Long Haul Love (Trucker Love #1)

Chapter Three

To Shepherd, topping off the semi’s gas tank, washing the windows, and checking the oil were exciting to watch. After they finished at the gas pumps, Brogan drove around the building and backed the truck into a space between two others.

“That was amazing how you slid the truck in between those other two like it was nothing,”

Shepherd gushed as they walked across the parking lot to the huge building. This was an entirely new world for him, and he was soaking it all in like a dry sponge plunged into warm water.

Brogan’s lips tilted up in a small smile as he shrugged. “Let’s go get you some breakfast, Hoss, and talk about what you want to do next.”

“I can’t,”

Shepherd whispered as he stopped in his tracks. “I don’t have any cash, just my debit and credit cards.”

Brogan wrapped one big hand around the back of Shepard’s neck, sending a heated shiver through his entire body that settled in his cock, which began to inflate. What was it about this man that had him so turned on even though they had just met a few hours before in one of the craziest first meetings he could ever think of?

“I’ll buy breakfast, but I have an idea that will make your father crazy, and send his goons on a wild goose chase.”

Shepherd grinned as they approached the truck stop doors. “I like that. And after what he wanted to do to me, he deserves to be driven a little crazy.”

As they passed through the quick stop type shop, a display caught Shepherd’s eye. There were books and notebooks, kids’ toys and crayons. He changed directions and was flipping through the various notebooks, trying to find one that felt right.

Then he found the perfect one at the very back of the shelf. A thick sketchbook with a bright purple color. Grabbing it, he found a package of mechanical pens and a good size package of decent quality crayons. Everything he would need to work on his next book.

“Hoss?”

Brogan stepped up beside him, having realized he’d been sidetracked.

“Can the clerk hold this until after we figure out how to get me some cash?”

Shepherd felt like a child asking for a favor, but he did not know how truck stops worked. This was only the second one he’d ever been in.

“Sure,”

Brogan said as they stepped to the end of the line of customers checking out.

“Brogan Myles, how the hell are you?”

A white-haired and bearded man approached from the trucker’s area, a small suitcase in one hand.

For a second, Shepherd thought he looked like Santa Clause, but realized the man was much too thin.

“Thad Tucker, good to see you’re still driving,”

Brogan said as he shook the man’s hand and then did the one-armed hug that manly men did.

“This is my last run. Doc’s got me starting chemo next week, so I’m having to retired.”

“Sorry to hear that. Keep in touch and let me know if you need anything. And when you’re ready to roll again, let me know and I’ll have Sam set you up with a job. In the meantime, how about joining us for breakfast? You’d be perfect for helping Hoss here solve a problem, if you’re willing.”

“Thanks, I’d love to. And I’m always happy to help solve problems.”

By this time, they had reached the counter. Instead of asking the clerk to hold the items until after Shepherd got some money, Brogan handed over a credit card he had pulled from his chest pocket.

The girl quickly rang them up and handed the card and receipt back to Brogan and then slid everything into a plastic bag. Brogan took the bag and handed it off to Shepherd who looked from the bag to the man in shock.

“I was going to pay for them,”

Shepherd said as Brogan once again took hold of his scruff and guided him away from the counter and toward the restaurant.

“I know, but now you don’t have to,”

Brogan said with a smile.

“I’ll pay you back,”

he promised, not surprised when Brogan shook his head.

“That’s not necessary.”

Shepherd wanted to argue, but a glint in Brogan’s eyes told him he would lose. He would have to figure out how to repay the man’s kindness without Brogan realizing it.

His stomach rumbled loudly as the scent of bacon and maple syrup wafted around them.

“Someone’s hungry,”

Thaddeus commented, causing Shepherd to blush as they settled around a table.

“Coffee all around?”

the waitress asked as she set packets of silverware on the table.

“Could I have a soda, please?”

Shepherd asked, wondering if the truckers would give him a hard time for not being a coffee drinker.

“Sure, hon. Want to order now, too?”

She pulled out her pad and pen.

Before Shepherd could answer, Brogan said, without looking at the menu, “Three breakfast specials, two coffees, and leave us the pot, and a soda.”

“You got it, Brogan,”

the waitress said with a grin.

A moment later, she was gone and they were left alone.

“So, Brogan, you take on a partner? Or teaching the next generation how to be the best trucker on the road? Or maybe you picked up this little hottie to warm your bed this run?”

****

Knowing Thad was the biggest gossip on the road and anything they talked about would be all over the airwaves within the hour, Brogan ignored his intrusive questions. Instead, he just stared at the older trucker until he lifted his hands to shoulder level in the universal sign of surrender.

“Sorry, man. Just thought I’d ask.”

“You’re too nosy for your own good,”

Brogan answered with a chuckle that even to his own ears sounded ice cold.

Margie, their waitress, arrived back a moment later with two empty mugs, a tall glass of soda, and an insulated coffee pot. “Food will be out in a minute, guys.”

“Thanks Margie,”

both men said.

She poured both mugs full before setting the pot on the table between them. She then handed Shepherd a straw and was gone again.

Brogan glanced at Shepherd, suspicious that the man was so quiet. Shepherd did not seem the type to go long without talking, but he was glad he was holding his tongue in here, where ears and nosy truckers were everywhere. The man was looking around with wide eyes, as if he had never seen a truck stop restaurant before.

After a long sip of his coffee, Thad set down his mug and said, “So what kind of help does your friend need?”

“He’s in trouble and needs help getting money out of the ATM. I can’t since he’ll be riding with me. Since you’re on your last run, you can use his cards, get him the money, and then head home.”

“I won’t get in trouble for this, will I?”

Brogan shook his head. “When did you ever worry about getting in trouble before? Haven’t you been one of the outlaw truckers for the last thirty years?”

Thad chuckled and took another draw on his coffee. “You’re right. Sure, I’ll help. And if anyone does show up on my front porch, I’ll claim to know nothing, which I don’t. When do you want to do it?”

“Just before we head out. That way we’ll be long gone if anyone shows up looking for my friend.”

“That’s perfect,”

Shepherd said softly, sounding in awe that a couple of truckers would be willing to help him. “Thank you for helping us.”

“Anytime, son,”

Thad said with a smile that had Brogan narrowing his eyes at the other man. If anyone was going to take Shepherd to bed, it would be him. That was, if the little man was gay, which they had yet to discuss.

Before Brogan could assure the little author that he would keep him safe, not only from his father’s men, but also from any other trucker who might look sideways at him, Margie was back with their food.