“Bud it is.”
“Great, and I’ll just enjoy the view while you go do it.”
I giggle, trying not to blush too much. This guy is a real charmer. Now I just need to get the beer and try to do it without sex on the brain.
I hurry back over to where Nina is standing. As I approach her, she’s got that wicked grin of hers.
“So?” she says. “Is he even hotter up close?”
“Yep! He wants a beer, and I think he wants some other things too.”
She laughs. “Why don’t you give it to him then? You’re single.”
“Whatever!” I pretend that I’m insulted. “I’m not that kind of girl.”
She waves me off while she rolls her eyes. “Oh please. That never stopped you before, and, excuse me for saying it, but those guys you were with in the past didn’t look anything like Mr. Hottie.”
She’s right; they didn’t. Al definitely doesn’t look like “Mr. Hottie” as Nina puts it. The rest weren’t bad looking, but they weren’t hot like this guy. “Okay, okay. I need to bring him his beer now if you don’t mind.”
“Of course,” says Nina, still with that wicked grin. “I don’t mind.”
I playfully roll my eyes at Nina, knowing she’s right about everything. Mr. Hottie looks better than any guy I’ve ever been with, and I know what kind of a slut I’ve been in the past. Like I told you before, it’s not something I’m proud of.
I approach him again with the beer on the tray. “Here you go.”
“Hey, thanks. I’m Buck, and you are . . .?” He holds his hand out to me.
I take it. “I’m Fiona. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too. You’re beautiful, Fiona.”
“Well, thank you. You’re not from around here, are you?”
“No, I’m a trucker. Just in town for a few days.”
“Oh, okay. You’re one of those, huh?” No sense in hiding it.
“‘One of those’?” he says.
“You know? The love ‘em and leave ‘em type.”
“Well, maybe. But I’m pretty good at the lovin’ part.”
He gives me a look that makes me want to melt. When this guy says he’s a good lover, I bet he’s not making it up.
“Okay, well, I have to go wait on my other tables now. But I’ll be back to check on you.”
“Please do.”
I go back over to the bar and switch my hips a little when I do it. Hey, I’m here to make tips, and this guy is probably good for some money. Does he want to sleep with me? Oh, I’m sure of it. I can’t say that I wouldn’t want to do the same. I can honestly tell you that this guy doesn’t look anything like any of the guys that have come in here before. He is fucking hot. Nina wasn’t lying about that.
Now I’m at the bar getting an order for another customer. Buck is studying his cell phone, but he’s doing the same to me now and then as well. Having him in here makes it a lot less boring, I can tell you that.
Mabel, who helps Al run the place, comes out of the back room. Her hair, makeup, and nails are always done, but she’s covered with wrinkles. Even though she’s middle-aged, she wouldn’t have as many lines as she does if she wasn’t such a heavy smoker. Her skin is greyish, and her clothes always smell like smoke. But I’ve seen photos of her, and she used to be a pretty woman back in the day.
She slaps the casino bar’s counter. “Fiona, take your break.”
She then grabs a cigarette out of her pack and shoves it in her mouth. In most public places across the country, you can no longer smoke, but you can still smoke in casinos in Vegas.
“Thanks, Mabel!”
The first thing I want to do is go to the back room and pull off these shoes, but not when Buck is still sitting in view. Today, it’s Christine’s job to watch my tables during my break, but I don’t want her at Buck’s table.
I walk over to him and take a seat. He looks up from his phone, not expecting me to be sitting here, but based on the look on his face, liking it at the same time. I can tell. “So, I’m on a break. Where are you from, exactly?”
He sets his phone on the table. “Originally? Ohio. But I live in my truck now. So now I’m not from anywhere.” He winks. “I’m taking a rest in your town before I head out. I could sit here and look at your pretty face all day and night.”
I roll my eyes. “Man, you’re really laying it on thick, aren’t you?”
“Have dinner with me,” he says, unfazed by what I’ve just said. “What time do you get off?”
“You want to buy me dinner?”
“Yeah, I’d love to buy you dinner.”
I look at him without saying anything. Should I do it? Why not? A free meal is a free meal. “Okay, sure! I get off at around 7:00. So, where am I supposed to meet you?”
“I’ll meet you right here. Hell, maybe I’ll just stay right here until you get off. Watch your shapely body move around.”
I lean back in my chair with eyes wide. “You’re gonna sit here all that time? Are you some weirdo stalker? Do I need to alert the cops?” I’m smiling now. Teasing this hottie is fun.
He leans into me. “Do I look like a weirdo?”
I’m turned on by his confidence; I can’t deny it. I stop the teasing. “No, as a matter of fact, you don’t. But I’ll need to shower and change before we hook up, okay? Then I’ll meet you here around 8:00.” You should see the way he’s looking at me right now. This guy knows he’s getting to me.
“Sounds like a plan, Fiona.”
I jump up out of my chair. If I don’t, I could sit here and look at this guy forever. “Great! My break will be over soon. Stay if you’d like, but I gotta work.”
He pulls a hundred-dollar bill out of his pocket and lays it on the table. “It was nice talking to you, Fiona. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Then he smiles, gets up, and walks out the door. Just like that.
I’m excited about our dinner date, and I just made one hundred bucks, minus the beer. That’s the way to work it, Fiona.
3
Buck
Right now I’m east of The Strip. I haven’t made it to The Strip yet, and I’m glad because if I had, I would never have walked into this casino. Fiona is beautiful, and I’m going to make sure I show her a good time.
That’s pretty much how it goes. If I see a pretty lady, I like to get to know her better and see what happens. Hey now, before you go thinking badly about me, this Fiona knows what kind of man I am. She knows I’m just passing through. You should have seen her eyes when I laid down that $100. She knows what she’s doing, that’s for sure.
So while I’m here, I’m going to treat her well; take her out to dinner, and spend some time with her. Do I want to sleep with her? Of course, I do. But I would bet a million dollars she wants to sleep with me, too.
4
Fiona
It’s the end of my shift, and I’m tired, but completely excited. Buck will be here in an hour or so. Thankfully, my apartment is close by, and I can get to it in about 10 minutes. Then, all I have to do is take a shower, get changed, and meet him back here.
I could have told him to meet me at my place, but he doesn’t need to know where I live. I don’t care how cute he is. I barely know the guy. He’s hot, but he could turn out to be a hot psycho. And if he’s a hot psycho, he can act like a hot psycho in a public place, not at my apartment. You know what I mean?
But, anyway, I’ve never been more excited in my entire life to have a date with someone. How pathetic is that? It’s not like I’ve never been on a date before. I don’t know. For some reason, while I was working, I started getting really excited about spending time with him. You don’t understand. There’s hot, and then there’s super hot. Buck is super hot. And, truth be told, I won’t be surprised if I sleep with him tonight. There’s no point in my denying what I want.
I feel a tap on my shoulder. “Let me know how it goes, Missy,” says Nina.
And then she winks at me. “You know
I will.” I smile at her and rush off to get my purse out of my locker. I know what the wink means, and, like I said, there’s no point in me pretending like I’m not capable of it again.
I’m back in my apartment, and I’m done with my shower. The weather is beautiful tonight, and I feel like wearing one of my sundresses. I search through my closet for one that’s sexy but not slutty. I don’t want to look like I’m just giving it away.
I pull out a short light-blue sundress, and I find some brown heels to match. They’re perfect for a warm, casual evening out, and sexy enough to keep Mr. Hottie’s attention entirely on me.
I like the fact that I’m sexy, and despite what my uncle did to me, I like it when men notice me. I can’t help it, and I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Not all men are jerks like my uncle.
Inside one of my dresser drawers is a box of condoms. I pull out three packages and throw them in my purse. Mr. Hottie may be sexy as hell, but there’s no way I’m fucking him without one.
Back at Sunrise, I walk in, and there’s Buck, right on time. He’s wearing what looks like an expensive black shirt, and he’s paired it with jeans that are tight, but not too tight. His clothes compliment his muscular body. Fuck! This guy is just too handsome for words.
“Hey there, Fiona.”
“Hi, Buck.”
“You look beautiful.”
“Thanks! You’re looking pretty good yourself.”
“Well, thank you. I thought I’d take you to Jason’s. You cool with that?”
“You’re taking me there? Oh, I didn’t expect that. Nice!”
“Yeah, I’m full of surprises. Are you full of surprises?” He smiles at me, but I’m too flush and excited to answer. He’s managed to make me speechless, and that doesn’t happen very often.
5
Fiona
Just think, earlier today I was waiting tables. Now, I’m walking down The Strip with one of the hottest men in Vegas. Buck is holding my hand as we stare at Bellagio’s fountain. I work at a casino off The Strip, so I don’t make it out here much. But when I do get out here, it’s nice to do stuff like this, even more so when I’m doing it while holding a handsome man’s hand.
“It’s pretty cool how they match the music to the water, isn’t it,” I say to Buck.
He holds my hand tighter. “Yeah, the last time I was in Vegas, I didn’t have any time to walk around. You make it a lot more fun, though.”
I smile. “Yes, I can say the same.”
Jason’s is a new restaurant right on The Strip. It’s getting a lot of attention, and a couple of the girls I work with have gone on dates there. I’m assuming Buck is paying for me, because I’m not trying to dish out the cash they want for a meal. Sorry, but I’m not. It’s not super fancy; more like dressy casual. But it’s still pretty pricey.
We get to the entrance. “Do you have a reservation, sir?” says one of the hosts, a male.
“Yeah, I sure do. It’s under Hamilton.”
I’m impressed. Buck made reservations. I’m on a date with a classy trucker. What are the odds?
The host checks the computer. There’s no ancient reservation system at this place. It’s all high-tech.
“Yes, your table is ready,” he says.
Upon hearing that, another host, a female, grabs two black books. “Please follow me,” she says.
Buck retakes my hand as we follow her to our table. When we get there, she places the menus down.
“Enjoy your dinner,” she says.
“Thanks,” Buck and I say in unison.
Then, Buck pulls the chair out for me. I haven’t had that done in a while either.
“You’re quite the gentleman,” I say as I take a seat. “Do you always treat women this way?”
Buck sits in the other seat across from me. “Yeah, especially if they’re as gorgeous as you are.”
Buck’s been hitting on me with one line after another. I want this guy, but I need to remind myself who he is. He’s a hot, confident trucker, but not in a way that turns me off. That said, I know he just wants to get me into bed. And as you already know, I can’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind as well.
“So,” I say as I look at the menu. “Have you been here before?”
“No, but I read that it’s got good reviews. So I figured why not try it out.”
“So you’re a trucker and a restaurant connoisseur?” I wink. “Imagine that.”
Buck laughs. “I guess you got lucky, didn’t you?”
I look him in the eyes. “Did I?”
The waitress approaches our table before he can answer.
“Hello! My name is Michelle, and I’ll be your server this evening. There are two meals on our Special’s menu that I’d like to point out. The first is our Rigatoni with Lamb, topped with tomatoes and mint. The second is our Glazed Salmon with brown rice and roasted vegetables. Now, may I bring you something to drink?”
Before I can say anything, Buck speaks. “Fiona, you look like a girl who likes red wine.”
He’s right. I love red wine. “Correct! How did you know?”
“Oh, I just had a feeling.” Buck looks up at the waitress. “Bring us a bottle of that California red you’re promoting.”
“Sure thing!” says the waitress.
“You want an appetizer, Fiona?” Buck asks. “How about the bruschetta?”
“Ah, sure,” I say. “That sounds great!”
Buck grins at the waitress. “That will do for now.”
“Great,” she says. “I’ll be back shortly.”
The grin lingers on Buck’s face. I’ve dated some guys who lacked confidence. They never flat out told me that, but I could totally tell, and it was sort of a turn-off. I know Buck isn’t like those guys. I’m sure he doesn’t have a boatload of money lying around somewhere, and I doubt he’s some educated guy who’s been to college, but he’s confident.
“I thought you were into beer?” I say.
“It depends on my mood,” Buck leans back in his chair. “I’m in a good mood right now.”
The waitress returns with the bottle of wine and two wine glasses. Buck’s in a good mood, and so am I, a really good mood.
I’ve spent only about fifteen minutes with Buck so far, but I’m totally relaxed. All the stress from waitressing at the casino is gone. Buck’s black shirt is opened enough to reveal the scorpion tattoo on his chest. As he looks at the menu, I stare at it. A scorpion stung me once. I was young, and I thought it would kill me, but it didn’t.
“Tell me about the tattoo,” I say.
“Buck looks down at his chest, and then he looks back at me. “I got it when I was 19. I thought I was pretty bad ass back then, so I figured, why not get tatted with a scorpion.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’re not a bad ass now?”
“Well, I’m 27 now, and I’ve grown up a lot.”
“You’re 27? I’m older than you!”
“Oh, yeah? I’m dating an older woman?” Buck smiles. “How much older?”
“I’m 32.”
“Bullshit!”
“Okay, I’m 28. Not much older, but older. But you seem to have your shit together. So that’s cool.”
The waitress returns with the bruschetta. She sets it down, along with two plates. “Do you have any questions about the menu or our specials tonight?” She looks at me and then at Buck.
“Did you decide what you wanted, babe?” Says Buck.
I could say, you mean, besides you? But, I won’t go there. Not yet and not in front of the waitress.
“No, but why don’t you order for me? You’re good at that.” I smile and take a sip of my red.
Buck smiles back. “Okay, beautiful. I will. He looks at the waitress. We will have two orders of the steak dipped in hot sauce with the corn and the salsa.” He looks at me. “Sound good to you, Fiona?”
It does sound good to me. I can’t lie. I don’t know how this guy knows what I like, but he does.
“Yes, that sounds great.”
>
“Good choice!” says the waitress. “How would you like the steaks cooked?”
Buck looks at me. “I like mine medium-well; I bet you do too.”
Once again, Buck is right on target. “Yep, that’s right.”
“Terrific, may I bring you anything else?” says the waitress.
Buck shakes his head. “That will be all for now.”
We place our menus on the table, and Buck meets my curious stare as the waitress hurries away with them.
“I figured you like steak. No pasta or fish for you.”
I laugh lightly. “Who doesn’t like steak?”
“But I know you’re sweeter than steak, aren’t you?” He winks and takes a sip of the wine. I take a sip of mine too.
Here we go again. Mr. Hottie is going to set me on fire before we end up under the sheets. No need to pretend. I know I’m going to follow him back to his truck or his hotel or wherever the hell he’s staying tonight. I know I will.
“Aside from waiting tables, what else do you do?” His gaze rests on my amused face.
I return his stare. “Well, I’m trying to save some of the money I get from the casino for my future, like, tuition fees.”
“Oh, so you’re in school?”
“Well, not yet, but someday soon. I can’t depend on waiting tables and other menial jobs to survive, at least not forever. I’ll go back to school, get a better job and live life knowing my future is taken care of.” I’ll stop there. No need in laying my shit at the feet of a stranger. In a matter of days, he will be long gone, anyway. “Aside from being a trucker, what else do you do?” I decide to throw the question back at him.
“Trucking is my life. I like moving across the country, from one state to another. It doesn’t even feel like a job, to be honest.” He takes another sip of his wine. Everything about the way this man looks is hot, including his lips. “I like to travel.”
A longing feeling develops inside me. I would love to travel too, someday. The last time I traveled was when I was kid, when my dad was alive.
Truck Stop Trouble Page 2