I motion with my hand for the blonde to lead the way, and I walk behind her toward the exit. Every set of eyes in the place watches us leave. I’m well aware of how fast rumors fly around a small town, and I have to think we might just be the next one based on all the attention we’re garnering.
We exit the diner and I notice the way she runs her thumb over the bare ring finger of her left hand a bunch of times. She opens her mouth to speak, but I interrupt her before she can just give me directions and leave.
“Thanks a lot for doing this.” I pull her back into our bubble because there’s something here. Yeah, I’m attracted to her—who wouldn’t be? Gorgeous set of tits on a thin frame with an ass made to grab. And I do love blondes. But before I instigate anything, I need to know how serious it is with the boyfriend. Maybe he’s just some guy she’s seeing, but they haven’t decided to be exclusive yet.
“Sure.” She walks down the sidewalk and I keep pace with her.
People smile and wave. Some say hello as we pass by, but none of them stop to talk to her. Maybe because she’s with me. They all look confused, and I can understand why. The two of us probably don’t look all that compatible, her with her buttoned-up professional look and me with my jeans and leather jacket.
When I decided to spend my eight-week leave from the Coast Guard here in Lake Starlight, I knew that as an outsider, I’d have to answer questions about myself, but I learned how to be vague a long time ago.
“I’m assuming you’re a lifer?” I ask, straightening my duffel bag on my shoulder.
“Lifer?”
“Everyone we pass seems to know you.”
“Oh… yeah. I’ve lived here my entire life and both my parents did before me, so…” It sounds like there’s so much more she could tell me, but she doesn’t.
“Then I guess I asked the right woman for directions.”
She smiles.
Maybe I misinterpreted her glances my way at the diner. Maybe she doesn’t want anything to do with me other than to show me to Lucky’s. Lucky’s isn’t that far, so once we reach it, we stop and she signals to the doors.
I take in the place. “I thought it would be bigger.”
“There aren’t a lot of big things in this town.” Her eyes trace over my body and I like them on me. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten this much interest from a woman I just met.
“I’m starting to see that.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “I hope your boyfriend doesn’t get upset that you showed me how to get here?”
“Boyfriend?” Her head tilts to the side.
“The guy at the diner? The one who said he loved you when he left.”
She laughs and stops when she sees my confusion. “That’s my cousin, and he definitely isn’t boyfriend material for anyone.”
I rock back on my heels. If I didn’t have an interview, I’d try to spend time with her. “Can I get your number then? Maybe you could show me around while I’m here.”
The innuendo is obvious in my tone, and her eyes widen for a moment as though she’s surprised I’m asking. There’s no way this woman doesn’t get hit on every damn day.
“How long are you here for?” she asks.
If my commander at the Coast Guard has anything to say about it, it’ll be eight weeks. But I don’t say that. “I’m not sure. I’m not on a time clock.”
She smiles and nods. “Um… sure.”
I put my password in my phone, go to my contacts, and hand it to her. Her hands tremble a bit as she holds it, her thumbs resting over the screen as if she’s second-guessing giving me her information. She looks at me before typing anything, and I smile at her. Something is stopping her from giving me her number.
A man comes out of the tattoo parlor next door. I noticed Smokin’ Guns when I came into town and was thinking maybe I’d add to my collection while I’m here. He doesn’t bother looking at me, but he stares at the back of the blonde, clearing his throat loudly enough that he’s easily heard.
Her alarmed eyes lift to mine, and she hands me back my phone. Glancing over her shoulder, her hands shake more, so she clenches them at her sides. “Sorry, I should go. I’m sure I’ll see you around, not many places to hide.”
I nod, a little disappointed. “Thanks.”
She hurries over to the man who’s definitely older than her.
“Hey,” she says when she reaches him and walks into the shop.
The man’s eyes finally meet mine, and he studies me for a second. “Hey, Brinley.”
He gives me what I interpret as a warning glare. Then he steps inside, and the door shuts after him.
I shake my head, opening the door to Lucky’s. This isn’t exactly what I thought my first day here would be like. Inside, I find a small bar with booths by the window and tables of four placed where there’s room. There are dart boards and pool tables in the back, along with a jukebox. Other than a group of four elderly people in a booth, the place is empty.
A guy comes out of the back as I step up to the bar and drop my duffel bag on the floor.
He smiles and crosses the room to me. “You must be Van.” He puts his hand out in front of me.
“Nate?” My eyebrows rise.
“Yeah. Can I get you something?”
“A water?”
“Sure thing.” He moves down the bar, grabs a bottle of water from the fridge, and calls to the booth with the elderly people, “Alice, do you need anything? Because I’m gonna be busy for twenty minutes or so.”
A red-haired lady peeks out of the booth and shamelessly looks me up and down, her eyes widening when she reaches my eyes again. “Um… who is he?”
Nate shakes his head. “He’s my interview.”
She waves him off. “He’s hired. You’re going to get a lot more women in here with him behind the bar.”
“And what does that say about me?” Nate looks offended.
“Stop looking for compliments,” she says, then she turns her attention back to me. “Good luck. Not that you’d need it in my book.”
I have no idea how to respond, so I just smile.
“Come on, Van, we’ll talk over here.” Nate nods to the farthest table from the overly friendly geriatric. Once we’re both seated, he says, “I’m really sorry. They’re from a retirement center in town and they hang out here sometimes while I’m getting ready for the evening shift. They act like they’re in some secret club, but from what I overhear, all they talk about is the food at the home and who’s sleeping with who.”
I chuckle. “Good for them then.”
He laughs. “That’s what I said. When I get that old, I’m going there.” He straightens the papers in his hands, and I catch he doesn’t have a wedding ring. “So, you worked with Tony?”
I nod. “He’s a great guy. Lucky bastard got transferred to Clearwater, Florida.”
“And you’re still up here in the frigid weather?”
I shrug. “I don’t mind it up here.”
“Yeah, Tony told me you’re one of those guys—the more risk, the more adrenaline, the more you love it.” He smirks. “So, you said you’re on leave?”