They intended to use the new SUV exploring the state, visiting Joshua Tree National Monument and the Mojave Desert at their earliest convenience.
On the night they obtained the vehicle, their new purchase was celebrated with dinner out on the town. Upon returning, Randy parked the Toyota and walked away, not realizing the new keyless SUV was still running.
With the key fob in his pocket, he and JoAnn retired to their bedroom, fell asleep, and never awoke. Carbon monoxide from the vehicle’s exhaust suffocated them while they slept at each other’s side.
“I am,” I said, glancing in her direction. “It was tragic. I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you.” She shifted her gaze to the side window. “I came here not knowing whether I was going to sell their home or not. I decided I’d make the decision after I got here and looked everything over. After being here for a while, it’s obvious this place isn’t for me. People are in too big of a hurry and everyone’s an asshole.” She looked at me. “Except for you.”
“It’s a different lifestyle, that’s for sure,” I admitted. “And, for what it’s worth, I’m an asshole on the inside.”
“What does that mean?”
“If you take away the suit, the car, and shitty little grin, what you’re left with is me.” I looked at her and laughed. “I’m a prick.”
“I don’t think you’re a prick.” She gave me an admiring look. “You saved me from that stinky asshole who was trying to steal my car. A prick wouldn’t have done that.”
I’d intervened because it was the right thing to do. It didn’t dismiss the fact that the entire time I was zip-tying the asshole and throwing him in the trunk of her car that I hoped she’d find my actions heroic enough to offer me gratuitous sex in exchange for saving her.
“It was second nature,” I argued.
“Your Marine training?”
“I suppose.”
“Well, not everyone would have done what you did.” She reached for her purse. “Because of that, I say you’re not an asshole.”
I was, but there was no sense in arguing with her. If she was leaving in six days, she wouldn’t have time to find out on her own. I’d let her continue to believe what made her happy.
I offered her an appreciative grin. “Thank you.”
In the midst of adjusting her makeup, she checked her reflection in her compact and then smiled in return. “You’re welcome.”
I exited the freeway and came to a stop at the traffic light. “The restaurant is right up the street.”
“Good,” she said, shifting her gaze to the side window. “I’m starving.”
I stole a glance at the side of her ass. “Yeah,” I said. “Me, too.”
Anna
People like Braxton didn’t exist in Oklahoma. Completely astonished by what I’d learned, I gazed at him with admiring eyes. Soon, I became lost in the heady scent of his cologne. Half a dozen scenarios came to mind, each of which ended with him being naked and me being happy.
After gawking much longer than I probably should have, I emerged from the carnal fog that encompassed me. I pierced a potato wedge and raised my fork to my mouth.
He motioned toward my hand with his eyes. “You’re shaking.”
He was right. It had nothing to do with the incident, though. To be honest, all thoughts of the event had been temporarily replaced by mental images of Braxton and me doing the dirty.
I wasn’t about to admit that I was enthralled by him or that the fascination was likely the cause of my nervous energy. I glanced at the tip of my fork and feigned surprise.
“I guess I am,” I said. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
He leaned forward. “Come here,” he said, his voice nearly a whisper.
Excluding a half-assed smirk from time to time, Braxton didn’t exhibit much emotion on the joyous side of the spectrum. His look wasn’t stern or angry, it was simply one of a serious nature. Having him playfully approach me with a whisper was intoxicating.
Overcome with curiosity, I set my fork down and met him at the center of the table. “Yes?”
“I’ve got an idea,” he whispered.
He was close enough to kiss me. His breath was nearly as sweet as his cologne. I was captivated.
“An idea?” I asked.
“Of sorts. I want you to make a bet with me,” he explained. “It ends with one or the other of us taking off our clothes. It should help take your mind off whatever’s making you shake.”
If one of us was going to end up taking off our clothes, I’d be an idiot not to play. Regardless of which one of us was going to strip to our skivvies, things would be headed in the right direction. My knees wagged back and forth in anticipation.
“Okay,” I breathed.
“So, you want to do it?”
Incapable of hiding my excitement, I nodded eagerly in agreement. “Sure.”
“I’m going to guess the color of your panties,” he said flatly. “If I get it right, you’re going to take them off and put them in your purse. If I guess wrong, I’ll strip down to my boxers and finish breakfast.”
As if it wasn’t bad enough already, he tossed gasoline on the sexual fire that was burning between my legs. I expected him to smirk, laugh, or to say that he was joking. The look on his face was as clear as his request.
He was dead serious.
The odds of him guessing the color of my panties was minuscule. My heart raced at the thought of seeing him half-naked.
I swallowed heavily. “All the way to your boxers?”
“Boxers and socks,” he declared. “I’ll give everything else to you.”
I would have given him a hundred bucks to see him without his shirt on. It seemed like a fair bet. Nevertheless, I wanted to negotiate for more.
“If I’m going to risk losing my panties, you’re going to have to sweeten the pot.”
His gaze narrowed. “Like what?”
“Strip to your boxers and socks and tell me about Lady Gaga,” I said. “How you met, and what she was like. The entire story.”
He let out a sigh of frustration and leaned away from the table. After studying me for a long moment, he gave a regretful nod. “Fine.”
I offered my hand. “I’ll take that bet.”
He started to shake my hand and then hesitated. “How close do I have to get?”
“What do you mean?”
“For instance, would I have to guess the specific color, or could it be orange instead of tangerine, mango, or pumpkin?”
I laughed. “If you get the color right, it’ll be good enough.”
He crossed his arms and looked me over. His hazel eyes glistened mischievously. Feeling as if he’d hypnotized me, I stared blankly into the abyss of his green and brown speckled orbs.
“Take off your green panties and put them in your purse,” he said.
I blinked. “Huh?”
“Green,” he said. “Your panties. They’re green.”
“How did…” I stared in disbelief. “I feel like you sucked that information out of my soul.”
“Am I right, or am I wrong?” he asked.