Trucker (The Good Guys #1)(4)

"Copy that," he said as if we were really talking over a CB radio. "You  dropping the trailer off in Mount Vernon on your way back?"

"Yep," I confirmed. "I'll spend the night at a rest stop and go by there first thing in the morning."

"Ten-four. See ya back in Tolson." He ended the conversation and hung up.

Tolson¸ Illinois. Population 320.

It couldn't keep a grocery store in business, but for some reason the  tiny town could support two taverns. And the taverns didn't just do  well, they thrived. The good people of Tolson were social butterflies.  Any day of the week (except for Sunday, of course) you could go into  either tavern and find familiar faces, a cold drink, and good food.

Over the years, many other businesses had tried to make a go of it and  failed. Hair salons, convenience stores, even a gas station.

A few years ago, Hank's Auto Shop was struggling, offering only mechanic  services, so he decided to add a truck testing station as well.

That's where my love for the truck-driving industry began.

The rumble of the engine. The hiss of the brakes. I loved the power  behind a semi. Loved the idea of long hauls on the open road.

After high school, Colton and I both attended the community college  automotive program to become certified mechanics. It seemed like the  most logical step since we planned to stay on at the shop. Plus, I  didn't have the money to go to a four-year college.

Sure, I could've applied for financial aid, saddled myself with student  loans, and spent four years getting a degree I didn't even want. But I  knew that wasn't for me.

A year ago, Hank had the idea to buy a rig and start a transportation  company. The shop still wasn't bringing in enough money and he needed to  expand his business if he wanted to keep it going.

I'll never forget how excited I was when Hank told Colton and me we needed to get our CDL so we could start truck-driving.                       
       
           



       

Hank & Sons Transport was born. Sons.

I wasn't too much of a man to admit that my eyes got misty when he  announced he name. He wasn't my dad, but he was the closest thing I had  to it.

The business was genius. We were basically a moving company, but we  didn't have to pack and unpack people's crap. I simply dropped the  trailer off at the client's house for a day or two while they loaded it  up with their belongings. Then, I hooked it back up to the semi and  delivered it to the new location.

The thing about moving? Most people had a lot of stuff. And not everyone felt comfortable behind the wheel of a giant U-Haul.

I enjoyed driving across the country, so I usually took the long-distance hauls while Colton did most of the local business.

We didn't normally have deliveries back to back, but the business was  growing quickly. Hank had even mentioned getting a second rig in the  future and I thought it was a great idea.

Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I locked up the cab and went  inside the truck stop to pay for the fuel and get something to eat.

While I was perusing the chips, a girl in the aisle over caught my eye. I  was tall enough to see over the median but she hadn't noticed me. She  held up two different protein bars and seemed to be having one hell of  an inner debate about which one to pick.

It was cute. She was cute.

Actually, cute wasn't a strong enough word to describe her. She was downright angelic.

Her long blonde hair was pulled into a messy side-braid and several  strands had escaped to frame her heart-shaped face. She had big, crystal  blue eyes and her cheeks were slightly rounded, reminding me of the  angels I'd seen in a famous painting once. It didn't look like she had  any makeup on, but a girl like her didn't need it.

She finally made her selection, and walked away, ending my trance.

In the far back of the small convenience store, the refrigerator held a  limited selection of pre-packaged deli sandwiches. With a sigh, I  settled for a turkey and cheese, then grabbed a bottle of water.

The protein bar girl ended up in front of me in line. She was a tiny  thing. Maybe 5'3". Although she was thin, she had curves in all the  right places. She was wearing a white, off the shoulder tee, and jean  shorts. I would've had a good view of her rounded ass if her backpack  hadn't been in the way.

Damn. The backpack probably meant she was still in high school, which meant I shouldn't even be looking at her like that.

It didn't matter anyway. I wasn't from around here and I'd never see her again.

*

I was sitting behind the wheel, finishing my lunch, when I heard my phone ping with an incoming text.



Colton: When do you grab ass tomorrow?



Me: wtf?



Colton: Dammit. Ducking autocorrect.



Colton: Fuck



Colton: What time do you get back tomorrow?



He had no idea I was cracking up at his expense.



Me: Probably mid morning. Definitely by noon. What's up?



Colton: You and me. Buck's. Tomorrow night.



Me: Fuck you, dude. I'm avoiding that place for a while and you know it.



There was no way I was ready for a run-in with Kendra. Her texts requesting a second date had been relentless.



Colton: Fine. Brick House then.



Me: Fine.



The Brick House was a bar in another small town about five miles away  from Tolson. With a DJ, dancing, and drink specials, it was a hot spot  on Friday night. I never danced but it was amusing to watching Colton  try.

Just as I pulled my hat low over my eyes and sat back in the seat for a  fifteen-minute snooze, I saw the same girl from inside the truck stop  come out of the bathroom at the back of the building.

She'd been in there a long time and she had different clothes on. Now  she was wearing jeans and a light blue tank top. And her hair wasn't in a  braid anymore-it was lying around her shoulders in long, wet waves.

What the hell did she do in there, fall in?

*

After my post-lunch nap, I drove away from the truck stop with thoughts  of how to effectively thwart Kendra's efforts to pursue a relationship.

I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but avoiding her wouldn't work forever.

Unfortunately, dating options in our age group were scarce in Tolson.

After graduation, everyone scattered. Most couldn't wait to get away  from the small town, wanting to spread their wings and learn about the  world.

Find out what else is out there.

But I was happy to stay put. I didn't need to go anywhere else to know I was already home.

I'd only been driving for about a mile when I saw someone walking along the side of the road in the distance.

As I got closer I saw the backpack and blonde hair. She turned toward my semi before sticking her thumb out.                       
       
           



       

"Shit," I whispered, recognizing her right away. Even from a distance, I  could see the hopeful expression on her face, and I felt something  twist in my chest.

What the hell did she think she was doing? Hitchhiking was dangerous.

For a split second, I thought about not stopping. I could just keep on driving and forget I ever saw her.

But just as fast, all the possible scenarios played out in my mind. All  the things that could happen to her. All the sick, depraved people who  could be the ones to pull over and lure her into their vehicle with the  promise of a safe ride.

I'd never picked up a hitchhiker before.

Had never planned on it.

But there was no way I could leave this girl out there on her own.





ANGEL

The June heat beat down on my shoulders as I walked along the side of  the side of the two-lane highway. Every time a vehicle passed by I stuck  my thumb out, but no one even tapped their brakes.

I couldn't blame them for not stopping. I wouldn't pick up a hitchhiker either.

My backpack was starting to feel heavier by the minute and I was  becoming very aware that my Converse shoes weren't meant for  long-distance hikes. The only sounds to keep me company were the  chirping birds, the whooshing of cars passing me by, and the noise of my  own footsteps. The side of the road was filled with gravel that  crunched under my Chucks with every stride.

Crunch.

Crunch

Crunch.

The scenery left something to be desired. Tall trees lined each side of  the highway and that was pretty much it. Then again, most places  couldn't compare to Maine. I thought of the lighthouses along the rocky  coast and how beautiful the trees were in the fall.

I wondered if I'd ever go back. I hoped so. Before I left, I spread  Claire's ashes by our favorite lighthouse. She hadn't specified where  she wanted her ashes to go, but I knew it was the right spot.

I'd been walking for about twenty minutes when a giant semi started to slow and pulled over about thirty feet ahead of me.

The brakes hissed as it came to a complete stop, and the constant roar  of the engine was loud as I approached the intimidating vehicle.

My heart slammed in my chest as I quickly walked to the passenger side while silently praying in my head.

Please don't be a pervert.