Roots and Wings (City Limits #1)(26)

“Hi, Vaughn,” I said, using the mic on my earbuds, not bothering to pull them out.

“Hi, you.” Was it weird that I liked that he wouldn’t call me Mutt? And that him calling me “you” was really kind of hot. It was weird, but I was weird and I liked it. A shitload.

“What’s up?” I asked, trying to be casual and praying he wasn’t calling to cancel.

“Not a lot. It’s been a busy week at the office and I haven’t seen you, even though I heard you drive by every night. So I thought I’d call and make sure we were still on for tomorrow.”

Relief. I was alone and my balled up hands shot up in the air like I’d just scored a touchdown.

“Yeah, I’m still good for tomorrow. I hope you made a list of names to go through.”

I hope you’ll finally kiss me.

“I have done nothing else but think of names to try.”

I laughed because he actually sounded a little desperate. Desperate for me? For my name? For a kiss? I was getting a little desperate myself.

I played with the lure I’d been working on and held it up to inspect. Things were looking up. Lots of things were looking up.

“Good for you. I hope you crack the code. You know, I suppose you could always ask Donnie.”

The line was silent.

“The gas station guy?”

“You know who I’m talking about.”

He chuckled, having been caught. “I’ve never asked him anything. In fact, I was a little nervous that the hints he was dropping were leading me to some sort of community hazing thing or something. It was strange.”

“Yeah, right.” Although, Donnie was strange as hell.

“I wouldn’t lie to you. I went in, and we talked a little bit. He suggested Newcastle. Then I asked him how to get to Johnston’s Chute, and he gave me directions to your place.”

I shook my head, all along picturing Donnie doing it.

“What a shithead. I knew you didn’t know where my cabin was.” I laughed despite myself. It totally sounded like something that old fart would do. He was always telling me I needed a man, but I thought he was just teasing me since I never had one.

“He might have a thing for you. If you want to see what he’s doing tomorrow I think you’ve got a good shot.”

“Nope, I’ve got plans.” I sat up a little straighter, proud.

“Plans, huh? Anyone I know?”

“Just some guy. I’m not sure it’s a date, but I do have plans.”

His voice grew lower and the sound of it gave me goose bumps on my arms. “O’Fallon, it’s definitely a date.”

I smiled to myself.

“So tell me what we’re doing.”

“Well, I have a few things in mind. I thought I’d pick you up and maybe make you dinner, and then I was going to see if you could show me around town a little. I can get from work to the store, but I’d like to see the back roads. You know, get the scenic Wynne tour.”

I loved the sound of that.

Often I’d drive around for hours by myself. I could get lost for hours on end on those old roads, but they always led me home. I had to admit, it sounded so much better having someone with me.

“That sounds great, but you don’t have to pick me up. We can take my truck.”

Then I felt a tap on my shoulder and it startled me. I spun around to see Vaughn, in a black V-neck T-shirt and jeans, standing right there.

In my shed.

At my workbench.

I swallowed the holler that almost flew out of my mouth and pulled the earbuds out of my head.

“You scared the shit out of me.” I quickly tucked my hair behind my ear and cringed thinking about what I looked like. Was he ever going to catch me on a good day? Did I have good days?

“Sorry about that. Well, kind of. You looked happy it was me on the phone.” His wicked grin earned him forgiveness, but I didn’t want him to know I’d been swayed so easily in his favor.

“I was. But you should be sorry—if I had screamed bloody murder, my dad probably would have shot you and asked questions later.”

His eyes grew wide when the realization hit him.

“I didn’t think about that.” He turned around and looked toward the house, then back, satisfied we were alone.

“I’m surprised he didn’t come out when you pulled in anyway. He must have fallen asleep in the chair.”

“So back to tomorrow. I’d like to pick you up. Dean called and said my SUV will finally be ready tomorrow. I’ll take you home whenever you want, but I want to drive.”

I didn’t see what the big deal was. I knew the roads, and, if given the choice, I’d rather be the driver. He might be a maniac, but, then again, his eyes were so trusting. Big, blue, and honest.

“I don’t know,” I answered hesitantly. “I know the roads; you don’t.”

“I’ll have to learn sometime—besides, who better to be my first road trip co-pilot?”

He had a point. His co-pilot had a ring to it. Plus, I knew the roads like the back of my hand.

“Does your fancy ride have an input jack for music? I love the radio and Sunny does a great job, but I can’t listen to that station all night.”

“It does. And I have lots of CDs.”