Blackout (18 page)

One family has two toddlers who run around like wildlings. When they dive in and around me, I pray I don’t trip on them and break my other arm. I try to laugh it off, but parents should corral their kids or let them run loose on the beach where it’s safer for everyone.

I glance over the rail and see a sandbox filled with toys. Carolina must’ve put that here. “Hey,” I say to the kids chasing each other’s tails. “There’s a sandbox here you can dig in while you wait for your food.”

“Yeah!” the two toddlers scream before bouncing off the porch and into the sand.

The mother doesn’t look too happy about that, but it’ll keep them out of my hair. She probably won’t like the sand filling their hungry little mouths, but oh well.

Inside and out, Harley’s packs them in, so I have to hustle to keep the drinks filled and get the orders out. Time flies and we don’t get a break before the dinner crowd, who will be in shortly.

Shannon and Lacey take the inside while Ella and I share the outside. We work well together and help clear each other’s tables and fill water and sweet tea. The busboy Ronny tends to stay inside, lapping at Shannon’s heels instead of helping us all out.

“We sure could use Ronny’s help out here,” Ella says over a tray of food and drinks.

I don’t dare carry that much, even without my broken arm.

“Can’t we make the busboy help us?” I ask.

“I’ll have another talk with Carolina. Shannon acts like she’s sweet on him, but she has no interest. She just likes to keep the rest of us on our toes so that when Darius shows up, we don’t have time to flirt with him.”

My stomach does a little flip. “What times does he come in?”

“Almost every day after work. He hates to cook or so he says. If that man wasn’t a pervert, I’d do him every which way.”

“He’s not,” I say. Small towns talk, and it’s my fault that he’s held the limelight for so long.

Ella gives me a questioning look before removing dirty dishes off one of her tables.

Eventually Ronny trundles out to help clear the dishes and is followed by Shannon. She’s about to take an order to help us out, or rather keep tabs on us, when the two kids dash up the stairs, scattering around her and Ronny. He drops a couple dirty plates on the floor, and the parents don’t even look up.

Shannon yells at them. “Jesus Christ. Tie up those little demons of yours. Honestly.”

“Well, I never,” the mom says, finally taking notice and getting out of her chair.

Ella stops beside me and whispers, “This is why Shannon usually works indoors. Some people should not have kids, and that includes Shannon.”

I laugh, which gains a stony glare from Shannon.

Ella helps pick up the plates and says to the parents in her best southern drawl, “Now, it’s no big deal. We’ll clean it up, but you may want your children to sit down, so they don’t get hurt or step on broken glass.”

“Kids,” the dad starts. “Sit. Now. That’s enough.”

“Don’t talk that way to them,” the mom says, scowling.

“Baby, they need to sit down, so the staff can do their jobs.”

The kids wiggle in their seats. They aren’t used to being contained.

“Holler when the food comes,” the dad says to his wife, getting up and taking them back down to the beach.

“Sweet,” Ella says. She spins around and goes inside to pick up an order.

I set down several Margaritas and beers at a table and trail inside behind her. She goes to the bar where Carolina fills her drink order. Shannon stands by the bar, giving me the I’d-like-to-barbecue-you look.

I skirt around her and pick up a tray loaded with burgers and fries. Adding drinks I’ve learned is too much for my broken arm to handle.

Shannon steps in front of me, and I almost lose the tray.

“Don’t,” Carolina says. “If you cause one problem, Shannon, you’ll go home for the night.”

Shannon raises her hands, like she’s done nothing wrong. “I’ll leave her alone. Just stay away from Darius, and we’ll be fine.”

“What if Dare doesn’t want to stay away from me?” That’s a big if.

Carolina waves a bar rag at us. “Ladies, I’ll have none of that in my bar.”

Ella trails me outside. “Darius Tucker is off limits, no matter how hot that boy is. Shannon will scratch your eyes out.” She stops. “Oh my God, you’re the Teal.”

“He didn’t touch me,” I say.

A befuddled expression crosses her pretty face. “He didn’t?”

“No, he didn’t.”

I drop off the food and ask the three couples if they need anything else. “No thanks,” a cheerful redhead says.

“So why is he listed as a sex offender?” Ella asks, cupping my elbow and not letting this drop.

“I’m working on that. I’ve petitioned to relook at the old case.” I really did screw up things for Dare. Everyone knows, even though the case is sealed for a minor.

“Then that boy will be the hottest catch in the sea.”

For everyone but me. I need to let him move on.

We’ve cleared most the tables, so that only a few young couples sit out on the beach drinking. I walk inside to take a much-needed break.

The whole Tucker crew swaggers into the bar. Sam must’ve been released from prison. He’s as handsome as ever, but I duly note Dare’s strong resemblance to him. I give Sam a tight smile. I still like him.

He catches me staring at him. “What the fuck?” Sam slams his fist onto one of the wooden picnic benches. Everyone jumps, except the Tucker boys. They’ve had lots of practice dealing with Sam’s tirades. “I knew I recognized her. She looks just like her mother. That—”

Jackson palms Sam’s shoulder. “Let’s not go there.”

“What the hell is he talking about?” Dare asks, glancing between them.

“Yeah, what’s that all about?” Randy asks.

“Nothing,” Sam growls, stabbing his finger at his younger brother. “You need to stay the hell away from her. Teal Covington, get the hell out of here and leave my brother alone.”

My face sags until Dare comes to my rescue. “Teal works here. Get over it.”

Sam shoves Dare. “That little bitch put another restraining order on you.”

Sam’s words crush me.

Dare slams his fist into Sam’s jaw. He staggers before regaining his balance, rubbing his jaw. “You don’t hit like a girl anymore.”

After assessing Dare’s mood, Sam eyes me up and down, and Dare rolls his eyes.

“Sorry, Teal,” Sam says. “You are even prettier than your mama. No wonder Dare’s acting like a stupid jackass.”

I grin stupidly. Sam’s never paid this much attention to me, and he did apologize.

I glance back at Dare who’s shaking his head, a flush spreading across his high cheekbones. He’s wearing flip-flops and khaki shorts and would look comfortable if it weren’t for his obvious embarrassment. Jackson and Randy laugh at that.

Sam snags Dare’s collared shirt, buddying up to him. “One thing’s for sure. I love you, little bro, despite your lack of judgment.”

Dare’s other brothers chuckle, lightening the tension in the room.

Dare turns on Sam. “That’s enough.”

Carolina comes out from the back, carrying a box of beer. When she spots Sam, her whole face lights on fire and so does Sam’s. I hide my disappointment.

He marches over to her, takes the case of beer out of her hands, and places it on the counter. “You are the only thing that kept me going the last year.” He picks her up and swings her around, kissing her like there’s no tomorrow.

“Oh Sam.” Tears sparkle in her eyes. “I missed you.”

“I bet that burst your bubble,” Dare says only to me.

I elbow him, forgetting about his injury and he winces. “Sorry.”

“I bet you are.”

“Well, it’s time for a dare.” Sam rubs his two hands together, letting go of Carolina. “What stupid thing can we get Darius to do?” He glances around the bar until his gaze lands on some unattended keys that mostly belong to a Harley motorcycle from the emblem on the heavy chain. Several bikers drink around the keys but the stool in front of them is empty.

I have no idea what Sam has in mind, but I grab hold of Dare’s arm. “Don’t.”

“I dare you for a hundred bucks to take Wiggin’s Harley out for a spin,” Sam says.

I don’t want to see Dare get into any more trouble. “No, please don’t.”

Sam slaps a hundred dollar bill on the counter. “I double dare you.”

“You’re on,” Dare says, standing up.

He could never resist his brother’s double dares.

“And another five if you take Teal,” Randy says.

“I’ll do that for free.” Dare takes my hand, and sparks fire all the way up my arm.

“I can’t,” I say, scooting away until Dare locks onto my good arm.

His smile works into me. “Please.”

Shannon throws eye daggers at him and me.

Sam wraps his arms around Carolina’s waist. “Let Teal go on break.”

I think she’d do just about anything Sam would ask her to. From the look in her eyes, he owns her.

Carolina nods for me to go. “Go ahead.”

It’s a surprise she lets me because Shannon throws a tizzy. “How could you?”

“Dare’s a big boy,” Sam says, still holding onto Carolina. “He makes his own decisions.”

I struggle against Dare’s grip, but he holds tight. “Dare, I don’t want to go to jail or get my ass beat.”

“Live a little,” he whispers into my ear.

His warm breath travels down my neck, generating tremors off the Richter scale. He picks up the keys and doesn’t let go of my good arm. When Shannon starts for us, Jackson stands in her way.

“Get out of my way,” she hisses.

“You’re no good for him,” Jackson says, shaking back a headful of wild hair and casting his eyes upon her that could melt candles.

Shannon shoves Jackson. “I’m better than she is.”

He shakes his head. “Not by a long shot.”

She looks at him in disbelief while Dare takes me outside—part of me wants to go. Half the bar follows. I’m guessing the bike’s owner isn’t one of them.

“We need to hurry before Wiggins comes out of the bathroom,” Dare says, snapping a helmet on my head and then a biker throws one to Dare, which he puts on. He swings his leg over the pearl colored Harley to straddle the bike. Randy helps me onto the back.

“Hang on tight, little girl,” Dare says over the roar of the engine. He throttles the motor and throws a shower of rocks as we peel out of the parking lot.

I glance behind us to see a guy about the size of a frigate pump his fist in the air. I gather that’s Wiggins, and his face twists into an angry scowl. Neither of us will live if Dare returns Wiggins’ bike.

The late day heat wavers off the pavement, smelling of oil and tar. It mixes with the sea breeze floating off the ocean.

Dare zips up Highway 12 going around eighty. My hair whips in my face, but I don’t loosen my grip on his waist.

I don’t like going this fast, and I worry about blacking out. Not once do the bad visions appear despite the fact I’m holding on for dear life. We’re about a mile down the road when he slows and turns around. He stops on the shoulder.

“It’s okay, Teal” Dare says. “I won’t hurt you.”

He drives the speed limit on the way back to Harley’s because a cop pulls in behind us. My head rests on his back, and I like the way it feels. His warmth creeps into my face and rides down the length of me. I can’t help that he excites me. Does he know he affects me this way?

As he enters the parking lot, I watch the cop slow down, but he doesn’t enter Harley’s.

Most of the bar cheers Dare as he rolls into the parking lot and parks the bike. Wiggins wearing full-body riding armor tromps down the steps, and as he raises his fist, I squeeze my eyes shut and hold onto Dare.

Wiggins gives a bawdy laugh and slaps Dare on the back.

“What the hell?” Sam calls, jumping off the porch.

“Hell, Sam,” Wiggins says. “Dare worked on my bike last week. He rides it all the time when it’s in the shop, though you do owe me a beer.”

My grip loosens on Dare’s waist. He’s grinning. He helps me off the bike then leads me up the stairs, his hands resting on each hip.

Dare punches Sam’s shoulder. “Pay up, bro.”

Sam slaps the hundred in Dare’s palm. “Dammit.”

“Fun’s over, Teal,” Carolina says. “Get back to work.”

A few tables on the porch have filled, so I take orders, though I’m still a little loopy from the ride. Why does Dare keep choosing me instead of Shannon? Is this to make her jealous? What is he up to?

Every time I wander back inside for drinks or food, Dare glances in my direction. He smiles and when Sam catches this, he slaps his brother upside the head. Sam nods in my direction, laughing. It’s good that he’s home, and they’re all together. Tommy and his twin wouldn’t dare mess with the Tuckers now.

Around 7:30, Graham and his crew roll into the bar to eat and watch the sunset. I’d almost forgotten about our date. He smiles at me, and they sit outside next to the dunes.

“Now that’s what I call catch of the day,” Ella says, eyeing Graham. “Can I take their table?”

Before I can tell her to go ahead, Graham smiles at me.

“Hey, Teal,” he says. “What time do you get off?”

“At nine,” I say.

Ella nudges me. “Girl, you’ve got it going on. You’re my new BFF.”

I laugh. “I’ll introduce you to his crew.”

“They’re not so bad either.” She grins at one of Graham’s buddies, and he practically falls out of his seat.

“We’ll hang out here until then and after that we can all cruise the beach bars,” Graham says, smiling. He’s handsome, clean cut, the kind of guy any girl would want to be with.

I scoot in closer to the table. “I need to go home and check on my grandmother first.”

“Not a problem.” One arm wraps around my hips. “Everyone, this is Teal.”

I like the personal attention, though Dare rambles through my thoughts. I should think about someone other than a man who runs hot and cold.

The girls and guys all smile at me and say, “Hi.”

One girl says, “Hurry up and get off work, so we can shut Graham up. He hasn’t stopped talking about you all day.”

Embarrassment heats his cheeks. “See what you’ve done to me.”

Ella leans over to my ear. “Did you want the table? I see you know the cutest one.”