In The Black

Chapter Three - Denver

3

Denver

As if the universe finally decided to be on my side, I made it safely off the exit ramp and pulled into the nearest gas station just before my rental car came a halt.  Grabbing my purse and car keys, I stepped out of the car, trying to steady my legs underneath the gravel that my wedged sandals were no match far.  It was roughly five o’clock in the evening and I knew that even though I was out in the middle of nowhere, someone had to at least own or operate this gas station, however there was no one in sight.  I looked around the empty lot once more before slamming the car door shut.  Hesitation took over, but I forced myself to walk further.  Taking one last look over my shoulder hoping to spot someone, anyone.  Nothing.  Activating the alarm on my rental, I walked towards the building, the only sounds to be heard were my wedges against the gravel and a bird that circled above my head squawking.  Yup, I’m in the middle of nowhere.  I can almost see the news headline now:

Lost city girl, body found eaten alive at abandoned gas station in bumblefuck, Georgia.

It suddenly hit me, that no one knew I was out here.  For all they knew I was lounging by the pool at my resort in Florida.  I fished my cell phone from out of my purse and attempted to send Stevie a quick be-on-the-lookout text but just as I expected I had zero bars, no contact with the outside world, no way of letting anyone know where I was, that I was alive and for the moment safe, but to be on standby just in case.  Suddenly I heard the faint sound of music coming from the other side of the door.

Thank God.  

A sense of relief washed over me, and I placed my hand on the metal handle pulling it open.  The smell of gas and exhaust fumes invaded my nose. 

Well at least this place isn’t abandoned.  

            The building was old, and probably hadn’t had any repairs to it in years.  The cash register, and outdated computer system could have used an upgrade about ten years ago.  Off to the corner, sat an empty water cooler, along with a now empty fish tank.  On any other given day, I would have hauled ass out of there, not wanting to put my life in danger at the hands of some sort of back-woods-cannibalistic-monster, but today just wasn’t any other day.  I waited at the counter for a gas station attendant, careful not to lean against the counter that was covered in layers of dust and caked on oil but no one came.  I heard the music coming from behind the clear glass door that was just behind the counter and couldn’t believe that I was walking towards the door to open it.  Stepping into the garage, I heard the music more clearly now along with the sound of someone singing along to it.   It was the same country music that I desperately tried to avoid my entire trip, I mean I understood that this was the south and all, but I just couldn’t bear to listening to it anymore.

                        “Excuse me” I yelled.  The attendant, not visible to me continued to sing along to the song playing from the very old, static radio that was propped on the edge of the car.  Not wanting to waste any more time I cleared my voice and this time I tried to yell over the music.

                        “Excuse me.  I need to pay for gas.  I’m kind of in a hurry.” I screamed relieved that this time that attendant heard me, because the singing finally stopped.  The hood of a car that was rusted over so badly, I couldn’t even begin to make out the make and model of what it used to be, slowly lowered.  Growing tired, and my patience wearing thin, I took a step closer.  I needed gas and needed it now.  Thankful that I decided to carry some cash with me, I pulled out sixty dollars from my black snake skinned wallet and folded it between my index and middle finger and held it up to the mystery mechanic, who remained silently cautious behind the hood of the car.  Suddenly a greased stained hand gripped the ends of the hood just before slamming it shut revealing the most beautiful man, I’d ever laid eyes on.  He grabbed a towel from his back pocket and began wiping the grease from his fingers, barely ridding any of it as he walked towards me. 

                        “Sorry to interrupt, but my car broke down.  I’m out of gas and need some help.  I’m kind of in a hurry so I’d like to just pay for it in cash so that I can get out of your way.”  I rambled suddenly feeling nervous.

 He closed the distance between us, stopping just inches from me.  The heat that radiated from his body caused my breathing to pick up.  I adverted my eyes to the window behind him, the sun was slowly starting to set, the yellow and orange rays made his tanned skin almost lickable.  On any other occasion, I would be having a fit about this man lack of respect for personal space, however this stranger made me nervous – but in a good unexplainable way.  He chewed on a piece of mint chewing gum, his body towering over mine, and his hazel brown eyes ogling my body.  His jeans were stained with grease and oil hugging his thighs closely.  The bulge against his zipper wasn’t shy and my lady parts took notice.  The navy blue and red plaid shirt he wore, hung open, exposing his chiseled chest and abs.  My n*****s hardened at the sight, and his eyes didn’t hesitate in taking notice.  His jet-black hair matched the stubble along his masculine jaw line and for a spilt second, I found myself leaning on my toes, subconsciously trying to lift myself higher so that I could get closer to him somehow.  

            As if coming to my senses, I took a step back balancing myself on my wedged heel and without missing a beat he took a step with me, only this time he closed the distance between us even more.

                        “He – her – here’s the cash for the gas, I just wanted to make sure I paid for it.” I said stammering over my words as if I’d never been in the presence of a man before.  Well I have, but not in the middle of nowhere with a man who had my lady parts purring without him even touching me.

                        “Where’s your car?” He asked.

                        “Oh, don’t worry about it.  I can pump my own gas.”  I waved him off.  “I just wanted to make sure I at least paid for it first.”  I said, not wanting or even needing this man to follow me out to my rental, there’s no telling what he’d do, or I’d do if he did.  His eyes narrowed as he stared down at me, taking me in from top to bottom as slowly as he could.  I instantly felt like prey, but desperately needed his help, so I bit back my fear along with my wanting to hump his muscular leg and allowed his hazel brown eyes to rake over me.

            “You’re not from Georgia, are you?” He asked.  Shaking my head, I avoided eye contact with this sexy stranger.

            “So then where are you from?” He asked.

            “D.C.  I’m meeting… my boyfriend, for a few weeks in Florida.  I was on my way there when I realized that I ran out of gas.”  I lied, or better yet particularly lied.  His beautiful pink lips curled into a devilish grin, which sent chills up and down my body.

            “You’re by yourself then?” he asked.  Deciding that I’d had enough from this sexy stranger, I placed my money back into my purse.

            “Never mind, I’ll just call road side assistance” I answered him.  I knew that the possibility of getting a signal on my cell phone in order to call road side assistance was slim, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

            “Is that your car outside”? He asked jerking his head in the direction of my rental, ignoring my little tirade.

            “Yes, it is! Now can you help me?” I asked sternly.  Finally taking his eyes off mine, he walked past me and out of the door towards my car, leaving behind a faint smell of cologne, oil and sweat.   Never in my life would I have imagined that the three would make for a panty dropping scent, but it did.  

Deciding not to follow him out, I watched as he circled my rental just before pulling out his cell phone and thumbing out what looked to be a text message.  He shoved his phone back inside his jean pocket, the sudden movement causing his bicep to bulge.  Damn this man was pure s*x poured into a pair of worn jeans and evenly worn black work boots.  The wind picked up allowing his opened shirt to flap at the ends as he made his way back into the shop.

                        “What’s wrong?”  I asked realizing the tone in voice was higher than I cared for it to be.  But I couldn’t help it, I’d had a long day and from the looks of it, it was going to be an even longer night.  

                        “Well you’re definitely out of gas, and so am I.” He exclaimed nonchalantly.

                        “What? But this is a gas station.  How is that even possible?” As I raised my arms above my head in a frantic circular motion.

                        “Yes, you’d be right about that princess, but unfortunately this place hasn’t seen a motor oil truck in over ten years.  The owners of this place died a few years back and I just couldn’t find it in me to take the sign down or remodel the place.  This is simply just a place that I come to, to fix and restore old cars.”  He answered matter-of-factly.

Feeling as if I were about to fall to my knees, I shook my head repeatedly in confusion.  He must have picked up on my inner meltdown, turning his head to the side, his eyes narrowed as he watched me pace back and forth in the small space.

                        “I’m sorry for the confusion princess but……”  Interrupting him almost immediately, I held up my hand in protest.  

                        “Don’t call me princess. Call me Denver or Ms. Black, but do not call me princess.” I yelled in frustration before throwing my purse onto the counter.  What the hell was with the men in the south and thinking it was ok to give a woman they hardly knew a f*****g nick-name?   I couldn’t help but to see my vacation getting further and further away.