Crossing Lines by Adrienne Giordano

10

When the telltaleclang of a railroad crossing sounded, Shane peered over the top of Faith’s head to where red lights lit up the darkness. He checked his watch. Over nine miles since leaving the restaurant.

Dang. The last five miles of Faith snuggled in front of him, their bodies molded together under stars might be the closest thing he’d had to actual fun in a long time. Too bad her backpack sat between them, but still, he liked the closeness.

After this, no matter what happened, he needed to get a life. Change his fucked-up existence and lack of emotional connections. He wasn’t sure how to do it while staying safe, but it needed to happen.

He’d learned not to think too far ahead. Why risk disappointment? For now, he’d concentrate on getting off this train and finding a rental car to get them the last 180ish miles to Montgomery. Who the hell knew if the rental car place would even be open? Even if it was, it'd be late by the time they got to Leslie Larshot’s and Shane was already dog-tired. After rolling from that moving car, his body was bulldozed and in need of rest.

The immediate plan, if Faith agreed, would be 1.) rental car and finishing the drive and 2.) finding a hotel so Operation Leslie could roll first thing in the morning.

He dipped his head, putting his mouth just next to Faith’s ear. “I think this is Edingville.”

She nodded. “The train is slowing down. We should jump.”

“Let's do it before we get to the crossing.” He glanced down at the ground. “The grass'll cushion us when we hit the ground. Don't lock your knees.”

Jesus, another roll from a moving vehicle. They’d be lucky to get through this day without broken bones.

They neared the crossing and by the mercy of whatever god paying attention, the train slowed to a crawl. He’d never considered himself a lucky guy until now.

Faith angled around and peered up at him. Even in the darkness he saw her smile. “Can you believe it? We can step right off. The universe is definitely on our side.”

“As my mother likes to say, from your lips to God’s ears. Let's do this.”

Shane held on to the rear rail with both hands, then hopped off, sticking the landing. Easy. He walked beside the train, waving Faith to jump. “Hop off. I’ve got you.”

He held his arms out and she stepped off, landing in front of him so he set his hands on her arms, steadying her.

She turned and faced him, tipping her head up and hitting him with another smile that blew his chest open. Just — wham. When she looked at him like that, everything got lighter. And he hadn’t had much of that recently.

Leaving his good sense on the train moving past them, he dipped his head, half hoping she’d back away and remind him this whole situation was fucked and they shouldn’t mix pleasure into the mess. But she was here, smiling that smile and making him feel like a man should feel. Making him want things a man should want.

Not only did she not step back, she went up on tiptoes helping his cause. Their lips met and his body did that crazy blown-open thing again. Then her hands slid up his chest and — oh, yeah — this was what he wanted. Heat and action and fun. All good here.

She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, dragging herself flush against him and deepening the kiss. Her tongue played hide-and-seek with his and he met her stroke for stroke. He set his hands on her ass and scooped her up, holding on as she tucked her legs around his waist.

A horn blared. The train clearing out. Damn. Once it was gone, they’d have to get their asses moving or draw attention from anyone waiting at the crossing. She leaned back an inch. “We should stop.”

“Yep.”

Except, she kissed him again. “I don’t want to.”

He laughed. “Honey, me neither.”

“To be continued? In private?”

Shit on a shingle. He’d be crazy to agree to that. And yet . . . “You know it.”

She dragged her legs from around him and he set her on the ground knowing full well the two of them had lost their fucking minds. Getting emotionally involved while running from an assassin wasn’t exactly the best operational plan.

“Stop thinking, Shane. This isn’t good. We both know it. No sense in obsessing over it.” She dragged her phone from her back pocket and put her thumbs to work. “The car rental place is three blocks down on the left.”

While waiting for the train to clear, they made quick work of straightening hair and shirts as best they could after leaping from a car. Hopefully, in the dark, the dirt smudges on their clothing wouldn’t be as noticeable.

As soon as the clanging stopped and the gates rose, they crossed over the tracks, walking along a typical small town Main Street. Barbershop, beauty salon and hardware store on one side. All closed. Across the street, a few cars were parked in front of the corner bar. A shot-and-a-beer joint with a red neon Open sign. Otherwise, the only lights were streetlamps.

He'd anticipated this, but his mood still plummeted. “Guessing the rental place is closed?”

She kept her gaze straight ahead. “Based on the lack of activity, I'd say you’re correct.”

In which case they were basically screwed because their ride had literally just left the station.

“Shit.”

She stopped walking and faced him, her face lit by the overhead light. In case she got any ideas about touching him, he crossed his arms. Totally closed posture.

“Let’s go into the bar,” he said. “If we can't get wheels, we’ll go to plan B and find a place to crash. Small town like this? There’s probably a B and B in need of guests.”

“That's all we can do. Hopefully, we won't have to use plan B.”

Shane wasn't counting on that.

Before heading into the bar,Faith went back to her phone. “Hold on. We need a cover.”

She tapped on the map she'd used to find the car rental and zoomed out. The closest interstate was fifteen miles. Too far. She checked the north-south routes for possibilities.

They’d be a couple passing through. Visiting from . . . Where? Someplace north, but not Chicago.

St. Louis.

Yes. That’d work.

They’d be heading to Montgomery to visit friends for a few days. Not a total lie and with the size of Montgomery, folks wouldn’t ask too many questions.

She held the phone up for Shane. “Route 84 is a few miles up. We're from St. Louis on our way to visit friends in Montgomery. Our car broke down.”

“Where on 84?” He snatched the phone and tightened the zoom. “Mangler. 84 and Mangler. The tow truck driver gave us a lift to town so we could rent a car.”

“Perfect.” She plucked the phone back and tucked it into her pocket. “Let's go.”

Holding the door open for her — such a gentleman — Shane waved her inside where four tables sat along the far wall, one of them occupied by two guys — maybe mid-twenties. They gave her a once-over, spotted the enormous guy behind her and went back to their conversation.

The oiled oak bar and a row of stools stretched along the adjacent wall where the bartender spoke with a couple sitting at the end. He stood tall, eyeing them as they approached the empty stools four down from the couple.

“I'm Ray.” He slapped coasters on the bar. “What can I get you?”

Shane pulled a stool for Faith and she hopped on.

“I’ll take whatever you have on tap,” Shane said.

“I got Coors or a craft beer from a local place. It's pretty good.”

“The local one.” He turned to Faith. “Honey?”

Honey?

Clearly, he wanted to avoid using names. The less they said, the better. But there was something sort of amazing about him calling her honey. Particularly after that scorcher of a kiss they’d just shared.

“Club soda with lime,” she told Ray. “Thanks.”

Never a big drinker, this definitely wasn't the time to put alcohol in her system. Between fatigue and anxiety, God knew the chaos alcohol might create.

Ray set about pouring Shane's beer and flicked a glance their way. “You folks passing through?”

“Yeah,” Shane said. “Car broke down on 84. Tow truck driver gave us a lift so we could rent a car.” He jerked a thumb toward the door. “Rental place is closed, but I guess you know that.”

Ray gently placed the beer on the coaster, managing not to lose a bit of the foam over the rim. “They close at five sharp. Open to seven on Friday. My brother-in-law owns it.”

“Does he live nearby?” Faith asked, a renewed hope sparking inside.

“ʼBout a mile. Knowing that miserable son of a bitch, he's half into his six-pack already. But that's a whole different story. You want me to call him?”

Oh, small towns. A girl had to love them. “That would sure help. We were hoping to get to our friend’s house tonight.”

Ray reached for a cordless phone next to the cash register. The country song streaming through the speakers slid into another and Faith tapped her foot to the fun beat. Something about a honky-tonk woman.

Shane eased toward her, nuzzling her ear and playing his role to perfection.

“We might get lucky here,” he whispered.

Big boy, you have no idea.Playing along, Faith cupped his cheek. “That would be nice.”

Ray turned back to them. “Good news. He's only half drunk. He'll be here in twenty minutes. “