“I must have still been half-asleep when you said that. Wait until Killyama hears this. Can I call and tell her? That bitch is gonna cry like a baby it’s not her.”
“Go for it. I have to finish my nails and pack. I’ll see you when I get back. Love you.”
“Love you back, bitch. Have fun.”
“I will. Oh… I was so excited I almost forgot the other reason I was calling you. Can you take care of Al for me while I’m gone?”
“Sure.”
“And can you ask Crazy Bitch if she can serve Christmas breakfast for me at the shelter?”
Sex Piston didn’t agree as readily with her second request. “She won’t be thrilled.”
“Tell her if she does it for me, I’ll come by and pick up Manson when I get back.”
“I’ll tell her.”
“And could…” T.A. started to ask her to call Fat Louise for her when she realized that Sex Piston had hung up on her.
“How rude.” She’d have to wait until her nail polish dried before she could text Fat Louise herself.
T.A. turned the volume up on her TV and switched it to the music channel, selecting holiday music. She hopped off the couch to start packing as the music filled the room. Recognizing the first few notes, she started joyfully singing out loud.
“Dalton, baby. Slip some nookie to me for Christmas...”
19
T.A. slid in the front seat of Dalton’s car as he held the door open for her. She stared out the window interestedly as he put her suitcases into the trunk.
She was buckling her seat belt when Dalton got in the car behind the steering wheel.
“I didn’t expect you to be the one to pick me up,” she said enthusiastically.
Dalton stared at her questioningly. “Who did you think would?”
“I don’t know. You’re rich enough that you could have your own private driver.”
“I don’t have a driver. I prefer to drive myself.”
The large buildings they passed attracted her attention away from him.
“I’ve never been to Queen City before. From now on when Penni comes to visit and talks about it, I’ll be able to picture it in my mind.” The city was much larger than she had imagined.
“Have you traveled out of Jamestown often?”
“I leave Jamestown regularly. It’s a small town.”
“That wasn’t what I meant.”
T.A. turned her head to watch him as he drove. She wanted to pinch herself. She used to have to buy theater tickets to stare up at him on a big screen. Now he was just inches away.
“Are you politely asking if I’ve ever gone to big cities before?” she teased. “It might surprise you the places I’ve been.”
“Try me.”
“Baby, don’t tempt me.” Joking, she smiled at him, only to see him shooting an uncomfortable look back at her.
“T.A., I don’t want you to get the impression that we’re going to be more than friends.”
Her enthusiasm took a nose dive as if she had jumped off a cliff, and instead of the cool water rushing up to meet her, she hit the rocky bottom, and the only thing left was her splattered remains.
“Tell me what you really think, Dalton,” she murmured derisively. She wasn’t going to take his shit when she was the one who had gotten up in the middle of the night to help his conceited ass out. “First, you act like I’m a hillbilly hick who’s never been out of Kentucky before, then you act like I’m going to feel you up in the front seat when I’m joking around. If this is how the next two days are going to be, you can pull a u-ey and take me back to the airport. I can still make it back to Kentucky and spend Christmas with people who know how to have a good fucking time.”
She tensed when he expertly turned the steering wheel to enter a shopping center. Stopping the car, he unbuckled his seat belt to turn sideways in his seat.
“I don’t think you’re a hillbilly. I actually think you’re a lot smarter than you pretend to be. Secondly,” he snapped out, “the only reason I said anything is because I’m trying like hell not to hurt you, T.A.” His hand reached out, cupping her check. “I really like you. Probably more than I should.”
Her lips trembled at his admission. “Then what’s the problem? I like you too.”
“The problem is, I feel like I’m cheating on Oceane every time I fucking look at you.”
She rubbed her cheek against the palm of his hand like a kitten wanting to be stroked. “That must be a bummer for you.”
His eyes fell to her lips. “You have no idea.”
T.A. licked her bottom lip. “Try me.”
Dalton gave a ragged groan as his lips lowered to hers. “Jesus, stop me…”
Jesus must not have stopped him because his mouth covered hers. Being kissed by Dalton was as hot as she dreamed it would be, but it was so much, much more than she expected it to be.