The Long Hot Summer

by Rosnau, Wendy

  She eyed the cut on his belly, hesitated as to whether she should unzip his jeans. When she glanced at him, she found he’d opened his eye and was watching her. “You can leave it if you want,” he said.

  “So you can get an infection?” She forced her hands to move. After she’d unsnapped his jeans, she slowly slid his zipper down halfway. Luckily, the cut wasn’t deep and only moved past his waistband an inch. She dipped the cloth in water once more and began to remove the dirt carefully from the wound. “How did you get this?” she asked.

  “Don’t remember.”

  “Sure you do. Why won’t you tell me?”

  “Because it’s not important.”

  She rinsed the cloth and went back to work. He sucked in his breath when the cloth brushed over the cut. “Sorry. I’ve never been any good at this kind of thing.”

  “You’re doing fine.”

  “Well, it’s the least I can do. After all, you took that sliver out of my foot, remember? And last night you rescued me from driving home intoxicated.”

  “But I was already rewarded for that.”

  Nicole was fully aware of the heat that had surfaced between them. He reached up and brushed her bangs out of her eyes so he could see her better. “Does remembering our kiss make you uncomfortable, cherie?”

  “Yes. You make me uncomfortable,” she admitted. “Especially when you look at me like you’re looking at me now.” She knocked her bangs back into place, then went back to work. After she’d put a bandage on his belly, she reached for one of two elastic wrap bandages she had brought from the bathroom. “I’ll help you sit up, then I’ll wrap your ribs. I think that’s all they would do at the hospital. That and X-ray them. Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”

  “No.” He groaned as he struggled to sit up. Nicole quickly reached out and gripped his shoulders as he dropped his bare feet to the floor. Disgusted with his inability to handle the task on his own, he cursed crudely.

  When he finally looked as if he was going to stay upright without falling over, Nicole kneeled between his legs. “You’ll need to tell me if this gets too tight.”

  She could feel his heavy breathing on the side of her neck as she leaned forward and started wrapping his ribs as carefully as possible. Being this close to him only served to remind her of last night, and a little shudder went through her.

  “You smell good,” he drawled lazily, lowering his head so that his face brushed her hair. His cheek slowly moved against hers.

  Nicole’s hands stilled. “Johnny, please don’t.”

  Ignoring her plea, he slipped his arms around her and locked her between his hard thighs. “What did you do in New Orleans today? Bick said you were gone all day. Meet someone?”

  “Actually, I did. A very nice man,” she admitted.

  His mouth brushed her ear, and Nicole sucked in her breath and closed her eyes. “Want me to wipe the taste of him away?”

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  She was treading in dangerous water again. Frightened, she jerked hard on the bandage.

  “Ouch! What the hell was that for?”

  “To remind you that I’m trying to be nice, and you’re trying to take advantage of the situation.” She finished the job quickly, then stood and went into the kitchen. When she returned, she offered him a glass of water along with four pain relievers. “Here. Your body is going to hate you in the morning, but at least this will get you through tonight. Tomorrow we’ll move you to the house. It’ll be easier to care for you there.”

  “The house? No way. I’ll be fine right here.”

  “We’ll talk about it tomorrow. For now, you need to get back in bed. Only—”

  “Only what?”

  She lowered her gaze, a solid lump forming in her throat.

  He followed her interest. “If you’re worried about getting me out of my pants, don’t be. You can close your eyes and feel your way through it.”

  It amazed her how he could make jokes when he looked so awful. Still, Nicole didn’t want any part of what they were discussing. “If you have enough strength to be a wise guy, then I imagine you can’t be as bad off as I first thought. The pants are your problem.”

  That said, she busied herself rinsing the pan out at the sink. Luckily, by the time she returned, he had somehow gotten his jeans off and was back in bed. She picked up his discarded jeans from the floor and draped them over the foot of the bed. His eyes were closed, and she didn’t say anything to him for fear he’d fallen asleep.

  Bick came by and asked her if she wanted him to stay, or if there was anything she needed. She told him no, and that he should go and get some rest himself. In the morning they would move Johnny into the house. She suggested her room, since she didn’t think climbing up and down stairs would do Johnny’s ribs any good.

  “Have Clair pack a few of my things and put them in my old room upstairs,” she told him. “And tell Gran not to worry. Tell her Johnny hasn’t lost his sense of humor. It’s safe to say he’s going to live.”

  Chapter 8

  Johnny slowly climbed out of bed and pulled on his jeans. It had been three days since his run-in with Farrel and the boys. He could see out his blackened eye now, and it no longer hurt to take a breath, though he sucked air with more care than usual. He’d been staying in Nicole’s bedroom at the house. He felt funny about it; making her move out hadn’t been necessary.

  All the fuss had actually embarrassed him. He had told the old lady and Nicole more than once that the boathouse was where he wanted to be. Yes, he looked like hell—that he hadn’t debated. But he would mend whether he stayed at the boathouse or the big house. All he needed was time.

  The process would be slow when it came to his ribs. He was sure a couple were busted, but he had denied it to the women, saying they were only bruised.

  When the knock at the door came, Johnny wasn’t surprised. A morning routine had been established, and about this time Nicole brought him breakfast in bed. Only, this morning she wasn’t going to find him there.

  Angry all over again that she continued to wait on him like a slave for hire after he’d told her time and again not to, he put on his best ugly face and nailed her with a look that said I eat little blondes for breakfast the minute she swung the door open and stepped inside. She ignored his exaggerated scowl from where she stood by the window, and carried the breakfast tray to the nightstand and set it down.

  “Clair made pecan waffles,” she announced. “She tells me they’re one of your favorites.”

  “I’m getting out of here, today,” Johnny told her.

  She turned and looked at him where he stood soaking up the morning sunshine. “I think that’s an excellent idea. Maybe it’ll improve your mood. I’ll have Bick come by and take you for a walk.”

  He turned back to the window. “I’m not some damn dog. I don’t need to be ‘taken’ anywhere. My legs work just fine. I don’t need a nurse any longer, either, so consider yourself fired.”

  “Has the maid service been that awful? What, the sheets not crisp enough, sir? Or is it the food? Clair will be crushed to hear you don’t like her waffles.”

  She was mocking him, and he had a mind to…what? He turned away from the window, his eyes fully on her molded curves straining the confines of her slippery white shift. What she’d said was anything but the truth. Actually, the service had been the best he’d ever had. He couldn’t remember anybody ever bringing him hot food and worrying about crisp sheets. But it was something he could get used to real fast if he let himself. Only he wasn’t going to. As soon as his parole was over, he was on his way out of Common for good.

  “What I’m saying is all of you have better things to do. I’m just the hired help, remember?”

  She shrugged, then headed for the door, stopping before she opened it. “Can I get you anything from town?”

  “Like what, a color book?”

  She laughed. “I was thinking more on the lines of a magazine or a book, but if
you have your heart set on coloring…”

  So that’s why she was dressed up: she was going into town. He gave her another slow head-to-toe, stopping when he spied her pink toenails. Her white sandals showed off her slender feet and narrow ankles. Her knees were a favorite with him. But best of all, he liked her naughty long bangs, and the way they half hid her beautiful blue eyes. “What are you going to do in town?”

  “Gran’s garden club meets today. I told her I would drive her.”

  “Come here.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I’ll bring you food, a color book from town if that’s what you want. But you’ve been scowling at me since I came through the door. In fact, you’ve been downright mean for days. I’ll keep my distance, thank you.”

  Johnny dragged a hand through his hair, then started toward her. “So why have you been putting up with me if I’ve been such a bastard?”

  “Because it makes Gran happy.”

  He’d hoped for a different answer. “You won’t have to too much longer.”

  “Shall I start celebrating now or after I buy the party balloons?”

  Johnny stopped a foot away from her. “Since I’ve taken your bed, how do you like sleeping upstairs?”

  “I was only using this room until Gran’s ankle got better. Actually, I like the room upstairs.” She checked her watch. “I’ve got to go. Clair should have Gran ready by now, and your breakfast is getting cold.”

  She turned to leave, but Johnny reached out and caught her hand. “When I talked to Mae yesterday, she said she didn’t think you had been sleeping very well.” He brushed his thumb beneath her right eye. “Dark shadows, cherie. Still pacing late at night?”

  “Mae? Since when did you start calling Gran anything but ‘old lady’?”

  “Since yesterday,” Johnny admitted. “She asked me to do her a favor. Made me promise before she told me what it was. I was conned before I knew it.”

  She smiled, and Johnny was reminded of how much he liked her mouth, of how soft and sweet it was. Of how many times in the past three days he’d wanted to drag her down on the bed and kiss her.

  “So, tell me why you don’t sleep.”

  “I’m sleeping fine. It just takes me a little time to unwind.” She slipped her hand out of his.

  “And why is that?”

  “There are millions of insomniacs out there.”

  “Good answer, but I don’t think you’re one of them.”

  “Let’s change the subject. Is this going to get to be a habit? Are you going to get beat up weekly or monthly?”

  “That depends.”

  “On Farrel?”

  Johnny had never given any names. But the situation being what it was, he supposed Farrel was everyone’s logical choice. “Has he confessed to something I should know about?”

  “I don’t think so. Should he?”

  Johnny shrugged guardedly, knowing she was trying to get him to falter.

  “You’ve had plenty of opportunity to tell me what happened. I’ve asked often enough,” she prompted. “I’m beginning to wonder if what Bick said isn’t closer to the truth.”

  “Oh?” Johnny shifted his stance, his hands finding his back pockets. “And that would be…?”

  “Bick says there was more than one. He said the only way anyone would get the jump on you was if you were outnumbered or caught by surprise.”

  “Sounds like Bick talks too much and shouldn’t be scaring little girls with such tall tales.”

  “Oh, he wasn’t telling me,” she announced. “He was talking to Gran. I was eavesdropping. Was he right?”

  Again Johnny didn’t answer. The truth was, he didn’t want Nicole, or anyone else at Oakhaven, involved in his problems. Choosing sides would be dangerous for her, especially if she chose his.

  He had asked her to give him a chance days ago, but now he wasn’t so sure that had been a good idea. He didn’t want to put Nicole in an awkward position—not when she was intending to make Common her home.

  “Not giving up their names doesn’t make this go away,” she continued. “If anything, it’s just letting those men off the hook so they can do it again. And next time—”

  A sudden rap at the door cut Nicole off. “Nicki?” It was Clair. “Pearl Lavel called for a ride to the church. Mae says you better hurry along. Pearl will huff like a steam engine the entire way if she’s late.”

  “You better go,” Johnny said.

  She glanced at his breakfast tray. “I hope the food isn’t too cold.”

  “It’ll be fine,” he assured.

  “If you’re feeling cooped up and restless, maybe you could spend some time in the study figuring out renovation costs. Gran’s been after me to get some totals for her, but I’m not very good with figures. I hear you are, though.” When Johnny made no comment, she continued, “I don’t expect you to do it for nothing. The hours would be added to your paycheck.”

  “I wasn’t thinking about that,” he told her. “I’ll sit down this afternoon and see what I come up with.”

  “Nicki?” Clair was again in the hall. “I’m putting Mae in the car.”

  “Bring me back some cigarettes, would you?” Johnny asked. “I ran out last night and—”

  “I think a color book would be healthier. Maybe this would be a good time to quit blowing smoke.”

  Johnny rested his shoulder against the wall and studied her bloodshot eyes. “I’ll quit the day you go to bed before midnight and sleep straight through the night. Deal?”

  “You’re offering that deal because you think I can’t do it.”

  “No.” Johnny gave up a lazy smile. “Call it incentive. Wouldn’t you like the satisfaction of seeing me suffer from withdrawal?”

  “It does have a certain appeal. Especially since you’ve been such a nightmare of a patient.” She opened the door and stepped into the hall.

  “Cherie?”

  “Yes?”

  “Keep your opinions about this mess to yourself while you’re in town, would you. These folks are funny. They might not always like everything their own do, but if an outsider starts riling them up they usually band together like wolves. You and Mae don’t need to be caught in the middle of the war against me.”

  “It’s called Red Flame.” Daisi struck a pose, her long fingernails wiggling against her cheek.

  “They look stunning,” Nicole complimented, noting the color was a perfect match to Daisi’s red-striped maternity dress.

  “I love red.” Daisi giggled, then glanced appreciatively at Nicole’s slender figure. “I wish I was that thin, but even before I got pregnant I didn’t look like that. God, you must eat practically nothin’.”

  “I’m just naturally thin, I guess,” Nicole admitted.

  Daisi wrinkled up her button nose. “I hate that line, but I won’t hold it against you. I’ll be the first to admit bein’ pregnant doesn’t do a woman’s figure any favors, but it sure makes my nails grow.”

  Nicole’s gaze shifted to Daisi’s swollen stomach. She tried not to dwell on the fact that there was a baby nestled inside, growing and gaining weight. A healthy baby. It was so hard getting past the emptiness, the deep ache that never seemed to go away for very long. The guilt.

  “It was real nice of you to give Mama a ride to the church.”

  Nicole kept her smile fixed. Pearl Lavel was not one of her favorite people. Daisi’s mother had huffed and sniffed and evil-eyed the back of her head the entire way from her house on Willow Street through the short five blocks to the Saint and Savior Baptist Church. That the woman had a daughter as nice as Daisi was a God-given miracle.

  “How did you know I drove her?” Nicole asked.

  “One thing you’ll get used to around here is that everybody knows everybody else’s business. Just like what happened to Johnny. We all knew about that by breakfast the next mornin’.”

  “And just what version did you hear?” Nicole knew
she shouldn’t have said anything. Johnny had warned her to keep her opinions to herself, but maybe Daisi knew something that could be helpful.

  “What are you askin’, Nicki?”

  “Johnny hasn’t given out any names. Do you have any?”

  “Sure. I’ve got three. Woody said Clete Gilmore is walkin’ around town with a limp and two teeth missin’. And I know Jack Oden has a broken jaw ’cause I saw him in the clinic the other day when I went for my checkup. I haven’t seen Farrel’s broken nose, but I’ve heard it’s worse than the last one Johnny gave him six months ago.”

  Nicole listened while Daisi spilled every piece of gossip she’d heard on the subject. She didn’t say anything, just listened, thinking all the time that Bick had been right—they’d stacked the odds against Johnny from the moment he climbed out of the pickup at the gas station. And the way Daisi talked, it was nothing new.

  “I heard Johnny’s been flat on his back,” Daisi continued. “Is he gettin’ better?”

  “He’s up,” Nicole informed her. “Do you know why it happened?”

  Daisi leaned forward, lowering her voice. “There doesn’t have to be a reason for Farrel to go after Johnny. They’ve always hated each other.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t think Johnny lies awake nights trying to figure out ways to rearrange Farrel’s face.”

  “Maybe not, but they’ve always fought.”

  “Did you know Johnny very well in the old days?”

  “We went to school together.” Daisi grinned. “I had a bad crush on him when I was in the sixth grade. But then, I think most of the girls in town did. Only, none of them would have wanted to admit it. It wasn’t cool to like the poor boy in town, if you know what I mean. And the Bernard family—they were the poorest around.” Daisi glanced down the hall. “You can go back and see Sheriff Tucker. He don’t have nobody back there with him.”