Not Just Passing Through E-Book

Jamie Dean

• Herausgeber: Dreamspinner Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 187

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

Socially awkward, closeted virgin Avery Malcolm passes his days and nights running his bigoted aunt's motel in rural New Mexico. He dreams of getting away and hitting the road, but with one friend, a few acquaintances, and no real life to speak of outside his duties as front desk clerk, he doesn't know if he'll ever get a chance. Fate sends hot drifter Chase Lancaster to the Red Ram Motel, riding in on his sexy black motorcycle. Within twenty-four hours, Avery's life is turned upside down. Before long, even though Chase's sexual interests seem to run exclusively toward women in bars, Avery finds himself falling for the beautiful biker with no permanent address. Chase is much more than his bad boy persona, so while it's nice to have another friend, Avery doesn't know how he'll survive with his heart intact when Chase inevitably moves on.

Leseprobe

Not Just Passing Through

By Jamie Dean

Socially awkward, closeted virgin Avery Malcolm passes his days and nights running his bigoted aunt’s motel in rural New Mexico. He dreams of getting away and hitting the road, but with one friend, a few acquaintances, and no real life to speak of outside his duties as front desk clerk, he doesn’t know if he’ll ever get a chance.

Fate sends hot drifter Chase Lancaster to the Red Ram Motel, riding in on his sexy black motorcycle. Within twenty-four hours, Avery’s life is turned upside down. Before long, even though Chase’s sexual interests seem to run exclusively toward women in bars, Avery finds himself falling for the beautiful biker with no permanent address. Chase is much more than his bad boy persona, so while it’s nice to have another friend, Avery doesn’t know how he’ll survive with his heart intact when Chase inevitably moves on.

To MB, Fishie, Twist, Yami, Precious, Moosey, Nanners, Petra, OhWiseOncey, MJ & MS, NWTR, RP, PG, Smash, High, Nan, Thay, and all my other regulars, I love you to the moon.

Acknowledgments

MANY SPECIAL thanks to Jeanell Bolton who gave me invaluable feedback and encouragement, on this story and in general. Thanks also to everyone from the Far North group who provided many words of wisdom and much cheerleading. Your easy acceptance was likewise appreciated.

NEW MEXICO was a hellaciously dusty place, so one of Avery Malcolm’s jobs at the Red Ram Motel was to sweep the walkway at least once a day. He was almost done when he heard the distinctive whine of a motorcycle coming up the highway. He watched a small dark spot resolve itself into a slightly larger figure until finally he could see the shape of a person atop a slim bike.

In the glare of the afternoon sun, he couldn’t tell the sex of the rider any more than he could tell the color of the motorcycle, at least not until the black bike and equally black-clad male rider pulled up sideways in front of the walkway.

A long, muscular leg swooped over the bike and hit the kickstand down before two large hands reached up to pull off the helmet, revealing the thick dark hair beneath. For a second, all Avery saw were freckles. Then the eyes opened and twin blue lasers pinned him in place.

Avery forgot to breathe and just stood there, broom still, staring at the rider and his unfairly long-lashed blue eyes until a smirk appeared on the biker’s face and a deep voice, full of amusement, asked, “You got a room for rent or are you hoping I’ll just bunk in with you, blondie?”

Avery felt his face flush as he found his voice at last. “Yeah—yes, there are rooms available. Uh, smoking or nonsmoking?” He resisted—barely—the temptation to fidget with his short-cropped blond locks.

“As you can see I’m smoking enough already,” the biker answered with a wink and an open-mouthed grin. “Nonsmoking.”

Avery thought his face might actually be on fire. After parking his broom against the wall, he walked into the front office. It was somewhat cooler inside, even though they weren’t running the AC yet. The small fan and all the shade kept the heat from being so oppressive on this side of the door.

Avery tapped the keyboard to get the screen to come back on, minimized his game of solitaire, then brought up the reservation software. He still didn’t understand why Aunt Nicole had upgraded to an electronic system for the motel.

It wasn’t like keeping track of twenty rooms—most of which stayed empty more nights than not—was too much to do by hand. He thought it probably had a lot more to do with the attractive man selling the computer system than a desire for efficiency. The ancient phone was evidence of how little regard his aunt held for modern technology.

Regardless, he was thankful for the system now, as it allowed him to avoid looking at the new occupant directly. Seeing him in his peripheral vision was bad enough.

“Just one night?”

The biker leaned on the counter, bringing him close enough for Avery to smell the man’s cologne and his leather jacket.

Oh, God, he might pass out if the guy got any closer.

Avery leaned to his left slightly, drawing away from him.

The biker laughed. “I make you nervous or something?” He didn’t wait for an answer before he asked, “Is it cheaper for a week than by the night?”

“Yes, there’s a weekly discount rate.” Avery was relieved that his normally deep voice didn’t go up several octaves.

“Then book me in for a week. There somewhere to eat around here?”

Avery picked up one of the restaurant fliers and set it up on the ledge near the guy’s arm. “Um, name please?” he asked as the computer prompted for it.

“Chase Lancaster.”

“Mr. Lancaster, may I see your ID, please?”

Avery received a full-out laugh at that. “Dude, call me Chase.” His focus shifted slightly and he picked up the flier, scanning over the list. “Are any of these places any good?”

Avery was still waiting on the ID, but he took a moment to examine Chase’s face while he was absorbed in the flier. He was paler than Avery would’ve expected for a biker, though his whole face was covered in freckles. His eyes were no less blue when they weren’t looking directly into Avery’s, and his lips were practically obscene­—plump and dusky and oh-so-soft-looking.

Avery dropped his gaze down to the flier and forced himself to speak.

“The diner is good. The bar—the, uh, Wander In tavern? It’s probably not the healthiest choice, but the food is good and it’s cheaper than you’d expect.”

“They got a pool table?”

“Yes. More than one, actually.” He glanced at the screen again. “So, can I get your ID?”

“Yeah, okay.” Chase turned sideways, bending backward to reach into his pocket for the wallet. It caused his already tight jeans to pull even more snugly over his crotch—and made it jut forward slightly. Avery lowered his gaze to the apex of those thick thighs, but he brought it up sharply when he heard a chuckle.

His skin prickled with heat when he realized Chase had seen him checking him out. Dammit. Chase didn’t seem to be a homophobic asshole, but that was no excuse for being reckless.

Chase passed the ID over. “You’re welcome to look all you want. Long as you understand I don’t swing your way.” He leaned a little closer and dropped his voice a bit. “Like I said, I know I’m pretty damn smoking,” Chase reminded him with a wink.

“I-I’m sorry,” Avery stammered as he took the small white card and started putting in the information. “Not a lot of good-looking people come through here, and my social skills aren’t exactly the best. I—sorry,” he repeated lamely as he handed back the ID.

“Hey, man, it’s cool, uh—what’s your name?”

“Avery.”

“Uh-huh. Well, it’s cool, Avery. Don’t sweat it. Think of me like a painting in a museum,” he said, sweeping his arms wide and showing off even more of his toned chest and abs. “Look all you want, just don’t touch.” The cocky grin and the eyebrow wiggle took any possible sting out of the words.

Avery couldn’t help but laugh at that. Feeling braver, he swept his eyes over the handsome biker in a show of appreciation, then held his hands up in the air in a show of not touching, drawing a fantastic laugh from Chase.

“That’s the spirit!” Chase grinned and made a clicking sound. Then he nodded toward the computer. “So what’s the damage?”

Avery gave him the total and Chase handed over some cash. As he waited for Avery to count out his change, he glanced back at the door and asked, “There a good place to get a six-pack around here?”

Avery nodded. “If you take a right out of the parking lot, there’s a store about two miles away. Another four miles is the bar.” Avery gave him his change and a room key. “You’re in room one-oh-six, up that way.” He pointed to his left.

“Cool. Well, nice meetin’ ya, Avery.” Chase said his name like it amused him. “Make sure and watch me walk out. I look even better from the back.” His throaty laugh was the last thing Avery heard before Chase strode out through the door.

JENNY SHOWED up shortly after Chase left that evening. Avery suspected his newest tenant was headed to the bar, but he had no way of knowing for sure. Jenny grinned and held up a bottle of wine and a six-pack to the screen door. He smiled back, shaking his head indulgently, and let her in.

“Hey there, Avery. I didn’t feel like being alone. Thought maybe your pretty hazel eyes would cheer me up.” She glanced around with a disparaging look. “And since you’re stuck in this pit, maybe you could use some company yourself, huh?”

He laughed, taking the alcohol from her and putting it in the fridge. The beers were cold, though, so he grabbed a couple. He wasn’t a huge fan, but he’d nurse one so she wasn’t drinking alone. If history was any indication, she’d drink the rest and some of the wine. Then she’d probably pass out on his couch shortly thereafter.

When they were seated on the couch with their beers and the snack mix he’d found on a shelf, she twirled a finger through her thick black hair. “So, what’s been going on around here, Mr. Malcolm? Anything exciting happen since I saw you last?”

“Well, you know,” Avery said with a laugh. “This place is such a party hub, it’s hard to keep track.”

She rolled her green eyes at him. “Oh, come on. It’s been a couple of weeks. Something cool must have happened. Or something bad or just something out of the ordinary.”

Avery instantly thought of Chase and decided that the sexy biker was exactly the kind of thing Jenny would be interested in. He would have preferred to keep it to himself, but he decided it was a lost cause. He pretended to think over her question for another minute, to try to make it seem like his interest in the Red Ram’s latest tenant was casual, rather than keen.

“Hm, well, we did get a new guest today. Not an overnighter, either. He’s here for a few days at least.”

“Well, that’s a little less dull, anyway,” Jenny conceded. “Anything interesting about him besides the length of his stay?”

“He rides a motorcycle and has a remarkably healthy ego,” Avery said. He also has devastating eyes and looks hot enough to melt asphalt. His ass is like a Greek statue. I want to shove my tongue into his face and maybe other places. “I think that’s about it.”

“Avery, you have got to start getting out more.” She shook her now empty bottle. “Come on. Beer me.”

THE NEXT morning, Avery went on his housekeeping rounds. He had heard Chase get in very late, so he saved his room for last. The idea of having to be in the close quarters of a bedroom that probably reeked of him might have been part of the equation. Regardless, he was out of time now, even though it was barely ten, because all the other rooms were finished. He wasn’t dragging this cart back a second time.

He took a deep breath and knocked. “Housekeeping!”

He heard movement from inside, including what sounded like things falling and a rough voice swearing. Then the door inched open to reveal a puffy-faced, squinty-eyed, half-asleep Chase Lancaster leaning against the doorjamb like he might take a nap there, brown hair sticking out in all directions as if it were trying to escape.

“S’rry,” he mumbled. “Forgot to tell you yes’erday. No housekeeping. I’ll get towels and stuff from th’office.”

“Oh, okay,” Avery told him brightly, half-relieved and half-disappointed. “Do you need anything now? Extra coffee? More towels?”

Chase nodded, eyes closed now, and held out a hand. Avery took a moment to stare at him. Even sleep-rumpled and grumpy like this, the guy was gorgeous, and Avery wanted to reach out and touch his long, velvety-looking lashes and the freckled and chiseled cheekbones beneath. Instead he sighed and started grabbing things from the cart. He gingerly balanced them on Chase’s hand until the sleepy man woke up enough to use his other hand. Chase gave Avery a weak half smile and went back inside.

Avery rolled the cart back down to the laundry room and put the sheets and towels into the washer. Then he scrubbed his hands and started restocking the cart for the next day. Not that he would need most of it. Everyone except Chase and two others had already checked out. From the previous days, he knew those two would be gone most of the day and were unlikely to use much more than maybe towels and soap before they left the next morning.

When he was done with that, he cleaned the ice machine and checked on the vending stock to make sure it would last until the vendor’s next visit. Then he gathered up the few bits of trash he found around the breezeway and parking lot. By the time he had watered the plants, it was nearly lunchtime. He was feeling lazy, so he decided to order his lunch in, instead of making it in his tiny kitchen.

He spent a few minutes debating his food options. There were only a couple of choices open to him, since the diner didn’t deliver for less than a thirty-dollar minimum. There was Mario’s, the pizza place, which was good but a little more pricey. Then there was the Wander In, a local bar and grill that specialized in meat and potatoes and all things fried.

He wasn’t really in the mood for pizza, but if he ordered something else from the Wander In, his day might get more complicated than he wanted. The Wander In was owned and run by a woman named Rachel, whom Avery had known practically since birth. She had two daughters, twenty-year-old Lana, and Kelly, who was not quite seventeen. They both worked as waitresses, along with their cousin Buck. If he bought his lunch from there, when Lana delivered it she was going to want to gossip about “the new guy” and what he’d been up to at the bar. And while Avery was well aware that Chase had probably gone home with some woman the previous night before riding back here in the wee hours, that didn’t mean he wanted to hear the details.

On the other hand, he didn’t get paid for another few days and a Wander In burger was cheaper than a Mario’s pizza, especially since the bar didn’t charge him a delivery fee. He decided he’d put up with it for the money savings. He called in and placed his order with Rachel.

“How’ve you been, Avery? Haven’t spoken to you in a while,” Rachel said after he’d ordered his burger. “And how’s Nicole? I haven’t seen her around lately, either.”

Apparently she didn’t know his aunt had moved out of the Red Ram.

“Oh, I thought everyone knew. She’s actually living in Beaverton now. I’m running the Ram by myself right now.”

“No, I hadn’t realized,” Nicole said, but she didn’t sound particularly displeased to hear it. That only made sense, since Rachel was everything Nicole was not and vice versa. “How are you holding up on your own?”

“I’m enjoying the solitude. Can’t complain,” he said, using a response he’d heard Rachel herself give on many occasions.

“Avery Malcolm, you take care of yourself out there all alone, you hear?” she chastised as she wound down the conversation at last. “Oh, before I forget, Lana’s off today, so Buck’s gonna be the one bringing your food over, all right? Bye now!”

Avery was relieved, even though Buck made him slightly uncomfortable. He always felt like he was being scrutinized when the man was around. Like he was a puzzle Buck was trying to solve. Of course the guy was kind of an odd duck who probably needed some intense scrutiny himself. Probably by a psychiatric professional. Avery snorted. Then again, who was he to judge?

Not long after, he heard the sputter of Buck’s bizarre truck come up the road and pull into the lot, so he stepped outside to greet him. Buck was kind of a genius, if a little crazy, and he’d rigged some sort of diesel motor for his truck, purportedly out of lawn mower parts. The result was a very loud engine that barely used any of the biodiesel Buck put in it. He said what he was doing for the environment was worth all the noise.

“Whoa, nice ride, mystery man,” Buck said, seemingly to Chase’s bike. “Hey there, Aviary, what’s shakin’?” That was the other thing about Buck. He spoke like he was making up the purpose of words as he went along. “How’s this bungalow boppin’ for you?”

“I’m fine, Buck. How’ve you been?”

“I have been, like, so choice, man. Got a new lady friend. Upgraded part of my rig there so it’s even cleaner. It’s a beautiful day in this neighborly wood, my fine unfeathered friend.” He handed over the bag with Avery’s food. “That there will cost you five pounds, twenty-three ounces, friend.”

Avery handed him seven dollars. “Thanks, Buck. Keep the change.”

“Mucho grass-in-the-ass, man. Much grass. You should come by the Wander In this weekend. We’ve got us a wild trivia night on Sundays now—win a free beer!” He sauntered back to his truck, shaggy curls blowing in the ever-present breeze. Without another word, he drove away, leaving Avery alone with his food.

Later that afternoon, Avery was coming back from the mailbox across the street when he saw Chase finally exiting his room, looking much more awake.

Chase called out, “Hey there, Avery!”

Avery responded with a wave, then tamped down the irrational sense of disappointment he felt as Chase got on his bike and rode away. He started sweeping the walk rather viciously to release some of his frustration.

A few minutes later, however, Chase pulled up again, sideways to the entrance, facing down toward his room.

Avery couldn’t help watching those muscular legs as they climbed gracefully off the bike. Then Chase bent to retrieve something from the rear basket. It turned out to be a six-pack of beer.

“You still working?” he asked as he walked up to the half wall next to where Avery was sweeping. He looked and sounded surprised.

“I live here. I’m the only employee,” Avery explained with a shrug.

“Well, shit, man. You never get downtime?”

“I can when I need it.”

Chase popped the cap off a beer against the ledge, then repeated the action with a second beer. He held one out to Avery, who stared at him for a second, then shrugged and set the broom aside to accept the beverage. Chase clinked the top of his bottle against Avery’s, then hoisted himself up onto the wall next to his remaining four beers. After a moment’s internal debate, Avery joined him—though with far less grace.

Chase smirked at him as he shifted around trying to get comfortable.

Avery took a long sip of the drink. Beer wasn’t his favorite, but he had to admit, this brand was better than most of what he’d tried before. He took another sip, glad he was thirsty enough for it to go down smoothly. The last thing he needed was to be embarrassed in front of Chase yet again.

Chase took a sip of his beer. “So, what’s your deal here? How’d you get a gig like this?”

“My aunt owns the motel.” Avery shrugged and drank again. “I get free rent and utilities plus some spending money. She gets to pay one clerk instead of multiple clerks and a housekeeper.”

Chase took a long pull off his bottle, and Avery tried not to watch the way his throat worked as he swallowed. He failed, but he tried.

“Dude, seems to me, if you’re here twenty-four seven with no breaks, you oughta get more than just spending money.”

Avery picked at the label on his beer. “Well, I actually make decent money. It just feels like less because I’m putting away most of it. I don’t intend to do this forever. I only let myself keep out a little money every week for food. The rest goes into savings.” And why exactly was he telling Chase that? He’d met the guy less than twenty-four hours ago.

“Sounds nice, then. You grow up around here?”

“I’ve been here my entire life.”

“Your folks still around?”

For the first time, Avery didn’t want to answer Chase’s question. His past wasn’t a thing he liked talking about—or even thinking about. After a moment, he simply answered, “No.”

“Well, that’s informative,” Chase told him with a chuckle. “Tough life, I guess?”

Avery shrugged.

“Yeah, same here. How old are you?”

“Twenty-one.” Or he would be in a few months anyway.

“Yeah? Me too.” Chase finished his beer and opened another. “Does it get lonely out here by yourself?”

Avery laughed. “Asks the loner-biker.” He shook his head. “It is a state to which I am long and well accustomed. I prefer my solitude, so this is a good place for me. At least for now.”

Chase smirked. “Loner-biker, yeah, but I gotta be around people sometimes. Long as I sleep alone in my own bed and nobody tries to stop me from moving on anyway.” He laughed and took a pull off his new beer.

Avery finished his own beer and set it to the side. Chase glanced at it and silently handed him another after popping the top. Avery took a small sip, more from boredom than thirst.

“So what do you do for fun, if you’re stuck here most of the time?”

“I can go to the bar if I want. There are a couple of people who will come down for an hour or two, so I can take a break. I do that about once a month. Otherwise I read or do some woodworking.”

Chase scratched the back of his head and shifted around looking for a more comfortable position. He caught Avery staring but, for once, didn’t smirk or tease him. “Was it difficult, you know, growing up gay in a small town like this?”

Avery was surprised by the question. Chase didn’t seem the type to care about other people’s feelings too much. Maybe it was simple curiosity. Avery debated lying, but the beer made him feel braver.

“It wasn’t a picnic growing up here, but nobody really knows I’m gay. I learned pretty early to keep my mouth shut about all the ways I’m different from the rest of the population.”