Where There's Smoke (64 page)

"I can't go on with that or I'll do what I swore I wouldn't do."

She opened her eyes and sat up straight.
 
"What are you saying, Bowie?"

"That I'm not going to fuck you."
 
She uttered a small sound of protest and dismay.
 
He hastened to add, "What I want to do is make love to you.
 
I want to do it proper, on a bed with sweet-smelling sheets, in a place that's clean and worthy of you."

She relaxed and laughed softly.
 
"That doesn't matter to me, "It matters to me.
 
I still think I'm the worst thing that's ever happened to you, but you're the best thing that's ever happened in my life, and that's for damn sure.
 
I won't treat you like any old gal I could get off with."

While Janellen was disappointed that he'd stopped the foreplay, her heart filled with tenderness.

"I'm fairly certain you're a virgin."
 
He glanced up and she nodded.

"I can't imagine why that is, but I'm damned glad no other man beat me to you.
 
It's an honor I don't take lightly, so when it happens, I want it to be like the first time for me, too.
 
And in a way it will be.

I've never done it with a woman I'd share my toothbrush with."

She giggled and nuzzled his shoulder.
 
"Will you share your toothbrush with me?"

In reply he kissed her, pressing his tongue deep into her mouth.

"I'll be looking for a place where we can go," he said hoarsely when the kiss ended.

"Your trailer," she suggested enthusiastically.
 
"I'll come tonight after supper.

"That trailer is fine for me, but it's not lit for you to set foot in."

"Bowie!"

He stubbornly shook his head.
 
"It's got to be someplace special.

When I find it, you'll be the first to know."

"But when?"

"I don't know yet."
 
His eyes burned with desire.
 
"As soon as possible."

"Until then, you can come to the house every night after Mama goes to bed."

"I'd never sleep with you sneaky like that under your mama s roof."

"I didn't mean we'd sleep together, just be together.
 
I can't leave Mama alone.
 
Maydale would get suspicious if I asked her to stay late every night.
 
I'd soon run out of excuses to be away from the house.

If we're going to see each other, you have to come there."

He frowned.
 
"That's tempting fate, Janellen.
 
If we take chances like that, something terrible could happen."

"That's silly.
 
Nothing's going to happen."

"Your mama could catch us together.
 
Then the shit would hit the fan."

He was right on that score.
 
But even her mother's disapproval wouldn't keep Janellen from seeing him.
 
"We'll make doubly sure we don't get caught until we're ready to make our friendship' public."

She grinned happily.
 
"I'm ready to tell the whole world."

"I'd postpone that if I were you."
 
He was as grim as she was ebullient.
 
"Sooner or later, something's bound to go wrong.
 
I'm unlucky like that."

"Everything's changing for both of us."

"Janellen."
 
He held her face between his hands again and peered closely into her eyes.
 
"Are you sure about this?
 
Are you absolutely sure?
 
'Cause being with me isn't going to be a picnic for you.
 
In fact, it's likely to be hell."

She covered his hands with hers.
 
"Being without you would be hell.

I'd sooner die.
 
I love you.

"I love you too.
 
And you can believe it or not, but I've never said that to another living soul."

They kissed again, and she wore him down until he gave her his promise to come to her back door at midnight that niht.

Heather Winston had absolutely no interest in the search for the Northwest Passage.
 
Irritably, she set aside her American history textbook and gave her mind over to the much more important matter of keeping Tanner Hoskins in line.

She was on duty at the check-in desk of The Green Pine Motel, as she was every weekday night from seven till ten.
 
It wasn't hard work.
 
It allowed her time to do homework and study for exams.

But it also kept her from spending time with Tanner.
 
Between cheerleading practice, the football team, and all their other extracurricular activities, they had very little time to be together except on weekends.

She didn't like it any better than he did, but he complained the most.

"Lately your mother's got you on such a short leash, it's hardly worth going out at all.

Heather was afraid he would soon tire of their situation and seek the companionship of a girl with a lighter schedule and a more lenient curfew.
 
Just that morning she'd caught him flirting with Mimsy Parker at her locker between second and third periods.
 
Everybody had seen them together.
 
By the time school was dismissed for the day, it was all over campus that Heather was on the verge of being dicked.

She wouldn't have it.

Recently Tanner had been elected student body president.
 
He'd scored two touchdowns last Friday night.
 
He was the most popular boy at school this year.
 
She wasn't about to let Mimsy Parker have him.

As she was devising various methods of keeping him faithful, a bowlegged man entered through the automatic doors, removed his hat, and surveyed the lobby.

"Hi.
 
Can I help you?"

"Evenin', Miss Winston.

"You know me?"

"I've seen you with your folks.
 
My name's Bowie Cato."

She recognized his name.
 
He was the ex-convict now working for the Tacketts.
 
Heather experienced a thrill of fear.
 
Was he about to rob her?
 
His darting eyes were wary and nervous.
 
She was the only one on duty in the lobby.
 
A waitress and a short-order cook were keeping the restaurant open, but they wouldn't be of any help to her if Bowie Cato had armed robbery and murder in mind.

"You might think this is a peculiar request," he said, after selfconsciously clearing his throat.
 
"But, well, I got, uh, kinfolks coming to spend the weekend.
 
My trailer isn't big enough to sleep them and me, too, and anyway, these kin are kinda persnickety.

So what I'm looking for is a place for them to stay.
 
One night, maybe two."

"I'll be happy to make a reservation for you, Mr. Cato.
 
Will they be here this weekend?"

"No, no, I don't need a reservation.
 
What I mean is, I'm not sure what day they'll be getting here.
 
They're sorta unpredictable."

"Oh."
 
Heather was at a loss.
 
He appeared harmless.
 
She saw no sign of a weapon, although he could have a gun concealed inside his denim jacket, she supposed.
 
He wasn't menacing, but she couldn't account for his jitters.
 
"When you find out their date of arrival, you could call us and reserve a room.
 
This time of year, we usually have "Yes, ma'am."
 
Seeming reluctant to go, he looked through the brochures and state maps in the cardboard rack on the counter.
 
"Uh, actually, I wondered if it would be possible for me to see a room.

Like preview it, check it out.
 
Your nicest room," he added quickly.

"They like things fancy."

Heather laughed.
 
"You want to see if our rooms are fancy enough for your relatives?"

"Meaning no offense, Miss Winston."
 
He raised his hands and looked so disarming that Heather felt silly for being afraid of him.

"These folks are like that.
 
Uppity.
 
Always wanting everything just so.
 
I promised to check out the motel situation before they commit to a visit."

Heather moved to the drawer where keys were filed according to the room number.
 
"The honeymoon suite is our nicest room.

"The honeymoon suite?
 
I like the sound of that."

Heather put a sign on the counter that said BACK IN TEN MINUTES and hid her smile as she motioned him through a pair of wide glass doors.
 
He didn't have relatives coming to visit any more than she had wings.
 
He was planning a rendezvous with a lady friend.
 
It was kind of sweet, Heather thought, the way he was making special plans for it.

"The suite is convenient to the swimming pool."
 
She called his attention to it as they walked through a landscaped courtyard.

"Bit nippy for a swim.

"It's heated year-round."

"No foolin'?"
 
He glanced dubiously at the water.

"No fooling.
 
That pool is my daddy's pride and joy.
 
My mother talked him into installing it when they expanded and added this new wing.
 
But it was Daddy's idea to heat it.
 
The honeymoon suite was also my mother's idea.
 
It's not as elaborate as ones you'd find in Dallas or Houston hotels, but it's pretty.
 
Here we are."

She unlocked the door for him and stood aside.
 
He hesitated on the threshold.
 
"If you feel uneasy coming inside with me, Miss Winston, I can take a look-see by myself."

His eyes were so apologetic and earnest that Heather would have followed him into a dark alley wearing all Darcy's diamonds.
 
"After you, Mr.
 
Cato."

The "suite" was decorated in mint and peach, the quality of materials a notch above what was used in the other rooms.
 
It had a sitting room and a bedroom with a king-size bed.
 
The bathtub had a built-in whirlpool.
 
Otherwise it was standard motel fare.
 
Heather wouldn't want to spend her wedding night in it, but she supposed it would seem luxurious to the hicks in Eden Pass.

Bowie Cato nodded appreciatively to every amenity she pointed out, but remained noncommittal.
 
"Where does that go?"
 
he asked, indicating a door on the far side of the bedroom.

"The parking lot.
 
If a guest wants to rent just the bedroom, we lock the door that connects to the parlor."

"Hmm.
 
So you can come into the bedroom using the parking lot door without having to go through the lobby and around the pool?"

"That's right," she answered, suppressing another grin.
 
Mr. Cato was having a secret affair.
 
"The TV in the bedroom has a VCR, so you can bring your own movies to watch."

"Oh, I doubt we'll be watching He broke off when he realized that he'd given himself away.

Embarrassed, his ears turned red and he swallowed hard.
 
She smiled to let him know that his secret was safe with her.
 
"Like doctors and lawyers, people in the hotel business are very discreet."

"Yes, ma'am.
 
Well, I think I've seen all I need to see.
 
Thank you kindly.
 
Can I go out through this door?"
 
He moved to the one that opened directly onto the parking lot.