Forks Page 6

  “Not much. She was just asking me about school and stuff.”

  “What kind of stuff?” I hoped it wasn’t anything embarrassing.

  “She said I should take you out.”

  “No.” I gaped. “She didn’t…did she?”

  His lips curled into a slow grin. “Nah, I was just messing with you.”

  “Thank goodness.” My heart was palpitating.

  “She asked me to stay for dinner.”

  “Oh, that’s ah…”

  “Don’t have heart failure. I told her I couldn’t.”

  “I wasn’t going to…”

  He laughed. “You’re a bad liar.”

  “I really don’t mind if you stay but…”

  “But...?”

  “Nothing.” I didn’t want to say that my mom might humiliate me even further.

  “Well I better get going, so I can get the stuff to fix your tire.”

  “Right.” God, I felt like a such a b. “Um…” I debated for less than a second. “You want me to come with?”

  “What about your dinner?”

  “You mean my third wheel dinner? I think I can miss it.”

  “Won’t your Mom be upset?”

  “I doubt it.”

  “Okay. I guess you can come.” He raked his hand through his hair. He had nice hair like really nice.

  “You guess?” I crossed my arms.

  “Yeah, I guess I wouldn’t mind the company.”

  “You wouldn’t mind…” I frowned. Somehow I was hoping he wanted me to go.

  “Well, it’s the least I can do since you are fixing my tire and all.” I wasn’t giving him that one.

  “Yeah, it’s the least you can do.”

  I was about to give him a smart retort but his expression was off. A shiver raced up my spine and I took a step back. Maybe going out with him wasn’t the best idea I had.

  The doorbell rang.

  “Ken’s here!” Mom, called from the other room. “Look alive, Amber, and get some drinks.”

  Well that sealed it. I was going out, strange icky feeling and all.

  “Let me fix them drinks and I’ll be right with you, okay.”

  He leaned against the counter. “Sure.” His brow lifted. “Look alive?”

  “Yeah, it’s her thing.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Interesting choice of words,” he said, lifting a knife from the counter, touching the tip with his finger.

  I grabbed down two glasses from the cabinet and opened the freezer. The ice tray was empty. Great.

  “You don’t need ice for wine.” He held a bottle up in the air.

  “Right. Thanks.” I switched out the tumblers for wine glasses. “Shoot, which wine?” I grabbed the Pinot Noir off the counter.

  “What’s for dinner?”

  “Steaks.”

  “Definitely the red.” He nodded at the bottle of Cabernet.

  “Let me guess, you’re an expert.”

  “No. My dad and mom drink wine a lot.”

  “Yeah, so does my mom.” Even when she thinks I’m not looking.

  Searching the drawers for a corkscrew, I reached around him. He angled his body toward mine and I instinctively held my breath. “Looking for this,” he said, holding up the corkscrew.

  “Yeah,” I expelled a pent up breath.

  “Let me.” He held out his hand for the bottle.

  I was too happy to hand it to him. I probably would have broken the cork or dropped the bottle. “So how do you know what wine to serve?” I asked just for something to say.

  “It’s pretty easy really. The bloody meats like beef or lamb are always paired with a red wine and the lighter meats like chicken or fish are paired with white. Of course, at the end of the day it really comes down to personal preference but that’s what Julia Childs’ always says, so….” His lip tipped up.

  “You watch cooking shows?”

  “No. But my mom does, usually while she’s cooking and drinking wine. I can always tell what we are having for dinner. She’s a real stickler for the proper etiquette.” He pulled out the cork. “Now it needs to breathe, unless you have a decanter.”

  “I don’t even know what that is, so I’m guessing, that would be a big NO.”

  “It’s just a bottle with a wider top, like a vase, kind of. It helps speed along the breathing.”

  “Oooh—kay. If you say so.”

  My mom ducked her head in. “Amber what’s taking so long?”

  “Viktor was helping me open the wine. It’s breathing.”

  “Yes, I can see that.” Her gaze flicked down his body.

  Gross. My face burned. My mom was acting like a horn dog. Maybe she needed some. I was definitely going out. “Here you go.” I handed her two glasses.

  “Thanks sweetheart.” She took a sip from one of the glasses, peering over the rim, her gaze lingering on Viktor.

  “Is it okay?”

  “Yes, sweetie… it’s fine.” She cradled the glasses.

  Somehow I got the feeling she wasn’t talking about the wine. Seriously. Gag me—I felt like puking.

  “I better get this to Ken.” She giggled like a demented person in a physco ward.

  I followed her out. “Mom…” I said.

  “Amber,” she exhaled, stopping, sounding annoyed. “Make it fast, Ken’s waiting.”

  “Yes, yes, I know.” I tried not to roll my eyes. “So, do you mind if I go with Viktor to fix the tire?”

  “What about dinner?” Her brows shot up to her hairline.

  “I mean, I can stay, if you really want, but everything is done except grilling the steaks and making the almandine.”

  Ken sidled up and took the glass from my mom. “Thanks Eileen, this is just what I needed.” If possible, his uniform looked even tighter.

  She preened. “I thought you’d like it.”

  I tried not to roll my eyes. Mom was already heading down the same slippery slope she had been down a million times with every other man she had dated. “What are you two beauties talking about?” His eyes brightened.

  “Amber wants to go out,” my mom said stiffly.

  “I don’ think that is such a good idea,” he said, shaking his head. His molded hair didn’t move.

  I tensed. Since when did Deputy Dawg get a say in where I went. Jeez, he just met my mom. “I was going to get the car.”

  “What happened to it?”

  “I got a flat.”

  “How’d you manage that?” his voice sounded skeptical.

  “I ran over a screw.”

  “Well, you can’t go alone. It’s simply not safe. I will take you after dinner.”

  “No!” I practically yelled. There was no way I was going out alone in a car with him. “I already have ride.”

  “Really?” He lifted his perfectly arched brow. It looked like he had them waxed. “Who is taking you?” he asked, eyeing me closely like I was lying.

  What was his problem?

  “Deputy Warren.” Viktor stepped out of the kitchen.

  “Viktor,” he said and took a deliberate step back.

  There was a strange vibe between them. Almost like Viktor was the authority figure, not the other way around.

  Ken’s face reddened. “How’s your father?”

  “He’s doing well,” Viktor supplied smoothly.

  “Give him my regards, would you?”

  “Certainly,” said Viktor.

  Ken adjusted his stance. “You two be careful, there was another incident nearby.”

  “Good to know.” Viktor took another step toward the door, inching his way out.

  Ken puffed out his chest. “Be sure to let your father know we are on top of it.”

  “I will,” he said pleasantly enough but there was an underlying edge to his voice. “Thank you, Deputy.”

  “What about the steaks?” Mom asked, giving me the hairy eyeball.

  “Um…” I was torn. I totally didn’t want to stay home but I felt bad leaving her alone with dinner�
�she couldn’t cook for crap.

  “Eileen…” Ken interrupted my thoughts, shaking his head, looking freaked. “I can do it,” he assured her. “I am quite the grilling machine,” he boasted.

  “Is there anything you’re not good at?” she gushed, sliding her hand over his back.

  Saved by Ken? Now that was something. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

  “You ready,” Viktor said, keeping his voice low.

  “Um, yeah, just let me grab a different coat.”

  “Okay.” His eyes glinted. “You want to meet me in the car.”

  “Yeah, I’ll meet you outside.”

  “Goodnight Ms. Davis,” he called.

  “Oh goodnight,” she said, a little too enthusiastically.

  Ken poked out his head. “Be careful you two.”

  “We will.”

  Ken turned and walked back into the kitchen and Mom trailed after him, hot on his heels.

  “I’ll be right out.” I practically shoved Viktor out the door before my mom decided to come back out and try to flirt with him. Once he was outside, I ran up the three flights of stairs to the attic and quickly stripped out of my wet clothes and pulled out a pair of jeans, t-shirt, and a hoodie. Yanking on my pants, I stumbled over to the door and made my way down to the bathroom. I shut the door and quickly brushed my teeth and combed out my hair. Surprisingly, I didn’t look half-bad.

  Once I was sure all remnants of toothpaste were off my face, I pulled a rubber band on my wrist, used the bathroom, and then ran back downstairs. Ken and Mom were sitting on the sofa, in a deep conversation about something. I tiptoed by, hoping they didn’t see me… my escape in sight.

  “Amber,” Mom called.

  “Yeah?” I froze, halfway to the door.

  “Don’t stay out too late.”

  “No problem.” I grabbed my slicker from the hook and ran out the door before she changed her mind.

  six

  Once outside, I let out a pent up breath, smoothed my hair, and made my way over to the passenger door. Before I had a chance to put my hand on the handle the door popped open. Heat flowed out, warming me immediately. I climbed inside and shut the door.

  “You ready?”

  “Yep,” I said, and pulled on my seatbelt, getting situated.

  “The Cult or Extreme?” he asked, holding up two cd’s.

  “Definitely the Cult,” I said.

  He put the cd in and turned down the volume so it was more background music. Pulling out of the driveway, he hit the wipers and headed down the road toward where my car was. I tried not to stare at him but it was kind-of hard. He had a gorgeous face with gray eyes—like the sky right before a thunderstorm. Feeling self-conscious, I picked at my nail polish.

  “So, your Mom is seeing the Deputy?”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “That was fast,” he said and turned out the driveway. “Did she know him before?”

  “No. Not at all,” I said. “She met him at the station one day last week when she got lost in town.”

  “Our town?” he asked and gave me a look of disbelief.

  “I know right.” I shook my head. “Don’t ask me how but my mom can get lost anywhere, even in her own backyard.”

  He chuckled lightly. “That bad?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” I laughed.

  “So who keeps an eye on her when you’re at school?”

  “No one,” I said. “I usually try to take the car so she has no way to go out.”

  “Where is your dad?”

  “He remarried and has a new kid so I don’t see him very often.” The last thing I wanted to talk about was my whacked family. If he knew anymore he’d probably think I was a freak. So I changed the subject. “So how do you know Deputy Da—Warren?”

  “It’s a small town and I’ve lived here my whole life, so…” He slowed around a turn.

  “He said something about your dad, how does he know him?”

  “My dad owns like half the town.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Oh…wow.” Wow. “That’s cool.”

  “Not really,” he said. “It kind of sucks.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Like I said, it’s a small town,” he answered. “I can’t take a leak without him hearing about it.”

  “Well your secret is safe with me.” I smiled, referring to him using the woods earlier.

  He cut me a strange look. “What secret might that be?”

  I thought he was kidding. “You know…. Earlier in the woods.”

  Suddenly, he hit the brakes and we came to a screeching halt.

  “What did you see?” He glared at me, his face a stern mask.

  Gooseflesh rose on my arms. “Ah…you used the bathroom… in the woods… remember?” I lifted my hand from the dash and pressed back in the seat.

  “Oh, right.” He hit the gas again and we sped forward once more.

  Staring out the window, I watched the landscape blur.

  “Did you know Nuno is touring with Rhianna?”

  “Huh?” I totally had no idea what he was talking about.

  “Nuno…from Extreme,” he elaborated.

  “Oh, really?” I wasn’t sure what that had to do with the conversation we were just having but went along with it anyway. “No way,” I said with a bit more enthusiasm then was warranted.

  “Yes way.”

  “Crazzzy.” Too bad I wasn’t talking about Nuno being on tour.

  The rest of the way we listened to music without saying anything. I caught him singing out the choruses of a few of the songs. He had a nice melodic voice. It kind of made me forget he had acted like such a spaz before. Turning into the drive he parked and flicked on his high beams. Opening the door, he glanced at me. “This should only take a minute,” he said. “You can stay here where it’s warm, if you like.”

  Normally I would have stayed in the SUV but it was my car after all. “No, I’ll come and hold the light or something.”

  “Suit yourself.” He jumped out and slammed the door. Grabbing my phone off the floor, I hit the flashlight app and got out of the SUV. When I walked around to the back of the car he somehow already had it jacked up and was removing the lug-nuts. I shined the light down on the tire. It didn’t look flat to me.

  As if he heard my thoughts he ran his hand over the tire, inspecting it. He sat back on his haunches and looked up at me, a question in his eyes. “Your tire is fine.”

  “It is?” I swallowed hard and shoved my hands in my pockets.

  “Yeah,” he said.

  “How’d that happen?”

  “I guess you have a guardian angel.” He replaced the lug nuts and removed the jack. “Did you call someone?” It sounded like an accusation.

  “No.”

  He stepped up to me. Lifting his hand, he moved my hair away from my shoulder. “You have nice hair.”

  My stomach flip-flopped. “Ah…thanks.”

  “What do you want to do now?”

  “Huh?” My gaze settled on the cleft in his chin, then without me realizing it, I was suddenly transfixed by his lips. There was another, smaller scar by his mouth I didn’t notice before. I wanted to touch it, ask him how he got it…maybe even kiss it…

  An owl hooted in the distance, breaking the spell and I came crashing back to reality. I stepped back and butted up against my car. “I guess I should get home, so my mom doesn’t freak.”

  “We haven’t been gone that long.”

  He had me there. “Ah, I don’t know.” I fidgeted with my coat zipper. “What do you want to do?”

  “I can’t tell you that.”

  “Why not?” I asked, nervously.

  “You might hit me.” His lips turned up.

  “Try me…” As soon as the words were out of my mouth I wanted to keel over from embarrassment.

  He pressed in against me, and I found it hard to take a breath. My heart was going a mile a minute. His fingers skimmed over the column of my neck.

  “Don
’t tempt me,” he breathed. His warm breath rushed against my cool skin causing shivers to race over me. I caught a faint waft of cinnamon but it wasn’t coming from him. He smelled good, but different. It was a heady, inviting scent that made me want to burrow my face against his chest.

  Leaning back, he looked down at me. “What is that smell?” He gave me a look like I had just dropped a bomb or something comparable.

  Horrified, I shook my head, my face burning. I turned away, sniffing the air. “What smell? I don’t smell anything.” That was a lie, I smelled cinnamon—it lingered heavily in the air.

  His nose wrinkled, and he covered his face like Glinda had done when I ate the Red Hots, but I hadn’t eaten any.

  I thought of Vincent. Was he here?

  Suddenly, I felt like I was cheating even though that was ludicrous. I didn’t know Vincent any better than I did Viktor. Like night and day, they were complete opposites.

  Looking into the woods, he stepped back away from me, his stance defensive, like an animal poised for attack.

  Before I could even react, my body lifted off the ground and was shoved behind him. I stumbled, barely catching my footing.

  “Get out of here!” He spun toward me, his hands fisted at his sides.

  “And go where?”

  “Go home!” He loomed above me.

  I took a reflexive step back, not sure what to do. “Your SUV is blocking me in.”

  “Take my keys.” He shoved them into my frigid fingers.

  “What about my car?” I asked not getting what was going on. If he wanted me to leave why didn’t he just move his dang SUV? I took a step forward and then I saw it. Two glowing eyes further down the drive, they looked like animal eyes…how they reflect in the light… except it couldn’t be an animal. It was too big—like human, big. I shook my head, not registering what I was seeing. Human eyes didn’t glow in the light…did they?

  His hands came down roughly on my shoulders and he shoved me forward. “Amber, you need to leave!” he hissed.

  A low growl came from somewhere in the woods. My entire body convulsed with fear. “No. What? Come with me.” I grabbed hold of his arm.

  “I can’t!” He shook me off and wrenched open the door to his SUV. In one fast movement, he lifted me off the ground and threw me inside. “I don’t have time to argue with you right now. I will meet you later. Go home!” He slammed the door shut. “Lock the doors!” he shouted through the glass and then he ran. It was so fast I couldn’t make out where he even went.