Waylaid

by Ruth J. Hartman

  “Mind if I sit over here with you?” The guy, who kept invading my space, was not attractive in the least. Short, skinny, and had breath that would kill a buzzard.

  “I’m… well, ya see—”

  “There’s no other place to sit.” He winked as if we were in on some sort of joke together. “You’re not gonna throw me out the back of the truck, now are ya?”

  Not a bad idea… I shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  “I always do.” He pulled a flask from his jacket pocket, opened the top and held it out to me.

  The fumes nearly singed my eyebrows. “Um, no thanks.”

  “There’s plenty here.”

  “No. I’m good.”

  “It’s not a party without some whiskey.”

  “Like I said, I’m good.”

  “Oh, come on.” He pointed the flask toward me.

  I held up my hand. “Listen. I’m under twenty-one.”

  “I won’t tell if you won’t.” He shoved the vile concoction under my nose.

  I coughed and pushed it away. A little whiskey sloshed out onto his sleeve.

  “Damn! Now see what you did.”

  Jerk. “Not my fault. I told you I didn’t want any and you wouldn’t listen.”

  With a sigh, he closed the flask and stuck it back in his pocket. “If that’s how it’s gonna be…”

  “That’s how it is.” Take a hike. I turned my head to stare out the window. Maybe jerk-boy would take the hint and leave me alone.

  He reached out and snaked his arm around me, pulling me close. His fingers grazed my breast.

  “Get off!” I shoved him hard. He fell back against the side of the truck and banged his head. It sounded like a gunshot.

  “Damn, girl. What’s your problem?” He rubbed his head.

  “You are. Now back off.” I glared at him and crossed my arms. Mostly that was so he wouldn’t see my hands shake. What a loser. And I was stuck with him until we got to Marcus’ house. If I thought I’d survive it, I was half-tempted to crawl out the back and hang on to the bumper. Road-rash sounded like a much better option than being mauled by buzzard-breath.

  Wasn’t this whole night just turning out great?

  Mr. Stinky moved away a couple of feet. It wasn’t as if he could go much farther in the back of a truck with three people doing who knows what on his other side.

  I forced myself to keep my attention on looking out the back window. Town after small town appeared and disappeared after we passed through. Finally, I recognized our home town. Curling my hands into fists in my lap, I counted down the streets until we reached the one where Marcus lived.

  I let out the breath I’d been holding when I felt the truck slow and then stop. I was already sitting at the tailgate, but pressed myself even closer to it, as if that would get me out of there faster.

  Hurry. Somebody open the door!

  I got my wish. Because I was leaning so hard against it, I fell as soon as it opened. If Graham’s strong hands hadn’t caught me, I wouldn’t have taken a tumble onto the street.

  He helped me to stand. “Hey, you okay there, Addy?”

  I brushed dirt off the back of my jeans from the truck’s trailer hitch. “Yeah.” I glared at Stinky as he got out of the truck. “I’m fine.”

  Graham watched Stinky as he hurried away from the truck, still holding the back of his head. He disappeared into the house. “What’s up with him?”

  I rubbed my hands up and down my upper arms. “Beats me.” Why was I suddenly so chilled? And if Stinky was in the house, I was staying out. Of course, since I had come with Kendra, and she was spending the night with me, I couldn’t leave yet.

  Wonderful.

  Graham turned and surveyed the street, although I didn’t know what he’d be looking at since it was dark out except for the street lights. “Will you wait here for a minute, Addy?”

  I shrugged. “I have nowhere else to go.”

  He took off at a slow jog. Where in the world was he going? Did he have a sudden need for some exercise? Not that it mattered to me, ’cause he wasn’t on my radar anyway.

  Right, Addy?

  I took a deep breath, trying to get my mind off of the awful evening. How did I always let Kendra talk me into stuff? My only consolation was that when I was away at college, I wouldn’t have to fall for her whining. I loved her, but didn’t always agree with or understand her.

  The only good thing about tonight had been the few minutes I’d talked to Graham.

  Steps approached from behind me. I turned. Graham walked toward me but had his hand behind his back.

  I raised my eyebrows. “That was a quick run.”

  “I needed to get you something.”

  “Me? What for?”

  “Seems like I might owe you something.”

  “You do?”

  He stepped closer and held out his hand. “Here. Take it.”

  I squinted down into the darkness. Light from the streetlamp reflected off of the metal can he held. “You jogged somewhere to buy me a soft drink?”

  “It’s the least I could do, you know since I, uh, sort of ending up drinking yours.”

  I giggled. “You make it sound like an accident.”

  Graham sobered, but there was mischief sparking from his eyes. “Oh, it was an accident. You see, there I was, just standing by your table and your drink… it, well it somehow found its way into my hand.”

  “Uh huh…”

  “Yeah, and it um… it was lonely, you know since you weren’t there, so I just—”

  “Drank it?”

  “Yes. Drank it. It was all so—”

  “Unplanned.”

  “Exactly.”

  I shook my head and took the drink from him. After popping open the tab, I took a swig. Then I held the can out to him.

  He held up his hands, palms facing me. “Oh, no. That’s yours.”

  “Right. After the accidental drinking and all.”

  He nodded slowly. “Now you’re getting it.”

  “You, sir, are slightly unhinged.”

  Graham frowned. “And to think all this time I thought I was completely unhinged.”

  Our laughter was loud as it echoed down the block. I glanced around and touched my finger to my lips. “It’s really late. I’m sure Marcus’ neighbors wouldn’t appreciate all this noise out here.”

  “You’re probably right.” He leaned closer. I smelled beer on his breath, but I didn’t mind. Mixed with his aftershave, it just smelled male. Somehow on Graham, beer smelled inviting. Sexy even.

  Sexy?

  My fingers tingled. And then my toes. I scrunched them inside my boots to make it stop but the closer Graham got to me, it only did it more. I started to sweat underneath my shirt and around the waistband of my jeans even though the cool breeze had picked up. Hadn’t I just been chilled a little while ago? What was wrong with me? Why was my body reacting this way to a stranger?

  A voice in my head starting yelling. Addy, did you forget Jud? Your boyfriend?

  Go away, voice. No one named Jud around here.

  But he wouldn’t like you standing so close to another guy.

  Take a hike, you obnoxious, bothersome voice.

  Graham bent toward me which took some doing since he was so tall. I lifted my gaze to his and rose upward on my toes as if my body knew something the rest of me didn’t. What was I doing? What was he doing? It almost seemed like he was going to kiss me. No, surely not. We’d hardly even talked. I barely knew—

  Graham’s lips met mine, just a light touch, but enough to make it obvious it was no accident, as if he’d given it some thought and liked the idea. He angled his lips a little to one side, his tongue barely grazing the corner of my lips. I closed my eyes, breathed in his scent.

  The voice in my head shouted that this was a bad idea. That getting involved with him wouldn’t work. I told the voice to leave me alone. This kiss was by far the best one of my life. And I had kissed a lot of boys.

  Cool eve
ning air brushed my lips as Graham broke the connection. He didn’t pull back too far, though, and was still close enough I could see the long eyelashes that framed his eyes. My breathing came in ragged gasps though the kiss hadn’t been long. Graham hadn’t even put his hands on me, but the air between us was on fire.

  So was I.

  Chapter Six

  Graham

  Addy could kiss. My lips tingled, make that everything still tingled from the memory. Her skin was so soft, her lips perfect, as if created just for kissing. For kissing me. Sleeping last night hadn’t been easy, though, and my dreams had been pretty wild. Her and me kissing, touching—

  The blare of a car horn startled me. I jumped and swerved the truck back into my own lane. Concentrate, you idiot! Want to get somebody killed? I took a deep breath and glanced around. Where was I, anyway?

  Right then, I passed the familiar pizza place that sat a block away from Marcus’ house. Oh. Right. Poker with the guys. Should be fun. But not as fun as being with Addy. Would I see her again?

  I parked across the street from his house. Why were there so many cars and trucks lining the street? Usually it was just a handful of guys who played. I hadn’t realized it was a full blown party. With a shrug, I climbed out of my truck and crossed the street to his house.

  As I opened the front door, I heard giggling. So there were girls here again? Would Addy come back? Or had I scared her off last night. Heat coursed through me as I remembered her kisses again. I’d barely spoken to the girl and then I’d practically assaulted her lips with mine. I ran my hand over the back of my neck. The heat between us had been explosive. And she hadn’t seemed to mind. I hadn’t gotten a slap across the face or anything. Maybe she’d been in shock. After thinking about it for a day, would she decide I was a jerk?

  I stepped into the kitchen and helped myself to a beer from the bucket on the table. “Hey guys.”

  After I held up my beer in the universal greeting of country boys, I walked through to the living room. The table was full up so they wouldn’t need me to play for a while. I stood there a minute, hoping the gigglers would surface. I wanted to see who they were. Kendra, of course, but who else would—

  Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned and smiled. Addy. “Hey.”

  “Hi.” Double dimples appeared when she grinned.

  After having kissed her, I knew what she tasted like, but I really wanted to do it again. Right that moment. “So what’s goin’ on?” I took a drink from my beer hoping that in those few seconds, I’d be hit with some sort of divine inspiration of what to talk about.

  How’d you like that kiss last night? Wanna give it another go?

  While I knew of some guys who were crass enough to say it, I’m sure if I tried, the result would be ridiculous. I’d never been one to lay it all out there. My approach was more on the subtle side. But then, there was that kiss. Not subtle. It had been more like a direct attack.

  So unlike me.

  She wound a long strand of her hair around her finger. “Not much. You?”

  Crap. Thought I’d have more time than that for an idea. “Just came over for some poker. You play?”

  “Me? No. Cards aren’t really my thing.”

  Right at that moment, cards weren’t mine, either. “Wanna shoot some hoops? There’s a goal just outside.”

  Shoot some hoops? Was I an idiot? Girls like her wouldn’t—

  “Sure. Sounds fun.” She grinned.

  Sweat trickled down my back under my shirt. I’d dodged a bullet there. I finished my beer and set the bottle down on the mantle. I wanted to take Addy’s hand but ended up just opening the door and walking out behind her.

  I found the ball sitting on top of the low stone wall that bordered the driveway. The hoop was attached to the garage. “Horse?” I dribbled the ball a few times.

  “Did you just call me a horse?”

  Oh no…

  She snorted. “I know how to play the game.”

  I bounced the ball to her and she caught it. The hollow thunk echoed off the door of the garage as she dribbled it a couple of times. A smile crept over my face. Yeah, the evening was looking up. “Impressive.”

  “Not really. I’m not very coordinated.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. You seemed to know what you were doing last night.”

  Her face reddened at the same time that mine burst into flames. You are such a stupid idiot! She thinks you meant the kiss. Way to ruin it, loser!

  “Um….” Addy glanced away.

  “What I meant was, when you danced.”

  She swallowed and looked down, dribbling the ball again. “Oh. Well, thanks but I’m not very good at that either.”

  “The judges must have thought so, ’cause you won.”

  “Tied, actually.” She gave me a quick glance before watching the ball bounce up and down again.

  No one would ever be in a tie with Addy. For anything. They wouldn’t even come close. “Speaking of that…”

  “What, the tie?”

  “No. You won something, didn’t you?”

  She shrugged. “Yeah. Some money. Covered the door charge and my drinks. Why?”

  I took a step forward and studied her. “You know, since I drove you to the club, I think I should get part of the money. For the cost of the gas. And for my trouble.”

  She stopped dribbling the ball but still held onto it. What I wouldn’t give to be that ball right now, snuggled up against her—“Oh you do, huh?”

  “Well, yeah. I have to earn my money somehow. It’s not like I’m a good dancer like some people who can earn prize money all over the place.”

  She laughed and went to smack my chest, but dropped the basketball in the process. Never one to miss an opportunity, I grabbed the ball away.

  Her mouth dropped open. “Hey!”

  “Snooze ya lose, sweetheart.” I dribbled the ball to the hoop and dunked it hard. I heard her gasp behind me and turned. “Impressive, huh?”

  She opened her mouth and then closed it. After raising one eyebrow she said, “Pretty easy for someone to dunk when he’s tall enough to reach the sky.”

  “Ha ha.”

  “How’s the weather up there?”

  “Gee, never heard that one before.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe people are just jealous because you’re taller than them.”

  “Or they have a fear of giants and use humor to cover it up.”

  She tilted her head. “I’m not afraid of giants.”

  Warmth curled around my heart and shot lower. “Good to know.” Suddenly, shooting hoops had lost all of its appeal. I wanted to just grab her and kiss her, but the moment wasn’t right. “Wanna… take a walk?”

  Addy blinked. “Sure.”

  We walked up the street but didn’t say much. My hand itched to reach out for hers but I still didn’t know how she’d react. If her red face from thinking I’d meant she had good moves during kissing was any indication, I might get slugged or kicked someplace unpleasant for my effort.

  Except for voices floating through open windows at Marcus’ house, the neighborhood was quiet. As we stepped along the sidewalk, I realized I didn’t even know where she lived. Or her last name. “So, when we met yesterday, I’m not sure I ever told you my last name.”

  She glanced up at me. “Nope. You didn’t.”

  “It’s Stewart.”

  “Graham Stewart. So you have one of those names that’s interchangeable.”

  “Excuse me?” I chuckled, not sure what to make of that.

  “You know, your first and last names can both be, well, first and last names.”

  “Well, what do you know?”

  “This is news to you, Graham?”

  I shrugged. “Not the sort of thing I sit around and ponder.”

  She smacked my shoulder. “You are such a guy.”

  “Awww, you say the sweetest things.”

  Addy giggled, the sound trickling over me like gentle water in a brook
.

  “And your last name would be…”

  “Sure you wanna know? It’s a mouthful.”

  Mouthful? All I could think about was putting my mouth back on Addy’s. “Uh, of course I want to know. How bad could it be?”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, it’s bad.”

  “Just spill it. I’m sure I’ve heard worse.”

  “Fine, you asked for it.” She stopped walking so I did too. “Ready Mr. Stewart?”

  “Go for it. I’m ready.” I put my hands on my hips and waited.

  “My middle and last names are Hildegard and Lafollette.”

  “Holy cow.”

  “Told ya.”

  I wanted to say what was your mother thinking, but didn’t want to offend Addy.

  She shook her head. “I know, what was my mom thinking?”

  I raised my eyebrows and grinned. We continued walking. After five blocks, we turned and came back. Short walk, but just like cards and hoops, now I didn’t feel like walking either. So many things I didn’t want to do, yet I had all this pent up energy. We reached my truck and stopped.

  She pointed to the cap on the back. “I really appreciate you driving us last night…” Addy glanced away for a second and huffed out a breath.

  “But? Was it cramped back there or something?” I had no doubt it had been.

  “There was that.”

  “What else?”

  She waved a hand. “Oh, it’s nothing.”

  “No. Tell me.”

  “Let’s just say that on the way up, I was the only one not, uh, making out.”

  I’d wondered if that might happen, but had tried not to dwell on it while I drove. Better not to know.“Great. Sorry.”

  “Not your fault. Although from what I could see through your window to the cab, you had to watch the same thing.”

  I pushed down irritation at the thought. “Yeah, Marcus and Kendra didn’t even know I was there.”

  “Sounds like you had about as much fun as I did.”

  “Pretty much.” I wanted to add, except for the kiss. Something held me back. She might already not trust me after last night. “Oh, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”