Chapter 14
The week alternately flew and dragged for Cruz. The daytime hours flew, when he and his crew worked with jackhammers to bust up the road they were currently working on. Then at night, sending Rosie a quick text before he passed out, time ticked by.
Now, after clocking sixty hours, it was Saturday at noon and he was free. He texted Rosie. Done for the week. Can’t wait to see you.
Her reply came ten minutes later: I picked up an extra lunch shift today. I’m done at 2:30. I’ll call you. I have a great idea! She ended with a smiley face.
At 2:30 exactly, his phone rang. “Hi, Rosie-girl.”
“Hi! I’m about to go home. I wanted to check and see if you want to have dinner, and if you want, I can get some sandwiches from here. George makes a delicious meatball sub.”
“That sounds good. I’ll reimburse you.”
“Nope, it’s on the house. I get a meal a day, and I didn’t actually eat mine today or yesterday. I don’t want us to have too heavy of a supper because we’re going somewhere afterward.”
“Oh? Is it on an unmarked road?”
“Um…” Her cute giggle carried through the line. “There’s a point where there’s no road.”
“Oh boy. Can’t imagine what you’ve got up your sleeve.”
“I’ll tell you about it when you get here. Just plan to do a little walking up a sort of little hill.”
Cruz pulled up to Rosie’s house later to find her sitting on the swing. She stood up to greet him, and he loved the genuine smile on her face. He strode up the steps to stand in her personal space.
She gazed up at him, not backing away. “Hi.” Two tank tops hugged her chest, one layered over the other, and she had on tight cropped jeans and sandals. Her curves were covered up, but little was left to the imagination. Sexy and beautiful and happy to see him. Damn.
“Hi yourself.” He slid an arm around her bare shoulders and pulled her close for a swift kiss. She was as soft and sweet as ever, and seeing her now was the best ending to an insane week. He released her reluctantly, knowing he’d better. Kissing her was like tinder and kindling. It was getting harder to stop while he still had an ounce of self-control.
Her eyes roamed his face and arms. “You’re more tan than you were last week! Look at you.” She shook her head. “You’re one of those people who turns, like, six shades darker with one day of sun. It takes me all summer to build up even a little color.”
“You’re perfect the way you are. Plus, that’s not good for you anyway.”
“True,” she murmured. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving.” He patted his stomach.
“Me too. Want to eat out here?”
He glanced around the furniture on the porch. “Sure. Need me to bring out a table?”
“Nope, we can just move that end table to here,” she pointed in front of the swing. “And move that chair over, like so. I’ll get the food. You can set up.”
A few minutes later he sat in a wicker chair across from Rosie sitting on the swing. They were digging in to subs and lemonade, as birds flew around Rosie’s yard in the still evening air. He didn’t mind the lemonade, but it made him curious. Cruz idly wondered if Rosie didn’t drink at all, since her accident.
Plenty of time to ask her later. Now he was more intrigued with her plans for them. “So, getting to our destination involves a stretch of no road?”
“Yep.” She licked a bit of marinara sauce off her finger, unwittingly making Cruz stifle a groan. “You’re about to see how Sundown got its name.”
“Didn’t know there was a story behind it.”
“There sure is. We’re going to Van’s Bluff to watch the sunset. On clear nights like this, lots of Sundowners go.”
“Everyone gets together to watch the sunset?”
“You have to see it from this perspective. There’s nothing like it.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s kinda like people who live in beach towns watching the sunset. Everyone just goes to the beach on nice nights.”
“You’ve been to places like that?”
“No.” A hint of disappointment colored her voice. “But Brenda’s been to places in Michigan where they do that. Hey. What about Chicago? You’re on the lake.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, but if you stand on a Chicago beach looking out at the water, you’re facing east. You’d get the sunrise instead of the sunset.”
“Oh, duh.” She smacked her forehead.
“And if I tried to watch the sunset, there’d just be miles of buildings in the way. We’d maybe see some colors here and there, but not the sun going all the way down.”
“Then this can go on your list of new experiences.” She polished off her sub and leaned back in the swing. “Mm, that sauce is the best.”
“Agreed.” He took a long drink of lemonade. “How far away is this bluff?”
She leaned her head to one side and a smile twitched at her lips. “This is Sundown, sugar. Nothing’s far.”
He quirked a brow. “Sugar? Been called a lot of things but that’s not one of ‘em.”
“Some days everyone is ‘Sugar” to me.” She shrugged. “But I guess it might not fit you. I mean, you’re sweet and all. But I get the feeling you don’t want that to be general information.”
“Got that right. I’ll deny it up and down.”
“Okay then. Your secret’s safe with me.” She scooted carefully out from between the swing and the table. “Let’s clean up and then we’ll be off to Van’s.”
Cruz gathered the glasses and pitcher while she picked up the plates. “Why is it called Van’s?” He held the screen door open for her with one foot, then followed her inside.
“It’s named for one of Sundown’s early residents, Albert Van Der Voorst. He owned a big patch of land, including the bluff and valley below. Oh—we’ll need a blanket. Do you have one in your truck?”
He frowned. “Spare tire, flares, rope, ice scraper…no blanket.”
“No worries, I’ll grab us one.”
In minutes, the house was spic and span and growing smaller in his rearview mirror as they headed out to the main road. Rosie directed him south and toward a road he hadn’t been down before. It was marked with a series of county numbers, and up ahead it climbed up the biggest hill he’d seen around here.
“Gotta say, I’m surprised by the hills. I thought all of Illinois was as flat as Chicago.”
“I don’t know about that. But I do know that on the rare days we get a decent snowfall, every kid in the county is here with their sled.” She pointed to a dirt road that forked off the main one. “Turn right.”
Cruz’s truck bumped along the tracks left by previous vehicles, still climbing upward. Trees grew in thick rows on both sides. After a minute, they emerged into a clearing with several other cars. Rosie hopped out, clutching her blanket to her chest. She grinned as he joined her. “Prepare to see the prettiest sunset in Illinois,” she said.
Her enthusiasm was contagious as she led him through a line of trees. On the other side stretched several yards of green grass…and then nothing.
“Come here.” Rosie pulled him past the dozen or so people who talked in small groups, to the edge.
He stepped up next to her and peered over the apparent drop off. A vertical stretch of dirt plummeted twenty feet, then the ground sloped at a kinder angle. Beyond, the descent ended in a precise patchwork of fields punctuated by the occasional tree. Green ribbons of newly planted shoots formed orderly rows. The whole thing looked like a damn painting, and he couldn’t help but be struck that places like this actually existed. “Whoa.”
“Yeah,” Rosie said. “This is pretty enough right now. But you just wait.”
“Is this all part of Redemption County?”
“Yep. The land is worked by different owners now. But they know they’re subject to be on display every night. They keep up appearances.”
“Yo, Cruz.” A deep voice from behind them cut into his thoughts. He turned to see Matt sitting down with a pretty dark-haired woman.
“Hey, man.” Cruz turned to Rosie. “Matt’s on the crew with me. You know him?”
“Shoot, Cruz. I spent all second grade competing with Matt Halpern on who could catch more frogs. Do I know him?” She waved to them and walked over. “Hi, you two! Thalia, it’s been forever, honey! How’s your grandma doing?”
Cruz could only marvel at how much of her was entwined with the town, and vice versa. He didn’t have anything to compare it to, coming from a city of two million. The closest he could relate was his would-be gang. They knew everyone’s business, and used it to claw their way to the top of the food chain.
Matt strode toward him, hand outstretched, and gave him the standard shoulder-clap man-hug. Rosie chatted with his girlfriend. “What a week, huh,” Matt said.
“Yeah.” The work was hard, hot, and grimy, but Cruz welcomed spending the whole damn day outside. Not an allotted amount of time where guards watched with rifles ready. “It’ll be nice to get that fat paycheck.”
“No shit. Thalia’s already planning how to spend it.”
“I heard my name.” Thalia came over and tucked herself under Matt’s arm. “Hi. I’m Thalia. Welcome to Sundown.”
“Thanks. It’s a pleasure to be here.” He glanced around their little group. “Rosie tells me I’m in for some kind of special sunset.”
“Is this your first time here? Oh my god,” Thalia gushed. “It’s like, out of a movie.”
Rosie sidled close to him. “See? It’s a county-wide sensation.”
“All right then. Bring it.”
Rosie spread her blanket next to Matt and Thalia’s, and they all sat down. Matt and Thalia murmured in quiet tones.
Cruz draped an arm around Rosie, inhaling her sweet smell, the clean country air, and just took a second to absorb where he was.
Three months ago he was sitting in a cell with a crappy cot and a metal toilet next to it. This, what surrounded him now, was the last thing he could have ever expected. He’d wanted to start over, and this was as far from familiar as he could get.
The sun dipped toward the horizon. Wispy clouds drifted across the sky as if they knew they were purely decorative. Nothing substantial about them, and no way could they obscure what was about to happen.
Pink and orange streaks painted the sky. Birds chirped in the trees behind them. Next to him, Rosie was warm and vibrating with energy. “It’s starting,” she whispered.
“What, exactly?” he asked. Sure the sky was pretty. But he had the sensation something more was going to happen.
“Look at the fields.”
He followed her gaze and at first he didn’t notice anything. Then the patchwork of crops and grasses changed. They took on a glow that matched the sky above, starting from the westernmost point and stretching east to the bluff where they all sat.
As the sun dropped and the colors above intensified, so did the tints highlighting the ground. In minutes, the entire landscape was lit with sunset colors. Pink and orange sliced across the crops in a blaze of intense hues. Red light dusted the canopies of the trees. He’d seen pictures of sunsets on water, but never on farmland.
“That’s pretty cool,” he said. “Though that’s not a description to do it justice.”
“No one can describe it proper,” she murmured. “I think you did fine. It takes some time to sink in.”
“It’s nice to look at,” he said, “but not as nice as where I’m looking now.”
She gazed up at him. “There you go, being all sweet.”
“Just being honest.”
“I think you’re flirting with me.”
“Might be.”
She leaned up enough so that her lips brushed his. “You’re something else, Cruz.”
He stole a brief, chaste kiss from her plump lips and then rubbed his nose along hers. “So are you, Rosie-girl.”
The sun disappeared from view, and the wash of color gradually receded in the reverse of how it had arrived. Around them, people got up and murmured goodbyes.
“So, guys, we’re gonna call it a night.” Matt spoke from somewhere above them.
Cruz stood and tugged Rosie up with him. “All right, man. See you Monday.”
“Um, Cruz?” Thalia peeped, a shy hesitant expression on her face. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. I saw some stuff online…”
Here it was, another person curious about his past. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Still.” She blinked rapidly. “When I read that, I just got so mad. It’s not right in any way.”
“No, it’s not.” He draped an arm around Rosie. He still wasn’t used to people he didn’t know apologizing for things they didn’t do. And she was right. He let the awkward silence stretch out, because there was really nothing else to say.
She fiddled with a bracelet on her wrist. “Um, are more of your friends moving here? Or, you know, into the area?”
Say what? “Uh…not that I know of. Why?”
She glanced at Matt. “Well, I work at the Sleepy Time Inn in Carbondale. My friend Helena works the night shift and she said these two guys came last night that really freaked her out. Lots of um, tattoos. She said even on their necks.” Thalia’s eyes widened as she emphasized the last word. “I don’t know, I didn’t see them. She’s kind of old fashioned, I guess.”
Cruz kept quiet, not sure where she was going with this. Beside him, Rosie pressed closer. “Um Thalia…did you get their names, maybe?”
“No. I can check though.” She frowned. “Oh! Helena also said they paid in cash. Like, they had wads of it. More than she’s ever seen before except at the bank. And she’s pretty sure they cursed in Spanish but then she said they had a Chicago accent. They were complaining about a long drive.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, this is dumb to bring up. They could be anyone.”
“Well, I guess just let us know if there’s any trouble,” Rosie said.
“Sure. I’ll text you.” Thalia gave a small smile.
Rosie gave her a quick hug. “Thanks, girl.”
They all made their way back to the cars, Matt and Thalia separating to get to theirs.
Cruz got Rosie in his truck, then rounded the front to get in. He found her frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“That was weird.” She watched Matt’s truck pull out of its makeshift parking space. “Thalia’s a sweetheart. I don’t know why she’d say that…unless she was worried. I mean, she basically said you might know these guys because they have tattoos and sound like they’re from the city. They could be from any city!”
“You getting riled up over there?” He reached over to flick a long strand of hair off her shoulder.
“Well, yeah.” That frown stayed in place. “I don’t like that assumption.”
“I’m not riled. I’d say you don’t have to be, but you’re pretty cute when you are.” He guided the truck back down the bluff, following the taillights of the car ahead of him.
She gave him a half smile, but kept on with her point. “You’re not bothered in the least that she kinda stereotyped you and some other dudes?”
He shrugged. “If I got mad every time that happened, I’d probably be a permanent student in anger management classes.”
“See, that’s the thing. People don’t know the whole story.”
“Not everyone wants the answer.”
She sighed and stared out the window. “True.” Sadness colored her tone.
“Hey.” He laid a hand on her knee. “Those people who judge? Fuck ‘em. They see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear.”
She dropped her own hand on top of his, tracing small circles on his skin. “You make it sound so easy. How do you do it?”
“I know that if they won’t look past the surface, then I don’t have time for them. They’re not gonna change.”
“You’re right. People are pretty set in their ways. Whether that’s good or bad.” She slowly moved her fingers up his arm, tracing his tattoos. Her touch was tender yet so tempting. Did she realize the effect she had on him? “Didn’t mean to get in a tizzy over that. What Thalia said about those guys, it could be nothing.”
“I might like your tizzies.”
“I can’t hide my emotions too well, I guess. Not a good poker face there.”
Turning back onto the main road, Cruz hit the gas and chuckled.
“Though if I was playing for real, then watch out.” She made a sweeping motion in the air in front of her face. “No one knows what I’m thinking.”
What did she just say? He swung a glance to her. “You play poker?”
“Sure do.”
“For real?” That was the last thing he’d expect from his little country girl. “Where’d you learn?”
“Shane taught me.” She twisted in the seat so she was nearly sideways, facing him. “After my accident, I had months of recovery where I just sat around. I read tons of books and watched movies, but I got to a point where I needed something else to do.”
“No shit.”
“So he taught me, and when I got good enough he’d bring friends over and we’d all play. For chips, of course. I had no income.”
“You keep surprising me, Rosie-girl.”
“Why? Do you play?”
“Yeah.”
“Well then, there you go.” She made a satisfied mm-hmm. “That may be the first thing we have in common.”
He laughed, because she was right. Well, almost. He had a hunch about one other thing, which he hoped to pursue ASAP.
“Wanna play?” she asked softly, reaching to idly caress his bicep.
They were almost at her driveway and her hands were magic on his arm. He’d played poker when everything he had was on the line, both before prison and inside. “I’d have to go easy on you.”
She sucked in a breath. “You did not just say that. Cruz, I’d whip you so bad, this truck would belong to me.”
“Oh really?” He turned into her drive. “Those are fighting words.” He turned to find her eyes locked on him in a playful challenge.
“Damn straight they are.”
He slid his hand from her knee to her smooth thigh. “All right. You’re on, pretty girl.”
“Yes!” She straightened as they neared her house, and he instantly missed her hands on him. “Hmm. What should the stakes be?” She tapped finger on her chin.
He reached the front yard and threw the vehicle in park. Fucking hell. He knew exactly what the stakes should be. He exited and met her as she hopped out and stood by the truck.
“Money? Dinner?” She tilted her head as he moved in close. “Something else?”
He laid both hands on the metal behind her, caging her in his arms. “Something else.”
“Yeah? Like what?” Blue eyes flashed with a delighted spark. “What do you feel like losing?’
His body had set its cross hairs on Rosie the day they met. He brushed one hand along her shoulder, stopping at the straps of her doubled-up tank tops. He tugged gently. “Our clothes.”