The Boys Down South by Abbi Glines

26

bray

It was a moment of weakness. Lying my head back on the seat, I waited in my truck for Scarlet to leave her job at the restaurant. Dallas had written this address on the back of a receipt then taped it to my bedroom door three days ago. I had taken it and fisted it in my hand. Considered tossing it but knew I wouldn’t. Instead, I placed it in my bedside table drawer. Damned if that thing didn’t taunt me every damn day.

Now, here I was. Giving in. Waiting on her. The familiar white Camaro that I had parked beside was in the back of the building. When I’d driven up, the lights were off inside. But her car was here, so I waited. I didn’t expect her to be happy to see me. Considering she wouldn’t answer my text or calls, my showing up wasn’t going to thrill her.

Fuck if I cared. She was going to talk to me. This ignoring me shit wasn’t working for me. I missed her, dammit. When I wasn’t keeping busy, I was thinking about her. She was always there in my head. Sometimes, I swear I could smell her scent.

The back door opened and under the outside lighting, I could see her face. She was smiling. Laughing even. Confused, I sat up straighter and tried to figure out what she was so happy about when I saw him. A guy. Behind her. Walking out smiling like he was pleased with himself.

Who the fuck was he?

Jerking my truck door open, I stepped out and the sound caught their attention. Scarlet’s eyes locked with mine as I closed the door a little too firmly. Crossing my arms over my chest, I leaned against the closed door and held her gaze. She was beautiful, even tired and dirty from waiting tables all day.

“Scarlet, you know him?” the guys asked cautiously.

She nodded then took one step in my direction.

“What are you doing?” she asked me.

“You ignored my text and calls,” was my simple reply. Not I missed you like fucking crazy and had to see you.

“So you came here?” she asked, sounding confused.

I gave her a nod. The guy was still there, standing behind her like he might need to protect her. Dick. He needed to fucking leave.

“I left, Bray.” Her statement would have made me smile if I wasn’t so damn tense from the guy standing too close to her. Almost touching her.

“Yeah, I was there. Saw you drive off,” I reminded her.

She shrugged this time, as if I should have just let her go and been done with it.

“I miss you, Scarlet.” There I said it.

She dropped her head in her hands. The guy then put his hands on her shoulders and that was it. No more. Shoving off the truck with my arm, I took several long strides until I was in front of her.

I didn’t want to acknowledge his existence, but his hands needed to move off her right the fuck now. Reaching out, I took one of her hands and pulled it gently from her face. She lifted her gaze to me, wide with surprise that I was so close now.

“Baby, he needs to take his hands off you,” I said in a soft firm voice. This was not the time to fucking lose my temper. But addressing him would likely make me do so.

She frowned as if she wasn’t sure what I meant. Did she not even realize his hands were on her? It finally dawned on her and she turned to look back at him. “I’m okay, Diesel. Thanks.” Then she stepped away from him so that his hands stopped touching her.

Diesel? What the fuck kinda name was that?

“Bray, this is Diesel. We work together. Diesel, this is Bray, my… we were… he’s… a friend.” She stammered over her words like she didn’t know what to say. How to explain me.

“So you’re good?” he asked, needing reassurance.

She nodded. “Yes. I’m fine.”

He didn’t want to leave. His eyes were on me, trying to determine what kind of fucking friend I was. But if he didn’t walk away, I was going to step in and make him. Letting her handle it was hard. If I wanted a chance of getting her alone, I knew I had to let her do this. Or she’d leave us both standing out here in the dark.

I barely glanced his way. Scarlet was one wrong move from running off. Keeping my eyes on her and pleading with her silently to talk to me was all I could do.

She studied me a few moments then took a deep breath. “We can take your truck,” she said to me finally.

I wanted to fucking sigh in relief, but I didn’t. “Good,” I replied and held out my hand for her to take. She looked down at it then slipped her hand into mine. Wrapping my fingers around her dainty hand felt good.

She moved to stand beside me then started walking toward my truck. Although she smelled like fried country food and bleach, I still wanted to inhale her deeply. Get as much of her soaked in as I could. She didn’t look back at Mr. Gasoline. That made the fact he was making her laugh when I got there easier.

“Scarlet,” he called out. “Do you want me to bring you your car?”

She then turned her head to look back at him. “No, thank you,” she replied. “I’ll get it later.”

“We got it. I’ll make sure she has what she needs,” I added with a smirk. Then I reached around her, pressing my body against hers as I opened the passenger side door for her to climb up inside.

Placing my hand on her hips, I helped her. When she was in the seat, she glared back at me. “I didn’t need a boost.”

“No? Well, I needed to put my hands on you,” I said then winked before closing her door and walking around the front of the truck. Cutting my eyes toward the guy with the stupid name, I saw he was still there watching us. Fucking annoying.

“Are you who she ran from? Why she works herself to death?” he asked loudly.

I paused. Turned to face him and held his bold glare with one of my own. “If it was a story she wanted you to know, she would have told you.”

His shoulders were thrown back to stand taller. “Don’t fuck with her. She’s been happier lately.”

I didn’t like that comment nor did I like being told what to do. I took one step toward him as I felt the darkness slowly start burning as it coursed through me. His expression went from being a tough guy to backing up a step.

“I know how to make her happy. Don’t need advice on that one.” Before I could say more, Scarlet was in front of me. Her hands on my chest, drawing my attention off the fucker out there and down to her.

“Don’t. Just get in the truck. Please.” She looked scared. Of me or what she thought I was going to do, I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to be the reason her happiness turned to fear.

I nodded and cupped her face with my hands then kissed her. She tensed for only a moment. Then her body leaned into mine and her lips opened for me. I tasted and explored while she pressed against me. This may prevent us from getting very far from the parking lot. I’d needed to mark my territory in front of the dipshit. I’d not thought about my hunger for her taking over and not being able to stop this if I started it.

When he cleared his throat, Scarlet abruptly stepped back, her quick breaths causing her chest to rise and fall rapidly as she gazed up at me. “We should leave.” She panted.

I grinned. “Yeah, we should.”

Her cheeks flushed and she hurried back to the truck and climbed in. I shot Diesel one last amused grin then climbed in the truck myself. Let him remember that shit. She was mine. She’d shown him that pretty damn clearly.

“Stop looking so smug,” Scarlet said as I pulled out of the parking lot.

I couldn’t stop grinning. “Not smug, baby.”

She let out a sharp laugh. “Yes, you are. I climbed all over you out there.”

Reaching over, I placed a hand on her thigh. “Don’t remind me or we won’t make it to your place.”

Scarlet sighed and her head rested on the car seat. “Why are you here?” she asked yet again.

“Because I fucking miss you. Not just the sex. I miss your smile. Your laugh. I miss being near you. I miss you, Scar.”

She was silent a moment then she eased over to sit close beside me. “Oh,” was her whispered response. Then her head rested on my shoulder.

We rode in silence a few moments before I said, “Country cooking smells good on you.”

Her laughter was warm and bright. I didn’t feel the darkness.