Chapter Eleven
“What!” Diesel growled into the device he’d pulled off his belt, easing back into the driver’s seat. Juliana also leaned away from the center console, disappointed that they’d almost, but not quite, kissed.
She looked at his phone. It didn’t really look like a cellular, more like a beeper. How did he have phone service here in town? Alienn must have some other way to communicate, like a closed or online system of some sort. Or perhaps it was an alien technology-based communication network ready to take over the world? Probably not. She smiled to herself and looked at him. He sure was easy to stare at.
Diesel’s eyes slowly closed as he listened to the voice at the other end of the line, as if the words he heard severely disappointed him.
“I’m busy. Why can’t you do it?” he asked. “Because it’s my turn isn’t a good enough reason, Cam. Like I said, I’m busy.” He listened a little bit longer. “Never mind what I’m busy with.”
She could hear a tinny voice from the other end of the phone line continue, but not what was said. “You know what? Fine. I’ll do it. Stop calling me.” He folded the device in half like an old flip phone and clipped it back to his belt.
“How come you have cell service?”
He looked at the phone. “Since we don’t have coverage, we have a closed system we use for truck stop employees, sort of like an advanced walkie-talkie system.”
“I see. I’d guessed alien technology.”
“Of course you did.”
She laughed. “What do you have to do that you don’t want to?”
“I have to check my parents’ house. They are traveling in an RV across the country. My little sister lives there, but she’s out of town at some sort of summer school thing, so one of the rest of us stops by every day to ensure everything is safe and sound.”
“Is this the house you grew up in?” She tried not to sound as wistful as she felt about the idea of visiting the home where he grew up with his vast number of siblings. She’d spent her entire youth wishing to be adopted into a huge family.
He nodded.
“Can I come with you?”
“Sure. Want to pop into the former speakeasy and look around first?”
“Tell me the story. What is this place besides a speakeasy?”
“The speakeasy was in the basement and rumor has it there was more than one escape route leading to tunnels that opened out in the forest yonder. But the rumored story I thought you’d be interested in was the upstairs portion, which in the early 1930s was a bank.”
“There was a speakeasy in the basement of a bank?” She was dubious.
“Great cover if you ask me.”
“Okay. Go on.”
“So the rumor has to do with an infamous duo of bank robbers, a couple who supposedly robbed the bank.”
“Infamous like Bonnie and Clyde?”
He nodded. “That’s the rumor. Folks say they robbed this very bank and got away with a couple thousand dollars.”
“I never heard about a Bonnie and Clyde bank robbery in this area. They only robbed some places in western Arkansas, right?”
“Supposedly this robbery didn’t ever make it into the papers.” His smile said there was more to the story.
“Why?” she asked, playing along.
“The rumor was that the bank owner himself let them inside that day. He was also the one who opened the safe. So after this infamous bank robber couple left, he covered the whole thing up and never even called the police.”
“Really.” This was a great story.
“The bank manager and the two tellers working there that day were threatened not to reveal the truth. He apparently forced them to sign some early form of non-disclosure agreement to frighten them into keeping quiet.”
“So who ended up telling the secret?”
Diesel grinned. “The bank owner confessed on his deathbed at the ripe old age of ninety-four.”
“Hmm. That is interesting.”
“There are those who believe they saw Bonnie and Clyde in the basement speakeasy a couple of nights in a row before allegedly robbing the bank.”
“Oh?”
“You know, casing the joint for their big robbery.”
“Any way to prove that?”
“Well, I can prove they were in the speakeasy, but I can’t prove they robbed the bank.”
“What’s the proof?”
“A picture taken of them at the bar without their knowledge.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.”
“Where is the picture?”
“In the courthouse.”
“So that means I’ll have to come back on Monday to see the proof, right?”
“That’s one option.” He started his truck and drove away from the former bank and speakeasy. “Let me run by and check my folks’ house and then I’ll take you back to my place for dinner. We can discuss any and all plans, okay?”
“Perfect.”
He drove to a large, beautiful brick home with front wrap-around porch and a long driveway leading to a huge backyard and a detached four-car garage. He pulled around to the back of the house and opened his door. “I won’t be long.”
“Can I come with you?”
He tilted his head to one side. “You want to see inside?”
“I’d like to see your childhood home, yes.”
He held up his hand signaling her to wait. She thought he was abandoning her until he rounded the front of his truck and opened her door. She’d forgotten about his ingrained manners.
“Come along, then. I’ll give you the nickel tour.” He held her hand as she stepped down from his truck.
At the back door was a key pad. He put his hand flat on it and then entered a long code. The door clicked open.
“Top-notch security, I see.”
“Yeah. They probably don’t need it, but Cam insists.”
There was a light on over the stove as she stepped into the large country kitchen. The faint scent of coffee filled the air. She looked to her right and saw a coffee maker on the counter. He entered right behind her and locked the deadbolt on the kitchen door behind them.
“Will you show me your old room?”
“Ah. Sure. It’s a converted attic space on the third floor.”
She nodded, even though he mentioned the location like it was an undesirable place to visit.
He took her hand, kissed the tips of her fingers and led her through the kitchen. “This is the kitchen,” he said.
“I see.”
“It’s all a part of the nickel tour.”
“What if I don’t have a nickel?”
“I’ll require a kiss at the end of the tour then.”
“Deal.”
From the kitchen, they moved into a large dining room with a lovely table big enough to seat twelve comfortably. She easily pictured a family of nine, mostly boys, and the image tugged at her heart a bit.
Next they rounded the table and went through another archway to the foyer. He guided her to a staircase leading up to the second floor. They climbed the steps together, turning left down a hallway at the top. As they walked along—and as he’d done downstairs—he pointed to the first partly open door on the left to announce what it was. “This is my little sister’s room.” Further down on the right there were two more doors to rooms that had been shared by four of his brothers. “Jack and Gage were in one room. They were the two youngest. And the other had Axel and Wheeler.”
“Don’t you have five brothers? One named Cam, right?”
He nodded. “Yep. But when Cam turned twelve, he decided three boys sharing one bedroom had two too many boys in it, so my parents fixed him up a small space over the garage where an ancient efficiency apartment used to be.”
At the end of the hallway was another door. He opened it, flipped a light switch on and revealed a narrow staircase leading to the third floor.
“Up there is where I was.”
“You got your own room?”
He nodded. “While it’s a good-sized space up there, it’s mostly unfinished, just wood and beams.”
“Can we go up and look at it?”
Diesel tilted his head once, gesturing her to follow him. She couldn’t help but watch his backside as he climbed. He really filled out a pair of jeans well.
The staircase was short, leading to a small landing, another turn to the right and they climbed the rest of the way into the attic space. A small railing at the top opened into darkness. Diesel turned the light on just as she got to eye level with the attic space. She saw his massive bed first. Her heart skipped a beat for some reason.
Juliana climbed the rest of the stairs and went to stand next to him in the middle of the room.
“What do you think?”
She walked over to the king bed and sat down at the foot of the mattress. His eyes widened. “I like it,” she said, looking into his surprised gaze. She smoothed her hands over the colorful quilt atop the bed and then patted the space beside her. “Join me.”
He cleared his throat and crossed to sit next to her, his thigh pressing against hers as he got comfortable. Diesel took her hand and kissed her fingertips once more. He pushed out a long sigh as if trying to decide whether to grant her fondest wish or pretend her motives weren’t of the wicked variety.
Juliana didn’t want her intentions to be misread. She turned toward him, wrapped an arm around his neck and kissed his mouth hard and deep to ensure he knew exactly what she wanted.
When she pulled him down so they were both parallel to the surface of the bed, he broke the kiss and stared deeply, passionately into her eyes. The look she saw solidified the idea that he’d figured out what she was after. His next eager kiss told her he wanted the exact same thing.
<^> <^> <^>
Diesel woke up slowly the next morning. Before he even opened his eyes, the sluggishness in his entire body was conspicuous. He didn’t feel bad or like he was getting sick, but something was very different.
He was face down on his belly, just as he normally slept, but when he managed to crack open an eyelid, he didn’t see his bedroom. Both eyes popped opened wider as he tried to figure out where he was. The space was both familiar and alien, and yet not the master bedroom in his home.
Where am I?
He saw the stairs leading into the attic space of his former bedroom, and then a whole rush of important memories shot into his brain like a cannon blast of information.
Last night. Juliana. Magical.
He couldn’t even think in full sentences. A flood of images and memories overwhelmed him, at least making him wake up faster. He lifted to his elbows, searching the bed for Juliana, but he was alone. He looked to where he knew he’d tossed Juliana’s shirt last night, but it wasn’t there.
Where is she?
Diesel climbed out of bed, searching every corner of the room. She was not here. He looked inside the small bathroom, but she wasn’t there either. He retrieved his clothing—strewn about the room during last night’s captivating events—and put yesterday’s outfit back on along with his boots. As he tied the final lace into a bow and tucked them into the ties, he heard a noise downstairs in the area of the kitchen.
The scent of coffee wafted its way upstairs to tease him with the desire to follow the trail and find some caffeine goodness.
Juliana was seated on a stool at the end of the kitchen island near the coffee pot. Her hands were wrapped around a steaming cup and she sipped the edge carefully. More images from the night before flashed in his brain. Juliana was extraordinary.
“Did you save any for me?” he asked, hoping not to startle her.
She didn’t jump. Her gaze slowly lifted to where he stood in the doorway. She smiled the moment she saw him.
Nodding, she said, “I did. I made a whole pot. I hope you don’t mind me rummaging around in here.”
“Nope. I appreciate it.”
“I really can’t function well until I’ve had at least one cup.” She took another careful sip and sighed out loud in apparent bliss.
“We have that in common,” Diesel said. He strode over to the cupboard with the mugs, snagged a large one and poured himself a cup that looked hot and strong, just the way he liked it. He took a quick mouth-burning sip to get some caffeine into his system and seated himself across from her on another stool at the kitchen island.
They peered over their coffee cups at each other. He smiled. She smiled back.
Diesel wasn’t sure what to say. His sleep-muddled brain made the smart decision not to speak until the connection to his mouth was better established.
She nodded at his mug. “Does it taste okay?”
“Perfect.” They each took another sip. His stomach was about to make a noise and he remembered something he’d forgotten to do the night before.
“It just now occurs to me that I never made you dinner last night. I’m a terrible host. My belly is about to rumble. You must be starving.”
A wistful smile shaped her lips. “You aren’t a terrible host. What we did last night was way better than dinner and we did share three incredible courses.”
Diesel grinned. He reached out and brushed his fingertips over one of her hands, which was still wrapped around her coffee mug. “You’re right. All three courses were truly spectacular. But my stomach is about to make a really ugly noise.”
“When I was looking for coffee, I also searched around a bit in here. I’m afraid it’s slim pickings. And my stomach noise may rival yours.”
Diesel went to the pantry and came back with a box of granola bars. “Here is something to tide us over until I can make real food.”
They each unwrapped a bar, taking large bites. “What are you going to make?” she asked and took another big bite of granola bar.
“Pancakes,” he managed around his own second mouthful. “I’ll cook and you can share with me why writing the article for this book is so important.”
“Okay. Point me to the right cupboards and I’ll gather some plates and forks.” He opened the correct cabinet for her and pointed to the drawer with the silverware.
Diesel found a skillet in the cupboard next to the stove, mixed some batter that only needed to have water added. After setting their places, she resumed her seat and sipped her coffee.
“As I mentioned before, I was left on the doorstep of a church in Washington State. I grew up in an orphanage nearby.”
“I remember.”
“I had absolutely no notion of who my family was or where I’d come from. Still don’t. When I left to go to college in Missouri, I kept in touch with one of the ladies who ran the orphanage, Miss Hester. When she passed away last year, an envelope was sent to me with a note indicating Miss Hester had saved the contents for me.
“It was mostly pictures of me growing up. I’d seen most of them before, but there was one of me as a baby that I hadn’t. On the back of the picture was written, abandoned baby and the date.”
“Was it a different date than you thought?” he asked. “It would be cool to find out you were younger, right?”
She smiled. “No. The date was right. I’m twenty-six, there’s no getting around that.”
“You’re a young thing. I’m thirty, in case you wanted to know. But keep going, sorry to interrupt.” He flipped the last pancake on the plate and turned the heat off the skillet. He grabbed some butter and syrup along with the plate of pancakes.
“The picture itself was of a baby in an oval woven basket. But there was also a blanket with three initials, JEM, on one corner.”
“JEM? Juliana, middle initial that starts with E and last name Masters?”
“Yes. I believe so.”
“What’s your middle name?”
“Elizabeth. What’s yours?”
He pushed out a long sigh. “All of us boys have our father’s name as our middle name.”
“And what’s your father’s name?”
“Zebulon.”
She smiled, ate a few bites of buttermilk pancake and said, “These are great.”
“Thanks. So you want to go back and find the blanket, hoping it will lead you to information about your missing family.”
“Well, yes. But also shown in the picture was what looked like a small book or maybe even a journal. That’s what I’m truly after.”
“Why wouldn’t they have given it to you?”
“The orphanage was what they liked to think of as forward thinking. They operated under the idea that however children ended up there, we were better off and should look to make our own futures and not dwell on the past. There is always the possibility it was a small bible or something from the orphanage, but I want to check it out regardless.”
“I don’t blame you for wanting to go back.”
“The article will pay enough to fund a trip so I can go back for a few weeks to look around and research. I’d love to find out if I have any family. I’d understand about them leaving me at an orphanage if they hadn’t been able to care for me. I didn’t have a bad upbringing.”
Diesel almost told her about his cousin Stella, who had a similar story of life in an orphanage, albeit a galaxy away. He actually started out with the words, “My cousin Stella…” but didn’t finish his sentence, because how would he explain that Stella came from Alpha-Prime, a planet in another galaxy, without making up a story—lie—he’d have to remember?
Instead, he shoveled a pile of butter- and syrup-laden pancake in his mouth. How horrible for him would it be for Juliana to discover a long-lost family in Washington State, and promptly leave Arkansas forever? Diesel considered their newly entwined relationship.
After he swallowed the big mouthful, he said, “Maybe I could go with you, whenever you travel back to the northwest.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t think I can live without you for a day, let alone a few weeks, especially after last night.”
<^> <^> <^>
“And here I thought you were just being polite after a night you obviously didn’t expect.”
He’d started to say something about his cousin Stella, but didn’t finish. Then he surprised her by being very forward about his feelings.
He grabbed her hand as if afraid she’d run if he got too personal. “Make no mistake, Juliana Elizabeth Masters. I’m not being polite because last night was unexpected. And to be honest, while it was certainly unforeseen, I don’t have any doubts about what I want going forward. I care deeply about you. I have since the moment we met.”
Juliana was relieved. Last night had been, in a word, magical. She’d been drawn to him the first time she’d laid eyes on him. Now that they’d been intimate her feelings were even more entangled, not with whether they’d have a future, but what it would consist of. She hadn’t planned on staying in this area. Even Miss Penny thought she should go back and try to find her lost family in Washington State.
“The thing is, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of me.” She gazed into his beautiful blue eyes. “I don’t usually…you know.” Her cheeks heated, but she didn’t care. He didn’t comment or smirk. He looked relieved and gave her a devastatingly gorgeous grin.
He squeezed her hand. “I know. Me neither.”
“Really? You don’t have a whole posse of women chasing after you, tossing room keys and underwear at you to lure your attentions their way?” Like a rock star. He definitely had rock star looks or maybe even movie star looks.
He made a face, laughing at the implication. “Nope. Not even close.”
“Even though every female you meet blushes her way through the first few seconds of any introduction, falling instantly in love with you.”
He shrugged as a half-smile shaped his lips. “All I can tell you is that I’ve never been interested in anyone like that until you came along.”
“What about the whole apple with the bite taken out problem?”
He shook his head slightly as if hating to be reminded of it. “I’m not certain what that’s about, but if someone is after me, it’s one sided. I don’t know who it is, but once I find out I’ll ensure they know I’m spoken for.”
“So until this unknown entity understands your feelings,” Juliana immediately thought of Alice and her poor attitude, “should I be worried?”
“I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Diesel abandoned his empty pancake plate and moved to the stool right beside her. He scooted that stool closer, leaned in, hooked an arm around her neck and kissed her soundly. It was a passionate kiss, a deeply satisfying kiss. The kind of kiss that was about to lead back to his childhood bedroom for a duplication of last night’s magical affair.
At least until his phone rang and startled them apart. He rolled his eyes and gave his phone a stare that could melt metal. Juliana kissed his cheek and said, “Answer it. I don’t want to keep the Fearless Leader from his responsibilities.”
“I’m off this weekend. Whoever it is can just suck it.” The ringing stopped and then started up again seconds later as they stared at each other, her with general amusement, him with long-suffering exasperation.
Juliana laughed. “Answer it. Tell them you’re busy.”
“They know I’m busy. I’m afraid it will be some earth-shattering emergency that will force me to go into the office to solve it. Like my aunt Dixie has decided to streak naked through town for some ridiculous money-making scheme she’s concocted in my short absence.”
“I could go with you.”
He looked her over from the top to bottom, shaking his head. “You look sleep rumpled and far too delicious. I don’t want anyone else to see you looking so amazingly good.”
“Well, I feel the same way about you.” She smoothed a hand down her hair, feeling like it was probably standing on end. “I don’t suppose we could shower before you have to go solve all of your aunt’s public nudity issues.”
“Possibly.”
Diesel’s phone started ringing for the third time after only a couple of seconds of silence. He pulled his walkie-talkie-like device off his belt, opened it up and said, “This better be life or death with bloodshed involved.”
He listened and his brows immediately furrowed. He closed his eyes, pushed out a long sigh and said, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
At the other end of the line, Juliana thought she heard someone say, “No! Now!”
“See you soon,” Diesel said and snapped his phone shut.
“We’ll have to do quick showers. I do need to go take care of something.” He looked distracted, as if his mind was already on the problem he faced at work. He led her back upstairs and into his sister’s room. It had its own bathroom. “You can use Valene’s bathroom. She won’t mind. She’s about your size, although a bit taller, if you want to borrow some of her clothes.”
“Thanks. I actually packed a bag, just in case, but my car is still parked at the truck stop.”
He nodded. “That’s okay. Valene really won’t care if you borrow something. I’ll meet you downstairs in the foyer when you’re done.”
Juliana took the fastest shower she’d ever taken, pulled her hair into a half ponytail-half bun hairdo, and found a gray T-shirt with a bright green Big Bang Truck Stop logo and a pair of denim capris in Valene’s closet that fit Juliana like regular jeans. She met Diesel in the foyer in fifteen minutes flat, her personal best.
He looked relieved when she descended the stairs, but they didn’t linger. Five minutes later they were halfway to the truck stop.
Once he parked his truck in the same spot as last night, he came around and opened her door for her.
“I won’t be too long. Do you mind hanging out in the convenience store? Or do you want to meet me at the Cosmos Café?”
“I’ll wait for you in the store. I’m full of pancakes.”
He grabbed her hand and together they walked to the front of the store and inside.
Alice was at the register again. Her sour expression when she saw Juliana changed the moment Diesel stepped through the door behind her.
“Good morning, Fearless Leader,” Alice said exuberantly.
“Good morning.” He gestured to Juliana. “Anything she wants, put on my tab and I’ll settle up when I return.”
Alice’s smile dimmed only momentarily. “Of course, whatever she wants.”
Diesel squeezed Juliana’s hand once, lifting it to his lips. “I have an employee dispute to resolve, but it shouldn’t take too long. I’ll try to hurry, okay?”
“Okay.”
He gave her a lusty gaze and kissed her fingertips gently. The gesture was so touching she wanted to wrap her whole self around this man and keep him forever.
“I’ll wait right here.”
“Perfect.” Diesel kissed her hard and fast on the mouth before walking away toward his office. She watched him go as the taste of him lingered on her lips. Hoo boy, he was something else. When he was gone from her sight, an icy chill rushed through her body from deep inside outward to her limbs. Like a reverse hot flash maybe.
Juliana happened to glance over her shoulder at Alice, whose shocked expression changed once Diesel was out of view. She’d probably sent a mental ice bucket to pour on Juliana’s head.
The clerk cleared her throat and said, “Are you going to want something or not?” Her tone and attitude had gone from syrupy with Diesel to snotty with her. Juliana didn’t care.
The night they’d spent together cemented her feelings, and Diesel seemed very serious about wanting her in his future. Alice or anyone else who fancied themselves in love with Diesel could suck it. She smiled thinking about Diesel using that same reference.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll take a look around.”
She noticed a basket of fresh fruit on the counter, seeing both bananas and apples. On the spur of the moment, she walked over, picked out the largest apple and held it up to Alice. “Listen up. I know what you’re doing, but hear me when I say you’re wasting your time. And stop with the apples. It’s not going to change anything I do and it’s wasteful.”
Alice’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh? Don’t you?” Juliana put the apple back in the basket and walked away. She wandered down the main aisle toward the back of the store, not intending to go all the way to Diesel’s office, but just closer to where she knew he was, hoping it would help warm her sudden cold snap.
She missed him the moment he’d stepped away, like physically being ripped away from his immediate presence had caused this lingering cold within. What was that about?
Diesel returned as if conjured by her desire for him, and gave her a look like he was a man in love. Juliana shivered.
“Are you cold?”
“Yep. The moment you walked away it was like a frigid chill washed over me.” The icy air had certainly come from Alice the moment he was out of her sight.
He wrapped his arms around her, warming her instantly. “This dispute might take longer than I thought. Do you want to wait in my office? Or I can give you the keys to my truck.”
“I appreciate the sacrifice of offering to let me drive your truck. I understand most Arkansas boys flinch at the mere prospect.” He shrugged and tightened his grip. “But my car is still parked out there. I’ll just wait in your office, if that’s okay.”
They were standing well inside the convenience store, but also within view of Alice, the snotty clerk.
The way Diesel looked at her was impossible to miss. Alice didn’t miss it, either. Juliana saw her surprise. The anger had seemingly gone out of her. She didn’t smile, exactly, but she nodded once in their direction as if acknowledging Diesel was, for now, Juliana’s.
Interesting.
“Come on. I’ll show you my office.”
“Can’t wait.”
He took Juliana’s hand and moved toward the back of the store. She liked that he seemed to want to keep touching her as he led her around the convenience store like his date at a party.
Behind them the bell on the convenience store doors rang three times in quick succession. Presumably it meant that if Alice hadn’t caught them canoodling, then there were about to be three more opportunities to be interrupted from customers coming inside. This sparked an unreasonable flash of anger.
Unreasonable because this was his workplace and not Lover’s Lane. Juliana needed to be more cautious about kissing him whenever the desire emerged—which was every single second in his presence—instead of giving in to her unparalleled attraction in public.
Diesel led her past Maxwell the Martian, down the hallway and past his receptionist’s desk to his office. A door labeled Our Fearless Leader was ajar, and someone stood on the threshold.
“Cam,” Diesel said, not relinquishing her hand as he pushed past his brother and skirted the outer edge of the desk.
Juliana looked at Cam, noticing what looked like a miniature blue and white megaphone hooked on his belt. She had a flash of memory so strong she staggered against Diesel.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Juliana stared into his eyes but only saw a recent dream she’d had, and recited the memory out loud. “I dreamed that I saw a half octopus-half man creature heading for the basement of this place.”
Turning toward Cam, she pointed at the small megaphone. “And then he came along and pointed that bullhorn at me until I fell asleep.”