I could agree with the part about it being too late. God knows the draft was a calling call to death. But the rest?
My fingers brushed back a wayward strand of her hair. “Utopias don’t exist, baby. If they did, we’d be living in one now.”
She shuddered, forgetting the subject completely. “Oh, my.”
“What?” I chuckled.
“When you call me that… it does things to me….things that…”
When she didn’t finish, I gave in to temptation. “What kind of things, pretty girl?” My voice came out husky.
“I feel hot and… and puffy in places.” She kept her eyes closed, leaning into my hand as I cupped her face.
Christ.
“What places, baby?” Damn me, but I really couldn’t help myself. My lips brushed her cheek, whispering soft breath over her silky skin.
She grabbed my other hand, the one not touching her face, and placed it on her breasts. “Here.” Then she moved my hand down between her legs. “And here.”
When she arched her back, I thought I’d die. I had to stop this. Now.
I grabbed that hand of hers and guided it gently back to my collar, then I pressed my forehead to hers. “I think that’s the ‘love’ talking. How ‘bout we go for a walk? Like you said, the night is beautiful. I think I heard someone say there was a pond in the backyard.”
She made a humming sound. “Call me baby again, Sonny.”
Hells bells, this girl.
I kissed her forehead instead and leaned back, grabbing her by the waist to lift her off the post. “Come on, little lady. Let’s go walk for a bit.”
She sighed. “Okay.”
I said a silent prayer of thanks and I let out my own sigh. The girl could wake the dead, what with her pouty lips and innocent words that stoked the fires of lust.
We went around the house, and I got us back on topic. “Tell me more about yourself. What are your plans after visiting the commune?”
“Oh, I don’t plan on just visiting. I already made up my mind, Sonny. I’m going to join them!”
Over my dead body, she was.
Chapter Four
Those words of hers haunted me all damn night and into the morning.
After we had found the pond—which was nothing more than a muddy puddle with weeds and a pool float—Daisy’s gang decided to head out to a diner before going back to the motel. I was invited, of course. I kept my distance from her, though always with her in sight, just enough to make sure that love drug was fully out of her system. She had eaten half a cheeseburger and had a Coke, which helped sober her up. We didn’t stay long, since most of the gang, Daisy included, complained of feeling sleepy as the excitement about leaving for Calling House dwindled to that of fatigue.
After waking, I had packed up my meager belongings and checked out with the motel lady. I put my bag in the trunk of my car and met up with Daisy and company in the parking lot. I was greeted with arm pats and hugs—the latter from the girls—when I told them I was coming along. They were over the moon that their new friend Sonny, even if an “old man,” was joining the cause and going with them.
Of course I was going. No way in hell would I let Daisy out of my sight. I had determined I’d only let her stay at this pseudo-utopian compound for a day, maybe two, before I’d take matters into my own hands. Who knew what kind of cult this Calling House was. Even though I’d been in Nam during his trial, I knew who Charles Manson and his harem of women were and what they’d done. I’d be damned if my Daisy was going to be joining anything even remotely like that.
We stopped for lunch, hours later, at some greasy spoon in the middle of nowhere. Daisy had found some wildflowers outside the gas station before we’d headed on the road. She was now sitting at the table, having finished her meal, making daisy chains for some of the girls.
I watched as I drank my cup of coffee, making a note to find us a house that had wildflowers in the yard. Somewhere out in the country, maybe back in Montana, close enough for Daisy’s mama to visit.
I was lost in daydreams when Daisy sat down next to me. I hadn’t even seen her get up.
“Hey, Sonny.”
“Hey there, pretty girl.”
She nudged my arm with her shoulder. “Thanks for last night. You really are a gentleman, you know. You took care of me, watched over me.”
I tipped my hat at her. “Just wanted to make sure you’d not attract trouble.” I grinned at her and sipped my cup of joe.
She laughed. “I don’t attract trouble!”
“Hmm. I don’t know, Daisy. Pretty girl like you, all sweet, all smiles? I’m not too old to know that bees flock to flowers more than they do the weeds.”
Her eyes grew soft. “You have such a way with words. Daisy.” She nodded, thoughtful. “I like that.”
I had to do it. “And I know you like it when I call you baby.”
She opened her mouth in mock outrage, then smirked, which didn’t detract from the blush that came over her. “I got your number, buddy.”
I threw my head back, laughing, almost spilling my coffee in the process. “I’m sure you do, Rose.”
She looked around the room, her hands held together in excitement. “I cannot wait to get to Calling House, can you?”
And then my good mood popped like a bubble, and I clenched my jaw.
When she turned back to me, she must have noticed my expression. “What is it? Have you changed your mind?” When I shook my head, she patted my arm. “It’s okay if you don’t want to go, you know. But I’ll be sad to see you leave, Sonny.
