CHAPTER ELEVEN

Dalton

 

When I pulled up to Cami’s house on Saturday I felt weirdly giddy.  Like some teenager heading to the junior prom with plans in his head and a boner in his pants.

When in the hell was the last time I picked up a girl at her parents’ house? 

I couldn’t even remember.  I’d probably been living under my father’s roof at the time. 

Cami had offered to drive out to Wild Spring when I texted her this morning but it seemed like a crappy move to make her come to me.  Plus I was curious about where she came from, the family she’d told me about.  They sounded like one of those perfect sitcom ensembles. I pictured an army of clean-cut suburbanites who hugged each other constantly. 

The house was a neat ranch style in an older neighborhood.  The front yard was desert landscaped like ninety percent of the homes in this part of the country but someone had dressed up the small front porch with potted flowers. 

I rang the doorbell and a second later it was answered by a woman who looked more like Cami’s twin than Cami’s actual twin did.  Same long brown hair, same striking green eyes.  The woman smiled and I could tell by the soft lines on her lovely face that she must be Cami’s mother. 

“Hello, I’m Saylor,” she said. “Cami’s mom.  And you must be Dalton.” 

“Yes.  Nice to meet you.”  

Saylor Gentry held open the door as a shaggy black dog stuck its nose out and thumped its tail.  “Don’t mind old Angus the Dog. Come on in, if you’re brave.  I think Cami’s almost ready.”

I didn’t understand the ‘brave’ comment from Cami’s mother.  When she led me into the living room I understood it. 

Right away I could see the similarities between the man sitting on the living room couch and my former teacher, Chase Gentry.  But fundamental features aside, this man didn’t resemble his brother much.  For one thing, Chase’s face was always full of good humor.  This man’s glowering expression made me wonder if he was contemplating homicide.  His white t-shirt didn’t cover the tattoos wrapping both arms.  If I had to guess I’d say he probably had a lot more ink that I couldn’t see.  Cami had mentioned that her mother was a writer but I couldn’t recall if she’d indicated what her father did for a living. 

“Cord,” Saylor scolded.  “Stop being intentionally creepy and say hello to Cami’s friend, Dalton.” 

The man broke into a grin and that’s when I saw his resemblance to his brother.  He rose from the couch and held his hand out. 

“Cord Gentry,” he said.  He squeezed my hand a little harder than necessary but I could take it. 

“Dalton Tremaine,” I said.  “Glad to meet both you and your wife.” 

“Have a seat,” he said, pointing to a straight-backed antique wooden rocking chair.  It didn’t look like a comfortable place but I sat just the same.  I was right. It was not a comfortable place.  

Cami’s parents settled on the couch together and appraised me.  They were young to have twenty-one-year-old twin daughters.  Together they made a really striking couple and it was easy to see how their daughters ended up being such lookers. 

A blonde head popped into the room.  “Hi, Dalton.  Cami will be out in a minute.  She grumbled that you’re early.”

“Am I?” I checked my watch.  Yes, I was fifteen minutes early. 

Way to go, Tremaine.  Doesn’t come off as overeager at all. 

 “Tell her to take her time,” I said, although between the Puritan chair torture and being openly eyeballed by Cami’s concerned parents, I wasn’t feeling terribly relaxed.  Still, I could turn on the charm when I needed to.  I’d had plenty of practice at the club. 

“So Cami tells me you’re a very talented and successful author, Saylor.” 

She smiled.  “I just published my seventeenth book.  As to the talent question, that’s in the eye of the reader.” 

“Camille is a great writer too,” Cord said.  “She plans on being a world famous reporter.”  There was a vague warning vibe in his voice, like he was putting me on notice that I’d better not fuck up his daughter’s dreams. 

“Cami’s extremely smart,” I said carefully. “I’m sure she’ll do whatever she puts her mind to.” 

“You were a professional athlete, is that right?”  Cord asked.  I wondered if Cami had told him that or if he’d looked me up on his own. 

“Yes, I had three seasons in the majors and then a few more down in the minors.” I coughed.  “That phase of my life ended last year.” 

“And now you manage a bar?”

“A night club,” I said.  “Aqua Room.  Have you heard of it?”

The two of them thought the question was funny. 

“It’s been a while since we were in the loop on the trendy night club scene,” Saylor said with a wink and she hooked her arm through her husband’s.

“Maybe we should have a night out, honey,” Cord said.  “We could twerk, do shots together.  You don’t mind if we show up at your club, do you, Dalton?”

I couldn’t tell if he was kidding or not.  “Ah…”

Saylor laughed.  “Stop threatening him, Cord.” 

“Okay,” Cord said.  “How old are you, Dalton?”

I wasn’t used to being asked my age. “Twenty nine, sir. How old are you?”

He waved a hand.  “Irrelevant.  So, twenty-nine.  Eight years older than my daughter.” 

“Unless math as I know it has changed, yes.” 

Cord Gentry looked at me.  I looked at him.  I could tell what he was thinking.  Here I was, a former pro athlete, way older than Cami and employed in a position of authority where she currently worked.  He was probably wondering what the hell I was doing sitting in his living room.  Sure, Cami was an adult but that fact was probably small comfort to an overprotective father.  I couldn’t blame the guy for looking at me funny. 

“I run a youth baseball training facility too,” I said.  “That’s actually what I’d like to do full time.  Right now we’re renting a location but as soon as I can get some more capital I’ll be in the market for a permanent site.  In fact, I coach your nephew.  Thomas.” 

“Yeah,” Cord said slowly, “it seems someone mentioned that to me.  You’re Chase’s former student.”

“Your brother was the only teacher worth a damn in my high school.” 

Cord Gentry’s shoulders relaxed a little.  I guess the fact that I had an honest connection to his family made me seem a little less predatory.

“Oh my god,” said a voice and I looked up to see a teenage girl who was a mix of both Cami and Cassie standing there staring at me.  The girl who almost certainly was Cami’s younger sister, Cadence, looked like she’d just rolled out of bed ten seconds ago and wore a long pink night shirt covered in cartoon sheep.  She tossed her light brown hair over one shoulder, set her hands on her hips and turned to her parents accusingly. 

“You put him in The Hot Seat.  Why did you do that?  You promised Cami you wouldn’t do that.” 

Saylor and Cord widened their eyes and glanced at each other innocently. 

“What are you talking about?” asked Cord.

“It would have been rude to force him to stand,” said Saylor. 

“Rude as hell,” agreed her husband.  “We’re decent people so we offered him a chair.” 

Cadence shook her head in disgust. “Cami!” she shouted down the hall.  “Mom and Dad stuck Dalton in The Hot Seat.” She turned to me.  “By the way, I’m Cadence.” 

“Nice to meet you, Cadence.  I’m Dalton.” 

“I know.  My sisters were right.  You really are hot as balls.”  The youngest Gentry daughter turned and stalked down the hall. 

There was the sound of a door opening and then Cami came rushing into the room.  “What are you guys doing?”  She groaned when she saw me perched awkwardly in the stupid rocking chair.  “I thought we all agreed to retire The Hot Seat.” 

As soon as Cami entered the room my eyes were immediately drawn to the way her form-fitting t-shirt showed off her tits.  But I wasn’t enough of a dog to picture her naked while her parents sat eight feet away so I tore my gaze away and instead looked at her face.  She was extra cute when she was mad. 

I raised a hand.  “I have to ask, what is The Hot Seat?”

“I’ll tell you later,” Cami said and marched across the room, grabbed my arm and tried to lift me from the chair.  That wasn’t really going to work out very well so I did her a favor and stood up. 

“We’re leaving now,” she declared, pulling me to the door. 

“Goodbye, honey,” Saylor Gentry called. 

“We’ll be waiting right here until you return,” Cord Gentry yelled. 

As the door shut I heard them break into peals of laughter. 

“Sorry about that,” Cami groaned.  “I was going to wait out here and spare you introductions but you were early.” 

“So I heard.” 

She stopped and stared out at the street.  “Is that your car?”

“No, it’s my meticulously restored 1969 Chevy pickup truck.” 

Cami peered in the windows.  “My uncles would appreciate the hell out of this.” 

“More Gentrys?” 

“Yeah, they own a garage.” 

Something clicked. “You mean The Brothers Gentry Garage belongs to your uncles?”

“Yup.”

“I should have known.”  I opened up the passenger door.  “Nicer than the golf cart I usually drive you around in.” 

“It’ll do,” she said, climbing inside. 

I got behind the wheel.  “Well, I may not have a nice house but I have a nice truck.” 

“Why do you live at the resort?  You never gave me a real reason.” 

I started the ignition.  It purred like a cat.  “I’m lazy.  I like walking to work.” 

“I believe you like walking to work.  But I don’t believe you’re lazy.” 

“Why’s that?”

“Because you spend your free time out in the hot sun teaching kids how to play baseball.” 

“I’d to that all the time if I could,” I said honestly. 

Cami smiled.  “So where are we going, Mr. Tremaine?”

I felt like I was being watched as I drove away from the curb.  I pictured Cami’s entire family huddled behind the big picture window in the front room and studying my truck as it disappeared. 

“Something outdoors?” I suggested.  “Temperatures are forecasted to hit a mere ninety degrees today.”

“Practically a cold snap.  Sure, how about the botanical gardens?” 

“You got it.” 

I liked this, the carefree feeling of being out with a nice girl.  That didn’t mean I was going to stop checking out her tits though.  Now that we’d left the company of her parents, they were fair game. 

The freeway wasn’t crowded and I pushed the accelerator.  “So tell me, what’s this about The Hot Seat?”

Cami wrinkled her nose and briefly covered her face with her handbag.  “It’s a family joke.  My mom picked up that chair at Goodwill about five years ago when she was going through a shabby chic phase.  She was going to redecorate the whole house but then started writing another paranormal romance series and never even got around to painting the chair.  So it became a running gag.  Whenever guys would come over to take one of us out my dad would direct them to the chair because it’s uncomfortable as shit and then he’d pepper them with intrusive questions.” 

I chuckled.  “I like your family.” 

“I like them too.  I’m sorry about The Hot Seat though.  It’s juvenile.” 

“It’s fine.  Your dad hinted I’m too old for you.”

“Did he?”

“Yes.  It was a very dad thing to say.  I think he’s worried I’m not going to bring you back.” 

  “He might be.  My folks are well versed in the perils of insta-love.  Oh, they think it was just fine for them but when it comes to their daughters there shouldn’t be any such thing.” 

“Wait, insta-what?”

“Insta-love.  Instant love.  Like you meet, you fuck, you fall famously in love and pledge to remain together for all eternity.” She let out a tiny gasp.  “Oh god, I didn’t mean we were falling in love or anything.  No, no, I’m not all clingy and stalkerish like that. I swear.” 

I snorted.  “Cami, I wouldn’t describe you as remotely clingy. And I don’t spend too much time worrying about instant loving or whatever it is.  But I did really like hearing you say the word fuck.”   

She smiled.  “Fuck.”

“Say it again.” 

“Fuck.” 

Man, I was getting turned on.  “Good girl, now use it in a sentence.” 

“Every guy I’ve ever dated has turned out to be a total fuck up.” 

“Eh, that’s not exactly what I had in mind.” 

“That’s all you’re getting right now, Dalton,” she said sweetly but I saw her pulling at the hem of her shirt and shifting in her seat.  It was easy to get her going.  Like yesterday at lunch.  A touch of my hand and she’d been on the verge of a goddamn earthquake between her legs.  In the last twenty-four hours I’d jacked off to that memory six times.  Hell, I was at full staff right now thinking about it again and I’d be ready to do something about it if I wasn’t driving.  My eyes kept leaving the road and roaming over her body.  She was wearing shorts and while they weren’t really all that short, I could see enough bare, smooth skin to crave a whole lot more.  Even if I couldn’t have her right this moment I knew the moment was coming.  Soon.  Everything about this girl’s body language told me she wanted it as much as I did. 

“Were they really all fuck ups?” I asked, trying to refocus my energy away from my dick. 

“Who?  Oh, the guys I’ve dated.  Yeah, mostly.  Take my last boyfriend. Chris, photography major.  One day he convinces me that we need to go out and buy roller blades.”

“Roller blades?  Shit, the nineties called and they want their hobby back.” 

She rolled her eyes.  “I know, right?  Anyway, I went along with it and we started roller blading our idiot asses off all over the place.  Then one night at two a.m. he wakes me up because he can’t sleep and he wants to go blow off some steam. So we grab our blades and start skating.  We really weren’t supposed to be out roller blading in the center of campus at that time but there was no one around so it didn’t seem like a problem. Suddenly Chris sees a light approaching from the other side of the library.  Figuring it’s campus security he squeals, “Oh shit!” and takes off like he’s being chased by the Roman legion.  I tried to follow but tripped on a rock and skinned my knee on the concrete.  So I’m sprawled on the ground, dazed and bleeding, while the light closes in.  Turns out it’s not campus security at all but some old guy pedaling around on a unicycle.  He just wheezes past me without saying anything.  I’m sitting there thinking Chris will come back any second but he doesn’t and I can’t even call him because I left my phone in my room.” 

I was indignant.  “This loser left you out there all alone in the middle of the night because he was scared he might run into some college rent-a-cop?” 

“He did.”

“Piece of shit.”

“I agree.  Anyway, my knee was still trickling blood and one of the wheels on my left roller blade had come off but with no phone and no transportation I had no choice but to limp back to the dorm. Making my way back through the empty campus was spooky as hell.  I felt like I was in the midst of some post-apocalyptic horror movie and I picked up a random stick in case I needed to defend myself.  A Chihuahua came hurtling out of the darkness and chased me for several blocks.  And when I got back to my room what do you think I found? Chris was sitting there happily playing X-Box and eating my last bag of barbecue-flavored corn nuts.”

“Aw, fuck no.” 

“Yes!  He didn’t understand why I was so pissed.  He got this constipated look on his face and said, ‘Well, I didn’t see the point in both of us getting into trouble.’  I ordered him to drop the corn nuts and get the hell out of my room.  He apologized the next day but I decided any guy who would abandon his fallen girlfriend at two a.m. wasn’t worth a bag of corn nuts so he certainly wasn’t worth my time.” 

“That’s a wise conclusion,” I said.  Damn, the more this girl talked, the more I liked her. 

“I agree.”  She was quiet for a moment.  “Somehow I don’t think you would leave a girl sprawled on the ground in the middle of the night.” 

“Not in the middle of the night or any other time of the day.” 

One of my favorite Rolling Stones songs was on the radio.  If I was alone I would have pumped up the volume but I wanted to talk to Cami a lot more than I wanted to listen to music so I turned it down. 

“Any more horror stories?” I asked her. 

Cami shrugged.  “Just the run of the mill drama of short-lived relationships.”  She paused.  “And you?”

I knew I’d have to talk about Alexa sooner or later.  Since Cami was nervously playing with the ends of her long hair while she awaited my answer I figured there was a good chance she already knew the basics. 

“Did you conduct an internet search on me by any chance?” I asked her. 

She pressed her lips together for a second.  “Yeah,” she admitted.  “I looked you up a few days ago.”

“And what did you find out?”

“I read about your baseball career, how you were expected to be one of the super stars of the sport before you were injured.  You worked hard trying to come back but after a string of seasons in the minors your contract was up and you left the game for good.” 

“All true.  Did you read about anything else?”

“I read that you had a fiancée.  And that it, uh, ended.” 

“Yup.  Over a year ago.  I met Alexa when it looked like I was going to be the next golden boy of the sport.  We were friends, and then we were more.  She was a successful model in her own right but she liked the idea of being the wife of a pro athlete.  It knew it and the fact should have bothered me but I guess love and common sense don’t always agree.  She stuck with me for a while when I was down in the minors but when it became clear I was never returning to the big show she grew unhappy.  She was furious when I took this job but I liked the idea of being back in my home state. Plus I figured I’d have enough time on my hands for my real dream off getting a youth training center off the ground.  Alexa wasn’t keen on any of those plans and we called it quits. I moved back here and she found another pro ball player to attach herself to.” 

As I thought about my last comment I grimaced.  “I don’t mean to sound bitter,” I told Cami.  “I’m really not.  Alexa’s married now and expecting a kid so I’m glad she got her happy ending.”

“You must have loved her,” Cami said.  I wondered if she was speculating whether I was still hung up on my ex.  I wasn’t hung up on Alexa but I couldn’t be dishonest about the fact that I’d once loved her. 

“Cami, I wouldn’t have made plans to marry someone I didn’t love. But that’s over. I don’t miss her at all and I think that the only piece of me that might still be a little injured is my pride.  She wasn’t the right woman for me and that’s just the way it is.”

Cami didn’t say anything.  When I glanced at her she was staring thoughtfully straight ahead at the ribbon of asphalt stretching before us. 

“Anything else you want to know about me, Miss Reporter?” 

“A lot,” she said and turned her head to stare directly at me.  “I want to know everything about you, Dalton.” 

I smiled and took the freeway exit to the botanical gardens.  “In that case, ask away.”