be warned, our table may not be available when we get back.”
“I don’t mind. I’ve eaten more than enough. We can always go somewhere else for dessert.”
Now that sounded dirty, or at least to him it did.
Dessert.
Sex?
No, he wasn’t going to go there.
At least not yet.
In the back of his mind, he totally went there.
Taking her hand, he led her onto the dance floor.
It was a slow number, and he thanked his lucky stars for that. He couldn’t dance, but he could hold Casey and sway from side to side without causing any lasting damage.
With his hands on her full hips, he moved slowly, taking his time, wanting her to be as close as possible. She wound her hands around his neck and held onto him.
“This is nice,” she said. “Slow, easy.”
“I’m all about slow and easy.”
She laughed. “You’re sweet.”
“I try.”
He was tense.
“You don’t like to dance?” she asked.
“I’m not very good at it. I’m terrified of stepping on your toes.”
“Don’t be. Just look at me, focus, and if you step on my toes, I won’t worry about it.” She held onto him, needing his support.
His hands stayed on her hips, but he did relax, staring into her brown gaze. He could do this.
The moment he stepped on her toes, he saw. She winced and laughed.
“Calm down. I’m fine. So I’ll have a few squished toes. No big deal.”
“You’re incredible, you know that?”
“Rusty, you don’t really know me.”
“I know you. I know you, and I want you.” He saw the surprise in her gaze. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“It’s fine. Really, fine. You’re being honest, and I can accept that.”
“I don’t want this to be awkward.”
“It’s not. Believe me, it’s not even a teeny tiny bit.”
“You’re not nervous?”
“A little, but knowing you want me, it doesn’t make anything complicated.”
The song ended and changed to an upbeat tempo. He couldn’t help but groan, and she laughed.
“Don’t be so w
orried all the time.” She spun, giving him her back. “Just because the music has changed, doesn’t mean we have to change with it.”
He held onto her, keeping her as close as he could as he danced with her. He didn’t want to let her go.
As he breathed in her scent, she was amazing. There was no doubt in his mind that he couldn’t let her go, not a second time.
She hadn’t belonged to him back then. He had lost his chance by not chasing after her, but he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
Casey Jones was going to belong to him, and he vowed right here, on this dance floor where he couldn’t make a single good move, that he was going to give her every single reason to stay.
Unable to resist, he banded his arms around her waist, pressed his face against her neck, and just basked in being able to hold her.
Yes, he’d rushed to make her his, to stake a claim, and at Cole’s, he pretty much made sure that most of the single men knew Casey was his. By bringing her here, he’d made sure they all knew he was the one intent on taking her as his own.
They could make this work.
First, he was going to make sure she could write, and if that meant keeping everyone away, he would do it, even himself.
“See, you’re getting the hang of it,” she said.
He was still moving from side to side, but the true magic was in his feelings for this woman.
They were never going to disappear and were only going to get stronger.
Chapter Four
Complete with bag on shoulder, a lunchbox, nervous stomach, and just scared that she was making a big mistake, Casey left her home. After her date last night, Rusty had been the perfect gentleman, bringing her back home to her parents with a chaste kiss. She’d expected to go to his place, have some fun, but he hadn’t done what she expected.
Her mother had wanted to know the entire details over breakfast. Her father had left, going to work, and now, she was heading to work, in a way.
Working at Rusty’s shop so she could try to write.
All she wanted to do was run away, but she found herself walking to his place. The metal gates were already open, and she saw that he did indeed open at six in the morning. It was close to nine when she arrived.
He was bent over the hood of a car, looking at something and was in his mechanic scrubs. It looked like he’d already wiped grease down his left ass cheek, which made her giggle.