Highway Song: A Smokey's Roadhouse Novel (6 page)

With Amy protesting, we drove off in the direction of Cheyenne. About five miles down the road, Rooster turned onto what looked like a dirt track. After half an hour of traveling on it, we rounded a bend to see half a dozen houses scattered off the road.

A few more minutes brought us into the
‘
town
’
, a couple of buildings that appeared as old as the bar and its shack out back. The storefronts looked like they
’
d been lifted out of an old Western movie set. They all had signs on false fronts that stuck up ten feet or more above the roof line. Rooster pulled the car to the front of one that said
‘
Laundry
’
.

I got out quickly and was there to open the door for Amy, as well as to help her with the heavy duffel. There was no one else in the hot, damp room. It smelled like bleach. Amy pulled over a rolling cart-like contraption with a rack suspended between two tall poles and began to sort her whites from the colors. She noted my interest in the dainty undergarments and shoved me.

“
Go somewhere. I don
’
t need you here sniffing around my panties.
”

I grinned, and she realized what she
’
d said. I expected her to blush, but instead she bit her lower lip, which caused me to twitch in my jeans. She gave me a shove again, and I had no choice but to leave, before I took her on one of the folding tables.

When I went back outside, Rooster had left. Assuming he
’
d be back later, I wandered into the grocery store and bought some condoms. Might as well be prepared.

Back at the bar several hours later, I found the band in a panic.
“
Where the fuck have you been?
”
Ike demanded.

“
What difference does it make?
”
I asked.
“
The bus still isn
’
t here.
”

Cole, as usual the calmest one of the bunch, explained.
“
These asshats thought you
’
d thumbed a ride to get to Seattle on your own,
”
he said. Kirk gave him a push that had him teetering on one leg before he regained his balance.

“
I may still do that,
”
I said.
“
Or we could catch the Greyhound.
”

“
No, you couldn
’
t,
”
said Smokey, who had walked up behind us.
“
It doesn
’
t stop here. And besides, you need to settle your tab before you go anywhere.
”

“
Dude, we
’
re good for it,
”
said Ike. Even as he said it, his eyes slid around as if looking for a quick escape.

I thought we were kidding around, but a second look at Smokey made me doubt it, and a glance in Kirk
’
s direction really got me worried.
“
How much of a tab are we talking about?
”

Smokey looked at the guys one by one.
“
I
’
d have to add it up, but more than five hundred unless I miss my guess.
”

Adrenaline surged through my temples. More than five hundred! If that was true, we were short of cash to get the rest of the way to Seattle. With no other large towns between here and there besides Salt Lake City, where we
’
d burned our bridges two nights ago, there was little chance of picking up a gig to make it, even if we had time.

“
Let me talk to Mark. Can you take a credit card?
”

“
If I have to,
”
Smokey answered. He didn
’
t sound happy about it.

I found Mark in the bus, sound asleep, and kicked his feet. He came up with his fists cocked.
“
Oh, it
’
s you. What the fuck, Rex?
”

“
What the fuck? Let me ask you the same question. How the fuck did the guys run up a five hundred dollar bar bill in two days? How could you let that happen?
”

“
Shit, Rex, there wasn
’
t anything else to do. You
’
ve been drinking, too.
”
Mark
’
s eyes slid away from mine, and not for the first time I wondered if our financial affairs were safe in his hands.

“
Tell me we
’
ve got a credit card we can settle up with. Because if we don
’
t, we
’
ve got a whole fucking town full of a motorcycle gang that isn
’
t going to let us leave.
”
I was half a second from pounding Mark into the floor of the bus.

“
I
’
ll have to call for an increase in credit limit,
”
he answered. He quailed away from me, expecting the blow. My fists were curled, ready to give it to him, but the last thing I wanted was to deal with the credit card company myself.

Through my clenched teeth, I said,
“
Make it happen.
”
I pointed a stern finger at him. He nodded.

“
I
’
ll get right on it,
”
he promised.

I went back into the bar, where I was met with unhappy band mates.
“
He cut us off, man.
”

“
Serves you right. Get your asses out of here before I help him throw you out.
”
I wasn
’
t thinking about food at the moment, but it occurred to me a few minutes later that we had nowhere else to eat, either. As soon as I had the thought, my stomach growled. I
’
d had nothing since breakfast.

When Mark didn
’
t come in right away, I went up to the bar and motioned Smokey that I
’
d like to talk with him privately. Sometime during the last few minutes, Amy had come in, dressed in her regular work outfit. Her hair was done up in a messy bun, with one shining strand falling over her shoulder. I didn
’
t realize I was staring until Smokey cleared his throat.

“
What did you want? You got my money?
”
he demanded.

“
Look, Smokey, I
’
m working on it. I don
’
t blame you if you won
’
t serve us any more alcohol, but could we at least get something to eat? There
’
s nowhere else.
”
As I made my request, I couldn
’
t help letting my eyes stray from his to Amy.

“
What do you mean, you
’
re working on it?
”
he asked.

“
My manager is requesting a credit limit increase. It shouldn
’
t be a problem. They
’
ve worked with us before.
”

With a gruff tone that indicated he
’
d rather pluck his hairy body bald one hair at a time, he said,
“
All right. Grub only. No booze.
”

The guys wouldn
’
t be happy, but it was the best I could do. At least they
’
d eat. If they wanted to drink, they
’
d have to find some poor sap to cheat out of his money at poker and pay cash. Without going outside to give them the news, I walked in Amy
’
s direction.

“
Got a minute?
”

She looked around the bar as if to assure herself she had time, then nodded curtly. I ushered her out through the back door.

“
We
’
re probably leaving tomorrow.
”

“
I know,
”
she said.
“
Good luck in Seattle.
”

“
You could change our luck for the better.
”

She opened her mouth, I guess to answer. Before she could, I covered it with mine. Her body stiffened, but as I continued to kiss her, she relaxed, even allowing my tongue entrance between her lips. For a woman her age, she seemed a little shy about kissing, but passive. Her acceptance encouraged me. I cupped one leather-covered breast with my hand.

As my hand squeezed lightly, she sighed into my mouth, and I took full advantage, pushing her hips against the back wall of the building with mine.
“
You drive me crazy,
”
I murmured into her ear, letting my lips graze the sensitive flesh behind it. A shiver went through her as she responded to my words. My dick was hard against her stomach, unmistakable through her thin shorts.
“
Let me have you tonight.
”

She moaned and turned her head, giving me even more access to her neck. It was all I could do to lean over her, since it took my groin away from where the pressure against her met a sweet cushion. I kissed and nibbled down from her ear to her neck and around until my nose was buried in her tempting cleavage. The bustier was softer than it looked. I pushed it down where I
’
d warmed it with my hand on her breast, exposing a perfect nipple.

I took it between my lips, flicking at it with my tongue, to another deep moan on her part. Light from the back door pierced the gloaming, and Smokey
’
s voice floated out.
“
Amy? Where are you? Your customers are thirsty.
”
The back door slammed, but the mood was broken. She
’
d stiffened again, and pulled up the cup of her bustier.

“
Shit. Rex, I told you
…”

“
I know what you said. Your body said something else. I
’
ll see you after you get off tonight.
”

She shook her head, patted at her hair, and touched her lips.
“
No, Rex. I can
’
t do this. I
’
m sorry.
”

She sounded sorry, and I knew that meant all I had to do was ignore the no. She wanted me. I ran a hand up the leg of her short shorts and skimmed under her panties, coming up with a wet finger, which I put in my mouth and slowly sucked dry. Her eyes widened as I did it, and her lips parted. Oh, yeah. I
’
d have her tonight. No doubt about it.

The other guys were inside when I went back in about ten minutes after she fled. I
’
d taken the time to think about gross, gory stuff, long enough to make myself presentable and walk without discomfort. Axel
’
s sharp eyes went from me to Amy and back.

“
You weren
’
t gone long enough, unless you left the lady unsatisfied,
”
he remarked. As soon as he said it, the others took up the harassment.
“
Struck out again, did you?
”

“
Not for long.
”

Amy
 

D
amn, that was close. What was I thinking? Scratch that
—
I
wasn
’
t
thinking. Just because I used to sell it, didn
’
t mean I didn
’
t have urges. Every nerve ending in my body was standing at attention, wanting more of what he
’
d been doing. My brain was screaming
don
’
t be a fucking idiot
at the top of its lungs. Now I knew the meaning of being at war with myself.