The Wild Ones (Book 2 in the Smalltown Superstars Series)

4

Brook spent the next few days preparing for the trip.She got Nick Julies, one of the Iron Horse’s other regular entertainers, tocover her shifts that coming week while she was gone. She then cleaned thehouse and made arraignments with her neighbours to have them feed her animalswhile she was away. She then went through her wardrobe selecting what she wouldtake with her to LA. Brook had to admit she was excited.

Shefound herself more excited when Dawson started calling the next day. She hadjust gotten out of the shower on Monday and was getting ready for work when herphone had rung. She had picked up the receiver to see the caller ID which readDawson Archer. Her pulse began to flutter, andshe thought about ignoring the call at first. Make him wait and call back, buthe could be calling about the trip and perhaps it was something she needed toknow.

Brookhad answered and held the phone up to her ear. “Hello.”

“Hello,are you busy?” Dawson asked sounding chipper.

“Actuallyyes. You just caught me fresh from the shower, andI’m getting dressed for work.”

“Umm.”He sounded as if he were trying to envisionher standing there in nothing but her towel.

“Areyou calling for a reason?” Brook asked trying to focus the conversation.

“Giveme a moment,” Dawson said silkily. “I wasdaydreaming.” She could not hold back thesmile that curved the corners of her lips. He was incorrigible. “The planeleaves Wednesday morning. Pretty early actually. I thought that tomorrow, perhaps after you get off work, you might come over and sleep at myplace. I have a spare room you are welcome too.Then we could drive out to the airport together in the morning.” He suggested.

Itsounded like a reasonable plan. Dawson’scity residence was close to the internationalairport. “Alright what is your address?” She asked picking up a pen and paper.She jotted down the address he gave her and then said good-bye. She did have toget to work.

Brookhung up the phone and quickly got changed into a pair of jeans and a dark greent-shirt. She pulled on her boots and grabbed her hat on the way out the door.She patted her dog on the head as she got into her car. She would stop in townon her way to work to pick up her mail. She had not checked her box in days, so Brook was sure there was most likelysomething there. A few bills and some junk mail.

Brookdrove into Higgins and parked outside the gas station. She walked up to thepostal boxes taking out her key she unlocked the box. The door to the gasstation opened and out came Jenny Williams with her three daughters in tow.Jenny was a pretty young thing that had gone to school with Brook’s brother.She had been the bell of the town until she married Hank Williams, some poormill worker, and started popping out one child after another. She was a sweet, sociable woman that everyone liked verymuch.

“EveningBrook,” Jenny said greeting her as shestarted getting her kids into her minivan.

“EveningJenny. How are you?”

“Aswell as can be expected,” Jenny said. Thewhole town knew she was expecting yetanother child. The loud sound of booming music and screeching tires drew theirattention, and Jenny shut the slidingdoor as a huge four by four pickup truck ripped down the main street and slidinto the parking spot next to them. Both Jenny and Brook knew who this recklessdriver was even before they got out.

Kentand Yukon Griffin climbed out of the truck laughing and already rowdy as theystepped up onto the curb, their light blond hair tucked under their dusty ballcaps and they're close dusty from thelong drive down from the oil sands. It might not have been a popular choice ofoccupations around these parts, but someof the men did choose it, and everyone in town was sure glad the Griffinboys had.

Sincethey were children, the Griffin boys hadbeen nothing but trouble around these parts. They had been nasty and rowdy. Outrightbullies. They harassed the other townsfolk and were on a first name biases withmost of the law enforcement in the area. They were a rough and rowdy bunch whowere most preferred when out of town. Ever since they started working the oilsands, the boys had often spent much of their time up north usually working weeks to months at a time onlyto come back and harass the town for a week or two and then leave again. Regrettably, it looked as if this was the weekthe boys were on turn-a-round.

Brookwatched as Sam Griffin stepped out from behind the driver’s door. A big burly guy with light hair and a short, shabby beard. The oldest of the threebrothers Sam was the designated leader of the bunch whatever he did, whateverhe said, wherever he went, his twobrainless brothers blindly followed cackling like idiots. Sam was the only realthreat among them, the only one that anyone should fear and people did fearhim. He was known for his short temper, for flying off and going crazy. He hadonce beaten a traveller half to death forhaving looked at him the wrong way in the bar after a few drinks. The manlooked for any reason to start a fight.

Worse,he had eyes for Brook. Sam stepped up onto the sidewalk and smiled when he sawBrook. Her skin crawled as his eyes racked over her mentally undressing her.“There is the most beautiful woman in the whole world.” He said walking towardsher. “What do you say you come insideMargie’s bar with us, and I buy you a fewbeers?” Sam said wrapping his arm around her waist.

Brookslapped his hand away. “Let’s not. How about you go in there by yourself andgrow a personality.” She snarled and locked up her mailbox. “I got to go to work.”

“Howabout I pick you up afterwards, and we goout to the boondocks. You and me under the stars.” Sam said leaning in to smellher hair.

Sheshuddered with disgust and placed her hand on his chest to shove him away.“Gross, didn’t your daddy ever teach you about personal space?” Brook pushedSam away from her and headed for her car. She could not wait to get away fromthem. Thank god she was leaving for LA. By the time she got back, she would have missed their entire timehome. Brook got into her car and quickly made her escape.

“Youknow one day baby I’m going to stop asking,”Sam called after her. One could only hope. Those boys were nothing buttrouble.

***

It was near four in the morning when Brook pulled up infront of the address she had written down. She picked up the slip of paper fromthe passenger seat next to her and checked it once more to be sure. The lastthing she wanted to do was go knocking on the wrong door at four in themorning. It was the right address. She shut off the engine and took hersuitcase from the backseat.

Brookgot out and looked at the incredible house before her. The driveway beneath herfeet was cobblestone, and it curved upand around a fountain before leading back out to the street. The house was alight mauve colour, or so it looked likein the dark. Two stories with what looked like a walkout basement from what she could see. There were tall archedwindows and a tall curved stone steps leading up to the large double frontdoors. There was a three-car attached garage with a sports car parked in onewith the door open and did her eyes deceive her, was that a motorboat? It was and a nice one too.

Dawsoncertainly had done well for himself these past eight years. She looked aroundat the rest of the neighbourhood. Every house on the block was swanky and wellto do. This place was vastly different from the quiet little town she had residedin her whole life. So much concrete and stone. So much lavish extravagance itwas clear that the residents here hadmore money than they could ever spend. It made her wonder just what thesepeople did.

Shewondered if any of their neighbours even knew one another. As she looked around, she saw lots of small logos in thecorners of windows and on the edge of lawns. Small warning signs thatadvertised the complicated and likely expensive security systems each home usedto protect their property. Something told her this was not the type ofneighbourhood where one got to know one’s neighbour. It baffled her that peoplecould live that way. How could someone live comfortably and contently besidesomeone for twenty years and never know their name?

Therewas a light on inside the house; Brookassumed Dawson had waited up for her. She mounted the stone steps to the doorand rang the bell. She waited a moment for him to answer. The narrow windows oneither side of the doors were frosted, andBrook could not see through them, but shedid notice a dark shape appear behind the glass moving toward the door. Thatmust be Dawson she assumed.

Thedoor opened shortly after and Dawson was smiling back at her. Her breath caughtin Brook’s chest at the sight of him. He wore nothing but a pair of dark bluesweats with the drawstring tied tight around his narrow hips. He was naked from the waist up, and all silken bronzed skin pulled taut overcorded muscle. He was on the phone oddly enough at this hour. Dawson gesturedfor Brook to come on in and continued his conversation. He was speaking inFrench she realized as she listened and did not understand a thing he said.Dawson shut the door behind her and ushered her inside.

Brookkicked off her boots placing her bag on the foyer floor as she looked around.The ceilings were high, and the place wasimpeccably decorated, like something you would see on the cover of a ModernLife magazine. Right in front of her was the stairs leading up to the secondstory of the house. To her left a short hall with open doors and dark hardwoodfloor. To her right the living room filled with modern styled furniture that lookedvery new and in pristine condition. On the far end of the living room was anarchway that opened into a huge kitchen with stainless steel appliances andblack marble countertops. There were a large round glass table and another archway that opened into a large dining roomwith a long cherry wood dining table.

“Sorryabout that, business,” Dawson said cominginto the dining room behind her.

“Youdo business at four in the morning?” Brook asked finding his schedulequestionable.

“Theywould fall apart without me.” He said placing the phone on the table. “Ihonestly do not know how they will get on without me for a week.”

Shesmirked. “You must be very important.”

“Justvery good at my job.” He bragged.

“Ican tell from this impressive house. You are doing quite well for yourself.”Brook said heading back to the living room. “What exactly is it that you do?”She wondered.

“Iwork for an advertising company.”

“So you are in marketing?”Brook said heading back into the foyer and down the hall to check out the otherrooms.

Dowsonleisurely followed her. “In a sense yes. I take a product, be it a person,place, or thing and find the best way to make others spend money on it.”

“So,you’re a glorified salesman?” She said looking into a room that seemed to be anoffice. She wandered over to the cluttered desk and sat in the high-backedoffice chair. Brook had never been in an office chair. She felt like a bigshot.

“Isuppose in a very simplified sense, yes,but I am a specialist, so I get paid verywell for it.”

Brookleaned back relaxing in the chair. She kicked her feet up on top of the deskand crossed one over the other. The computer was on, and there were some spreadsheetsand proposals she could not possibly understand. Brook picked up the big black leather-boundbook of appointments and schedules flipping through the pages. He was a verybusy man. No wonder Raven felt neglected. The man hardly had time to shave. “Ibet you have a secretary?” She said with a sly smile.

“Ido.”

Sheshot him a wicked glace over the edge of the appointment book. “I bet she’ssome bubble-headed blonde that can’t typebut looks good bent over your desk.”

“Idon’t mix business and pleasure,” Dawsonassured her. “I have never slept with anyone in the office. For your information, my assistant is fifty-two yearsold with horned rimmed glasses and happily married. Her name is Alice.” He saidcoming up to the desk. “But I would dare say any man would be hard-pressed not fraternize if he found youbehind his desk like this.”

Brookplaced the book back on the desk and looked up at him from under her longlashes. “Mr. Archer that is s****l harassment.” She swung her legs over andstood up. “I may be forced to report you.” She teased coming around the deskand heading for the door.

Shewandered toward the next door which leadsout onto a suspended deck overlooking a humanmadepark filled with trees and a pond. She saw a large hot tub and wondered if heever had time to enjoy it. She headed back inside where Dawson was waiting inthe hall. “Would you like to go to bed?” He asked. Brook stopped short andstared at him. “Alone of course.” Dawson grinned wolfishly. “I just mean it islate and we must leave early.”

“Iam not entirely done snooping.” Brook playfully informed him. “What isdownstairs?” She asked.

“BoxesI think. I don’t know I don’t go down there.” Dawson confessed.

“Andupstairs?” She said looking up the staircase.

“Bedroomsand bathroom, the usual.” He said.

“Alrightthen, I suppose getting some sleep is a good idea.” She said heading for thestairs. “Just show me to my room,” Brooksaid mounting the stairs.

Dawsonfollowed her up. “Don’t you want your bag to change into something for bed?”

“No,it’s hot. I’ll sleep in my underwear tonight.” She said reaching the top step.

Dawsongave a little groan, and Brook lookedback to see the tortured look on his face as he pictured her lying in bed halfnaked on the other side of the wall from him. “Why are you so cruel?” Hechuckled causing her to laugh. “To taunt a man so mercilessly.” Dawson led herdown the hall and pushed open one door. “This is my room.” He informed her thenpushed open the next door. “You may have this one. The washroom is at the end ofthe hall. We have to leave at seven thirty, sowe should be up by seven at the latest. Would you like me to wake you?” Heasked picturing her undressed once more.

“Don’tyou dare.” She warned. “I will set the alarm.”

“Fine,take away all my fun.”

“Goodnight Dawson.”

“Goodnight Brook.”