Chapter Two
Three months, he was three months late heading south.
He stayed in St. Paul too long but Edward had promised his buddy, Mike, he'd get the Andrew Clemson House done for Newton Construction before he left.
It had taken him longer to restore the wainscoting in the three-story mansion than anticipated and the wood on both staircases had been compromised beyond reuse. It took him four weeks to find compatible wood and a match to the vintage stain.
Mike's wife Jessie was a sweetheart and had him over for dinner most nights. She took to inviting her friend Tanya Delaney over for dinner as well. He kept it light, not wanting to mess up his friendship with Mike or his little matchmaker. Tanya was a glossy, leggy blond. She was classy, gorgeous and pretty much perfect on paper, but an absolute flat line as far Edward was concerned.
Jessie told him that she hadn't seen Mike smile and laugh so much since the last time he was in Minnesota. Edward guessed, by Jessie's thinking, if he settled down with a girl from the neighborhood, Mike could keep his friend. It was sweet that Jessie cared about her man so much.
Riding his bike through northern winter conditions had been treacherous, but dropping down into Nevada he was able to ease his grip again. The weather was crisp and clear and the going became easier.
He stopped by Ben and Angie's Sparrow Café for lunch knowing that his friend Dunny would have canned soup and a sleeve of crackers for him when he stopped later that night.
He left Ben, Angie and their little Sparrow with a smile and a newly colored page to keep him company on the road. This one was of a little pony, not a horse which he was sternly corrected for by their sweet, little brown hair cherub.
As he finally pulled into Dunny's, he saw Bob's tow truck and a beat up Volkswagen Rabbit parked out front near the gas pumps. He rounded the shop to the back and parked near the fence. Prying himself off the seat of his Harley Electra Glide, he slowly took off his helmet and lifted his arms over his head, stretching from side to side.
Ah, heaven.
He pulled off his glovesand tucked them inside his helmet as he walked around to the front. A bell dinged announcing him as he entered; unzipping his jacket, he followed the sound of old men laughing.
He was pulling his muffler from around his neck as he arrived at the back storeroom.
"What are you two old goats up to now?" Edward barked without looking up.
"Edward, my boy, you're a sight for sore eyes. I thought for sure you must have laid it down hard up north."
Edward looked up to see his old friend limping toward him. He slapped the old man on the back and let himself be brought into his tight hug.
"Nah, Dunny, you know better than that. Too fine a paint job to let the blacktop kiss it," Edward laughed. "How are you holding up Bob? Your flames are the talk of five states," Edward said as he walked further into the room to shake hands with the frail old man still seated by the chessboard.
"Good to hear, good to hear, Edward," Bob smiled widely, pleased that the work of his hands had been so well received. Edward's bike was his last paint job, and he took great pride in the results. Edward, Dunny and Bob had stayed up many a night working out the design. When finished, it looked like the bike was engulfed in gas flames from fender to fender. It was gorgeous.
"Pull up a chair and have a seat, Boy. You're not in a hurry are ya?" Dunny asked reclaiming his place across from Bob.
"No, I was hoping to crash here tonight, if you have room," Edward said as he pulled up a chair between the two men and straddled it backward.
"That'll be fine. We'll be glad for the company," Dunny said just as a crash came from the front of the store.
"What the hell," Edward shot up, but Bob pulled himback, signaling for him to remainseated as the swinging door banged open and hit the wall.
"Dunny, I'm sorry but I knocked over your chip rack. Here, take your coffees and let me get out there and clean it up. Do you think the chips are smushed?" The voice changed from humor to alarm.
Edward turned to see a tiny slip of a girl carrying two stained mugs in one hand, and what looked to be a plate of banana bread in the other.
As Dunny rushed to help, Edward raked her over from head to toe. She had on a printed summer dress with a little, blue knit sweater that just reached under her breasts. Herblack boots came up to her knees, leaving three inches of leg peeking out. She wasn't tall, but her slender build and long straight hair gave the illusion of height.
His eyes popped back up to her face when the laughter between the girl and Dunny abruptly stopped. His turquoise eyes met with her browns and he scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed at being caught taking her all in.
Bob cleared his throat behind him and Dunny took that as his cue to make introductions.
"Ah,Bella dear, this is our friend Edward Cullen. Edward, Boy, this is our new friend, Bella," Dunny smirked at Edward from under his greasy mustache and Bob wiggled his eyebrows at Edward.
Two old fools.
"Is that your Rabbit out front?" Edward challenged.
"Um, yes," she said as she cautiously followed Dunny further into the room, making sure to give the stranger a wide berth.
"Well, it doesn't look as if it's going to get you too far." Edward ducked as Dunny took a swing at his head.
"What, old man?" Edward laughed.
"Sit down and put on some manners, you ass," Bob barked as he kicked Edward's chair and glared at the kid.
Edward immediately felt the rebuke and knew he had been rude to the pretty girl.
"Sorry, um Bella, I just … Well I've been on the road for too many days. I'm tired and road weary. I didn't mean to take it out on you," Edward tried to put on his most convincing smile as he finger-combed his auburn helmet hair.
"That's allright Mr. Cullen."
"EDWARD" both old men shouted.
"Please, call me Edward," Edward said before shooting a 'what the hell' look at the guys.
She blushed and nodded before continuing, "Is that your bike I saw coming in? It's beautiful," she smiled shyly and took the seat that he turned around for her to sit in.
Dunny wobbled in with a folding chair and strangely, the four found themselves crowded around the chessboard, the pieces moved to the side to make room for the plate and two mugs. The old men filled the girl in on the history of Edward's bike and the paint job. How Edward had showed it in Chicago and Detroit last year.
It didn't go unnoticed by Edward that she had returned kindness for his harshness. Edward watched her interact with Dunny and Bob. She was soft spoken but asked questions to keep the men talking. He watched her placea piece of cake on a napkin; passit to Bob with a smile and a pat to his hand. He frowned at the two old men, smiling with crumbs on their beards, just soaking in the sunshine of this girl.
It was a goddamn tea party.
She turned to offer Edward a piece of banana bread. Taking a bite, while feeling all eyes on him, he tried to chew casually. It was moist, sweet and damn good. He stood to get something to drink.
"Where'd the bread come from? Bob, you're not taking up baking are 'ya?" Edward smiled as Dunny barked a laugh at Edward's barb.
"Nah, little Bella brought this with her," Bob said to Edward's back.
He came back with two bottles of water, passed one to the girl, and looked at her to explain.
"I … I made it for the trip before I left Phoenix," she said looking down at the bottle in her hand, "Thank you for the water" she jiggled the bottle in his direction.
"So where are you heading on this trip; you traveling alone?" Edward asked his voice rising at the thought.
He watched her look at the two older men for help as she paled at his questions.
Dunny spoke up first, "She's heading north." He gave the boy a sharp look, which Edward ignored.
"You're taking that deathtrapup north? You don't have snow tires. I bet you don't have chains. Dunny, what the hell," he glared at his friend.
How could the old man have cake and tea and then let her drive in ignorant bliss to her death? Visions of Volkswagen Rabbits buried in mounds of snow flashed in his mind and he stood up abruptly, bumping the table, sloshing the mugs.
"I'm gonna go pick up that display." He didn't look at the three who sat stunned as he made his way out the swinging door.
Edward picked up the wire frame, shaking his head.
What the hell was wrong with him? He lost his cool again. Maybe he should just get his truck and hit the road for Vegas.
"I'm sorry."
He looked up into brown eyes as he took thechips she held out to him.
"What the hell … what are you sorry for?" he asked as he busied himself stuffing yellow bags none too gently into the wire basket of the display rack.
"Here, let me do that," she chuckled softly as she took over. "I seemed to have upset you. I'm sorry I imposed on your visit with your friends.It's obvious you haven't seen each other for a long time. I'll be on my way so you can enjoy your time with them," she smiled wistfully, "They're so glad you're here."
He handed her the last of the chips and wiped his hands on his jeans.
"Look, I'm the one that's sorry," he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Don't leave on my account. I'll behave. I'm just … I just … ah fuck if I know." He let out a breath that brushed a lock of hair off his forehead and laughed miserably at his own expense.
He gave her a stiff smile and headed back to the store room.
"DUNNY!" Edward shouted as he burst through the swinging door.
"WHAT, YOU ASS!" Dunny wobbled over to him, "did you make her cry? I'll kick your ass if you made her cry, Boy."
Edward had never seen the old man so riled, not even when Bob was diagnosed.
"No, God no, well I don't think so," Edward amended as he rubbed his calloused hands over his face. "Look can we put my bike away and pull out the truck?"
"I'll play a round of chess with Bobby while you're out, Dunny," An old pair of shoulders relaxed and a young pair tensed as the feminine voice filled the room.
"That would be sweet, Bella," Bob said as he patted the seat next to him.
She rubbed her hand along his shoulders as she took her seat.
"Okay, teach me how to beat Dunny," she giggled as she watched Bob set up the board.
The two men left the room grabbing coats, keys and helmet as they headed out the back door.
Bob's voice saying "Sweet, Bella" echoed in Edward's mind as he snapped up his jacket.
Walking along the fence line toward the gate, Edward lit up. Blowing outhis first drag, he shoved his other hand in his jacket pocket, rolling his shoulders against the wind hitting his back.
"What's the deal with Sweets in there?" Edward asked trying to sound aloof. He cut his eyes over to Dunny as he took another drag.
Dunny worked the key in the lock before answering.
"She rolled in here about ten-thirty this morning. She filled up with gas and washed her windshield. By the time she came in to pay, her lips were blue and her teeth were chattering. I invited her back for a warm cup. She talked our ear off while she watched us play a game of chess and then offered to fix lunch since we had let her stay," he smiled to himself."Then she danced for us while she didthe dishes."
"What?" A dark room, pumping music and a pole flashed in Edward's head.
"She said she had taken ballet for a few months when she was little, but that it didn't take. She was showing us how bad a dancer she was," the old man shook his head, "Ithought she did pretty well. She's such a pretty, little thing," Dunny whispered at the last.
She was a pretty, little thing and Edward hated that he had missed the dancing, but he also had the notion she wouldn't have danced if he had been here.
"Did she tell you anything, Dunny? She's too young to be driving out here alone," Edward said as he ground out his cigarette butt with the toe of his boot.
"She said she finished high school in Florida," Dunny watched his young friend light up a second smoke, shaking his head that the boy was so tangled up. "I think she travels a lot," Dunny added as an after-thought.
"Did you look over her car? Is the engine sound?" Edward asked as he followed Dunny to the barn-like shed.
"No, she's been keeping us pretty occupied since she got here. You want to help me check it over before we go back in?" Dunny asked as he scratched his chin in thought.
"Yeah, you back this out and I'll pull the bike in. Then we'll give her hunk of junk a look." Edward threw over his shoulder as he headed back out the gate.
~o0o~
As Edward put the key in the ignition, he looked up to see the girl come outside without a coat, smiling as though she was sane.
"Where's your coat, Sweets?" Edward barked over the wind.
Bella hesitated in her walking before wrapping her arms around her torso and continuing on.
"I won't be out here long. I just wanted to see Bobby's paint job before you put it away," she said shyly as she ran her hand along the gas tank.
"Here," he said quietly as he took off his jacket leaving him in his Henley and a cableknit sweater. He slipped it around her shoulders. It was huge on her going well below her cute little butt. It still left her legs exposed. That summer dress wasn't doing her a bit of good.
He wished he had his leather duster; it would go to her ankles.
She gave him a small, "Thank you."
He groaned as she walked around his bike touching it, caressing it all while being wrapped up in his jacket.
What this girl did to him.
He had been on the back foot since he first laid eyes on her. She had the whole 'damsel in distress' thing going on, but it was more than that. She was good, genuinely sweet and giving to the two old men she'd just met. There were few people he valued more that those two, used-up old geezers. That she saw the value of them meant a great deal to him.
He continued to watch her walking slowly around only stopping to pull the jacket tighter and the collar up to her face when a gust of wind hit her. He watched her pull the collar to her nose again and close her eyes.
Was she sniffing him? Good Lord!
He shifted from side to side and looked back toward the shed seeing that Dunny had pulled out the truck.
"You want to ride with me back to the shed?" He asked.
She smiled and nodded hesitantly.
Here, put this on," he said, helping her with the heavy helmet; adjusting the chin strap.
This close, she really had to look up to see him, "Thank you, Edward."
He nodded but didn't look at her directly.
His bike had a deep, high back seat, great for long distance travel, but not so great for giving pretty girls a ride. He decided to push back a bit and have her sit between his legs. He held her hand as she cautiously straddled his bike, carefully tucking her skirt around her thighs. He pulled her back against his chest as he leaned forward to kick the stand and start the ignition.
God, she felt good.
He wanted to bury his face in her hair, hold onto her, run with her. He could be in the next state before Dunny or Bob knew what hit them. He chuckled to himself.
"Hold on Sweets, it's just a little ride," Edward called over her shoulder and was rewarded with her grabbing onto his jean-clad thighs.
Lord!
He revved the engine a bit more than necessary and gunned it, taking it toward the road. He smiled as he felt her hands tighten. He took her about a mile down the road before returning to Dunny's and pulling into the back lot.
He cut the engine and helped her not so gracefully dismount the bike. She took off the helmet as he dismounted, and after he had hung the helmet on the handlebars, he turned in time to find his arms full of feminine goodness.
"Thank you, that was so awesome! Oh, I want to go again. That was great!" She squeezed him again before letting him go.
He smiled down at her and pulled her closer by the collar of his jacket.
Her smile was brilliant in the sunshine.
Her happiness lit up the world.
"I would have given you a ride sooner if I'd known that was my reward," he said smiling back at her.
"Well …" she blushed, taking a step back.
"Hey, where'd you take Bella? You had Bob coming out to see what was going on," Dunny barked as he hobbled toward the couple.
" … You all right, Bella girl, did he scare you?" Dunny asked, looking her over as he talked.
"Aw, come on, you make me out to be an ax murderer. Don't scare the girl with your nonsense, you old goat," Edward barked back, feigning insult.
"I had a great time, Dunny, don't be mad at Moondoggie. He couldn't help showing off a little. Is Bobby okay? I want to tell him how beautiful his work is. It's art." She beamed between the two men.
"I worked on it too, you know," Dunny mumbled.
"Come on, let's take this inside. Sweets is turning blue," Edward nodded toward the shop.
As Dunny turned to hobble toward the back of the shop, Edward pulled her back against his chest. "You gonna be the Gidget to my Moondoggie, little girl?" he whispered in her ear.
He heard her gasp and laughed, enjoying being on top for once.
Taking her jacket covered hand he towed her back inside.
~o0o~
The three men waited until the swinging doors stood still before starting their discussion.
"It's too late in the day for her to head out now," Bob started.
"She can stay here tonight and get a fresh start in the morning," Dunny agreed.
"We need to check out that car before she goes anywhere." Edward huffed.
"If she stays the night, we'll do that first thing." Dunny nodded.
Bob tapped the table, "Shh, she's coming."
"Dunny, you only had three mugs. What's with that?" she laughed as she came into the room hold three steaming coffees and a Coke.
Her hands were shaking and red as she put them down. Edward wanted her to put his jacket back on since she was obviously still cold. He took his coffee and pushed it in front of her. She frowned at him and he nodded for her to take it.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and then tentatively wrapped her hands around the big warm cup. He relaxed and sat back.
Bob nodded at Dunny to start the conversation.
Dunny frowned then cleared his throat; "Ah, Bella dear, the day is getting on and we've enjoyed your company, but …" he stopped talking as her face fell.
"Oh … Oh, yes, of course, I … I've stayed way too long. I'm so sorry to have imposed on you." She stood and started looking around, for what the men had no clue. "I'm such a stupid fool, gah!" she whispered to herself as she tugged on the tips of her hair.
"Hey, sit back down," Edward said as he banged her chair on the floor.
She sat with a thud, dropping her hands into her lap and hanging her head.
"That is not what Dunny meant. He…We want you to stay the night. It'll be after dark by the time you get to the next town and we haven't checked your car to see if you'll even get to the next town." Edward tucked his head to see if she was hearing him.
Dunny tried again, "Please stay the night. Edward can bed down by the stove, here and you can have the twin in the spare room. Bob and I share twins in my room since he needs help getting up at night."
"She don't need to hear all the gory details, Dunny," Bob barked.
She peeked up at Edward.
"I want you to stay. I won't sleep a wink with you out on that lonely stretch of road at night," he said softly, only to her.
Looking away from him she said to the room, "I can sleep out here, there's no need to put Ed…"
"No" was shouted in unison.
"Okay, well then," she said thoughtfully, "to earn my keep I should make dinner. That's my final offer." She smiled shyly around the room.
The three men blew out a breath and sat back in their seats reclaiming their coffee. Bella slid her hand warmer toward Edward. He took a couple of sips and slid it back to her. She smiled sweetly as she wrapped her hands around it once again.