12/15/2012

CHAPTER 2: People Like Me and People Like You

Roslyn groaned as she leaned forward in the car's seat to look past the rain and midnight darkness that flooded her windshield. Giving up, she slowed down as she saw the flashing four way blinkers up ahead. She turned the radio down and slowed her car down, glancing in her rear view mirror she saw no cars behind her as she stopped parallel to the broken down car.

"Hey there pal," she spoke up as she rolled down the window, rain coming in through and blowing rain inside onto her seat, "Need some help?"

The man shook his head with a smirk before meeting her eyes.

"I doubt there's anything you can help me with darlin'." He roamed his eyes over her for a split second

"I know my way around a wrench." She spoke up, before looking over at the soaking wet man, "Might be better to wait until this rain stops though."

"Would be ideal." He tried to wipe the rain off his jacket, but it was useless

"Need a ride into town?"

"Pretty girl like you shouldn't be picking up hitchhikers."

"I can handle my own. Are you in or are you out?" she asked

Benny had to laugh at her own use of one of his favorite phrases as he nodded.

"I'm in."

Roslyn unlocked the door and pulled the button up on her side of the car as the window rolled itself up. The man climbed in and settled up and warmed his hands up on the dashboard heater.

"Sorry about the upholstery." He said

"Don't worry about this piece of shit car." She spoke up, waiting for a car to pass as she pulled back out onto the road

"I'm Benny, by the way. Benny Lafitte."

"Roslyn Tucker. Where you headed?"

"Where are you taking me?" He gave her a side smile

"I'm on my way to New Orleans. I can drop you off there, or somewhere along the way. Whatever you'd like."

"I think I'll go as far as you will take me."

Roslyn laughed as she turned the music on low. A soft Christmas tune hummed through the speakers as she groaned and turned it back off.

"Not much in the festive mood I take it?" he asked

"Christmas was never really my style," Roslyn looked over at her new passenger, his eyes glancing over the gun resting on the side left of her jacket, a strap gave away the fact that she was wearing a holster, the kind that criss crossed against the back. Yeah, he guessed she could hold her own.

"Mine either." He said

Roslyn leaned into the bar as she swirled her scotch, the ice clanked against the glass, an old and comforting sound, as the blues player on the small stage pulled out an ancient Robert Johnson tune and Roslyn tried to ignore t he familiarity in it.

Her eyes swam over the other slum dogs of the bar. A smokey haze filled the atmosphere, a deep cigar smell that was nearly built into the wood of the bar from centuries of smokers. A rowdy group was playing pool in the back, and Roslyn wanted nothing to do with them. The door swung open as the rain from last night hadn't let up as it followed the new member in. He threw his coat onto a rack and shook off the last little bit from his head. She laughed at the serendipity of the situation as she gulped down the last swallow of scotch and signaled for another ground.

She let her eyes roam over him like they had on her. His off white shirt was long sleeved and soft looking. His pants were wool, and something she hadn't seen on a man since a sears-roebuck catalog of years gone by. It was Benny.

He didn't notice her at first. He sat with his back towards her as if waiting for someone. He ordered a drink from the waitress, and glanced down at his hands, wringing them together. His phone rang a few seconds later as she talked in hushed tones, if Roslyn hadn't been straining her ears so hard, she might not of heard him call the caller 'Brother.'

Ros chugged down the rest of her drink and pulled a bill from her pocket, throwing it on the bar and thanking the bartender, as she grabbed her old and wore out leather coat from the back of her chair. She swung it around and whipped it, hoping to shed any last pieces of rain out as she slipped her arms in. Something caught Benny's attention as he turned around and stared right through her.

Roslyn knew that look. She'd encountered it numerous times throughout the years. That longing look, that hungry look. That bloodthirsty look. He closed his eyes for a second and tried to shake it way, but it was too late. Roslyn had him figured out. The blade at her side was long enough to behead him if she wanted to, but she didn't.

'This could all work out for the better. Let him feed, let him kill you.' She thought

Leaning over the bar and ordering two more drinks, she waltzed over and sat down next to him, making sure the collar of her coat was unpopped and inviting.

"You look like you need a drink." She smiled, pushing the Southern Comfort on the rocks closer to him

"You have no idea." He accepted the drink, raising it towards her in a toast

He finished it in one gulp, not even sneering at the burn it left down his throat. It did nothing to replace the burn already there.

"What are you doing in a place like this?" He asked, the crowd was full of less than desirables, a crowd something no single, pretty girl should surround herself in

"I like the atmosphere?" She laughed softly

"Doubtful."

"Well, the company's not so bad now." She smiled up at him, finishing her own drink as she got the attention of the bar maid and ordered another round

"Are you trying to get me drunk Ms. Tucker?" His voice was smooth and the smile on his lips was more than inviting. What girl could be blamed by flirting with danger?

"Well, that's usually how I start things, Benjamin." She winked as she took the glasses from the girl and gave her money, sliding it over to him as she moved closer in the booth

"You are one forward girl." He laughed, letting the ice bang against the glass

"I know when I want something." The twinkle in her eyes could be from the alcohol, or it could be something else, Benny wasn't sure.

"Are you drunk?"

"This is my fourth drink." She said, "I come from a family of drinkers."

By last call, the two were laughing together like old friends. Benny told Roslyn about his round trip to visit old friends all over the South. Roslyn told Benny about her big who-rah to visit all the places she wanted to see.

"It's like a bucket list." She said, "30 things to do before I turn 30 in May."

"How many have you gotten done?"

"New Orleans makes 29."

"What's 30?" he asked, standing up as they readied to leave the bar, holding out her coat as she slipped her arms in and he smelled that wonderful scent of hers, gun powder and perfume, something sweet.

"One night stand." She turned and looked at him

Benny felt his cheeks blush. This girl was something else.

"Come on, I have an idea." She slipped her hand in his and pulled him out the door, thankfully, the rain had stopped and the streets were bare

Benny followed her towards a green and white stripped building a few blocks from the bar. Music thumped just as loudly here as it did from the bar. Roslyn smiled as they sat down at the painted white table and a man came over to take their order.

"Two café au laits and two orders of beignets." She smirked

Benny nodded to the waiter. Their coffee and fried pastries were brought over minutes later as he watched her eyes light up at the mountain of powdered sugar. Her smile was contagious.

"I've been here twice already."

"You've been here less than 24 hours." He laughed, sipping at the steaming hot coffee and milk mixture

"I just love it. I mean, this is just…" She sighed as she looked at the people, at the food, at the scenery, "This is just perfection. This moment, right here…I don't ever want to forget it."

Benny reached over and took her hand in his, leaning over the table and catching her lips in his. She tasted like scotch, and coffee and sugar.

"Me neither." He smiled as she laughed, covering her hand over her mouth as she wiped a spot of powdered sugar off his coat

"Next time you decide to lean over the table, you might want to move your food first." She smiled

"I could always just move myself." The southern charm was just oozing out of him as he moved his chair next to hers

Roslyn finished up her perfection on a powdered plate, as she she looked over at his that were barely touched.

"Not hungry." He shook his head

"That's a damn shame." She teased, "Benjamin, do you know how many girls would just love to have those?"

Benny stood up and held out his hand, pulling her up and into his chest, as she looked up at him.

"Those? Not so sure. Now me on the other hand…" he winked

"Come on smooth talker, let's go back to my room for a night cap." She smiled, pulling him into the 3am hustle and bustle of the French Quarter