“I know what is waiting,” she teased. She leaned in and brushed her lips across his ear. “Forget Pedro, let’s get out of here.”
<><>
Jake wanted to dig his cell phone out of the glove compartment to check his messages before they left the little hotel room the next day. He began to walk towards the car but then turned and walked away. Ten days, he promised her. Then he could get back to business. He was glad he came on the trip but began to get concerned about being away from his company for too long without any contact.
He stood outside of the motel, one foot on the side walk, the other on the macadam road. All he had to do was plug it into the charger in the motel room and check to make sure all was well. Who was he kidding! If he turned on the phone, he would be back to normal. The calls would come in non stop, he’d be texting his men out on the field and the daily grind would start. He couldn’t do that to her, not when he made a promise to give her ten days.
It was good to get away now and again, he realized this and he needed what Maggie offered and turned away from the car, determined to keep his word to the woman he loved. As he slipped back inside, a grin crossed his face. He’d make the best of the time they had left.
<><>
Jake and Maggie made a stop at the next truck stop after leaving South of the Border. They weren’t hungry when they first go on the road, but they needed to gas up again so they noticed a place to eat. They walked hand in hand to the door and noticed a young man, dressed in battered shorts and a dirty tee shirt. He leaned against the wall of the building, his head down, long dark hair covering his face.
Maggie leaned over. “Are you all right?” she asked.
Jake pulled her back a bit, she could be naive when it came to the rest of the world. But when the kid lifted his head up, the sadness in his face ripped through Jake too. He was young with dark hair that hung down over pale skin, hiding a few piercings on his nose and bottom lip.
“My Mom is on hospice and I’m trying to get back home before she dies, except I ran out of money because someone stole my wallet when I was on the bus.”
“Where’s home?” Maggie questioned, concern in her voice.
“Near Vero beach,” he mumbled and dropped his head.
“Oh! We happen to be going that way.” Maggie looked at Jake, who shook his head. They couldn’t take a stranger in this day and age. Besides, the kid could be making it all up. The kid looked so sad. Jake remembered how he felt when his Mom lay dying in the hospital so many years ago. It was gut wrenching standing there, unable to do anything.
“Look kid, let’s get you some breakfast. You hungry?” Jake piped up, stalling for time until he could find out about getting the kid on a bus to his dying Mom.
“I haven’t eaten in two days,” he told them. He looked up at Jake. “I’d be grateful for some leftovers.”
“Come on, kid,” Jake reached out and grabbed his shoulders, which were bony.
The kid ate his ham, eggs and a stack of pancakes in two minutes flat. He gulped them down like he hadn’t eaten for ages. Jake could see Maggie took pity on the kid and something wretched at his own heart. She would be a good Mother someday.
Jake went to the desk at the truck stop to see if he could buy a bus ticket for the kid. The result was not good, no bus until eight that evening. “Sorry sir, the noon bus cancelled about five minutes ago. Want the eight PM bus?” the attendant asked.
“Not sure yet,” Jake answered and went back to the table. If he got him the ticket, the kid would have to wait over ten hours to board a bus that would take him over eight hours to get to a major city near Vero Beach. He’d have to switch buses at a few stops along the way. They could have him there in less than eight hours. Maybe in time to see his dying Mother.
“What’s your name, son?” Jake asked when he came back to the table. He wanted to call a friend of his, Josh Eden, who was at one time involved in a private agency. The guy had every gadget in the world of mystery and spying and could find out if the kid was telling the truth. He needed a phone to call and he couldn’t ask Maggie for her cell in front of the kid or she’d suspect him of calling his company.
“It’s Daniel, sir. You can call me Danny.”
“Do you have a last name Danny?”
“Yes, it’s Rivers. Thanks for breakfast.”
“Want a milkshake or something?”
“That’d be great,” he said and a smile lit up his face.
“What are you doing here by yourself Danny?” Jake needed more information before he would help the kid. He had to be about fifteen.
“My Dad lives in Maryland. I was visiting for the summer. I knew my mom was sick, but she never told me it was this bad. My Dad got called out, he’s a long distance truck driver. I couldn’t get a hold of him when the nurse called to say Mom took a turn for the worse.”
“You enjoy your milkshake. We’ll be right back, I want to get some souvenirs and then we’ll talk about getting you to your Moms, all right?”
The kid nodded as Jake and Maggie went towards the gift shop. As soon as they were far enough away, Jake told her. “I need to call Josh and see if the kids being honest with us. There’s something about him I can’t put my finger on.”
“Are you serious? He’s trying to get home to his Mother. We can’t leave him here.” She stopped and turned to him, anger in her voice.
“Maggie, he’s pulling at my heartstrings too. But I am the one who’s responsible to make sure you are kept safe at all times while we’re on this road trip. I won’t put you in danger, it’s how I am.”
“Danger! From a teenager! That’s crazy, Jake. You’re taking this too far.” She began to walk away when he grabbed her arm and pulled her close.
“Maggie, my phone is dead in the glove compartment. Let me have your phone to call Josh. I need a photo too so I can send it to him. It’s the only way I’ll help the kid.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Okay, you win. Except you’re not the only one who can help him. I can too.” She dug in her pocket and handed him the cell phone. “I can’t believe you’re being so cautious over a poor, bedraggled teenager. Have a heart man!”
Jake watched as she stomped to the gift shop. After a while, she came back with a few shirts and some shorts. “I know these are not what you wear on a normal basis,” she nodded towards the clothes Danny had on. “But they’re clean.” She dished out a few dollars from her wallet. “Take this money and these clothes and go back through the gift shop towards where those truckers are standing back there. You’ll find a lounge and a shower. You need one before I’ll let you in my car.”
Jake snapped the shot of him and for a moment Danny looked startled. A look of anger crossed his face but disappeared the moment he realized Jake watched him. “Sorry kid, I didn’t mean to snap that, not sure how this cell works. I’m not real gadget savy.”
Maggie gave him a look as if he were the biggest liar in the world. When Danny left the table to change his clothes and get a shower, she spun on him. “You, not computer savvy? Oh Jake, you need to trust people sometimes. The kid is getting a ride from us whether you like it or not. Besides, it’s my car.”
“You’re going to use that one on me? You do what you got to do Maggie McCoy and I’ll do what I have to.” He walked away with her cell phone, pushing in the number of his friend Josh.
Jake got right to the point. “Josh, I don’t have a lot of time to talk.”
“Hey, heard you were off on some kind of road trip.”
“Yeah, it’s fun. Except we ran in to a kid who needs a ride down 95. He’s pathetic and his Mom is supposed to be dying, but there’s something about him I don’t trust. I have a name and a photo, can you check it out?”
“Send it to me and don’t turn your back on anyone.”
“He’ll be riding in the back of a pink Impala with us for the next few hours at least. I’ll send you the info. Call me at this number when you have something.”
“A pink Impala? What did you get yourself in to this time?” Josh’s voice sounded incredulous.
“Never mind. I’ll tell you later.” Jake hung up before having to explain about the pink car because he had no doubt Josh texted everybody anyway. He’d be the laugh of the day until they saw the classic Impala for themselves. Jake grinned as he sent the photo and info of the kid to Josh, then slipped the phone in his pocket.
He wanted to help the kid. It looked like Maggie already decided they would do so. He had some reservations but maybe he was being a bit too old school, although it never hurt to be careful. Was Maggie right, he didn’t trust people? On the other hand he didn’t run a major company by being a nice guy. Jake always went with his gut feelings, which never seemed to fail him.
<><>
Jake was starting to make her angry. Why couldn’t he see the kid was out of money and luck? She knew he was a bit skeptical of people but the teenager was in dire straits and she’d do whatever it took to get Danny back to his Mother.
When he came out of the trucker’s lounge, she shuffled him to the car. She stood at the passenger door and let the kid in the back seat, while Jake stood at the driver’s door, watching the kid get in. Then he looked up and smiled, an absent minded one, not like his hot one that caused her to melt.
Maggie reached over and turned on some music. She didn’t want to ruin this trip with her love, but there were some things she had always been so stubborn about. One of them was to help the underdog. She looked back at the kid. His head leaned back in the seat and he appeared to be asleep. There were dark circles under his eyes which looked as if he hadn’t slept in a while. The gauntness about him told her there was more to this story. If he were staying with his Dad, why did he look as if he weren’t being taken care of? Maggie decided to ask him when he woke up. Was this a case of neglect and if so, she had to make a decision. She couldn’t let this boy go back to a place where it may be dangerous.
If his Mother was dying, there had to be another relative to take him in. She would have to get the answers and soon, before they dropped him at his destination. The poor kid even looked like he had some bruises. She scrutinized his arms. An alarm went off when she noticed the welts. They were up and down the one side of his inner arm. She didn’t notice them inside but now they stood out in the light of day.
“Jake,” she whispered. When he turned, she leaned close, hoping the music would cover her words. “I’m afraid he may be abused. His arm has bruises all over.”
Jake lifted his brow and turned his head but couldn’t see the boy from the driver’s spot without being too obvious. Anger lined his face. “I’ll look when we stop again. Perhaps you were right, Maggie. Sorry I made this such a big deal.”
“Oh my love, don’t apologize. You’ll learn that I’m always right.” She kissed him square on his cheek and sat back in her seat, her hand lingering on the spectacular muscled arm under her hand. She ran her fingers up and down his arm enjoying the feel of him. A slow smile crept on her face.
“Remembering the last few nights, baby?” Jake said, his voice low, husky.
“You got that right. I’m sure tonight there will be some more fun memories to make. I’ve got several ideas I’ve planned for one of my novels, but maybe I’ll have to see if they work before hitting the computer keys. You know how I like to do my research.”
“No writing on vacation, baby. Research only.” The smoldering look he gave her made her want to rush to their next destination. Driftwood Resort was a hotel made out of the driftwood from back in the day when pirates and ships travelled the oceans. She couldn’t wait.
But first they had to get this poor abused kid to his dying mother.
Chapter 6
Six hours and mile after mile of driving without a stop, Maggie’s legs needed to stretch. She leaned over to Jake. “Can we take a short break?”
“Next stop, two miles. Want to get something to eat?”
“No, let’s wait until later. I’m anxious to get there.” She turned to the back seat to find Danny still asleep. “He’s exhausted. I’m so glad you agreed to bring him along. You’re the best.”
Jake raised a brow, amused. “I doubt I had a choice in the matter baby.”
She scooted closer. “I’ll thank you later.”
“I know you will.” His wink made her grin. She thought to herself how no one does that any more, except for him and it made her feel special. He was one of the old school guys who winked, opened the car door and considered her feelings first, even if they didn’t always agree. She reached over and rubbed his thigh.
“Behave yourself, the kid is in the back seat,” he teased.
Maggie leaned in and nuzzled his neck. “I’m thinking about the act of how kids are made,” she whispered, letting her warm breath linger on his skin.
Jake turned the steering wheel towards the ramp that led off the highway. “Next stop, make it quick. I’m in a big hurry,” he told her and grinned.
Maggie began to get impatient. She gazed back at the kid, who stirred and opened his eyes. She couldn’t wait until they dropped him off at his mother’s and got to Driftwood Resort. The room she reserved overlooked the ocean. She had big plans for them on the motel along the private beach.
The pit stop lasted fourteen minutes and twenty seven seconds. She timed herself and laughed out loud as Jake sped on to the highway once again. He seemed in a hurry himself. One look from him told her she was right, he wanted to get to the hotel. He looked down at his watch. “Two hours at the most,” he said and winked again.