Pulling into the Thriftway parking lot, I climbed out of ole Peggy Sue, right into a huge puddle. Water sloshed over my shoes, up to my calves.
“Son of a ...”
I stomped through the puddle up to the store and grabbed a cart. Once again, I was squeaking as I pushed through the sliding glass doors into the warmth of the store. I smelled fried chicken. My stomach rumbled as I headed to the back. A man in a brown raincoat stood off to the side, watching me as I squeaked past. I almost said, “Take a picture, it lasts longer” but then remembered that is what Viktor said. I still didn’t know what happened to Vincent. I was kind of hoping to see him here.
How pathetic is that. It’s Friday night so he probably had something better to do than hang out in the grocery store. It still didn’t stop me from hoping he would make an appearance.
A big sign that said “meat” hung over the case as I pushed my cart up to the beef section. I grabbed three large New York Strip steaks, then headed over to the fresh vegetable section and picked out three good-sized backing potatoes and put them in a little plastic bag. I knew I needed to get a vegetable but my mom didn’t say what kind, so I ended up getting some fresh green beans and a bag of slivered almonds to make almandine. I had one last thing to get. She wanted a cheesecake for dessert, so I headed to the bakery, which was on the other side of the store.
There were a couple different kinds to choose from—Cherry, Strawberry or Blueberry. I decided on the Cherry—it looked the best out of the three. Placing the box in the bottom of my cart, I made my way back to the front checkout stand. I passed a candy display. On a whim, I grabbed a few boxes of Red Hots and tossed them in the cart.
The girl Sandy from yesterday was the cashier at the checkout again. Today I noticed how pretty she was and immediately felt a stab of jealousy. Grabbing up one of the blue plastic separators, I placed it on the black conveyer belt and unloaded my groceries. Three kids bounced up and down like little monkey’s in the cart in front of me. There was a girl and two boys, who looked like twins. The mother sighed loudly, pushing her short black hair behind her ears and then lifted out two gallons of milk.
I grabbed a magazine and flipped through it, waiting my turn.
“Suzie put that back!”
The little girl had her hands full of candy and gave her mother a toothless grin. She tossed her stash up with the other groceries.
“That’s enough, Suzie!”
The little girl giggled and ran back to the front of the cart and climbed in.
“Did you want this too?” Sandy asked the woman, lifting a Twix bar in the air. She smiled at the little girl. She had full pouty bee-stung lips, heavily coated with lip-gloss.
“Yeah, ring it up too.”
“Thank you Mommy,” Suzie said, clapping her chubby hands.
“You won’t get that until after you eat all your dinner. Understand?”
Suzie nodded her head enthusiastically. “Yes Mommy.” She ducked her head around her mother and looked at me.
I smiled.
Her eyes glittered strangely and she smiled. I could see two sharp teeth on either side of her mouth.
A shiver ran up my spine. Taking a step back, I butted up against someone. “Sorry.”
A hand pressed into my back.
“Not a problem.”
I turned around and the man in the raincoat from earlier was standing behind me. His gaze flicked over me almost hungrily.
He didn’t even have any groceries. Pervert.
I stepped closer to the woman. She looked over her shoulder at me. She made a face. “Steven, come around the other side.”
Completely embarrassed, my cheeks bloomed with color. I lifted my magazine higher.
“Daddy!” Suzie jumped up and down in the cart as the woman pushed her cart out of the way.
“Excuse me,” the man, Steven, said. His body pressed up against mine, as he pushed too closely past me. I felt violated.
“Back so soon?” Sandy asked.
“Yeah,” I said, digging out my credit card.
“You just moved here, right?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Where from?” she asked, her perfectly drawn on brow hitched up a notch.
“I’m from the east coast.” I never said where I was from exactly, since no one seemed to know where Sunshine, Maryland was anyway. It was easier being evasive.
“Oh.” She chewed on her lip like she was debating whether or not to ask me another question. “Are you in school?”
“Yeah, I go to Forks High School.”
“I used to go there.” She leaned forward and said, “Before I was asked to leave.”
“Oh.” What was I supposed to say to that?
“So is that how you know Vincent?” Her pale face turned a light shade of pink at the mention of his name.
“I guess.” I dug further in my bag and grabbed out my keys. Was this the Spanish inquisition?
“He was here not too long ago.”
“He was?” I didn’t mean to sound so excited.
She frowned. “Yeah, he stopped in to see me.”
“Oh.” My face reddened. “That’s cool.”
“Yeah, we go way back.” She dropped the steaks into a bag and slammed them into the cart a little forcefully.
“That’s nice.” I felt sick.
“Yeah, it is.” She dropped the cheesecake. “Sorry.” She made a face that was anything but sorry. “Do you want to go get another one?”
“Nah, it looks all right.” That was a lie. The cherries were smushed up against the cellophane top.
“That will be fifty six dollars and twenty three cents.” She tapped her bright blue nails on the register.
“I charged it.”
“Oh.” She hit a few buttons, the register made a clicking noise as the drawer popped open. She slammed it shut. “You want your receipt?”
“Yes…please.”
She ripped it off the register and handed it out to me.
Taking the receipt, I shoved it into my bag. “Well, thanks.”
“No problem.” She glared at me.
“See you.”
“I’ll see you,” she said. It sounded like a threat.
Feeling strangely unsettled, I pushed my cart out into the rain. This time I left the cart on the sidewalk and carried my bags. The rain was hammering by the time I made it to the car. Throwing open my door, I jumped in.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
“Whoa, calm down.” Vincent held his hands up.
“What are you doing in my car?” Even as I said it, I felt a rush of excitement.
“I was waiting for you.”
“That is so not cool.”
“Hey, you left your doors unlocked.”
Did I? “That doesn’t mean it’s an open invitation to get inside.”
“It’s not?” He shrugged.
“No its not!” I leaned over and put my bags in the back seat. “You almost gave me heart failure.”
“Almost?” He lifted his brows, smiling. “You need me to give you mouth to mouth resuscitation?”
“No.” My lips twitched. “I think I’ll survive.” It was hard being mad at him, especially since I was hoping to see him, anyway.
“So, why were you waiting for me?” I fiddled nervously with my keys.
“I was hoping you’d give me a ride.”
“Let me guess, your ride left you here and went back to…”
“Yeah, something like that,” he cut me off and looked out the window.
Dead air spread between us.
“Um, I can, I mean, sure. I’ll give you a ride,” I babbled, suddenly feeling nervous.
“Sweet!” His face brightened and he put on his seatbelt.
“Alrighty then.” I put the keys in the ignition and started the car. Peggy Sue sputtered and then groaned to life… barely. She sounded sick. Stupid car.
“So what did you do today?”
“I went to school.” I turned
on the windshield wipers and the lights.
“Oh.”
“Where were you?”
“I had some stuff to take care of.”
“Like?”
“Just stuff.” He rubbed the tops of his jeans. Something red was on his left thigh. “Can we get out of here?” he asked, sounding anxious.
“Okay.” I put the car in reverse and backed out, quickly.
A horn blared.
Slamming on the brakes, I held the wheel in a death grip. “Son of a…”
Turning in the seat, he looked out the back window. “Hold on.” He jumped out of the car.
Adjusting the rearview mirror, I tried to see what he was doing. Bright lights glared in the back window, making it impossible to see. A dark form raced by the back. The passenger door opened again and he jumped in.
“What was that about?”
He raked his hand through his hair, knocking water to the floor. “Nothing, let’s go.”
“Fine.” Reaching up, I adjusted the rearview mirror again. The lights were even brighter, like whoever was behind us, turned on their high beams.
A horn blew again, the sound long and drawn out.
“What a wad.” I punched the gas, squealing wheels through the parking lot.
Vincent laughed. “I like that.”
“What?”
“Your names for stuff,” he said.
“Oh.” Pulling to the stop sign just like last night, I turned on my blinker and took a left.
“So, you must like shopping or did you run out of food already?”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “My mom needed me to get a few things for dinner.”
“Something special going on?” he asked, glancing in the back seat.
“She has a friend coming for dinner.” I frowned and slowed around a turn.
“You don’t like him?”
“How’d you know?”
He shrugged. “Your face,” he said. “You’re frowning.”
“Oh, well, I don’t know. He seems nice, I guess.” I glanced over at him. He looked different.
I hit a pothole, bottoming out. The car bounced and I jerked the steering wheel to the left. A loud hissing noise came from outside and my steering wheel pulled to the right.
“I think you’re losing air,” he said. “You better pull over.
“Where do I pull over to?” I asked, trying to stay on the road.
“Turn here, there’s a driveway.”
I didn’t see a driveway, but I turned into a little graveled path leading down into the woods. “You call this a driveway?” I put the car into park.
“I didn’t say it got used very often.”
“Where does it lead?”
“To old man Fletcher’s house,” he said.
“I take it he doesn’t go out much?”
“Not really. He’s dead.”
“Oh.” I turned off the ignition. “What happened to him?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know.” He opened the door. “Wait here. I’ll check your tire.” He jumped out of the car and slammed the door.
Not sure what to do, I grabbed my messenger bag and pulled out my phone. It wasn’t too late but I didn’t want my mom freaking out. But then again I didn’t want her asking where I was either.
After a moment, I got out of the car to see how bad it was before I called. The rain had slowed to a drizzle. The trees groaned with each gust of wind, creaking eerily. A white mist swirled in the air.
Pulling up my hood, I walked around the front end of my car. Headlights appeared over the hill from the main road, slowing. Momentarily blinded, I shielded my eyes against the bright light. It was a black SUV with tinted windows. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was the same one that almost ran Vincent over yesterday.
A window rolled down. “You need some help?” a deep voice called.
“I’m not sure,” I called back. It was too dark to see inside.
“Let me pull over and I’ll see if I can help.”
“Okay.”
The engine roared as the SUV sped up the road and did a quick u-turn, and pulled over on the opposite side.
The door opened. A dark figure jumped out. Even from this distance, I could see who it was. My heart thumped.
He sprinted easily across the road and came to an abrupt halt. “Oh, it’s you,” he said, sounding less than enthused. He shoved his hands pockets. “What happened?”
“I hit a pothole and gave myself a flat… I think.”
“You don’t know?” He gave me a look like I was stupid.
“I haven’t looked yet.”
He muttered something I couldn’t understand and stepped around me.
“What are you doing?”
“I am going to look at your tire.”He glanced at me over his shoulder. The wind ruffled his dark hair.
“I don’t need …” It was too late, he would see Vincent. I couldn’t help but wonder if they knew each other. “So, do you guy’s…”
I moved around the car. Vincent wasn’t there and Viktor was squatting down, feeling my tire. Ducking down, I looked in the window. The car was empty. “Where did he go?”
“Where did who go?” He glanced up at me.
“Ah…someone was helping …” I didn’t finish.
He stood up, brushing off his hands. “You picked up a screw in your tire.”
“Can I drive on it?”
“I wouldn’t.” He shook his head. “Do you have a spare?”
“Um, I’m not sure.”
“Open your trunk and I’ll check for you.”
“Okay.” I scanned the tree-line.
“You said someone was helping you?” He stepped in front of me, his sheer size dwarfing me in comparison.
“No.” I shook my head. “I was going to call someone to help me but you came so….”
He gave me a look like he didn’t believe me and lifted his face, inhaling deeply.
The trunk sprung open and I took a step back. I didn’t know why I didn’t tell him about Vincent.
He leaned inside and pulled up a rubber mat in the back that I didn’t know could move.
“Is there a tire?” I asked looking around his side. He smelled nice.
“Yeah,” he said, pushing against it. “It’s flat.” He dropped the mat back down.
“Well that is just perfect,” I sighed. “My mom is going to kill me.”
“Why’s that?”
“We only have one car and she’s expecting me home with the food for dinner.”
He gave me a curious look.
“She has company coming,” I explained. I didn’t mention it was Deputy Dawg.
“Well, I can give you a lift home.”
“What about my car? Should I call a tow truck or something?”
“Nah, I can come back later and fix it for you.”
“You’d do that for me?” I asked surprised.
“Yeah,” he said, his brow creased.
“I don’t want you to go to any trouble.” I felt bad.
“No. It’s fine.” He shifted and looked into the woods. “It’s a pretty easy fix,” he said. “Come on, I’ll get you home and come back later.”
“Don’t you need a jack and tools?”
“Yeah, I’ll get them too.”
“Okay.” Indecisive, I stood there. I couldn’t leave Vincent. What if something happened to him?
He looked over his shoulder. “What are you waiting for?
“Ah, I have to get the food.” I opened up the door, slipped my messenger bag over my shoulder, and grabbed the keys. A box of Red Hots sat on my seat along with a note. Quickly, I opened it and read what it said.
Had to jet
V
I shoved the candy and note in my pocket, then grabbed the food from the back. That was weird. Couldn’t he have just told me? Well at least now I knew he was okay.
Crawling out, I shut the door and locked it. A gust of wind blew against
me. The temperature was dropping steadily and the fog was getting thicker.
Feeling jittery, I looked around. I couldn’t see him. Great, was I going to get ditched by two guys in one night?
A twig snapped. My heart thumped erratically. Oh—crap! I had a bad feeling. “Hey,” I called. Strange noises were coming from the woods. I fumbled with my keys, trying to unlock my car. Leaves crunched, and I heard footfalls approaching, fast. I dropped my keys. “Shoot!”
“I’m here,” he said, stepping out of the woods.
“What are you doing?” I pressed my hand to my chest.
“I needed to take a leak.”
“Oh.” My face bloomed with color.
“Come on.” Reaching out, he took the bags.
I suddenly wanted to hug him. “Thanks.”
“Not a problem.” He smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Okay.” I followed him across the street. He hit a button and the back opened up. He put the bags inside.
Walking over to the passenger side I waited for him to get inside and unlock the door. Instead, he surprised me once again and opened the door for me. “It’s kind of high.”
“I think I can manage.” Taking off my bag, I climbed inside. Sitting down, I set my bag on the floor. The interior was a tan leather and super clean. It smelled like Viktor. On the console was a stack of cd’s. I glanced at the titles, surprised that he liked some of the same music.
He jumped in. “You ready.”
“Yeah.” I pushed my wet hair from my face and pulled on my seatbelt.
Turning the key, music filled the interior, thumping loudly.
Reaching out, he turned it down low. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, I like that band.”
He lifted his brow. “You do?”
“Why do you look so surprised?”
“I didn’t figure you for the type that would listen to The Cult.”
“Well I do.” I gave him a smug look. “I have all of their cd’s.”
“Even this one?” He pulled out the case and handed it over to me.
“Did you cut yourself?” Something red was all over his hand.
“What?” He gave me an odd look.
“There’s blood on your hand.”
“Is there?” He glanced at his hand.
“I think I have a napkin in my bag.” Lifting my bag off the floor, I pulled out an old napkin.
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Don’t be silly.” I reached for his hand.
He pulled it away. “It’s fine.”
“You’re getting blood on your steering wheel. Here let me just…”
“I said its fine,” he snapped.
“Jeez, fine.” I stared out the window, the trees blurred. Tears welled in my eyes, which was so stupid. I dashed them away before he could see.
He cranked the heat. “You warm enough?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
A long silence followed.
“So, where were you going?” he asked finally breaking the silence.
“I was um…going home.”
“You live in the opposite direction.”
“Oh, I must have got lost.” I shrugged, like it happened all the time.
“You were lost?” He sounded doubtful.
“I’m not good with directions.”
“I see you made it to the store all by your lonesome.”
“Yeah. So. What’s your point?”
“You only need to make three turns.”
“It was raining and hard to see.”
“Hmmm.” He frowned. “Well, next time just make a right and go straight. You live in the old Seabrook Victorian on Mora Drive, right?”
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
“Small town, people talk.” He lifted his brows.
”Oh.” Great. “So what else have you heard?” That my mom is batshit crazy?
“Not much.” He adjusted the heat. He had long fingers.
“You play the piano?”
He laughed. “No.” His dimple appeared.
“Do you play any instrument?” I asked just for something to say.
“I have an acoustic guitar, from my Grandfather that I mess around with a bit but I wouldn’t say I play well.”
“Well at least you can play an instrument,” I sighed.
“You could if you wanted to. It just takes some practice.”
I shook my head, laughing. “No, I’m not musically inclined.”
“I read a book once on how to be great at anything.”
“Really, what did it say?”
“It only had one word in it.”
I gave him a doubtful look. “And what’s that?”
“Practice.” He grinned at me.
“Funny.”
“It’s the truth,” he said. “You just need to practice.”
“Well, I don’t have anything to practice with…so…”
“That’s not a problem,” he said. “I can show you some basic chords sometime on mine. If you like it, I know a little shop in Port Angeles that sells second hand instruments for pretty cheap.”
“Wow. Thanks.” I wasn’t expecting to like talking with him so much. It was strangely unsettling.
“So when do you want to hookup?”
My gaze drifted to his lips.
“Amber?”
“What?” I looked back into his eyes and immediately wished I didn’t.
His brows pulled together. “You know for English… the paper?”
Stupid. “Right…the paper.”
“What did you think I meant?” He looked like he was biting back a laugh.
“Ah…I don’t know.”
“Really?” His brow hitched up a notch.
“Yeah… really,” I said. Luckily, the front door opened saving me from having to embarrass myself further. “I better go, my mom is waiting.”
Grabbing up my bag, I opened the door. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Amber…” Reaching out he grabbed my arm.
I turned and our eyes locked. He leaned forward and I instinctively closed my eyes.
“You’re forgetting your groceries.”
My eyes popped open. His face was inches from my own. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “Oh, right.” If I wasn’t holding onto the door I probably would have face-planted into the puddle at my feet. How embarrassing. “Thanks.” I shut the door.
He jumped out of his door. “Wait up,” he called “I’ll help you carry them in.”
Mom was standing in the doorway, all dolled up. “Oh, it’s just you,” she audibly sighed.
“Yeah, Mom, it’s just me.” I guess she was hoping I was Deputy Dawg. She stepped away from the door and checked her reflection in the mirror. “You look great Mom.”
“I do.” She turned sideways. I couldn’t tell if she was asking me or agreeing with me.
Viktor cleared his throat behind me.
“Oh, this is ah….”
“Viktor,” he supplied his voice deep, velvety.
“Oh.” She cut me a sideways look. “I didn’t know you had a friend with you.” Her entire face brightened.
I frowned. “Yeah, he gave me a ride.”
“What happened to Peggy Sue?” She looked horrified.
Seriously, she looked horrified over her stupid piece of crap car…but not me. Typical.
“I picked up a screw in the tire. Your car will be fine.” I assured her. This seemed to settle her down a bit.
“When is Deputy Daw…I mean Ken getting here?”
“He’s going to be late,” she said breezily. Of course her lackadaisical attitude was merely a show for Viktor’s benefit. “There was another incident,” she continued.
I didn’t bother asking her what the incident was, I was sure Ken would give us a blow by blow when he arrived.
“So how do you know Amber, Viktor?” She practically purred his name.
“We go to schoo
l together.”
“Amber.” She hit my arm. “You didn’t tell me you had such good-looking boys in school with you.” She tucked her hair behind her ear.
Was my mom flirting with him? Gross. “I’ll just put these groceries away.” I pushed past her and then stopped. There was no telling what embarrassing things she would say about me when I wasn’t in the room.
“Mom, aren’t you going to marinate the steaks?” I asked, hoping she would get away from Viktor, before she embarrassed me for like ever.
“Oh, yes, I’m coming.” She dropped a book on the floor. “Oops,” she giggled, and made a big show of bending over. I could see straight up her short skirt, which meant so could Viktor. “Mom!” I wanted to hide under a rock.
“Yes, honey.” She stood again, flipping her hair back, like she was in some kind of big-hair band.
“Come on.” I angled my head toward the kitchen. “You need to marinate the steaks or they won’t be ready when Ken comes.”
“Oh, right,” she said offhandedly, still salivating over Viktor.
Getting my mom away from Viktor was turning out to be a lengthy endeavor. I gave up, walked into the kitchen, and pulled out a Hefty plastic bag. Breaking the steaks out of the packaging, I dropped them in the bag and then added a cup of soy sauce, honey and some minced garlic, then gave the bag a good shake. Leaning back, I looked out into the living room. Viktor had his hands shoved in his pockets, nodding his head each time my mom asked him something.
“Jesus.”
I ripped off three pieces of foil, scrubbed the potatoes, wrapped them up and tossed them in the oven. Grabbing a colander, I dropped in the green beans, splashed in some white vinegar, and let them soak for a moment while I dumped the almonds on a baking sheet to toast quickly in the oven.
The phone rang.
“Hello,” I said, tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder as I rinsed off the green beans in the sink.
“Are you…”
“Hello,” I repeated, filling a pan with water.
“I am…” The phone crackled.
“What?” I patted the beans dry with a paper towel.
“I’m waiting for…” The connection broke and all I could hear was dial tone. “Weirdo.” I dropped the phone on the counter.
“Who was that?”
I jumped. “Jeez, you trying to give me heart failure?” My hand pressed to my chest.
He pushed off the door and stepped into the kitchen. “Sorry.”
I didn’t think he looked sorry at all.
“Where’d my mom go?”
“She said she needed to do something.” He shrugged. “I didn’t ask what.”
“Good thing.” I shook my head, rolling my eyes. “Sorry about that.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“You have to ask— my mom talking your ear off.”
“I don’t mind… she’s nice.”
“Yeah, she’s something.” I slid the almonds in the oven. Wiping my hands on a towel, I glanced at the time. It was already seven thirty. “So what was she saying to you?”
“Not much. She was just asking me about school and stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?” I hoped it wasn’t anything embarrassing.
“She said I should take you out.”
“No.” I gaped. “She didn’t…did she?”
He lips curled into a slow grin. “Nah, I was just messing with you.”
“Thank goodness.” My heart was palpitating.
“She asked me to stay for dinner.”
“Oh, that’s ah…”
“Don’t have heart failure. I told her I couldn’t.”
“I wasn’t going to…”
He laughed. “You’re a bad liar.”
“I really don’t mind if you stay but…”
“But...?”
“Nothing.” I didn’t want to say that my mom might humiliate me even further.
“Well I better get going, so I can get the stuff to fix your tire.”
“Right.” God, I felt like a such a b. “Um…” I debated for less than a second. “You want me to come with?”
“What about your dinner?”
“You mean my third wheel dinner? I think I can miss it.”
“Won’t your Mom be upset?”
“I doubt it.”
“Okay. I guess you can come.” He raked his hand through his hair. He had nice hair like really nice.
“You guess?” I crossed my arms.
“Yeah, I guess I wouldn’t mind the company.”
“You wouldn’t mind…” I frowned. Somehow I was hoping he wanted me to go.
“Well, it’s the least I can do since you are fixing my tire and all.” I wasn’t giving him that one.
“Yeah, it’s the least you can do.”
I was about to give him a smart retort but his expression was off. A shiver raced up my spine and I took a step back. Maybe going out with him wasn’t the best idea I had.
The doorbell rang.
“Ken’s here!” Mom, called from the other room. “Look alive, Amber, and get some drinks.”
Well that sealed it. I was going out, strange icky feeling and all.
“Let me fix them drinks and I’ll be right with you, okay.”
He leaned against the counter. “Sure.” His brow lifted. “Look alive?”
“Yeah, it’s her thing.” I rolled my eyes.
“Interesting choice of words,” he said, lifting a knife from the counter, touching the tip with his finger.
I grabbed down two glasses from the cabinet and opened the freezer. The ice tray was empty. Great.
“You don’t need ice for wine.” He held a bottle up in the air.
“Right. Thanks.” I switched out the tumblers for wine glasses. “Shoot, which wine?” I grabbed the Pinot Noir off the counter.
“What’s for dinner?”
“Steaks.”
“Definitely the red.” He nodded at the bottle of Cabernet.
“Let me guess, you’re an expert.”
“No. My dad and mom drink wine a lot.”
“Yeah, so does my mom.” Even when she thinks I’m not looking.
Searching the drawers for a corkscrew, I reached around him. He angled his body toward mine and I instinctively held my breath. “Looking for this,” he said, holding up the corkscrew.
“Yeah,” I expelled a pent up breath.
“Let me.” He held out his hand for the bottle.
I was too happy to hand it to him. I probably would have broken the cork or dropped the bottle. “So how do you know what wine to serve?” I asked just for something to say.
“It’s pretty easy really. The bloody meats like beef or lamb are always paired with a red wine and the lighter meats like chicken or fish are paired with white. Of course, at the end of the day it really comes down to personal preference but that’s what Julia Childs’ always says, so….” His lip tipped up.
“You watch cooking shows?”
“No. But my mom does, usually while she’s cooking and drinking wine. I can always tell what we are having for dinner. She’s a real stickler for the proper etiquette.” He pulled out the cork. “Now it needs to breathe, unless you have a decanter.”
“I don’t even know what that is, so I’m guessing, that would be a big NO.”
“It’s just a bottle with a wider top, like a vase, kind of. It helps speed along the breathing.”
“Oooh—kay. If you say so.”
My mom ducked her head in. “Amber what’s taking so long?”
“Viktor was helping me open the wine. It’s breathing.”
“Yes, I can see that.” Her gaze flicked down his body.
Gross. My face burned. My mom was acting like a horn dog. Maybe she needed some. I was definitely going out. “Here you go.” I handed her two glasses.
“Thanks sweetheart.” She took a sip from one of the glasses, peering over the rim, her gaze lingering on Viktor.
<
br /> “Is it okay?”
“Yes, sweetie… it’s fine.” She cradled the glasses.
Somehow I got the feeling she wasn’t talking about the wine. Seriously. Gag me—I felt like puking.
“I better get this to Ken.” She giggled like a demented person in a physco ward.
I followed her out. “Mom…” I said.
“Amber,” she exhaled, stopping, sounding annoyed. “Make it fast, Ken’s waiting.”
“Yes, yes, I know.” I tried not to roll my eyes. “So, do you mind if I go with Viktor to fix the tire?”
“What about dinner?” Her brows shot up to her hairline.
“I mean, I can stay, if you really want, but everything is done except grilling the steaks and making the almandine.”
Ken sidled up and took the glass from my mom. “Thanks Eileen, this is just what I needed.” If possible, his uniform looked even tighter.
She preened. “I thought you’d like it.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. Mom was already heading down the same slippery slope she had been down a million times with every other man she had dated. “What are you two beauties talking about?” His eyes brightened.
“Amber wants to go out,” my mom said stiffly.
“I don’ think that is such a good idea,” he said, shaking his head. His molded hair didn’t move.
I tensed. Since when did Deputy Dawg get a say in where I went. Jeez, he just met my mom. “I was going to get the car.”
“What happened to it?”
“I got a flat.”
“How’d you manage that?” his voice sounded skeptical.
“I ran over a screw.”
“Well, you can’t go alone. It’s simply not safe. I will take you after dinner.”
“No!” I practically yelled. There was no way I was going out alone in a car with him. “I already have ride.”
“Really?” He lifted his perfectly arched brow. It looked like he had them waxed. “Who is taking you?” he asked, eyeing me closely like I was lying.
What was his problem?
“Deputy Warren.” Viktor stepped out of the kitchen.
“Viktor,” he said and took a deliberate step back.
There was a strange vibe between them. Almost like Viktor was the authority figure, not the other way around.
Ken’s face reddened. “How’s your father?”
“He’s doing well,” Viktor supplied smoothly.
“Give him my regards, would you?”
“Certainly,” said Viktor.
Ken adjusted his stance. “You two be careful, there was another incident nearby.”
“Good to know.” Viktor took another step toward the door, inching his way out.
Ken puffed out his chest. “Be sure to let your father know we are on top of it.”
“I will,” he said pleasantly enough but there was an underlying edge to his voice. “Thank you, Deputy.”
“What about the steaks?” Mom asked, giving me the hairy eyeball.
“Um…” I was torn. I totally didn’t want to stay home but I felt bad leaving her alone with dinner—she couldn’t cook for crap.
“Eileen…” Ken interrupted my thoughts, shaking his head, looking freaked. “I can do it,” he assured her. “I am quite the grilling machine,” he boasted.
“Is there anything you’re not good at?” she gushed, sliding her hand over his back.
Saved by Ken? Now that was something. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.
“You ready,” Viktor said, keeping his voice low.
“Um, yeah, just let me grab a different coat.”
“Okay.” His eyes glinted. “You want to meet me in the car.”
“Yeah, I’ll meet you outside.”
“Goodnight Ms. Davis,” he called.
“Oh goodnight,” she said, a little too enthusiastically.
Ken poked out his head. “Be careful you two.”
“We will.”
Ken turned and walked back into the kitchen and Mom trailed after him, hot on his heels.
“I’ll be right out.” I practically shoved Viktor out the door before my mom decided to come back out and try to flirt with him. Once he was outside, I ran up the three flights of stairs to the attic and quickly stripped out of my wet clothes and pulled out a pair of jeans, t-shirt, and a hoodie. Yanking on my pants, I stumbled over to the door and made my way down to the bathroom. I shut the door and quickly brushed my teeth and combed out my hair. Surprisingly, I didn’t look half-bad.
Once I was sure all remnants of toothpaste were off my face, I pulled a rubber band on my wrist, used the bathroom, and then ran back downstairs. Ken and Mom were sitting on the sofa, in a deep conversation about something. I tiptoed by, hoping they didn’t see me… my escape in sight.
“Amber,” Mom called.
“Yeah?” I froze, halfway to the door.
“Don’t stay out too late.”
“No problem.” I grabbed my slicker from the hook and ran out the door before she changed her mind.
six
Once outside, I let out a pent up breath, smoothed my hair, and made my way over to the passenger door. Before I had a chance to put my hand on the handle the door popped open. Heat flowed out, warming me immediately. I climbed inside and shut the door.
“You ready?”
“Yep,” I said, and pulled on my seatbelt, getting situated.
“The Cult or Extreme?” he asked, holding up two cd’s.
“Definitely the Cult,” I said.
He put the cd in and turned down the volume so it was more background music. Pulling out of the driveway, he hit the wipers and headed down the road toward where my car was. I tried not to stare at him but it was kind-of hard. He had a gorgeous face with gray eyes—like the sky right before a thunderstorm. Feeling self-conscious, I picked at my nail polish.
“So, your Mom is seeing the Deputy?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“That was fast,” he said and turned out the driveway. “Did she know him before?”
“No. Not at all,” I said. “She met him at the station one day last week when she got lost in town.”
“Our town?” he asked and gave me a look of disbelief.
“I know right.” I shook my head. “Don’t ask me how but my mom can get lost anywhere, even in her own backyard.”
He chuckled lightly. “That bad?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I laughed.
“So who keeps an eye on her when you’re at school?”
“No one,” I said. “I usually try to take the car so she has no way to go out.”
“Where is your dad?”
“He remarried and has a new kid so I don’t see him very often.” The last thing I wanted to talk about was my whacked family. If he knew anymore he’d probably think I was a freak. So I changed the subject. “So how do you know Deputy Da—Warren?”
“It’s a small town and I’ve lived here my whole life, so…” He slowed around a turn.
“He said something about your dad, how does he know him?”
“My dad owns like half the town.” He rolled his eyes.
“Oh…wow.” Wow. “That’s cool.”
“Not really,” he said. “It kind of sucks.”
“Why’s that?”
“Like I said, it’s a small town,” he answered. “I can’t take a leak without him hearing about it.”
“Well your secret is safe with me.” I smiled, referring to him using the woods earlier.
He cut me a strange look. “What secret might that be?”
I thought he was kidding. “You know…. Earlier in the woods.”
Suddenly, he hit the brakes and we came to a screeching halt.
“What did you see?” He glared at me, his face a stern mask.
Gooseflesh rose on my arms. “Ah…you used the bathroom… in the woods… remember?” I lifted my hand from the dash and pressed back in the seat.
“Oh,
right.” He hit the gas again and we sped forward once more.
Staring out the window, I watched the landscape blur.
“Did you know Nuno is touring with Rhianna?”
“Huh?” I totally had no idea what he was talking about.
“Nuno…from Extreme,” he elaborated.
“Oh, really?” I wasn’t sure what that had to do with the conversation we were just having but went along with it anyway. “No way,” I said with a bit more enthusiasm then was warranted.
“Yes way.”
“Crazzzy.” Too bad I wasn’t talking about Nuno being on tour.
The rest of the way we listened to music without saying anything. I caught him singing out the choruses of a few of the songs. He had a nice melodic voice. It kind of made me forget he had acted like such a spaz before. Turning into the drive he parked and flicked on his high beams. Opening the door, he glanced at me. “This should only take a minute,” he said. “You can stay here where it’s warm, if you like.”
Normally I would have stayed in the SUV but it was my car after all. “No, I’ll come and hold the light or something.”
“Suit yourself.” He jumped out and slammed the door. Grabbing my phone off the floor, I hit the flashlight app and got out of the SUV. When I walked around to the back of the car he somehow already had it jacked up and was removing the lug-nuts. I shined the light down on the tire. It didn’t look flat to me.
As if he heard my thoughts he ran his hand over the tire, inspecting it. He sat back on his haunches and looked up at me, a question in his eyes. “Your tire is fine.”
“It is?” I swallowed hard and shoved my hands in my pockets.
“Yeah,” he said.
“How’d that happen?”
“I guess you have a guardian angel.” He replaced the lug nuts and removed the jack. “Did you call someone?” It sounded like an accusation.
“No.”
He stepped up to me. Lifting his hand, he moved my hair away from my shoulder. “You have nice hair.”
My stomach flip-flopped. “Ah…thanks.”
“What do you want to do now?”
“Huh?” My gaze settled on the cleft in his chin, then without me realizing it, I was suddenly transfixed by his lips. There was another, smaller scar by his mouth I didn’t notice before. I wanted to touch it, ask him how he got it…maybe even kiss it…
An owl hooted in the distance, breaking the spell and I came crashing back to reality. I stepped back and butted up against my car. “I guess I should get home, so my mom doesn’t freak.”
“We haven’t been gone that long.”
He had me there. “Ah, I don’t know.” I fidgeted with my coat zipper. “What do you want to do?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Why not?” I asked, nervously.
“You might hit me.” His lips turned up.
“Try me…” As soon as the words were out of my mouth I wanted to keel over from embarrassment.
He pressed in against me, and I found it hard to take a breath. My heart was going a mile a minute. His fingers skimmed over the column of my neck.
“Don’t tempt me,” he breathed. His warm breath rushed against my cool skin causing shivers to race over me. I caught a faint waft of cinnamon but it wasn’t coming from him. He smelled good, but different. It was a heady, inviting scent that made me want to burrow my face against his chest.
Leaning back, he looked down at me. “What is that smell?” He gave me a look like I had just dropped a bomb or something comparable.
Horrified, I shook my head, my face burning. I turned away, sniffing the air. “What smell? I don’t smell anything.” That was a lie, I smelled cinnamon—it lingered heavily in the air.
His nose wrinkled, and he covered his face like Glinda had done when I ate the Red Hots, but I hadn’t eaten any.
I thought of Vincent. Was he here?
Suddenly, I felt like I was cheating even though that was ludicrous. I didn’t know Vincent any better than I did Viktor. Like night and day, they were complete opposites.
Looking into the woods, he stepped back away from me, his stance defensive, like an animal poised for attack.
Before I could even react, my body lifted off the ground and was shoved behind him. I stumbled, barely catching my footing.
“Get out of here!” He spun toward me, his hands fisted at his sides.
“And go where?”
“Go home!” He loomed above me.
I took a reflexive step back, not sure what to do. “Your SUV is blocking me in.”
“Take my keys.” He shoved them into my frigid fingers.
“What about my car?” I asked not getting what was going on. If he wanted me to leave why didn’t he just move his dang SUV? I took a step forward and then I saw it. Two glowing eyes further down the drive, they looked like animal eyes…how they reflect in the light… except it couldn’t be an animal. It was too big—like human, big. I shook my head, not registering what I was seeing. Human eyes didn’t glow in the light…did they?
His hands came down roughly on my shoulders and he shoved me forward. “Amber, you need to leave!” he hissed.
A low growl came from somewhere in the woods. My entire body convulsed with fear. “No. What? Come with me.” I grabbed hold of his arm.
“I can’t!” He shook me off and wrenched open the door to his SUV. In one fast movement, he lifted me off the ground and threw me inside. “I don’t have time to argue with you right now. I will meet you later. Go home!” He slammed the door shut. “Lock the doors!” he shouted through the glass and then he ran. It was so fast I couldn’t make out where he even went.
Completely freaked, I fumbled with the keys and started the SUV. It roared to life. I hit the lock button, slammed the SUV into reverse, and punched the gas. Gravel spewed in the air as I quickly backed out of the drive. My feet barely touched the pedals and I tried to see over the steering wheel. Once in the road, I slammed on the brakes. I looked out the window down the drive. All I could see was my car. Idling, I sat in the middle of the road…
An unholy noise came from somewhere in the woods.
With shaking hands, I put the SUV in gear and hit the gas. The wheels squealed on the wet pavement as I sped toward home.
The Cult blared out of the speakers suddenly. “Ahh,” I screamed. Fumbling with the dials, I shut it off.
Nothing made sense. The rain had started again, making it even harder to see but somehow I made it to my street in one piece. Slowing slightly, I pulled into my driveway and killed the engine. The Deputy was still here. I jumped out of the SUV and ran inside.
Throwing open the door, it banged against the wall.
The living room was empty. “Son of a …”
Without thinking, I ran up the stairs to the second floor. I could see my mom’s light on under her door. I ran down the hall and knocked crazily.
“Deputy Warren?” I called. There were a few explicit words uttered and then the door swung open. Mom stood there, with her fuzzy robe wrapped securely around her, looking frazzled.
“Amber…” She pushed out the door. “What are you doing?”
“I need the Deputy, something happened to Viktor.”
“What?” She gaped at me, like I was a pod person.
“Mom, I don’t have time.” I tried to shove past.
“Amber, stop.” She blocked me.
Ken finally made an appearance. His shirt unbuttoned, revealing a surprisingly bare chest. He raked his hand through his molded hair. “Amber, what’s the matter?”
“Something, this thing, and then he told me to go and I came here. I didn’t know what to do.” Incoherent words rushed from me.
The Deputy blinked stupidly at me.
“Did you hear me?” I yelled.
“Amber, what are you talking about?”
“Viktor needs you.”
That perked Ken up. He stood straighter; pushing back his shoulder
s like the Queen had just entered the room. “Tell me again what happened,” he said all business now.
“We were fixing my tire and then Viktor told me to leave and I saw this thing in the driveway that wasn’t right and he made me leave and come home. I don’t know what is out there but it looked like a big animal—but it was the size of a person. I think.”
“Where is he?” Ken asked, looking freaked.
“Ah, we were in Mr. Fergusons driveway.”
“What were you two doing in old man Fergusons driveway?”
“That’s where my car is.” I tried to keep it together. “Does it even matter?” I pulled at my hair in frustration. “You have to go and help Viktor.”
“Calm down, Amber,” Ken said in a surprisingly soothing tone. “I will drive out there and take a look.”
“I will go with you.”
“No!” his voice raised an octave. “This is a matter for the Police department.” He lowered his voice. “You will only get in the way.”
“But…”
“Listen,” his tone was placating now, “this is what I am paid to do.”
“Okay.” I relented. “Hurry.”
“Eileen…” He gave her an apologetic look.
“Be careful out there.” She stepped forward and pressed her body against his for a lot longer than necessary.
“I will.” He kissed her forehead.
It was really sweet actually but seriously? Now was not the time.
“I will take care of it Amber, don’t you worry,” he assured me. “You did the right thing.” After he got his gun and jacket out of the bedroom, he left.