I watch Echo leave and stare at the door long after he’s gone. My racing heart gradually slows, and I scoff at myself.
“Well, hello there, darlin’. You’re a new face, ain’t ya?”
Pulling my eyes from the door, I focus on the new voice and who it belongs to. He’s older than the other guys in the bar, maybe in his sixties or even seventies with a warm, weathered face and mischievous eyes.
“Hi, I’m Olivia.” I hold my hand out across the bar, and he takes it in a firm shake.
“Well hello, Miss Olivia, I’m Gus. It’s always a pleasure to meet a beautiful young lady,” he says with a wink.
I chuckle. “You’re a charmer, aren’t you, Gus?”
The sound of his deep laugh wraps around me. “It’s been a long while since anyone’s called me a charmer, sweetheart. I’ll have a beer, please.”
As customers flow in and out of Strikers, Gus sits at the bar chatting and drinking while I work. “So, Miss Olivia, where are you from in the UK?”
I hand a drink across the bar to a customer, wait till he leaves, and turn to Gus. “Manchester. It’s a big city like London, but no one’s ever heard of it.”
A knowing smile crosses his face, and he leans forward over the bar. “Young lady, I’ll have you know I know exactly where Manchester is. My late wife, Millie, and I spent a lot of time over in England. We stayed several times in a beautiful village not far from Manchester called Disley. Millie loved England. She’d have moved there, but we never got the chance.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “Gus, I grew up in Disley. Wow, that’s so weird. How on earth did I end up meeting someone in Texas who’s visited the town I grew up in?”
Gus sits at the bar and reminisces about his wife and their time in the UK. Smiling, I find myself happily chatting to my new friend and the closest link to home I’ve found since I landed in America.
“So, Miss Olivia, what brings you to Archer’s Creek?” Gus asks.
I scoff lightly. “I didn’t exactly plan to be in Archer’s Creek. My bus left without me, so I’m stranded here, at least until I figure out what I’m gonna do next. Especially now I have nowhere to stay.” My mouth drops open as my own words sink in. “Oh my God, I don’t have anywhere to stay.” Turning to Gus, I blurt out, “I was supposed to be staying on the bus with the band. But I’m here in this tiny town, and it’s seven at night and I don’t even know if there’s a hotel here.”
Gus reaches out and places a reassuring hand on my arm. “Darlin’, calm down. There isn’t a hotel, but there’s Miss Mimi’s guesthouse.”
“Is that local?”
“Yes, ma’am, just across the road. She’s a little odd, but it’s cheap and the rooms are clean.” Gus stands and shrugs on his jacket. “Well, Miss Olivia, it was a pleasure meeting you, and I thoroughly enjoyed your company. I’m sure I’ll see y’all again, but my dinner’s calling me.”
“Bye, Gus, it was lovely to meet you too.” He reminds me of my granddad, and I long to hug him to see if he smells like mint and soap.
My feet hurt, and I’m sweaty and ready for a shower. Two new waitresses arrived to work the rest of the shift, and I sigh in relief. Brandi crosses the bar towards me. Smiling widely, she looks unbelievably cool and fresh.
“You gonna stay at Miss Mimi’s?” she asks.
I nod. “That’s what I’m hoping, but I don’t even know if she has a room.”
“The old crone’s always got rooms.”
“Well then, yep, I’m gonna be at Miss Mimi’s.” I shrug.
She barrels into me and almost knocks me off my feet. Her arms wrap around me in a tight hug. “Okay, can you be ready in an hour and we’ll come get you?”
“Come get me. Why?”
Pulling her jacket on, she shouts over her shoulder as she leaves, “The party. See you in an hour.” I don’t have a chance to reply before the door swings shut behind her.
I leave the bar, cross the street, and head up the path to Miss Mimi’s. The guesthouse is gothic revival, and the door swings open as I raise my fist to knock.
“Welcome to Miss Mimi’s guesthouse. I’m Miss Mimi, how may I help you?” My eyes widen at the stereotypical southern belle in front of me. She’s wearing pearls and a woollen twinset. Her make-up is heavy, and her hair’s coiffured into a bizarre halo of backcombed perm.
I school my face into a normal expression and speak. “Ma’am, my name’s Olivia Townsend. I was told you might have a room I could rent.” The cloud of perfume that surrounds her almost chokes me, and I hold my breath as I wait. With a flourish, she ushers me in and down a corridor to a basic but clean room.
She holds the door open, and I walk past her and quickly glance around. “This is perfect, thank you.”
Miss Mimi smiles and clasps her hands together in front of her. “Now, Miss Olivia, I have a few rules that I’d ask you to abide by while you’re under my roof. These rooms are single sex only. I don’t allow any fornicating outside of marriage vows in my home. This is a God-fearing household, so I won’t accept my guests taking the Lord’s name in vain. Church on Sunday starts at 9.00 a.m., and we would be happy to make room for you in our pew. Breakfast is at 8.00 a.m., lunch at 12 noon and dinner at 6.30 p.m. Meals are extra, but I don’t mind having one more to cook for if you’d like to join us. Here are your keys. The front door is locked from 1.00 a.m. to 6.00 a.m., and I’d appreciate it if you were in your room by a reasonable hour.”
I nod politely, give her two nights’ rent as deposit, and she leaves.
Alone at last, I kick off my trainers and flop down onto the bed. It’s been a long day, and exhaustion washes over me.
My eyes drift closed and images of Echo flash into my mind.
His scent surrounding me.
His eyes locked on mine.
My breathing becomes shallow, and my nipples harden. My sex throbs as erotic thoughts of Echo’s tattooed hand creeping under the waistband of my shorts flash through my mind.
Hot and unsatisfied, I squirm against the cool cotton sheets. I fist the fabric beneath me and let my imagination take over. My fingers become his as they slide down my stomach and into my panties.
His fingers tease my sex, stroking along the sensitive skin. Wet and desperate, my back arches as his thick finger touches my swollen clit and circles it mercilessly. I pant as the pressure of an orgasm builds from my toes. His huge body cages me in, and I’m surrounded by him. Two fingers push deep inside me, and my orgasm splinters in an explosion of pleasure.
My eyes crash open.
My chest heaves.
My hand is still inside my shorts as I stare at Miss Mimi’s bland white ceiling.
Dragging myself off the bed, I pad with shaky legs into the bathroom. A shower cools my skin and washes away the remains of my orgasm. Once I’m dressed, I stand in front of the mirror and stare, taking in how my white dress clings to my body like a second skin. The hem skims my upper thighs, with the fabric dipping tantalisingly low in the back. Black leather ankle boots with a chunky heel emphasise my long legs, and my hair is a mass of untamed curls.
Simple yet sexy.
A knock at my door startles me, and opening it, I find a stern-looking Miss Mimi standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry to interrupt you, Miss Olivia, but Brandi and two of those heathens are asking for you. I’d be happy to call the sheriff to get rid of them.”
I laugh, assuming she’s joking, but her face hardens. “No, that’s fine. Brandi’s here for me. She’s going to show me around,” I say quickly.
Miss Mimi scoffs, her face twisting in disapproval. “Olivia, dear, those criminals are not someone a respectable young lady should be associating with. Their sinful behaviour is polluting our town. Spending time with them will only spread their disease into you, like the other disreputable women that associate with them.”
I pull in a sharp breath. “I’ll bear that in mind, Miss Mimi. I appreciate your concern, but if you’ll excuse me, Brandi is waiting for me.”