Shady Bay (4 page)

“Even ugly ones?”

He laughed as we made our way across the now-empty street. “Even ugly ones.”

“Well, good. She raised you right.”

We paused in front of the wooden staircase that led to my place. “Thanks for fixing the sink for her.” I nodded back toward the shop.

“I’d do anything for her. She’s something else.” He smiled and even though the sun was setting, it was like noon-time all over again. He just brightened everything around him with that smile.

“She is. I know I haven’t known her or you very long, but it feels like I finally fit in somewhere.”

I looked up to find his eyes looking into mine. It was like they were searching for something. “You definitely fit in, Mercy.”

I smiled. “Yeah.”

“I’m glad Celeste found you, too. She needs some help and you seem just perfect to give it to her.”

“Oh, trust me. I’m not helping her. She’s helping me.”

“Friendship works both ways, Mercy. Both give and take, you know.”

I nodded.

He squeezed my hand. “I’m glad to call you a friend, too. If you ever need anything, let me know.”

I eased my hand away. The freaking thing was on fire and now it was sweaty. And my mind was racing faster than my heart. No one had ever said anything like that to me. “Thanks, Jaxon. I really appreciate that.”

“Even if it’s a leaky sink.”

Celeste. That sink wasn’t leaking. I shrugged. “First I’d heard of it, but I haven’t been around long.”

“Well,” he smiled. “I hope you plan to stay.”

I laughed. “I think I will. Things are definitely better at the beach.”

The following day
, five o’clock came quickly. I’d been busy all day. I wasn’t sure how Celeste had managed the store all day on her own and then did readings at night. She must have been running on empty. As if I’d conjured the woman with my thoughts, Celeste entered the front door, followed by Hot Dimple himself. And holy wow, he was sporting a tight-fitting long-sleeved gray tee and loose jeans. The work boots nearly did me in, though. He looked totally hot.

Celeste’s jewelry jingled all the way to the counter. “Jax is gonna take you shopping, baby girl.”

“Shopping? We went shopping the other night.”

“That was for clothes. You’re moving. You need a few things for your new place: towels and toiletries, and stuff.” Before shoving me toward Jaxon, she shoved another envelope in my hand. “Have fun, you two!”

Jax laughed and held the door open for me as I passed by him. Soon, we were settled in his black coupe, heading down Ocean Boulevard.

“What place?”

Jaxon looked at me with his signature lop-sided smirk. “She didn’t tell you?”

“Um, no.”

“My brother Easton owns the townhouse complex we live in. The middle unit is free. A friend of ours lived there last summer, but he isn’t coming back down this year. He rents to me because he has no other choice and he rents to Celeste because she’s amazing and I told him he had no other choice. It usually sits vacant. He won’t rent for the season. All year or nothing. He says it keeps the irresponsible pricks out.”

I threw my head back
laughing. “He does know you live there?”

He grasped his chest. “That one cut deep, Mercy.”

I giggled. “I don’t think I can afford a place like that though.”

“Well, you are. He’s set the rent so that you can afford it and save some of your money, too. He’s just happy to have someone in it. Just don’t party and trash the place and you’ll be fine.”

“You don’t know what a party girl I am.”

He looked over at me, eyes squinted. “You?”

“Mm-hmm. Me. Total party girl. I’m really trashy, too.”

He
chuckled as he maneuvered into the parking lot of a huge shopping complex that thankfully included the enormous Goodwill that I’d been in yesterday. “Somehow, I don’t think that the words Mercy and trashy belong in the same sentence.” He looked me up and down, taking in my new light purple maxi dress before continuing, “Now, classy and sweet, maybe.”

My cheeks felt hot. He glanced at me and started laughing
, having noticed, too. I slapped his arm and we exited the vehicle. He followed my lead, straight into Goodwill heaven. I went straight to the furniture section. I really needed a mattress or cot or something to sleep on, though with Jaxon’s little coupe, I wasn’t sure how we would transport it. Jaxon’s hand landed on my back. “Oh, I guess I should’ve explained. The town house is furnished. I mean, all the basic furniture is there. You just need towels and sheets, and stuff for the kitchen. Girly shit. You know?”

“Girly shit? What girly shit do I need, Jaxon?”

He smiled nervously. “You know, doilies or throw pillows or flower paintings or something.”

I laughed and hooked my arm through his. “Please. Lead the way to the girly shit section. Doilies were at the top of my list.”

“Everyone’s a wise ass.” He grumbled playfully.

I giggled.

In the end, I picked out some kitchen basics: cutlery, the giant spoons, a toaster, some pots and pans, glasses, and pretty white dishes with blue swirls through them. I bought some towels and wash cloths, some yarn, and crochet hooks, which Jaxon made fun of assuming I was going to go home and whip up some doilies out of some ‘Girly Shit’ cookbook. Then I found some awesome deep purple sheets that were silky and fabulous and a matching solid comforter that was darker on one side than it was on the other. I even found a couple of pillows for the bed and figuring that I would have a few bucks extra to spend, even threw in a pink floral throw and matching pillow, making Jaxon smirk and nod his head.

“I think this is it. Let’s check out.”

Jaxon loaded and unloaded everything onto the register’s conveyor belt and then back into the buggy and then stacked it all in his trunk neatly.

“Let’s go Krogering.”

“Krogering?”

“Sure. I gotta eat. You need groceries for your new pad. Krogering.”

“Krogering. Let’s do it.”

He backed out of the space and drove a few more miles to an enormous Kroger store. They sure built things bigger at the beach. I didn’t shop at the Kroger back at home. I had to make my paychecks stretched as far as possible without breaking, and back home
, Save-a-Lot was the best place to get a good deal. I was in awe. Everything was so bright and beautiful. The fruit smelled delicious. It didn’t take me long to start filling my buggy, though I had to keep an eye on my money. Strawberries, peaches and bananas--check. Lettuce, tomato, cucumber--check. Peanut butter, eggs, butter, and bread. A little cereal and milk. That would get me started.

As we rounded the last turn, I saw them. Lobsters. Live lobsters scurried around the bottom of a large tank, running over the backs of one another. Their claws were secured with colorful rubber bands. Some were so freaking huge!

“Look!” I squealed. “They’re alive!”

Jaxon grinned and cocked his head to the side.

“Come on, Jaxon!” I grabbed his hand and yanked him with me, until we skidded to a stop in front of the creatures. “Ewww. Why are they in here?

“Um, babe. You buy ‘em and cook ‘em.”

“But they’re alive.”

“Yep. Most animals are before we eat ‘em.”

“Har. Har. Of course they are, but
I
don’t have to kill them!”

“Well, babe. Most folks just pitch these guys into a big pot of boiling water. Two birds with one stone.”

“Oh! That’s awful! They boil them alive?”

He nodded. “Yep.”

“Well, not me.” I straightened and stood up tall. I stroked the glass tank lovingly and cooed, “I won’t eat you guys.” 

Jaxon just shook his head and laughed at me, which made me mad. He pushed his buggy of man food in front of me. When he stopped short to grab spray cheese, I ‘accidentally’ rammed his butt with my buggy, but by the way he grabbed his foot, I must have gotten his heel, too. Oh, darn. My bad. 

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I should really pay more attention.”

His face turned red and lips pinched together tightly. “You should.” He spat from between clenched teeth.

I smiled sweetly. “Oh, Jax. I forgot to get some ‘girly shit!’”

He hung his head of dark thick hair. “Do I even want to guess?”

“Looks like you just figured it out, sugar.”

“I’ll meet you at the front. No way
am I buying that shit.”

“Fine, sweetie. I’ll see ya in a minute.” I wiggled my fingers at him as he took off at break neck speed toward the front of the store.

I made sure to grab the super-sized tampons and diaper-sized pads in economy-sized, jumbo packs so large they rivaled the pack of toilet paper in my cart.

The rest of
my first week had passed in a blur. Celeste’s little shop did some major business with the locals of Myrtle Beach. Her reputation preceded her and each night she was booked for at least four or five readings. I worked hard to make the townhouse my own. I organized as best as I could, and even washed all of my clothes, towels and sheets, after borrowing some detergent from Celeste. I didn’t know the place even had a washer and dryer. I was in heaven.

Jaxon was a busy guy. He was rarely home, working day and night at the club his two brothers owned together, and he managed. I’d never been there but when Saturday rolled around, I decided to call June from the store. I needed to get out a bit. She answered on the second ring.

“Yeah.”

“June?”

“Yeah. Is this Mercy?”

“Yes! You remembered!”

She laughed. “Wanna go out tonight?”

“Yes. Where do you want to go?”

“Shady’s is having a pre-season, local’s only bash tonight. Wanna head there?”

“Sure. Um, what should I wear?”

She laughed. “Something you can move in, but keep it sexy.”

“Crap! Okay. I’ll figure something out.”

“Give me your address and I’ll pick you up. I’ll bring you something to wear, too.”

I loved this girl already.

Shady Bay was
a local bar situated directly on the sand. Half of the bar was indoors, sporting wooden floors, navy walls dripping with nautical-themed, manly stuff. Even the ceiling fans’ blades looked like palm fronds. It was actually awesome. But that was only the inside. The outer terraces opened up onto the beach itself. High topped tables with tall stools rose from the sand. A tiki-hut was set up as a bar, but sported no stools. No, this was amazing. In front of the bar were individual wooden swings, hanging from thick ropes from the hut’s beams above them. It may have been March and only forty-three degrees outside, but no one knew that at Shady. Tall outdoor space heaters warmed the air and it felt sweet as summertime.