Wild Ride (6 page)

When they reached the bottom of the stairs he stopped before going into the kitchen.

“You want to put your robe on now or would you prefer the guests watch?”
he asked.

“Now
, please,” she said, still angry but having lost a little of the fire from earlier.

“Ok…
I’m going to stand you up on your good… leg… and then you can hold on to my shoulders for balance,” he said.

“Fine
,” she ground out angrily.

As gently as he could
, he adjusted her position and then grabbing her hips, he helped her slide down his body until she stood on the ground.  He hoped she didn’t notice his body’s reaction to her. 

Looking down at her he could only stare. 
God she was beautiful! 
It was hard to fathom she was an indirect result of old Judge Patterson.

This was awkward as hell.  He wasn’t even winded either from wrestling with her in her room or even from carrying her down the stairs.  It was hard to meet his bold stare but she forced herself to do just that. 
He was a hottie like nothing she’d ever seen
… in real life anyway.

He had manhandled her like she was nothing and now stood flush up against her staring at her mouth.  Resting one hand on his shoulders
, she pushed her robe against his chest with the other.

“Help me?”
she said breathlessly.  His nearness seemed to make her tingle in places she shouldn’t.

“Sure
,” he said.  Taking her robe in one hand and then reaching around her body, he unfolded it and held it open.

She tucked her arms in the
sleeves and he pulled it closed around her.  The robe was short and only hit her mid-thigh but it was better than nothing.  She couldn’t help but notice the way his shoulder muscles bunched and moved as he tied the garment closed in the front.

“Umm…
how about you ride me? Shit… I mean ride on my back,” he said looking skyward.

“Sure…”
she replied, knowing she was blushing like a stupid teenager.

“Ok
, hang on,” He said as he slowly turned around and presented his back to her.

His back was wide and muscular and he had a nice ass.  Again she rested her hands on his shoulders and he bent his knees.

“Is that good enough or should I bend down lower?” he asked.

“I can jump…
I was a dancer, a gymnast
and
a cheerleader in both high school
and
college,” she answered hotly. “Ready?”

“Yep
,” he replied.

She jumped using her good leg and he caught her legs and then adjusted her by jumping slightly.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned forward for balance.  He smelled like soap…
and something wild.

“Don’t be breathing on my neck
,” he muttered.

“I’m
not
breathing on your neck,” she argued.

“You are
too
breathing on my neck,” he said.

“So?” s
he said.

“So…
even though your legs are hairier than mine… I’m still a guy and heavy breathing by a chick on the back of my neck goes straight to my junk… and gives me chicken skin,” he said.

Oh my God!
  He did not just say that!  She’d long since stopped caring about what she looked like and didn’t bother to take care of herself anymore aside from showering… but to point it out to her?

“Fuck you…”
she whispered in disbelief.

“Maybe…
but you’re going to have to do something about this forest you got growing on these bad boys first,” he said, rubbing his thumbs along her legs. “Oh and now you owe two quarters.”

His touch was like lightening that shot up her legs
which she had wrapped tightly around his sides.  She giggled.  She couldn’t seem to stop herself… it was so inappropriate and by far the worst thing a guy had
ever
said to her… but it was
true
. 

Dropping her forehead to his shoulder she laughed to the point of tears…
and it felt
good
.

She felt his back and shoulders shake and suddenly he was laughing too.  After collecting herself she shoved his head forward with her hand and said
, “This was your idea so get moving.”

As he headed into the kitchen with her along for the ride she was surprised to see her mother brushing away tears…
even though she was smiling from ear to ear. 

The boys looked to be in shock and Grandpa Patterson was giving Chuck his serious look.  Chuck seemed oblivious to the stares of her family as he maneuvered over to the table and pulled out a chair.

Then he backed up and knelt down until she could slide off his back and stand up.  Holding on to his shoulders she was then able to sit down in the chair.  Then he moved behind her seat and picked her up, chair and all, and moved it forward until she was sitting at the table.

“How’s that little man?” h
e asked Ben.

Ben held up his fist and Chuck bumped it
.  Turning around, Chuck then did the same to Matt.  With that he sat down at the table and only then seemed to notice the stares.

“What?”
Chuck asked.

“Thanks for coming to my party
, Meredith,” Ben said with a toothy grin.

She could only smile at him.  Her mother began moving Ben’s gifts off the table in the breakfast nook so she could set the table.  She realized that since Chuck had s
at her down out here rather than in the dining room, her mom was changing things around to accommodate her.

Before she could say anything to her mother Chuck said
, “Here, load me up.”

He got up and walked over to
Carla and held out his arms.  He dwarfed her mom but his smile was infectious and Carla simply smiled at him and began loading his arms with Ben’s gifts.

“Hey
, Matt… grab some plates and Ben, you grab six forks and spoons,” Chuck said as he carried Ben’s gifts into the dining room and set them on the table.

Coming back into the kitchen he opened up a cabinet and began grabbing drinking glasses out and s
etting them in front of her.  Then he opened up the freezer and lifted out the entire ice dispenser tray carrying it over and placing it in front of her as well.

“Here…
make yourself useful,” he said, turning and grabbing a large plastic spoon out of the utensil carousel and then handing it to her.

“There’s an ice scooper in that drawer over there
,” she said, pointing to a drawer.

“Improvise…
I’m busy,” he said, taking the plates from Matt and spreading them around the table. “Grab some napkins, buddy.”

“I can help Ben with the silverware
,” Matt offered.

“Nope, he’s got it… grab some napkins
,” he said.

Carla
stood at the stove watching them with a smile and shiny tear filled eyes.  Grandpa sat at the breakfast table with his ever present serious look and took the spoon and fork Ben shoved at him.  She picked up a glass and used the spoon to dip out some ice and dump it into the glass. 

He
really didn’t care anything about her at all and was too busy ordering the boys around to stare at her… or her stump.  He merely watched Grandpa Patterson out of the corner of his eye.

“How are those classes coming
, Mr. Reynolds?” Grandpa asked Chuck.

Classes?
 
Was he in college?
 

“They’re online and I finished a couple of them already.  I should be ready for the GED test in no time
,” Chuck replied.

Dinner progressed with Matt and Ben sitting on either side of her.  When dinner was finished she watched as Chuck coached the boys to help clear the table, load the dishwasher and wipe off the table and counters while their mother put up the leftovers. 

Then Matt carried in the gifts followed by Ben as Chuck refilled drinks.  It bothered her that everyone was doing something except her and Grandpa.

Ben began opening his presents and with each one he opened Chuck grabbed the wrapping paper and wadded it into a ball, making a pile in front of him
self. 

When the last gift was opened Chuck picked up one of the wads of paper and threw it hitting her in the side of the face.  Then as her mother and grandpa looked on he threw another one at Matt who caught it and then threw it back at him.  Ben reached
in front of Chuck, giggling the whole time and taking a wad of paper, threw it, hitting Grandpa in the arm.

All three of them suddenly stopped when the paper hit Grandpa and fell to the floor.  They looked like a herd of deer caught in a car’s headlights.  Grandpa bent over and picked up the wad of paper
.  After a brief pause he threw it at their mother. 

She laughed and suddenly wads of wrapping paper were flying back and forth while the boys giggled uncontrollably.  She was able to catch a few and also get some that landed on the table. 

Chuck finally went to grab the trash can and pulled it over near the table and tossed one of the wads that hit him into the trash.  Immediately Ben began trying to throw his wads of paper into the trash as well and the game was soon over. 

Grandpa stood up and said
, “Happy Birthday, Benjamin.  I need to get going.”

Ben ran over to him and threw his arms around his waist hugging him
. “Bye, Grandpa!” he yelled and then looked at Chuck as though expecting a response.

As the boys walked Grandpa to the door Chuck turned to
Carla, “So can I give the kids a ride on my bike?”

Sighing heavily and giving him her stern look she said
, “Very slow and
only
on the driveway.”

Grinning at her he said
, “I’m an excellent driver.”

Carla
laughed and smacked Chuck playfully on the arm, “Ok, Rainman, let’s get this show on the road.  It’ll be shower time soon.” With that she went in search of the boys.

Catching her gaze he walked over to her and then turned his back to her and squatted down
.  “You want the first ride?  Hop on.”

Then he smacked his forehead and laughed
. “That sounded bad.”

She laughed and then said
, “Thanks for helping Mom with the boys…and everything.”

“I’m turning out to be a right fine house bitch
,” he said as she scooted forward and awkwardly managed to climb onto his back.

She could only laugh as he hefted her up
. “Ok, hang on tight,” he said, picking up his backpack and handing it to her.  She put it over one shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck.  Turning, he picked up the chair and they headed to the front door.

Outside he s
et the chair on the sidewalk and reached for his backpack.  She handed it to him and he unzipped it and pulled out a motorcycle helmet.  He set the backpack in the chair and then handed her the helmet.

“Oh no!”
she laughed.

“Come on
, Edith,” he said laughing.

“Edith?”
she asked indignantly.

“Yea, you’re like an old person…
you never leave the house… and you’re chicken so instead of Meredith… you’re Edith,” he explained with a laugh.

“Ok
, Charles,” she teased as she began putting on the helmet.  When she didn’t receive a reaction she said, “Charlie…?”

“Hey
now!” he laughed.

“Ok
, this is going to take a little maneuvering,” he said as he approached the bike. “I’m going to put you down so I can get on the bike… just hang on to the seat for balance.”

She slid off his back a little more gracefully than the first time and grabbed on to the bike.  He swung his leg over and stood the bike up carefully so she didn’t lose her balance. 

Then looking over his shoulder at her and seeing her studying the motorcycle in an attempt to figure out how to get on the back he said, “Yea… I got nothing… you may have to figure this one out on your own.”

She studied the bike for a moment unsure of the best way to go about this.  Just as she was about to try and worm her way out of riding with him, the boys came tearing out of the house and stopped short next to her and the bike. 

Their stares of adoration made her feel like she used to before the accident.

“Now watch your sister so you’ll know what to do when it’s your turn
,” Chuck said to them.

“That is just plain wrong
,” she said to him while hopping slowly and gently until she could hold onto his shoulder.  Her mother hovered nearby watching the interaction with a worried look on her face.