Roadside Attraction (Castle View Series Book 2) (2 page)

He grinned. “Butterflies need saving. And Freshman English is way too boring.” He took her in for a second. “I don’t believe you are old enough to have a kid in college. Hell, I feel like I just left school a few days ago.”

“Tami came to live with me four years ago. She was fifteen and I was twenty-eight. Out of the two of us, she was the more mature one. The kid’s had a hard life and I swore I’d give her a better childhood to remember, even if it was for only a few years.” Maggie’s blinked away tears as she told Josh about how Tami had left home after her dad had died. “Somehow, she’d settled in St Josephs, sleeping in campgrounds until the school got wise to her game. Then she’d come to live with me.” What she didn’t tell Josh was their temporary situation, turned out to be one of the best things that had happened to Maggie. She liked being a mom, even if it was to a teenager way too old for her own good.

He put his bottle down and went to rack the balls. When he returned, he nodded toward the table. “You’re up.”

“I thought losers rack.” She dusted the top of her cue with chalk.

“Exactly. I’ve never done anything in my life that matched what you just told me so I believe you’re the winner in the life stories contest. But you just wait until we play the darts round. I’m definitely going to embarrass you there.” He moved her empty bottle and opened a new one for her. “I don’t know you very well Maggie, but I’m getting the feeling you’re pretty amazing.”

Two hours later, she sent Cari home and locked the door, turning off most of the lights. She went back to the pool area where Josh sat at the table watching her.

“I can leave too.” He looked at his watch. “I guess it is pretty late.”

“We play the last tiebreaker game and then you can leave. I hate leaving things without a solid ending.” She grinned. “Unless you’re afraid I’m going to seduce you now that we’re alone?”

“You mean, like this?” He stood and pulled her toward him, one arm around her waist and the other lifting her hair away from her face. As he leaned down, she took in the smells of the beer and cologne and a whiff of motor oil before he covered her lips in a dangerously sexy kiss. She melted into him, wrapping her arms around him, feeling the hardness of his muscled body. As they broke apart, she saw the twinkle in his eyes. “Now I don’t have to worry and I can kick your butt in this game.”

“Whatever. Call the toss.” Maggie flipped a coin, still tasting him on her lips.

“Heads.” His grin was lazy and made her want to kiss him again.

She looked at the coin. “Sorry, tails. I’ll go first.”

He took the coin from her hand.

She pointed to the coin. “You sure aren’t very trusting.”

“Mama didn’t raise no fool.”

She went to the pool table and this time, she ran the table, calling her last shot and catching his gaze before she sank the winning ball. She hung up her pool cue. “And that folks, is how you do it.”

He pulled her into his arms again and they kissed even more passionately this time. His touch wandered over her body and she groaned. “I have a couch in my office. I’ve never done something like this before, but . . .”

“I don’t want to push you farther than you want to go.” He stepped back and gently stroked her hair into place. “But if you want to, I’m all in.”

She looked at him, his dark hair even blacker with only the neon sign on the walls illuminating their space. Somehow, the lights had gone off. A distant memory about a timer kept her from freaking, but in a way, it made this all the more real. “I hope you have protection.”

He pulled her close again. “It just so happens, I do.”

She stepped away and took him by the hand, leading him to her office and the couch. Just for tonight, she wasn’t going to worry about anything but pleasure. She could worry tomorrow when Josh and his Indian bike were long gone.

Maggie awoke from her doze when she felt him sit up and grab for his jeans. He saw her as he jiggled them on and then sat next to her and kissed her again. “I better get going. Do you need a ride somewhere?”

She grabbed her shirt off the edge of the couch and covered herself. Too late to be shy now, but for some reason, that’s how she felt. Shy and insecure, but totally satisfied. “I have my car. Can you wait and walk me out though?”

“Of course.” He pulled on his shirt and started tying his bootlaces. “I really enjoyed our .evening, Maggie.”

She felt the heat and hoped the room was dark enough that he couldn’t see her reaction. “Me too.” She scrambled around the room finding her shirt on the desk, jeans half way over the couch. How did her clothes wind up all over the freaking office?. Finally, she found her last shoe and slipped her foot into it. She grabbed her purse and clawed on her pea coat, digging her keys out of her coat pocket. “Okay, I’m ready.”

He followed her to the back of the bar where she’d parked her car that morning. He waited for her to open the door and start the engine before holding a hand up in a casual wave. She watched him walk around the building to the front parking lot where his bike sat.

She turned down the radio when her favorite country star, Carrie, started was singing about not knowing her new name and wondered what had gotten into her. Maggie hadn’t been this reckless since high school and the words to the song grated on her. She angled the car to the driveway and paused when she saw him crouched next to the bike. Surprised he hadn’t left yet, she rolled down her window. “Everything okay?”

He stood, pocketing the keys as he turned toward her. “Not even close. I’m an idiot.” He looked around the deserted lot. “I hate to ask, but could you drive me to my motel? I’ll get a ride back up here with a tow guy tomorrow.”

“You’re staying in St Josephs?” She looked at the dashboard clock, almost two. She should get in and out of town without anyone seeing her. More likely, she’d run into the entire church choir finishing the last leg of their version of a poker run on scooters.

“It’s near the edge of town. The Colonial Inn? The rooms are clean and it’s cheap. I’m not picky when it comes to the rest of the accommodations hotels offer.” He stepped toward her car, then paused, seeing some emotion pass over her face. “You
are
going to take me into town, right?”

She pondered saying no for a few long seconds then tilted her head toward the passenger door. “Get in. Just don’t expect me to tuck you into bed before I leave. This is strictly a drop off and run type of favor.”

He grinned and sprinted over to the other side of the car. Hurrying to get his seatbelt on, he looked at her. “What? I wanted to set down and strapped in before you change your mind. I don’t mind walking, but town’s what, ten miles away? It might be early June, but it feels cold out here.”

“About that.” She turned the car around in the parking lot and headed to the road that would take her out to the highway. She turned up the stereo and now, Bon Jovi screamed out the lyrics to Living on a Prayer. The local DJ seemed to be reading her mind tonight.

***

Josh Reyes snuck a look at her in the dim lights the dash lamps gave him. Her hair was just the right look of messed for a woman who had just about fulfilled several of his fantasies less than twenty minutes ago. His fingers itched to reach over and brush a strand off her shoulder so he could see her face better. He thought if he did attempt the movement, he might just lose one or more digits in the attempt. Wild and yet, Maggie was more sophisticated than most of the women he’d dated in the last ten years. He had been just another step for the social climbers to the really big fish he called his friends. He wondered if it would change how she thought of him if she knew he had a trust fund bigger than some countries operating budgets. For some reason, he didn’t think it would.

Turning his face away he stared out the window into the darkness. Then he realized he could still see her in the reflection of the glass. Their gaze met and heat poured across the small cabin, but this time, he was the first to break the spell.

He was done with relationships and he’d never let himself be put into the role of joker ever again. Even if the package was as lovely as Maggie. He pushed the memories of her and their evening out of his head. He needed to say something. Anything. “Look, I’m not typically a one-night stand kind of guy. You don’t have to be worried about anything. My last relationship ended six months ago.”

The look on her face told him she hadn’t even thought of the ramifications of what they’d done together, even with a condom. “That’s, umm, nice to know. However, I’m not looking for a relationship. I mean, there’s the restaurant, and Tami, and my family, they’re always demanding my time.” Her words sped up as she kept talking. “I don’t even really know you. You walk into the bar, start sweet-talking me, and the next thing I know, I’m naked.” She took a long breath.

“You’re blaming me for what happened? I seem to remember you being an active participant.” He felt the grin tugging at his lips and tried to keep it locked away.

She waved a hand at him. “No, no. You misunderstood. I just mean that I’m not looking for a relationship. Besides, one night doesn’t a love affair make.” She twisted her face toward his. “Oh, please tell me that you’re not married. I don’t think I could stand breaking up a relationship like that. You’re not are you?”

Now he was totally confused. He rubbed his hands over his face. Confused and beat tired were not a good combination. “Not what?”

“Married. You’re not married, are you?” She kept looking forward, and he could tell she was holding her breath, waiting for his answer.

“Not married, not in a relationship, no ties to any place or any one.” He yawned, then pointed to the old neon sign ahead to the right. “There’s the motel.”

She snorted. “I’ve lived here all my life. You didn’t think I could get you to the only motel in town?” She pulled into the parking lot. “What’s the room number?”

“Why, you want to come in for a second round?” The question was out of his mouth before he even thought about how it would sound. The car jerked to a stop in the middle of the parking lot.

“Fine, you can walk from here to whatever room you’re staying in. I hope its number 15 since it’s all the way to the back.” She glared at him. When he didn’t move, she waved both hands in a scooting motion. “You’ve been delivered. Now get out of my car.”

He worked hard to keep the grin off his face. As fired up as the girl appeared to be, a grin might just get him run over when he left the vehicle. “Thanks for the lift. I truly appreciate it.”

When she didn’t say anything, he opened the car door and stepped out. Before he closed it though, he leaned back into the vehicle. “I’ll get the bike out of your lot first thing in the morning. I promise.”

She nodded, then as she started to pull away, a man approached her side of the car.

“Mags, what are you doing out this late? Don’t tell me you got lonely and decided to look me up.” He pushed his hair out of his eyes and leaned against the car. “You know, I’ve got tickets for Saturday night’s fight in Spokane. They have some good kids in there now. You want to come along?”

“As tempting as that sounds, Tom, I’ll have to take a pass. Besides, aren’t you and Darlene still dating? I’m pretty sure she would love to go.” She put the car in gear. “Got to go.”

The motel night manager walked back and stood outside the office, lighting a cigarette. He nodded as Josh approached. Josh knew he should just let it be, but he was drawn in like watching a car wreck.

“Maggie Castle dropped you off?” The man’s voice was gravelly like he swallowed a red solo cup full of small rocks. 

“Yep. You know her?” Josh paused on his way to his room. He didn’t know why he cared about Maggie’s history, but he did.

“You could say that.” Tom threw his cigarette down and using the ball of his brown cowboy boot, crushed it into the ground. “She’s a looker. She’s always been hot, even when she was cheering for the local high school. I had a thing for her most all of senior year, but those Castles, they don’t pal around with the lower class.”

Josh leaned against the porch rail. “Oh, I don’t know. She seems pretty friendly.”

The guy chuckled. “Believe me, I know a lot of men who tried to crack that chick, but she’s ice. Not to mention that she has two brothers who would rather mess you up than welcome you to the family barbeques. I heard her old man thought she was going to land some rich husband and save the farm, but he died before she even thought about marriage.” He shrugged. “Who knows, she may play for the other team.”

Now that Josh knew for certain wasn’t true, which led him to believe that most of the crap he’d just heard was as false as this guy’s opinion of Maggie’s sexual orientation. But he might pass on some information that could be useful. “So they own a farm?”

“A farm, winery, the restaurant Maggie manages, and, you’re not going to believe this, a freaking tiger zoo. I heard rumors when the old man was alive that the businesses had hit some hard times, but then the oldest, Mark, came back and started running things.” He shrugged. “I guess Mark wasn’t such a bad guy in school.”

The phone in the office rang and the manager turned that way.

“I better get that, it’s probably my girlfriend checking up on me. She says she just wants to talk, but I think she gets dirty thoughts about me and all these empty rooms. Like I have women fawning all over me to get me in the sack.” The guy looked at Josh. “You probably don’t know what I’m even talking about. I bet you can have any woman you want.”

Josh shrugged. “I do all right.” He waved and started walking to his unit, which did happen to be the farthest one on the courtyard. A smile curved his lips. Maggie would love knowing he was hoofing it. Although she’d probably kick the hotel manager in the balls for talking about her that way. Too bad he was out of here as soon as he collected his bike. Maggie Castle was one puzzle he’d like to figure out, one layer at a time.

He opened the old wood door with his key and after locking the door, threw himself on the bed, fully dressed. Thoughts of Maggie and the things they’d done tonight kept circling his mind.
Damn, if I’d only left after dinner, I wouldn’t be president of her fan club.
He tossed and turned for what seemed like hours, then fell into a light fit full sleep, glad he hadn’t planned on taking off early tomorrow.

The next morning after taking a hot shower to appear like he’d gotten some sleep, he sat wrapped in a towel on the edge of the bed. Opening the nightstand drawer, he found a phone book. Staring at the cover like it was something from an antique store, he finally opened the pages and looked for an auto repair shop. He wrote down the address and phone number.

He dressed in his last pair of clean jeans and pawed through his duffel looking for a less than dirty t-shirt. The motel had a coin operated laundry room where he’d be spending some quality time later this afternoon. Right after he picked up the Indian.

The motorcycle was the only big purchase he’d made since he left college and gained full control of his trust. That had been another subject of contention during the fight with his papa. The paychecks he received weekly from the family business was enough to pay the rent on his condo and keep him from going hungry or naked on the streets. He supposed one day he’d use some more of the fund to buy a house, but mostly, the money just set there, waiting for him to die and pass it on to his heirs. Which as of today added up to absolutely no one.

Stopping at the front desk, a perky blonde greeted him. “Good morning Mr. Reyes. Don’t tell me you’re checking out already.”

The woman was as different from the egotistical night manager as their shifts would suggest. She radiated happiness and for some reason, Josh felt like he could trust her. He looked down at the name on her shirt. “Peggy, I need to ask you a question.” He handed her the piece of paper. “Do you know where this is?” 

She looked down at the page. “Of course I do. That’s Magnum Garage.” She pointed to the street that ran in front of the motel. “You just head down Main Street for a couple blocks, then turn left on Bannock. It’s on the left.” She pushed the paper back toward him and understanding crossed her face. “Oh, no. Did something happen to that cute little motorcycle?’

“Hopefully it’s minor. I’m probably going to be here through the week though. Can I extend my stay?” He smiled as if he didn’t realize the motel wasn’t fully booked. No use making assumptions and limiting his options.

“Honey, you can stay here as long as you like. Sexy looking guy like you classes up the place.” The office door chimed as an older couple came in from the parking lot. She nodded to the newcomers. “I’ll be right with you folks. You need anything else Mr. Reyes?”

“I’m good.” He held up the paper. “Thanks for the directions.”

As he left the motel, he was again surprised at the smell of pine that permeated the town. Forests smelled this clean, not little towns. He started walking toward the street. Time to go get his baby. And if he happened to run into Maggie, so much the better. Maybe he’d ask her to lunch. He wouldn’t mind spending more time with the dark haired beauty.

An hour later, he was standing over the bike watching Norm, the mechanic-slash-tow truck driver checking out the engine. Norm held up a piece of metal he’d been working on pulling out of the machine. “You were right, broken throttle cable. I’m surprised you didn’t notice this loosening on you.”