Escaping Me (11 page)

I’m not surprised when I see that my mother converted an old horse trailer to haul her furniture in, complete with a glossy coat of bubble-gum-pink paint and the name of her business—Three Girls' Creations—in white block lettering with swirls of turquoise behind them.

“Three girls?  I thought Mom was a solo act?” I ask as my mom backs up to the barn door.

“
We're the other two, dummy,” she answers as she hops into the trailer. “Now get your bony ass over here and help me load this dresser.”  I am stunned.  Not because she insinuated my ass was bony, which it isn’t, but because my mom included me.

“
But why?” I ask as I move over and lift up my end of the dresser. “I haven't been around.  I haven't helped her with anything.”

Mallory shrugs with a smile. “I guess she always knew you'd come back around.” 

I didn't mind the work today—all of the loading and polishing and finishing touches.  As soon as my mom comes into the barn, I throw my arms around her neck and squeeze her a little tighter than usual.

“
You didn't have to do that,” I mumble into her hair.  She pulls away and looks at me with confusion.  “That,” I say, pointing at the trailer.  “Three Girls'.”

“
Of course I did,” she smiles.  “There are three of us,” she adds without hesitation.

“
Yeah, but I haven't been...  I haven't done anything.  I don't deserve any recognition.”

“
It's not about what you did or didn't do.  It's about who you are, Whitney.”  She raises her hand to my cheek.  “You're my daughter first and foremost.  I don't care if you help paint tables or go off and travel the world.  You're always here with me.”

I feel my eyes start to well up, but I can’t stop the laughter that bursts from my lips.  Mom looks at me with her knowing eyes and begins to giggle.

“I sounded like a Lifetime movie, didn't I?”

I sniffle. “A little bit.”  I hug her again.  “But it was sweet and I appreciate it.”  It is the first time I have ever felt like enough to a parent.  I don’t feel like I have anything to prove to myself or to earn my place with her.  Back in the city, that was all my life was about—earning my place as daughter, student, girlfriend, etc.

After we loaded the trailer and Mom and Mal retreated to the house, I stayed out in the barn.  I figured I had an hour of sunlight left, and even though my mom had said I didn't have anything to prove, I re-dusted every piece of furniture for the sale. 

My cell phone chimes from across the room, and I immediately drop my dust rag and scurry to fetch it, hoping it is Cole. 

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him since our date the night before.  The conversation we had at dinner only intensified how much I like him.  We didn’t discuss anything too deep, mostly likes and dislikes.  He told me about his arrangement with Hank to fix up the house he is staying in.  The only thing that seems to turn me on more than watching Cole the night he grabbed a hold of Ricky is watching his eyes light up when he talks about his plans for that house.  It probably has something to do with the shirtless images of him I conjured up in my mind—working with his hands, sweating, hammering, nailing...  Omigod.  I haven’t even seen him with his shirt off yet and I can already feel the space between my legs tense in anticipation.  Then, after a brief cool down and a much needed conversation in the sheets aisle, things began progressing exactly the way I hoped.  If only I hadn't slammed into that damn horn, I'm pretty sure I could have had Cole right on the bench seat of that old Ford.  More like he could have had me, with his hands and that talented mouth.

I pick up the cell phone only to see another redundant text message from Wesley:
I'm over this shit, Whitney.  You belong with me.
 
I do what I did the last twenty times he text me—closed the screen and go about my new life as if he doesn't exist.  If only I could evoke reality from my imagination.  

I don’t wait for Cole to text me. Instead,  I grab a six-pack out of the fridge and head over to his place after dinner.  I know he isn’t ready for me to see the house yet, but if he's been working up a sweat all day, I hope he’ll at least join me for a drink to end the night. And if he is all sweaty, then I don’t want to miss that.  

As I pull in front of the house and climb out of the vehicle, beer in hand, I find Cole and Zeke sitting on the tailgate of the Cole's truck.

“
Is this why you didn't want to bring me home with you?  You've been shacking up with Zeke?” I tease as I approach them.  Zeke throws his arms around Cole's neck and nuzzles his head against Cole's.

“
Honey, she caught us!” he laughs.

“
Get off me, you jackass.”  Cole shrugs Zeke off with a smile and stands to greet me.  “What are you doing here, Whitney?” he questions as he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in close to him.  I inhale, taking the scent of him—cinnamon mixed with crisp, clean air—in as deep as I can before my lungs force me to exhale.

“
I'm not trying to force my way into the house if that's what you’re thinking.” I lean back to get a good look at him.  Piercings in, hat back on, and ripped denim hugging his thighs just right.
 
All is right in the world.  “I thought maybe you could use a drink after working all day.”  I hold up the six-pack in my hand.  “Out here of course.”

He grins and leans in to press his lips to the tip of my nose.  “Sounds perfect.”

“Yes!” Zeke jumps off the bed of the truck and reaches for a beer.  I watch Cole's eyes settle on his friend, silently telling him to kick rocks.  Zeke quickly retracts his hand, taking Cole's cue, and laughs. “I mean, I'll see you two later.”  He is heading toward his truck as he calls out over his shoulder, “Have a good night!”

We witness Zeke drive away as we stand wrapped up in each other in the drive.  As his taillights fade out of sight, Cole removes his arms from my waist and takes my hand in his.

“Come on.”  He tugs me behind him.  “Let's go out back.”

Chapter 14 – Cole

I lead Whitney around the house to a secluded picnic table that overlooks the river's edge.  It is the one place at this dump that doesn’t need any work.  Hank manages to keep the yard mowed, and the tree-lined river will provide a peaceful backdrop for the evening.  I take a seat on top of the table, propping my feet up on the bench, and pull Whitney beside me. 

I should have known she'd show up.  She's been pretty take-charge in the short time we've
not
been friends.  She kissed me first, and then she threw herself in my lap in the truck last night.  I didn't mind letting her dictate the way things have played out so far, but tonight is going to be different.  Not to mention the fact that when she climbed out of that Jeep and came bouncing across the driveway toward me, wearing those sexy cut-off jean shorts I love, the same form-fitting t-shirt she was wearing the morning I first saw her, and a pair of work boots with her hair pulled up in a messy ponytail, I almost busted a nut on the spot.  She looks insanely sexy and she doesn't even know it.

I completely erased the conversation I had on the phone a couple hours ago from my mind.  Why Finn felt the urge to call and check up on me was ridiculous.  I don’t need him to remind me that I need to stay out of trouble.  He also informed me that he and Megan would be getting married later this summer, before the baby is born. 
Like I want an invitation to that shit show.
  I told him that work was good and that I've managed to stay out of trouble.  I didn't even mention Whitney.  The last thing I want is for him to find out about her.  I know he'll tell me the same shit I've been telling myself since I met her. 
Nope.
I am keeping her my little secret.  This is my summer, I am out of his town, and I am going to enjoy the time I have with her.

I remove two beers out of the pack and twist the caps off before handing her one.  “So, how was your day?”

“Good,” she grins.  “I helped my sister and my mom get everything ready for a flea market this weekend.”  She takes a drink and I note the way she let her lips linger on the tip of the bottle as her eyes stare deep into mine.  When she finally pulls it from her lips, she licks the corner of her mouth, instantly making me wonder what that mouth can do for me.  So this is how she wants to play it?  She is going to start off our conversation by teasing me. 
Not tonight, sweetheart.

I turn to face her and run my thumb over her cheek, removing a smudge of dirt.  “You look like you worked pretty hard today,” I say before dropping my hand to her knee.  “Dirt is a good look on you.”  She tenses as I let my fingers creep up her smooth thigh.  I love the way her lips automatically part when I get close to her, like her cute little nose just can’t take in enough oxygen. Or maybe it is because she immediately becomes excited about the idea of my mouth on hers.  Like she is ready for me.

“You look like you've been busy today, too.”  She picks up her hand and settles it on my bicep, kneading against the muscle.  “I could give you a massage.  I'm sure you've been hard at it, trying to get the house fixed up.  Your muscles are all tensed up,” she flirts.

“
They're tensed up alright, but that didn't happen until you sat down next to me.”  My body is as tense as it can be, especially below the belt.

“
We could always just go take a hot shower together.”  I know what she is insinuating, and it sounds like a mighty fine offer, but I am not about to let her win.

I lift her chin up and lower my face to hers.  “Nice try, baby, but you're not getting in that house until I say so.”

She wrinkles up her nose and smiles.  “It was worth a shot.”

“
Don't think that you can come traipsing in here and roll me over with your charms.  You can go bat your lashes at some other sucker,” I jest.  She stands up from the table and walks toward the front of the house.  “Where in the hell do you think you’re going?”  I quickly follow the three steps she took and grab her waist, turning her in my arms to face me.

“
To find another sucker,” she chuckles before I devour her lips with mine.  I kiss her good and just a little harder than I meant to.  She doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, the way she sighs as my tongue plunges against hers tells me that she rather enjoys it.  When I think she's had enough, I take a breath and find her eyes with mine.

“
Still want to go find another sucker?”

She purses her kiss-swollen lips and shakes her head.  “Hmm-mm.”

“That's what I thought.”  I smile as I tug her back to the picnic table.  This time I sit far enough back on the table so I can pull her between my legs and wrap my arms around her.

“
Scared I'm going to try and get away again?” she jokes.

“
I'm not taking any chances,” I confirm as I kiss her behind her ear and then nudge against her with my nose.  We sit quietly for a moment as she lets me breathe her in, the same thing I let her do to me in the driveway when she arrived.  “This is nice.”

“
It is,” she agrees.  “It's so quiet out here.”

“
Wait until the coyotes come out.” I nip at her neck and hold her tight to me.

“
Good thing I've got you to protect me,” she giggles.

“
About that…” I figure now is as good a time as any to let her know about my past.  “I'm not saying I won't protect, because I would.  Shit, I'd fight the wind if I thought it was going to mess up your hair, but I'm trying not to be that guy you got a glimpse of at the bar the other night.”

She turns her head to look at my face.  “What are you talking about?”

“I saw the way you were watching me after I picked that kid up who hit Zeke.  It seemed like you were into it.  Like maybe you liked it a little bit,” I confess.  Even in the moonlight, I can see her cheeks redden.  “I'm trying to stay out of fights and I don't want you to think that I'm some lunatic that goes around starting them.”

“
I don't,” she quickly answers.  “I mean, yeah, it was kind of hot to see you rough Ricky up a bit, but it's not what you think.  I'm not turned on by the fact that you could beat him up.  I was turned on by the fact that you weren't afraid to take charge.”

“
That's funny coming from you,” I chuckle.  “You don't seem to have a problem taking charge with me.”

She shakes her head.  “That's a recent development, trust me.  I've never been in charge of one thing in my life.  I'm so used to having people tell me what to do, and then I moved here with my mom, who's very much into me making my own decisions, and I met you.  I guess you make me want to be in control of my actions for once.”  The way she is opening up to me only makes me want to protect her more.  Somewhere along the line, this smart, funny, beautiful girl was made to feel like she couldn't think for herself.  It pisses me off and I am just some backwoods hick.  It's not like I was raised in some liberal household where women were empowered, but I did grow up in this century.  What kind of assholes has this girl been around?

“I love it when you take charge, Whit.”  I kiss away the sad look on her face before she retreats into the memories of her life before now.  “I don't want you to ever think that you don't have a say in anything.  You do.”

She smiles.  “Enough about me,” she states.  “Why don't you tell me exactly what you did to get run out of the last place you were in.”  I know she thought she was lightening the mood, but my situation is so fucked up I know it will probably just bring her down.

“You sure you're up for hearing about all of that?”

“
Yes.”  Her plump lips find their way to mine and then she is snuggling against my chest, casting her gaze up at me.  “I want to know all about you, Cole Pritchett.”

“
Okay,” I chuckle.  “Here we go.”  I lay it all out there, highlighting the part about my parents being worthless and my brother being a golden boy.  I don’t go into detail about how fucked up my childhood was, but I'm pretty sure she gets the gist when I say the words “drug addict” and “convicted felon.” 

“
So after high school, along came Megan.  She was different from most of the girls I dated.”  I use the term 'dated' loosely.  “She was smart.  She was going to college to be a teacher.  I really thought we had something good going.  Then my brother came back from the police academy and next thing I knew they were together.”

“
Are you kidding me?”

I laugh because, at this point, there isn’t much else to do.  “I'm not.  Did I mention they are having a baby together?  We never even really broke up.  She just came by my place one day and announced that she was finished with me and pregnant by my brother.”

“That's insane.  Who does that?”

“
That's kind of what I thought, but I mean... Finn is a better guy than me.  He's got his shit together.  He'll make a way better dad than I would.”

“
Doesn't sound like he's a better guy than you.  Who steals their brother's girlfriend?” she questions defensively.

   “
He didn't even know we were together.  It's not like we have the best relationship.  I hardly spoke to him when he got back,” I tell her.  “I guess I was still pissed at him for leaving me in the first place.  The only time I saw him was when he'd show up at the police station to negotiate my release for whatever stupid thing I did.  The last time, before I came here, he told me he'd called in his last favor and that it would be best if I found a new place to call home.  I didn't even bother to tell him that the reason I beat the shit out of that asshole at the bar was because he said something about the 'better brother' getting the girl.  I was done with that place and those people before I even threw a punch.”

“
That's bullshit,” she states matter-of-factly.  “He knew you were with her.  You said the last place you lived was like this one, right?”

“
Yeah, but...”  I want to tell her that maybe if I'd tried a little harder to make something out of myself, I never would have been in the situation I am in, but then again I might still be with Megan and I never would have ended up meeting her. 

“
But nothing.  In a small town, everyone knows everything.  I think your brother is a dick and don't even get me started on her.  I've never even met the girl and I already hate her.”

I can’t stop from smiling.  Seeing how defensive she is of me makes me want to wrap her up even tighter in my arms and not let go.  “Thank you,” I whisper against her hair.

“For what?”

“
Taking my side.”

She tilts her head back and looks up at me.  Everything I've ever wanted in a woman is sitting in my arms, staring up at me with the biggest, most forgiving and nonjudgmental blue eyes I've ever seen.

“Always,” she promises.

“
I think we've talked about how we ended up here enough for tonight.  What do you think?”

“
Did you have something else in mind?” she asks.  The question is supposed to be rhetorical, in that I've already started working my mouth over the side of her neck.  She always tastes so sweet, and it doesn’t take me long to relay the message of what I want to do.  “Oooh,” she coos.  “I can definitely do this.”

“
How about this?” I slip my hand under the hem of her t-shirt, slowly running my calloused fingers over her flat stomach.

“
That's nice,” she hums as she leans her body farther back into mine, resting her head on my shoulder and giving me uninhibited access to her body.  I continue to smooth my way up her warm skin until I reach high enough to cup one of her tits in my hand.  I can feel the energy coming off her skin as I slide my hand under the thin material of her bra and give a gentle squeeze.  I work my fingers around until I have the hardened tip between my thumb and forefinger.  She moans as she snakes her hand up my body and around my neck.  

I bend over and place my lips on hers.  She plunges her tongue into my mouth as I pinch down a little harder on her nipple.  “Does that feel good?”

“Yes,” she mumbles into to my lips.  She seems to be having a hard time catching her breath, and I know I can make her lose it altogether.  It may be hypocritical of me, having just said that she always has a say in things, because there is no way I am going to let her have any control over this situation.  I want to see her face and feel her body lose all control, and I want to be the one to make her do it.