Dirty South (A Blue Collar Bad Boy Romance)

by Celia Loren

  I'm relieved when it's time to leave for the day, but when I pull up at the curb in front of the house I find I don't want to go in yet. I park and start walking. If I felt like I was on eggshells at home before, now that my dad's health is so precarious, being at home is absolutely exhausting. It's so hard to pretend like everything is fine, and to have to show my dad so consistently an optimistic and sunny front.

  I take a deep breath as a breeze from the river hits me when I'm about a half a block away from it. When I get there, I turn and start walking along the promenade, and before I realize it, my feet have taken me past the restaurant where Vernon took me to see that jazz singer, and on to the 100 River Street project.

  I walk a little closer, surveying all the progress that they've made. The last time I was here, about a couple months ago, there were still bare patches of earth and exposed metal beams. Now, it looks nearly done. There are workers hauling in mature trees to be planted, and signs going up on the retail spaces on the bottom. I smile as I see the balance between modernity and tradition that Woodall & Sons struck with the design. There are large glass windows balanced with English Regency touches, and even though the property is huge, it doesn't reach above a dozen stories and maintains Savannah's relatively modest skyline.

  A small crane moves in, carrying a huge stone with 100 River Street engraved on it. I watch a broad-shouldered man in jeans and a dirty white t-shirt wave the crane operator in and find my eyes traveling down his back as I experience an overwhelming sense of deja-vu. He turns around, and I smile. With his hard hat on, I didn't recognize Boone at first. It's been a long time since I've seen him on a construction site, but I'm taken back to the days when I used to stop by the sites after school to catch a peek of him.

  With a cloud of dust, the stone settles on the ground. Boone moves in to release the hook and the operator backs the crane away. He and a few other men in hard hats gather to talk for a moment, and then Boone glances around, looking satisfied. As he looks my way, he does a double take, and I give an awkward wave. I'm not used to seeing him out in public like this.

  He grins and walks over. I feel a surge of butterflies in my stomach and tuck my hair nervously behind my ear. All of my other worries seem to disappear as he gets closer and I get a whiff of his musky, sweat-tinged scent. He takes his hard hat off and tucks it under one arm, then brushes his hair back off his forehead with the other.

  "Didn't expect to see you here," he says, his lopsided grin creating a dimple in his right cheek. "Coming from work?"

  "Just needed to take a walk before I went home," I explain.

  "How's your dad?" he asks, his face growing more serious.

  "He's fine. I mean, not really. But you know, for this stage in recovery he's doing well."

  "He emailed to tell me he's coming to the gala opening next week."

  "Oh, did he? Well, he hasn't gotten clearance from the doctor for that as far as I know."

  Boone grins. "I don't really think that's going to stop him."

  "No, you're right about that," I agree with a sigh. "He just can't imagine a Woodall & Sons event without him. I'm starting to think he might have control issues."

  Boone laughs, then leans a little closer. "Can I see you tonight? I know you don't want to leave him for long, but I have to stop by your house to see him tonight anyway, so how about we go for a walk in Forsyth Square after?"

  "I'd love that," I reply, my heart melting a little. I hadn't realized how much I've missed seeing Boone until just now.

  "Great," he says, and brushes a quick kiss on my lips. I smile before I pull back, realizing where we are. His eyes widen. "Shit. Are they looking at us?" he asks. I glance behind him at the other Woodall & Sons employees. They all seem engaged in their tasks.

  "No, we're good."

  Boone shakes his head and gives me a wink. "Just can't help myself, sometimes," he says as he puts his hard hat back on and returns to the site at a quick walk. I watch him go, then turn around to head home, but stop short.

  Virginia is standing about ten feet behind me, dressed in a cute jogging outfit and with sweat dappling her forehead. As I stand frozen, she pulls her earbuds out of her ears and walks over to me.

  "Hey there, Callie," she says with a smile, though her eyes look cold. "You and Boone look a little bit more than friendly."

  "It's not what...I mean—"

  "How long have y'all been seeing each other?" she asks.

  "Well, we're..." I sigh. "To be honest, we're really trying to keep this under wraps, so if you could keep it to yourself, I'd really appreciate it," I say. I know Virginia isn't all bad, after what she said about Boone at the boat party, so maybe she'll actually help us out.

  She nods thoughtfully. "Got it. I guess it wouldn't look very good for Boone, huh?"

  "I... why wouldn't it look good for Boone?" I ask in surprise.

  "Well, you know, people would say he's just dating the boss's daughter to get ahead," she replies. "I know that's not what he's doing, but you can't help how people would talk."

  "Right," I murmur.

  "I mean, the business is called Woodall & Sons, right? Unless your father's handing it down to you? Sorry, I don't mean to pry."

  "No, um, he's not handing it down to me."

  "Boone's ambitious, and maybe it's naïve of me to say, but I don't think he'd be with you just to, like, secure his place or something. That would be so... medieval, right?" she says, shaking her head with a laugh. "Anyway, don't worry about me. Your secret's safe. See you around!" she adds as she jogs off.

  I turn back to Boone and watch him, feeling cold. I know that Virginia could just be jealous, but what she's suggesting doesn't sound so outlandish. If my father's made it clear that he wants to pass down the business to my husband, then whoever becomes my husband gets the business.

  Boone's switch from confirmed bachelor to dedicated boyfriend always felt too good to be true, so what if it is?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Mrs. Hunt was the one to show Boone into the den when he arrived tonight to see my dad, but now I can hear my dad ringing his bell again, and I guess she must be busy. I head downstairs and down the hall.

  "Oh, hey, Boone," I say as I push open the door. He's had time to shower since earlier today, and is now wearing khakis and a pale blue polo.

  "Hey, Callie. Good to see you again," he replies from a chair next to my dad's bed.

  "Stop chewing your nails," my dad snaps. I lower my hand. I hadn't even realized I'd been doing it. "Disgusting habit," he grumbles. I take a deep breath, feeling stung. I know he's been in a worse mood because he's been cooped up in here, but sometimes it's hard to take.

  "Did y'all need something?" I ask.

  "Water," my dad replies. "Boone?"

  "Water's fine for me, too, thanks," he says. I nod and head back into the kitchen and grab two water glasses and take them back into the den. The TV is on when I get back, and Boone and my dad are staring at it as I set down their glasses.

  "See? They're saying it could make landfall just south of Savannah," Boone says.

  "There hasn't been a hurricane here since 1979," my dad replies. "We can't push the opening." I turn my attention to the weather report, and the swirling mass of clouds moving north toward the coast that the reporter is gesturing to.

  "Well, if we push it back," Boone argues patiently, "then it would also be safer for you to make an appearance."

  "The two of you need to stop treating me like a child," my father says, gesturing to Boone and me. "It's my company, and we're having the gala on Saturday as planned and I will be there to cut the ribbon."

  "Dad, maybe—" I try, but he cuts me off.

  "Grace, please show Boone out. I need to get some rest." With a glance to me, Boone stands.

  "Alright, Mason," he says. "Glad to see you're doing better." I hold the door open for him, and then close it behind us before I walk with him down to the front door. With my dad safely ensconced in the den, I simply walk out t
he front door with him and cross the street into Forsyth Square like we planned earlier.

  "Doesn't the air feel different to you?" Boone asks, tilting his face up and turning his nose this way and that. "Thicker, somehow."

  "That's how it always is in the summertime here," I reply with a shrug. He reaches forward to take my hand, and I pull away. "Somebody could see us."

  "Mm," Boone murmurs, his eyes glinting in the lamplight. "Is that what you've been worried about?"

  "What do you mean?" I ask, though I already have an idea.

  "You've been distant lately. At first I thought you just needed to spend more time with your father, but I don't know."

  "Well, he's really sick. He almost died."

  "I know that. Do you blame yourself?"

  I rub my face with my hands, feeling exhausted. "I don't know."

  "Do you blame me?"

  "Can we just drop it?" I snap.

  Boone narrows his eyes, but his tone is calm when he speaks. "If that's what you want."

  "Why are you even seeing me?" I burst out. As the words leave my lips, I wish I could take them back, even as I recognize I've wanted to know the answer for a long time. Long before Virginia questioned Boone's intentions with me.

  "Callie... are you seriously asking me that?"

  I raise my chin defiantly. "Yes."

  "Because you're smart. And exciting. And kind. And you always surprise me. And you ride a horse like it's an extension of your body. And you're my equal, but you're also better than me, too, somehow. And I could go on, but first I want to know why it's suddenly so important for you to know."

  I pause, feeling adrift. I heard him say all those nice things, but I felt like he was talking about someone else. I couldn't actually digest anything that he said.

  "I just... I need some time..." I stammer.

  "Callie, what are you saying?" he asks, stepping toward me and sounding alarmed.

  "It's just all been too much lately. I can't even think anymore," I gasp, stepping back.

  "Are you breaking up with me?"

  "I just need...I need..." I struggle for words. I don't know what I need, is the truth. Maybe I just need something to control so I don't completely lose it. "I just need a little break."

  "A break."

  "Yes. I need to be able to see things clearly."

  "A break," he says again, and my heart lurches, but I've already come too far. His face hardens. "Alright."

  "I'll just... I'll call you, okay?" I say, backing away toward the house. He doesn't reply, and before I know it, I've turned around and am walking back up the steps and closing the door behind me.

  I hurry up to my bedroom and slam the door shut. I can hear the sound of my dad's bell ringing but I ignore it. I kick off my shoes and lay on my bed and stare up at my ceiling.

  I feel calm for the first time in a long time, but also a curious nothingness. It's like my heart felt too much, so I just cut it out and threw it aside. If I think of Boone, my heart starts to feel again, so I'll have to be very careful not to think of him at all.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  I sit in the basement with a blanket pulled up over me as I watch a Real Housewives rerun. I hear the door at the top of the steps open and don't move.

  "Callie?" I hear Mrs. Hunt call. "Your friend Lynn is—oh, here she comes."

  There's a flurry of footsteps on the stairs and Lynn crosses in front of the TV, her hands on her hips. "Jeez, it's worse than I thought," she says, looking down at me.

  "What is?" I ask, feeling confused by her sudden appearance.

  "You. I would've been mad that you haven't answered any of my messages for the last week, but lucky for you, I'm very understanding and know there have been some extenuating circumstances. Mrs. Hunt says you haven't been taking care of yourself."

  "I'm just busy looking after my dad," I reply. Lynn sits down on the couch next to me.

  "You have a full-time housekeeper," she points out, not unkindly.

  "It's not just you. I haven't been talking to anyone."

  "Including Boone?" she asks, raising her eyebrows. I nod. "I ran into him and I thought he looked like shit."

  "He does?" I ask softly. "I think I might have really fucked up, Lynn," I say, squeezing my eyes shut as if that will make my problems go away.

  "Did you break up with him?"

  "I don't know what I did. I just felt so overwhelmed, and then I saw Virginia, and my dad told me he's not giving the business to Boone, and it's never made sense that he's interested in me, and it just seemed like one less thing I could worry about. But it's just worse now."

  "Wait, what about Virginia? You're going too fast."

  "You can't tell anyone this, okay?" I ask. She nods. "My dad told me that he's not handing over the business to Boone. I'd always assumed that when he retired, or... you know, that Boone would take over."

  "Why doesn't he want Boone to be in charge? I thought he's been great for the company."

  "He has been, but my dad is so full of himself that he can't really see it. Plus, I think he's worried about Boone not being the right fit for the company. You know, because of Boone's family stuff and everything. He says he's not 'CEO material'."

  Lynn sighs and rests her head on the back of the couch. "I love this town, but sometimes I really hate it, too."

  "I know what you mean."

  "So does Boone know?" Lynn asks.

  "Well, I don't think so, but what if he does? What if that's why he's interested in me?"

  Lynn pauses for a moment, then leans in. "Honestly, Callie, I think that's fucking bonkers."

  "What?"

  "That. Is. Fucking. Bonkers. Did Virginia put this into your head? Are you trying to suggest to me that Boone secretly knew who you were the whole time and had some sort of grand scheme to marry you so that eventually he'd inherit the company?"

  "I don't think it's that crazy!" I protest, though I am starting to doubt myself. "I mean, the business is worth hundreds of millions of dollars."

  "Callie, it says far more about you than it does about him that you're willing to believe something like that. I mean, is it so hard for you to believe that he loves you?"

  "He doesn't—"

  "And what's more, you love him!" she practically crows.

  "I never said that!"

  "Why did you even move back here then?" she challenges me.

  "Because I got a job here!" I reply furiously.

  "Oh, yeah? Is this the only city with graphic design companies? Did you apply anywhere else?"

  "Well, no, but, well, the thing is, I wanted to be able to—" I stutter.

  "—To be able to see the guy you've been obsessed with ever since you were a teenager," Lynn finishes for me.

  I widen my eyes and sit back. "No, no. That's not right. I didn't move back here for Boone... did I?"

  "Yup. You sure did," Lynn says.

  "Oh my god," I murmur, covering my face with my hands. "That is so crazy of me."

  "No, what's crazy is how you're fucking it all up now."

  "Even if I am fucking it up and—"

  "Which you definitely are."

  I shoot her a death glare but keep going. "Even if I am, and I wanted to get back together, I don't even know if he'd have me. I basically broke things off without any explanation."

  "Well, you can explain tomorrow."

  "What, you mean call him?"

  "No, you'll see him at the gala."

  "What gala?"

  She looks at me like I've lost my mind. "The River Street opening gala. It's tomorrow night."

  "No... What day is today?"

  "Friday. Haven't you been going to work?"

  "Yeah, but they don't care what I do anymore now that they know my last name. Are you sure it's Friday?"

  "Yes! Now stop feeling sorry for yourself and get up! No offense, but you have some major cleaning up to do if you think you're going to win Boone back."

  "Do I look that bad?"

  "
Honestly... you don't look great. Luckily for you, I'm a lipstick lesbian. Come on, we're going to get mani-pedis. Do you have a dress yet?"

  "Oh, God, a dress," I moan.

  "Are you kidding me?" Lynn sighs. "Alright, mani-pedis will have to wait until tomorrow. You're coming over to my place right now."

  Chapter Thirty

  I glance out the window next to the front door at the grey, threatening sky. If my father weren't throwing the social event of the year tonight, I'd be worried that people would stay home under the threat of an oncoming hurricane, but it seems nothing can stop Savannah from partying.

  I glance down at my dress again, making sure my breasts are still in place. I almost started laughing when Lynn showed me the dress because it is so unlike her fashion sense, which runs more toward sweet Americana than this dress, which is strapless, cranberry-colored satin, and low-cut. She explained it was from a party the year before, and her mother had bought it for her in an effort to get her to dress more sexily. Lynn, of course, refused to wear it, and it sat in her closet in a garment bag until now. It fits pretty well, except around my breasts, which feel like they are constantly ready to jump out.

  I hear my dad walking slowly toward the foyer from the den. I brought him his tuxedo earlier, at which point he promised not to overdo it tonight. He always loves to be the center of attention, so I'll believe it when I see it.

  He appears at the end of the hallway and pauses. He looks good in the tux. He's lost some weight since his heart attack, so it actually fits him now, though I think he still looks a little pale. He looks at me askance, frowning.

  "You... you look lovely, Grace," he finally says. "Very grown-up."

  "Thanks, Dad. Lynn Woodall loaned it to me. You ready to go? The car's waiting out front."

  My father nods, and holds out his arm when he reaches me. I'm not sure whether he's being traditional or if he wants me to help him down the steps out front, but either way, I take his arm.

  In the town car, we're both quiet. My father seems tired already, and I'm nervous about seeing Boone tonight. Is he going to ignore me? Make his anger with me clear? I raise my hand to my lips to chew my nails before I remember the manicure I got today.