A;N See I told you the next one was on the way! I want to thank you all for the reviews and alerts and faves! I have a lot planned for this story and can't wait for it to all to unfold. As always Thanks to the lovely Min for the pre-read and Joe for the Edit! Next chapter is pretty much writing itself so it should be along in no time! Have fun!
Ed pov
The morning was off to a fabulous start. After driving in circles for the better part of an hour, I finally gave in and asked at the gas station for directions. I really hadn't thought it was possible to get lost here, but thanks to no road signs and dozens of dirt roads criss-crossing it was. Finally at the stop light, I was headed in the right direction - I hope. My inner mantra repeats over and over - "Play nice, work hard, learn fast (whatever it is I am suppose to learn), and get your ass out of here." I wasn't going to make friends. I wasn't gonna get attached. Just do the job and get out.
Waiting at the pointless stoplight, I spot him. I am sure it is him. No one else has had me so fixated in a long time. Raising my glasses to the top of my head, I narrow my eyes and meet his. When the flash of recognition passes over his face, it goes straight to my pants. "Fuck, no!" I curse to myself and he peels out.
It takes me a minute to realize that the light has changed, but the honking behind me urges me on. Turning down the same road the bartender just took, I take my time heading out to the site where I was meeting the head guy. There is nothing for miles and miles out here. Most of it is our land - well, company land now - but once upon a a time, it was filled with fences and cattle. But in the 70s, dad was a bit of a rebel and went against all advice and jumped in head-first, turning it into a wind farm. Back then, everyone thought he was nuts, but he was the one laughing when he got a contract with not only the government but many major companies. He soon expanded all over the country and also went into the manufacturing of the windmills themselves.
But I am here to learn from the ground up, so I will be out here watching a new field get planted. I was so lost in my own thoughts and the scenery that I almost missed the beat-up truck on the side of the road. I knew jack about cars, but I could at least make sure he had a cell or offer a ride. It was the right thing to do, yup that's it. It had nothing to do with letting my dick take over the thinking. Plus, it was a good way to delay work a bit longer.
Sliding my truck into park, I let it idle as I climb out and approach him. He climbs out as I approach and keeps his back to me. He stiffens, so I can assume he knows it's me or he just doesn't like strangers. Given where he works, I can guess which it is.
"Need some help there?" Not that I really have much to offer.
I follow him around as he lifts the hood. I notice he still hasn't looked at me. "No, man, I got it."
I stop beside him anyway and peer down in the cavity of the ancient beast. I have no clue what's what, but I gotta try and hang onto my "man card." Resting my hand inches from his, he clears his throat and he is finally looking at me. The look is confusion and irritation, but he's looking.
Stepping back, he looks me up and down. I am dressed for field work in my jeans and T-shirt, nothing out of place but his sneer says something is wrong. "Do you know anything about cars?"
Rubbing the back of my neck, I kick at the gravel before looking back up at him. "Um, no, not really, but I have a cell." He shakes his head at me and goes to the cab of his truck. After a minute of fiddling around with some knobs, he holds up a CB mic.
"A cell ain't gonna do you any good out here, man. Nearest cell tower is about 50 miles away and sketchy at best." I pull out my phone and sure enough not a bar or even a roaming notice.
"Sleeping beauty, you out there." There is minute of static. "SB, it's Stripes. You out there?"
After a few more crackles, a woman's voice breaks through. "Heya, Stripes. What up, sexy?"
"Hey, I'm stuck on old 14. The old lady is at it again." Old? Looking over the truck, I would say old is an understatement.
"I can send Jake out as soon as he gets in. Should be about an hour. That OK?" I see his shoulders fall, but he answers back that it's OK.
"I will see if I can work my magic should be ready by morning."
"Thanks, SB." He signs off and hangs up the mic. Looking up, he seems shocked that I am still standing there. I'm not sure why I am, but there is something holding me there. Wasn't I just telling myself not to make friends.
Besides, I obviously got the wrong vibe last night, considering how the woman on the CB sounded.
"Hey, thanks for stopping man, but I got this covered." Before I know what I am doing, I shove my hand out at him.
"Ed, Edward Cullen." He looks at my hand and passes by it. What the fuck? Slamming the hood down, he gives me that odd look again.
"I know who you are." My confusion must show. "This is a town of five thousand. There isn't much to keeping a secret."
"Well . . . OK . . . Well as long as you have it covered, I'll get out of you hair then." I'm not sure why I feel like a kicked puppy. I'm usually a "fuck'em if they don't like me" kind of guy. But for some reason, it gets me as I climb back in my truck. There is something about this guy that I want him to like me. I want the boring chit-chat.
Driving down the road, I take one last look in the rearview. He is standing there in front of his truck, long legs crossed at the ankles and arms folded across his chest. Yup, he is hot, but - Fuck it! - not worth it. I'm getting out of here as soon as I can.
Jas pov
I'm not sure why I was so rude to the guy. It's not really like me, but when he walked up to the truck, I could feel the tension rolling off of me. When the pretty boy's attitude of "I'm rich and a phone call can fix anything" came out, I had no more patience for him.
My time waiting on Jake and the tow truck gave me a lot of time to do what I do best - think. Thanks to Jake running on Native time, I know that the hour could likely turn into two. Good thing I don't have to open until just before five, and can ride my bike until the truck is fixed.
I had no idea there was anything wrong with my life. How the hell is it that in a matter of twelve hours, I went from a just-dandy life to feeling a hole in it? I was fine until I started talking to Mama. No, wait . . . that isn't right. I was fine until he walked into my bar. One Mr. Edward Cullen . . . Mr. I Have It All. The one that is to blind to see how lucky he is no matter what his little family problem is.
The whole town knew he was coming. It had been the talk of the town for a few weeks now. Ever since his father passed away last month, the town was in limbo on what would happen here. The wind fields employed a good portion of the town and a few of the surrounding ones. It pretty much kept the whole town alive. Each and every business was going because of them, even my own - in the summer, especially mine. The workers filed in on hot days to cool down with a cold one.
I think we are all still on edge, not knowing why he is here. Most of us fear the worst - that he is selling. I mean why else would Mr. Young-and-rich-party-boy come all the way down here, instead of living it up in LA or Seattle? It didn't make sense. Lord knows he isn't down here to check on things. From what I hear, Sr.'s brother Charlie runs a smooth ship and was just talking last week about the new mills going up. Whatever he is doing here, I sure as hell hope him and his designer jeans and 50-dollar T-shirt are in and out of this town quickly. Just as the thought passes, the wind kicks up and the open truck door I had been resting my feet on flies open wider. With a thud, my feet hit the ground and I quickly correct myself before I fall face first into the road.
Before I have a chance to question it though, I hear the rattle of Rose's tow truck rumbling down the road. A check of my watch shows I am pretty spoton with my guess on when Jake would get here. Like a pro, he whips around and backs up to my rear bumper, before hopping out and flashing a glaring white smile.
"Hey, man, the old rust bucket acting up already?" Jake is a pretty one to look at - not my type, but pretty none the less. "Didn't she just come off the rack last week?"
Jake never missed a chance to give me shit about my truck, but it was my mama's and there is no way I was sending her off the the scrap heap anytime soon. "I think it is just a few loose wires or something, man. Weren't you the one to work on her last?" I lift a brow at him. Yup, that shuts him up.
"OK, well, let's get her to the hospital and we will see what 'someone' missed." I laugh as I climb on in and we make the journey back into town. The conversation switches to the news of Cullen being in town. I try to avoid it, but he doesn't let up. Eventually I give a little, but don't let him in on the fact that I had already met him. But he rambles on as though the news is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
"I mean, well, what if he is here to expand? Imagine the business boom, and then there is the new people and the chance of something good. Geesh, stop being so negative."
"Jake, please, for once take a minute to think about the other side of the fence. What if . . ." I see a flash of hurt and I feel the flick at the back of my ear. I cringe and hope it goes unnoticed, but I have never been good at hiding things.
"See, Mama thinks the same way." Jake laughs. He is one of the few people that believes me, in fact ,even knows about my constant companion. That is only because of his heritage and the fact that his Pa actually saw her by me at a tribe meeting shortly after she passed.
"Mama has her own agenda." Holding up my hand, I stop him as his mouth opens. "Not going there, Jake." He looks like he is going to continue anyway, but I know just the way to stop him. "So how is the girl drama going? Still trying to convince Ali that nothing happened with you and Bella?"
His mouth flaps a few times before closing and staying that way.
"Thought so. Good luck there." The rest of the ride in is silent - well, except for my own voice in my head. That has been the most annoying thing all my life. I have heard them - the voices and things my family would have to say here and there, but usually they move on. Me, though? I can't ever get myself to go away. Always in my head, always thinking and less than 20 hours later, it is feeling awful crowded in there. I am used to myself being in there, but Ed needs to take a hike.
As we pull up to the garage, I hop out to go in search of Rose as Jake unhooks my truck. I find her under the hood of an old Buick.
"Hey there, Doc!" Pulling her head out from under the hood, she beams at me. Through the grease and grime, even with her long blonde hair tucked up in her hat and her body hidden under the coveralls, she is still one of the prettiest women I have ever seen.
"Hey there, Tex, so what's going on today?" She nods out to the drive as the last chains are unhooked.
"No clue, you're the pro here. Was riding smooth then, all of a sudden, it sputtered and conked out."
"Sounds like the fuel pump, I can have a new one in by the end of the week. I swear - with all you have put into that thing, you could have a whole new truck." Rose is always telling me that, but it is only because she is actually itching to restore it fully.
"I like her. She has character." She nods like she understands.
"So I hear there is a new rich hotty in town." I groan.
"Not you too. God, it is all I hear about and he has been here less than 24 hours." I rub my hand down my face in frustration. When I look at her, she has a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "What?"
"Nothing, just interesting, that's all." She turns back to her tools and rearranges them.
"What, what's interesting?" I am totally lost on whatever she thinks she is getting at.
"It's just usually when new people are in town, you are all about finding out about them, listening to the rumors and gossip, just like your Mama would have. But I mention this guy and you get a bristly. Either you have a thing for him already - which is no fair trying to call dibs before anyone even really gets a shot - or you hated him on sight." She is now facing me head cocked, hip on and finger on her chin.
"Honestly, Rose, I have no clue what you are talking about. I have neither good nor bad opinion of him. He is here. I served him last night. He left - end of story." I left out the part of thinking about those eyes all night and my irrational behavior this morning. But only because I know how Rose can get when she has the slightest bit of an upper hand.
"Mmhmm, I will let you say that, but I will keep this one on the table awhile. I will figure it out." I flipped her the bird as a wave good-bye, listening to her maniacal laughter all the way out.
Luckily the walk home was short - just a few blocks - because at just past noon, it was sweltering already. The wind helped some but not much, since it was from the south and only slightly cooler than the air temp.
The plan was to grab a sandwich to go at the diner, nap and a shower before work. The sight of a shiny new truck parked in front of the diner changed that plan to cold pizza, a restless nap and a cold shower. I refused to think about why I had to take the cold shower and went on auto pilot to work. Living above the bar was handy when you own the place, run the place and are pretty much the only employee. Garrett helped out on the weekends and holidays, but for the most part, it was a one man show.
After flipping on the lights and filling the sinks, it was time to twist the lock and turn the sign. I didn't expect anyone right away The first usually shuffle in around five and we hit a peak at about eight. I loved it here. I loved that I could forget about my own issues and just be there for others. Mama always wanted me to branch out and explore the world - even try my luck in Nashville - but I couldn't imagine it. Near the end, I think she agreed that I might not ever be rich and famous, but I am happy right where I am. She would tell me it suited me and that I was born to do this because I soothed people. I don't know if that is true or not, but I have been told many times that I'm a good listener.
I don't even have to look up when I hear the bell chime. I just grab a mug and pour. "Hey, Sam, how's the leg?" Sliding the icy glass in front of him, he takes his usual stool.
"Good today, too damn hot for it to act up. I'll let you know when the rains are coming in." I nod and tap the bar as I take his money.
"Thanks, man. I trust that leg of yours over the weather man any day." Sam was a great guy. He was in his early 40s and was gonna be a big star playing football, but a horse accident killed that dream for him. Now he runs the local outdoors store.
"So you hear anything about what the big wig is doing in town?" So much for losing myself in work.
"Nope, sorry. You probably know more then me." I could go through the whole I-don't-give-a-damn, but I better just face the facts that he is gonna be all I hear about.
The regulars shuffle in one after another and the place is alive. I hear every array of ideas from the townspeople - everything from them closing down to the wild idea of them moving the whole factory down here. The ladies all just wanted to know the important stuff - What does he look like? Is he single? What's his type? Oh, how I long for an alien abduction story right now. Anything to change the topic.
The week proceeded the same as the first day, but there were slowly facts trickling in from some of the field men. I found myself listening, even though I didn't want to. I was just drawn to it.
"I was kind of feeling sketchy about him the first few days, but I gotta say, once we got him out of those designer big-city clothes, he really seems to be catching on." Seth was telling Eric. They both have been working the windfields since they were out of high school.
"Still can't figure out why he is down here though." Eric was saying, "I'm not buying the whole 'learning the business his daddy created.' " Seth nodded in agreement.
I wander down the bar and try not to be interested in the local mystery, but my mind wanders back to it as I fill mugs and mix drinks. From what I can gather, he really is here to learn, but only because he is being forced to. Figures.
Marcus was in yesterday when I was open for lunch. I am only open for it twice a week, but he never misses it. He said that when Sr. bought the farm, his will was ironclad. Jr. works the whole business or "bye-bye money."
The town still saw him as somewhat of a mystery. I found myself disliking him just on principle. I can't wrap my head around how someone could care so little about how hard his father and uncle worked to put him where he is today. In life, I have run into that type more than I care to count. The type that live to party and spend what others worked so hard for. The type that think just because of their DNA, they have some right to it all. They flash money and a smile and think it is enough. Then when something doesn't go their way - when they are called out on something - it is everyone else's fault.
I didn't hear the bell, but I know who just walked in by the sound of the room - voices drop and hushed whispers spread. Just great.
I catch him in the mirror and see him looking a lot different than when I saw him on Monday. He still has the air of arrogance about him, but at least he fit in with the natives. That is until he steps up and slides his credit card across the bar.
"Hey man, I'll take a Bud." I can tell by the way he orders and looks around and takes in the people around the bar. He may look the part, but he is still a rich party boy.
I slide the card back across the bar and remind him of just where he is. "Not with plastic, you won't. ATM's in the back." He briefly looks taken back, then gets a sheepish look. Could it be he was embarrassed that his flash didn't work here? Or at least with me? Whatever it is, I couldn't care less.
I watched him casually through the night, noticing the way the town was taken with him. Girls were falling over themselves to get his attention The guys want to know about the big city life and what sport he was into. Pretty much everyone was sucked in.
"That one is trouble, my friend." Rose, perched on her usual stool, points her bottle in the direction of the corner table.
"Nah, Rose, he is just the shiny new toy. Soon everyone will back to normal." As I plunge the glasses in and out of the water, I sneak a glance and a chill runs down my spine as he chooses that moment to look up too.
I hear a cackle from Rose. "See, I told you - trouble with a capital T." Taking another swig from her beer, she wipes a dribble from her chin. "But I wasn't really talking about the whole god-like good looks, I just have a feeling. That guy is gonna really stir up the cosmic energy around here."
I laugh at her, just as the sprayer hose jumps out of the water, soaking the entire front of me. That has Rose practically falling off her stool laughing. As I use the hem of my shirt to wipe my face, I hear a mug hitting the floor. Looking up, I see two bright green eyes fixed on my stomach.
"Subtle, Mama, real subtle."
Ed pov
The week started out putting me in my place and didn't prove to let up as the week went on. The first day was brutal. I worked out sure, five days a week, but I never knew I had some of these muscles. No one really knew what to think of me at first I am sure. Some were stand-offish, others seemed nervous but approached. I get it - son of the boss, here in the skids. I could almost read their minds. "Is he spying? Is he looking for a reason to shut down or sell?"
It was nothing short of hell, that is, until Marcus came on site. He was the head here. Back in the day, he was my father's right-hand man on the ranch and when the company grew, he moved to running operations down here. I have known Marcus all my life, so when he came out to the fields, it was a huge relief.
I had been pretty surly and grudgingly going through my day, but he gave me a few pointers and not so nicely told me to get the stick out of my ass. That and lose the designer jeans. I have to admit it was kind of a slap in the face but I did. I even started talking to the guys a bit. I still wasn't gonna get close to them or be friends really. But it is a lot easier to get through the day with random bull-shitting than whispers and stares.
I learned pretty quickly and was working with the crew by the end of the week. The guys weren't half bad. We ate lunch at the diner most days and on lucky days, I spotted him out around town.
"Hey, Garrett, what's his story?" I nod my head out the window as he was walking into the drug store across the street.
He looks out the window and then looks at me with an "a-ha" look. "That is Jasper, a good friend of mine and bandmate." Taking a drink of his soda, he cocks his head to the side. "Anything specific you wanna know?" He give me a half grin.
I shake my head and go back to my lunch. "Nope, just wondering."
The look he is giving me tells me he doesn't buy it and the slight bulge rising in my pants tells me I don't either.
He laughs and wipes his mouth. "Jasper and his mama have run the bar as far back as I can remember. Well, he now runs it by himself, since his mama passed about six months ago. We play there on the weekends."
I groan at the thought. I may have been flash and money, but when I went for a guy, I went for musicians. I try to discreetly adjust myself and take a long drink of my water. "A band, huh? Wh- what kind of music?"
Garrett is laughing hard at me. "Oh man, this is gonna be fun."
"What are you talking about?" I am sure he has figured me out. Emmett said I was always to easy to read, but I am not gonna come right out with it.
"We play a bit of everything. He is single. Yes, he plays that way and boy, if you wanna get with him, you have your work cut out for you." With that, he throws some bills down and slaps me on the shoulder.
I have no idea what he is thinking, but I am sure I am just curious because he was so put off by me the other day. Yup, that's it. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am horny as hell and he hits all the right points.
"We are playing Saturday night. Come check us out." I can only nod and strain my neck to try and get a peek inside the store. I can still hear Garrett laughing as he starts his truck.
I make an ass out of myself when it takes three tries to open up the truck. Luckily no one was around to see.
The rest of the day, I avoided Garrett as much as I could, which was easy since he was foreman on another crew. He was a good guy and I never had an issue with him, but I would be damned if he dogged me the rest of the day over it. I got enough back home from my friend Emmett.
I tried to lose myself in the work at hand and learning the ropes. It worked mostly, but it was a good half hour drive back to the hotel. Thirty minutes is a lot of time for the mind to wander - and it did. It wandered to the imperfect perfection of everything - from his flawed yet perfect face all the way down his body.
Sure enough, my shower was needed for more than one reason by the time I was back in my room. After some much-needed release, I flopped down on the bed in nothing but my towel and checked my messages. Most of them were from friends - no doubt looking for a hook up to a party, or an in for a popular restaurant. Sure enough, by the fourth partially listened to message, I end up deleting all the rest - except for the one from Emmett. Emmett gets a call back. He is my other half, the insane to my to serious. I was the anchor to reign him in when he went a bit bat-shit at times, just like he was the one to pull me out of any funk.
We have been best friends since we were little. His mom was our cook and like a second mom to me. Our friendship was never based on money. He couldn't give a shit if I had a buck or a million. He was good people.
Hitting "call back," it only takes a few seconds for him to pick up. "About time you got around to calling me back, you fairy."
"Fuck you, meathead. I been doin' a real man's work. What have you been doing, jerking off and hitting the gym?" We always have had a special way to talk to each other.
"Screw you! I hit the gym because I own it. And when have you ever done a real man's work? Aren't you worried you might ruin your pretty little manicure?" Yup, he loves me.
"Honestly man, it really hasn't been that bad. I survived the first week." I hear him snort.
"Okay, Ed, who is he?" Now I am the one to snort and shake my head.
"No one, man. I just have had a lot of time to think. Working isn't all bad. I mean, there is no way in hell I want to do this shit the rest of my life, but, I don't know, it isn't that bad." Truthfully, I have no idea where this is coming from. I started off strong and determined to hang on to my anger, but somehow it is slipping away.
"Okay, bud. You keep telling yourself that, but you have to be bored as hell - missing the parties and the pretty boys." Now he is digging, just to find the "city me."
"I don't know about that. I mean, there is a bar here but, early mornings and shit, I don't have time to miss anything."
"Well, it sounds pretty fucking lame to me." Emmett isn't really one to party hard, but he knows how to have a good time. I have no doubt he could make his own fun here.
"Well, there is a band playing tomorrow I might check it out. As for tonight, probably just gonna crash early." Looking around the room, it is a bit of a depressing thought.
"Friday night in a hotel room in small town Texas? Edward, tell me the truth have you been brainwashed? Is this a cult thing? Did they touch you in the naughty parts? I can be there with the rescue squad in no time." He acts all serious, but I can hear the humor in his voice.
I can't help but laugh and miss him. "Nah, man, it's all good. Maybe I will go out for a beer, mingle a bit." See Jasper.
"That's more like the Ed I know. Go chase some tail. Wait! Do they have any fairies down there? Besides you, that is?" In a second, I am picturing Jasper pinned up against a wall with my tongue down his throat and choke on the beer I had been sipping.
"I knew it! There is someone!" I can see him now, jumping up and pointing at me.
"No, Emm, not really, no." I try to stop the runaway train before it starts.
"Okay, whatever man, but if anyone gives you shit or you need support, I can be there in no time flat." And I know he means it.
"Well, I will hold you to that. I guess I will slap on some jeans and go grab a cold one. I will get ahold of you soon." After a little more random shit-giving I promise to call him and get dressed.
The bar was busier than I had seen it so far. There were a few familar faces, and I notice it becomes a bit more hushed as I walk up to the bar. There I proceed to make an ass of myself by sliding my black card at him. Not that the others would have been much better. I feel my cheeks burn a little, especially as I see the "cash only" sign over his shoulder. I manage to withdraw a modest amount and get an icy tap beer with little other assholery.
Within an hour, he has a curvy blonde settle up next to him at the end of the bar, talking and laughing. I had found a group of guys from work and their wives and girlfriends to hang with. I try to keep my attention on them, but it keeps drifting back to Jasper and the blonde.
"They are just friends," Kate, Garrett's girl, tells me as she bumps my arm. I look down at her with a confused look. I can see what Gar sees in her, with her long blonde hair that looks like silk and her hazel eyes. "Really trust me, like the best of friends."
"I'm sorry, I don't know what you are getting at?" I am the master of "Sorry, you are confused." "It is fine. I was just checking the place out."
She laughs hard and slaps me harder than I thought a 5' 6" slip of woman could. "Wow, you are more full of shit then a bull pasture on a dude ranch."
"No really, I . . ." Her hand in my face stops me mid-words.
"Please darlin'. You have taken every chance you could to find an angle to look at him. We may be small town. We may be Texas, but we aren't bigots or homophobes. It's cool." I knew right then that things were changing.
I grew comfortable as the night wore on and I was well on my way to buzzed. I was making plans and enjoying Kate and her friend Sasha, joining in with the guy talk and buddying up with a few of the guys. As the night winds down, we are all saying good-bye and making plans to meet up to hear the band tomorrow. Just as I am hugging Kate good-bye, I see it.
Something went down behind the bar and Jasper was soaking wet down the front, lifting his shirt and wiping water off his face.
The mug is slipping from my hand. His abs are tone and dark. His pants are tight and wet, and I am fucked . . . .
