WingSpan (Taken on the Wing Book 1) (6 page)

Even in the lamplight she can make out the layer of dust on everything so she opens the window wide to the outside before she disturbs it. It doesn’t take long to pick up the things that don’t belong on the bed and strip it. His full laundry basket and bedding are piled in the hall since it’s too late to run the washer without bothering the neighbours.

It’s well past midnight when everything is dusted and the bed is made with the stale spare sheets from the bathroom cupboard.

Jenn Klein falls asleep like a queen in the big bed that’s now hers. She can allow herself that at least.

Chapter Five

Jenn’s trucker probably isn’t real.

In her fantasies they make love, usually in his truck but sometimes in the apartment she still thinks of as Terry’s.

In her dreams they fuck. There’s no polite soft euphemism to describe the chase and struggle for dominance and submission. If by some miracle she sleeps through them pounding against each other in hot sand or up against frozen rock then they lie together under the bright sun or icy stars. It’s a complete contrast to the two-way hunt and bloodlust leading up to their powerful moment of connection.

The deep wound left by Terry’s passing heals a little more.

Parksville winter has set in and the small town is overwhelmed by wind and rain. The lights flicker in the bank lobby as Jenn waits for the machine to spit out a little cash. She crosses her fingers, hoping it stays on long enough to get home and cook.

“Oh dear God, I wish I was forty years younger,” Delilah gasps. Delilah claims her ancestors founded Parksville and she runs the bank including the young MBA recently installed as manager.

The rest of the ladies laugh with her. They finished cashing out early and huddle together inside waiting for their rides or a brief enough break in the downpour to run for their cars. The thick mat under Jenn’s feet squishes with the day’s rainwater as she shifts her weight toward the ATM.

“If you were forty years younger, Delilah, you still wouldn’t do any more than gawk at him out the window.”

The machine grumbles to life as the gears chew out a small pile of twenties.

“But his coat isn’t even on!” Delilah protests, her voice rising to a squeak. “Look at the size of those arms! And do you think he’d keep the boots on or take them off?”

Another wave of laughter fills the small tiled room as the door opens, letting in a cold wet blast of air to try and stifle their levity. Jenn absently raises a hand to wave at whoever left as she gets her wallet just so in the bottom of her purse.

“On, definitely on…”

“With the hat…”

“Mm…”

Jenn eyes the dark cloudy sky as she reaches around Delilah and pulls their shoulders together, lightly rubbing the older woman’s arm.

“Have a nice night girls,” she murmurs, gripping the broad door handle. The rain blows sideways so she grabs an elastic from her pocket and tips her head forward to put her hair up. It’ll be easier to let it dry later than replace her umbrella.

Wet drops cling to her ankles as she steps out. There’s no avoiding the rain for the three block walk home. Jenn gets ready to jump over the deep channel of water running along the sidewalk but stops when she sees cowboy boots. A gold plated belt buckle she remembers crowns the man’s thick thighs and low jeans. His thumb is hooked into his pocket, fingers resting near the zipper tempt her not to look any higher.

“Talon,” Jenn breathes as she stumbles to a stop. Delilah oofs as she bumps into Jenn, nearly knocking her from the curb.

The rain soaked front of his grey t-shirt clings so the muscles running down his abs are easily seen. Talon raises a hand to tip his worn cowboy hat and nods. There’s a quiet scuffle behind Jenn as the lobby empties around her.

It only takes one more bump from behind and Jenn jumps over the stream to get to him. She’s quickly drenched and Talon gently brushes the rain from her eyes.

“Jenn has a man?”

“She doesn’t…”

“She’d have said something…”

The speculation behind her continues as Talon’s cold fingers tug her chin higher and his lips come close, kissing one corner of her mouth then the other.

“I started to think I imagined you,” she whispers, reaching her arms high around his shoulders.

“No,
Arlette
.”

“Your baby eagle,” Jenn answers.

“My
Arlette
,” he corrects and she giggles, pressing her face into his chest.

“Jenn?”

It’s Delilah, her voice as nervous as a kid’s.

“Mark Williams,” Talon whispers in Jenn’s ear as she turns, clutching him around the waist. The weight of his arm over her shoulder seems enough to keep the rain at bay.

“Delilah, this is Mark Williams,” Jenn says, hoping it doesn’t sound like she’s saying his name for the first time.

“H… Hello,” Delilah stammers, setting off laughter behind her. Talon smiles at Delilah like she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. No wonder her tongue is tied.

“I know what this is!” Delilah takes some control of herself. The other ladies jump expectantly before setting their eyes on Mark.

“It’s that Julia Roberts movie where the billionaire comes and takes her away! I
need
you tomorrow, Jenn Klein. Christmas is a week away and I need you rocking the business wicket!”

Rocking?
Did sixty-four year old Delilah Amelia Dunmore really use the word rocking?

“Miss Delilah,” Mark drawls, playing right along with the headstrong old woman. It’s a sexy accompaniment to the hat, boots and gold buckle and Jenn turns, tucking a knee behind his. “I promise Miss Klein will be at work tomorrow and I will of course keep my hat on.”

With that he takes it off and bows to Delilah, making her squeal with laughter. Before he puts it on he kisses Jenn like they have all the time in the world and the last five months apart haven’t been any more than five minutes.

Then the hat is on and Jenn stands with her mouth open as Mark turns her toward a black pickup.

“Night, Jenn!” Delilah calls. Her husband has pulled up and she’s getting in. At some point during the kiss Jenn realized the pilot light never really went out and he feels it too.

“Up you get,” Mark says and she has to pull her skinny skirt up to get a foot on the running bar to step in. A blast of cold suggests the tops of her stockings might be uncovered then the wind and driving rain are gone as Mark closes his door behind him.

“You look good, Jenn.”

“I think I prefer Shadow,” she says. It’s not that she doesn’t like Jenn but Shadow was the brave woman who’d been with him.

“So do I,” he laughs. “Come here.”

Shadow slides over to the center seat as Talon puts the big truck in reverse. It has to be twenty-five years old, judging by the sparse instruments and fake chrome on the vinyl dash but it’s immaculate and still smells a little new. She wraps her arm around his elbow and holds on.

“How did you find me?” For some reason Talon waiting outside her place of work at closing time should feel a little unnerving but it doesn’t.

Talon clears his throat like he’s going to say something ungentlemanly and puts the truck into park. He’s only backed up to the other side of the lot so they’re out of the mall’s lights.

“You said small town bank teller so I started where we parked and went north looking in the window of every bank I passed until I got here and saw you about four-thirty.”

Shadow doesn’t know what to say.

“Then I went and checked in to a hotel and came back for closing. That’s not pathetic is it?”

“But what if I left?” she demands, her voice flush with irrational anger but he smiles as her panic settles. “Sorry, but what if?”

“I’d have been waiting here for you in the morning.”

He puts the wet cowboy hat on the dash and she finally gets a good look at him. His hair doesn’t seem any longer but his dark brown eyes shine for her. Shadow drops her hand between his knees and feels the firm muscle of his thigh as she remembers what attracted her to him: his confidence and how comfortable he is with her. How exactly did she do without his touch for so long? A small river of water escapes from her hair and runs straight down her back, perking her nipples and setting off a shiver.

“I haven’t had anyone, um, special to shop for at Christmas in a long time and I wanted to see you again,” Talon’s hand slides into hers and he deposits a heavy chain in her palm.

“Talon?” she asks as she holds it up to look. Even in the dark and the parking lot lights the bracelet glows with pure white fire from end to end. It’s a complete circle of diamonds of a half carat or more each. And good quality; her part-time jewelry store job through college taught her that.

He looks expectantly at Shadow as she touches it like it might disappear if she doesn’t do it just right.

“It’s ridiculously expensive and far too generous a gift for a second date. I admit,” he says as if he can read her mind. “I’m not expecting anything in return. I know I’m taking a risk by springing it on you. If you wish to do something equally generous for me then please accept it as simply something beautiful I want you to have.”

If you’re sure,
she thinks. It must have cost him thousands. And thousands.

“I’m certain,” he says. “I figure you like to hide being pretty and I think you deserve a little flash on the outside, okay? You don’t have to tell anyone where you got it but I guess I just want everyone to know someone believes you deserve it.”

“Talon, I’m proud to accept it,” she offers her wrist and as the wind batters everything outside his sure fingers fasten the clasp.

“Thank you, Shadow,” his confidence failed and returned at nearly the same time.

Whatever the meaning of the gift is to him, her taking it is more than she can understand.

Shadow turns to him as much as the seatbelt and their legs beneath the wheel will allow as he kisses her again. She untucks the side of his shirt to get a hand on his wet skin. Without hesitation his tongue pushes its way in and she pushes back, creating instant heat. Grabbing his belt she tries to pull him down on her in the front seat but her hand slips up his obliques.

“Unh,” he mutters as he tries to get his shoulder on his hip to protect himself.

“Are you ticklish?” Shadow asks. Her hand is frozen to his side as she tries to hide how pleased she is; her big grown man with a little kid soft spot and her warm hand resting right on it.

“I’m… ticklish,” he mutters pausing where a ‘not’ would fit.

“Are you sure?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead he opens both seatbelts and pushes her over. Shadow moves closer to the passenger seat and gets a knee up letting him settle completely between her thighs.

“Changing the subject?” she tries.

“Yes…” Talon’s teeth grind together and Shadow feels the vibration in his whole body as he tries to hold the word back. Then he grabs her leg and works his way up her black stocking before feeling around for the clip attaching it to her garter.

“I thought that’s what I saw,” he says hotly in her ear.

Subject changed.

She opens her eyes and watches him above, careful to not move a finger and cause him to change the subject again.

“Panties?” he asks.

“Minimal.”

“Colour?”

“Seasonal,” she replies. The set is bright green with a little bell between her breasts. It would make noise if she didn’t have a snug green cami muffling it.

“Shit,” he mutters as he sits, leaving Shadow overheated and confused.

“What’s wrong?”

He runs his hands over his face and pushes his hair back into position. She’s barely upright when the engine starts and he pulls out. With one hand he buckles up and Shadow squishes over, fumbling for the lap belt.

“I have plans for us tonight. Is there a place a dripping wet trucker can take his equally soaked bank teller for vegetarian food and a steak?”

“You want to take me out?”

“Absolutely,” his big hand swallows hers as they stop at the exit to the main road. “First I’ll take you to your place.”