Hattie Mae
“Don’t let my brother’s eagerness run you off,” Lucas whispers as he leads me to the dance floor. “I take it you’re new in town.”
“Your brother?”
“Yeah, Zane is a whore, but he means well.”
“What about you?”
“I’m the dangerous one.” He smirks before dipping me.
“And why is that?”
“Because, I’m honest about what I want. My brother will pretend he wants to date you where as I will tell you straight up he only wants to take you home and fuck you.”
“And you? What do you want?”
“I don’t know yet. That’s to be determined.”
“Wow…um okay. That is quite some honesty there, but I can respect your game.”
“No games. That’s Zane.”
“Right. Well thanks for the dance but I should probably call it a night. I have a lot to do. Like find a job.”
“You need a job?”
“Yeah why? You hiring?”
“Can you swim? Wild Horse Acres is looking for a lifeguard.”
“Okay this is too weird. I have worked as a lifeguard every summer since I was seventeen.”
“See job problem solved. Let me buy you a drink.”
“I’ll bite. One drink.” His eyes linger on mine but before I can form a reaction, I see Zane taking some chick to the bathroom. I can’t believe I kissed him.
Maybe that beer went straight to my head.
I follow Lucas to his table where one drink turns into three.
I learn that Lucas is a rodeo man. A real cowboy. But he also works at Rowdy’s as a bouncer and he operates the mechanical bull.
“Will you teach me to ride?”
“You wanna ride?”
“Well not a real bull obviously but yeah. I think it could be fun.”
“Follow me, sweetheart, I’m about to make all your dreams come true.”
I grab my beer and follow him to the dimly lit area that houses the bull ride.
“We won’t get into trouble, will we? You won’t like lose your job or something will you?”
“Nah, I know the owner.” He winks. I can see the resemblance between him and his brother. They have the same sexy blue eyes and matching sexy smirks. “Come on.”
I take one last swig of my beer and pray I don’t hurt myself or look dumb.
The bar is mainly empty now and Sienna along with her man who I have learned is a tattoo artist are watching as I climb up on the bull.
Lucas climbs up behind me. “First time, I’ll ride with you to show you what to do.” His dark voice grits in my ear so sexy it is shiver inducing.
With one hand around my waist he holds me tight against him. His cologne invades my senses. Do all Texas guys smell so damn good?
“Are you right or left handed?” he questions as he positions my dominant hand palm up on the handle. “Hold your left up to maintain your balance. Hit it Terry,” he calls out to Sienna’s old man.
The bull begins to move slowly, tilting forward and backward. If I wasn’t so focused on not falling off, this moment might be highly erotic. My ass is practically bouncing on Lucas’ groin.
“You’re a natural.”
“I don’t know about that but thank you.”
After I ride twice by myself I feel more confident, but my inner thighs are burning, and I know it is time to call it quits. The bar is shutting down and I am feeling the exhaustion of my drive setting in.
“Are you okay to drive?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m not staying that far from here. I’m staying at that trailer park you mentioned earlier.”
His eyes brighten. “That so. Well, lucky for you, I live there, so I can at least follow you to make sure you make it home safe and sound. Who are you staying with?”
“No one. I’m cleaning out my dad’s trailer.”
He squints his eyes and makes a weird face. “Are you Joe’s daughter?”
“Yeah, did you know him?”
“He’s only one of the greatest riders I have ever known. The man taught me everything I know.”
“Funny, I can’t remember a thing he ever taught me. I hadn’t seen him since I was three. Anyway, tonight was fun, but I’m tired…”
Lucas cuts me off, planting his lips firmly on mine. He pulls back and gives me a goofy smile. “Been wanting to do that all night.”
I give him a faint smile. “Good night, Lucas.”
He nods, and I get in my car touching my lips. Only it isn’t the kiss I shared with Lucas presently that is on my mind. I’m thinking about his brother, Zane.
As I drive back to the trailer park I wonder who the slut is now. I kissed two brothers and in the same night. I need to steer clear. I can’t become involved with either of them. It’d be pure trouble to contemplate doing so.
However, when I lay my head down to go to sleep I can’t stop myself from thinking about them.
Both of them.
*—*
Filling up another trash bag I think it is safe to say my father loved checkered shirts. I believe the man owned every color combination imaginable. The only thing larger than his shirt collection is his belt buckles. Rubbing my fingers over them it is evident he had a lot of pride in riding. He must have been good. Part of me wishes I could have watched him ride. The other half of me is angry that I never was given the choice. I lay my favorite buckle to the side. Maybe Lucas would like to have one to remember him by. I place the ones that look special in a box for later.
I’ve been cleaning for what seems like days, but it has only been hours.
I’m making progress. I have my piles separated between trash, keep, and donate.
I feel like there is so much I need to do. Like go to the store. I can’t constantly eat out at Rowdy’s, even if the company is cute there.
A knock at the front door pulls me from my thoughts.
Some chubby blonde stands on the porch holding a travel mug.
“Can I help you?” I ask through the screen door.
“You must be Hattie. I’m Mary. I dated your daddy.”
“Okay. What can I do for you?” Bethel’s warning about Mary rings in the back of my mind, and I fold my arms over my chest, not wanting to invite her in. I know it isn’t very Christian or southern of me not to do so, but I don’t know this Mary chick or what she wants from me.
“Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?” She purses her lips before sipping on her drink.
“Sorry, I’m busy and not ready for company.”
“Well, I won’t be a bother. You see I can’t find my favorite earrings and I am sure I left them in the bedroom. I’ll only be a minute.” The woman steps forward and goes for the door handle.
“If I find them I will leave them at the front office.”
Her beady eyes narrow on me. “I don’t know what Bethel told you. She was always jealous of me. Wanted Joe for herself, but he didn’t like her old wrinkly ass. It will only take me a minute.”
“Mary, quit buggin’ the poor girl and get gone. You aren’t even supposed to be on the property after you tried to burn up Bethel’s golf cart,” a voice I don’t recognize calls out.
“Hmmph.” Mary spins on her fat ankles and wobbles when her heel snaps.
I try not to laugh but a giggle squeaks out.
A guy I haven’t met yet steadies her as he helps her down the steps. “I want my earrings,” she huffs.
The older man gives me a nod and I see the patch on his shirt reads, Maintenance.
Throughout the day one by one my new neighbors make their way over to offer their condolences and make my acquaintance.
Once everyone has left me in peace, I gather up the clothes Bethel was interested in, toss the bags in the back of the truck that belonged to my father, and drive them the short distance to her trailer which doubles as the office.
“Someone mentioned you were looking for a lifeguard.”
“You got your certification? Job won’t start till summer time.”
“Yeah.” I pull my cards out of my purse, so she can make copies.
“Everything checks out. Job is yours for the summer. The pay is shit and the work is boring.”
Thinking about the high demanding job I left behind as a personal assistant for a news anchor, I’m oddly happy with my new situation.