Trucker Daddy (Working Man Series Book 3) Page 14

  “If we do what you’re suggesting, you’ll regret it in the morning, I guarantee it. You’re not thinking with a clear mind after that wine.”

  She turned her head and licked his hand and then pulled his thumb into her mouth. As if that weren’t shocking enough, next she started sucking on it! He immediately got an erection and groaned.

  “Twiggy,” he whispered, feeling himself losing control. He wanted to bed her so desperately that it was becoming an obsession. “You don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

  There was the sound of a pop as she released his thumb from between her two lush lips. “Oh, I know exactly what I’m doing,” she told him. “And I know what I want you to do to me.”

  He felt like he was about to burst. Try as hard as he might, he just couldn’t deny this open invitation. Just when he was about to agree to this absurd suggestion, his phone rang and he jolted in surprise. Looking down at his phone he saw it was Shelby calling. His heart dropped. “Damn,” he whispered, clicking off the ringer and ignoring the call.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked, looking relaxed and sexier than all hell. “Who is it?”

  “It’s –” He wanted to tell her about Shelby, but this wasn’t the time or place. Besides, she was tipsy if not drunk and wouldn’t take the news well, even if he explained that he was going to break up with her when he got home. After all, he was always on the road and never even saw the girl. Being away so long made him realize that he’d never really felt anything for her in the first place except for lust. It was different with Twiggy. She’d been on his mind for years now. Just being with her on this trip made him realize that what he felt for her was more than just simple lust. Or was it?

  “It was no one,” he said, getting up from his chair and reaching for the baby. “Let’s get back to the truck.”

  “I can’t wait,” she told him, still looking at him in that promiscuous manner.

  Cal reached back and picked up his glass, chugging the rest of the wine. He couldn’t bed her now. If he did, it would prove nothing other than he was attracted to her sexually. He had to tell her about Shelby first, and explain that there was nothing between him and Shelby anymore. There hadn’t been for some time now. “Yeah, I can’t wait either,” he said softly, knowing she wasn’t going to take it well when he turned her away once again.

  Chapter 11

  By the time they got back to the truck and parked for the night, Tuesday was feeling anxious. She never should have drank so much wine because it made her careless and lust filled . . . and also tired.

  “You go ahead and get ready for bed,” Cal told her. “I’ll put the baby down tonight.”

  “We can do it together,” she told him, starting to have second thoughts about what she’d suggested they do. Oh, why had she ever been so bold as to kiss him at the restaurant? As much as she’d enjoyed it, she realized she was coming across as a loose woman, and that was the furthest thing from the truth. As a matter of fact, she was so conservative that Charlotte always teased her and told her she was going to become a nun someday.

  “Whatever you want,” he said, looking down at his phone when it started to ring again.

  “Someone sure is persistent to be calling you so much this time of night,” she said with a yawn, dressing Maggie in her jammies. “It must be important.” Tuesday figured it was probably another man calling from one of those places where Cal picked up or dropped off shipments.

  “It’s not important,” he told her. “Don’t worry about it. I’m shutting the ringer off for the night.”

  “You never answered my question earlier about your parents,” she said, taking care of Maggie. Satisfied with his steak bone, Burrito was already curled up on the floor.

  “My parents divorced when we were young, but didn’t want anyone to know. So Jenna and I had to pretend that they were still together. Image was everything to them.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said.

  “What about your family?” he asked. “I don’t really know anything about them or too much about you either.”

  She headed to the bathroom, leaving the door open as she removed her contacts and put them in the case. “My parents live in a retirement community in Florida, not wanting to deal with the cold of Michigan. I only see them a few times a year.” She quickly brushed her teeth.

  “Any siblings?” he asked.

  “No. I’m an only child. I always wanted sisters and brothers and swore that someday I’d have lots of kids of my own to make up for it.” She emerged from the bathroom.

  “Really?” he asked, rocking the sleepy Maggie as the baby rubbed her eyes.

  “I’ll get her a bottle,” said Tuesday, heading over to the fridge. She pulled one out and stuck it in the microwave.

  “So if you always wanted a lot of kids, and because you are so good with the baby – why aren’t you married with lots of kids of your own by now?” he asked.

  “Thanks for pointing that out,” she mumbled, feeling lately that all her friends were married and having children by now but she was still single and all alone. She pulled the bottle out of the microwave, screwed on the lid and tested the formula on her inner arm. “You know, I think it is time for Maggie to start drinking from a Sippy cup. Can we stop somewhere and pick one up tomorrow?”

  “You mean we don’t already have one with all the supplies you bought?”

  “No. And we also forgot to buy a thermometer. If she’s teething, there is a good chance she’ll get a fever. We’ll need to pick up one of those tomorrow, too.”

  “I didn’t even know we needed one. Twiggy, I don’t know if we’ll be going past any stores. The drive is pretty desolate.”

  “That’s fine. I should be able to get those things at one of the mini-marts at a gas station. I’m sure we’ll go past a gas station, won’t we? Here, give me the baby.”

  He handed Maggie to her, and she sat with the baby on the edge of the bed.

  “You’re avoiding my question,” he told her. “Why aren’t you already married with lots of kids?”

  “I’m still young,” she answered.

  “True. But every day, you’re getting older.”

  “Don’t rush me.”

  “Sorry. I was just curious, that’s all. I’ll drop the subject.”

  After a few minutes of silence between them, she finally answered. “I’ve just never found the right man, that’s all. That is, a man that I cared enough about to want to marry.” She peeked up from the corners of her eyes to watch for his reaction. She wanted to tell him that she cared for him, but now after she basically threw herself at Cal, she didn’t have the guts to say it.

  “Yeah, I know what you mean.”

  “You do? I mean . . . you’re a trucker and always on the road. I figured you wanted to remain a loner.”

  “I did. But lately, I’m considering other options.”

  “Like getting married?”

  He seemed so fidgety and uncertain all of a sudden.

  “I’ve never found a woman I wanted to settle down with and with whom I can raise a family,” he blurted out, and then looked like he could have kicked himself for saying that.

  “So, then you do want a wife and family?” she asked, just trying to understand him. “I thought you didn’t. I mean – since you’ve chosen this lonely profession, and all.”

  “I admit, I am more or less a loner and like it that way.” He removed his shoes, then his shirt, and it was all she could do not to stare at him. “All I need is my dog.”

  “Are you sure about that?” She peeked up at him shyly. “You realize that things will be different now that you have Maggie.”

  “No, that shouldn’t matter.” Next, his pants came off and she quickly looked the other way. She heard him crawling into bed.

  “Why did you say it doesn’t matter? Oh, please tell me you are not going to put Maggie up for adoption.” She grew frantic. “You can’t do it. Please, don’t do it. If you don’t want Maggie, then I do. I’
ll adopt her. I’ll be her mother! You can’t hand her over to live with a stranger.”

  “Whoa, Twiggy, stop!” he said, holding out his hands. “Slow down there, sweetheart. I never said I didn’t want Maggie. That’s not what I meant at all.”

  “Well, I meant what I said. If you don’t want Maggie, tell me and I will adopt her.”

  He made a face and lay back with his arms behind his head. “I highly doubt they’ll let you adopt since you are single and don’t even have a high-paying job.”

  “Well, that’s all going to change,” she told him.

  “Really? Are you getting married?”

  “I’m sure I will. Someday. Besides, I will be a business owner once I use the money you pay me to add to what I’ve been saving, and buy into the daycare with Charlotte. Then I will be part owner. Just please, give me time,” she said, feeling a tear drip down her cheek. She rocked Maggie in her arms, feeding her the bottle.

  “Twiggy, stop the worrying. I promise you, I am not ever going to let Maggie go.” He sat back up and reached out to wipe away her tear. “I’ve been thinking about a lot of things since I got Maggie. I know you’re right. I can’t do this on my own. Therefore, I have decided to find a wife . . . someday. So, yes, Maggie will grow up with a mother as well as a father.”

  “Oh, okay,” she said, not sure how to feel hearing this. She was happy Maggie would be taken care of, but wasn’t sure she liked the idea of Cal finding some woman to marry. What if the girl was like one of those centerfolds? The thought terrified her that Maggie might have someone like the sexy, naked, Miss May for a mother.

  “Tuesday, it’s been an emotional journey so far, and I think we all need a good night’s rest. Let’s go to bed.”

  “Bed,” she said, suddenly feeling scared as she glanced at the bed behind her. She had feelings for Cal, and she couldn’t deny the fact she wanted to make love to him. She thought he wanted it, too. But they were only going to be together for a few days. This would be like a one-night stand. That was something she wasn’t sure she could handle.

  “We’ll put Maggie in between us while we sleep so she doesn’t fall off the bed.” He took the baby from her and scooted back onto the bed, placing the sleeping Maggie next to him as he lay back down.

  The wine had hit Tuesday hard tonight and she started to become very sleepy. She lay down next to the baby, putting her arm over Maggie who had dozed off. Cal put his arm around the baby, too, atop Tuesday’s arm. She liked the feel of the warmth emanating from him.

  “Cal,” she said, so tired she could barely keep her eyes open.

  “Mmmm?” His eyes were closed and he sounded exhausted.

  “I’m sorry for kissing you before and for coming on to you.”

  “Don’t apologize. I kind of liked it,” he mumbled, his eyes still closed.

  “My eyes aren’t really blue,” she blurted out. “Look!” She pushed up on one elbow and pushed her face closer to him. “I wear colored contacts to make me look prettier.”

  His eyes opened briefly and he glanced over at her and then his eyes drifted closed. “I know,” he mumbled. There was a long pause and he said nothing. Then he did speak and it surprised her to hear what he said. “Twiggy, I think you’re beautiful . . . even without the contacts . . . or the dyed hair.”

  “Y – you do?” she asked, hope swelling in her heart. Could someone like Cal really mean what he just said, or was it the wine talking for him, too?

  When he didn’t answer her, she started to worry that he didn’t mean his compliment after all. “Cal?” she asked again, and then heard him snoring. Smiling, she reached down to kiss his arm gently, liking the way it felt with the two of them and the baby all together in the same bed. The problem was, she had started to like being with Cal a little too much. That made her wonder if taking this job had been a mistake. How was she ever going to walk away from Cal and the baby and go back to her mundane life? Things would never be the same again.

  Chapter 12

  “Honey, get up.” Cal spoke softly, shaking Twiggy gently by the shoulder. Glancing at the clock on his phone he realized it was only 4:30 in the morning. It didn’t matter. It was a good six-hour drive to the next drop off location, and he was expected to be there on time. He needed to stay on schedule.

  “Mmmm?” Twiggy raised her head off the bed, looking dazed and confused. “Wh – what’s going on? Is the baby all right?”

  “Everything’s fine,” Cal assured her. “I’ve changed and fed Maggie and she is playing on the floor with Burrito. It’s time to get up. We need to get back on the road.”

  “Yes. Of course,” she said, blinking, trying to gather her bearings. “I’ll put the harness on Maggie and watch her. You just start driving.”

  Six hours later, Cal’s shipment was unloaded, his log books filled out, and he was back on the highway, headed for home. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Then it started to rain. Twiggy came and joined him up front.

  “How’s Maggie?” Cal asked, keeping his eyes on the road. It was still early, but the sky was dark from the approaching storm.

  “The baby’s fine. I left the harness on her and she is taking a nap on the bed. Burrito is on the bed, too, watching her.” She chuckled, which surprised Cal.

  “You are laughing instead of being terrorized, thinking the dog is going to hurt her?”

  “Not anymore, I don’t. The more I get to know Burrito, the more I realize he is harmless, just like you said.”

  “How did you get him to give up his seat up front?” asked Cal with a nod of his head.

  “Like you said, Burrito will do anything for food,” she told him. “I gave him part of that second tuna salad wrap, and it was worth its weight in gold.”

  “Mornin’ Tex,” came a voice over the CB but Cal just ignored it.

  Twiggy looked over at Cal. “Aren’t you going to answer him?”

  “Naw. I’ll shut off the radio so we can talk.” Cal figured his friends were only going to get him into trouble with Twiggy and it was better to stay clear of anymore conversations like he had yesterday that set her off.

  “No, that’s rude. Here, let me. Please?” She reached for the radio and Cal let out a sigh. “Go ahead,” he answered with a shrug. “But just to warn you, these guys can be crude.”

  “I can handle it,” she told him, pushing in the button on the mic. “This is Shotgun, what’s your handle?” she asked, surprising Cal that she even knew what handle meant.

  “Shotgun?” Cal looked at her, confused.

  “I’m riding shotgun,” she told him, covering the mic with her free hand. “Plus, I thought it might scare them a little if they thought I was a sharpshooter or something. Then, they wouldn’t even try to harass me.”

  Cal chuckled. “Highly unlikely. And you know they can’t hear you unless you’ve got that button pushed, right? So there is no need to cover the mic with your hand.”

  “I know that,” she said, inspecting the radio, making it more than clear to Cal that she knew nothing about it at all.

  “You’ve got Breadman watchin’ your backdoor, and it’s a clean shot,” came the man’s voice. “Hey, are you with Tex, Shotgun?”

  “I am,” she said, looking over at Cal with the button still pushed.

  “What’s he mean he’s watching my backdoor? Is that trucker smut?”

  “It can be if you want it to be,” came another voice over the radio.

  “Wait. Who’s that?” she asked, talking into the mic without holding the button now. “Is there someone else out there listening?”

  “Give me that,” Cal grumbled, taking it from her. “And yes, anyone with a CB can hear every word we’re saying, so be sure not to have that damned button pushed unless you mean to.”

  “Why do they call him Breadman?” she asked.

  “His last name is Baker.”

  “Oooooh.” She nodded. “I get it.”

  “Hello, come in, you’ve got Tex,” said Cal. “Is this Red Ringer?” he a
sked, recognizing the redheaded trucker’s voice.

  “In person, and at your front door,” answered the man. “Just passed Barney Fife at the get on, at 25, and he shot me in the gas hole. Better watch your ass.”

  “Barney Fife? Like in Mayberry and Aunt Bea?” asked Twiggy. “And that gas hole thing has to be dirty, right?”

  “Hardly,” Cal answered. “It means there is a county cop at the entrance ramp using his radar gun as you go by.”

  “I guess I need to learn this trucker lingo.”

  “That’s a ten-four, Red Ringer, I’ll keep my eyes open,” Cal said, pushing the button.

  “How about a 10-13, Red Ringer?” asked Breadman from behind him. Rain started pelting down hard on the window and Cal turned on the wipers.

  “The old girl’s wipin’ her feet up here,” said Red.

  “What does a 10-13 mean?” asked Twiggy. “And what old girl? Is there a woman riding with him, too?”

  Cal was about to talk into the mic but stopped and answered her first. “No, sweetheart, he doesn’t have a woman in the truck. We’re talking about a weather report. He’s saying it’s slippery from the rain and the truck is sliding. Now stop talking, I need to focus on my driving.”

  Lightning slashed across the sky followed by a loud boom of thunder, making Twiggy jump. The baby started crying loudly, and the dog howled along with her in harmony. The rain came down so fast and furiously now that it was almost hard to see out the window.

  “That’s a ten-four,” Cal said, having to talk loudly over the crying baby.

  “Tex? You got a baby on board?” asked Red Ringer.

  “That’s affirmative,” he answered.

  “And a beaver,” added Breadman.

  “She’s my daughter,” said Cal.

  “The beaver or the baby?” asked Red.

  “The little one,” he answered.

  “Damn, I just passed a stranded beaver in the storm, but I can’t stop to pick her up,” said Red next.

  Lightning flashed, thunder boomed, and the wind picked up. The storm became fearsome.