Secrets Behind Those Eyes

by S. M. Donaldson

  “Dude, spare me the details. I’ve hit a dry spell since the night I got arrested.”

  “You had that hot little spitfire all night and did nothing?”

  “I don’t know that I’ve ever met someone like her before. I think she fucking hates me.”

  “No way, man; you two are one hot argument from tearing each other’s clothes off.”

  “Whatever. What about you and Annabelle?”

  He shrugs. “We had a good night, nothing serious. She knows I’m probably leaving on a deployment so we exchanged numbers. We plan to keep in touch, but until my schedule gets figured out, we are just keeping things fun.”

  “I remember Annabelle from school; she was kinda cool. Hey, I also figured out whose car Scarlet bashed up. That asshole, Dustin Winston.”

  “The dude who was a closet case gay guy? He had that dickhead friend, Bobby or Brandon, right?”

  “Yep. As a matter of fact we ran into those two dicks as we were leaving. It got interesting. Scarlet punched Brandon in the jaw. Let’s just say I think the reason she and Dustin broke up is because he and Brandon aren’t doing such a great job of keeping it all in the closet anymore. She didn’t really elaborate,” I tell him.

  “Damn. Some people. Well, enough of the Bay Street Soap Opera. What do you want to do today?”

  “Let’s go shoot some pool or something.”

  “How about we go to one of the ranges and shoot some rounds?” he suggests.

  I shrug. “Works for me. Let’s go.”

  ~*~*~

  Pulling up to the worksite, I see Scarlet walking across the front yard. I call out to her. “Hey, nice hat.”

  She smirks. “Thanks. Usually I don’t do the color yellow but since the inspector was coming by, I figured why not.”

  “Has he already been and gone?”

  “He’s in the house with Gus right now doing the walkthrough,” she says.

  “So what’s on the agenda for the rest of the week?”

  “Well, tomorrow is my last day, but I think just finishing up landscaping and cleaning up the inside.”

  “So you’ll be out of my hair after tomorrow, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  “What are your plans for the rest of the summer?” I ask.

  “I have to get my crap together for SCAD. I really need to find my own car and I’ve got a bunch of graphics work to catch up on for my brother’s band. Oh, yeah. I also need to find a new job because I can’t work for Dustin’s family anymore.”

  “What did you do for them?”

  “I helped out in his Dad’s office doing invoices and general paperwork. I’m going to need something in the evening anyway with school.”

  I shrug. “If I hear of anything, I’ll let you know.”

  She smiles. “Thanks I appreciate it.”

  I watch her walk back across the yard into the house. Damn. I could watch her ass all day long.

  ~*~*~

  After leaving my last day at the jobsite, I’m head to visit my Nana Pearl. She’s probably the coolest eighty-year-old I know. She smokes Pall Mall’s like a chimney and drinks a shot of homemade moonshine every night before bed. She cusses like a sailor and keeps a .45 revolver in her chair side table.

  Turning off of the pavement onto her gravel driveway, I look at the gorgeous cotton fields across the property. Her plantation style house was built in the early 1900’s, but the land it’s on has been in our family since the early 1800’s. My dad and I only live just a quarter mile down the road from her but I haven’t been taking much time to stop and see her. She is going to crawl my ass when I walk through the door.

  I don’t even make it up the back steps before I hear her. “Damn a’ mighty, look what crawled out from under a rock.”

  “Hey Nana.” I lean over to give her a hug and kiss. “How’ve you been?”

  “Well, I woke up this morning. So that’s a plus when you get to be my age. Then down at the senior center Thomas Fitzgerald and William Beck want to court me, but I don’t know if they can keep up with me. They are nearly ninety.”

  “Nana, you’re eighty; that’s not too far from ninety.”

  “Honey, when you get to be my age, ten years seems like twenty. None of us know if we’ll reach breakfast tomorrow and the older they are, the less chance they have of reaching it. I might be crazy, but I’m not accepting a date from a gentleman caller who may not make it to see daylight with me.”

  I laugh, shaking my head, and flop down in a rocking chair. “You are crazy, Nana. I’m not sure I like the idea of gentlemen callers staying with you until daylight.” I start rocking slowly. “Sorry I haven’t been by lately. I had to do some community service.”

  “I know; your daddy told me. I was wondering if you’d lost your damn mind driving that fast. Then I figured out you were just that stupid. I wish you’d find a nice girl like me and settle down.”

  “I’m only nineteen; it’s not time to settle down. I’m not even ready to move out of dad’s house and, considering you are wanting callers to stay with you until daylight, I’m not sure I’d consider you a nice girl.”

  “You’re full of shit, Ryder Grayton Abbott. I know you don’t date nice girls; hell, your business is all over this town. Don’t think I don’t know about that little hussy Lacey Whitfield being in the car with you that night. The cops got there and she was still topless, drunk, and passed out.” She shakes her head. “I’m not so old fashioned that I think you should wait ‘til marriage. Hell, your granddaddy and me didn’t wait, but I knew it was him; he was the one. Now there have been a few gentlemen since then.”

  I throw my hands up. “Damn, Nana, I don’t want to know about your sex life.”

  She grabs my arm. “Do you really think I want to hear about yours every time I go to the beauty parlor? Hmm. The latest conquest’s mama or grandmamma telling me how you’re a male whore. Hmm?”

  “I get it. I get it. I’m sorry if you’ve been embarrassed by my craziness. I seem to be the failure and disappointment in this family,” I say.

  “You’re not an embarrassment or a disappointment. I just wish you’d pull that beautiful head out of your ass. As for being crazy, honey, this is the South; we’re all a little crazy and we don’t hide it down here. We parade it around and offer it a glass of sweet tea.”

  I chuckle and sit back in my chair. “Next time you’re down at the beauty parlor and those ladies start talking, tell them if I weren’t so good at it, they wouldn’t be talking about it.”

  She pops me on the arm and we both bust out laughing. “Damn you, boy.”

  “I’m just telling the truth and you know it.”

  “Just like your granddaddy was.”

  “Awesome?” I ask.

  “No. A cocky bastard. But I loved him just like I love you.”

  Chapter 5

  Scarlet

  The sun is setting when I walk into Bay Street Blues Bar to talk to my brother. As I walk in, I’m greeted by a couple of the regulars, as well as Dottie. She’s been the bartender here for over twenty years. “Hey guys,” I say.

  Dottie smiles. “Hey, college girl. You waitin’ on Gable?”

  “Yes, ma’am. He asked me to meet him here, said he needed to talk with me about something.”

  “And I’m here,” Gable calls out as he walks through the door.

  I spin around. “Hey, big brother.”

  “Hey, kid. Come over here. I’ve got some stuff to go over with you.”

  “Okay.” I walk over and sit down at a table. “Shoot. What’s going on? You’re kinda freakin’ me out.”

  “Well, a guy came in here and offered my band the opportunity to go on a small tour with some other up and coming groups. I’m going to be leaving for a little while.”

  I sigh. “How long is a little while?”

  “Six months. I’ll have a few days off around Christmas and then go back to touring.”

  “Six months? Gable, we’ve never been apart from each other for more
than a week. What am I going to do?”

  “Scar, you are going to be so busy with school and work that you’ll hardly notice.”

  “What did Dottie say?” I ask.

  “Well, she cussed a little but overall, she’s happy. I’ve also talked with Mom about it and she’s happy, too.”

  I nod, fighting back tears. “So I guess I was the one you were the most worried about?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll be fine; don’t worry about me.”

  “Look at it this way. You’ll have full access to the car while I’m gone and you’ll have more time to save toward your own.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  He puts his hand on top of mine. “Hey, you are going to be fine. Are you still planning on going to visit Cade and Daria when their new baby gets here?”

  “Yes. Daria keeps me posted on her doctor appointments and stuff. It’ll probably be around fall break in October .”

  “Is it strange how we hit it off with Cade?” he asks.

  I shake my head. “No, we have something in common besides DNA. We both got screwed over by our father.”

  He nods. “True. Oh, I did want to say that the guy who recruited us for the tour loved your artwork.”

  “Really. Wow, that’s kinda cool.”

  “Maybe if we hit it big, it’ll get your name out there.”

  “Yeah, that would be cool. So when are you leaving?”

  “The end of the week,” he says.

  “Damn, that’s soon.”

  “I know it is kinda soon. But I’ll be back before you know it. So have you found a job yet?”

  “Um, yeah. I’m going to be waiting tables.”

  “That’s cool. Where at? The Pirate House or Moon River? Some place like that?” he asks.

  “No, none of them had any openings. I’m working just outside of town. Between here and Richmond Hill.”

  “What restaurants are between here and Richmond Hill? There’s just bars.” He throws his hands up. “Wait, no. You are not waiting tables in a dive bar.”

  “It’s just until something at one of the restaurants opens up. It’s one of the more decent bars. It’s not like Swampy Tonk or anything. It’s called Silver Moon. It’s clean and the bouncer walks all of us to our cars at night.” I’m lying to Gable about how nice and clean the place is, but he’d shit if he knew how dumpy it was.

  “Just until something around here opens up right?”

  “Yes. I promise.”

  He nods. “Okay, then. Just be careful. I love you, kid. I don’t want to see anything happen to you.”

  “I know. I love you, too.” I give him a big hug. “I’m going to miss you.”

  ~*~*~

  The past week has flown by. Gable left yesterday and now I’m getting ready for my first night at my new job. Looking at myself in the mirror, I check out the little denim shorts and tight black t-shirt with Silver Moon strategically written across my chest. I’m not totally excited about the uniform but it’s only temporary. I’ve got to find something closer anyway.

  An hour later, I walk into the bar and Danny, the owner, looks at me. I feel his eyes roaming over my body. I feel nauseous. “Looks like I did a good job picking out the new waitress.”

  The other bartender, Lana, slaps him on the arm. “Shut up, Danny. You’ll freak her out and I’m not ready to train another girl. She’s at least had some waitress experience.” She puts her bar rag down. “Hey, Scarlet, how are you doing? Don’t let this asshole worry you. He just owns the place; I run it.”

  “Okay. So how long before it picks up in here?”

  “A couple of hours. Tonight is quarter draft night, so it’ll be crazy around here from eight to ten. Then it’ll slack back off.”

  I nod. “Okay.” I put my apron on around my waist. “Just point me in the right direction.”

  By nine-thirty, it’s packed like sardines in this place. The smoke is so thick it feels like I could cut it. As I lean over clearing off a table. I feel a hand on my ass . “Hey, baby. I need another beer.”

  I pull away. “Sure, that was a Miller Lite, right?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Is there anything else y’all need?” I ask.

  “Not unless I can talk you into going home with me tonight.”

  “Sorry. I’m in a relationship.”

  “Aw, come on now, honey. He doesn’t have to know.”

  “Yeah, but I would.” I turn and walk off to grab his beer. He needs to keep his damn hands off of me. If I didn’t need this damn job, I would’ve punched that asshole. I get his beer and walk back over to him. “All right. Here ya go.”

  He slaps me on the ass again, and then grabs and squeezes it. “You sure you won’t cheat on that boyfriend of yours?”

  A deep voice comes from behind me. “I don’t think her boyfriend would like that.” I spin around to see a familiar face and he gives me a wink. “Hey, Scarlet, baby. Is your shift about over?”

  I smile. “No, hon, I have a couple of hours left.”

  “Okay, well, I’ll be over there waiting on you.”

  I look back down at the drunk and he shakes his head. “Damn lucky son of a bitch.”

  As I turn to walk away, he grabs my hand again. “Hey, if you ever want a real man, let me know.”

  “Yeah. Thanks but no thanks.”

  Chapter 6

  Ryder

  I’ve been out at one of our farms all day helping Judd’s dad work on some of the equipment, since Judd’s not here. When I decided to stop in at Silver Moon to cool off and grab a beer, she was the last person I expected to see. My pants instantly tighten as I watch her move in those little shorts and that top.

  Why is she working at a place like this? I see men watching her like a damn fox in a hen house. She hasn’t realized I’m here and I’d really like to keep it that way. Well, until I see that drunk asshole putting his hands on her.

  I make my way over and I hear her diffuse the situation by telling him she’s in a relationship. So I’m gonna stay back. Then the guy grabs her ass again. I’m close enough to hear what he’s saying now.

  “You sure you won’t cheat on that boyfriend of yours?”

  I step up behind Scarlet without letting her know. “I don’t think her boyfriend would like that.” She spins around and I wink. I almost see relief wash across her face. “Hey, Scarlet, baby. Is your shift about over?”

  She smiles. “No, hon, I have a couple of hours left.”

  “Okay, well, I’ll be over there waiting on you.”

  I hear the drunk as I’m walking off. “Damn lucky son of a bitch. Hey, if you ever want a real man let me know.”

  I have to smile when I hear her say, “Yeah. Thanks but no thanks.”

  I walk back over to the corner I was standing in and watch. Soon she makes her way over to me. “Hey.”

  I nod. “Hey,” I say, trying to ignore the uncomfortableness in my pants.

  “Thanks for your help over there. I really don’t want to punch someone and lose my job on my first night.”

  “No problem. I’ll be over here when you’re ready to go. You know, to keep up appearances.”

  She looks back over her shoulder and smiles. “Oh yeah. Thanks.”

  I’d only planned on being here for a beer or two but I can’t leave her. Just watching her does something to me. I can’t seem to shake her from my mind. Why do I care if guys hit on her? Why did I want to rip that guy’s head off for groping her? Why am I still standing here waiting for her to get off? I watched that asshole’s friends carry him out of here over an hour ago. But I have to stay and talk to her which watching her take off her apron tells me it’ll be soon.

  Never mind I need to go. I gotta get out of here. I start making my way to the door. I make it out the door and almost to my jeep when I hear my name.

  “Hey, Ryder.”

  Shit. I turn around. “Hey.”

  “Thanks for helping with that guy tonight.”

  “Ye
ah. You definitely need to be careful working in places like this.”

  “Well, it’s only temporary until I find something else. It shouldn’t worry you anyway. I could’ve taken that guy. I just didn’t want to get fired on my first night.”

  “Bullshit, sweetie. You were nervous with that guy and it showed.”

  “No. I. Wasn’t.”

  I move toward her. “Oh, so when he grabbed your ass like this, it didn’t make you nervous?” Oh fuck! Her ass. I gotta stop thinking or my dick is never going to recover.

  She looks up at me, full of piss and vinegar. “No, it pissed me off! There is a difference. Why? Does it make you nervous when I grab your ass like that?”

  Sure enough, she grabs my ass and I know she feels the bulge in my pants pushing against her stomach. She’s going to be the death of me. “No, it doesn’t make me nervous.” I lean down by her ear. “But it does make me hard as hell and it make me want to do this.” I push her back against my jeep and slam my mouth down on hers.

  I have one hand on the side of her face. I run the hand that’s on her ass down her leg and grab behind the knee, lifting it. She automatically brings her other leg up around my waist, tangling her fingers in my hair. I can feel the heat radiating between her thighs, and my dick feels like it’s about to explode. I start working my lips and tongue down her neck. A small moan escapes her lips and suddenly, I know I have to hear that noise again, preferably with my name following it.

  Running my hand from her face down her stomach and then up her shirt, I pull the cups of her bra down and feel her nipples tightly pebbled against my fingers. I slide one hand back down to her legs and slide back up, rubbing against the crotch of her shorts

  I hear a gasp. “Oh, Ryder.”

  I quickly open the door of my jeep and sit her on the passenger seat. Her calling my name will be my undoing. I take no time working the button and zipper of her shorts, sliding them and her panties down just enough to get my fingers into her wetness. I hear another gasp escape her mouth as soon as I slide my fingers into her.

  “Oh, shit, Ryder.”

  “Fuck, Scarlet, you feel so good.”

  I feel her hand brushing against my jeans while she fiddles with my zipper. Her hand reaches my throbbing cock right as she comes apart in my hands. I feel like a fucking teenager when I come right in her hand because I’ve been hard as hell for the past three hours watching her. I lie across her on my seat. “Shit, Scarlet. That was fucking amazing. I think that is probably the quickest I’ve come without actually having sex.”