by Linda Warren
“A day or two.”
“You ought to stay longer than that,” Melba said, “especially if you’re thinking about moving here for the winters.”
“I wouldn’t, if I were you,” Destiny said.
“Why not?” Delores asked.
Destiny glared at Mitchell. “Didn’t you tell them we’re being pushed out by a land developer?”
Delores slapped a hand against her bosom, and Buck almost laughed out loud at her feigned shock.
“You’re jumping to conclusions, Destiny.” Mitchell took Delores by the arm. “Let me introduce you both to the others.”
After the group walked off, Destiny said, “There’s something stinky about the Dockers showing up out of the blue.”
“I know what he’s trying to do,” Buck said.
“Me, too,” Melba chimed in.
“Me, three,” Destiny said.
“Mitchell brought them here to break the tie.” Buck nodded to the Dockers. “I wonder how much he’s paying for their vote.”
“What are we gonna do?” Melba asked.
“Destiny can’t do a thing about it now,” Buck said. “Let’s eat.” The three of them sat at the bar and ordered burgers and onion rings. Since Melba was eating with them, Buck didn’t suggest they take their food to go.
“Damn, Mitchell plays dirty,” Destiny said.
“We could drive into Kingman and recruit more residents,” Melba said.
“We have to discourage the Dockers from wanting to move here.” Destiny chewed an onion ring and swallowed. “If we can’t then we’ll have to consider Melba’s suggestion.”
“Force them out,” Buck said.
“I’m tempted to sic our sheriff on them.” Destiny finished her burger in record time.
“For such a small thing you sure can pack away the food.” Buck slapped a twenty-dollar bill on the bar.
“May I have everyone’s attention?” Mitchell stood at the front of the room. “Now that you’ve all met Lizard Gulch’s newest residents—” he indicated the Dockers “—I’d like to—”
“Excuse me, Mark.” Destiny slid off her stool. “The Dockers aren’t residents yet. They have to move here first.”
“Building permits take time. Let’s not get bogged down in the details, Destiny.”
“Where are they building a house?” Enrick asked.
Mitchell’s smile grew strained. “They haven’t decided on a location yet.”
“They can’t build next to me and Ralph, because I use that lot for a garden,” Sonja said.
“They’re not moving in behind the motel,” Mitchell said.
“Why’s that?” Someone in the back of the room spoke. “Are they too good to live next to the rest of us?”
The Dockers were no longer smiling.
“I’m glad you’ve all had a chance to meet Jim and Delores.” Mitchell hopped off the chair. “I’m sure they’d like to get settled in their room now.”
Melba looked at Buck. “Buck hasn’t moved his things out yet.”
“It’ll only take me a minute,” Buck said.
“The room will need to be cleaned,” Melba said.
“That’s fine,” Delores said, heading for the door. “We can wait.”
The Dockers left, Mitchell right on their heels.
“They’ll stay long enough to cast a vote at the next town meeting then mysteriously disappear,” Destiny said.
“Maybe we should roll out the red carpet,” Melba said. “We’ll show them how neighborly we all are.”
“Kill them with kindness?” Destiny smiled.
Buck swallowed a groan when the two females bent their heads and whispered ideas back and forth.
“What about Custer? What if he shows up out of the blue again and demands a vote?” Buck asked.
“He can demand all the votes he wants—” Destiny planted her hands on her hips “—but no vote is legal until the official monthly meeting.”
“When is that meeting?” Buck asked.
“The second week in September.”
Buck checked the calendar on his cell phone. “Three weeks from now.”
“Maybe by then the Dockers will decide they’re better off toughing out the winters in Pennsylvania,” Destiny said.
“I better get over to the motel.” Melba walked off
“You ready to get out of here?” Destiny asked.
“After you.”
Outside the bar Buck said, “Wait here while I get my stuff.”
“Sure.”
It took him two minutes to gather his belongings and meet up with Destiny in the street. “I’ll move my truck down to the garage tomorrow.”
They walked side by side, her arm bumping into his every few steps. “Clear sky tonight,” he said.
She didn’t speak, and he wondered if she was nervous about sharing her apartment with him. They climbed the fire escape then she paused at the door.
“What’s the matter?” Was she worried he’d want certain privileges because she’d agreed to allow him to sleep on her couch?
“Buck.”
“What?”
“We should discuss the rules before we go in.”
He inched closer. “What rules?”
“I’m not sure what you expect from me, but—”
“Hey.” He caressed her cheek. “I don’t expect anything but a pillow and a bath towel.” Buck’s words sounded sincere, but his eyes claimed he wanted more.
A huge part of Destiny yearned to give in to her attraction to him, but she was afraid if she did, she’d never be the same again. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life wishing she was the kind of girl a man like Buck might want a happy ever after with.
“Fine,” she said. “But keep your clothes on.”
“Do the guys you invite over walk around naked in front of you?” His eyes gleamed with humor.
“No.”
“Not even Daryl?”
Daryl? She’d all but forgotten the father of her child.
“Anything else?” Buck asked.
“Put the toilet seat down after you use it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned.
“Wash your own dishes.”
“Agreed.”
“I get to use the bathroom first in the morning.” Destiny had to, because she threw up as soon as she opened her eyes. Good grief, how would she hide her retching from Buck?
“Don’t eat me out of house and home.”
“I’ll eat most of my meals at Lucille’s. Anything else?”
She wanted to tell him that there was no lock on the bedroom door and he’d better not enter her room at night, but her lips wouldn’t move.
“What about kissing,” he asked.
The air seeped from her lungs. “What about...it?”
“Is kissing off-limits?”
“I don’t know.” Did that breathy voice really belong to her?
He leaned in, the scent of cologne and pure male making her dizzy. “Why don’t I kiss you, then you decide if it’s allowed or not.”
He nuzzled her lips in a gentle caress. When she thought he might pull away, he deepened the embrace, using his tongue. When he ended the kiss, he whispered, “Take your time thinking it over.”
She didn’t have to mull anything over—she wanted his kisses. She poked her finger in his chest and put on a brave face. “I’m nothing like those girl-next-door types you’ve dated in the past. You better watch yourself, because I’m more than you can handle.”
The gauntlet had been thrown.
Now which one of them would cave first?
Chapter Eight
Destiny stood next to the supply cabinet in the garage and pretended to search for a socket wrench while she watched Buck out of the corner of her eye. Three days had passed since he’d moved into her apartment and nothing had happened.
Nada.
Zero.
Zilch.
The past three days had been the most disappointing of her life. Maybe she’d scared
Buck off when she’d warned him she was more than he could handle. If she expected him to make the first pass, she’d better drop a few hints that she wouldn’t bite his head off if he came near her.
The man had been nothing if not the perfect houseguest. He’d done everything she’d asked of him—allowed her to use the bathroom first in the morning. Washed his dishes and didn’t leave his clothes lying on the floor. He’d even taken the trash out to the burn barrel. If not for the fact that he slept in his BVDs and walked through the apartment with his shirt hanging open so she caught glimpses of his six-pack abs, she’d swear he was immune to her. And the funny thing—not funny but pathetic—was that he was aware of her every move, yet he kept his distance.
He’s too much of a gentleman.
Destiny hadn’t had a lot of experience with gentlemen. As a matter of fact, Buck was the first guy she’d been around who had manners and morals. Because of the environment in which her mother had raised her, Destiny expected men to take what they wanted and think only about themselves. To say the least, she had thick skin when it came to the opposite sex and that probably accounted for her not being upset that Daryl had changed his mind about marrying her.
Buck was a man who happened along once in a girl’s lifetime and if she wanted to make memories with him, then she’d better do something soon before he discovered her secret. She had a sneaking suspicion that if he knew she was expecting, he’d jump in his pickup and leave Lizard Gulch in the dust.
Buck’s cell phone beeped again. It had beeped on and off all morning, and she wondered if he was sexting with a former girlfriend. Since he was lying on the creeper beneath the Plymouth, his face remained hidden from view, and she couldn’t tell if he was amused or irritated by all the messages.
“You feel like going for a drive?” Buck rolled into the open and hopped off the board.
“Why?”
He held up his phone. “My sister’s been bugging me all morning.”
Destiny ignored the twinge of relief she experienced at learning Buck had been texting back and forth with his sister and not a sexy siren.
“Dixie and her husband are heading up to Bullhead City to visit friends for the weekend, and she wants to meet with me for a few minutes.”
“Meet where?” she asked.
“Along I-40 outside of Kingman.”
Panic dug its claws into Destiny. Buck wanted her to meet his sister—what did that mean? Shoot, she’d yet to meet Daryl’s mother in Denver and Destiny was having his baby. “Umm...”
“You’ll appreciate Dixie,” he said. “She’s a lot like you—she’s honest and up-front with people.”
Destiny didn’t want to like Dixie, let alone meet his family. “I have things to do.” She gestured to the tools littering the garage floor.
“You and I both know we can’t do much more on the car until the parts you ordered arrive.”
Okay, so she was making up excuses.
Hey, you’re the one wanting to move things along with Buck. If you don’t go, he might be upset and you’ll never get more from him than a peep show before he skips town.
“If you’re sure...”
“I’m sure.” His smile tweaked her heart.
“Your truck or the Harley?” she asked.
“Let’s take your bike.”
He wanted to show off for his sister. “When do you want to leave?”
“As soon as possible. She’ll probably beat us there.”
Destiny unsnapped her coveralls and shrugged out of them. “I’ll be right back.” She made it as far as the doorway before his voice stopped her.
“Where are you going?”
“To change clothes.”
“What’s wrong with what you have on?” His warm gaze ran over her body, and she wished they were going for a ride up in her bedroom. “Dixie’s a country girl. She’ll be wearing jeans and a T-shirt, too.”
Destiny turned. “Do you want to drive?”
“Sure.” They walked behind the garage and Destiny handed over the keys then she hopped on the bike. Buck pushed against her until his backside fit snuggly in the cradle of her thighs.
Ignoring the sweet ache between her legs she pressed her breasts against his spine and toyed with his belt loops. Oh, yeah—this was going to be an arousing ride. Buck revved the motor then took off down the street. Destiny waved at Frank, who’d stepped out of the pastry shop to smoke a cigarette and chat with Melba and Violet drinking coffee in the rocking chairs.
When they passed the motel, she noticed Lizard Gulch’s newest residents walking to their room—Delores making wild hand gestures and Jim scowling. She wondered what had upset them.
Destiny was grateful Buck kept the bike’s speed at thirty miles per hour as they traveled along the dirt road. Today had been the first morning in weeks she hadn’t vomited. When he turned west onto the highway, he revved the motor and the bike took off. Hot wind blowing in her face, she closed her eyes and rested her cheek against his shoulder. She inhaled bike exhaust, dust and Buck’s cologne—heaven.
Each time he shifted gears, the muscles in his back bunched, and the movement teased her breasts, hardening her nipples. Feeling bold, she placed her hands on his hips then slowly—an inch at a time—slid her fingers along the inside of his thighs, stopping only when she felt a groan rumble through his chest.
After they’d been on the road fifteen minutes, Buck stiffened. Destiny peeked over his shoulder and spotted a truck parked on the shoulder up ahead. As they drew closer, she noticed the person standing next to the truck was male not female.
Buck cut across the highway then stopped several yards from the other vehicle. After he shut off the engine, he said. “Looks like my sister played a joke on me.”
“What do you mean?”
“That’s my brother Will.”
Will wasn’t smiling. And neither was Buck.
“C’mon. I’ll introduce you.” He hopped off then steadied her as she swung her leg over the back end of the bike.
She walked alongside Buck, glad her mirrored sunglasses hid her eyes so she could study the brother who made no attempt to hide his surprise at seeing her. Will was shorter than Buck by a couple of inches but had the same broad shoulders and muscular arms. She could tell by his stiff-shoulder posture that he was a serious man.
“Guess Dixie’s up to her old tricks.” Buck halted in front of Will.
“Don’t be mad. I twisted her arm.” Will nodded to Destiny. “Are you going to introduce us?”
“Destiny, this is Will. Will, this is Destiny.”
She offered her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“What do you want?” Buck kept his voice as neutral as possible, aware of Destiny hanging on his every word.
Will shuffled his feet. “Would you mind if I had a word alone with Buck, Destiny?”
“No problem.” She returned to the bike and waited for the brothers to finish their conversation.
“She’s not your type,” Will said. “How’d you two meet?”
His brother’s remark irked Buck. “Marsha isn’t your type, but I hear you two are married now.”
Will rubbed the back of his neck and stared at the ground. “I admit things between us got heated earlier this summer, but you didn’t need to run off.”
Buck scoffed.
“We’re brothers. We have fights all the time. You shouldn’t have left.”
“You didn’t give me a choice, Will.”
“I panicked when I got the letter from Marsha and learned I had a fourteen-year-old son.”
Panic was putting it mildly. Will had flipped out.
“I said some things I shouldn’t have. It was easier to blame you than to accept that I played a role in my own fate.”
Buck wouldn’t allow Will to take all the blame. “I was pissed that you thought the worst of me, but I was more upset with myself.” When Will didn’t interrupt, Buck explained, “I should have told you about Ryan when I’d guessed the truth, but I thou
ght for sure Marsha would keep her promise and come clean with you sooner rather than later.”
“I won’t lie and say it didn’t hurt me that you chose to honor Marsha’s wishes and keep me in the dark.”
“You always said you didn’t want kids and—”
“But I had a right to know I’d fathered a child.”
There was nothing Buck could say that would make what he’d done okay. “So where do we go from here?”
“We go back to being brothers. Come home, Buck.”
“I will...eventually.” His gaze shifted to Destiny. “Right now I’m exactly where I want to be.”
“Are you and Destiny...?”
“Not yet, but we’re heading in that direction.” He hoped. “She’s making me rethink what I want in a woman.”
Will chuckled. “She looks like a handful.”
“I’m up for the challenge.”
“Bring her to the farm and introduce her to the family.”
“Maybe later. I’m staying here for now.”
“Where exactly is here?” Will asked.
“Lizard Gulch.”
“Never heard of the place.”
“Me, neither, until my truck broke down.”
“Is that her Harley?”
“Yep.”
“Nice machine. Would she let me drive it?”
“Probably, but don’t ask her.”
Will laughed then sobered. “The family misses you. Johnny wants you to see his new daughter. And Dixie doesn’t like it when any of us stray too far.”
“I won’t be gone much longer.” Only time would tell how things would end between him and Ms. Harley.
“Are we good, Buck?” Will asked.
“We’re good if you can forgive me for being an ass.”
“This isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time you’re an ass.” Will punched Buck in the shoulder then there was an awkward pause before they hugged. “Don’t stay away too long.” Will waved to Destiny then left in his truck.
“Everything okay between you two?” Destiny asked when Buck reached her side.
He clasped her face between his hands and kissed her.
“What was that for?”
“Just making sure,” he said then hopped on the bike.
“Making sure of what?” She snuggled closer.
“That you’re the reason I’m not going home.”