The tall exotically beautiful woman stood outside the entrance to the jail waiting patiently in the fine misting rain. Her name was Shantanaya but most of those who knew her called her 'Tanaya. Finally the small door set into the larger doors opened and 'Tanaya watched as a rather large huskily built guy emerged from the door. He paused and glanced around before heading towards her.
'Tanaya smiled as he got closer and unlocked the vehicle she stood beside.
"Where's Brent and Matty?" he asked without preamble
"They're at work. Won't I do to give you a lift to town Brad?" 'Tanaya asked softly suddenly unsure of his welcome for her.
"I'd appreciate a lift from anyone this morning, I'm glad to be seeing the back of this place." Brad said gravely.
"Well hop in and let's get out of here." 'Tanaya said as she climbed behind the wheel.
Brad tossed his tightly packed bag over the back of the seat onto the rear seat before climbing into the vehicle himself. He shut the door and fastened his seat belt before glancing at 'Tanaya. "Don't spare the horses," he said with a grin.
Both were silent for close on ten minutes before 'Tanaya glanced away from the road for a moment to look at Brad.
"There's two beers in a little esky over the back if you want them." 'Tanaya told him quietly.
Brad glanced her way with a smile and turned to look in the back, sure enough a small esky sat on the back seat and when he opened it he saw two beers plus two cans of lemon squash. He pulled out a beer and a can of squash, opened both and handed 'Tanaya her drink. He raised his can and took a long drink before letting out a sigh of appreciation.
"I bet it tastes good, a year must be a long time to go between drinks." 'Tanaya said faintly.
"Yeah it is but that's in the past now." Brad said before taking several more deep swallows of beer.
"So are we all going out on the town tonight or are you planning a quiet night in?" 'Tanaya asked as she slowed the vehicle for a sharp bend in the road.
"Not sure, but I am planning to go out in the next few nights." Brad said as he watched the scenery go by.
"You don't need to Brad, what you'd be looking for is right here if you're interested." 'Tanaya said softly.
Brad turned his head to look at her but she kept her eyes on the road and did not turn to meet his gaze. "It's a wonder you haven't found someone else to hook up with," he commented in a soft tone.
"It's funny but none of the guys I've been around have had a hope in hell of measuring up to the last guy I was with. Granted he was too drunk to manage anything more than just holding me while we slept but there was something about him." 'Tanaya said tightly as if the memory pained her.
Brad was silent for several minutes as he remembered what he could of that night. He remembered taking 'Tanaya to bed with him but between that and waking up the next morning feeling hung over there was a black void.
"Maybe given a chance he'd like to get to know me," 'Tanaya said faintly.
Brad glanced at her and saw the slight flush of embarrassment on her cheeks, feeling compassion for her he reached out one large hand and placed it on her leg closest to him and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"You're a good friend 'Tanaya, I don't want to mess that up. I got enough mess to sort out at the moment," Brad said gently.
'Tanaya was silent as she drove for the next hour, it was hard to know what to say to Brad not only because of his year in jail but the whole complicated situation that led up to the sentence. Knowing Brad would probably be feeling the urge to use the facilities at a rest stop she pulled off the highway into a well-maintained rest stop, she parked the vehicle in the shade of a large tree and turned the motor off.
Brad got out of the vehicle thankfully and heading towards the small wooden building while 'Tanaya got out at a more leisurely pace. She took advantage of using the facilities and when she returned to the vehicle Brad was leaning against a front guard looking out at the lush green trees that covered the roadside hills.
"It seems nice and peaceful here," 'Tanaya said quietly.
"It does, doesn't it," Brad admitted without looking away from the scene in front of him.
"I packed a cut lunch if your hungry," 'Tanaya said after a few minutes of silence.
"Yeah, I could do with something to eat," Brad said as he turned back towards the vehicle.
'Tanaya walked to the rear of the large four-wheel drive and opened it to reveal a large esky. She opened it and pulled out a container of sandwiches that she offered to Brad, he studied it a moment before reaching for a sandwich thick with roast meat. He bit into it hungrily and almost closed his eyes with the bliss of finding the sandwich had lashings of rich thick gravy on the meat.
'Tanaya helped herself to a salad sandwich and watch discreetly as Brad hungrily ate all the roast meat sandwiches. When he reached for the last one he stopped and looked at her guiltily, he motioned towards the sandwich with a chagrined look on his face.
"Do you want a roast sandwich?" he asked almost sheepishly.
"I've got my salad sandwiches. You go ahead, I remember you're partial to cold roast and gravy sandwiches." 'Tanaya said with a grin.
Brad grinned as he picked up the sandwich and bit into it with obvious relish, "It's good," he managed around the mouthful before taking another bite.
'Tanaya finished her sandwich and washed it down with a drink of icy cold water before turning towards Brad and offering a second bottle of water to him. "There's this or cold beer. The thermos is busted or we could have had coffee."
"This'll do nicely," Brad said as he took the condensation-frosted bottle from her hand, his fingertips brushing hers as he grasped it.
'Tanaya felt the shock of the brief contact right down to the soles of her feet as she jerked her hand away hurriedly. She realised that Brad seemed to have missed the sensation of their fingers touching and her reaction to it.
"It's probably best not to make a big deal of it," 'Tanaya thought as she dried her hands on some paper towel she had packed for cleaning up with after eating. She could hear Brad drinking the cold water thirstily as she began packing up the empty containers.
"Had enough to eat? There's fruit or some cake," 'Tanaya said as she turned to face him.
"I might have something else later if that's okay," Brad said as he screwed the lid back on the bottle.
"Yeah, sure anything you like," 'Tanaya said with a bright smile.
Brad glanced at the overly bright smile on her face as he handed the bottle back to her, "All I want at the moment is to get some woman naked and beneath me and it don't matter too much who it is as long as she's willing for it to be hard and fast." He didn't give voice to his thoughts as he turned away so she wouldn't guess what was on his mind.
"Brent has a couple of places lined up for you to look at when we get back to town." 'Tanaya said as she closed the rear of the vehicle. "Let's get this show on the road."
The traffic was heavier as they pulled back onto the highway and into the flow of cars. Brad was silent as he reached for the second beer out of the small esky and savoured a long sip slowly, he lifted the can slightly when 'Tanaya glanced towards his side of the vehicle.
"Was mighty thoughtful of you to think of these," he commented.
"I figured it was one way to make sure you kept your cool with me being the one to pick you up." 'Tanaya said levelly.
Brad pretended interest in something out his window and didn't reply to her remark. "What can I say? I knew if I was stuck in a vehicle with you alone for more than two seconds I'd want to get you on the back seat and screw your brains out?" he thought as he watched the passing scenery.
"Has Brent got any two and three bedroom places lined up?" Brad finally broke his silence after nearly half an hour.
"Yeah, all three bedrooms. Though why you want a place that big is beyond me," 'Tanaya said with a shake of her head.
"Because I been promised visitation rights with Nicolas and I want to see my boy. Janey said if things went well she'd be happy for the visitations to stretch over the Sunday as well. I figured if I had extra bedrooms she could stay where I could help with Nick of a night." Brad said levelly.
"After getting put away like you did, I don't know why you're having anything to do with her," 'Tanaya snapped.
"First off, it was not her fault I got hit with a jail sentence and secondly, I happen to admire her. She's got guts," Brad said as he turned his head to give her a hard look but 'Tanaya was keeping her eyes on the road, "and any woman I get involved with will have to be cool with the situation or else get shown the door. I will not give Janey a reason to feel uncomfortable."
'Tanaya refused to let the tears of frustration well up in her eyes as she thought about the woman who was the mother of Brad's son. There was no way 'Tanaya could hope to compete with her for Brad's loyalty and affection.
"Well. Let's just concentrate on finding you a place you like first," 'Tanaya said after a few minutes.
"I'd never thought about living this far north before, but after the last year in this area I can see the benefits of the warmth." Brad told 'Tanaya.
"I sure enjoy the longer months I can use the beach." 'Tanaya said with a soft laugh.
"Full suit, bikini or birthday suit?" Brad couldn't resist asking with a throaty male chuckle.
"You'll just have to wait and see," 'Tanaya said, a smile curving her full lips.
Brad turned his head for a few moments to study 'Tanaya. From her shiny inky black hair and slightly oriental looks down her sculptured body and well toned legs to her toes tipped with pink nail polish. There was no doubt that 'Tanaya was one very sexy and sensual woman in Brad's mind.
"Maybe if 'Tanaya would play by my rules I could get to know her better," Brad thought as he turned his head away.
"Like anything you saw?" 'Tanaya asked boldly. She had been aware of Brad looking at her and aware that his gaze had lingered on her beasts and legs.
