Page 5 of Red's Peril: Part 1

“Thank you… Cheryl.” I read her name tag.Cheryl,my mind echoes.Oh yeah, Cheryl, that’s it, suck my…

I give myself a mental slap to snap me out of my daydream just in time to hear her tell me, “I’ll be right back.”

What the fuck has gotten into me?Of necessity, sex has been the last thing on my mind for a very long time. It’s going to be mightily inconvenient if I start looking at every female as a potential partner in bed. Giving my libido a lecture, I tell my dick to behave.

Nevertheless, my eyes are again drawn to her as she goes to the counter, shouts out my order to someone named Joe, then raises the coffee pot and brings it back over. I push my cup toward her, and she fills it.

Multi-tasking, she jerks her head toward the parking lot. “That your two-wheeler out there?”

I’d deliberately sat by the window so I have sight of my bike outside, which means I don’t have to turn to check. When I grin, and respond, “Sure is,” I don’t miss the look of longing in her eyes. But seeing it’s directed at my bike, not me, I suppress a snort.

“You ride?” I doubt it, but I’ve learned not to jump to conclusions. There had been a few women bringing in their rides for a service where I’d worked.

“Huh,” she snorts, and shakes her head, making her ponytail fly. “No way. But I’ve always wondered what it’s like to go on the back.” She sounds wistful.

I could make your dreams come true, sweetheart. In exchange for a ride of a different sort.Not being stupid, I keep those thoughts to myself. She’s a good girl, probably loves horses and Jesus, and would be horrified if let the words escape my mouth.

“Order up!” a loud voice shouts grumpily from the kitchen.

Immediately, Cheryl spins on her heels, goes to the counter and exchanges the coffee pot for a loaded plate. She returns quickly, and offers a practiced, “Enjoy your meal,” before she strides off to deal with another customer who’s trying to attract her attention.

Relaxed, in no hurry to be anywhere, I take my time to relish the offering that’s actually quite good. By the time I’ve cleaned the plate and downed my second coffee, I notice the few other customers have left. There seems to be a lull in trade, so when Cheryl returns to clear the table, I point to the seat opposite. While eating, I’ve become annoyed with myself that I’ve been looking at her as a potential sex partner. I should be better than that. While I only have a vain hope that could be on the agenda, getting to know her better could only help. If nothing else, having a conversation with a fellow human being will counteract the self-imposed loneliness of the past couple of days.

I make a suggestion, “Why don’t you take the load off for a bit?”

Startling, as though she hadn’t expected the invitation, she casts a glance around, noticing, as I had, there’s no current call on her services. With more elegance than I expected, she pulls out the chair and sits on it. Her sigh of relief as she takes the weight off her feet doesn’t go unnoticed.

I’m not even sure of the name of the place I’ve stopped at. It’s just another Podunk town, just like many others I’ve driven through. Her, though, for some reason, she’s caught my interest. So much so, now I’ve got her full focus, I’m tongue-tied.

She, however, has no such problem. “What’s your name?” she asks, picking up a napkin and twisting it between her fingers. I notice she’s a sociable girl, clearly feeling no awkwardness talking to a stranger. Whether it’s learned because of her job, or her natural inclination, it’s hard to tell.

I supply the required information. “Folks call me Red.”

Her eyes widen a little. “Nickname?”

“Yeah.” I chuckle. “Been called it all my life. Barely remember the name I was born with. I have no idea why.” I wink at her.

She gives a soft laugh. With my features, the answer is obvious. I’m pleased she refrains from testing my memory on my legal name.Why should she? We’re not starting a relationship. “So, are you passing through, or staying for a while?”

I shrug while my eyes assess her. Could she have something to tempt me to break my journey? I’m attracted to her, but hell, I’m a man. I suspect she gets chatted up on a daily basis. “Passing through,” I tell her eventually. While I’m intrigued by my physical reaction to her, it would only be a whim to stay longer.

Again, she glances outside at my bike, her eyes lingering on it for a moment before she brings them back to me. “Where are you heading?”

“I’ve no idea.” I grin at her, replying honestly. “Right now, I’m going where the road and the wind take me.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh?” Seems she hadn’t taken me for a drifter. She bites her lips as though she wants to ask more.

For some reason, I’ve a need to satisfy her unspoken curiosity. Sighing, I tell her much the same as I’d told Manny. “I’m heading south. Got me a hankering for a warmer climate.”

Her mouth opens in an O, and her eyes become unfocused as a look of longing comes over her face. “California?”

“Maybe.” I shrug. “I’ve got no real plans. I’ll ride until I find somewhere I like and some place I can settle down.”

Her gaze sharpens again as she shakes herself, and her voice sounds dreamy. “I wish I could do that. Just take off.”

“Why can’t you?” I’ve glanced at her finger. She wears no ring.

“I…” she starts, then frowns. “It’s not what normal people do, is it.”

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