Karaoke at the Tumbleweed (6 page)

“Do you ever get a day off?” Tag asked as he lightly caressed her breast.

“I close at noon today and I’m not open on Mondays. You?”

“No work on Sunday or Monday. See? We’re perfect for each other, well except for the whole, I work nights and you work mornings thing.” Tag swiped her nipple with his tongue. “Care for a picnic beside the pond this afternoon?”

“Will you let me nap? Two nights without sleep will have me looking like a hag if I don’t catch some Zs.”

“Say you’ll stay the night with me after our picnic and I’ll even let you sleep in tomorrow.”

“Deal.”

Chapter Four

As Nicole slept in his arms the next afternoon, Tag looked off toward the big house in the distance, his house. Well, that’s what the lawyers said anyway. He hadn’t even heard from his dad since he was around four. Who knew his dad would turn out to be one of the richest men in the county. Now all of it was his, but he refused to live in the big white, four columned home, instead preferring the little hunting cabin at the back of the property.

Tag looked down at Nicole. She’d look pretty in that house. He could picture her on the big front porch sipping a sweet tea while he cut the grass. He shook his head, dispelling the daydream. It was too soon for all that.

He kissed the top of Nicole’s head. Her contest was in less than a week and he’d already begged Bobby Jim to let him off work so he could take her to Louisville. His boss had flat out refused, saying he had to go to Louisville to help represent The Tumbleweed in the competition.

Not knowing how to tell her he wouldn’t be able to make it, Tag had avoided the subject all day. He felt like an ass. This competition meant so much to her that he just couldn’t see not being there for her, but if he went he knew he’d be out of a job. In a town the size of Ulrich jobs weren’t easy to come by. Sure he could live off his father’s money for the rest of his life but that wasn’t his style.

Feeling lips on his bare chest, he grinned. Oh hell, he’d find work somewhere.

Nicole lifted her head and smiled at him. “How long was I asleep?”

“Couple hours, I reckon.”

“Did you sleep?” She asked, moving up to dot kisses along his jaw.

Tag moved his head to the side, giving her more room to work. “No, I was having a right fine time watching you.” Taking a deep breath, he decided to tell her the decision he’d come to while she slept. “I’m coming with you on Friday night.”

Nicole stopped kissing him and looked up into his eyes. “Bobby Jim’s giving you the night off?” She smiled so pretty, he knew he’d made the right choice.

“Well, not exactly. He told me I had to make a choice. I choose you.” He was a little surprised to see tears pool in her dark green eyes.

“What? You’re willing to lose your job to go with me to a karaoke competition? I can’t let you do that. I’d never be able to forgive myself, especially if I lose.”

Tag wiped the tears that trickled down her cheeks. “Bartending at The Tumbleweed doesn’t mean nearly as much to me as you do. I want to support you in everything you do. I hope you figured out by now that I’m in this for the long haul.”

“What are you going to do for a job though?”

“Oh, I’ll figure out something.” He reached over to the side of the blanket and picked up a condom.

Taking the foil package from his hand, Nicole ripped it open and smoothed the thin latex over his rock-hard erection. Positioning herself over his cock, Nicole impaled herself until her ass nuzzled his balls. “I hear there’s a bait shop in town just looking for a big strong man to help run it.”

“Really? And what would be my duties?” he asked, thrusting his hips.

“Handling night crawlers and the donut maker.”

“Hmmm, I think I could really learn to love a job like that.”

Setting one of her favourite dinners on the table, Nicole smiled. “I hope you like Dorito casserole.”

Tag looked down at the cheesy bubbling dish. “Can’t say as I’ve ever had it.”

Nicole picked up a big serving spoon and dished him out a generous portion. “It’s real simple to make. You start with a layer of Taco flavoured Doritos, then add taco meat, chilli beans and a layer of cheese. Then just keep adding layers until your pan is full. Cover it with foil and pop it into the oven for about forty-five minutes. Just before it’s done, you take it out and add a final layer of shredded cheese to the top. Stick it back in the oven until it’s melted and voila, Dorito casserole.”

Swallowing his first bite, Tag moaned. “Oh, angel, this is fantastic.”

“Thank you. It’s even better with sour cream on top, but I forgot to get some at the store.”

“Next time,” Tag said as he shovelled another fork-full into his mouth. “So what other specialities do you have up your sleeve? I might just have to beg dinner every night.”

Nicole swallowed a bite of the casserole and wiped her mouth. “Well, my daddy used to make what he called hobo dinners. You take a sheet of aluminium foil and place a hamburger patty in the centre. Then you slice onions, potatoes and carrots. Add a dash of salt and pepper and fold the foil into a little packet like thing. Bake it either in the oven or in the hot coals of a fire. When it’s done you open it up and add in some cheese. Close the foil and let the heat melt the cheese before serving.”

Nicole grinned at Tag. “As you can probably guess, my daddy really liked his cheese.”

“Well if your daddy came up with this recipe, I’d say he knew his cheese.” Tag leaned over and placed a kiss on Nicole’s cheek. “Thanks for making me dinner.”

“You’re welcome. Next time though, it might be easier to cook at my place.”

Tag tried to look offended. “Are you saying you’re too good for my kitchen?”

Nicole shook her head. “I’m saying two hotplates and a teeny tiny oven aren’t conducive to my culinary skills.”

They both laughed and finished their dinner in companionable silence. Nicole couldn’t help watching Tag as he ate two more helpings. It felt good to see a man enjoy his food. Lonnie had always commented on her dishes. He thought she should be fixing steak every night. She would have been happy to grill him steaks if he’d gotten a damn job to pay for them. Shaking the thoughts of Lonnie off, Nicole finished her meal.

“Don’t get too full,” she said. “I also made a Kool-Aid pie.”

“Kool-Aid pie?” Tag questioned.

“Yeah, I love ‘em. You just mix Cool Whip, a small can of condensed cream and a package of Kool-Aid together. Then you pour it into a graham cracker crust. I made cherry, but you can make any flavour Kool-Aid comes in.”

When they’d finished, Nicole rose to clear the table and Tag pulled her to him. “Let your food settle first.” He scooted his chair back and patted his leg.

Nicole looked down at Tag’s lap and grinned. “You and I both know if I sit there, the dishes will be forgotten in no time.”

“Yeah, that would be a shame wouldn’t it.”

Placing a kiss on his forehead, Nicole picked up his plate. “Chores first, then fun.”

“Slave driver,” Tag mumbled. He put the lid back on the salsa and went to the tiny dorm-sized fridge.

Nicole was running a sink of hot soapy water, when Tag wrapped his arms around her from behind. She leaned against him and continued with her task. “You going to dry?”

“You know it.” Tag placed a kiss on the side of her neck before reaching for a dishtowel. “Do you mind if I ask what happened between you and your ex?”

He must have felt her stiffen because he quickly backtracked. “Sorry, forget I asked.”

“No, it’s okay. She handed him a clean plate and started on the next. “We were high school sweethearts. He left Ulrich right after his senior year and went to college. Daddy needed my help at the store so I stayed. I’m not sure what happened but Lonnie came back to town two years later. He said he’d gotten bored with school but I heard later he’d been kicked out because he’d been caught cheating.” Nicole shrugged her shoulders and passed Tag another plate.

Retrieving the glasses from the table, she continued her story. “We got back together and then shortly after daddy died, Lonnie moved in with me. I thought we were both happy. Lonnie didn’t work but he’d always said he was looking. One day I closed the shop early because it was his birthday and I wanted to surprise him. I sure as hell did that. Found the no good bastard in bed with Peggy Johnson, the biggest whore in Ulrich.”

Tag took the glass from her and shook his head. “What a dumb fuck. Not only for screwing another woman with you right across the driveway, but for screwing anyone but you in the first place. Didn’t he have a clue what he had?” Tag shook his head. “Well his lack of brains is my gain. I’m just sorry you got hurt in the process.”

“Oh it was worse than that,” Nicole said. “I kicked his ass out and he left town. Evidently on the way, he decided to stop and empty our joint bank account. He drove out of town with over three thousand dollars of my money.” She was so pissed she shoved her hand down inside a glass a little too forcefully. The glass broke under the strain and sliced her hand between thumb and forefinger.

Dropping the broken glass back into the water, Nicole cried out in pain. Tag was there immediately wrapping his dishcloth around her bleeding hand.

“We need to get you to a hospital,” he said.

Nicole grinned at the frantic sound of his voice. She shook her head. “I think it will be okay. The nearest hospital that’s open this time of night is nearly fifty miles away. I’ll just get the bleeding stopped and tape it shut.”

“The hell you will.” They both watched as the towel began to turn red. Picking her up into his arms, Tag carried her outside and to his bike.

“No way will I drive you fifty miles on the Harley with you bleeding like this.” Tag sat her on the back of the bike and scratched his head. “I know where to get a car.”

“Yeah, back at my place.”

Tag shook his head and ran back into the cabin. He emerged with a large ring of keys in his hand. “Your place is too far out of the way.” He climbed on the bike. “Hold on.”

Tag took off down the dirt path. They passed the pond and headed toward the large white house Nicole could see in the distance. As soon as they pulled up to the side of the garage she looked at Tag. “This is old man Barrett’s house. What are we doing here?”

“Just give me a few minutes and I’ll explain on the way.” Tag turned off the Harley and disappeared through the side door of the garage. A few seconds later, the garage door opened and he pulled a twenty-year-old Cadillac out of its bay.

Nicole had a sinking feeling as she got into the car and buckled her seat belt. Everyone in town knew Charles Barrett had a single heir. The son he’d lost years earlier, the son that had been kidnapped by his ex-wife.

As Tag pulled out of the driveway at a high rate of speed, Nicole studied his profile. Why hadn’t she seen it before? “You’re Charles Barrett, Jr.”

“No,” Tag said with a quick shake of his head. “My mom changed my name when he left us. She said he didn’t deserve to have me carry his name.”

Nicole released her hold on the bloodied towel long enough to place it on Tag’s thigh. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s the way things happened. I remember my daddy talking about Mr. Barrett. He said after his wife left him and took his son away, Mr. Barrett was never the same. Daddy said Mr. Barrett had spent a fortune searching for his son, but had never found him.”

She felt Tag’s thigh tense and removed her hand. After readjusting the towel she continued. “I remember seeing Mr. Barrett drive this very car up and down the streets of town. Daddy said he’d gone a little crazy and was looking for his son. For years he drove the same streets hoping you’d find your way back to him.”

“Stop it,” Tag yelled. He didn’t even look over at her. “That’s a lie he made up to cover the fact that he never really loved me or my mother.”

Nicole said nothing else. She knew she wouldn’t get anywhere with him in this defensive mood. She thought about the one and only time she’d been in the Barrett house. She’d bet a hundred bucks Tag still hadn’t been inside that house. If he had, Tag would believe what she was telling him. She almost said so but held her tongue. There would be a better time and place.

Turning to look out the passenger window, she tried to imagine what it would be like to think your own parent didn’t want you. Nicole imagined that kind of hurt stayed with a person. She wondered what had happened to his mother. Was she still alive?

“I’m sorry,” Tag finally said. He placed a hand on the back of Nicole’s neck and gave her a slight squeeze. “I don’t like to talk about my family.”

“I didn’t mean to make you mad.” Nicole looked at the towel wrapped around her hand. It looked the same as it had before. Evidently the cut had stopped bleeding.

Running his thumb over the shell of her ear, he sighed. “Can we just forget about it for now?”

“Sure.”
For now.