She tried to hide her excitement at the thought of staying in touch with him, doing a mental fist pump. “Where’s your phone? I’ll type it in for you.” After putting in her digits, she handed his cell back, and strained up on her tippy-toes to kiss him on the cheek. She let out a squeal when he picked her up and backed her against the wall with a scorching kiss. In an instant, she was flooded with warmth and that little devil appeared on her shoulder again, urging her to blow off work. The angel perched on the opposite side won out, as she reluctantly broke the kiss, whispering, “I really do have to go.”
4
TJ
TJ peeked out the window of his hotel room between the slats of the blinds, watching Morgan make her way to her car. She hadn’t wanted him to walk her out, preferring to exit his room as discreetly as possible. He didn’t move away from the window until she had safely pulled out of the parking lot. Now what to do? Since he was new in town and didn’t start the new job until Monday, he had time on his hands.
He started a shopping list on his phone to stock up on essentials, as he thought about what he’d need in the small cabin. He’d get perishables later, once he had access to a fridge. Despite the workout he’d gotten last night with Morgan, he wanted to get in some exercise, so he pulled up the twenty-minute workout app on his phone and went through the exercise regimen. After showering and dressing, he was ready to head out. His first stop was to the motel office to settle up his bill and get some directions from Nana. Entering the office, he was met by the sound of her television tuned in to one of the cable news channels. She must have heard him come in, as she soon appeared from the back room.
“TJ! Morning! I see you had a great night last night.”
Did she just wink at him?“Uh, yeah, I mean, yes, ma’am.”
“Listen, hun. You’re a grown man. And I don’t get into my customers’ business.Much. But I’ve known Morgan since she was a baby. And her father since he was a child. Heck, I’ve probably diapered every person born in this town for the last fifty years.” She chuckled. “Anyway, just be careful with that one. Her daddy is very protective. If you want to court her, you’ll need to win him over first.”
Although Nana seemed like a sweet old lady, he didn’t need dating advice from her. No one had ever cared before what he did, so he wasn’t comfortable with anyone telling him what to do now.
“I need to pick up some things. Is there a Wal-Mart close?”
If Nana was irritated by him changing the subject, she didn’t show it. “Yes, right before you get into Tupelo. Your GPS should be able to guide you straight there. Take a right out of the parking lot.”
“Thanks, Nana. One more thing. Where do people go for fun on the weekend?”
She gave him a knowing look. “If you mean like a nightclub, just down the road in the other direction is The Jailhouse. My grandson and his friends go there sometimes. It’s got an Elvis theme, but they play all kinds of music.”
As TJ cruised the aisles in Wal-Mart, all he could think about was the night before with Morgan. She was pretty, in a down-to-earth way, different from the women who typically approached him blatantly looking for a one-night stand. He still didn’t know what had possessed him to ask her back to his room. He didn’t make it a habit to initiate hook-ups with strangers. But he’d enjoyed her company so much at the pub, he’d wanted to keep the connection going. Maybe she’d be willing to meet up with him tonight at The Jailhouse. If she made an excuse, then he’d know their night had been nothing more than a one-time thing. There was only one way to find out. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and clicked on her name.
TJ:Hey pretty lady. How’s work? Want to get together tonight?
He fidgeted with the change in his jeans pocket, wondering how long it would take for her to respond.Ifshe would respond. Less than a minute later, he was rewarded with the buzz of an incoming text.
Morgan:Hey! Work is good. What did you have in mind?
TJ:I heard about a place called The Jailhouse. Maybe we can check it out?
Morgan:It’s awesome!
TJ:Great. Want 2 go with me? I can meet you there about 8.
Morgan:Let’s meet at the motel. We can walk so we don’t have to worry about drinking & driving.
TJ:Perfect. See u tonight.
Morgan::)
Now he was walking around the store with a goofy grin on his face. It felt good to make a connection with someone new. And even better, the someone new was of the opposite sex. He was so used to being a loner, he could count on one hand the number of friends or relatives he’d felt any kinship with. And since Morgan wanted to meet him at his room, he hoped he could talk her into spending the night again. So far, Green Springs was looking like a pretty good place to be.
* * *
He’d just finished getting ready when he heard a knock at his door. Opening it wide, he invited Morgan in. His eyes roamed over her from head to toe, taking in every aspect of her appearance, from her bouncy auburn curls, bronzed face with a hint of freckles, and fluttery eyelashes framing gorgeous green eyes. How had he not noticed those eyes before? She was his perfect vision of a country queen, clothed in tight jeans distressed at the knees, brown western-style boots with a bit of a heel, and a western-cut blouse made of a gauze-like material in a bright turquoise color.
“You look great!”
“Thank you, kind sir. Shall we go?”
“Lead the way, pretty lady.”
After about a five-minute walk to The Jailhouse, they could hear the boom of the bass from outside of the club. TJ stepped ahead of Morgan to open the door for her. Once they entered, he took in the atmosphere, imagining that a video for Elvis’s song “Jailhouse Rock” could be shot here. The waitresses were dressed in cute prison-striped crop tops and spandex shorts, the bartenders and bouncers wore guard uniforms, and there were iron bar decorations all around. A DJ sat in a booth that looked like a jail cell, spinning tunes and taking requests.
