"I have your keys."
I whirled around and barely managed to miss the dashboard. "You have my keys?"
"They were on the floor. You dropped them when you fell in my lap," Brady explained as he watched me with caution.
"Oh."
"Yeah…," He sighed and leaned back against the seat. He watched me instead. I ran a hand through my hair, proud that it didn't tremble at all, but I couldn't stop biting my lip. I always bit my lip. Brady's eyes shifted to my lip and a groan escaped him.
I looked up. Our eyes met and something electrocuted the air. Both of us felt it and my skin tingled. I licked my lips and I never lick my lips, but then Brady's mouth was there. I gasped and arched forward. My hands were twisted in his hair to hold him close. Then, as I felt myself wanting to climb on top of him, another car drove by and honked. Reality clicked in.
I shoved him away. "Stop." I wasn't sure who I meant.
"I can't help it. You just…when you bite your lip like that…" Brady groaned and ran a hand over his head. As I watched, my hand lifted to touch his hair.
"Damn it!" I firmly tucked my hand underneath my leg.
"I'm sorry!"
"No, not you, my…" hand. I bit back that word. "Nevermind."
"Okay."
"Can we just…?" My question trailed off when I looked where we were. Charisteaus and Law Associates were written in white lettering on their glass window. A picture of a hammer that hung over a gavel looked back at me. I could almost see an evil face leering through the windowpane.
"What are we doing here?"
Brady grimaced in embarrassment. "I panicked. Deputy Dog said to find a lawyer so I did."
"No self-respecting lawyer is going to be open at four in the morning." I glanced at the clock. "At five in the morning."
"I know." Brady slid further down in the seat. "What am I going to do, Ray? I screwed up this time."
Brady had beaten up Kid Stephens. And Brady had no father to defend him. He had foster parents who were neither wealthy nor powerful. My grandparents were well known in the community. Neil played bingo at the nursing home and Viola was popular with the Ladies' Aid, especially on the days they put brandy in their coffee. However, I couldn't picture those little ladies going against Frank Stephens, prim and properly drunk or not.
"Why did you beat up Kid? Why is he back in town?"
Brady groaned and then growled. I caught sight of his perfect white teeth. "He's back in town for your graduation."
"Huh?"
"That's what I thought too!"
I straightened in the seat to face him. Brady shifted to meet me, but his eyes traveled over my face: over my rumpled hair, and all the way to where my top had ridden up over my stomach.
"Stop it!" I tried to pull down my shirt.
"Sorry, I just…" Brady gestured to me.
I chose my battle. "If Kid really came into town for my graduation, that doesn't explain why you put him in the hospital."
"It's got nothing to do with you."
"But—"
"Leave it, Rayna."
"But—"
"I mean it."
I tried one more time. "Why—"
"I'll kiss you if you say one more word."
I shut up and crossed my arms.
Brady waited and when I didn't ask again, he started the car. "Nellie's?"
It was our tradition post bail. As we drove through town, my stomach grumbled, but I knew I wasn't hungry and especially not for Nellie's food. Brady liked to go there because it was the only gas station open twenty four hours a day and he loved the owner, Ned. Not me. I couldn't stand the old drunk.
When Brady pulled into the parking lot, I closed my eyes against the glare from the lights. Eight other cars were there with people that lingered around them. I recognized some of them as students from school, but saw others that had graduated in Brady's class a year earlier. Then I saw Clarissa Cumberly break away from a group and saunter towards us.
Brady saw her too and glanced at me. "Are you okay?"
"Are you insane?" I shot him an incredulous look. I loved that his on-and-off-again ex was going to see us now. We probably reeked of sex.
Brady paused as he had started to unbuckle his seat belt.
"What are we doing here?" My lip trembled a bit.
"We always come here."
"Yeah, but…" Was he that dense?
"I get arrested. We come here." Brady said it like it was simple, two plus two always equaled four.
"I don't feel up to Nellie's."
Clarissa circled around to the driver's seat and knocked on the window.
Brady still watched me as I watched Clarissa bend forward to display her perfect size C breasts in front of Brady. They were displayed in a denim halter top that rode high on her waist. Her matching denim miniskirt rode low on her hips. From the golden tendrils that hung loose over her shoulders, the dangling earrings, and the glossed lips—I knew that every single guy at that gas station was watching our car. Clarissa drew attention. She just breathed and it came to her.
Brady waited until I nodded my permission and then he rolled down his window to grin. "Yo, Claris—what's up?"
Her smart green eyes snapped from Brady's naked chest to my flushed face and then back again. A corner of her mouth curved upwards. She drawled out, "Apparently I'm not that up…heard you got taken to the joint tonight."
Brady stiffened. "I'm out."
Clarissa gave him a full grin. "I can sorta see that, Brady."
Brady flashed a grin and relaxed against his seat. I watched as the old charisma was switched on. "Yeah, well the dude ripped my shirt. I couldn't go around wearing half a shirt, you know? That'd be stupid."
"I'm sure the ladies will enjoy it tonight." Clarissa's amusement dripped like honey, but her eyes trailed past Brady and found me. "Hi, Rayna."
"Hi, Clarissa." In just those two words, I wanted to disappear. I was sure that I'd said more than I wanted. I was okay with most of Brady's conquests and even the ones, like Clarissa, who stuck around to form friendships with him. They all knew about me and about the weird relationship I had with him, but none of them ever took me seriously until they were on the outs with Brady Remington. Then they couldn't understand why someone like me was always on the 'in' with him. Clarissa had hated me in the beginning, but over the years she'd come to show me respect. However, I didn't talk to them unless I was forced to…like now.
Clarissa watched me, but I hugged my sides and jerked my gaze towards the gas station's doors.
Brady laughed. "What's the word out there?"
A mocking grin formed at her mouth before she straightened and took her boobs away. She leaned a slim hip against the door instead. "You mean with Kid? People are excited, Brady. Kid's a legend, but whatever went down between the two of you is between the two of you. We're cool with that."
I heard Brady breathe easier and I didn't think, I just reacted, and I touched his arm to reassure him. He moved quickly and his hand found mine. When Clarissa turned and glanced down into the window Brady moved our hands out of her eyesight.
"I don't throw punches for no reason."
"We know that."
"Do you think you could give us a minute?"
Clarissa waved a perfectly manicured hand. "Don't worry about it. I'll send everyone packing."
"Thanks, Claris."
Clarissa slapped a hand on the door and lowered herself until her boobs were on display again. "If you're still up for some partying tonight, there's a kegger at Barthal's woods. You know the place."
Brady grinned and nodded. "I do."
Her green eyes switched to me. "Hope to see you there, to see you both. It's graduation week, Rayna. It's time to let loose before the real world comes knocking."
With a wink and a chuckle, Clarissa saluted her goodbye and sauntered away. It wasn't long before everyone left the gas station behind her.
Brady's eyes sparked. "Finally."
He was out the door
before I could unclasp my own buckle.
CHAPTER THREE
We were in the back booth, enjoying our food or I was trying when Ned decided to join us. Brady greeted him with a big smile and I dropped my taco. I'd lost my appetite. When a customer came into the station, I picked it back up. Ned had to hurry off, but it wasn't long before we heard him coming back with two beer cans in hand and another surprise. Deputy Doug was behind him.
"What's wrong, Deputy Dog?" Brady grinned as he took one of the cans from Ned.
Deputy Doug slid into the booth by me. "I've got bad news, Brady."
His uniform seemed more wrinkled than it was an hour ago.
Even Ned grew silent. I watched as he pounded his chest and stopped a belch.
How considerate of him.
Then Brady's foot curled into my side on the booth and my hand clutched it. None of us were sure we wanted to hear what Deputy Doug had to say.
"I'm afraid that I have to tell you, Brady, that…the charges have been dropped!" Deputy Doug broke out in a wide smile and pounded a fist down. The beer cans rattled on the table. "Goddamn, boy, I don't know how you do it—but you did it again. The charges are dropped!"
Brady blinked in shock before he said anything. "I don't know…I don't know what I did, Deputy Dog. I didn't do anything…"
"Well, someone did. Frank Stephens doesn't back down from a fight and he just did." Deputy Doug grinned in relief and threw an arm on the booth's back.
Brady shook his head. "I can't believe this."
"Come on, tell me now. You were worried, weren't you?" Deputy Doug pumped his fists in the air, almost gleeful.
Brady laughed shakily, and then shot me a quick plea with his eyes.
I straightened and cleared my throat. "I can't believe that you programmed your cardboard Bigfoot to growl at customers, Ned. It was bad enough that he laughed at us when we walked in, but now he has to growl at us? I was scared to come in here. Do you want to scare customers off? What about all those little kids that come in after school?"
Ned reared his head back as he studied me.
I looked irate, but I really wasn't. Brady looked relieved from the corner of my eye. I even saw how Deputy Doug frowned, scratched his head, and then looked from me to Ned.
"Why, I never…I don't know what you want…," Ned sputtered as his hand clenched around his can of beer.
"That's the problem, Ned. I'm speaking as a constituent of your average customer. I hate the growl. You should get rid of it."
Ned still sputtered. "It's Bob. Bob is greeting people. It's how he greets people."
"'Bob' is not real."
Deputy Doug snorted.
"Yeah, but…Bob's a friendly Bigfoot. Bob the Bigfoot!" Ned looked proud as he scratched his yellow stained shirt.
Brady burst out laughing, but quickly turned away.
"You should give Bob a break. A lot of people love Bob."
"'Bob' is made of cardboard."
"Bob's a lot more than cardboard. His feelings are hurt, missy. You should apologize to Bob," Ned said defiantly, but I caught how he looked from Brady to Deputy Doug.
I pretended to sputter, but the truth was that I didn't care. That's when I snuck a glance at Brady and saw that he was okay again.
"Bob's feelings are hurt," Ned harrumphed.
Bob's feelings weren't the only thing that was going to hurt if I had a say about it.
When Brady and Deputy Doug burst out laughing I realized that I'd spoken aloud. "I am so sorry, I didn't…I mean…I don't—Bob's not real!"
"He's real in spirit." Brady's eyes were laughing. "He's real in spirit."
"You, missy," Ned barked and stood up. "You need to change your attitude. I done have no time to deal with the likes of you." With those parting words, he stomped away from the booth and a little later we heard the cash register ping open.
Deputy Doug laughed softly. "You and Ned always bump heads over things."
Brady laughed his agreement. "You know, Rayna, you don't have to go around and look for things to pick at. You know how Ned feels about that Bigfoot. He's sensitive."
I rolled my eyes. "Well excuse me for being honest. He could have more customers if he'd just get rid of that thing."
Brady chuckled. "And you know what else, Ned's right about your attitude. You really can be negative sometimes."
I was negative? When I was helping him out? My eyes narrowed. "What did you just say?"
Brady straightened in his seat and flashed a grin. "You know what I'm talking about. You need to let loose more, Rayna. Take the stick out of your ass."
Deputy Doug grew quiet.
I saw red. "Well, not all of us are 'cool' enough to get in fights and get thrown in jail every other week. I mean, not all of us are 'cool' enough to go and have a beer the next day with the person you busted up. You're right, Brady."
Brady's smile dimmed—just a bit.
I continued, "Maybe I should do it. Maybe I should let loose and see who I punch. Hell—maybe I should even sleep with someone. That'd be fun."
His smile was nearly extinct.
I kept going. "You're right. I've been meaning to get on that. Everyone else is talking how much fun sex is. I think it's time I have some of that fun. Wouldn't want to miss out, would I?"
Brady glowered at me. "You're talking stupid. Don't talk like that."
"What do you mean? I thought I needed to 'let loose' and 'get the stick out of my ass.' I mean, that's what you said, wasn't it?"
Brady glared.
I glared back.
Deputy Doug had ceased to exist.
It was at that time that Ned chose to make his appearance again. He took one look at us and left again.
Deputy Doug cleared his throat. "Uh…I just wanted to let you know the good news, Brady. And I should be heading back to the station. You, huh, you two have a good rest of the morning, you hear?"
As he left, Brady slumped back in his booth. "See what you just did. You scared 'em both away."
My eyeballs threatened to pop out.
"What?" Brady saw my look. "You did. They like me, Rayna."
"I cannot believe you!" I threw my hands in the air and stormed from the booth, past growling Bob and Ned who'd taken position behind his counter again. Bob's growl roared behind me when I went through the door and I waited in the car, fuming until Brady came out. When the door swung open and I saw him coming, two guys from school stopped to chat. Then Brady stopped mid-sentence and turned my way. I felt the heat of his gaze through the windshield and I gulped, slumping down further in the seat.