My Thoughts

Okay, Renee, The next shot is the whiskey shot. And I’m telling you, I’m feeling the waves of danger rolling off him over here.” Elene said. Looking over her shoulder at him.

“ Your feeling the waves?” I said, smiling at her

“ Okay, I may be married and I may have children, but I’ve got a trouble-meter. It’s so long that I can spot trouble before anyone else even notices. Now, let’s hear that story.”

This one isn’t as dangerous as you may think. I’d say medium.

I met him while I was assisting Lyle on the biker report.

He looked like trouble more then. But just because you’re a biker doesn’t mean you’re automatically guilty, okay?

We were doing a report on one of the club members in the 1305 Biker Club. It was an alleged kidnapping.

“ I remember that one. Lyle almost won a Pulitzer for it.” Turner said, then regretted saying it the moment we all looked at him.

Anyway, if you remember that article, you remember that there were details we couldn’t fully publish. Some things stayed off the record. And no, I’m not gonna get in trouble for saying this now  that was ages ago, and I know exactly who I told. I said looking at all of them.

So, we went to the biker club spot in East Jersey. Of course, Lyle was frustrated because the man accused wasn’t giving him an interview. And it was funny, because Lyle always thought he could get anything out of anyone. The chief sent me along to keep him calm, because Lyle had a tendency to fly off the handle  and we didn’t need a news story about our own reporter becoming the headline.

While he was trying to get his interview, I wandered into the biker’s mechanic shop. Now, I don’t know a thing about bikes, but I can appreciate how they look. They had some beauties in there. One of the mechanics or at least I thought he was asked me if I needed anything done.

I had to laugh. First off, I didn’t have a bike. Didn’t have a car. Nothing to fix. Second, I was wearing three-inch heels, a skirt to my knees, and a top that definitely wasn’t biker-shop-appropriate. So no, I wasn’t there to get anything done, and I wasn’t looking to “get done” either.

I was supposed to go out on a date that night, one I’d been putting off. So I told him no, and he went back to work. That’s when I noticed the bike he was working on had the same emblem as the tattoo on his neck. Curious, I asked if the emblem meant anything.

He looked up and locked eyes with me, and my heart stopped.
 “I saw you walk in with that reporter. I’m guessing you’re a reporter too. What makes you think I’d tell you what this means?”

Now, I don’t know what it is about me, but when people hold back, I want answers even more.
 “You’re right. You don’t have to tell me. But you want to  I can see it in the way you looked at me when I walked in.”

He tilted his head, just like I’d noticed earlier, first checking out my shoes, then my legs, then the whole package. I called him on it, and he broke out laughing. Then he told me: the tattoo and emblem represented his mother and sister, both cancer survivors.

My heart ached. For a man to carry that ink showed how much he cared.
 “You’re a good man,” I said.

He laughed. “Because of a tattoo?”
 “No, because of how you just spoke about them. That showed more than ink ever could.”

Then came another question:
 “Why are you with this biker club?”

He smiled. “If I’m gonna keep answering, you owe me dinner.”

I laughed. “Sorry, I’ve got a date tonight.”
 “Dinner doesn’t have to mean a date. You still owe me.”

Now, my mind was racing. I thought he’d drag me into the biker bar full of men, but instead, he stood up. Six-two, muscular, Hair cut close to the scalp, but had enough growing back to cast a shadow which complemented his skin. It was like with the color of gold when it starts to cool off, piercing blue eyes that seemed to light up the closer he got. And when he said, “Dinner on that body,” whew. My pulse nearly jumped out of my neck.

 “Renee, your telling  me?” Elene asked

 I’m telling you, if he’d been eating at the finest restaurant in the city with the most expensive dish ever made, it still wouldn’t compare to the way he enjoyed me.

I was so tempted to pick up that whisky shot but held back.

We talked for another hour in that garage. He gave me every answer I wanted. Why he joined the club, how old he was, how they looked out for each other like family. He even swore that  there was not kidnapping. Turned out, the girl in question was the guys daughter. The mother had taken her out of state without permission, then filed charges when the daughter ran back to him. Messy situation, but the story checked out.

Eventually, I remembered my date. But I didn’t want to go. I called, canceled, and walked back into the garage. He shut the garage door behind me. “I heard you canceled your date,” he said. “We had a deal.”

Those blue eyes turned to liquid fire. The minute that gate hit the ground, he was on me. That skirt? Gone. That thong? Gone. And baby, I must have cried out to the gods three or four times before I was finished.

Now, don’t judge me. Y’all asked for the story.

The room went quiet. Eight eyes locked on me, breaths held. I leaned in over the shots and whispered, “The man made me squirt. I never did that before.” That’s when all of them cut me off and shoved the whiskey shot forward.

“Pick the whiskey shot!” they shouted.

I laughed, “What about the tequila?”
 “To hell with the tequila  pick the whiskey!”

So yeah, , after being ravished on the work table, the bike, the blanket on the floor. We shared some whiskey, I think he called it Macallan.

And Lyle? Too drunk to notice I was even gone. Thank God he taped the interview he managed to get because I was too busy.

That’s the whiskey shot story. Three shots, three men, three situations. And next comes tequila — the real curveball.

The difference with the whisky shot is that he never asked for a commitment, so I find it strange he is here.

They all looked at him and turned back.

“Maybe just wants a replay of that dinner,” Sebastian said

The Bourbon Shot

Sitting there watching my friends waiting for the next story. I couldn't help a smile that flitted across my face.

“Okay what was that? you just gave a quick smile thinking I don't watch you, girl.Fess up.” Joni said as she took a sip of her drink waiting for me to spill my guts.

“ All right, the next one  is  bourbon shot. His name is Professor Joshua Clark. Otherwise known to me J.H.” 

“He is only known to you as J.H.? Sounds…tasty.” Alex said as he glanced behind me.

He was supposed to be an inspirational piece for the paper. He is to this very day the youngest man on record  to become a professor.

“Wait, he is not young? He has some greys at the edge of his dark hair.” Elene said, looking at me like I was pulling her leg.

“He is 56 years old. He became a professor at the age of 14. Now if you want to hear this, don’t interrupt me.”

“56 huh?” Turner whispered, at least he thought he whispered. We all looked at him with a question on our face but we left it alone.

I was Upstate in Connecticut visiting some family when I received a call from my editor stating he wanted this piece written by me. Of course I  gave him hell because  I was on vacation but I caved in when he said that I would get a little bump in salary if I did this piece.

 I called up to the school to make some kind of arrangement to meet with Professor Clark but I was greeted with hostile assistance stating that he would not give any interviews to any news outlet, publications or frivolous online news.

As you guys very well know I do not take “No” as an answer.  I looked up what would be considered “Yale attire” and since they had a game that day, I used it as a cover. I was wearing  the good old blue and white and I managed to get onto the campus with my news badge stating that I was there to cover the game.

 Once on campus I did a detour and went into the social science department. I made sure to memorize exactly the layout of where he would be so I would not be stopped looking as if I was lost

 I managed to get in to the social science department with little to no communications with people passing by. and knocked on his door and I was met with a gruff “Come in” 

I entered his office and he not once looked up to see who it was. I cleared my throat and proceeded to introduce myself when he cut me off and said, “ Delissa if you come in here one more time to ask what you can do to get a favorable grade in my class I will report you to the dean.”

 I stood there and thought what was she proposing to do to get that favorable grade? Instead of voicing what I thought, I again tried to introduce myself.

 I am sorry to disappoint you but my name is Renee  and I would love to just have a conversation with you.”

 Professor Clark looks up and I was literally  Frozen on the spot. he was green then so that led to the charm of the Chisel face the Supple lips the darkest brown eyes that you will ever come across and when he looked up and realized that I was not who he expected I could have sworn he took in a deep breath at the side of me.

“ How did you get in here and who are you?”He asked once he got his bearings.

My name is Renee Andrews and I'm here from New York, to write a story about you. Seeing that you're the youngest professor in history to be documented.”

 He started to shake his head and look down at his  desk  filled with paperwork.” So I see you guys finally got through my assistant. I'm not giving any interviews because I think this is a frivolous piece and I do not condone these to get to know yourGenius piece.”

“ So you do admit that you're a genius being that you were only 14 years old when you became a professor.”

 He stood up from the desk and I didn't expect to see such a broad frame on him.I tried to keep my observation to myself and look him dead in the eyes to keep things professional. That was a mistake with J.H. 

To be a professor of social science he observes the nuances of how people react in certain situations and he already noticed that I sized him up as quickly as I did and kept my composure. So instead of me interviewing him it seemed that the tables were turned and he started to interview me.

“ Your first thought when you saw me was I was an aggravated professor that wanted nothing to do with the world outside. Then your pupils dilated once I stood up. You caught a quick breath but you did try to maintain professionality when we both knew that you were attracted to me.

 That's right there. That statement flipped a switch inside of me so fast that I did not even realize the words that came tumbling out of my mouth.

 “Your assumption of me being attracted to you is Far From Reality. Yes I was surprised that you are in physical shape because all the professors I've ever had were a little out of shape and more stressed and more rude than was necessary.”

  “You are standing there before me lying and I am supposed to give you an interview? How would I believe that you would write exactly what I say if you can't even tell the truth.”

 My mind ran a hundred scenarios and it still didn't pick up on the scenario that unraveled with this interview.

“ Fine, yes I was attracted for the moment but your demeanor and the way that you were speaking to me makes me think otherwise. I am led by thoughts and not by emotion. now can we haveInterview?”

 He must have realized that he overstepped his bounds and believe it or not, me standing up to him actually relaxed him enough to give me the interview. After the interview seeing that it was late he asked if I wanted to have a drink before I left.

“What do you have all I see here are books and papers that are strewn across your desk?”

“ You know Renee, I like the side. not the professional reporter trying to get the story but the laid back tell it like it is your side of you.”

 He walked over to the Bookshelf and pulled out three books which behind it was a bottle of bourbon and two glasses.

“Is bourbon all right? This is all that I have here.”

“ Well since it's all that you have in here might as well pour me some.”

 We sat there for hours talking about society and the changes that were occurring and between the heated discussions and the quiet contemplations I didn't realize that we were circling each other.

  Like he was a planet and I was on one of the Rings but every time I came around I moved a Little Closer to his pull.

Renee I'm going to break all social norms here and just state that I want you. The moment you walked in and I realized it was not my student, the moment you stood up to me as if I was the wall you were going to knock down, the absolute moment I watched that bourbon go past your lips and down your throat. I want you.

 I stood there looking at J.H. and I would not deny myself anything. I took another swallow of the bourbon as he watched it go down my throat, put the cup down on his desk that he was leaning me against and kissed the most deliciously flavored lips I ever had.

 Remember J.H. has some years on me and the things he did with my body ,Damn he was a good study of social norms and abnormalities.

 When we finally were able to come up for air, realizing that his office not only  smelled of a heavy scent of bourbon, but of us and whatever furniture polish they used and all this wood.

“You did say that your here visiting family.. Can I ask you for how long?”

 That's when this affair started but just like Caleb I was not ready to settle down and he was willing to commute back and forth from Yale to New York to make it work. I was just not ready to have something that permanent. I told him that maybe in a few years we can see what happens.

 That's when I saw another side of Professor Hawk. The closed off side bubble to the surface and his anger exploded. The reason he is so in shape the way he is is because he's a boxer and he was so upset that he scheduled an impromptu match that left the guy really beat up.

 That should have scared me but to be honest it didn't. I left two days later to go back to my apartment in New York. I never heard from him again until tonight.

Bar

“Renee you had two men willing to change their lives to be with you and you turned them down” said Elaine with a look on her face as if she was disappointed in me.

“ A boxer huh?” another whispered statement from Sebastian that Alex couldn't let go

“ Sebastian, if this is the time that you're going to come out the closet you need to just fess up. These little whispered thoughts are making us all think weird shit about you.”

 Sebastian looked at all of us and then took  a drink then stated, “ I like to Swing and Pam knows because she likes to do it too.”

“ Since when? You haven't even told me any of this. You've been with a man?”

 Sebastian's face turned acute pink as he looked out at the people dancing before he answered again.

“ It's only been about 2 years and that's all I'm going to say.”

 We all looked at him but we realized this wasn't about him tonight and it was more about the four shots that were before me.

“Okay Renee why do you call him J.H.?”Joni asked

 I couldn't help myself but laugh and then I said, “ Jekyll and Hyde”

 Best when the whole table burst out laughing and realized that the professor really embodied two different people.

Okay these stories are getting better and better. The next shot before you is the whiskey shot and for some reason even from a distance I feel like that is trouble on two legs.

 Little did they know that trouble  does not  describe Bradley Direct. 

It was my third assignment for the Cohol Tribune. My boss thought it would be best for me to go and interview an upcoming environmentalist, named Caleb. Stewart. I didn't realize I would need to travel to Scotland for this interview.

I was on the next flight to Scotland to the most rural area you could imagine.  Once I arrived in the town closest to the address I was given to meet him. I felt like I could slow down a little. The town was quiet, but the people walking past me kept looking at me. I don't like sticking out like a sore thumb.

I was wearing comfortable designer clothes, but everybody else was wearing casual clothes. They had on t-shirts and jeans. It's just leisure wear. I decided that I needed to blend in more and not be so much of a New Yorker.

I checked into the little B&B in town and went through my bags to find a pair of jeans. I packed my Dockers just in case it rained, and yeah, I decided on a white shirt since it was a nice 80° day with a light breeze.

The sky was so bright and blue. The bluest I've ever seen it put a smile on my face.  There's less pollution here than in the cities, so the sky is clearer. I called one of the black tops, that's what they call cabs over there, and I made my way to Hindle Farms.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was surprised by the amount of acreage on the farm. The cab dropped me off in front of a beautiful 4-bedroom house. It must have been built…. I don't know about the late 1900s. There was a flower bed that wrapped around the house and a trellis around the front door. With the vines intertwined all through it.

I knocked on the door, and nobody answered. I decided to walk around now. I know this is wrong because in the States, people walk around your property, and you do not know them; they would pull out a gun on you.  I decided to take my chance and take a walk. 

I found two men arguing out in the field. One, as we now know, is Caleb, and the other was a man who jumped off a tractor-trailer, claiming he hadn't been paid enough and was no longer working unless he received payment immediately.

They seemed unaware that I was behind them, as the argument escalated beyond just raised voices.  That's when I whistled to get their attention. 

Both men looked at me as if I sprouted two heads.

The man who jumped off the tractor stormed off past me as Caleb watched him go. Then Caleb's sight was on me.

"Lassy. Whit urr ye daein' oan mah property? ah didnae expect a'body tae be 'ere th'day. Sae, unless ye hae a guid damn reason how come you’re oan private property, ah advise ye tae gang back whaur ye cam from." 

Usually, I would turn on the charm, but seeing that he had just gotten into an argument with the other guy. He was not up for the New York experience.

"You're Caleb Stewart. My name is…"

He stopped me right there and shot me a glare as if he did not want to hear what my name was.

"Again. Yer oan private property. Ah dinnae care whit yer name is; ah hae a lot o' wirk tae dae. In a short amount o' time, 'n' unless ye ken howfur tae take the motor a tractor, yer o' na uise tae me. Please leave?”

That's the second time he told me to leave. But what he did not understand was that when I'm on assignment, I need to get the story. I'm going to get the story.  Standing right in front of him and staring him in the eyes. Eyes the color of warm honey. I began to unbutton my white shirt, revealing that I had a sleeveless white undershirt underneath. I tied it around my waist, climbed up on the tractor, and started it.

I gave him a look as if to ask What did you want done? He was in shock. He yelled at me to get down. Once I put the tractor in gear, that was it. I worked tirelessly for two hours clearing a field, assuming that's what needed to be done, based on what I could gauge from the other guy's work. 

Once I was done, I turned off the tractor and I hopped down. I went looking for Caleb and found that he was in the barn taking care of some of the animals. I walked up to him and said, "My name is Renee Andrews. I was sent here to interview you from New York."

He continued taking care of the animals and did not look at me once.

"I was sent to get an interview on this new experiment that you have. To rejuvenate the soil. Can I have that interview?"

He mumbled something about 'A'm juist a jimmy '

Caleb turned around and walked past me.

I grabbed his arm and said, "What?"

That was when I realized what the issue was. He could not take his eyes off what I was wearing. The temperature ratcheted up 90 degrees. The sweat soaked through my top, and I still had a sheen of sweat on my body.

I was breathing hard from something other than me walking across the field in the heat. I must have been a sight. My hair, I knew, was a curly brown mess all over the place. I had tried it once I started working, but anyone with curly hair knows that it will not be tamed.

"Wid ye lik' dinner ?" he asked.

That caught me off guard? 

"How do you know how to drive a tractor?" He asked, looking into my eyes, and he swallowed back whatever else he was going to say.

His tone is different. "Just because I am from New York does not mean I grew up there. I was raised on a farm, and I know my way around equipment." 

He seemed to have more respect for me now. Without waiting for my yes for dinner, he walked towards the house, and I followed. Looking at his walk and how he held himself, you can see that he was a man who knew who he was and was confident in who he is.

He held the door open to the house, and at a glance, I could tell that an older person decorated the house. It does not seem like something that I would see in a late twenty, almost thirty-year-old would live in.

He caught me assessing and said, "This wis mah fowk hame, 'n' ah didnae see th' need tae chaynge anything." 

"I did not say…"

"Lassy. yer eyes said a lot in a short period o' time. Are ye sure yer cut oot tae be a reporter? yi''ll need tae wirk oan yer poker face."

Again, he caught me off guard, and I started to laugh.

"Th' bath is up th' stairs to the richt if yi'll want tae freshen up. Food will be ready in a bit."

Conversations and Time

We talked into the night. He gave me the interview, and then we just talked about how hard life is on a farm, how people judge you when you do not act as people expect. He pulled out a bottle of gin. He said he liked the notes of elderberry and flowers in it. Made from a local distillery. 

He offered, and I nodded yes. Then things started to turn in another direction. I noticed things that I had tried to avoid. He had hair with a red hue at the tips, and his nose had a slight deviation to it, which made him look hard, not soft. His lips were neither thin nor full. A pair of lips that held a promise to be hard yet tender.

The conversation turned to "Is thare someone waiting fur you in New York"?" then "Tis late, ye kin bade in a guest bedroom."

There is one thing about me. I don't like wasting time on trivial things, like the "I want to get to know you." I knew I was attracted the moment he yelled at me.

I stood up from the couch and moved to the lounge chair. I leaned over and kissed him. Caleb must have been alone for a while because he kissed me like I was water, and he hadn't had a drink in a long time.

I broke the kiss and suggested that we take it to the bedroom. He smiled and said he had a better idea. He grabbed the gin and the glasses then led me to the back of his house. It had a small barn/shed.

Once he opened it and led me inside. Well there was a jacuzzi and steam room. In my mind all I could think of was never believe what you see at first glance.

He put down the glasses and gin and waited.

“I thought you Scott’s where aggressively passionate.”

“You he’rd that? You started dis.finish it”

Lets just say a lot went on in that barn. 

That night was more than just gin, but of longing for connection.

Bar

"Then what happened?" Elaine asked.

"We spent a week together, and he wanted me to stay. I said I wanted my career, and as hard as it was, he let go." I told them.

“No, I mean detail the sex, the body, the….” Elaine said with too much interest.

"Girl, the way he is looking at you. He did not let you go. Elaine behave, you know how writers are, they let you use your imagination." Joni said

I glanced at Caleb and remembered our first night together, and I smiled.

"Choose him," Elaine said

"Don't you dare. You got three other shot glasses, and I need the stories behind those." Alex said. Sebastian second.

This was going to be a long night.