Dirty Shame (Bluefield Bad Boys #1) (9 page)

Chapter 15

Kellan

Pop’s Gym was just like it sounded, a mom and pop gym in the middle of nowhere. Only
mom
, better known as Pop’s wife, had left him ten years ago for one of the body builders who frequented the place. Pop, or Rob, his real name, had been a professional boxer and wrestling coach in his younger days, so he ran a tight, no nonsense gym. Aside from one questionable treadmill, no shiny chrome machines or fancy juice bar. Just weights, punching bags, jump ropes and a few other primitive devices meant for the serious workout. You didn’t go to Pop’s to socialize and gawk at women in their spandex clothes. You went there to work out.

Sunday afternoon was always a quiet time at the gym. Pop was in his office watching drag racing on television. There were only three other people working out.

I gripped the smooth wooden handles of the jump rope. It whistled through the air and my feet thumped the mat. Tommy and Dawson came through the front door arguing about something. Tommy said something and waved Dawson off. That seemed to put an end to the conversation.

Dawson stopped halfway to the weight area. “Can’t believe you pulled yourself away from Rylan long enough to come work out. What happened? She get tired of ya already?”

I ignored him and kept jumping. I couldn’t really blame him for being such a dick about Rylan coming back. He, and Tommy, for that matter, had been there. They knew what had happened grad night, and they knew that I had grown into a damn walking time bomb afterward. My short temper and my dark mood had gotten me into plenty of trouble back then. Even though they’d always had my back, they grew tired of bailing me out of crap all the time. Once I’d finally accepted that Rylan was gone for good and that she had no interest in me or Bluefield, I was completely broken, like a wild horse no longer willing to buck or kick. I just fell into a spiritless, dark mood that took me a long time to climb out of. Now Rylan was back. I was an adult now too. But after just one day with her, an amazing fucking day at that, it seemed that all the old feelings were still there. And they were still strong enough to knock me on my ass again if she left.

I stopped the rope and wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand. I headed over to the weights where Tommy and Dawson were doing bicep curls.

“You were saying something earlier about Jigsaw coming into The Hole last night?” I popped my heel up on the bench to stretch out the back of my legs.

Dawson counted four more reps and then lowered the barbells to his sides. “What an asshole. Guess he’s going around claiming that Lowe paid off the referee to call you the winner because there was big money on him. Which was a lie in the first place. Scott said most people had put their money on you to win, but Jigsaw has scrambled up the story.” He smiled at his pun.

“Considering the overgrown fool left the ring with his nose looking like a pancake and barely remembering his name, I don’t think he’s got much of a case. But I’ll fight him again. What does Lowe say about it? Seems like he should be pissed. Jigsaw is questioning his ethics. Not mine.”

Tommy had taken a break from the curls. He and Dawson exchanged a look.

“What’s with the silent message?” I asked. 

Tommy never liked to talk as much as Dawson, but when he spoke, he never wasted words and always headed straight to the point. “You fucked Lilly right before the fight?” He asked it like a question, but it seemed he already knew the answer. Which was good because I had no intention of giving him one.

He looked at Dawson. “Told you.”

“Told him what? Are you two dicks going to let me on this secret conversation, or what?”

Dawson put his barbells down. “Someone saw Lilly going into the locker room before the fight.” He dropped to the mat for some push-ups and to let Tommy finish what they had to say.

“Someone?”

Tommy shrugged. “It might have been Gilly. He was there that night. Anyhow, whoever it was, they mentioned it to Jigsaw. I think that might be more of his motive for getting back in the ring with you.”

“Fuck.” I walked over and grabbed hold of two weights. “The last thing I need is for this to get around and for Lanie to hear it.”

A short, dry laugh shot from Tommy’s mouth. “That’s your big fucking worry? Jigsaw doesn’t wear the cut, but he’s a Browning hometown boy and the Grunge Devils take care of their locals. He’s in close with that club. That’s who you should be worried about. Christ, Braddock, you’re getting yourself twisted into a fucking knot again over Rylan. You’re not thinking straight.”

I was just about to tell him to fuck off, but I’d lost his attention completely. He stared, unblinkingly, in the direction of the door. I glanced back over my shoulder. Dawson’s sister, Andi, had walked inside.

She hoisted her duffle bag on her shoulder and waved at us.

I looked back at Tommy. “Speaking of twisted in a knot. You can take a fucking breath now, bro.”

“Fuck you.” The weights clanged extra loud as Tommy returned them to the rack. Then he headed toward the punching bags, where it seemed some poor bag was going to have the shit beaten out of it.

“Hey, Andi,” Dawson called across. “Haven’t seen you in here for awhile. Trying to get in shape for anyone in particular?” Dawson knew that Tommy was nuts about Andi, but he was also a protective brother. As close as he was to Tommy, he was never good with the notion that one of his best friends should date his twin sister.

Andi reached the weight area and took a long, sort of sad glance in the direction that Tommy had walked. “Hey, Tommy,” she called to him.

He lifted his chin like he might do to me or Dawson. “Hey.” He started pounding the bag. Andi was smart. She never talked about it, but she’d always known that Tommy had had a crush on her through school. But she was also humble. She’d never had a lot of confidence when it came to guys. I never understood why. She was pretty and smart and athletic. I figured it probably had to do with the fact that her dad was a heavy fisted ogre, always more quick to insult than to praise. Andi’s lack of self-esteem made it impossible for her to understand just how much Tommy loved her. Andi’s dreams, like Rylan’s, had always been better suited to a life away from Bluefield. But Tommy, like me and like a lot of guys from our side of town, had been born to be a miner.

Andi walked over and gave me a brief hug.

“Sorry about the sweat.”

She laughed. “I’m working as an emergency room nurse. Trust me, sweat is like the champagne of body fluids.”

“E.R.? Dawz didn’t tell us you got moved to the emergency room. That’s got to be rough.”

“It’s hard and stressful, but I love it. The work shift goes by really fast.”

“I’ll bet.”

Dawson rested his hand on the bench and lifted his body up to work his triceps. “Did you find a place to live yet? Heard you were dating some big shot doctor.”

Tommy’s rhythmic thumping got faster and louder.

Andi glanced in his direction for a long moment before turning back to Dawson. “There’s no such thing as a big shot doctor because they’re all big shots. At least in their minds. Some of them deserve the descriptor because they are truly brilliant. And some don’t because they are anything but. Nick’s all right. But he’s so damn serious, and he has trouble letting go of work when we’re not at the hospital. And, occasionally, he acts like he knows everything, which he probably does, but it’s annoying just the same.”

“Sounds like a fun guy.” I pulled my arm across my chest to stretch it. “I’m going to go over to the punching bags. Looks like Tommy’s having too much fun on his own over there.”

“Heard Rylan Merritt was back in town,” Andi blurted as I walked toward the bags.

“Yep.”

Andi knew just as well as Dawson and Tommy that having Rylan back was a huge fucking deal to me, but I didn’t want to talk about it. I walked over to the punching bag next to Tommy and hadn’t noticed that Andi had followed until Tommy’s fists stopped. He steadied the bag with his hand. Sweat dripped off his face as he stared down at the floor, as if he thought she couldn’t see him or talk to him if he didn’t look at her.

I was almost feeling more sorry for Andi than for Tommy. She really had no idea why he was being such an asshole. “Hey, Tommy, thought I could get a hug or something. I haven’t seen you for a few months.”

Tommy looked down at his sweat soaked shirt. “I’m covered with sweat.”

“Considering how many times I’ve cleaned blood off of you, I’m not too put out by a little sweat.” She walked over and lightly embraced him. He didn’t move to touch her. I knew he wouldn’t.

Andi paused for a second to smile at him. Tommy could hardly make eye contact. Looking a little less cheery than when she walked over, Andi shifted the strap of her bag on her shoulder. “Guess I’ll go change.” Tommy gave the slightest nod. Her smile disappeared completely as she turned and headed toward the women’s locker room.

Tommy stood there, knowing full well that I was staring at the side of his face. He shook his head a little bit. “Not a fucking word, Braddock.”

“Really? Cuz I was just gonna say that it’s like looking at a fucking mirror image. And now you know why Lanie came up as my first concern.”

Chapter 16

Rylan

Becky texted that she was out front. Apparently, Abbie, the owner of the town’s ice cream shop, had whipped up her first batch of pumpkin swirl ice cream. Abbie was one of the most beloved citizens of Bluefield. Her ice cream shop was nirvana for anyone with a sweet tooth. The shop was situated just below the tracks. Ironically enough, most of the fun places were on the
south
side of town. Even the Highlanders with the longest sticks up their snooty butts were willing to cross the tracks for Abbie’s rocky road and fudge brownie swirl.

I, too, was never one to turn down an ice cream cone. I zipped up my coat and climbed into Becky’s car. “How can the sky be so blue and the temperature be so darn low? Might be just a little cold for ice cream,” I noted as I cupped my hands in front of my mouth and blew hot air against them.

“Never too cold for pumpkin swirl.” Becky fiddled with the defrost button. Warm air blew up from the dash. “So, have you run into
him
again?”

“Here you go again with the mysterious pronouns. Kellan. His name is Kellan.”

Becky raised a smoothly plucked eyebrow my direction while still keeping her eyes on the road. “Considering I played in the same sandbox with the guy in kindergarten, I’m well aware of his name. You’re avoiding the real question, which I can only interpret as a yes.”

I stared down at my hands. They were slowly thawing out.

“Ry? What the hell is going on? Did you see him again?”

I couldn’t keep down the smile. Not that it mattered. Becky always had a way of reading my mind. And when it came to Kellan, I was always wearing every thought and emotion right next to the heart on my sleeve.

She smacked her steering wheel, but her suede gloves muffled the sound. “You saw him. You went and saw him.”

“Actually, after I saw him at the bar, he showed up at my window with some pebbles and that smile that I just can’t say no to.”

It took her a second to comprehend my meaning. “Say no to what? Oh my god, you slept with him already.”

“Stop with the
already
stuff. You make me sound like a slut. It’s Kellan we’re talking about. There is no
already
. We were together for a long time before I left to college.”

“Right, well excuse me, miss right and proper, but it has been seven years and you’ve only been back for three days. I don’t think
already
is too strong a term.” She relaxed back, her shoulders sank some. “Just when I thought I had my activity buddy back, now I’m going to lose her again as she goes completely gaga over Kellan Braddock.”

“Gaga? I don’t do gaga.”

“Uh, yeah, when it comes to that boy, you do. You do gaga with the best of them when that coal dusted man is in your world.”

Becky’s car stuttered as it drove over the tracks and into the south side of town. She looked over at me. “Just take it easy, Ry. O.K.? I know you’re older and more mature and a big college grad and all, but I can see that same teenage twinkle you used to get in your eyes back in high school. Kellan would walk into class or down the hall, and you’d nearly fall into a trance just looking at him.”

“I’m fine, Beck. I’m a big girl. You forget I just broke up with a man who was supposed to be my husband, and I’ve hardly thought twice about him. I’m different. I’m worldly now,” I said with a wink.

She clicked her tongue. “Worldly, my perfectly well-toned ass. At least in my mind it is. I think the mirror in my bedroom came from some carnival fun house.” She waved her gloved fingers to stop her tangent about her ass. “If you haven’t given Chase a second thought, then you must not have loved him. It’s a whole different ball game with Kellan. So just take it easy.” She huffed a breath. It blew up through her long bangs. “There’s no parking. I’ll have to pull around the corner and drive into the miner’s parking lot.”

A large, open-backed truck carried the miners down from the work site. There was little room around the mine that wasn’t filled with heavy equipment and train cars. So parking was arranged only for the managers and people like my dad, who had huge financial interest in the mine but who had never worn a coverall or dirtied their hands with coal dust.

Becky parked the car, and I surreptitiously peeked around for Kellan’s bike. Of course, Becky knew exactly what I was up to. She pointed across the parking lot. “It’s over there behind that blue pickup truck.”

I shrugged casually as if it didn’t really matter but then snuck another glance at her car clock.

“Quitting time is in fifteen minutes. It usually takes another ten before the first group of miners comes down the hill. You know. Just in case you were wondering.”

“Oh shut up. Let’s get that ice cream before Abbie runs out.”

It was late fall and soon enough light snow would cover the town with an icy white lace. But today, the bright blue sky overhead cast a late summer ambience over the town. A line of anxious pumpkin swirl fans was already snaking along the cracked sidewalk in front of Abbie’s shop. The same three benches were sitting out front of the store only they’d been painted a bright blue to go with the new striped awning over the front window. There were teens and kids and plenty of adults, mostly from the south side of town, lined along the sidewalk and storefront eating ice creams. Some were there to meet a miner who would be coming down off the ridge. Others were just there to enjoy Abbie’s treats.

A lot of high school aged kids, kids from both sides of town, were hanging out in front of the shop. Abbie and her magical ice cream shop had created a seamless place in town where the tracks were blurred and everyone felt welcome.

“I forgot what a hangout this place was after school. I’m glad to see that everyone still comes here. And I’m sure Abbie is especially glad.”

We stepped into line and waited while Becky filled me in on more of the successes and failures of some of our classmates. It seemed some people had managed to pull free of Bluefield and find a life and contentment far away, and others had stayed, deciding a small town and coal mine were all they needed to be happy.

We reached the counter. Abbie had added a few crinkly lines around her eyes and mouth, and her chin had added a roll or two, but her friendly smile was still the best in town. “Rylan Merritt!” she squealed as she reached across the counter with her ice cream scoop in hand to gave me a quick hug. “Are you back for a visit? Heard you were living in New York.”

“I’m back indefinitely, Abbie. New York didn’t work out.”

“New York’s loss is Bluefield’s gain.” She waved her silver scoop over the tubs of ice cream. She closed one eye and squinted at me. “Wait. Give me a second. Cookies and cream on a sugar cone, right?”

I smiled. “You are amazing, Abbie. Yep, that’s my usual.”

She scooped an extra large portion of ice cream and jammed it on the cone. Becky ordered her pumpkin swirl, and we walked outside of the noisy, bustling shop to enjoy our ice creams.

A help wanted sign was posted in the window of the shop. I pointed at it. “That would be a fun job. All the ice cream you could eat, and Abbie as your boss. Pretty sweet deal.”

Becky quickly licked the drips of pumpkin swirl that were heading to her hand. “The last girl went off to college. You should apply.” She laughed. “I can just see your dad now when you tell him.”

“Yeah some things never change. Except my mom’s workout gear. That changes every fifteen minutes.” I took a semi-bite, semi-lick of my ice cream. “Yum. That woman behind the ice cream counter has my vote for sainthood.”

From the bench where we sat, I could see the crystal black peaks of the coal piles. A gray truck appeared at the top of the long, asphalt road leading up to the mine. The dark heads of the miners bobbed in the back. They’d be heading back to their cars and trucks and some of them would head home on foot. I tried hard to concentrate on the story Becky was relaying, something about an ill-fitting bra she’d bought online, but my eyes and focus kept straying to the big truck waddling like an overloaded elephant as it carried at least a dozen weary miners down from the site.

“I guess the moral of my long-winded tale is don’t trust the pictures on the online stores. I heard Kimmie Hadleston, remember Kimmie, with the sketchy-looking mole on her chin? Anyhow, I heard she decided to buy a wedding dress from some private dressmaker. She never met the lady, just talked to her back and forth through email.” Becky paused long enough to take a long lick of her ice cream. She pondered the creamy orange confection for a second. “Needs more cinnamon, I think. But delish none the less. So, where was I?” She paused again to find her story.

I took the opportunity to glance up the road. The truck was just rolling over the tracks, jostling the live cargo in back.

“Oh my gosh, could you be any more obvious?” She took another lick of her cone. “If this hadn’t been my suggestion in the first place, I’d think you were just sitting here with me to catch a glimpse of lover boy.”

“Nonsense.” I lifted my cone. “I came here for the ice cream and to hear more about Kimmie’s big wedding dress disaster.”

“That’s right. That’s what I was talking about. Long story short, she sent a two thousand dollar deposit to the woman, who turned out, of course, to just be a scam artist preying on helpless, unsuspecting brides.”

“Wow, I did not see that ending coming.”

“Oh shut up. The story was more intriguing the way Yoli told it.”

“I’d say Kimmie hasn’t grown much more brain matter than she had in high school. I still remember when she set a dish towel on fire in home economics.”

Some of the ice cream patrons were making their way to the corner of the block. The miners were hopping out of the back of the truck. My heart did a little leap as the familiar dark head appeared in the group. Dawson was walking next to him. Together, tall, broad shouldered, handsome and slightly coated in the dirt and float dust of the work day, they were hard to look away from. 

“Dawson is still as fine as ever,” Becky noted as she peered at them over what was left of her ice cream. She elbowed me with a laugh. “It’s fifty-five degrees out today, but that ice cream in your hand is melting like it’s a hundred.”

Dawson and Kellan reached the corner. Kellan’s gaze drifted the direction of the ice cream shop just as he was turning to walk to the parking lot. He stopped. Our gazes locked. It seemed I could hear my heart beating in my chest. He dragged his gaze away and continued on toward his bike.

Becky had caught the whole exchange. She looked at me with surprise. “I thought he’d at least come over and say hello.”

I made a show of acting unfazed, but I was feeling disappointment all the way down to my toes. “I’m sure he’s tired after working all day,” I added, but it was more for my own self-assurance.

I stared at the dripping disaster in my hand. Suddenly, the ice cream didn’t look so yummy. In fact, my stomach was feeling anything but up for cookies and cream. “This is just way too much ice cream for me.” I got up from the bench, dropped the cone in the trash and wiped my hands clean with a napkin.

I wanted to kick myself for feeling this way already. But that jagged line, that fissure that Kellan had carved in my heart long ago had never healed properly. Becky knew I was upset, but good friend that she was she didn’t say a word.

I spun around and forced a smile. “Guess I should be getting back home.”

“Yeah? Something tells me you won’t be going home just yet.” Becky leaned her head to look past my shoulder. That’s when I heard the rumble of the motorcycle as it came around the corner.

All the ice cream eaters watched as Kellan rolled up, stopping his Harley in front of the shop. His big black boots lifted off the foot pegs and rested on the asphalt as his thick, strong arms held the handlebars steady. He’d pulled on his worn leather jacket, but he had on no helmet or sunglasses. Just a thin layer of coal dust on his face and hands. Every inch of him was raw and erotic and masculine. Now, even swallowing took concentration and focus.

Several of the high school girls, wearing backpacks and Bluefield High sweaters twittered and giggled about something. I heard the name Kellan Braddock mentioned a few times. His dark blue gaze coasted my direction. He didn’t call me over. He didn’t need to.

I looked with apology at Becky.

She rolled her eyes. “Hell, if I had a guy like that roll up on a Harley, I’d ditch my friend too.”

“You sure?”

“Just go. But keep your head about you, Ry. Kellan is the kind of guy who makes straight thinking and common sense melt away.”

I gave her a quick hug and walked over to the bike.

“Tommy and Dawson are going out to get some steaks. We could go with them, or . . .” He let his gaze drop slowly over my body.

“I like
or.
”

A crooked grin turned up one side of his face. “Thought you might. Hop on, baby. You smell like cookies and cream, and I can’t wait to taste you.”