Chapter 9
Nixon
The month after Halloween both dragged on and flew by somehow. It was the day before Thanksgiving and Shanna and I were on my private jet, heading back to Texas to spend the holiday with our families.
Like every day before that one, my mind was on Katana, wondering what she’d be doing for Thanksgiving. Shana sat across the narrow aisle from me, filing her nails as we sped through the sky. “Why do you seem so zoned out, Nixon?”
I’d been laying my head on the headrest, eyes closed, picturing Katana in that hotel room. I turned my head to look at her. “I’m just wondering what Katana is doing tomorrow. And wishing like hell I’d gotten her number or at least her address so I could send her flowers or something.”
One blonde brow arched as she looked at me with an incredulous expression. “Why? Why would you still be thinking about that little brainless twit?”
I sat up, taking offense at what she’d said. “Hey, no reason to call her names, Shanna. And need I remind you that you don’t even know her? What grounds do you have for calling her anything at all?”
“I know all I need to know about the girl. She’s into some sick shit and can’t have a brain in her head if she’s into that stuff. Now, I can see a man being into that lifestyle. Of course, who wouldn’t get off at least a little bit, ruling over someone? But being the one who’s ruled over—well, that only means one thing in my book: no brains.” She put the nail file down and picked up a magazine, thumbing through the pages. “Put her out of your head, Nixon.”
Closing my eyes again, I tried not to think about Katana—but did anyway. Shanna was wrong about her. She wasn’t brainless. Sure, I didn’t know her that well—or at all really—but I knew she wasn’t dumb.
“You know who I bet will be in town, too, Nixon?” Shanna asked with a lilt to her voice.
“Nope,” I said without even opening my eyes.
“Bianca.”
My cock twitched. Bianca had been a couple of years older than me and often taunted me when we were kids. By the time we were in high school though, I’d caught her giving me sideways glances, admiring how I’d grown up.
I’d always had a crush on her—she was the hottest girl in school. Long legs, tanned skin, dark hair that hung to her waist. And then it hit me—Katana and Bianca had a lot of similarities. Maybe that was why I had felt so instantly attracted to Katana.
I sat up and looked at Shanna. “You really think she might be visiting her parents?” I had to admit I was a little excited about seeing her.
“Why wouldn’t she be there?” Shanna asked. “Everyone comes home for the holidays.”
I nodded and lay my head back again. I tried to picture Bianca. It’d been two years since I’d seen her last. That was at Christmas. She’d been with some guy then, but gave me a sexy little smile that told me she would’ve given me a bit of her time if she’d been alone. It was a smile she’d never given me before.
But as hard as I tried to bring Bianca’s face into my mind, I couldn’t. The only face I saw was Katana’s, and it was beautiful. So beautiful it made my heart ache.
I should’ve gotten her damn number!
When the jet stopped at the San Antonio International Airport, we hopped into a rental car and headed for Pettus. It took us a little over an hour to get home, and when we did, we were greeted with open arms by our families.
Just like we always did during the holidays, everyone ended up at the only café in town, the Dairy Queen. Shanna and I were sitting in a booth, catching up with a couple of guys I played football with in high school. They’d never left the tiny town, both working as guards at the nearby prison.
I hadn’t even noticed anyone coming into the place, but when a hand moved across my shoulders, I looked back to find Bianca. “Hey!”
“Hi,” she purred. Wearing a maroon jacket, her dark hair pulled up into a long ponytail, she looked just like she had back in high school. “When did you get here and how long are you staying, Nixon?”
“Today, and leaving the day after tomorrow,” I answered as she came around to stand at the end of the table.
The conversation at our table ceased as she ran her finger along my jaw. “I like the beard. It makes you look distinguished.”
I chuckled. “I was going for dangerous, but thanks.”
Her dark brown eyes cut to the side, looking out at the parking lot. “I was thinking about going to Charlie’s for a beer or two. Wanna take me?”
I sat perfectly still, unsure if I truly did want to take her. It was pretty easy to see she wanted me. And after all these years, that was a pleasant surprise.
Shanna jabbed me in the ribs as she whispered, “Are you crazy? Get the hell up and take her. I can walk home from here.”
There went my only excuse not to take Bianca to the bar.
The guys looked at me like I was insane for not jumping at the chance to be with one of the hottest chicks ever to grace our little hick town. But the fact was, I wasn’t jumping. And there was only one reason why.
Katana.
Before I could say a word, the bell on the door jingled, and this time I noticed it. When I looked to see who it was, a tall, decently built dude was heading our way. “Shit,” Bianca hissed. She walked toward him. “There you are. I was looking for you.”
He gave me a look before he looked back at her. “Come on.”
She glanced back at me and shrugged. “See you guys around.”
I’d missed my chance with her and knew it. I couldn’t say I actually cared, but Shanna seemed invested, as she waited until Bianca and her guy walked out before lighting into my ass. “Are you crazy, Nixon? You mooned over that girl all through junior high and high school. You said if she gave you half a chance you’d make her see God. Well, she just gave you a hell of lot more than half a damn chance. She was throwing herself at you, Bianca style.”
With a shake of my head, I said, “Did you not notice that she has a man, Shanna? Damn. I’m not about to get some redneck pissed off at me over a piece of ass.”
Plus, even before he walked in, I couldn’t seem to make myself get up and do it. Katana just kept flashing through my mind like a strobe light. I had to do something to get myself over the girl who obviously wanted nothing more to do with me. She had my number, and she had never called.
The fact was Katana had signed a paper that had had her promise not to contact any man she encountered at the club. But after Halloween, the Dungeon of Decorum was destroyed, destroying all that with it. Nothing could stop her from calling me if she wanted to. She wouldn’t be in trouble or get fined by the club.
So why didn’t she ever call?
The answer was simple. She didn’t want to.
Maybe I’d been too rough. Maybe I’d gone too far. Or maybe I hadn’t gone far enough or been rough enough. Who knew what the reason was.
Why should I care? I kept asking myself that question over and over again.
There wasn’t any reason for me to care why she hadn’t called.
As I sat there, sipping on my chocolate shake, a thought I’d never had before popped into my head. What if she had lost my card?
If I went back to Portland, I might be able to find her apartment building again. I had no idea what her address was, but I wasn’t opposed to knocking on every door until I found hers.
Suddenly I had a plan, a real plan to find her.
I got up, and Shanna looked at me in surprise. “Where’re you going now, Nixon?”
“Back to Mom and Dad’s. I know it’s noisy there and chaotic with all the nieces and nephews running around, but I need to visit them. You want a ride to your parents’ place?”
She got up to come with me. After shaking hands with my old friends and wishing them well, we left, and I dropped Shanna off. I couldn’t help but feel excited about what I’d be doing as soon as we got back to L.A., and my plan began to get more and more detailed as the night went on.