Alternate Plans (California Dreamin' Series Book 2) Read online

  “Ms. Martin,” the supervisor came back on the line and pulled me back to the task at hand.

  We chatted for a few minutes. She reached my driver and he located my purse. The only issue, after he dropped my car he got another call for a tow fifty or so miles away. It was going to take him a few hours to get back to me outside Cedar Falls. I looked around as if I would find Adam but, to no avail.

  He had mentioned closing and leaving. I knew he wouldn’t hang around and wait for hours for the driver to get back. Especially if he was serious about needing a deposit. As if I'd summoned him out of thin air, the office door opened and Adam walked toward me.

  He’d changed out of the gray snap up jumpsuit revealing a pair of faded denim jeans and a green and black flannel shirt over a gray T-shirt peeking out the top. His eyes connected with mine and I felt my breath catch in my throat. I could feel my cheeks heat with red from my quickened, pumping blood. Damnit, no, I thought.

  He flung a hand upward in the universal signal for ‘what's going on’ and snapped me out of my fan girl obsession.

  “Can you hang on for one second please,” I asked the woman on the phone then pulled the receiver away from my ear and covered the bottom, “hey the driver won't be back for a few hours.”

  “That doesn't work for me, I gotta go,” he replied followed by a frown and crossing his arms across his chest. The flannel strained against his shoulders. His ‘I lift cars for a living can you tell’ shoulders. My belly flipped again. Hot. So hot.

  “I can't get him here any faster than he can drive.” I said trying to stave off the butterflies in my midsection.

  “Well I need to be across town soon and I can’t leave you here alone.”

  “I’m a grown-up you know, perfectly okay with waiting alone.”

  “Yeah but if something happens to you here, well, my insurance is lapsed so,” he trailed off, uncrossed his arms then said, “look, I'll take you into town and get you some food. And before you ask, yes, I can get you back in a couple hours. I just have something I need to do.”

  “I am a little hungry,” I said, unsure if I should accept his help, “but you don’t have to buy me dinner.”

  “Look, I feel bad about your situation and everyone needs to eat.”

  “That’s nice of you, thanks.”

  “Just doing my job.”

  Despite being shocked to a point of near silence at his apparent turn around to nice, I told the supervisor it would be fine. She put me on hold and my eyes flicked back up to meet his.

  “Besides,” he paused, then continued, “I already told you I don't want your crappy car left at my shop without a deposit. You're not leaving my side.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  He left the office announcing he'd see me out front. I stuck my tongue out as the door closed behind him. Some grown-up I was after all. I retracted my tongue. The AAA woman and I finished our conversation so I thanked her and hung the receiver back on the cradle. With a deep breath I exited the office and walked through the garage bay back out to the front of the building.

  Back out front I saw the rear bumper of my nemesis car by the gas pumps as I walked toward the front lobby. A voice behind the gas pump stopped me.

  “You're not getting dinner in there.”

  I turned to see Adam in the driver side window. My jaw hit the dirt. Proverbially speaking of course but it did fall open, ever so slightly, in awe. I took two steps towards the car.

  “Is this your car?”

  “That’s what the registration says.”

  I felt like an idiot for not figuring it out sooner. Of course he owned the Maxima. Only a guy as gruff and snarky as Adam would soak a woman on the side of the road and keep on driving.

  “This is your fault,” I said and walked all the way to his side of the car.

  “Your car problem is my fault?” He asked and laughed, snapping me back to the reality that my life had become.

  “No, but the hair you found so amusing. My clothes. I was on the side of the road and you sent an entire puddle in my direction earlier. Thanks for stopping,” I said in my most passive-aggressive tone.

  “Wait, you were on the road? I felt the puddle and then looked up but I didn’t see anyone.”

  “Yeah, and you soaked me,” I said but his words sunk in and I shook my head, “Wait, what do you mean ‘then looked up’?”

  “I was dialing my phone when I hit the puddle. I didn't even see you. Sorry. Can you get in please?”

  “What? I'm not getting in a car with someone who drives like a maniac,” I said, feeling a twinge of guilt for having done something similar earlier. Not paying attention to my driving. Swerving to the side. But I didn’t soak anyone. Did I?

  “I did say sorry. Look, I feel bad so I won’t make you pay me back for dinner.”

  I stared at the guy. His now mostly clean hands wrapped around the black steering wheel at eleven and one. I couldn't tear my eyes away for a moment. Grease stained knuckles, a working man's hands. No ring. Glancing past his hands, I saw a Case Logic soft side carrier on the passenger seat. It was unzipped, the top flap pulled open, and half full of CD cases.

  “Let me see your music,” I demanded.

  “Why?”

  “You can tell everything about a person by the music they listen to in their car.”

  “Seriously?” His eyebrows shot upward and his hands slid down around the steering wheel until they were resting at five and seven.

  “Yes, really. Fork it over,” I repeated and held my hand out.

  “If I give it to you will that get you in the car any faster?”

  “Maybe, if you're not an ax murderer.”

  He paused, smiled at me and in a very bad Scottish accent said, “I like this one Charlie, she's quite a filly.”

  “Stop distracting me with movie quotes. CDs,” I held out my hand again and almost felt my mouth form a smile at his quoting So, I Married an Ax Murderer, one of my favorite movies.

  He shook his head, picked up the case, and passed it to me through the window. The top closed as he tilted it toward me. Grasping the case by the teal canvas handle, my other hand underneath for support, I noticed the top was about three shades lighter than the rest. Faded to light grey by the sun pouring in the windshield and onto the passenger seat.

  I was met with the warm, scent of something like cologne as I approached the driver’s side window. Spicy mixed with something floral, light. Was it lavender? Ohmigod this guy was killing me. It was as if I’d scripted him into existence out of thin air. Damnit, no, I thought.

  With the CD case in hand, I stepped back until my back was touching the gas pump on the far end, leaned against the cold metal, and flipped the top open again. The collection was small but eclectic. Led Zeppelin II and III, Prince, The Doors, Three Grateful Dead discs, Frank Sinatra, Snoop Dogg, and lots of empty spaces.

  When my eyes fell on the Sinatra disc it took most of my resolve not to smile. It was the same one my mom used to play every Sunday as she cooked dinner. Anyone who traveled with a Frank Sinatra disc couldn’t be all bad. I held back the grin at the memory and instead passed the case back through his still open window.

  “Okay, I'm ready,” I said then walked around to the passenger side and got in the car.

  “Just like that, I'm safe?”

  “Yup,” I replied, clicking my seatbelt across my chest.

  “Which CD changed your mind?”

  “Not telling.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t want to find out those aren’t even your CDs?” I attempted to go for mysterious and witty but my statement came out sounding more like a question.

  In the driver seat, he sat motionless, staring and blinking in my general direction. I knew it was a challenge. He wanted to stare me down until I broke and revealed what changed my mind. No chance I was going to budge. Mostly because I already knew I was going to take the ride the minute he made the So, I Married an Ax Murderer reference. I stared back.
He broke first. And fast. He shook his head and turned away with a chuckle as he shifted into drive and pulled onto the paved road.

  We didn't talk much on the ride which gave me plenty of time to look around the inside of his car. Compared to the outside, shiny, well-kept other than the recent puddle sludge, the inside was atrocious. A small pile of chopped wood and a loose pile of fleece blankets took up the entire backseat.

  The blankets were covered in pet hair, I assumed dog because of the smell stuck in the air. My nose crunched upwards and I shifted, uncomfortable, in my seat. I tried to get his cologne scent back in my nose. I was going to reek of dog in addition to my already charming appearance. Great.

  It only took about five minutes to get into town. A term I considered loosely. As we traveled the entire main drag, Main Street, as I read on the sign, I felt transported in time and space to another land far outside of coastal California. The buildings were old-timey, brick and glass faces, single story. More peeling paint.

  “I feel like you just drove onto the set of a cheesy eighties movie only I can’t tell if it’s going to be a comedy or something else.”

  “This town? Horror, all the way.”

  “You sure about that? It looks more,” I paused not sure at first how to finish that sentence but went with, “romance.”

  “Try growing up here,” he said and pulled into an empty parking spot in front of a restaurant at the far end of Main Street.

  We both got out of the car and he hurried to cross the sidewalk in front of me. Adam pulled open the door to the restaurant and motioned for me to take the lead. Chivalry? As he pulled the door towards himself, I noticed the faded red paint on the door. It read, Cooper's Diner.

  “Geez, a garage and a diner? Does this Cooper person own this whole town or something?” I asked as the warm scent of comfort food filled my nose.

  “Let's get a booth,” he said, ignoring my question, and put his arm beside my head, finger pointing to an empty booth in the far back corner.

  I followed the direction of his arm and slid into the booth with my back to the door. The maroon vinyl made a squeaking sound underneath my denim. And as I settled into the middle of the bench seat, I sunk into a hole. It was clearly due to an absent spring.

  As my knees moved up higher than my waist, the button on my waistband pushed into my stomach. I shifted in the seat and popped the button open, hoping nobody noticed me do it, and felt instant relief. I lifted my head. Adam was looking directly at my face but quickly shifted his gaze away and pushed a plastic covered menu in my direction.

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “You should try a hamburger, cheeseburger actually. They’re world famous,” he said, shifted in his seat, and looked down at the cover of his menu. He didn’t open it.

  “I'm vegetarian,” I lied.

  “No wonder you're so pale.”

  “Hey!” I said and crossed my arms over my chest, which I realized right away was fruitless since my arms were beneath the level of the table.

  “Truth hurts?”

  “Whatever. Let's just get through this meal and get back over to the garage to get my purse so I can pay you and be on my way,” I said and as the words fell from my mouth even I knew I had been too harsh, “please.”

  “Well, good evening,” an older woman sporting a colorful quilted sweater vest over a heather grey ribbed turtleneck stopped at our table and put a hand on Adam’s shoulder.

  “Hey Mrs. Yandell.”

  “And who is your friend?”

  The woman turned in my direction then smiled so wide I could swear I saw an actual twinkle appear in the corner of her eye. She was adorable. Reminded me of my aunt Sylvia. I liked Mrs. Yandell right away but felt a pang of guilt for probably missing a big dinner with my family. I shook it off, smiled at the woman beside the table, and assured myself I’d call my dad as soon as I had a chance to use another phone.

  “Deb Martin,” I said and extended a hand which she shook as I went on, “but we're not friends. He's just fixing my car.”

  “And buying you dinner,” Adam interjected.

  “Right,” I said and dropped Mrs. Yandell’s hand.

  “How lovely. Will you be in town for very long, Deb?”

  “Until Monday I guess,” I replied, a hint of a frown forming on my face.

  “Well, I insist you stay with us.”

  “Uh,” I paused, not sure how to tell a well-meaning woman no thank you. We just met. Although I felt endeared to her immediately, I didn't even know her first name. There was no way I was staying with her no matter how generous the offer. Talk about the polar opposite of Adam. Well, sort of.

  “Oh no, not with my husband and me,” she laughed with hearty enthusiasm, “I mean stay in the hotel across the street. I work a few shifts at the front desk over there,” she said and pointed through the front window.

  I turned and my eyes followed the direction of her finger. It surprised me that I hadn't really noticed the building on the way down the street. It was the only place above one story in town. Directly above the front door an awning jutted out over the sidewalk supported by industrial-strength chains on either side. Black metal ironwork shot up and down in extreme Gothic architecture style. In gold tinged letters I read, Cooper Hotel. My jaw almost fell open. Another Cooper establishment?

  “It's nice. Plenty of vacancy,” Adam added to the conversation and I turned my head to look at him across the table.

  “Vacant? “ I replied.

  “Slow season.”

  “In spring?”

  “How about a cheeseburger,” he said and lowered his eyes to the table.

  “Order’s in for two. That's okay, Deb, right?”

  “Wait, you work here too?” I asked surprised to hear that she worked at both the hotel and the restaurant.

  “Most of us have multiple jobs in Cedar Falls. We've found it's the best way to support each other. Just like Mr. Cooper always says, just do—”

  “Thanks Mrs. Yandell,” Adam cut her off, “that'll be all.”

  “Oh of course. You two want to be alone. I'll be back with dinner and your coffee in a few minutes.”

  “Sounds good, thanks,” Adam said.

  I smiled and watched the rectangular shaped woman make her way back to the kitchen. The back of her sweater vest was just as festive as the front. Birds, squirrels, all manner of flora and fauna patterned fabric sewn together creating wearable art. I suddenly wanted to hug the woman. Instead, I tried to avoid looking at Adam. I could feel him staring at me again as I glanced around the restaurant.

  The place reminded me of a diner I’d been to as a kid. I had one picture from inside the place, the last photo I had of my mom. Ryan was in New York looking at schools and mom decided to turn it into a nice family vacation. We all went. Even dad took time away from work. Ryan wasn’t too pleased. He had wanted the time alone but our mother wasn’t keen on her seventeen year old son in Manhattan. Not alone anyway. That was the last family vacation we took.

  The memory caused me to take a deep breath and exhale an audible sigh. The chrome and bright lights were sparkling. I could feel my eyes well up. Must be the bright reflection, I convinced myself. Mrs. Yandell came back and set a black coffee down in front of each of us then a small dish full of creamers next to me. As she walked away, Adam’s phone vibrated on the far end of the table.

  “I have to take that. Be right back,” he announced and got up from the table.

  I was happy for the timing, and dropped my chin as if to nod in response. He got up and left, saying “hello?” on the way out the door. I stirred my coffee, added two creamers and three sugars, then let my memory drift back to my mom. I felt like I abandoned my dad by leaving. And he was all alone. So was I. I had to admit I was in need of the parent I still had around. It was time to move back home.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “Here you go,” Mrs. Yandell said as she placed a plate in front of me minutes later.

  The smell of the burger je
rked me back to reality and I smiled up at her as she glanced around and went on, “Now where did he get to?”

  “Phone call,” I said and shoved three fries into my ketchup vessel then my mouth.

  “Never stops working that one.”

  “Working?” I said, mouth fuller than I usually spoke through.

  “Oh probably. He has more than a few jobs now. He has to, I suppose. Enjoy your meal!” She finished and walked away leaving me confused.