My empty mug sliding off the table in her slim hand brings me back to the present, and I watch her walk away. She has the perfect body. The logo on the front of her ugly yellow t-shirt is right in the middle of an ample rack, and her slim waist curves into the kind of hips that are made for holding onto.
The skirt she’s wearing is tight and, for some reason, doesn’t look right on her. It just doesn’t look like her style, even though I don’t know her from fucking Adam. But I’m really enjoying the view. Her ass and hips make a perfect heart and are practically hypnotic as she moves.
When my friends were chasing hard, bony women, my eye always sought curves. Women are meant to be soft to balance the hard edges of men. The slap of skin and the suppleness under my hands are what I get off on.
Fuck. My pants are getting tight around the chub I’m getting from looking at her. Grabbing my hat, I throw enough bills on the table to hopefully convey my apologies for acting like an asshole and leave.
9
NORA
LIGHT TAPPINGon my door sends my heart into overdrive, and my head turns, my eyes glued to the natural wood. I’ve been avoiding Allison this past week, since she asked me to go get my license, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to break down and ask her what she’s going to do with it. Is she just making a copy for her records, or is she uploading it into some kind of database?
Clearing my throat, I try to sound casual. “Yes?”
“You have a phone call; it’s Ryder.” Allison’s chirpy voice is on the other side of the door.
My chest deflates as the breath I sucked in rushes out. Taking a few calming breaths, I call back to her, “Coming.” I almost feel like a teenager again at Grams’ house when she would come to my room to tell me I had a phone call.
The house has been quiet the past couple of days, I think I’m the only guest right now, but it’s Thursday, and I bet the weekend reservations show up tonight or tomorrow. Jogging down the stairs, I round the front desk where Allison left the phone sitting on the desk for me.
“Hello?”
Ryder’s deep voice booms through the phone, and I see him in my mind standing with his hand on his hip like he did the morning when he came for my keys last week. “Ms. Abernathy,it’s Ryder’s Garage. Do you have a minute to talk about your car?”
Walking into the sitting room with the cordless phone, I stand in front of the window to watch the people walking on the sidewalks outside, it’s a gloomy day and I’m hoping he’s not going to make it gloomier. “Please tell me you have good news.”
The hesitation sends my heart into my stomach. “Well, good and bad, which would you like first?”
Great. There’s bad news. Sliding my fingertips up my forehead, I squeeze my eyes closed. “Just start with the bad and we can finish with the good.”
“The bad news is that the parts I need for the repairs are backordered. Your car being a German car makes things a little more difficult, especially since I’m not a specialist for those types of cars. I have a couple of suggestions if you’re open to hear them.”
Surely this will get better. I clear my throat. “Okay. I’m listening.”
“First, if you want, I can tow the car to a specialist I know in Tulsa and he will have it done quicker, however, it will cost almost twice as much.”
He can’t be serious. Is this the good news? The groan that works its way up my throat is involuntary and I know he probably heard it on the other end.
“I have another suggestion which will cost you less money and get you on the road quicker.”
This sounds promising.
“The amount of money you are spending on repairs could easily get you a comparable domestic SUV and I know someone who is trying to sell one.”
Is he seriously trying to sell me a car right now? What he’s saying makes sense, but I don’t know enough about cars or maintenance on cars to feel confident making a move either way.
That car was the first grown-up thing I bought, and I was so sure that Grams would be proud of me, especially since I bought it with money she left me, which wasn’t much, but that car represents more than just a car. It’s kind of my link to her in a sort-of way.
I silently consider my options as I watch people on the sidewalks outside in raincoats, carrying umbrellas, darting from cars to shops and vice versa. I need to educate myself before I blindly get deeper into this conversation.
Taking a deep breath, I let my lips blow a small raspberry. “Do you have to have an answer right now?”
“Nope, if you need to think about it, you can call me back later or tomorrow.”
The air around me feels heavy and I close my eyes. “Okay. I’ll call you back. Thank you.”
Opening my eyes, I touch the button on the handheld to hang up and then look back outside. Kinley’s familiar SUV pulls into the driveway and a little part of me perks up, and I stifle a giggle as I watch her struggle with her big belly.
