Читать книгу A Hell of a Woman - Ron Boone's Hummer - Страница 6

The ride to Grizzlies nearly took an hour, ending with a ride down to the last exit of Interstate 95 which was about 3 miles. He looked over at Kim as he pulled into the dirt lot, her smile never leaving her face as she sung along to Lady Gaga. What am I doing here? Gunn asked himself. She listens to music I’m not the least bit interested in. Talks about TV shows like the Jersey Shore, Desperate Housewives, and the Real Housewives of Atlanta.

“Did you see Jennifer’s Body?”

“Jennifer’s Body?” Gunn asked.

“That was such a great movie. Megan Fox was in it.”

“Must have missed that one.”

Gunn debated about letting Kim go in by herself, turned and looked at her again, lost the debate.

“Are we going?” she asked.

“Sure.” He stepped out of the car, shut the door. Kim shut her door, came around his side and put her arm inside Gunn’s arm. “I”m really glad you came with me.”

Her arm felt like an electric jolt that went through his body. He smelled her perfume for the first time and tingled all over.

They walked together, their shoes crunching the pebbles below their feet. “What kind of place is this?” Gunn asked.

“Kind of like a pub?” Kim answered.

“Oh. You come here a lot?”

“Oh yeah. I like places like this.”

“Really. I thought you would like the clubs better.”

“I don’t know. Kind of bored with the clubs.”

“Really.”

“You’re still surprised that I invited you here, aren’t you?”

“I guess.”

She stopped and looked at Gunn. “Don, you have to lighten up.”

“You want to know the truth?”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t been with another woman since my wife died.”

“I think I already knew that,” she said, rubbing his cheek with the palm of her hand. “It’s okay. I understand. Look, let’s take things slowly. I’d really like to get to know you better. Okay.”

Gunn smiled, feeling more stunned by the minute. Was she after something? he asked himself. He didn’t understand this at all.

“Okay.”

“Good,” she said, taking his arm again. “Let’s go.”

They reached the door and the bouncer was there, ready to greet them. Kimmy. I thought it was you.”

“Hey Wes,” Kim replied, mussing Wes’s hair with her right hand.

“Who’s the lucky guy?” His voice was low, loaded with menace.

“Don, this is Wes.”

“Hey Wes.”

Wes was much taller than Gunn, about 6-3, with red hair that fell over his ears, and beneath that an eight inch scar on his forehead and beneath that, small eyebrows and dark eyes, and beneath that, a pug nose, and beneath that, a red mustache.

Wes put out his hand and Gunn shook it. “At times like this, I wish I was your age so I would have a chance with Kimmy.”

“Wes, give it a rest.”

He looked at Kim, put his hands on his hips. “I really don’t understand you.”

“Come on Don, let’s go inside.”

“Whatever,” Wes said.

As they went inside, Don said “That the guy that started the fight in the movie theater?”

“Nice guess.”

Gunn walked inside, the small of beer was prevalent in the air. There was a large bar off to the left with five men sitting on stools wearing blue jean jackets, blue jeans, and black work boots. Booths and tables were lined up in the center of the room with about 8 pool tables in the back. The bartender turned towards them and Kim said “Hey Dusty”

Dusty saluted Kim, turned and pulled a beer tap that said Budweiser.

A raven haired woman walked over, her tee shirt said Grizzlies. “Hey Kim.”

“Hey Cheryl.”

“Table for 2.”

“Sure.”

She turned and showed them to a booth. Kim sat on the far end and tugged Don’s hand to sit next to her.

“It might get loud in here,” Kim said, “so no point in shouting at each other.”

“Sounds good,” Don said, looking around the room, noting the crowd, feeling like he was the oldest one there. Then Cheryl left menus for them.

“Sea food platter is good,” Kim said.

“Okay.”

The waitress was over and Kim said “I’ll have a Bud.”

“Make it two,” Don said.

The waitress left and Kim said “Hope you’re having fun.”

“I am,” Don said, looking into her eyes.

“That’s good,” she said, moving closer, putting her hand on the back of his neck. “You still need to lighten up though.”

“Really,” Don said, grinning.

“Yeah. Maybe this will help.” She sat on his lap, put her mouth over his, her tongue probing his mouth. He pulled her close, feeling her breasts rubbing against his chest. She stopped, then said “I’ve been wanting to do that for a while.”

He pulled her close and kissed her now, the kiss longer than the last one. “Keep that up,” she said, “and you may get lucky tonight.”

“i’m starting to feel lucky already,” Don said, running his hand through her hair.

“Good. So am I.” She moved off his lap as the waitress came by with their beers. “You guys look at the menus.”

“I’ll have the seafood platter.”

“Same here,” Gunn said.

“Any appetizers?”

“What do you think Kim?” Gunn asked.

“Potato skins are good.”

“Sounds good to me then.”

She left and Kim rubbed Gunn’s thigh. “Having fun now?”

“Yeah.” He started to rub her thigh and she took his hand.

“Good.”

He leaned back, suddenly lost in her eyes as she smiled. Can’t believe it’s gotten this far already he thought. Was it really going further by the end of the night?

“A lot of people know you here?”

“Yep. It’s like Norm. At Cheers, everyone knows your name.”

“You like that show?”

“Oh yeah. I’ve seen all the reruns.”

“And I saw it when it first started.”

“Sam was hot,” she said.

“He got all the girls.”

“That’s for sure.” She took a long sip of her beer.

Our of the corner of his eye, Don glanced at the bar, noticing two men staring at him and Kim before looking away. One man had brown hair that had a buzz cut; the other, a bald-headed man with a brown mustache.

“Hey Kim,” a man with short blonde hair slicked back said as he came over. He looked uncomfortable as he rubbed the heel of his hand over the faint stubble of his chin. Gunn looked at the man further and took in his beefy face, broad shoulders, the friendly grin, and his unruly blonde hair that seemed plastered to his skull. He was dressed in a white golf shirt and kakis.

“Hey Joe,” Kim answered. “This is Don.”

“Hey Don.” He put out his hand and he shook it. “Joe Crowley.”

“Joe’s father owns this place,” Kim said.

“Really,” Don said. “How’s business?”

“Could be better. Economy isn’t helping.”

“Don works in advertising,” Kim said, “Maybe he can work on some ads for you.”

“I don’t know. We’re barely surviving.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Don said.

“You should think about it,” Kim said.

“I’ll mention it to my father. We’ll see. Just wanted to say hello.”

“Good to see you.”

“You too.” He turned and left.

“Even the owners son says hi to you.”

“Just another guy who used to hit on me.” Kim said.

“You’re comfortable seeing him.”

“Doesn’t bother me. I get used to it after a while.”

“I suppose.”

“LIke I said, I like guys who are more mature,” she said, rubbing his hand.

“Good to hear.”

“Am I being too aggressive?” She asked.

“Nope. I kind of like it.”

“Good,”

The potato skins arrived and as Don took a sip of his beer, he said “You never told me what you did for a living.”

“Well, I lost my job at my law firm as a legal secretary. “So I just temp all the time. I also do some waitressing with a friend.”

“You getting a lot of work?” Don asked.

“Oh yeah. My jobs last for weeks. Truth is that if I dress really nice, if you know what I mean, I get to stay longer.”

“You shouldn’t have to rely on your looks.”

“Well, I had a couple of interviews but they were with women. I’ll get the right one with a guy and I’ll get hired. But I’m just as happy temping.”

“Are your parents okay with that?”

She looked away for the first time, seeing people cheering for the Phillies on the TV.”

Don looked at her, concerned. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

She took a deep breath and looked at him. “I’m sorry. Truth is I don’t know who my parents are?”

“Really.”

“Yeah. I was given up at birth.”

Don ran his hand through her hair. “I”m sorry. That’s horrible.”

“Yeah. I bounced around a couple of foster homes. Then I got lucky with one in California.”

“So you were with a family?”

“I was but when I was 18, I left. I applied for financial aid and got into UCLA. Worked hard. Kept my grades up. When I graduated, I tried to get into a play or a movie while waitressing. Never really worked out so I gave it up. Decided to come to Philly.”

“You weren’t out there that long.”

“I guess in the end, it wasn’t for me. Maybe right now I’m just lost.”

The waitress was back with their plates, then left them on the table.

“Enough about me. What about you?”

“Not much more about me. Going day to day, wondering if I’ll have a job.”

“That bad,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“Are you looking for another job?”

Am I looking for another job, Don thought to himself, remembering Rob Barker. “Interviews are few and far between,” Gunn said, trying to hold back his anger. “Doesn’t help when you’re under a non-compete agreement and your job choices are limited.”

“They can do that?” Kim inquired

“Oh yeah. A lot of companies do it now. And they can fire me and I still can’t work in the industry for 2 years.”

‘That’s horrible. No wonder there’s so many people unemployed.”

“They can do a lot of other things. So can the people that interview me for a new job.”

“Like what?” Kim asked.

His thoughts turned back to Rob Barker and North Shore Publishing. “How about asking someone to take a personality test?”

“Personality test?”

“Yeah,” Don said, his voice rising. “Go through 200 questions on whether you should lie to your boss. Or do you ever lie to anyone.”

“That sounds ridiculous.”

“Not as ridiculous as going to the interview and being asked to take a test that is like a high school equivalency exam. I mean, I graduated from Brockport. Didn’t have great grades. But still.”

“Take it easy,” Kim said, rubbing his shoulder.

“I mean, I never would have even applied to that job at North Star Publishing if it weren’t for my non-compete.”

“Why did you apply then?”

“Because I’m tired of worrying day after day about losing my job. I have to apply for jobs that I’m unqualified for. All because I can be fired and be deprived of making a living.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Not like anyone will talk about it on the news. Be interesting if they actually made a comparison of how many people are being deprived of a living while looking for a job and collecting unemployment.”

“Guess they won’t talk about that?”

“Yep. Can’t understand why. Guess that isn’t important enough.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sounds like you’ve had it harder than I have,” Gunn replied. “Doesn’t sound like you had a very good childhood.”

“No. I didn’t.” She sniffled.

He pulled her close and she sniffled again. “Don’t be upset.”

“I’m not,” she said, rubbing a tear from her eye.

He felt his heart go out for her now, caring for her more.

“I’m glad I met you today, Don.”

“Same here.”

They looked into each other’s eyes and he moved closer, covering her mouth with his. She pulled him close, her breasts rubbing against his chest again.

They were out of Grizzlies after dinner, the kissing continuing outside, Kim jumping into Gunn’s arms as they reached the car. Her legs straddled his as he kissed her deeply, his tongue probing her mouth. Once inside the car, they kissed a few more times, then stopped. “Let’s just go back to your place already,” Kim said.

***

2 hours later, they were in bed, Kim snuggling against Don’s chest, their legs tangled under the covers.

“That was great.” she said.

“Yeah, it was,” Gunn replied.

“Bet you didn’t think your day would start off like this.”

“That’s for sure,” he said, kissing her neck.

“You wore me out,” she said.

“I’m kind of worn out myself.”

“I should go,” she said, getting up.

“Really,”

“I’m not a good morning person,” she said.

“Wouldn’t mind if you stayed,” he said, propping an elbow against the pillow.

“I might start to scare you and never want to leave.”

Gunn chuckled.

“I really had a good time and I want to see you again. How about tonight?”

“Sunday night.”

“Anything wrong with that?”

“Just hate Sundays. One day closer to work.”

“You must really hate your job.”

“I do.”

“That’s too bad. Look, we’ll have a good time. I’ll make you forget about it.” She kissed him on the cheek, stood up, then got dressed.

“Where are we going?” Gunn asked.

“We’ll just go to Grizzlies again if you want.”

“Two nights in a row.”

“It’s a Sunday night. You pick the place next week. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Mind if I call a cab?”

“Sure. You need money?”

“I’m okay.” She grabbed her cell phone put it to her ear, then asked for Don’s address.”

“I’ll wait outside.” She stood up and walked to the door. He got up, went to his closet, took out a blue robe, put it on, went to the door.

“You’re a great guy Don Gunn.”

“So are you Kim Hunter.” He drew her close and kissed her.

“Might have to make the driver wait,” she said, rubbing his cheek with the back of her hand.

“Sounds good to me.”

She saw a pad on the table. She walked over, took a pen, then wrote her number on it. Then she asked for his number and e-mail and she put it in her cell phone.

“I’ll go downstairs. Night.”

“Night.”

He watched her go and she turned and waved at him. Then she pressed the button for the elevator and it arrived. She waved again, then went inside the elevator.

He shut the door, then locked it, stared at the clock on the wall, saw it was 2:27. “I already miss her,” he muttered. “At least she wants to see me again.”

He walked over to the door that led to his terrace. He opened it, felt the cool breeze as he dropped into a metal chair. He watched as the blue cab that said All City on the door pulled up. She opened the door, stepped inside, and closed the door. Then the cab drove away.

He closed his eyes, replaying the evening, not wanting it to end. He opened his eyes he and watched as other cars came up and down the road. A red mustang pulled into a spot, the window coming down before the engine died. Gunn narrowed his eyes, recognized the familiar face of the man that had the brown buzz cut hair that sat next to the bald-headed man from Grizzlies. “No, it couldn’t be,” Don muttered. He pressed his lips together as the man lit a cigarette. Gunn stood up, turned, went back to the bedroom, trying to forget about the man.