The Middle of Nowhere Read online

  I went out on the front porch with a mug of coffee and my laptop. It wasn’t like I wanted to start up my computer but I wanted to send Aunt Audrey an email to let her know that I made it safe and sound. Instead of letting myself get lost surfing the internet I made a deal with myself to send the message and then power off the laptop.

  After I typed up the quick message, I clicked send but the message didn’t go through. My internet connection seemed to go in and out. Good thing I wasn’t paying much for the service. I’d have to try again later.

  Once I finished my coffee I went inside to clean out the mug. I opened the fridge and realized I hadn’t bought anywhere near enough food. I’d have to drive to the general store and stock up but I’d worry about that tomorrow. I didn’t want to bother with driving that far after I had just driven so much yesterday. Today I could make the list while sitting out on my deck overlooking the small lake.

  This was my life. I was so excited about the future that I couldn’t stop myself from shaking my fists and squealing like a tween at my new found freedom. I couldn’t believe this was my life. Even despite everything that happened to me in my past, I felt a sense of peace. As long as I didn’t let myself dwell on what had happened, I could move forward. Maybe I’d take up writing, or painting or gardening. I could grow my own fruits and vegetables. Hell, I could do all those things if I wanted to.

  I squealed again and wrote down ‘buy vegetable seeds’ on the little notepad on my counter. I wanted to remember to check to see if the general store carried seeds. I wondered if there were any gardening tools in the shed and decided to take a walk outside to check.

  The day passed quickly. I spent too much time daydreaming about all the things I was start doing and relaxing. It was something that was long overdue. Since I had lost my parents I had been living far too long with the negative thoughts and my muscles were perpetually tensed. Moving out in the middle of nowhere seemed to release them.

  The darkness of night set in quicker than it did in the city thanks to the trees blocking out the dwindling sunlight. I checked the locks on my door twice and closed all the curtains. Even though I was so far away from other people I still felt better locking myself up tight. My nearest neighbor was more than ten miles away. It wasn’t like bad people were just wandering around in the wilderness, they were back in the city. Better safe than sorry.

  I started thinking about my nearest neighbor. What kind of life did he have? What did he do to fill his time? He seemed like he was a hunter or maybe a fisherman. I probably should have introduced myself. I didn’t even know his name. All I knew was that he was tall, muscular and freaking hot.

  There was a gentle knock at the door that caused me to take a step back against the wall. Who would be out here knocking on my door now? I grabbed my shotgun out of the closet and looked out the peephole. My new neighbor was standing outside of the door holding something wrapped in foil.

  “What the hell?” I muttered gripping my shotgun tightly. He knocked again taking me by surprise and I gasped.

  I opened the door not even being a little embarrassed about holding a shotgun. He glanced at it for a second, but then flashed a smile at me. I think I half expected him to see the gun and run the other way.

  “Hi again,” he said pushing the foil package awkwardly in my direction.

  “Hiiiii,” I said tilting my head at the package as if I was worried about what I’d find inside. A fish? Venison?

  “It’s banana bread.” He stretched his arm out farther and shook it. I apprehensively took the package and set it down on the little table by the door.

  “Thanks,” I said as I started to smell the fresh baked banana goodness that was seeping out of the package. The aroma relaxed me a little, it reminded me of the banana bread my mom used to bake. I had absolutely no doubt about what was inside, “You bake?”

  He laughed, “I guess you can be the judge of that. Just remember I tried.”

  “You didn’t have to go to any trouble,” I said wondering if it tasted as good as it smelled. “Smells amazing though.”

  “I’m Rex,” he said as he extended his hand. I wrapped my fingers around his rough, masculine hand. When we touched, something happened. Something that had never happened before. I couldn’t explain it. My heart fluttered and it almost seemed as if he had felt it too.

  “Heather,” I said all too softly. It was as if my voice didn’t want to work. I couldn’t make myself look away from his beautiful eyes, that was until I remembered that no matter how good looking he was, he was still a stranger. Strangers can lie. Cheat. Steal. Murder. Looks could be deceiving and I needed to stay alert and aware of my surroundings. At least that’s what my self-defense class had taught me.

  His smile faded when I let go of his hand abruptly. I wasn’t out in the wilderness to meet new people, I was here to get away from people. Even if they were smoking hot and I would have loved to see them without their shirt on. Plain and simple, I was here to be alone, relax and regroup. Not make friends or new relationships.

  “Well I’m sorry I bothered you,” he said taking a step away from me. “I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood. And if you should ever need anything don’t hesitate to ask.”

  I forced a smile. My stomach felt twisted in knots. I didn’t know how to act around people anymore and I was just awkward. I was pretty sure he could sense it. Not to mention I had to answer the door clenching a shotgun. That usually wasn’t the sign of a person who had things under control.

  “Thanks,” I said, “and for the banana bread too.” Which I was going to dive into the second he left.

  “You bet,” he said with a little wave and a sexy half smile that started to melt my insides. I didn’t like what was happening to me. This wasn’t me. The sooner he was gone the sooner I could stop staring at him and get back to normal. “See you around,” he said as he walked away and I slowly closed the door behind him.

  I stared at the door for a long time reliving what had just happened over and over again. There was nothing more I wanted to do, than to bury my face in my hands until I made it all disappear. He couldn’t wait to get out of here. I was such a dork sometimes. At least I scared him enough that he wouldn’t be coming back. I wouldn’t have to worry about talking to him anymore, that was for sure.

  After I saw his headlights flick on, I sighed and twisted all the locks back into place. I rolled my eyes at my shotgun as I put it back away in the closet. If only things had been different.

  The smell of the banana bread invaded my nose. Had I been a more normal person, I would have invited him in and offered him a piece. Some polite conversation. Maybe a cup of coffee. But not me, it was just easier this way. At least that’s what I told myself.

  I peeled the foil back to see a perfect, still warm loaf of banana bread sitting inside. Good looks and he can bake?

  Not having any butter in the house wasn’t going to stop me from sampling the bread. Before I knew it, I was cutting myself another slice and then another. I noticed that taped to the side of the foil was his name, with his phone number written below it. Well, I guess I could call and thank him for the banana bread. Maybe that would make up for social awkwardness. Maybe it would just make it worse knowing me.

  I removed the square of paper and ran my fingers over the numbers before sticking it to my fridge with a magnet. It wouldn’t hurt to keep my nearest neighbors phone number close. Who knew, maybe I would actually need it someday.

  . . .

  The next morning, I woke up early and got dressed quickly so I could get on the road. I loosely put my hair up in a ponytail and checked myself in the mirror. I looked perfectly plain. I wanted to get to the general store and back home quickly as I could. I didn’t need to look great, just acceptable.

  After a breakfast of banana bread, I tucked my shopping list into the back pocket of my jeans. I had checked for it at least a dozen times before I had even made my way to the front door.

  I took my keys off the ho
ok and left the cabin, locking all of the locks behind me. And then checking to make sure it was locked with a twist and a pull on the knob.

  The air outside was crisp, and refreshing. It was a gorgeous day with beautiful fluffy clouds dancing across the sky. I inhaled the country air like it was some kind of drug. When I reached my car I couldn’t help but think about how just last night Rex had parked his vehicle next to my car. I pushed the daydream about him out of my head and sat down in my car. I pushed the thoughts of Rex out of my head. He was hot, but that’s all it would ever be. I didn’t even know why I kept finding myself thinking about him. I didn’t know a damn thing about him. I sat down in my car, and turned the ignition but nothing happened.

  “Come on,” I said quietly to the steering wheel. Begging it to start but when I turned the key again, still there was nothing.

  I put my forehead down against the steering wheel. That banana bread wasn’t going to keep me alive for long. OK I was exaggerating, but I needed to get to the store. The real estate agent had given me a list of numbers of people to call if I should need something. Thankfully I had kept a copy of it in the glove-box. I popped it open and rifled through the documents until I found the one I was looking for.

  One of the top five names listed was the name and number of the nearest mechanic. I tapped the numbers into my phone and waited for him to pick up.

  “Hello, Mike the Mechanic,” the less than friendly voice on the other end said. It sounded as if he was working on something and not really paying attention to the fact that he had even answered the phone.

  “Hi, this is Heather Lacy, I just moved in—”

  “Ah the gal that bought the Donner’s old place,” he said as if I knew what he was talking about. If I had met the previous owners during the transaction, I couldn’t even recall anything about them. Including their name. “What can I do for you?”

  “Right, so, my car won’t start…,” I said letting my voice trail off as if that was all the information he needed to diagnose my car troubles.

  I heard papers shuffling and things clicking on the other end of the phone, “What’s it doing when you turn the key?”

  “Absolutely nothing.”

  “Hmm, OK, I’ll have someone come take a look in a couple days.”

  “A couple days?” I said doing my best to not to sound as annoyed as I felt. Didn’t want to burn any bridges when there probably wasn’t another mechanic for miles and miles.

  “Sorry, Miss,” he said. He wouldn’t have even cared if I was annoyed. He was the nearest mechanic, and he knew I wouldn’t take my business elsewhere.

  “Well, OK,” I said as I tapped my phone to hang up the call. There wasn’t anything I could do about it. I’d just have to make what I had inside and the rest of my banana bread last.

  When I stepped out of my car I heard the sound of a motor coming from a boat out on the lake. It settled to a stop and I saw the boat bobbing up and down with the waves. I recognized Rex almost immediately. He almost looked too tall for the boat. He stood up and casted his fishing line into the gentle waves on the lake. Fish. I could eat fish. I wondered if the previous owner had left a fishing pole behind in the garage or shed. But to be completely honest the idea of digging for worms didn’t excite me.

  If only I had been a little more friendly maybe I could have been eating fish with Rex tonight instead of day old banana bread. Whatever. I didn’t even like fish.

  I started to walk to my cabin when out of the corner of my eye I saw Rex waving at me from his boat. Was this how he had spent most of his days? Fishing out on the lake behind my house.

  “Hello!” he shouted and his sexy grin even at this distance was making my knees weak.

  I gave a little wave before I took a step towards my house, but as if something took over me, I shouted, “Know anything about cars?”

  It was like I hadn’t had any control over my mouth. I couldn’t believe I had asked him. But then again if he did know, it could save me both time and money. He had said if I needed anything to ask, hell, he had even left me his phone number.

  “Wait there,” he shouted as he started to reel in his line. What was he doing? He was coming here? Now? My heart started beating extra beats at the idea of seeing him again. He seemed eager to help me out. And yesterday he had went out of his way to not only bake but to drive over and personally deliver the banana bread. I wouldn’t have expected any of this from him, surely he had better things to do than to help his crazy new neighbor.

  He started the motor and zipped his way into my unused dock. I watched him as he tied his boat up and brushed himself off before walking towards me.

  “What seems to be wrong with it,” he said looking down at me with his melted milk chocolate eyes.

  “Well if I knew…,” I trailed off, stopping myself from finishing whatever I was going to say. I wasn’t trying to sound rude but I worried it was coming off that way. “It won’t start.”

  He chuckled and walked towards my car. I watched him as if I was hypnotized by his movements. Everything about this man was smoldering. The way he looked. The way he talked. The way he moved. I was so entranced that I pretty much forgot how to be normal around him. Although some would argue I had simply forgotten how to do that around anyone.

  Rex knocked on the hood and glanced at me. If he was trying to signal something I didn’t know what it was. “Open the hood?”

  “Oh!” I said walking to the driver’s side door. I unlocked the car and felt proud that I knew how to pull the little lever that would pop the hood. He opened it up and started looking around.

  I stood next to him and watched his hands move around the car as he looked around. He leaned over and reached in front of me. When his body brushed against mine I stiffened. I was afraid that if I moved he would move and I wasn’t ready to stop the connection. It was surprising that someone out fishing smelled so good.

  In fact, I wanted to twist my fingers into his thick, wavy hair. I wanted him to lift me up onto the hood of my car and kiss me. And then I wanted him to….

  “Try starting it,” he said moving his body away from mine. It was as if he hadn’t even realized how close our bodies had been.

  After the words registered I went back to the driver’s seat and sat down. I turned the key. Nothing.

  “Well I’m not really a car guy, but I think your battery is dead,” he said as he slammed the hood closed.

  4

  “You have to be kidding me,” I said slamming the car door behind me.

  “Whoa, don’t break your door. A new battery is an easy fix,” he said putting his arm around my shoulder and guiding me away from my car. I wondered if he could sense I wanted to pound on it until it worked. The guys back in the city had done or thorough check of the car before I headed out here. Maybe I was more mad at myself because it was probably my own fault. I had probably left the lights on or something in my rush to get inside and it drained the battery. I should really be hitting myself not my car.

  I started pacing. I could feel his eyes on me as I moved back and forth.

  “It really won’t be that bad. They’ll have you up and going in a couple days. The guys out here are great and they don’t overcharge,” Rex said as if he was trying to calm me.

  “I’m practically out of food. I was going to go out today and get groceries,” I said without looking at him.

  “I can take you,” he said leaning back against my car and crossing his arms.

  “Oh no I couldn’t ask you to do something like that,” I said squinting up at him. It was as if I was trying to see if he was just making an empty offer hoping I’d decline or if he really would take me into town. It would take several hours of his day to make the trip, of course it would trouble him.

  “It’s no trouble, I had to go into town anyway,” he said flashing me that sexy grin. “Can you make it until tomorrow?”

  He glanced back towards hi fishing boat as if he was making sure it was still there. I figured he didn’t
want to try to make the trip yet today because by the time he got his boat back home and then drove back here half of the day would be gone already. Or maybe he already had plans for the rest of today.

  “Thanks to your banana bread I can,” I said with a little laugh. But my smile faded when I thought about how I didn’t know this man at all and that I just agreed to go alone with him somewhere. Was I really that desperate for food? I could probably just wait for Mike the mechanic and drive myself in a few days. Then again he was standing here with me right now and if he wanted to do something devious, there wasn’t anything stopping him. There were still good guys out there, perhaps Rex was one of them.

  He walked up to me and stood inches from me. He looked down at me, “I’ll assume you’re exaggerating.”

  Oh God. Clearly he didn’t know what he was doing to me. I had to pull it together. I wasn’t in any frame of mind to even start thinking about a relationship, not that he was even interested in one. One thing was certain, I needed to relax before I drove myself completely mad. It was just a trip to the store. A neighbor helping a neighbor.

  “Tomorrow then?” he said as he turned towards the dock.

  “Yeah, sure, perfect,” I said angry with myself for letting my guard down. If my parents hadn’t let their guard down maybe they’d still be alive. But honestly this wasn’t the same. If Rex had wanted to do something sinister to me, he could have done something like thirty times now. It wasn’t like he was just standing around waiting for the right time to pounce. Taking me by surprise do put his evil plan into action. I was just letting my imagination get the better of me

  He flicked his hand up in the air waving goodbye as he started his boat and zipped back out onto the water. I wondered if he was out there trying to catch his dinner.

  I walked to the garage and looked inside to see if I could find a fishing pole. Not that I’d just go whip it out and start fishing too. He would think I was absolutely nuts if I did that, but maybe someday I would want to use it. Even though I had absolutely no idea how to clean a fish.