Hard Drifter

by Debra Kayn

  "Okay. Thank you."

  Lena disconnected the call, removed her headset, and picked up her two bottles of water. "The desk is all yours which seems weird. We've been working the same shift for months now. I missed you today."

  "Thank God this is my only shift change this week. It feels unnatural not to be working with you, Gabi, and Shannon. We'll catch up after our weekend." Yvonne exchanged places with her. "Why are you looking beautiful today?"

  "Hot date," she mumbled. "Or, at least a date. I'm not sure what it is yet."

  "Girl, I want to hear all about this mysterious guy soon." Yvonne clipped the wire onto the waist of her jeans. "How's Station B today?"

  The fire chief for the west side fire station was Yvonne's latest crush. Lena squatted, opened the bottom drawer of the desk, and removed her purse. "They've only gone out on one call. Gabi called the code."

  "Hm, well, that's no help." The light flashed on the desk. "That's for me. Have a good night with the hot date."

  Last night, she'd been excited and nervous about seeing Thad again. This morning, not so much. Going by his looks, his attitude, and his mannerisms, she was the exact opposite of him. She walked through the Employees Only door and cut through the police department side of the building.

  Officer Conrad strolled out of his office, smiled, and said, "Evening, Lena."

  "Hi, Reggie." She swung her purse over her shoulder. "Looks like you had a quiet shift."

  "I'll take more of those if you're handing them out." He walked past her and laughed.

  "I'll do my best, but I'm off until Wednesday." She walked into the lobby, stopped, and turned around tracing her steps.

  Outside Detective Mooney's office, she peeked through the glass door and knocked. At the detective's wave to come in, she opened the door. "Do you have a moment?"

  "Sure, what do you need?" Detective Mooney leaned back in his chair.

  She dug her cell phone out of her purse and tapped the screen. "Is it possible to trace a text message?"

  He reached out for her phone and looked at the angry message she'd received last night. She hadn't lied when she told Thad it was probably the wrong number, but he'd seemed concerned, and when she'd fallen into bed, dead tired, she couldn't sleep wondering who would text her.

  "It's probably a wrong number, but I thought I'd check." She set her purse on the edge of the desk.

  "Do you have anyone who is mad at you?" asked Detective Mooney.

  She snorted. "I don't have time for relationships to get heated. I work in dispatch. I spend more time here than at home."

  "I hear you," he mumbled and sighed. "The number on the text comes from a free text app you can download anywhere. If I followed the pings, it'd only show the server, which could be redirected from anywhere in the world. Got to love technology. Stalkers, teenage girls, and telemarketers have all found a way around caller I.D. A new generation is learning about prank calls, except their texts are done anonymously online."

  "Thanks. I thought it was nothing, but decided it was worth asking about." She took her phone back from him.

  Detective Mooney stood. "No other threats? Have you run into someone around town, maybe at the store or showing up on your way to work that you've noticed more than once or stood out to you?"

  She shook her head. "Not at all."

  "Stay alert." He picked up a folder on his desk. "Like you said, it's probably a message meant for someone else. It could even be best girlfriends talking smack."

  She backed up to the door. "Smack? Is that code for 390?"

  Detective Mooney chuckled. "A few drinks and people start doing strange things and harassing friends is at the top of the list. Not everyone lives at work like we do. Speaking of, I have a meeting I don't want to go to."

  "Yep, and I'm heading out." She waved over her shoulder. "See you later."

  Feeling more confident that the message was a one-time mistake, she hurried out to her car. The chilled air tickled her arms, and she looked up at the sky. Fall had officially shown up in the Pacific Northwest.

  Inside her car, she started the engine and checked the time. She still had a half hour until she was due at Thad's house. Knowing every street in St. John's as required for her job, she'd arrive fifteen minutes early if she headed straight to his house.

  Her stomach gnawed. She pulled out of the parking lot, traveled three blocks east, and pulled into the Safeway parking lot. Fifteen minutes later, she carried the bag of purchases out to her car and headed toward Thad's house.

  At the traffic light, she refreshed her lipstick. At the four-way stop, she dug her perfume out of her purse, slipped her hand under her sweater, and sprayed her stomach. On the street where Thad lived, she glanced in the mirror and pressed her left hand to her forehead, telling herself to calm down. It'd been a good year since she'd gone out on a date.

  She had comfortably settled into believing if a man walked into her life, and there was an attraction on her part, she wouldn't push him away. Otherwise, she pulled herself off the market as actively seeking a sexual relationship. At thirty-four years old, she had no interest in a couple of months' fling or rearranging her life, her job, her living situation for anyone when there was no future with the person.

  Her GPS warned her to turn. She slowed and looked at the address on the mailbox and pulled into a short driveway behind a parked motorcycle. Thad lived in one of the newer housing developments, while she lived in a house built in the sixties.

  She got out of the car, looked up and down the street, and was glad for the motorcycle parked outside because all the places looked the same. Walking around the car, she retrieved her bag of purchases from the store and strolled up to the front door. She'd have dinner, dessert, conversation, and then call it a night.

  If things worked out or they found out they had nothing in common, it was one evening that she spent with someone else. That was never a bad thing. It's what normal people did all the time.

  She pushed the doorbell, and the door swung open only seconds later. Thad stood in front of her looking deliciously rugged. "Hey."

  God, he looked good. Even better than last night. In the light on his front step, his piercing blue eyes were shocking. She hadn't noticed them last night, or maybe she never looked close enough because it had been dusk when they'd met. She swept her gaze over his flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled above his elbows. He kept the first three buttons undone and she suspected even if he tried to button them, it would be difficult over his broad chest.

  "You came." Thad stepped back. "Come in. I just made a fire in the backyard."

  She'd forgotten that he talked about eating outside. Chinese food. Cooler temperature. The man leaned toward unconventional which was highly attractive to her.

  He walked beside her through the living room. She held up the bag in her hand. "Can I put this in your freezer?"

  "Yeah." He pointed to his right at the kitchen that was open to the dining room. "If there's anything in your way, you can set it out. I have a stand-up freezer in the garage I can use to move things around and make space."

  She quickly scanned what he kept frozen. Ice cream. Cool-whip. Ice. Mugs. Hamburger.

  There was plenty of room. She put the carton of ice cream she bought on the shelf and set the rest of the items in the bag on the counter. When she turned around, he was gone, and the sliding door was open.

  "Thad?" she said.

  "Out here."

  She walked outside onto a wooden deck. Rubbing her arms against the chill, she said, "I'll go get my coat from the car."

  "Don't bother." He straightened from the fire pit about twelve feet from the deck and encircled with large river rocks. He motioned to the side of him. "There's a blanket on the swing if the fire doesn't keep you warm."

  She raised her brows. Intent on checking him out, she hadn't noticed a free-standing bench swing in the yard. She had to admit that was cozy and inviting.

  "That'll be perfect." She walked off the deck and over t
o the bench, holding the swing while she sat. "Once spring comes it'll be too warm to sit by a fire."

  "I've only had the swing for a couple of months." He sat down beside her, and she found that there was enough space between them for another person to sit. "I'm thinking about building a gazebo and putting the swing inside it. That way I can use it all fall and winter and stay dry. I wasn't sure I'd use it much by myself, but I found I come out here a lot to enjoy a fire."

  "Building?" She ran her hand over the wooden armrest. "Did you build the swing?"

  He nodded.

  Impressed at having a talent that produced beautiful things, she said, "Are you a carpenter or in construction?"

  He leaned back, using his boots to keep the swing rocking. "No, I work over at Port Loaders. I'm one of the Union workers who preps and loads the cars on the ships. The swing was just something I worked on in my spare time. My dad's the one who is good with wood. He's taught me enough I have fun trying to see if I can make things myself."

  She lifted the toes of her shoes off the ground and let him control the swinging. "What else have you made?"

  "The swing is the only thing I've made for myself. Usually, I give the shit away. I pawn all the pieces I learn on off on friends." He grinned. "Wayne's got a picnic table I made a couple of years ago. I gave Glen and Ingrid a bookcase when they got married. You know those outdoor chairs where you lean back?"

  "Adirondack chairs?" she said.

  "Yeah, those." He looked at her when he talked, and she liked that. "Made Chuck two of them. Though you have to be careful sitting in one of them because the legs are uneven."

  He wasn't rattling off his achievements, simply answering the question she'd asked. Going by the way he gave his home-made wood products away said a lot about a man. "Are those all your friends?"

  "My brothers." His amusement mellowed, and he nodded. "MC brothers. They're all a part of Notus Motorcycle Club, but I've known the guys since we were six. We grew up together in the same neighborhood."

  "And, you stayed friends from childhood to adulthood." She smiled. "That's incredible. You don't hear of people being friends for a lifetime anymore. I always wondered what it would be like to have even one person who lasted past going to school together to becoming like sisters as we both went in different directions."

  "You don't have a friend who—" He stopped the swing at the chime of the doorbell. "Food's here."

  "I can help." She stood.

  "Nah. Sit down and stay warm by the fire. I'll bring it all out." He walked into the house.

  During their conversation, she hadn't been aware of how dark it'd gotten outside because of the glow of the fire. She smiled inside and relaxed. Their initial conversation was easy and not awkward at all. Thad was more than a biker, who gave out advice on how to stay safe. He built beautiful things with his hands and kept childhood friends.

  All day she'd worried about his level of sincerity toward their date. Maybe he was the one who should be worried about her. She had nothing stable in her life besides her job and nobody to validate her worth.

  Chapter 3

  Lena passed him the box containing chow mein and kept the box of fried shrimp on her lap. Thad dumped some rice into the noodles and using his fork, took a bite. They'd already finished off the crab Rangoon and pork strips.

  But, Lena wasn't giving up the shrimp.

  He swallowed, enjoying the way she'd crossed her legs and sat sideways facing him, wrapped loosely in the blanket, as they exchanged boxes. She even balanced the small cup of hot mustard and another one of sesame seeds on her knees.

  Lena dipped the end of the shrimp in the mustard and then rolled the piece in the seeds before putting the whole shrimp, up to the tail, in her mouth, and taking a bite. She caught him staring and grinned as she finished chewing.

  "You didn't want any more of the shrimp, right?" She glanced down and then back up, innocently blinking her eyes, not fooling him for a minute. "There's only two left. I'm sure the chow mein will be more filling for you."

  He laughed, taken aback at how natural his good mood felt with her sitting outside with him, eating, teasing, and making herself at home.

  "You can have the rest of the shrimp." He scraped the white takeout box with his fork, scooping out the remaining noodles. "Not that I believe you'd give them up easily if I said I'd at least like to have one."

  She leaned forward and pushed his shoulder with the back of her hand. "Stop. I would've given you one. If you had asked. But, it's too late. You already turned my offer down."

  They finished eating the rest of the food in silence. He gathered the empty boxes, put them all in the paper sack, and placed it on the fire before putting another log on the flames and returning to the swing.

  Lena remained sitting sideways, facing him, and pulled the edges of the blanket together in front of her. "Thanks for dinner. That was the first time I've eaten Chinese food outside. I liked it."

  He wanted to know what else she hadn't done and make sure she tried them all. He stretched his legs and set the swing into motion while staring into the fire. It'd been awhile since he took the time or had the time to enjoy the company of a woman. Most of the time, he took one of the women Chuck always had hanging around him, because they required no time or attention. They were looking for a party and sex. Two things that were easy to supply.

  "How long have you worked as a dispatcher?" he asked, turning to look at her.

  She sighed. "Almost seven years. I actually moved to St. John's for the job."

  "Where are you from?"

  She glanced into the fire, and the flames reflected in her almost black eyes hypnotized him. "South of Portland. I drove up to take the training classes offered in Portland and applied all over the Pacific Northwest after I got qualified to look for a job. St. John's turned out to be one of two places that wanted to hire me, and I've been here ever since."

  "Damn," he muttered.

  "What?" whispered Lena.

  "Seven years and I've been at the police station at least twice a week over the last twenty-years or so and not once have I seen you." He leaned closer. "Where have you been hiding?"

  She tilted her head and looked up at him between her lashes. "Maybe you weren't looking hard enough."

  "Would you have wanted me to look? And, before you answer, you need to know that depending on what you say, there's a good chance I'm going to kiss you. Because, that's what I've wanted to do since I looked at you at Vavoom's Bar," he said.

  Close enough to her, he caught the next breath of air she swiftly exhaled, he dropped his gaze to her lips. Hell, if he'd ever seen someone as beautiful as her. She made him want to take his time and not fuck up his chances with her.

  But, he couldn't wait.

  He wouldn't.

  He wanted to make sure she understood he was interested.

  "Yeah, I would've wanted you to look,' she whispered.

  His gut tightened, and he leaned in. Her eyes closed before he captured her lips making his balls ache in pleasure. He slipped his hand underneath her hair and palmed the back of her head, holding her close.

  Lena gave a soft purr and opened her mouth. He deepened the kiss and dipped his tongue. Her sweet welcome gave permission for him to stroke, savor, consume. The warmth and smoothness of her tongue danced against his. His cock hardened. Kissing her exceeded anything else in his life at the moment.

  She shivered. He slowed, pulled back, kissed her again, and moved his hand away from her head, and reached inside the blanket that'd fallen off her shoulders and found her hand. She willingly clung to him.

  "Whoa," she said on an exhale. "I wasn't expecting that."

  He leaned back. "Yeah, I hear you," he added softly.

  When he'd asked her out, he only wanted more time with her to figure out why he was drawn to her. Her beauty and the mystery behind her fascinated the fuck out of him. He usually stuck to women who enjoyed sex and a good time without any commitment.

  Meeting her
knocked him sideways.

  He had no idea what Lena wanted from him or why she'd agreed to come over, but she sat beside him, and he'd kissed her. Now, he wanted her to stay.

  "What are you thinking?" she whispered, still facing him on the swing.

  He let his chin fall to his chest. His body still aroused, he thought about yesterday, meeting Lena, today, kissing her, tomorrow, wanting to make sure he had time with her.

  "You're a mystery to me." He huffed, amused that the words came out of his mouth.

  She lifted his hand and held it to her chest. "I can tell you something about me that will push the mystery away."

  "What's that?"

  "I have a sweet tooth, and I brought dessert." She smiled, changing the mood. "Do you have some roaster sticks for the fire?"

  He nodded. "In the house."

  "You get those." She kissed him quick. "I'll get everything else ready."

  She hopped off the swing. He followed, knowing she'd brought ice cream with her when she'd shown up, and wondered why she needed roasting sticks.

  Lena stopped at the sliding door. He reached around her and let her into the house, enjoying the sway of her ass in her hurry to prepare dessert.

  "Where are your bowls?" She opened the freezer and removed the carton of vanilla ice cream.

  "Left side of the sink." He pulled the second drawer on the kitchen island open and retrieved the long metal sticks.

  She placed the bowls on the counter and pointed to the top drawer. "Spoons?"

  He nodded, entertained watching her. She was the first woman who'd taken over his kitchen. He liked the atmosphere she created with being at his house.

  After dishing up two bowls of ice cream, she pulled a small package of graham crackers out of the bag she'd carried in earlier. She flashed him a grin and crumbled the crackers, dumping the pieces over both bowls.