Finding Solace

“It was when I was married.”

Oh. Wow. I shift the truck into park and cut the engine. With my arm draped over the back of the seats, I angle toward her. “Your fantasies are how it should have been.” And how it will be if I have my way.

“Thank you for never making me feel ridiculous or dumb.”

Cutler is a fucker.

Checking the rearview mirror, I watch as Cruise parks behind us. We should go in. Both of us move to get out, but before we do, I say, “I think you’re incredible and so smart. I’ve never seen you as anything less than magnificent.”

“Jason,” she says, barely above a whisper, “you’re so good to me, good for me. I’m never prepared for your words.”

“They’re not words, Delilah. They’re the truth.”

“How did I get so lucky?”

“It’s not luck, it’s love.” I get out and come around to her side. “Come on. I want to introduce you to my friend.”

Cruise has changed in the short time I’ve been gone. What he’s gone through has darkened his already reserved demeanor. Guess he has more demons than he started with as well. He’s a quiet guy, but Delilah has a way about her—everyone opens up to her. Laughing, Cruise is on the tail end of a story about getting his ass kicked in an alley by a drug lord and his gang. “King just looks at me and laughs.”

On the edge of her seat, she is fascinated. “He laughs?”

Staring down at the bottle of beer in front of him, he picks it up, swirling the liquid inside. “That was before we knew what we had gotten ourselves into.”

“What had you gotten yourselves into?” Delilah asks.

His eyes shift from her to me. “We were lucky to have Jason on our side.”

She knows she’s not going to get the details she’s wanting. Cruise, like me, is a pro at leaving secrets good and buried. Delilah stands and walks behind me. Rubbing my shoulders, she says, “I’m going to bed. I hope you consider staying the night, Cruise. We have a spare bedroom down the hall with clean sheets and a view of the lake that’s beautiful to wake up to.”

“You drive a hard bargain. Thank you for the hospitality.”

“It’s getting late,” I add.

“We shouldn’t let the night slip by without talking.”

Delilah says, “Well, on that note, I’ll leave you to it.” Bending down, she kisses my neck, then whispers in my ear, “You okay with me going to bed?”

Tilting up, I see her waiting for me to answer. “You don’t have to ask me for permission.” I wrap my hands around her neck and bring her closer until our lips meet in the middle. “I’ll be up shortly.”

“I’ll keep the bed warm.”

As soon as I hear those creaky floors upstairs, I lean forward. “As fun as it is to reminisce, why are you really here?”

“We miss you.”

“King doesn’t miss me.”

“No, he doesn’t, but the rest of us do. I’m here with a job offer.”

Never saw that coming.

I’m impressed he found me, in all honesty, and now he’s thrown a job offer on the table. “I’m surprised you need my help.”

“It’s always good to have backup.”

“Backup for you?” I can’t help the chuckle. “Saving your ass is more like it.”

“Right. That’s the job offer.” His sarcasm game is strong. “Saving our asses when our asses need saving.”

I can match him. “Here’s some advice: stay away from criminals and psychopaths with a vendetta, and you’ll be fine.”

“I’m told to offer you double your old salary.” The social part of the visit is put to rest, and the business is finally at hand.

The money is tempting, but I’ve earned more than I can spend in this lifetime. Anyway, Delilah is more than enough reason to say no. “I’m out of that line of work. I’m settling into this life with that beautiful creature upstairs. It’s a slower pace here, but it’s good for clearing my head. And when it’s really quiet, I can hear the cicadas buzzing, frogs croaking, water rolling over the lake, and Delilah’s snores. They’re not loud. It’s actually kind of cute because I just like the sound of her next to me.”

“I’m not sure what to say to that. I do think she might kill you if she knew you told someone she snores.” He chuckles.

“Yeah, she might, but it’d be a damn good death coming from her.”

“I don’t know what’s happened to the guy I knew a few months back, but you’re not him. Whatever this place has done to you is good.” He laughs. “You’re almost tolerable now.” He stands and cracks his neck to the side. “I’m going to bed. I’ll be out of your hair by morning.”

“You can stay a few days. I have plenty of manure for you to shovel.”

His laughter gains strength. “I know you don’t know much about me, but manure is not something I’m familiar with or looking to shovel to entertain you. Thanks for the offer, though.”