Rain
LUTHER IS A LAZY OLD mutt, but I have no doubt that he hasn’t lost that protective instinct. He never once batted an eye at Charlie. I know he likes her and won’t hurt her. But that’s nothing she needs to know. Although I’m sure it’s probably obvious. That bastard snuggled right up to her. Not that I can blame him. She’s fucking hypnotic. I wonder if that’s her trick: Get me to want her, then slice my throat. I’m cautiously listening to my gut. But I have that little voice that’s hard to ignore in my head that plays on repeat. “I’ll get you when you least expect it.” I’ve been on watch ever since.
I made breakfast for dinner, though technically since I slept all day, it really is my breakfast. I haven’t seen or heard anything from upstairs since she peeked over the banister earlier this morning. From the looks of her injuries and troubled eyes, she needs the rest. After I’ve eaten, I put a plate together for her and place it in the fridge. Luther usually comes running for eggs, but he’s nowhere to be seen. I know he’s up there lying in bed with her, so I head upstairs to make sure he isn’t smothering her to death. He’s used to lying across my body, but his fat ass would cut off her air supply and I haven’t decided yet if that should be avoided.
As I reach the top of the stairs, it becomes clear I’ve made another detrimental mistake. I lock in on her thin porcelain leg that is hanging out of the gray covers all the way to her hip. A thin strap of her pink lace underwear sits snuggly against her perfect skin. As she lies on her side, her hair is splayed out across my pillowcase and my thoughts immediately envision my hands delving into it. A large bruise the shape of an olive sits just behind her ear. I didn’t notice it before, but it looks old due to the greenish color it’s already developed. She takes a heavy breath in and her body turns away from me. My pants suddenly tighten as her pink lace-covered ass is now facing my direction. Knowing I have to get the hell out of here, I move closer to try to grab the dog who is comfortably now tucked into the curve of her body. As I get closer, the baggy t-shirt reveals a small portion of her lower back and I see more bruising of the same color. Curious, I inch closer to her and silently reach for the hem of the shirt to inspect the injuries when Luther’s quiet warning bark sends me flying backwards on alert. I rip my gun from my waistband and aim it over the banister to the front door below, fully expecting to see someone there. No one. Looking back to Luther, his eyes meet mine, and then he snuggles back down with the girl. Are you fucking kidding me? Is my own fucking dog protecting this chick from me?
“Well, fuck you then,” I whisper to him on my way back to the stairs. I take one more look at her ass before I go down. Shit. This is bad.
Hoping the cool water of the shower will help to alleviate the pain, I lean my head against the tiles as visions of my hands sliding up that leg, touching her perfect skin, rage in my mind. The cold shower isn’t working like it’s supposed to. As my mind travels, I keep trying to make the water colder. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve been around other women and never had a hard time getting them out of my head. I’ve got to get this together. She’s been here less than twenty-four hours and I’m already turned upside down. After I’ve taken the coldest and longest shower in my life, I go through the house to make sure there isn’t anything out that she can use against me. I’ve got to get out of here for a little while, so I write her a note and head out the front door.
-C
Ran to the store. I’ll be back in a while.
-R
I forgot to unhitch Charlie’s car, or what’s left of it, from my truck. Working quickly, I get it separated, jump in, and pull out of my warehouse-sized garage. It’s bigger than the house itself, but with my many projects—and now a wrecked car—I needed it. Pulling out of my dirt driveway, I head to Carbon Springs. I couldn’t stay in the house with her lying in my bed like that. I needed more food anyways since there’s another person in the house to feed. I should pick up more chow for my traitorous mutt while I’m there. Hopefully, it’s late enough to avoid the crowd. It’s not my usual time for shopping. Usually, I wait until about midnight to go anywhere. I’m not what you would call a social person. In fact, I avoid people at all costs. Klipp made it worse, if worse was even a possibility. He made me hate the human race more than ever before. That’s why I got Luther. Dogs are the one creature you can depend on for loyalty, trust, and unconditional love. Or so I thought.
Luther barks as I enter the house with my hands full of bags. Charlie comes running and grabs a few from me.
Most women would sit and watch the man carry everything. I’m caught off guard by her immediate reaction to help out. Before I know it, she’s placed the bags on the table, slips on her shoes, and heads out the door. After I set the bags on the table, I follow her out to see that she has grabbed more bags out of the truck and heads back in the house. I load my arms up with the rest of the bags, not only so that I won’t have to make any more trips but also so that she won’t either.
In silence, we dance around each other as we put away the groceries. At one point, we bump into each other, and I watch her mouth drop open. I back away quickly, acting as though her touch was toxic, but I want nothing more than to feel her body on my lips.
“Here,” I say as I hand her the last bag.
Confused, she looks inside and then back at me. “What is this?”
“Something to sleep in. With pants.”
Charlie hadn’t eaten the entire time I was gone. I had to make her reheat the plate I made for her. She said she didn’t eat it while I was gone, because she thought it was mine and she didn’t want to eat my food. Another sign that I should calm down on the thought that she’s here to ruin me. Some alien movie is on TV, but I’m not paying attention to it. All I can see is Luther lying by her damn feet. I need to look for a new dog.
“Thank you for dinner. I can give you some money for the groceries since I’ll be eating them, too.”
“No.”
“I have no problem paying my fair share. I have some cash.”
“Save your money for whenever you decide to finish out your road trip. If I want you to pitch in, I’ll tell you.”
She nods and carries her plate into the kitchen but not before I spot the plate completely empty. Then she walks to the windows in the living room and wraps her arms around herself.
“It’s so dark. What made you move out here?”
“I like to be alone.”
“What about your family?”
My head twists and I analyze her features. If she’s digging for info, she’s going to be disappointed.
“I don’t have family.”
The expression on her face weakens with pity. Her remorse for asking the question is obvious. She turns back to the window and looks out even though it’s completely black out there.
“Can I take a shower?”
“You don’t have to ask. I said you can stay here, so for now you can help yourself to the food and use whatever you need to in the bathroom. I almost forgot.” I get up, slip on my shoes, then run to the garage and back inside. “Here.”
When I went to get her car out of the trees, I made sure to inspect it for any type of tracking device. While digging, I found her bag in the trunk. As I hand it to her, her face lights up. If I knew she would react that way, I would have brought it to her sooner. Not like I’m going to let her know that I like seeing that spark in her eye.
“You are a lifesaver,” she says. Then she takes the bag and shuts the bathroom door behind her. The sound of the shower echoes in the room. The thought of her naked and wet just on the other side of that door makes me bite the inside of my cheek until it’s nearly raw. The metallic taste of blood shakes me from the chair. I grab a beer from the fridge and head to the porch. Staring out into the nothingness and enjoying the cool mist on my face, her words cut me. The poor thing has absolutely no idea who she’s talking to. “You are a lifesaver.”
No, honey, I’m a life taker.