601 Twilight Ln. by Kat Baxter
Chapter 1
AUSTIN
FROM: [email protected]
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: My sister and a favor
Oaktree!
Hey man, how the fuck are you? It’s been too long. The unit isn’t the same without you, but I understand why you didn’t re-enlist. Rogers is still a dick and Jackson is still playing that damn guitar every chance he gets.
I’d love to catch up, but the truth is, I need a favor. My baby sister has moved away from our parents’ home and is living in Cherry Falls. She got a job at our cousin’s tractor and feed store. Anyways, I’m just worried about her being in a new place. I know Cherry Falls isn’t anything like Syn City—where we grew up—but it would mean a lot if you’d check in on her now and again.
Hope the police force is treating you good. Write when you can.
Jacob
* * *
FROM: [email protected]
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: RE: My sister and a favor
Say no more and consider it done. You know I owe you my life so anything you need—ever—and I’ll do it.
Austin
* * *
The following afternoon, when my shift is done, I go to make good on my promise to my buddy. I get out of my patrol car and make my way to the doors of Rosie’s Tractor and Feed. It actually sits right behind my Mama’s diner, so I knew just what my army buddy was talking about.
Rosie’s is kind of a landmark in Cherry Falls. Even though “feed” is right there in the name, they sell everything from basic hardware, to high end light fixtures, to locally sourced pickled veggies.
There’s a yellow “Chicken X-ing” sign in the parking lot. Sure enough, as soon as I climb out of the cruiser, I see a gorgeous silver laced Wyandotte amble past like she owns the damn place.
I chuckle as I follow her to door, she periodically stops to peck at the ground as we go. God, it’s good to be home.
I greet a few people coming out of the store, people I’ve known my entire life, it seems like. The random feed crumbs scattered on the floor crunch beneath my soles.
The food store is a Quonset hut roughly the size and shape of a small airplane hangar, with wide open doors on either end that allow the free-range chickens and fresh breezes to pass through. All the feed and the heavier farm equipment are at the back of the building. The cash register is at the front, along with the housewares.
As soon as I enter, I start looking for Jacob’s younger sister. I’ve seen a few grainy pictures of her on his phone, but not much more.
Even though Jacob and I grew up not too far from each other, we didn’t meet until we went to basic training. We became good friends when we were put into the same unit. He talked about his younger sister quite a bit, but I’ve never met her.
Today, I’m just going to introduce myself and give her my card, let her know that if she ever needs anything she can call on me. It doesn’t feel like enough to pay a man back for saving my ass, but it’s the only thing he’s ever asked me for.
I see an employee and go up to him. He looks to be about seventeen judging by the gangliness of his arms and legs. I hit that stage when I was fourteen and then grew like a beast, as my mother likes to remind me. I’m a big guy. On more than one occasion I’ve been mistaken for a professional football player.
“Can you tell me if Selina Blackmore is working today?” I ask him.
His name tag says his name is Pez, which I find hard to believe, but whatever. Kids today, you know? He eyes me up and down and then gives me a shit-eating grin.
“She in trouble?”
I give the kid a squinty glare and his smile fades.
“Is she here?” I ask, ignoring his question.
He tosses a thumb over his shoulder. “In plumbing and irrigation.”
“Thank you.” I nod to the boy and walk in the direction he pointed.
I don’t know exactly what I’m expecting to find, what I’m expecting Jacob’s sister to look like, but the curvaceous bombshell wiggling her ass in the aisle lined with PVC and pipefittings isn’t it. She’s clearly listening to some music so I tap her on the shoulder, which makes her shriek and jump.
She spins around to face me and it’s like the entire world switches to slow motion.
Big brown eyes, heavily lined and accented with make-up widen. Her sharp brows arch and her impossibly full mouth opens. She pulls earbuds out and pockets them, then pops a hip out and sets her fists on her waist.
“What the ever loving hell, Boy Scout? You scared the crap out of me.”
My dick twitches in my uniform pants and this is so not the time, for so many reasons. Fuck.
I clear my throat. “Are you Selina?”
Those dark eyes of hers move down my body and I can feel her gaze like a lover’s touch, despite the fact that her gaze holds only cool disdain. Shit, it’s been too long since I’ve been with a woman. I really should have gotten laid as soon as I got back state side.
I move a few steps closer and see her name tag which confirms she’s Selina.
She’s short, at least a foot shorter than me and her dark brown hair is pulled up into two buns - kinda like Princess Leia only on top of her head instead of on the sides. There’s a few brown whisps that have come free and are framing her pretty face. Her full cheeks and round face make her look like she’s sweet as pie, but that mouth and those eyes tell another story.
This woman is all sass and vinegar—and fuck me—but it is working for me. Big time.
Despite that, I try to focus on my mission.
“I’m a friend of your brother’s, Jacob.”
“I know who my brother is,” she says, with an eye roll.
“We served in the Army together.”
“Good for you. Can I get back to work now or did you need something?”
I smile at her because I just can’t help myself. “He asked me to check in on you. I hear you’re new to town.”
Another eye roll. “Look, I grew up in Syn City. I know how to take care of myself.”
“Never suggested you didn’t. But I promised your brother I’d look in on you.”
“Well, you’ve done it now.” She makes a shooing motion with her hands. “Be gone with you.”
I toss back my head and laugh. “Sweet girl, you are just full of fire, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea.”
I pull my card out of one of my front pockets and hold it out to her. “If it’s all the same to you, I made a promise to your brother.” I shake the card a few times until she finally snatches it from my hand. “I’m Austin. Call any time if you need anything.”
“Not likely,” she snaps.
“I’ll be seeing you around, sweet girl.”
“Stop calling me that.”
I wink and then I turn and walk away.
