Pushing Limits (Fighting Love #1) - kali cross Page 0,7
lip contorts into a snide grimace. Lisa refills my juice discreetly and walks out of earshot.
The thump of the landing gear descending jolts me into my realization that we have arrived in Austin. Fucking Austin, Texas. Not New York…or even Boston…hell, I’d even take Houston. No, it’s Austin, Texas, my new Hell on Earth. Redneck Paradise…the land of big hair…Yee-fucking-haw. As I pull up the shade and glance out the tiny window, the punishing sunbeams blind me momentarily. The tarmac is like any other, barren and desolate.
As I descend the stairs, the warm air hits my face, shocking my system. My heavy jacket instantly heats my body in the sixty degree weather. The bright sun warms my face and the jolt of the hot temperature surprises me. Had I been given more notice, hell any notice about where I was going, maybe I would have worn something lighter instead of stepping off the plane and immediately sweating like a pig. Thanks so much, Mother Dear. I yank the jacket off with a huff.
A car is waiting in the distance to take me to my new school. Watching the driver, I note he’s younger than most of the drivers we’ve had. As we move closer to the car, it’s hard not to notice his impressive build and boyish face. Cute. Cloaked in my shades, my eyes run undetected over his frame, checking him out. He’s about six foot, maybe six two. Nice. His dark hair curls below his cap, grazing his collar. He has a chiseled rugged face, but the dimples in his cheeks soften his features. His eyes are covered with shades too, but his smile flashes brilliant white as we approach. Totally hot.
“Yum – my,” my aunt murmurs, calling my attention back to her presence and away from the man only two notches down from a Greek god. I realize my mouth has dropped open.
“Welcome to Austin, Ms. Turner, Ms. Kennedy.” He introduces himself. “I’m Tommy. I’ll be driving y’all to the college.” His grin is relaxed and easy, contradicting his formal chauffeur’s uniform with the crisp, heavily-starched, white shirt.
Aunt Patty practically swoons as she says, “Thank you.” My head pops toward her in dismay. That’s just gross. She’s twice his age.
He gallantly opens the door of the Towne car, and we climb in. Hesitating as he closes the door, his eyes drop as he stares for a moment. Glancing at him, I follow his gaze to my motorcycle boots. As I look back at his face, I notice his hand brushing over his lips in a vain attempt to hide a boyish grin. I smile up at him as he softly closes the car door.
As he climbs into the driver’s seat, he turns asking, “Would you prefer to go to your hotel first or go straight to Texas College, Ms. Kennedy?”
“My hotel, please….Thank you, Tommy.” Her words hold a lilt of a purr. My God, how embarrassing!
The ride from the airport seems endless but at least the road is trimmed in grass. The green is a definite departure from Chi-town. Everything is brown this time of year in Chicago. I’m struck by the fact that once again, I am trapped in the middle of nowhere. Nowhere USA…but not just nowhere…this is nowhere with cattle. Yeah me. I sink back in the seat resigned to be completely miserable.
As we make our way down the highway, it opens up to a tree-lined road with rolling hills of lush green spattered with inviting blue flowers. The flowers are everywhere. It’s not at all what I expected. Wow, it’s beautiful. Where are the ranches, the cattle? Hell, I don’t even see a horse.
Once we enter the city, we pass over lakes, clear blue surrounded by trees and a spattering of palatal homes. As we drive to downtown, the city is filled with tall buildings of white stone, shiny glass towers, and old historical buildings, all unique. The skyline is tall and impressive. As we drive through the city, there’s a river or lake in the center of it. It’s quite striking. People walk and run on the jogging trails, kayaking down the lake, enjoying the sunshine, all in the middle of a downtown metropolis. The low sound of children playing and people talking as they go about enjoying the lake drift through the air.
Interrupting the silence, Aunt Patty asks, “So what do you think of Austin? It’s stunning, don’t you think?” Her face alights with a nudging expectation. Her inner cheerleader has