When she looked up at him, she smiled. “Hello there.”
“Ready to blow this pop stand?” he asked in his worst gangster accent as he pulled her out of her chair.
She laughed and looked around to see if anyone would notice his bold actions. “Doesn’t Gigi still hold your leash for the evening?”
“Nope, I snapped the leash,” he said, keeping their hands linked as he pulled her along behind her toward one of the exits. He was pleased she followed without question or complaint until they reached the valet stand.
“And where are you taking me?”
“Someplace quiet and private where we can be alone,” he answered as the valet pulled his truck to a stop in front of them. “Trust me?”
His heart clenched as she looked back the way they had come, then slowly turned and looked up at him. “Always,” she said with a smile. “But since I missed your show the other night, do you think I can get a private performance? And I can’t be gone all night. I need to pack and get to the airport for my flight home.”
He smiled as he reached for the passenger door. “Don’t worry, you’ll be back in plenty of time to pack and check out and get to the airport.”
After helping her into the truck, he climbed into the driver’s seat, and they were off. “Lie down and try to get some rest, baby girl. I’ll wake you when we get there.”
He smiled with satisfaction when she smiled, then settled down across the bench seat, resting her head on his thigh. Driving with one hand, he moved the other to her shoulder and gently massaged muscles that were tight as drumheads.
“Sleep, Sunflower. I’ll keep you safe,” he murmured softly.
An hour later, Geo turned off the main road onto a dirt road. He drove another mile until he was sure they were alone before turning the truck around and parking, so they were just off the track and headed back to the main road. “Wake up, baby girl. We’re here.”
It took a moment before Sunny realized she had indeed fallen asleep, though with Geo’s thigh as a pillow, she had been surprisingly comfortable. He helped her up, and she looked around, not sure if she should be relieved or worried that they were, indeed, quite alone.
“Where are we?” she asked, looking around. There was nothing to see except rolling hills covered in grass, what looked like a small pond off in the distance, and an endless sky full of stars. The full moon hung over, illuminating everything, except there was not that much to see.
“We’re away from the craziness of the city, in a place where you are safe and alone and can hopefully relax and unwind before you have to deal with going home tomorrow,” he said.
Before she could ask anything further, he had reached into the back of the cab and pulled out a large canvas bag. Then he opened his door and climbed out. She followed, more intrigued by his plans for their evening than frightened that she did not know where she was or how to get home again.
“You are going to take me back, aren’t you?” she asked when he took her hand and led her out into the field.
“Yes, you will be back in time to pack and check out, and then I’ll take you to the airport,” he said, his voice a soft rumble that reassured her in this place that was so very silent. There was no noise. No sounds of cars or music playing or sirens, or any of the other background noises she had long ago associated with life. Out here it was still, and silent. Not even a bird chirping or frog singing. Just the sound of her own heartbeat and the brush of the knee-high grass against their legs as they walked until the truck was almost out of sight.
“What happens if we get lost out here?” She could not help but ask.
Geo stopped, then turned and pointed behind them. “We’re leaving a trail. Don’t worry, Sunflower, I’ll take good care of you.”
Finally he stopped and looked around. “Perfect.”
Sunny looked around, and had to agree. They were in a slight valley in the landscape and everything in sight was visible in the natural light reflecting off the moon. Except for their presence, this could have been a field at any moment in time, almost anywhere in the world.