Love on a Dirt Road (The Roughneck Series Book 1) Page 4

  Jase: Do you leave for lunch during work?

  Me: I can

  Jase: Have lunch with me tomorrow

  Me: Ok

  Jase: I'm trying to move slow with you. I know you just got out of a relationship and I don't want to scare you away. But there's something about you, Lainey. Ur making it hard to do

  Jase: And it's not just because you're the sexiest fucking thing I've ever seen. It's more than that.

  If some other guy said that to me, I might be offended. But with Jase, it was fucking hot!

  Me: I know the feeling :) I want to go slow too. Try to anyway. But YOU make it hard for ME! ;)

  Jase: Well then I better get in the shower before I show up at your door

  I had to push thoughts of Jase in the shower out of my head.

  Me: Ok I'm gonna take a nap

  Jase: Dream about me

  Me: I just might :)

  Jase: Call you tomorrow

  Me: I'll be waiting

  Jase: But if you do dream about me, make sure your naked in the dream too. K?

  Me: Deal :)

  When I woke from my nap, I walked into the living room and saw Sam laying on the couch.

  "Afternoon hussy" she said with a wink

  "Hey, I didn't hear you get home"

  "I got in a while ago."

  "Were you with Moon?" I whispered

  "Why are you whispering?" She whispered back

  "Shut up! Smart ass." I laughed

  "Yeah I was."

  "Early mornin’ booty call?" I asked with a quick raise of my brows.

  "He made me breakfast first. He knows his pancakes will get him in my pants every time. And I didn't see Jase's truck there so I'm guessing y'all were together?"

  "Nice way to change the subject, but yeah." I paused

  "He took me fishing Sam." I said as I put my hand over my heart.

  "Were you ok with that? Did he know about your dad?" Sam knew me so well.

  "I told him. And it was good. Really good actually."

  "So you kinda like ol Jase huh?"

  "Oh my god, he is so sexy. And sweet. And funny."

  "He's funny? I don't think I've ever heard him say more than five words. He's so quiet."

  "He's really not. And he's got a trash mouth that's sexy as hell" I said

  "Oh my god, you love him, and you wanna have like ten thousand of his babies" She laughed.

  I didn't miss the American Beauty reference. It was our favorite movie we would sneak to watch when we were younger.

  "I haven't watched that in forever! Think it's on Netflix?"

  "It is! But I've been waiting for you to watch it with me, you slut."

  "I'll make the popcorn" I said as I headed to the kitchen.

  "Ok but you're gonna give me all the dirty details of you and Jase after the movie"

  "Promise" I grinned.

  Monday

  I made an extra effort getting ready for work since I knew I would see Jase at lunch. I left my hair down and curled the ends instead of my usual ponytail and took a little extra time on my makeup. Although I still had to wear my black scrubs, I felt pretty good about myself. Sam always had to be at work an hour before me so at least I didn't have to hear her comments about getting dolled up this morning. As I was getting my keys and purse together, heading out the door, my phone started to ring. It startled me because I was a texter, I rarely talked on the phone. But once I saw his name on the screen, I got butterflies. But then I got worried, what if he was cancelling?

  "Hello" I said

  "Mornin’ beautiful" He said in a sleepy raspy voice that made my lady bits tingle.

  "Good Morning" I replied, trying not to let the shakiness in my voice show.

  "Is it lunch time yet?" He asked. I don't think his voice could get any sexier if he tried.

  "Mmm. I wish"

  "You headed to work already?" He said as it sounded like he was stretching.

  "I'm about to head out the door. You're awake early?"

  "I just woke up."

  I couldn't get the vision of Jase, lying in bed, shirtless, out of my head. That was a picture I was convinced would entertain my thoughts all morning.

  "Nice." Did I just say that out loud?

  His sleepy laugh made me smile. God, even his laugh was sexy.

  "Well I'll let ya go so you can head out. Just wanted to make sure we were still on for lunch. And I wanted to hear your voice."

  "We're definitely still on. I'm glad you called."

  "I'll text you in a little bit. Be careful."

  "Ok, bye Jase"

  "Bye."

  Damn. I really wanted to be strong and not fall head over heels for this man. I was honestly afraid if this didn't work out, he would completely ruin me for anyone else. Because I had never fell this hard, this fast for anyone. I hated to admit it, but even after such a short time, Jase had the power to destroy me.

  12:10 pm

  I pulled into LuLu's Cafe and started scanning the parking lot for that beautiful truck of his. I decided it was better to meet him for lunch instead of him picking me up. We weren't very good at keeping our hands off each other and I figured my job wasn't the place for that. I spotted him immediately leaned up against his truck. He was standing with his arms crossed looking sexy as usual. He was wearing faded jeans and a fitted grey T-shirt. He had on the extra worn baseball cap again and a pair of aviators. His scruff seemed a little darker today. Maybe it was just growing longer. Whatever it was, it definitely worked for him. He looked absolutely edible. He gave me a nod and that crooked smile as I pulled my car next to his beast. As soon as I turned off the ignition Jase was at my driver’s side opening the door for me.

  "Hey you" I said as I stood in front of him

  He immediately put his lips on mine.

  "Hey yourself" He whispered as he pulled away, then he looked me over from top to bottom.

  "How do you manage to make scrubs sexy?" He asked

  I didn't answer, I just stood on my tip toes and planted a kiss on those beautiful lips of his.

  "We better go get a table, I have to be back by 1" I said as I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the cafe.

  We sat at our booth and I couldn't keep my eyes off his arms. I realized this was the first time I had ever really had a good look at his tattoos. Other than the first night we met, he was always in long sleeves. I was thanking God in that moment for a warm October day.

  "So when did you first start getting tattoos?" I asked as soon as the waitress left with our drink order.

  "My 18th birthday" He said with a smile.

  "Which one was your first?" I asked as I scanned both of his arms.

  "This one" He said as he raised his left sleeve and pointed from his shoulder down to his elbow.

  "You got all that at once?”

  "Yeah, it was a tap out session. I lasted almost 5 hours. There was a lot of tequila involved."

  "You're crazy" I laughed.

  "So do you have any?" He asked.

  "No I don't. I've always thought about it. I actually almost went through with it about a year ago but..." My voice trailed off, I didn't want to bring him up.

  "But what?" He asked.

  "Tell me" He said, when I didn't answer.

  "Derek didn't want me to. He said tattoos were trashy, especially on women."

  "You want to know what I think?" He asked.

  "What?" He had peaked my curiosity.

  "I think Derek is a puss who couldn't handle it anyway." Then he leaned in closer to me. "And I think you would look sexy as fuck with any tattoo you wanted."

  I couldn't help but bite my lip to keep from grinning. The way he talked to me was seriously hot.

  "And I warned you about biting that lip" He whispered as I watched those emerald green eyes of his turn just a shade darker. I couldn't help but stare at him as I tried to keep my breathing even.

  Our moment was interrupted by the sound of a phone. The ringtone was different so I k
new it wasn't mine. Jase pulled his phone out of his pocket. He stared at the screen for a second before he declined the call. He put his phone back in his pocket and gave me a smile. But it didn't meet his eyes. There was something there. I couldn't put my finger on it. Was it anger?

  "So what kind of tattoo did you wanna get?" He asked, it took a minute but his genuine smile was back.

  "I'm not sure. Something pretty." I said with a giggle. "Is that lame?"

  "Not at all"

  My eyes were scanning his arms again when I noticed the word "Trust" written within another design on his forearm. It was hard to distinguish unless you were looking close.

  "What about that one?" I asked and pointed to it.

  He was quiet for a minute.

  "I got that about 6 months ago"

  "Is there a reason behind it?" I asked bluntly.

  "Trust is everything" He said very matter of fact.

  "Ain't that the truth" I said. "Did someone break your trust?" God Lainey, nosey much?

  "It's been known to happen."

  "What happened 6 months ago that made you get it?" I needed to shut up.

  He started to scratch his chin. I had already learned that's what Jase did when he was trying decide how to answer one of my questions.

  "Just a girl that shouldn't have even been worth my time."

  "She cheated on you?"

  "Yep. The rig life ain't for everybody. It wasn't for her, she just didn't tell me. She liked the stuff that came along with it. She just didn't like keeping her legs shut when I was working."

  "Ouch" I said "I'm sorry" I grabbed his hand and rubbed my thumb across his knuckles.

  "It's ok. Trust me. I shoulda known. We weren't together for that long. It's just something I expect out of people. And again, I had been hitting the tequila." He said with a laugh. I had a feeling the tattoo wasn't just about the slut.

  "I agree. When trust it broken, there's really no turning back" I said.

  "Which is why you left the puss?" He asked. I realized that Derek's new nickname was fitting.

  "Yeah, I got to see it with my own eyes."

  "Damn. I could tell he deserved to be punched when I first laid eyes on him."

  "Wait? What? When did you see him?" I was confused.

  "When we went to get your stuff from your old apartment. He was only there for a minute. Sam tore into him pretty good, so he shagged ass when we started loading your stuff up."

  I was so relieved when Sam got all my belongings I never even asked for the details.

  "I'm so glad I didn't have to go back there, it would have been too much to deal with. He's too much to deal with."

  "I'd do it over 100 times if you needed me to. But I guarantee, I'd have laid his ass out for sure if I got the chance."

  "Have I told you that being a bad ass is pretty sexy?"

  "I'm not a bad ass, I just fight for what I want."

  "Well it sure looks good on you" I said as our food arrived.

  When I walked through the front door after work, all I wanted to do was pull my hair up and take my shoes off. As I was getting settled my phone started to ring.

  It was Derek. Decline.

  The ding of a voicemail. Delete.

  I wasn't giving in to him. I would change my number if I had to. Surely he would give up soon. I went to the kitchen to decide what to do for dinner when Sam walked out of her room. At the same time, my phone started ringing again. Sam looked at me, waiting for me to pick it up. Decline.

  "Derek's been calling and texting me."

  "Are you shitting me? What did you say?"

  "I told him it was over and to stop calling. He's just not letting up."

  "Let me answer!" She said with a shit eating grin. "I'll set him straight"

  "Nah. He'll give up eventually" And I was convinced that he would. Derek was a spoiled brat who had always gotten his way. He just wasn't used to being told no. He would find a new toy soon and move on.

  Friday Afternoon

  It was 5 o'clock and I was more than ready for the weekend. Derek hadn't called back, maybe he finally got the hint. Things were going great with Jase. We had our lunch date every day. That was definitely something I could get used to. But I was ready to spend time with him that didn't involve conversations in a crowded restaurant with a waitress interrupting every 5 minutes. Jase had made plans to go hunting with Moon tonight but promised he would pick me up in the morning and we were spending the entire day together. I didn't even ask what we were doing, because it didn't matter. Just being with him was good enough for me.

  As I pulled into the driveway, I had an eerie feeling. But I ignored it, I was probably just tired. I grabbed my purse and got out of the car when Derek's Honda pulled up behind me. You have got to be kidding me!

  "What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

  “You keep ignoring my calls, you can't ignore me if I'm right in front of you" He said with anger in his eyes.

  "Look, I told you it was over. There's no coming back from what I walked in on. You said it yourself, you're not interested in being with one woman. So go find someone who's ok with that. Because it's not me!"

  "I'm not leaving until we work this out"

  "There's nothing to work out. My god, how did you even find me? I'm pretty sure I didn't leave a forwarding address."

  "I followed that bitch best friend of yours when she came to get your things."

  "Oh my God, are you hearing yourself? You sound like a fucking nutcase! Following Sam. What is wrong with you? Just get out of here!"

  "DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT LAINEY!" He screamed at me, with a look in his eyes I've never seen before. It might have even scared me, if I wasn't so pissed.

  "Don't tell me how to talk, DEREK! I spent two fucking years listening to you tell me how to be. What not to say, what not to do. How to act in front of your stuck up friends. I'M DONE!" I screamed right back and turned to walk away.

  "You don't walk away from me until I tell you I'm finished" He said as he grabbed me by the arm.

  I heard the front door slam. I turned around and there was Sam on the front porch with a shot gun in her hand, pointed right at Derek.

  "Get your fucking hands off her and get off my property." She said in a calm voice.

  "What is this back woods skank going to shoot me now?" Derek said with a nervous laugh.

  "Try me, Mother Fucker" She said as she cocked the gun.

  Derek put his hands up in surrender and started to walk backwards to his car.

  "Crazy bitch" He mumbled as he got in his car.

  I stood still until Derek backed out of the driveway and pulled out of sight. I finally turned around and walked onto the porch where Sam was still standing.

  “Holy shit, you were totally gonna shoot him" I said, unsure of whether I was about to laugh or cry.

  "If needed." She said "And what kind of man drives a fucking Honda?" She said as we walked in the house.

  Sam walked into her bedroom, I'm assuming to put her gun back in the case. My nerves were completely shot. I was shaking uncontrollably. How could he just show up here? I can't believe he would follow Sam all the way here, it's a 2 1/2 hour drive. I've never seen him so angry. He looked like he wanted to hit me. When he was standing right in front of me, my adrenaline was pumping and I didn't really get scared. But now, I was freaked out. Would he have hit me if Sam wasn't here? Although he had never put his hands on me before, I'm almost convinced today might have been the first time. I need a drink. I've got to calm down. I remembered there was some Shine in the freezer. I hadn't drank that stuff since high school but a glass of wine wasn't going to work for me right now.

  I got the jar out and grabbed a shot glass.

  One down. Oh my god, it really does taste like kerosene!

  Two down. Ugh! Shouldn't Moon have gotten better at the taste of it by now?

  Three down. My chest was starting to feel warm.

  A few minutes later Sam walked ou
t of her room and came into the kitchen.

  "Whoa there speed racer... You better slow down." She pulled the jar closer to her.

  "How many shots did you take? Your eyes are already glassy" She was staring at me.

  "Three I think, four maybe" Or was it five? My brain was starting to get fuzzy.

  "Oh shit Lainey. You know you're a light weight and this shit is strong."

  "I'm fine. I can't believe he showed up here." Was I slurring already?

  FADE. TO. BLACK.

  Chapter 6

  Oh my God. Did I eat cotton? My mouth was so dry. I started to open my eyes but the light was too bright. Ow! My head. It was pounding. I feel like I was run over by a truck. Do I have the flu? Where am I? What happened? I was so confused. Was it day time? I was keeping my eyes closed but feeling my surroundings. I found my favorite blanket next to me. Ok I was in my bed. I couldn't think straight. Open your eyes Lainey! God the room was spinning. So I laid there for another minute. After dozing in and out of consciousness for a while, I started to gain a little focus. I remembered the whole scenario with Derek. I still can't believe he came here. The memory of slugging moonshine shots came to me and my body shuddered. Ugh! I hadn't been hung over in so long, I almost forgot what it felt like. I slowly peered my eyes open. Yes I was definitely in my bed. I scanned the room and Jase was asleep on the floor. What the hell? When did he get here? What is he doing on the floor?

  I tried to raise up but the truck slammed into my head again. I let out a little whine and put my head back down on the pillow. How much did I drink? Jase must have heard my whimpers. He started to stir. He peeked his eyes open and looked at me.

  "You ok?" He asked

  "I think I might be dying" I said. I was being completely honest.

  "That shines a sneaky little bastard." He said in his raspy morning voice. "Can I get you anything?"

  My stomach chose that moment to decide it needed to be emptied. I sprung off my bed and ran to the bathroom as quick as my wobbly legs would let me. I didn't even have time to shut the door before my head was in the toilet. I was puking violently when I heard footsteps behind me. I heard the sink running and felt a cool rag on my forehead. It felt good but I couldn't let him see me like this. I was so embarrassed.