Cruise Read online

  R: Thanks for letting me know. Kinda makes me feel better, knowing he’s not around anymore. And of course we’re still on!

  C: Understandable. I’ll be by to pick you up in about thirty minutes. I just have to drop my little sister off at a friend’s house. She’s having a sleepover tonight.

  Caleb has a little sister? Immediately I’m wondering how much younger she is than him, and I decide since he appears at least a few years older than me, she’s probably a teenager.

  Thirty minutes doesn’t give me much time, but I spring into action, doing the best I can with what I have. Putting on a little bit of makeup, I run my fingers through my naturally curly hair. Because it’s raining, it goes every which way, and I know the only way I’m going to be able to tame it is by putting it in a braid. Which makes me look all of ten years old.

  It can’t be helped; I think I’ll always look young for my age. Even now, having my own classroom, people assume I’m a student and not a teacher. Swiping a little mascara on my lashes, I put my pearl studs in my ears, and opt for a deep plum lip stain. At least maybe he’ll be drawn to my lips for most of the day. With my golden blonde hair, it makes a striking contrast. Besides full lips and big eyes, about the only thing I have to work is my ample chest, which nobody will be able to see underneath my rain coat today, but that’s okay. I’ll tuck it away for a surprise, in case we go out on another date. Glancing out the window as I go for my rain boots, I see him.

  The Rubicon, which I’d found so sexy the night before, pulls up into my drive. He doesn’t turn it off, but he bails out, running to my front porch. And the brief glimpse I get of him is enough to send my pulse racing. Caleb wears a very worn pair of jeans, a t-shirt with a flannel unbuttoned over it, rolled up those forearms of his, with a hat pulled low over his eyes.

  The knock that announces he’s here is enough to set me on edge.

  Calming myself, I open the door, as I’m slipping my rain jacket on. “Hey,” I greet him, not able to wipe the smile off my face at seeing him again. It’s crazy, we met last night, but I’ve never had a connection with someone the way I have a connection with him.

  “Hey.” He grins back. “Sorry about the weather. I ordered sunshine with a high of seventy. Instead I got this.” He shrugs. “We can make the best of it, right?”

  “How dare mother nature not listen to you?” I grab my cross-body bag, slinging it over my chest.

  “That’s what I’m saying.” He plays along, his voice playful. “I mean doesn’t she know I’m trying to impress you?”

  He takes my elbow as we descend the porch, then he walks me over to the passenger side of the Jeep where he helps me in, before he jogs around the front. The inside is nice and warm, a familiar rock song plays on the radio, and the gentle thump of the windshield wipers cocoon me in a feeling of rightness like I’ve never had before.

  “You don’t have to try, Caleb, you’re already impressing me pretty hardcore.” I buckle up as he checks his blind spot and then begins backing out. “The guy last night honked the horn. He didn’t even come to my door.”

  “Fuck that,” he says the words like they taste bad. “My dad would have my ass if I didn’t go get a woman at her door. He’s chivalrous like that. Any kid who ever wants to date my sister will have to go through both of us,” he preaches as he turns toward Calvert City.

  “She’s lucky to have a brother like you.” I think of my own brother.

  Cruise

  “Nah, I’m lucky to have a little sister like her. I waited a long time for one,” I admit as I turn onto the county highway that will take us to Calvert City.

  I’m usually not a talker. Typically I have to get to know someone before I start belting out my life story, but there’s something about this girl. Since I saw her sitting there last night, so stoic, so unsure of the situation she was in, I’ve wanted to talk to her. I’ve wanted to tell her everything will be okay and explain to her that even though things might seem a little scary now, they won’t always.

  “You ever been out here?” I change the subject from my family. For people who don’t know where I come from, it’s a little difficult to explain.

  “I’m assuming we’re going to The Hen Lays The Egg?” She mentions the name of the most popular breakfast joint in these parts.

  “Is there any other place to go?” I question.

  “The Café.” She giggles as she slides her gaze over at me.

  “Oh, you got jokes? I see how it is.” I adjust my seat to make it a little more comfortable with my long legs and then sit back to enjoy the ride. “I go there all the time.”

  “I do too, I can’t believe I’ve never seen you there before.” She looks like she might be trying to place me. “But I do feel like maybe I have seen you before last night.”

  As a cop, especially as a member of the MTF, I’m recognized a lot. We’re required to be at many functions, some of them are attended by the whole town, some by a certain population. Either way, we’re seen a lot. “Probably in one of my official capacities.”

  “I don’t think so.” She shakes her head, her lips pursed, eyebrows together. “I’ve been trying to put my finger on it since I saw you last night. You’re a member of the Moonshine Task Force, right?”

  “Yup.” No one will ever know how proud I am to carry on the tradition my dad started. When I’d been offered a contract in the draft to play pro ball, he’d argued with me for days about what I was giving up. The truth is, I’ve never wanted to do anything other than follow in his footsteps. The things I’ve aspired to do are to make a difference in my community, get alcohol off the streets, and not to let kids be in the same position I was in as a teenager. All of those things mean something to me. They mean something ball never did. Football gave me opportunities, but it wasn’t my one true love.

  “My co-worker has a husband who’s on the Moonshine Task Force. You’d probably know him.”

  “Considering there’s six of us? I’m almost positive I do.” I chuckle as I think about who she could possibly know. We never discussed her job last night.

  “Karina Harrison is a teacher at the same school as me.”

  I laugh as I look across the console into the passenger’s seat. “No shit, huh?” I can’t stop the laugh. Reaching into the cup holder, I grab my phone and show her my lock screen.

  “She’s your sister-in-law? That’s awesome, she’s such a nice lady. She’s helped me so much in figuring out what I need to do.”

  I’ve never known anyone who truly knew Kari, so this should be interesting when I drop this bomb on her. “No, she’s not my sister-in-law. She’s married to my dad, but I call her Mom.”

  Ruby’s mouth slams shut. She looks at me, looks at the road, looks at me again, opens her mouth, and then closes it. Her eyebrows come together in confusion, she opens her mouth, shuts it, then reaches into the cup holder, grabs the phone and looks at the lock screen again. “No way.” She shakes her head. Looks at it again, and then shakes it again. “No way.”

  “It’s true.” I make a cross motion over my chest.

  “There’s no way that’s your dad.” She glances at the picture again. “Brother maybe, but not dad.”

  “I swear to God,” I say with a laugh. She’s cute in her confusion. “You wanna see my birth certificate? He’s my dad.”

  “Did he have you at like fourteen?”

  “Sixteen,” I correct her. “Dad had me at sixteen and raised me by himself after my biological mom left. Kari and Dad got married almost eleven years ago. She got pregnant with my sister within a month of them getting married, while I was in my freshman year of college.”

  “Shut the front door. Are you shitting me?”

  “I’m totally not, you can ask Kari next time you see her at work. In fact, it’s probably where you’ve seen me. Sometimes I pick Kelsea up and take her to the school so Mom doesn’t have to make more than one trip,” I explain as I pass a slower moving car once we come to a passing spot in the road.


  “You call her Mom?”

  “I call her Kari sometimes, but mostly Mom. I used to not, but then Kelsea got old enough to where I was afraid she’d question it. And to be honest with you, Kari did more for me than my real mom ever did. If there was a woman who earned the title, it’s her.”

  “I can see that.” She glances out the window, gazing at the scenery as it passes by. “She does have a way about her. She makes everyone want to be her friend, everyone tells her their secrets, and if you ever need a shoulder to cry on or someone to tell you all the good things about yourself, she’s the person to go to.”

  “Yes, exactly. Her and my dad, they have the type of marriage I want one day.”

  “I’ve seen them together.” Her smile is huge, almost as if she’s relieving a memory. “He came to work not long ago to bring her a coffee after school had let out. We were doing parent/teacher conferences and it was a really long night. He brought me one too, because I work in the same module as her. When he walked into the room, she lit up. I’ve never seen a couple so freaking happy to see one another before.”

  “That’s them.” I shake my head. “Kind of so sweet it’s sickening. Back when I was in college, it used to embarrass me, but as I’ve gotten older, I realize how lucky they are to have it. My dad didn’t have anything for a lot of years, and he hit the lottery with her. Hell, I did too.”

  “She told me once, when she was talking about her family, that she not only fell in love with her husband, but with her husband’s son too. I thought she was talking about some little kid.” She giggles.

  “Nope, totally me.” If I could strut, I would. I like when she says good things about me, and it makes it even better that it hopefully impressed Ruby. Kari and I, we have a special relationship. “I had the flu and she took care of me. From that point on, I never had to wonder if anyone besides my dad cared about me.”

  “That’s a sweet story, Caleb. You’re blessed to be able to call her Mom.”

  As we enter Calvert City proper, I reflect on her words. I know she’s right. But I’m also blessed that this woman was somehow dropped into my life. Call it a sixth sense, maybe obsession, or a premonition. Call it anything you want, but I know this day is going to be the start of something good, and if I can stay the course, maybe I will have a relationship like my parents. Maybe I won’t be the one member of the MTF who seems to be cursed when it comes to the women in his life.

  “Looks like we’ll have to park along the side streets and walk down. That okay with you?” The rain hasn’t let up, and I worry for a second that she’s a girlie girl who can’t stand for her hair to get wet, who’s worried about her makeup running, and her clothes getting damp.

  “Nope, I figured we might, that’s why I dressed the way I did. You don’t have to worry about me, Caleb. I’m not gonna melt because I got a little wet.”

  Immediately those words go to a place they probably shouldn’t, but I’m a guy and it’s been awhile since I got laid. I tell my dick that she didn’t mean it the way it sounded, but as she turns to get out of the Jeep and her ass is framed by a tight pair of jeans, I take a minute to thank my own lucky stars that this woman came with me today. After her scare last night, she could have told me to fuck off, but she didn’t, and if I’m smart, I’ll keep my body under control and my thoughts in safe places.

  As I get out, I adjust my package, and pray nobody can tell just how much I want this woman.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Cruise

  “Do you like teaching?”

  We’ve gotten our drinks, ordered our food, and now we’re just waiting for everything to be delivered. I’m going to use my time wisely and ask her about anything that comes to mind. Anything that will let me learn more about this woman who’s intrigued me.

  “I love it,” she answers, happiness shining from her eyes. “It’s hard being a high school teacher at my age though,” she sighs. “At twenty-four, I’m not much older than they are, and I look younger than I am.”

  “You do,” I agree. “But there’s something about those blue eyes of yours that kind of drag me in. With a look, they tell anyone that you’re old enough to know what you like.”

  I’ve caught her looking at me like that a few times. Like she wants to know all my secrets and what I look like without a shirt on. Can’t say I don’t want to know all of that about her too.

  “You think so? This is my first year, but last year when I was a student teacher, it was a struggle to ask them to call me Ms. Carson, and that was my thing not theirs, but it’s not gotten any easier yet.”

  “You get hit on?” I throw that in there. If she were my teacher, I’d totally hit on her.

  She averts her eyes. “Yes, typically by guys who are young enough to send me to jail, which was why I was out on that date last night.”

  “Whoever your friend was that set you up should have known better.” I take a drink of my coffee that’s been brought to the table. “You should tell her she needs better friends.”

  “I’ll definitely be speaking to Trinity on Monday morning.” She takes an answering drink from her glass. “It’s just so hard to date.” She shrugs, sighing with what sounds like frustration. “I grew up in Laurel Springs, actually saw you play in a few football games, but I didn’t recognize you at The Café. Even though I grew up here though, I didn’t have a high school boyfriend, and college was fun, but I didn’t find anyone there to spend the rest of my life with, ya know? My friends are in two groups. Single and ready to party it up or married and having their first kid. I’m single, but I want to be committed,” she explains. “Probably just scared you off with that admission,” she laughs nervously.

  “No.” I shake my head. Little does she know I’ve wanted this a long time, and I’ve been looking too. “You didn’t scare me off. Kinda said some of the things I’ve been thinking about myself lately. I didn’t grow up in Laurel Springs, but when we moved here, it was home. At my age, everybody is basically a bachelor for life, or they’re on child number two. I didn’t want to follow in my dad’s footsteps – having me so young. So I think I’ve kinda stunted my own relationship growth, if that makes sense.”

  “It does.” She nods vigorously. “When you have a goal you’re concentrating on, you don’t want anything to get in the way. Then when you reach that goal, you realize everyone passed you by.”

  “You get it.”

  “I do.” She smiles over her cup at me. “Thank you for saving me last night.”

  I smile back at her. “Thank you for needing saving.”

  Ruby

  I lean back in the seat I’ve occupied for the last hour, managing to stuff one last bite of apple streusel in my mouth, before I moan and push the plate away from me.

  “Where the hell do you put it all?” I ask Caleb as he reaches over and grabs what was left on my plate, demolishing it in one bite.

  “I work out,” he defends himself. “Less than I should, but I run at least five miles every other day.”

  “So you’re a distance runner?” I take a drink of my iced coffee. “Lots of stamina.”

  “I got all the stamina you need.” He licks the fork he’d used to cut the sweet pastry, before he laughs at himself. I eye his tongue, hoping he doesn’t notice, thinking about what it would feel like against my skin. “That was a really bad joke.”

  “Effective though.” I give him a wink. “Do you just run or do you lift weights too?”

  “I’m not a huge fan of lifting, like I used to be. Back when I was in college and in high school that was my thing. Bulk up, and cut, bulk up and cut. These days,” – he pats his stomach – “I prefer to be lean. It’s easier on my body, healthier for my mind. I indulge when I want, within reason, and if it gets out of control, I rein it back in.”

  “Spoken like a man who’s never had a weight problem.”

  There’s a sharp edge to my voice, and I wonder if he picked up on it. It’s not his fault I’d been overweight my freshman year of high school and ha
d worked hard to lose a total of thirty pounds. Joining the cheerleading squad had helped, but it’d not really changed the way people looked at me. It’s not his fault I’d been passed over by every guy in high school I’d liked, and then still passed over once I lost the weight. It’d taken me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I had to have confidence in myself before anyone else would see it.

  “Never have, and I don’t believe for a second you have either,” he admits. “To me, you’re perfect. But if you listen to my buddy, Morgan, talk about me. He’ll tell you I need to lose at least ten pounds.”

  “From where I’m looking, you look mighty fine.” I give him a once over, and then let my eyes travel back up and down again, blushing when he notices me.

  “Thanks for your vote of confidence.” He pats his stomach again. “I will say this. We gotta get up and move, otherwise I’m gonna fall asleep before I even get home.”

  “You might have to roll me out of here,” I groan as I lift myself up out of the chair and start putting my jacket on again, digging in my purse for some cash. When I hand him part of what the bill should be, he looks down at the money, almost like he’s scared it’s going to bite him.

  “You remember that thing about my dad kicking my ass cause he’s chivalrous? This is another one of those things. We eat, I pay.”

  Not used to this, I still want to do my part. “Then I pay the tip.” I throw down part of my cash. “No arguing.”

  He holds his hands up. “Mom taught me never to argue with a lady. If you want to leave the tip, you go on and leave the tip.”

  We slowly walk toward the entrance of the restaurant, dodging people as we do. Even though it’s after breakfast rush on a Saturday, there are still people milling about and there’s a wait for a table. When we finally get past all the people, I turn to him. “It’s still raining, but I’m up for a little window shopping if you are.”

  “Whatever you wanna do, I’m good with.” He zips up his jacket and puts his hat back on. “As long as I get back home in time to take a nap, I don’t care what we do. I just want to spend some more time with you.”