Magnolia seemed to know she was no longer in Twiggy’s arms. The little girl squirmed and fussed. Before he knew it, her fists balled up and her face got red and she was once again crying. He tried the football hold like Twiggy had shown him, but almost dropped the baby since she wiggled so much. He’d never had such trouble on the field in his earlier days holding a football. But then again, a football didn’t squirm like this baby did. He looked up to Twiggy in desperation. She sighed, removed the children from her lap, and gave the book to her assistant before coming to his rescue.
“No, no, not like that,” she scolded. “You need to rest her head in the crook of your arm. Like this.” She reached out and repositioned the baby in his hold and then rested her hand gently on his arm. “Do you see what I’m doing?”
He couldn’t say he was watching her demonstration. Instead, he was watching her hand touching him. Clean, manicured nails with small white French tips made her look really classy. Plus, she smelled like lilacs or some kind of damned wildflowers. Cal took a sniff, but tried not to breathe because the scent was tantalizing, making him crazy. He also couldn’t ignore the fact that he liked the feel of the warmth of her fingers against his skin.
“Do you understand?” she asked again, interrupting his thoughts.
“Huh?” He looked down to see the baby nestled in the bend of his arm and she was once again sleeping. “You’re amazing,” he muttered, stunned by Twiggy’s unbelievable talent. “How do you do that?”
“I can’t tell you all my secrets, because then I’d have to kill you.”
His eyes snapped over to her face. A sly grin pursed the corners of her mouth, immediately changing to a seductive pout. He’d stopped asking if she was joking, because he didn’t want to know if she wasn’t.
“You can pick me up here first thing in the morning,” she told him and went back to her work.
Cal took one last look at Twiggy, still feeling as if this were all a dream. Then he left the establishment, trying not to move too fast so Magnolia wouldn’t wake up and explode. It was going to be one heck of a long night, and even a longer trip back to Texas with a goddess riding alongside him now.
Chapter 3
“Tuesday, are you out of your mind?”
Tuesday stood in the doorway of the daycare, noticing the horror in her best friend’s eyes.
“You know what he did to you last time,” said Charlotte. “Why are you setting yourself up for another let down? You are crazy. You can’t go with Cal Reeves cross-country. And certainly not in a truck! You just can’t do it.”
“I can and I will,” said Tuesday, more determined than ever to do this. “Magnolia needs me. Besides, Cal Reeves knows nothing about babies. He can’t even hold one properly.”
“There’s more to it than that, isn’t there?” Charlotte asked with a gleam in her eyes.
Tuesday knew she wanted to hear her confess her undying admiration for the man, but she wouldn’t do it. After all, she despised him now that she’d learned the truth about him taking her to the prom. However, she couldn’t let her feelings get in the way where little Magnolia was concerned. The baby was like a daughter to Tuesday, and also the child of a close departed friend.
“I’m doing it for Maggie. And for Jenna,” she quickly added, getting a nod from Charlotte.
“I see. I’m sure Jenna would want you to be there for her baby.”
“Yes, I agree. Besides, Cal said it was strictly a platonic relationship and I believe him.”
“So . . . you no longer have feelings for the man?”
“Not in the way you mean. All I feel when I look at Cal Reeves now is disgust. I despise him and everything he stands for.”
“Then why are you going with him?” asked Charlotte with a sigh.
Suddenly, Tuesday wasn’t sure how to answer. As much as she never wanted to forgive Cal for what he’d done to her, a part of her still held some odd attraction to him. Still, she’d never admit it aloud. “I’m going with him because, I told you, I just have to do it. For Maggie and for Jenna. Besides, what happened with Cal is all in the past now, so it doesn’t matter. I like to live for the day.”
“My, you’re forgiving.” Charlotte looked at her from the corners of her eyes. “He’s paying you, isn’t he? You’re doing it for the money.”
“He’s offered to pay me a thousand dollars a day,” Tuesday admitted.
Charlotte’s mouth dropped open. “I see. Living for the day,” she repeated Tuesday’s words back to her.
“You don’t understand. With that kind of money, I can’t turn down the job, even if I’ll be working for a man I now despise. Don’t you see? That is the extra money I need to be able to afford the down payment to buy into the daycare. I can finally be a business owner like I’ve always wanted to be, and J.D. will be free of the responsibilities.”
Charlotte gave a low whistle. “That man must either really have the hots for you, or be super desperate to find help. I’ve never heard of anyone in their right mind paying that much for doing nothing but babysitting. Are you sure there won’t be something else you’re providing as well? Like fringe benefits?” She flashed a grin.
“No! Not for the life of me, Charlotte. He’s not even getting a quick kiss from me this time, after the trick he pulled. I want to make him pay for what he did to me, and I have the means to do it.”
“Oh, so this is a trip of vengeance then.”
“No, not really. Like I said, I’m doing it for Maggie and Jenna. However, Cal Reeves needs to pay up in one way or another for the hurt he’s caused me.”
“You’re starting to sound more like me and J.D. every day.” Charlotte giggled. “I must say, I’m proud of you, Tuesday. You really did learn something from us after all.”
“I’m not a wicked person if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“And are you saying that I am?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just saying I didn’t take the job for revenge. However, if he happens to get what’s coming to him by the end of the trip, I won’t stop it. You can’t deny he deserves some rough times.”
“Whatever you say. But be careful, Tuesday. After all, Cal is known for being fast around women.”
“Not around me he won’t be. This is just a business trip – a job and nothing more.” Tuesday looked down, playing with the handle of her suitcase, suddenly starting to feel nervous. Part of her almost wished it was more than just a business trip and she hated herself for still feeling attracted to the man. Even after finding out the truth about him, for some odd reason she didn’t hate Calvin Reeves as much as she thought she would. After seeing him with the baby in his arms, it only reminded her of how this man was now little Magnolia’s father. Cal was no longer that cocky man who was nothing but a player. He couldn’t be now, because he was a father!
“Is he married?” asked Charlotte curiously, leaning against the open door at the top of the stairs leading from the basement. It was a beautiful summer day and the smell of lilacs floated on the breeze.
Panic-stricken by this question, Tuesday’s eyes shot wide open. She hadn’t even thought to ask him that.
“I – I’m not sure,” she stuttered, suddenly feeling insecure. If he had a wife waiting for him in Texas, Tuesday wasn’t sure how she’d feel about that. Her heart ached to think of leaving little Maggie with anyone that wasn’t her. She started to doubt this whole situation, but the sound of a loud air horn dragged her from her thoughts and made her jump. She looked out the open door and saw Cal’s huge rig stopping right in the middle of the street.
“I’ve got to go,” Tuesday told Charlotte, stepping out the door and dragging the heavy suitcase behind her. “Give my thanks to all the girls for working extra hours to cover my shifts. And watch out for little Tommy Gaffa – he’s been throwing blocks at Jamie again.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered.” Charlotte waggled her fingers in a goodbye.
“Oh – I forgot to check and see if there�
�s enough milk to last the day. We’ve got the Bromback twins coming in today and they drink more milk than all the rest of the kids put together.” Tuesday turned to go back toward the kitchen, but Charlotte’s hand on her arm stopped her.
“Stop it. It’s obvious you’re nervous and suddenly finding excuses not to get in that truck. I’m the owner here, and I think I know what to do without you telling me. Now, are you chickening out or what?” she asked with a slight smile.
“No, of course not.” Tuesday heard the shakiness in her own voice. Maybe she truly was looking for an excuse not to be alone with Cal after all. She suddenly didn’t know if she’d made the right decision or not.
“Good luck!” said Charlotte, giving her a big hug. “I’ll expect to see a ring on your finger when you get back.”
“What?” She jerked out of Charlotte’s hold. “Why did you say that? What do you mean?”
“Calm down, Tuesday. I’m just joking.”
“Oh. All right,” she said, brushing a wrinkle out of her shirt. “I’m glad you aren’t serious because he’s the last person I’d ever consider accepting a ring from right now.”
“What’s this about a ring?” came a deep voice from the church steps.
Tuesday jumped, not expecting Cal to be standing right behind her. Her heart skipped a beat. She prayed that he hadn’t heard their entire conversation. She spun around to face him.
Quickly perusing the man, Tuesday realized that Cal looked better than ever. His dark hair was no longer long and scraggly, but cut short under the Stetson he wore on his head. The hat reminded her that he’d been living in Texas lately. The stubble she’d seen coloring his jaw yesterday was gone and now he was clean shaven. He also wore fresh clothes. A tantalizing hint of woodsy cologne filled the air around him.
“You got a hair cut,” she remarked.
“Yes. I stopped by Ollie’s Barbershop earlier this morning. I found out Ollie died, but I met Eva, who I found out is the wife of Pete Taylor, the preacher. I guess she owns the place now. She does nice work. Thankfully, Aunt Cappy was there visiting and watched the baby long enough for me to sit a spell in the chair. Well, you ready to go?”
There was a new glint of adventure in his gray eyes that made her wonder just what she had gotten herself into.
“Yes, she is,” Charlotte answered for her. It was probably a good thing since Tuesday was suddenly tongue-tied around the handsome man. “I was just telling Tuesday that she should give you a ring. On the phone,” added Charlotte, trying to come to the rescue.
“Oh. Sorry I’m late, but it took longer than I expected to get the truck loaded with the shipment.” He towered over Tuesday, looking down at her. He stood well past six feet, while she was a mere five foot five. She found herself lost in his eyes, remembering the last time she’d looked into them so deeply – right before he’d kissed her. She quickly looked down at her suitcase to divert her thoughts. She despised him now, she reminded herself. The last thing she wanted to be thinking about was kissing him.
“It – it’s fine,” she mumbled.
“Well, let’s get going, shall we?” he said in a low, deep voice that, for some reason, sounded very sexy.
“Of course.” She reached for her suitcase, but his hand got there first. Her fingers grazed over his and she pulled back quickly.
“Allow me,” he said, picking it up. She looked up and smiled, but stopped when she saw the frown darken his face.
“What the hell have you got in here? It’s so heavy. And big.” He tested the weight of the suitcase in his hand. “You do realize my truck isn’t a four-star hotel. Plus, I have to go through weigh stations and keep the load under a certain weight. I think maybe you’ll have to leave the suitcase here. Just take out what you really need.”
That caught her by surprise. Suddenly, he wasn’t the gentleman she thought him to be. Well, she wasn’t going to leave anything behind, no matter what Cal said. She was already roughing it with only one suitcase. Tuesday was proud she’d managed to stuff everything she needed inside, and now he was telling her she couldn’t bring it. Well, that wasn’t going to work for her at all.
“I hardly think one suitcase is going to put you over the weight limit,” she told him. “Besides, I need everything I’ve packed. If not, I wouldn’t have brought it along.”
“No, you don’t need it,” he challenged her. “We’re only going to be gone maybe three or four days tops.”
“So what are you suggesting?” she asked, feeling her fury growing.
“Leave it here. Just take out the bare basics.”
“These are the basics.” She didn’t back down.
He was about to object again when a dog started howling from the cab of his truck. She froze in fear, not having realized Cal had a dog. She’d always been uncomfortable around dogs ever since one bit her when she was a child.
“What’s that?” she asked, eyeing up the huge animal hanging out the window with jowls the size of Godzilla and a tongue longer than a garden hose.
“Huh?” He looked back at his truck and then over to her with his eyes narrowed. “That’s my dog. His name is Burrito.”
“You didn’t say anything about having a dog.”
“You didn’t ask. Besides, what does it matter?” The dog howled louder and she could hear Magnolia crying from inside the truck. The cars were lined up behind his truck since it was parked in the middle of the street. One person after another started to honk their horns.
“It matters,” she told him, afraid to get in the truck with the dog.
“Look, sweetie, the baby’s crying, and I’m blocking traffic. I don’t have time for this. Now dump the suitcase and get in the truck.”
“Dump the dog or I’m not going anywhere.” Tuesday crossed her arms over her chest and challenged him.
He pulled his hat off his head and ran a hand through his short hair. She could see the weariness on his face and the dark circles under his eyes that told her he hadn’t gotten much sleep lately. The dog howled louder and the honking persisted.
“Twiggy, I’m not going to get rid of my dog,” he said in a low voice. “Now, are you coming or not?”
She thought about staying behind, but the sound of little Magnolia crying from inside the truck just about broke her heart. If she didn’t go, who knew how long he’d let the baby cry. She also wondered who else he’d find to ride with him to Texas if she refused to go with him. For some reason, the thought of another woman riding along with him instead of her bothered her immensely.
“Okay, you can keep the dog if I can keep my suitcase,” she told him in one last desperate attempt to hang on to her belongings. She held her breath, waiting for his answer. If he denied her, she didn’t know what she’d do. She could never let him drive away now without her. Not when he’d just come back into her life after so many years. She told herself she only felt this way because she hadn’t yet been able to let go of Maggie, but maybe Charlotte was right. Maybe she did still have an inkling of interest in Cal Reeves after all these years. Second chances usually didn’t happen for Tuesday. But this one had arrived at her doorstep unexpectedly and she wasn’t sure it was a good idea to push good omens away.
“Fine,” he said, slapping the hat back on his head. “But don’t complain when there’s no room to breathe.” He picked up her suitcase and stormed over to the truck.
Tuesday gave Charlotte one last hug and hurried after Cal. He stood at the passenger side door, already having loaded her suitcase by the time she got there. The dog sat possessively on her seat, panting and watching her like it wanted to eat her. Cal held the door open, motioning with his head for her to get in.
She hesitated. Her fear of dogs consumed her. The mutt had to be one of the biggest dogs she’d ever seen.
The honking got even more persistent, and Maggie continued to cry. Cal shook his head. “Just hold on,” he called out to the line of impatient people in their cars, trying to pass him. “Get in the back, Burrito,” Cal co
mmanded the hound. The dog whined and lay down on the seat, looking at him with sad eyes.
“He’s not moving,” she muttered.
“I know it’s your spot, Buddy, but we’ve got company so don’t complain,” Cal continued. The dog didn’t budge. Another car blew its horn, and the baby cried louder. “Burrito,” he warned. “Unless you want to be eating dry chow instead of steak for the next week, I suggest you move your butt right now and stop giving me trouble. God knows I’ve had enough of that lately.”
The dog moved so fast, she almost laughed. It was as if it had really understood his master’s words.
“Go on,” Cal told her, nodding toward the vacant seat.
Tuesday looked way up to the high seat in the huge rig and started to lose her nerve. “I don’t know if I can do this,” she said, having second thoughts. What had she really agreed to? The horn honking became louder and, this time, an angry man waved his fist out the window. Cal looked over to the cars and then back at her, his forehead creasing.
“Burrito is a lover – just like me,” he told her. “He won’t bite. But I might.” His mouth came close to her ear as he made his promise with a slight growl of his own. The words alone scared her more than the thought of sitting next to a huge dog for the next few days.
“Move it along, Cal,” came Sheriff Judas Taylor’s order, hurrying out of the police station to see what all the honking was about.
Tuesday hurriedly grabbed the hand bar on the side of the truck, and tried to pull herself up, but she was small and it wasn’t easy. The seat of the cab was too high for her to reach. Her legs were barely long enough to even reach the step. She slipped back down. Before she knew it, Cal’s hands were around her waist and he hoisted her upwards. The heat of his touch warmed her right through her clothes. When the realization hit her that Cal Reeves had his hands around her waist, it excited her and made her feel naughty.
The entire town watched as she prepared to go on a trip with the sexy man. She didn’t know how she was going to explain this to the town’s busybody, Mrs. Durnsby. Neither did she know how she’d last three or four days, let alone one day in this sexy man’s presence. With the thoughts that were occupying her mind right now, it was enough to make her faint. Why did he have to say he bites, sounding so seductive, right in her ear? The man was confusing her, since he’d promised it was nothing but a business trip.
Trucker Daddy (Working Man Series Book 3) Page 5