Salem Charm: Book 3 of Colson Brothers Series (2 page)

“I will not.” I informed him as I tried to unfasten the seatbelt.

He took my hands and produced handcuffs from somewhere behind him and slapped them over both of my wrists. “You won’t get far in those heels and your hands bound, so don’t try it.” He ducked back out and shut the door hard in my face. How rude!! I don’t care how crystal bright blue those eyes are. I’ve never seen eyes so blue. Stop thinking about his eyes Barbara. Did he call me Barbie a few minutes ago.

My blood boiled hotter as I watched him exchange a few words with Myles before he came around to get in the driver’s seat. He barely glanced at me before throwing the car in gear and sending gravel flying everywhere.

“Would you kindly slow down? The drive was just raked two weeks ago.”

“No.” He replied and turned up the radio.

“I’m talking to you, please turn that down.” I fished around for a bobby pin that’s holding my hair in a french twist.

“There’s nothing to talk about.” He informed me dryly.

“I believe there is. What is going on with my father?” I found the pin I wanted and pulled it free. My hair stayed up nicely, good. I have a new hair spray my girlfriend recommended. At the time I wasn’t sure it would hold as well as my old one, which has recently been discontinued much to my dismay.

He sighed, “All I know is he’s in trouble, which means you’re in trouble. Now he’s paying me a shit load of money to get you as far away from his mess as possible. Whatever else I may know, or not know, is of none of your concern. Just sit there and be quiet, it’s going to be a long fucking drive across country.”

“Watch your language Mr. Colson, you are in the presence of a lady.” I scolded him as the first lock popped releasing my left cuff.

He looked down at the sound, “What the… did you just use a hairpin to unlock that?” His surprise is my own little victory.

“Yes, it’s not rocket science, it’s a simple lock.” I started work on the other one, but it’s a little more difficult left-handed. Myles taught me this trick when I was ten and home sick with a cold bug. I was bored and cranky. I guess he thought it was better than watching the idiot box. I agree, especially today.

“I have cable ties, so watch it.” He warned me.

“I have no intention of being bound again. I need my purse, go back.”

“No. No purse, no going back. We’re going east first to throw off anyone who might have been watching that ridiculously large plantation, then we’ll double back west. My brother will pick us up for a bit, after he see’s us to Phoenix I’ll get my bike and we’ll go where I know I can keep you safe. Aside from that, there is no other information I can give you.” He looked over at me. His eyes went down, then back up.

“Do not look at me like a piece of meat Mr. Colson.”

“I’m wondering how you can move in that stiff ass suit.” He shook his head when he put his eyes back on the road.

“I move just fine.” I assured him as I pulled on the hem of my skirt down as far as I could towards my knees. The wiggle and shift in my seat was un-lady like to say the least. I hope this nonsense is over with soon. I have work to do! Boring work, but it still needs to be done. I need to call and make sure everyone knows what’s going on. Myles will fill them in I’m sure.

“I bet you do.” He replied enjoying his joke.

“Pardon me?” My mind had wandered so I was no longer sure what he was talking about.

“Nothing. Are we done talking yet?” He’s annoyed again. So much for his sense of humor.

“Yes. I am quite through conversing with you.”

“Good.” He reached for the knob again and turned it to a country music station. Not a very good one, but country is more civilized than most, so it will do.

For about the next three hours we took back roads east towards the ocean. I don’t get out very often to explore my home state of North Carolina, so I’m trying to distract myself by enjoying the scenery. So far I’ve seen rundown house after another, and one large pine tree after another. Not enough stimulation to keep me from obsessing in my head about what kind of mess my father has gotten himself into.

Myles had refused to tell me anything other than I was in danger and to go with Lou. I wish I’d grabbed my purse. At least then I could call my father.

When I saw the sign for Oriental in five miles I reached up to turn the radio down. “Are we going to this Oriental?” I asked because there doesn’t seem to be anything but water coming our way on the GPS.

“Yes. I have contacts there. You need to change your look.” He glanced over and gave me that up and down thing again.

“Stop looking at me like that. And pray tell, what is wrong with my attire?” I crossed my arms in a huff.

“Your
attire,
Miss Whitmore, screams rich spoiled southern belle, which is exactly what they’ll be looking for. We’ll stay here for a night, then we’ll double back west to meet my brother Turner and his old lady tomorrow afternoon.”

“With whom are we meeting?”

“Turner, one of my brothers. He has a tight RV he and my other brother Joe have been working on for years. I’ve heard Joe talk about it, and Turner finally came out of hiding to get married, so I’m calling in a favor. For the money your father is paying the club I can spare a few bucks to do this right. If anyone gets past Turner it’ll be a first.” He assured me.

“I don’t have money for new clothing.”

He reached into his inside jacket pocket and tossed an envelope in my lap. “I’m sure you can find something with this. Keep it simple. Jeans, t-shirt, tennis shoes. And take your hair out of that ridiculously stiff knot. Put it in a ponytail if you must, but that hairdo screams tight rich bitch.”

“Mr. Colson! I will remind you to watch your language.” I opened the envelope. There’s about fifty grand in here. Good. Maybe I can buy my way out of this rude man’s rude care.

He snatched the envelope back. “I’ll be keeping that after all.”

“That’s my father’s money, in effect,
my
money. Give it back.” I held my hand out palm up.

“No ma’am. I saw that look on your face. Keep it up and I’ll put you in the trunk.” He threatened.

“You will do no such thing.”

“Watch me.” He slowed as we came into town. “This is a small town. Everybody knows everybody, and everybody knows me. If you try to run it’s going to not only embarrass you, but will most likely piss me off. Pissing off the man being paid so much money to protect you is not smart Miss Whitmore. Try to remember that.”

I pouted hating that I’m in this situation, and in this car with this biker. He’s crude, rude, and I hate his voice. He’s so condescending.

Lou took a left just before a bridge threatened to take up to what is no doubt a swamp of an island. A long block later he took a right and parked in front of a very rundown antique store. He got out and came around to open my door. “Let’s go Miss Whitmore. Nobody will look twice at you in secondhand clothes.”

“What exactly do you expect me to find in there?” I asked stepping out of the car because I want to stretch, not appease him.

He shut the door behind me, grabbed my arm and got in my face. His light blue eyes are
not
happy as they dance over mine. “You’re going to wear exactly what I tell you. I’m being paid to keep you safe, not happy. You’d be well served to remember that. The trunk is always an option.”

“You have horrid breath, and you need to learn what a razor is used for.” I replied.

His eyebrows came together in the middle a little, “I haven’t had a shower in two days because I’ve been hauling ass across the country to save your pretty little ass, and I have no intention of shaving.” He stood upright to his full height, which is quite a bit more than I originally thought.

“I suggest you buy a toothbrush while we’re in here.” I instructed. Did he just say I was pretty? When was the last time someone said anything nice about me? Certainly never
to
me.

“I have a toothbrush Miss Whitmore, just not the opportunity to use it recently.” He held the door for me and shoved me inside with his meathook of a hand gripping my arm.

I looked around and had to put my hand over my nose and mouth. This place reeks of mold and dust.

“Aww, is the little southern belle appalled?” He teased pulling me towards the back. “You have exactly fifteen minutes to pick out a few days worth of clothes. We need to hurry up and get food and sleep if we’re going to meet Turner and his new bitch on time tomorrow.”

“Language Mr. Colson. Women are not ‘bitches’.” I schooled him.

“They are to me, especially the one talking back to me right now.” He snapped at me.

“Excuse me Mr. Colson! You will not speak to me in such a manner!”

He leaned down into my ear, “I will speak to you any way I please. Now get dressed before I do it for you.”

I smacked him hard across the face before quickly retreating to the other side of the clothing rack.

He looked at me and smiled as he ran his hand over his whisker clad jaw, “Foreplay will get you everywhere Miss Whitmore.”

“That, was
not
foreplay.” I assured him.

“You wouldn’t know foreplay if it hit
you
in the face.” He argued.

“Oh!! You are an insufferable, rude, smelly, beast of a man.”

“Why thank you. That’s the nicest thing you’ve said all day.” He teased and stood back folding his arms to watch as I sifted through the clothes.

I wound up finding an ill fitting pair of jeans, boots that were surprisingly comfortable, and a few shirts that would do. I also found a well worn leather jacket in a dark camel color I that is right nice.

We paid for our purchases after I changed clothes in the back room, then he took me to some hole in the wall restaurant next door. It’s really more of a bar than a restaurant. The food was greasy and the music way too loud, yet somehow it was comfortable.

After supper he drove us to what I thought would be an appropriate hotel overlooking the water from across the street. I found myself looking forward to the view from my room as he parked, and some privacy. Surely he’s planning on getting two rooms.

Wrong. He not only ordered one room, he then proceeded to specifically request one bed. I tried to protest, but he clamped his hand over my mouth. The lady handed him the key with a smile. She must be one of his many contacts in this odd little town.

Once inside the room he all but pushed me into the bathroom. “I’ve had about enough of you. Use the restroom if you need it, then I’m going to take a shower and get some sleep.”

I slammed the door in his face and turned to look in the mirror. “Oh good Lord.” I look like I’ve been wind-blown. My hair is a fright, these clothes are just plain filthy under all this light. Oh how I could use a long hot bath and a SoCo on the rocks.

I took my time freshening up before finding him standing just outside the door. “It’s all yours.”

“I’m going to take a shower. Don’t go anywhere or you’ll sleep in the trunk.”

“May I use your phone to call Myles?”

“No.” He picked it up off the dresser and pointed at me, “Are you going to behave?”

“Tell me why I can’t call my bodyguard.”

“Because he doesn’t know where you are, and that’s how it’s going to stay until I say otherwise.”

“How do I know I can trust you?”

“Are you still alive?”

“Obviously Mr. Colson.”

“Then you can trust me. Lay down and get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a long day.” He disappeared into the bathroom, then stuck his head back out to add, “Don’t use the land line either. I have my reasons for not giving up our location just yet.”

“Go take your shower Mr. Colson, we can discuss this when you no longer smell like a pig.”

He shut the door firmly before letting loose a string of cuss words pertaining to me that I’m sure I’ve never heard in such fluid force. The devil on my shoulder giggled.

Lou finished his shower a little while later so I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I can hear him moving about. The fresh scent of lemon and soap tickling my nose now was oddly soothing.

“You can open your eyes now Barbie.” He informed me finally.

I did and immediately closed them again. “Please put on your pants.”

“I’m don’t wear my jeans to bed, unless I have to, and here in a hotel room, I don’t have to.” He crawled onto the bed and brought his long arm around my middle to pull me against him so my back is to his chest. “Get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a long day.” He wrapped his hand around my wrists.

“Get your hands off me.”

“No. I need to make sure you can’t get away.”

“I can’t move Mr. Colson.”

“Precisely why you’ll stay right where you are, now hush.”

“How am I supposed to sleep with your big mitts all over me?”

“Honey, if my ‘big mitts’
were
all over you, sleeping would be the last thing on your mind.”

I tried to kick him but he put his big heavy leg over both of mine pinning me firmly in place. “Oh boy, more foreplay.”

“You’re going to pay for this Mr. Colson.” I promised as I talked myself out of biting him.

“If it involves your lips and your hips, I’ll suffer. Now hush, I have duct tape.” He threatened.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Yes, I would dare, now, be quiet.”

“I hate you.”

He shook with a short laugh from behind me, “You smell like me.”

“Not by choice.”

“You make a good pillow too.” He nuzzled his face into my hair and neck.

“Stop that.”

“You’re fluffy.”

I couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped, “Fluffy?? Are you serious?”

He moaned and hugged me to him. “Fluffy and soft, when you’re not all tied up in tight suits and pantyhose.”

“Go to sleep before I change my mind about running away to call Myles and tell him what an awful man you are.”

“Awful. Terrible. Beastly.” He inhaled deeply, “What is that, lotion?”

“Goodnight Mr. Colson.”

I must have fallen into a deeper sleep than I expected because next thing I know someone is rolling me over and there’s a heavy warm weight covering me.