Roadsıde Love

Jarod I got out of my Chevrolet Silverado truck, and the heat slapped me in the face in sharp contrast to my car's cool AC. I pushed my hat further back on my head and rounded the building to head into our small local store for some supplies for my farm. I was just about to step inside when I noticed a long-legged blonde beauty in light blue jean shorts and a white t-shirt, sitting on our only café's terrace further down the street. Her wild blond curls cascaded down her back, and I couldn’t help but wonder who she was. Our town was so small that I not only knew every single soul who lived here, but also all their kin and even their rarely visiting cousins. She definitely wasn’t one of us. Maybe someone had invited a friend or married in secret. Her face was tilted up toward the sun, eyes closed, body relaxed in a lazy, carefree pose. Damn. Lucky son of a bi.tch, if this beauty was someone’s fiancée. I forced myself to stop staring and headed inside. The old ding of the bell welcomed me as I opened the door and greeted Frank, perched behind the counter like always. “Good day, Frank! How’s it goin’?” I slurred in my thick Southern drawl. “As good as any other day,” he croaked back, waving the newspaper in his hands. That old man still clung to the old ways. I remembered his granddaughter trying to teach him how to read the news on an iPad. Hilarious scene—him scrolling too fast and tapping too hard, while she fussed at him. Guess technology never quite stuck for the ol’ man. I gathered the supplies I needed, including a specially ordered package I’d sent to the store. “Have you lost weight, boy?” Frank asked while waiting for the money. Despite being thirty-six, I was still just a boy to him. “I hope not! I’m aiming to gain more muscle this year – we got more labor with the farm expansion,” I replied with a grin. “Well, good luck with that, boys!” he said, handing me my change. Frank knew well how hard my brother and I worked, trying to grow the farm and testing new ways to improve profits. “Thanks, Frank! Stay on two feet!” I said with a smile. That’s how locals wished each other good health. “Will do, young man, will do,” Frank returned with a fatherly grin. The sun smacked me again as I pushed open the door with another ding. I looked to the right. The gorgeous blonde was still sitting there in the same position. Wasn’t she afraid of burning those rosy cheeks in this heat? I hesitated – go back to my truck or maybe approach her? But what the hell would I say? Maybe I could grab some coffee from the café. A perfectly innocent excuse. I turned toward the café, forcing myself forward while stealing glances at her as I was unable to stop looking at her. Her face wasn’t the prettiest I’d ever seen, but there was something cute about it, and her lean, hot body sure caught my eye. Definitely appealing… My d***k twitched. Damn, it’s been too long if random strangers are making me twitch. Though it’s only been a month. Still, it felt like ages since I’d been with someone. As I walked past her, I wondered what color her eyes were. Blue? Hazel? She didn’t move an inch, not even at the sound of my footsteps. Another ding announced my arrival inside the café. The cashier’s round cheeks lit up in a wide smile. “Oh, Jarod, what a pleasure to see you here! How’ve you been, my boy?” Marry greeted me warmly, like I was her own son. What I loved most about this town was how it felt like one big, close-knit family – everyone looking out for each other. “I’m good as new, Marry. What about you? When you finally becoming a grandma?” I teased. “Oh, very soon! Lizzie’s due date’s just weeks away – unless the little one decides to arrive early. We’re all so excited!” Her eyes sparkled with joy. “What can I get you today, son?” she asked. “How about one takeaway cup of your delicious coffee?” I said with a smile. “Oh, you’re always so flattering,” she giggled like a girl while preparing my cup. “Wanna try my apple muffins? Trying out a new recipe,” she offered, moving behind the counter. “Sure. Everything you bake is amazing.” That was no lie – Marry’s café stayed popular even though most folks here cooked at home. As I laid down the money, curiosity got the better of me. “You happen to know who that curly blonde is sitting out in the sun?” I asked, nodding in the girl’s direction. Marry was kind and caring to everyone – surely she chatted with her. Marry paused her register work and gave me a look. “Not a local, dear. She came alone, had lunch, and she’s been out there for the last fifteen minutes. Said she’s just passing through,” Marry explained. “You happen to catch her name?” I asked, smiling sheepishly. She paused from calculating prices and gave me her full attention. She studied me for a second longer, amused. “Well, why don’t you ask her yourself, dear?” Marry said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Never makin’ it easy for me, Marry,” I chuckled, shaking my head in disappointment. “Easy’s never been any fun for young men like you,” she said brightly. We said our goodbyes and I stepped back out into the heat. I took a sip of the coffee, debating – should I talk to the girl or just get on with my day? The heat burned my tongue, and I winced. Maybe I was just tired of the same old faces, the same predictable bootie calls. Life in this remote place had its comforts, but damn, it could be dull in certain ways. I turned toward the blonde beauty again. I needed to know—was she staying a while, or just passing through like Marry had said? I walked toward her and stopped in front of her, casting a shadow over her face. She frowned but didn’t open her eyes. Should I say something? But what? Hell, it’s been ages since I had to introduce myself to a woman. She peeked at me with one eye, then closed it again. Damn, I don’t think I’d ever been brushed off like that. Around here, the single ladies usually welcomed my attention. Maybe that was the catch – she wasn’t single. “I haven’t seen such a beauty like you in our little town, so I was wondering what you’re doing here?” I began, unsure if I came off more cheesy or just plain creepy. Her eyelids slowly lifted, one after the other. Her eyes looked bluish, though it was hard to tell with the shadow my body cast over her face. She gave me a once-over – lingering on my face, then dropping to my chest – before shutting her eyes again. “I was enjoying the warmth of the sun until you blocked it… So – move.” Her voice was sweet, but “move” came out sharp with a pinch of annoyance. “If you could be so kind,” she added, syrupy with sarcasm. Damn, sassy. Was she just another arrogant city bi.tch? She sure came off that way. Did I really need that kind of trouble? I stepped aside, letting the sun hit her rosy cheeks again. As the light spilled across her face, I took a moment to study her features. Her blonde hair was definitely dyed, but it was long, wild, and well-kept. A sprinkle of freckles dusted her cheeks and nose—surprisingly cute, I had to admit. Tiny silver star-shaped earrings caught the sunlight, glinting like they had something to say, too. “Ain’t you afraid to burn those pale cheeks of yours?” I asked in my Southern accent, willing to talk about anything to get her to respond. “Nope.” She popped the “p” and still didn’t open her eyes. She was getting under my skin – I wasn’t used to being brushed off. Especially not by her. “So, where you from?” I gave it one more shot. She stayed silent for a beat before she sighed, long and drawn-out. Was I really that boring to her? Hadn’t she given me a once-over? Didn’t she like what she saw? Maybe she had a boyfriend. So what was I even hoping to get out of this? “North.” She finally replied with another sigh. Very vague. Not helpful. “And what’s brought you to my little village?” I kept on questioning her. “I’m just drivin’ through. But if you keep pestering me, I might ask my little lady here to bite you between the legs.” She pointed lazily toward a small gun tucked behind her shorts—how the hell did I miss that? Did she just threaten to shoot me in the junk? What a psycho bi.tch. But somehow… kind of hot. Most girls in this town giggled and smiled when I paid attention. This one? She was like fire under ice. A thrilling kind of different. I chuckled. “If you tell me your name, I might leave you alone,” I teased, smirking. No way she’d shoot me. She drew in a slow breath and let it out even slower, and damn if it didn’t make me wonder how she’d sound moaning and gasping under me. My body responded on instinct – yeah, buddy, I know what you’re thinking. Preferably with her beneath us, legs wrapped around, or maybe riding us like she owned the moment. Suddenly, the blonde stood up and grabbed her sunglasses from the table. She locked eyes with me, holding my gaze for a second longer than necessary. Then she gave me a deliberate once-over – eyes gliding from my face, down to my boots, then back up again. That once-over stirred something in me. Made me wonder – did she like what she saw? “Well, we don’t have time for that kind of conversation now, do we?” She said it with a quirked eyebrow and a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she slid on her sunglasses, shading those pretty eyes. Then she turned and started walking toward a silver car – it looked like a black Toyota Camry under all the dust clinging to its sides. Yeah, she’d definitely been on the road a while. “¡Adiós, amigo!” she called out, waving a hand in the air without even glancing back. Her pretty ass swayed in those se.xy little shorts, making me want to adjust myself in my jeans. Her wild curls danced in the breeze, hiding the sides of her face as she moved. She opened the car door and slid inside, and I stood there like a fool, watching her every move. She reversed smoothly, then turned and headed down the road. The tires screeched a little as she hit the gas, kicking up a cloud of dust behind her as she sped off to the south. I chuckled to myself. What a firecracker. Where the hell was she going all alone? Maybe visiting family down the road? I’d never know. Such a damn pretty thing but I didn’t even get her name. Well, time to go back to work, I guess. Suddenly, that felt like the dullest thing in the world. I’d rather chase after her and find out who she really was.