“You do that. While they’re here, I’ll report how you disregarded the posted signs and endangered the lives of everyone here, including your daughter. I’m sure social services would be happy to put her in a safer home.”
“I didn’t endanger anyone, you asshole. It’s fucking cold out here and it’s raining. I’m trying to keep my kid warm, not kill her.”
Joe just stared at him. “She’s not going to develop hypothermia in the five minutes it takes to fill up, dickhead. The law says you turn off the engine, so fill up while it’s off and then I’ll give you the keys.”
The guy stared back for a minute and then slapped the phone shut and filled his tank, swearing under his breath the whole time. When he’d replaced the nozzle, he held out his hand and Joe dropped keys into his palm.
“Fuck you very much,” the guy muttered as he stomped past Brent.
Even from inside the C-store, Brent could feel the tension between Joe and the kid on the other side of the pump. He got through the line and paid as quickly as the clerk would let him and then made it out in time to hear the guy’s parting shot.
“What’s going on?” he asked, exchanging a wary look with AJ as he folded the receipt and tucked it into his wallet. It wasn’t like Joe to let himself get pulled into an altercation, let alone one with some urban beanpole who probably couldn’t wrestle his way out of a seed sack.
“Just trying to keep that little girl safe,” Joe muttered, spearing his fingers through his hair. “Asshole wouldn’t turn off the engine to fuel up.”
Brent finally noticed the child asleep in the backseat and nodded. That explained Joe’s tension—he’d never known anyone more fanatical about safety. Made a guy wonder just what had happened to make him that way.
“Jesus, I can’t believe he’s leaving her alone out here,” Joe went on. “We’re in the middle of a goddamn city and the doors aren’t even locked. How the hell does he know I won’t just snatch her and run?”
“Well, he obviously got a pretty good look at both of us.” AJ watched him quizzically. “And there are cameras all over the place.”
He frowned at her. “Cameras wouldn’t stop some nutjob from killing her. They’d just make it easier to arrest him afterward.”
He kept his eye on the girl while they got into the truck and didn’t relax until her father climbed into the driver’s seat.
AJ grinned as she buckled her belt. “Remind me never to break any safety rules in front of him.”
Joe didn’t even crack a smile. “You, I can spank, little girl, so go right ahead.”
She let it drop without another word.
Five minutes later, Brent pulled into the shoe store he always favored for boots. It didn’t take long to for the clerk to bring out a pair of Red Wings in the same size and style AJ always wore. When she sat down to try them on, he and Joe sat in the chairs on either side of her.
“Don’t you guys have something better to do than watch me try on boots?” She laughed as she said it but she was clearly self-conscious.
Joe grinned. “Afraid the sight of your socked foot will drive us wild with lust?”
She hissed at him as the clerk pulled up a stool in front of her and then studiously ignored him.
The boots fit just fine so she decided to wear them out and keep the old ones for particularly dirty jobs. While the clerk boxed them up for her, they went up to the checkout counter and Joe tossed his credit card down.
Brent held his breath. What the hell was he thinking?
Not surprisingly, AJ scowled and shoved it back at him. “Thanks, but I’ll buy my own boots if you don’t mind.”
“I can afford it.”
AJ’s face went pink. “So can I,” she said tightly.
She dropped her own debit card on the counter. When the clerk hesitated, looking back and forth between them, she told him, “Touch his card and I’ll break your fingers.”
Brent smothered a grin when the young man picked up her card and swiped it without comment. After the transaction went through and she’d signed the slip, AJ grabbed the bag and stormed out the door into the rain.
“You can’t buy me, Joe Remke,” she tossed over her shoulder without looking back. “I’m your fuck buddy, not a damn prostitute.”
He scowled as he shrugged by a wide-eyed spectator on the sidewalk.
“Prostitute!” He grabbed her by the arm and swung her around. “For God’s sake, woman, I’m not trying to buy you!”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing! I don’t see you buying lunch or boots for Seth and Tim or any of the other guys.”
“And I don’t see you making lunches and doing dishes for any of the other guys,” he fired back. “You can do nice things for us, but I can’t do nice things for you?”
“There’s a difference, Joe,” she said tautly. “I did that stuff for you guys before we started sleeping together.”
When he couldn’t think of a comeback, she pounced. “Aha! See? You’re paying me off.”
Jerking free of his hold, she spun around and headed for the pickup again.
Joe finally looked at Brent. “Help me out here?”
Fighting a belly laugh, Brent held his hands up. “I’m staying out of this one.” But he couldn’t help the big grin that spread over his face as he followed her to the truck. Joe was really getting his cage rattled today. “Give him hell, AJ.”
Joe rolled his eyes as he climbed in the passenger door. “Jesus, you actually agree with her?” he asked as he shook the rain off his cap.
“I think,” Brent said carefully, giving him a measured look before he cranked on the ignition, “that you like to be in control of every situation, and that you don’t like to feel like you owe anyone anything.”
Joe smashed the cap back onto his head. “Is there a law against that?”
“No.”
“Look, Joe,” AJ said. “I make lunches because I’ve always done it. I did it for my dad, and for all the guys I’ve ever bunked with. I just do it without thinking about it. But if it bothers you that much, I’ll quit, okay?”
Joe looked like he didn’t much care for the sound of that but knew better than to argue with a woman.
“Fine. I’ll make my own damn lunches.”
“Fine. And I’ll buy my own damn boots.”
“Fine.”
“Are you still good with me making yours, Brent?” she asked innocently.
Brent’s could barely contain his mirth as he backed out of the parking space. “Why, I’m just dandy with it, AJ.”
“Thank you.”
Joe narrowed his eyes at them. “I’m gonna spank both your asses.”
Chapter Ten
Two hours later they pulled into Hake’s driveway, and the rain had subsided to a sprinkle for the moment.
Brent eyed the pickup sitting in front of the old Craftsman-style house. “Uh-oh. Maybe I should have called first. Looks like Ryan’s here.”
The university parking pass in the window was a dead giveaway.
AJ’s eyes widened. “You didn’t call ahead?”
“Relax, AJ,” he said. “We’re visiting my cousin, not the Queen of England.”
“Just because he’s your cousin doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve a little common courtesy,” she said severely.
He grinned at her. “Fine. I’ll call next time.”
She rolled her eyes as he got out and walked up the steps.
Ryan was already opening the door. He stuck out a hand and Brent shook it before pulling him into a hug and slapping him on the back. “Shit, when did you get taller than me, squirt?”
“You must be shrinking, old man,” Ryan said. “I haven’t grown since the last time you were here. Does Mom know you’re coming?”
“No, I thought I’d surprise everyone.”
“They’ll be surprised all right.” He turned and yelled over his shoulder, “Hey, Mom, it’s Brent!”
Mandy hurried in to the foyer, drying her hands on a towel. “Brent
, honey, what are you doing here? Is everything all right?”
She hung the towel on the coat rack and gave him a hug.
“Fine. Just had a break because of the rain and thought we’d come say hi, maybe stay a day or two if you’ve got room.”
“Of course! Hake’ll be thrilled to have a distraction from the weather.” Then she looked at Ryan. “While you’re at the store, could you pick up more eggs and milk and another bucket of ice cream?”
“Sure. Back in a bit.”
After Ryan left, Brent asked, “Are you sure this is okay? We don’t want to get in the way.”
“No, of course it’s okay! Better than okay,” she added with a meaningful grin. “Ryan goes back to school tomorrow.”
Brent frowned. Maybe he hadn’t thought this through well enough. He probably should have called and prepared everyone.
“Uh, Brent…who’s with you?”
Brent turned to see Joe and AJ heading for the steps.
“A surprise,” was all he had a chance to say before Joe bounded up the steps and grabbed her up in a big bear hug.
“Is that pie I smell?” he asked as he set her down.
“Hi to you too, Joe,” Mandy teased. “And yes, it’s apple. I was going to send one back with Ryan but maybe I’ll hang on to it.”
“I’ll wrestle him for it,” Joe volunteered.
“That won’t be necessary,” Mandy said dryly. “And who’s this?”
“Mandy, meet AJ Pender,” Brent said, slipping a hand between AJ’s shoulder blades and pulling her forward. “AJ, Mandy Stivers, my cousin Hake’s wife.”
“Nice to meet you,” Mandy said.
“AJ works on our crew,” Brent added.
Mandy’s brow went up slightly and he could tell she suspected the three of them did more than work together. But she just smiled and said, “Good for you, AJ. I hope you’re keeping the men in line.”
“When I can.” AJ smiled in return. “Are you sure we’re not imposing? I can’t believe Brent didn’t call to warn you.”
“Of course you’re not imposing. And nothing Brent does surprises me anymore,” Mandy added as she backed up and swept out an arm in invitation. “Please, come on in. Hake’s out fixing fence but he’ll be back by suppertime, and Ryan’s just run to the grocery store for me. Can you stay a few nights?”
Brent could see the gears grinding in her head. “That was the plan.”
Mandy watched him with narrowed eyes for a moment and then turned to AJ. “I’m always a little wary of their plans.”
AJ instantly turned red. “I know the feeling.”
“I’ll bet you do,” Mandy murmured. “As it happens, Ryan’s only home for the weekend—he just started medical school in Omaha,” she added for AJ’s benefit. “He can sleep on the couch tonight so both guest rooms will be free.”
“I hate to put him out,” AJ said hesitantly.
“Don’t be silly! Ryan won’t mind at all. He’s still young and flexible enough to sleep anywhere.”
“Meanwhile, we’re all waiting anxiously for our Medicare to kick in,” Joe quipped.
AJ elbowed him in the ribs. “Speak for yourself.”
Everybody just stood there glancing back and forth at each other for a minute. Mandy looked intrigued and Joe looked amused. AJ looked as if she were standing in a minefield and didn’t know which way to step.
“This is going to be an interesting visit,” Mandy said. “Why don’t you boys bring in your overnight bags and hang up your coats while I show AJ around?”
“So how long have you worked for Brent?” she asked as they climbed the stairs.
AJ watched her butt bobbing back and forth with no small degree of envy. Now she was built like a woman—slim and petite, with average shoulders and a narrow waist that bloomed into lovely wide hips. The straight silky hair brushing her shoulders was almost as blonde as AJ’s and looked just as natural.
“I just joined the crew this fall,” AJ said.
At the landing, Mandy gestured to the closed door at her left. “This is our bedroom.” Then she opened the door across the hall. “This is guest room number one. We call it the Yellow Room.”
It was very pretty, with plush beige carpet, pale yellow walls, white painted woodwork and an ivy border stenciled around the ceiling. Having spent the last few months jammed into an RV with two full-grown men, AJ felt almost lost in all the open space of a house, but this room was smaller. She was surprised they’d put a king bed in it. Set in the far corner, it hugged two walls and there was still barely room for the nightstand under the window and the lowboy dresser at the foot of the bed.
Mandy slid one of the mirrored closet doors open. “We added this closet. Back when the house was built, people mostly used wardrobes. This was my office until just a few months ago. Well, it was originally the guest room but when Hake broke his leg and pelvis three years ago, we moved the office up here so he could sleep downstairs and then just never got around to changing things back until last spring.”
Then she led the way farther down the hall. The door next to their bedroom was a linen closet, and next to the first guest room was the Blue Room. It was slightly larger and also equipped with a king bed. At the end of the hall was a surprisingly large bathroom. It even had a Jacuzzi tub.
“That’s new,” she said. “I thought it might make Hake’s hip feel better. Plus, I thought I deserved it so I had it installed with the royalties from my last release.”
“Release?” AJ asked.
“Book. Didn’t Brent tell you I’m a writer?”
AJ’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, are you Amanda Garrity?”
Mandy smiled broadly. “Oh my God, are you a fan?”
“Um, slightly,” AJ admitted, hating the heat creeping into her cheeks. “Okay, I’ve read everything you’ve ever written. If you leave your grocery list on the counter, I’ll read it when you’re not looking.”
Mandy laughed. “This is awesome! And here I thought things might be a little awkward this time.”
“They still might,” AJ said under her breath.
“What are you girls doing up there?” Brent called up the stairs.
“I’ll handle this,” AJ told her. Balancing on one foot, she pulled off her new boot then walked to the head of the stairs and threw it at him.
He caught it before it slammed into his chest. “Girl, you gotta quit throwing shit at me.”
“Well, you should have warned me we were meeting Amanda Garrity!”
He grinned. “What would you have done different? Put on a dress or had your hair done?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, boss,” AJ said, “but screw you.”
“Been there, done that,” he laughed. When she glared at him, he immediately looked repentant. “Oops. So much for not telling everything I know.”
“Don’t worry,” Mandy laughed. “It’s kind of obvious there’s something going on between you, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
AJ blushed fiercely. What else had Amanda Garrity noticed?
For the most part, supper was a relaxed and amusing affair. Brent and Hake reminisced while everyone enjoyed a simple meal of beef stew and hot homemade yeast rolls the likes of which AJ hadn’t tasted since her mama was alive.
Except for his brown hair, Hake looked a lot like Brent, and despite having grown up in different states, even their mannerisms and speech patterns were similar.
“Our mothers were identical twins,” Brent explained when she remarked on it.
“This was our grandparents’ farm,” Hake told her. “My dad was an engineer with the railroad, and he literally ran into Mom just down the road when she wasn’t quick enough across the tracks with a load of corn.”
“Good Lord,” AJ breathed. “I assume she was okay?”
“She was fine until Dad got a hold of her. She jumped clear of the tractor and landed in the ditch. Once he’d made sure she was okay, he turned her over his knee and spanked her for taking a chance like th
at.”
AJ blinked. “Um…”
“Grandpa’d never get away with that today,” Ryan declared, echoing her thoughts. “He’d go to jail for molestation or some crap, and her daddy would sue him for every dime he ever made.”
“You got that right,” Hake declared. “Mom was fifteen at the time, but it was love at first sight for both of them. Dad paid a call every time he came through town and socked away every paycheck until he had enough for a down payment on some land of his own. After my grandparents died, they moved in here.”
“How did you meet Mandy?”
“Funny you should ask,” he said with a grin. “I ran into her. We were at a bowl game in California—I was a tight end and she was a cheerleader for the other team, and I mowed her down diving for a wild pass.”
AJ grinned back. “I assume you didn’t spank her.”
“Not then, no.”
Mandy looked scandalized. “Hake!”
Joe was unusually quiet, and it seemed as if he could hardly keep his eyes off Ryan. At first AJ thought maybe it was because, like his dad, he looked a lot like Brent, but she eventually decided Joe’s look was too brooding for that. Too troubled.
When they all got up from the table, Ryan left them to shower for his date. The men went to the living room while AJ helped Mandy clear the table and load the dishwasher. Joe seemed to relax after Ryan drove off, and they all spent a pleasant evening playing Yahtzee, which Brent won by the skin of his teeth, and Scrabble, which to nobody’s surprise, Mandy won handily.
“Thanks for coming, AJ,” Mandy said as she packed up the dice and score pads. “Usually the guys won’t play Scrabble with me.”
“Well, you do have an unfair advantage,” Brent pointed out.
“How?” she demanded. “I may be a writer but you all read. I know AJ does,” she added with a grin.
Another blush crept up AJ’s neck. Would she ever be sophisticated enough not to blush at the slightest innuendo?
Joe gave her a slow smile. “Maybe we should play poker next.”
“Behave yourself, Josiah,” Mandy said in a severe tone, though her eyes twinkled. “AJ is company.”
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