Page 4 (2/2)
Helpaway in Sweeney He’s been all over the country, California, Florida, Chicago and then he went home but fro other than to get a six pack”
I’ situation, I told Taylor we needed to fill the gap when Dean left, but it had gone in one ear and out the other I force back the thought of re Taylor of that It wouldn’t help the situation we’re in now Sam sounds perfect for the job and I can understand and sympathize with his desire to curl up into a safe place I also know it’s the worst thing he could do Okay, so I’ men, but that’s men, not life Taylor takes h
“Fine, let’s make a deal here There are only five months more left on the note on the house I told you before, the rent you’ve been paying for the last year and a half has paid the et Saet the house I’ll sign it over to you free and clear”
“Are you serious?”
“You should know me by now I don’t say what I don’t uys fro there but when the five months are up you can kick everyone out and it’s yours Talent like this company demands means I can’t hire just any ex-soldier off the street I need the best and Sam’s one of the best”
Sing hard, I nod “I’ll do it”
“Good, you can drop me off at the office and you’ll drive my truck down there I know you’re in love with your car but I don’t trust it to get you there and back”
“Now, right now?”
“Yes, now You bring hiht and I’ll be over to see him and pick up the truck tomorrow, if he won’t come into ith you”
“Over to see him?”
“Well, of course he’ll need a place to stay and he’ll stay at the house like other new recruits in from out of town Then once he settles in he’ll find his own place, I’m sure”
I follow Taylor out of the restaurant and refuse to listen to the little niggles of concern about Sa deal, in the last year there had been nine or tendeal Then again, Christine mentioned Taylor had made it clear I was spoken for before thesomeone to stay in the house who has already taken an interest in me from my picture
Dropping off Taylor back at the office, he as He keys in the address for Saation system on the dashboard and my phone, just in case, and I’m on my way
Taking 71 east toward Houston, I push down h I shouldn’t be freaked out Sam took notice ofor beautiful but I’ve heard the word pretty often enough I appreciate it but don’t let it go to uys trying to hit on me always mention first They talk aboutabout At five three I’uy’s attention As other thanthat re brown eyes and brown hair and a light olive complexion that tells me that my father was probably Hispanic I can’t say for sure, I have no idea who my father is I have only one picture oflike her
So what if Saet over it pretty quickly While I a Taylor wanted and so deal and easier than people made it out to be All that was required was to let the other person do the talking ell placed questions and a nod or two of encourage the questions and the focus on the other person It was easy and that’s how I like it, with attention on the other person, that’s how I felt safest
The real , I would be considered boring I actually take pride in being boring I don’t watchthe day away Due to work, I keep up on world news and can discuss foreign current events easily and with confidence but that was satisfied easily by hitting neebsites for a few minutes every day That’s the extent ofNo social websites or anything like that, unlike eneration, I have no desire to put my private life on blast
I’m a loner and I’m content with that My one best friend is Christine and through Christine, Taylor and I have a stronger friendship than just boss and e with ossip in the hallways and haven’t been to a happy hour in years and have no desire to attend one in the near future Just before Christine married Taylor, she had warned me that all I needed was a couple of cats to complete the lonely spinster look While ht it would be when I left Chicago The drea with each mistake and year that passed, it didn’t bothera little, I am only twenty nine, but they were true and I have no plans to change who I aht about it, the ic to cats
Chapter Two
A little over three hours later and I a dusty drive almost twenty miles outside of Sweeney It feels like the middle of nowhere and the place looks deserted There isn’t a car or truck in front of th
e house and although there are several large low structures that look like a barn on steroids there is a thick layer of dirt and dust on everything Even the house looks tired and dirty Once, long ago, it had been white but now it’s athe navigation syste the door, the heat and hurie and coers for central air
Thankfully, h the heat isn’t unbearable, even though it hadn’t been this bad in Austin A black skirt grazes oes with my button down blouse in a pale pink Taylor likesa suit or heels Which was good for both of us because I needed flats in order to keep up with Taylor’s long legs that ate up the ground Even though I’h to master heels I prefer the comfort of flats, or if I absolutely have to, a stacked heel of no more than two inches
Not long after I started the drive I had pulled my hair out of the bun I’d worn to work Now it flows freely and I wonder if I should put it up to look more professional My hair is , a few inches past my shoulders I freely spend the extra money for the nice shampoos, conditioners and hair cuts When women compliment me, it’s my hair they mention, and I’ve received several coh it’s hot, I leave the covered elastic around ets really hard to convince Sairly moves I have down pat
Taking the small three set of stairs up the wide porch, I’m surprised by the lack of movement from inside the home to find out as here Taylor’s truck is new but it has a powerful engine that idles loudly even as it purrs when it accelerates I knock twice and wait but there’s no answer Maybe no truck or carexcept to get a six pack cohly doubt I’veout a welcome mat Taylor had just been here yesterday and if you knew Taylor, you would know he didn’t take no lightly
Biting the inside of nored and I eye the bright white truck with longing but remember what’s at stake A home, all my own, no one could take it away fro to try, there’s no surprise when the doorknob turns and the door moves easily when I push inside This is Texas in the middle of no where, the town probably took pride in not locking its doors
Pushing open the door I take in a sly clean, foyer The front roo roohtest layer of dust The door across fro room is an office, maybe a better word is was It’s been trashed, violently Closing ainst the violence, I breathe deep The room tells me that Sam needs this job as badly as we need hi leather couch He’s asleep on his back and I have nored knocks This room is his cave, the s are closed, there’s delivery fro brands are littered everywhere