Chapter 40
Just as she was beginning to worry she’d have to forfeit the date—why didn’t she get Delaney’s number, at least? How stupid was that?—she finally found the right street, more by luck than any real navigational skill. “Thank you, Jesus,” she said with a sigh, pulling into now empty the parking lot.
It was ten minutes after midnight. Had Delaney already left? Or would she wait?
Tara turned off the car but left the headlights and air conditioning on. The bar looked closed; no signs or lights were lit, no music blared from the speakers outside, nothing indicated anyone lingered now that the patrons had left and the beer had stopped flowing. Tara stared at the door, willing it to open, but it stayed shut. Through the glass window, all she could see inside was darkness.
Damn.
Turning the key completely, she doused the A/C, then turned off the headlights. Then she powered down the front windows. The night outside was quiet now, no traffic, no people, nothing but the distant crash of the surf on the shore. My one chance at a good time this weekend and I blew it,Tara thought, leaning back in the driver’s seat. I might as well let Marlene set me up with Paul now. I deserve it.
Suddenly she heard the creak of hinges somewhere in the night, bright laughter, footsteps crunching on gravel. The sounds came from behind the bar. The employees’ entrance. Of course.
A moment later, Delaney stepped out from around the building, her hair ablaze beneath the overhead lights illuminating the parking lot. She glanced around, obviously looking for someone.
For me,Tara thought. Grinning, she flicked her headlights to catch Delaney’s attention.
With a wave, the bartender headed over. Now that she wasn’t hidden behind the bar, Tara could get a good look at what she wore. Tara had to admit, she liked what she saw. Delaney looked too cute in comfy jeans cut off above the knee, the hems frayed evenly into white strings, and an oversized V-neck T-shirt under a herringbone vest from a three piece suit. Everything she had on might have come out of a man’s closet, from the vest to her clunky shoes. Despite her feminine curls and girly makeup, she looked pretty butch.
And God, so hot. Tara had to suppress the urge to fan herself to cool off as Delaney approached.
When she reached the car, Delaney leaned on the driver’s side door and into the open window. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”
“Just got here, actually,” Tara said with a smile. “I got a little lost. Guess I don’t know Wildwood as well as I’d like to think I do.”
Delaney laughed. “So what you’re saying is I should drive?”
Tara shrugged. “I don’t mind…”
Slapping the car door, Delaney stood. “Then lock up. My Jeep’s around back.”
Of course she’d drive a Jeep. Tara turned on the car long enough to roll up the windows, then grabbed her purse off the passenger seat and got out. The heat took her breath away—or was it Delaney’s hand on her arm?
As they headed for the bar, or rather, for the employee lot behind it, Delaney moved closer. Her hand slipped down, over Tara’s wrist, to brush the back of Tara’s hand.
Emboldened, Tara turned her hand towards Delaney’s and caught the bartender’s fingers in her own. She gave them a squeeze.
Delaney’s next step bumped her hip against Tara’s. “I knew I was right about you,” she whispered against Tara’s ear, her breath heating up the summer night around them. Letting go of Tara’s hand, she wrapped her arm around Tara’s waist instead and pulled her close.
“I’m not here for long,” Tara cautioned. “I leave Sunday…”
She felt Delaney’s damp lips on her neck, a tiny peck. “Then we better get started.”
* * * *
Delaney’s Jeep was a Wrangler, as Tara suspected it would be. Not only was the soft top roof and windows off, but the doors were removed, as well. As she climbed into the passenger side, Tara asked, “Is this street legal?”
Flashing her a quick grin, Delaney said, “I’ve never been stopped. Too many shoobies in the summer for the cops to bother anyone with local plates. In the winter, I put the doors back on so I don’t freeze my ass off.”
When she turned the key in the ignition, the Jeep rumbled in protest and, for a moment, Tara wondered if it would even start. But the engine turned over and loud music blared from the radio. Quickly Delaney turned it down to a whisper. “Sorry about that. So…where to?”
Tara shrugged. “The boards?”
The moment she said the word, she wondered if it made her sound phony. She knew Amanda used the term, but it felt fake coming from her mouth. Call me a shoobie and be done with it,she thought, her face heating up in the already warm night.