by Sharp, Tracy
After five hours of watching the house, we were about ready to leave for a while, maybe come back later. Just as Callahan started up the car, a large cube truck came lumbering along the street, parking in front of the house.
Cal turned the car off. “Well, well, well. Now what do you suppose is in that truck?”
I could easily guess. And I was right.
The driver, a burly man in his mid-forties with a beer belly, climbed out of the truck. He wore a dingy baseball cap, a t-shirt with a logo I didn’t wish to read, and worn jeans which hung on his hips. I just knew that if he bent down the crack of his ass would be winking at us. He picked his nose, flicking snot away as he made his way to the back of the truck.
“Classy guy,” Callahan observed.
I watched, my body rigid as he opened the doors. He motioned impatiently for the passengers to come out.
I grit my teeth as a line of Asian females, some who couldn’t be more than twelve years old, jumped from the back of the truck to the ground. Many of them pleaded with the man for water. He pretended not to understand them, waving a hand dismissively and shaking his head. These women and girls were exhausted and certainly dehydrated. They looked as if they might pass out.
“Jesus,” Callahan breathed.
“What do you think the price of a glass of water is in that house?” I clenched my hands to stop them from shaking.
He said nothing for a long moment, and then he said, “I think we can call the cops now.”
I nodded. “Yeah. Give me your cell phone.”
“Let’s get the hell out of here first.”
Chapter Twelve
I let Cal make the call. I was too pissed off to speak without yelling. When he clicked off his cell phone he wore a look of relief. “They’re gonna check it out.”
“Good.” I still wasn’t feeling relieved yet. I wouldn’t until I knew those women were out of that house.
“Are those women going to get into trouble?” I felt suddenly alarmed. I couldn’t believe this thought hadn’t occurred to me already.
His head was leaning back against the head rest. “It’s not our problem, Leah.”
I knew it wasn’t. I wasn’t responsible for making sure those women had a better life here than they had in their own country. Damn it, I didn’t want them being punished either. “Shit.”
Cal looked at me sideways. “Let it go.”
“Yeah, I know, I know.”
We sat in the car with the air conditioning blasting. It was one of those days where you froze with the air on high. If you turned it down, the humidity got to you in under a minute and you were forced to jack the air up again. For the moment, I reveled in the frigid air of the car. But my stomach was beginning to complain. The clock on the dash read six-fifteen in green digital numbers. It was dinner time and neither of us had eaten lunch.
“It might take the cops some time to get over here.” Cal pulled onto the road and drove away from the house.
He knew I’d sit there all night waiting if it were up to me. “Yeah. I’m hungry anyway.”
He nodded. “Me too. What do you feel like?”
I thought about it. “I don’t know. I’m too hungry.”
Cal chuckled at this. “I know a great, laid back place with really good barbeque. What do you say?”
The thought of barbequed steak made my mouth water. “Oh, yeah. That’ll work.”
We rode in silence, both drained from a day of sitting in the car and watching the comings and goings of the old Victorian. We were both so bothered by what we’d seen that we needed a break from thinking about it.
We pulled up to Eddie’s Roadhouse and had to drive around the parking lot a couple of times. Cal wanted to snag a parking spot that an elderly couple in a mini van were pulling out of. I was betting the van was equipped with a warning signal which beeped when the van got too close to an object while being backed out. There were a lot of drivers who weren’t half as old who could probably use a device like that.
We pulled into the spot after what seemed like an eternity of waiting for the elderly couple to right their mini-van and drive away. A refreshing breeze cooled us as we walked from the car to the restaurant. Although it had been breezy all day, we hadn’t benefited much from the pleasant weather change, being stuck in the car for so many hours. I was glad that I’d left the upstairs windows open for Buddy.
I wasn’t as nervous about leaving windows open in my house anymore with Buddy around. I didn’t think that anyone who started climbing through a window would come fully into my house once they saw Buddy standing there to greet them. He was good that way.
I glanced at my watch.
“In a hurry?” Cal asked as we slid into a booth.
“It’s past Buddy’s dinner time. He’s probably hungry.”
“Well, you’ve got a cat, don’t ya? That should tide him over until you get home.”
“Oh, you’re funny.”
A bouncy beauty with highlights and a perfect smile took our drink orders and I couldn’t help being amused as I observed Callahan’s eyes follow her rear-end away from the table.
He caught me watching him. “What?”
I just shook my head.
“I’m a guy, Leah. Guys look at girls.”
“Uh huh. Thanks for the news flash.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Women could rule the world if we wanted to. All it takes is a smile and a wiggle and you men go all ga-ga, start drooling and stammering and opening your wallets.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “They wouldn’t get very far. You need brains, not just a body, to rule the world.”
I scanned my menu. “Oh, I see. You don’t think that waitress knows exactly what she’s doing?”
“Huh?”
I put my menu down. “The perky bounce and flashy smile is a strategy. It’s how she’s going milk her tip from you. She probably cleans up in tips every day in this place. She’s no idiot.”
“Oh, she couldn’t possibly be smiling at me because she thinks I’m cute, huh?”
It was my turn to laugh out loud.
When the waitress, who had said her name was Kerry, came back to take our order, Callahan eyed her suspiciously.
When she left the table, I said, “You’re gonna give her the creeps if you keep that up.” I shook my head. “Jesus.”
He threw his hands up. “I can’t win!”
“Bingo,” I replied.
I almost salivated when our steaks came. When I took a bite, I just about cried out with ecstasy.
“That good, huh?” Cal watched me, grinning.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve ever put a look quite like that one on a woman’s face. And I’m good.”
“Oh you are, are you?”
He lifted his eyebrows. “You don’t think so? You looked pretty happy last night.”
“It’s been a while. And it wasn’t anything I couldn’t have done myself.”
“Oh. Want me to prove it?” He waggled his eyebrows at me.
“No thanks, I’ll take your word for it.” Yes I did want him to prove it. Very badly. I also wanted him to be quiet so that I could enjoy my steak in peace. I chewed slowly, savoring each bite as long as I could.
“So tell me about yourself.” His words were muffled with food.
I hate it when someone talks with their mouth full. It makes me homicidal. I wanted to jab my fork into his hand.
He chewed silently for a moment, regarding me with curiosity. “So was construction your career of choice, or did you just kind of fall into it?” He watched me while he chewed, waiting for my answer.
“I wanted to be a photo-journalist, actually. Even went to college for a year.”
When my father died he left Jesse and I the pub and his savings. When Jesse was busted, even though I worked two jobs while I went to school, the money got burned up pretty quickly. Good defense attorneys cost a lot, even when they can
’t get the bad guy off.
Cal looked surprised. “No kidding. How’d you end up in construction then? Why aren’t you off stalking rock stars or in some foreign country chasing wild animals or something?”
“Because I didn’t finish college.” I stabbed the last bit of my steak and relished the smoky grill taste. Seems everything tastes better done on the barbeque.
“Why not?”
This was getting irritating. “Because of Jesse’s attorney’s fees, Okay?”
He looked a little wounded, but lifted his hands, both still gripping utensils, in surrender. “Okay. Sorry. Just making conversation.”
“I’ve told you enough about myself for now. Tell me about yourself for a change.”
He shrugged and went back to devouring his food. “Not much to tell, really.”
“Well, where did you grow up?”
“Downtown Albany. Not the greatest of neighborhoods, but it was okay. Blue collar. Working class. It was a real neighborhood back then. People knew each other. Trusted each other.” He was thoughtful as he finished his last bite of baked potato. “It’s different today.”
“Did you go to college?”
“Yeah, I went. Went to law school on a scholarship.”
I was shocked. He didn’t seem to be the “lawyer” type. “Wow. What happened? Were you disbarred?”
“Actually, no. I practiced for a few years as a defense attorney for the state. I was making a lot of money, but it wasn’t for me. I think being an auto recovery agent is safer than being a defense attorney.”
I stared at him for a moment. “People will surprise you.”
He nodded, pointing his fork at me. “You got that right.”
We skipped dessert and Callahan drove me home. We kept the windows rolled down during the ride, and I was so happy for the fresh air that I felt like sticking my head out the window and letting the wind blow against my face like Buddy does. I didn’t need to give Callahan any more proof that I was off my nut.
I was also trying to distract myself from thinking about Callahan and myself the other night … in the car with the rain pattering against the windows … his mouth on my nipple.
When we pulled into my driveway Callahan touched my arm before I could leap out of the car. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“You seem really tense.”
“It’s been a tense few days.” I made the mistake of turning and looking into those green eyes. I could get lost in those eyes. In fact, I was getting lost in those eyes right that very second.
Inviting him in for a minute couldn’t hurt. “Do you want to come in for a beer?”
“Sure. I could use a beer.”
We climbed out of the car and headed for the house. Suddenly I felt nervous. I was certain that if we went into my house together, we’d end up naked on the kitchen floor. I needed to slow things down between us sexually. Where he was concerned, I had very little self-control. I didn’t like that feeling.
We got to the patio and I gestured to the outdoor furniture; several chairs and a sofa that faced away from the street. They were metal but the plastic cushions were soft and comfortable. “Have a seat. It’s a nice day. We’ll sit outside.”
“Cool.” He wore a knowing grin and sat on the sofa.
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
I went in, got two bottles of beer, took a deep breath and went back out, handing him a bottle.
“Thanks.” He locked me in his calm, river-green gaze and I was helpless to do anything but stand there.
He patted the spot beside him. “Come on. I won’t bite.”
“Right.” I sat down next to him. My heart was thumping so hard I was afraid he’d see it through my top. I took a long swig of my beer and pretended to be interested in my yard.
Callahan set his bottle on the side table and sat back. I turned to look at him, my gaze moving over those strong legs, taut belly and broad chest. Before I even knew what I was doing, I was climbing on top of him, straddling him, and bringing my mouth down on his, the beer still in my hand.
He kissed me back, taking the beer from my hand and setting it down on the side table before I dropped it. His hands came around my waist and moved over my back, sending tiny shivers through me. I probed his mouth with my tongue, kissing him deeply, not able to get enough of his mouth. I breathed him into me, a little moan escaping my mouth as I ground my pussy against his stiff cock, the fabric of my panties growing damp against my clit.
“Leah,” he murmured against my mouth. “I want you so fucking bad.”
I sucked on his tongue as my fingers found and fumbled with the button of his jeans. His fingers did the same with my cut-offs and we both lifted up so the other could tug the denim down our thighs. I reached down, pulled the cut-offs over my legs and kicked them off.
“Holy shit, you’re brave. Anybody could drive up right now.”
“Uh huh.” I scanned the road in front of the house. The back of the outdoor sofa blocked us, but cars moved up and down the road constantly. Drivers could see my shoulders and face easily.
His cock was rigid and lay straight up against his belly. I grinned. “I guess you like me, huh?”
“Oh yeah. Just a little.”
I lowered myself so that my clit pressed against his erection, and moved myself slowly up and down over it.
“Oooh fuck, Leah. You keep that up and we won’t get far.”
Callahan slid down into the sofa and gripped my hips, lifting me so that I was level to his face. When his lips touched my pussy, I immediately pressed myself against his mouth, needing to feel his tongue on me. I looked at the street, watching cars go by. The mail truck stopped and a young woman began shoving mail into my mailbox. She glanced my way just as Cal sucked at my sweet spot, and I felt my mouth drop open as heat traveled through me. She grinned and gave a little wave. I waved back and she drove away.
Tendrils of desire swirled in my clit as he sucked it, flicking his tongue over it, making little circles before sucking it again. My walls squeezed together tightly, aching for release.
“I want you. I don’t care if we haven’t yet had a date.”
He gave me a loopy grin, his eyes dreamy, “Well okay, then. Since you put it that way.”
I took him in my hand and lowered myself onto him, sighing as he filled me up, caressing every nerve ending. The feeling was exquisite. “Oh…”
I tried not to rush it, but my body wouldn’t listen. I leaned forward, hands on his shoulders, and began moving up and down, faster and harder with each stroke. I watched the street, the cars going by, a couple riding their bikes, a woman jogging, all going past the house.
Cal’s hands gripped my hips and he lifted his pelvis, lifting me up and down with more and more force. “Is anyone watching?” His voice was breathless.
Two cars stopped to wait for a red light. One of them, a silver Volvo driven by a woman, carried a passenger; a man in a shirt and tie, his blond hair gelled into place. He turned to look at my house. Spotted me. At first his face looked confused, but then he smiled. He was handsome, and I grinned back as I continued to bob on Cal’s cock. “Yes. Red light.”
“Man or woman?”
I kept my eyes on the man. “Man. All dressed up. He’s smiling at me.”
“He knows you’re fucking someone.”
“Yes.” My voice came out as a whisper. My pussy grew tighter and began to quiver.
“You like that?”
“Yes.”
The man and I had locked gazes, and as the first shudder over-took me, I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying out, keeping my eyes on the man’s face. Pleasure stuttered through me, almost blinding in its intensity.
I felt Callahan stiffen beneath me, he jammed himself high into me as my walls tightened over him again and again.
The light turned green and the cars moved forward. The man winked at me as his companion drove away. He never brought her attention to what was happening in the hou
se on the corner of the street. I knew he never would.
I leaned in and kissed Callahan’s mouth. “Wow.”
“Yeah. Wow.”
“Cal…”
“I know. It’s okay. I gotta get going anyway.” He brought his hand up and brushed a lock of hair away from my face, hooking it over my ear.
“Thanks.”
A wide grin spread over his face. “Anytime.”
I gave him a playful slap on his shoulder. “Not for that, you jerk!”
He laughed out loud. “I know. Just had to be a smart ass.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Okay?” I climbed off him and pulled my cut-offs back on.
He stood up, yanking his jeans over his hips. He leaned down and planted a little kiss on my lips. “Tomorrow, sexy.”
I smiled as I watched him walk back to the car and drive away.
Chapter Thirteen
My body was still singing with residual pleasure when I got back inside the house. I grinned as I fed Buddy and was still grinning when I took him for a walk. He walks remarkably well on a leash. Someone at some point had given him good training. I’d done a bit of research on hand and voice commands and Buddy knew them all. My guess is that someone had loved him long ago, but for some reason he’d lost his original home. Unfortunately, he’d ended up in at least one bad one, but probably several. Fortunately for both of us, that last bad home led him to me.
I’d already grown attached to Buddy. He was a very cool dog, demanding very little from me, but giving me so much in return. Having Buddy around made me a happier person. I love my cat, don’t get me wrong, but I’d bonded more intensely with Buddy. I guess it’s because we’d both been around the block a few times, and it was hard to get us down. We’re both made pretty tough.
The trees were swaying easily in the wind, and after having had to endure the wretched heat and humidity for so long, the breeze felt downright chilly. It was a welcome change. I wasn’t going to complain. My favorite season is autumn. I love sweater weather. The crisp fall air is refreshing to walk in and makes it easier to sleep. Autumn in the North East is a stunning sight. The leaves turn a brilliant orange, red and yellow and everything seems alive. I couldn’t wait for the leaves to start changing. It wouldn’t be long now.