The Road To Fame (Sumi & Mr Quixotic)

The desert of Nevada was truly a living nightmare during the summers with its impossibly high temperatures and the abundance of square miles of wilderness that made one lose their sanity. The landscape was anything but worth the trip down the empty highway. It was all a mass of dried up land, cacti, tumbleweeds and the occasional hounds howling at random times throughout the night. It was no wonder then that new people rarely showed up here, and if they did, they would simply be passing by to get to some other destination. The Reddell Motel was settled in this hell hole, or as most of the visitors liked to say, in the middle of nowhere. A rundown building and a rather equally shabby interior, but satisfying enough compared to sleeping out in the wild at night. Besides, ol' Bob was nice enough to provide a room with a bed, some drinks, a meal and some entertainment at a fairly cheap price. Poor man thought that if he was generous with his customers, they'd be coming back to him, as if oblivious of the fact that his business ran in a place that was hard to find even with a map.

In such a place was Karmen Charleston stuck because of her silly future dreams. It had been nearly a month since she had been left behind there by someone who was supposed to make a famous singer out of her. But then, she supposed that he did make her famous. Yes, she was extremely famous between these drunkards who visited Bob's motel, but mostly because she was an eye candy, not thanks to her voice. Her talent seemed to be more of a side-dish to her physical assets. Perhaps if she had managed to reach Las Vegas as promised, she would have had the success she yearned for. For now, however, she was kept in place by the lack of money, her current income covering only the living expenses. Basically, the old man offered to give her a room and some meals every single day as long as she'd entertain his customers in the evenings. The only real money she'd get would be the tips she'd get from the various men trying to get under her dress (and admittedly failing). But there was little she could do with just a few bucks, even if she tried to save up the money. It would probably take her a year at the very best to leave, at this rate.

Truthfully, she was at her limit. She did have some things she had packed for the trip, but she was soon about to run out of make up and perfume, the food was the same everyday, she had no one to talk to aside from the ever annoyingly nice ol' man, she had nowhere to go out and there was nothing to see in the desert. Lately she was getting more and more desperate, to the point where she was starting to consider asking one of those sleazy truck drivers to take her to the nearest city. The only thing stopping her from doing that was the thought that she couldn't trust them not to touch her, and that thought alone was enough to send shivers up her spine in disgust. Thus, she was still debating what decision to make.

Tonight too, she was wasting her voice on these dirty necks, lying to herself that at least it was some good practice for when she'd become the real deal. On the other hand, a quick look from the side of the scene made her realize there were more customers tonight for some reason. Some of which looked rather proper. Might she have dared to say, there were a few of them who looked out of place between the usual rowdy fellas. It could also be the desperation that was lowering her standards, but those were just details. Perhaps tonight she'd have a reason to put on her best face and make a show.

The pungent smoke of cigars mixed with the sweat and the scent of alcohol burdened the air, making it hard to breathe for those who weren't used to this kind of place. Raspy laughs, curses and loud mouths described Reddell Motel the best. The first floor of the building had a bar on the left of the entrance, a little platform on the opposite side of the room, and in-between there were laid out several tables and chairs for those taking their meals or those who merely wanted to enjoy the view they had of the singer upstage. The red curtains by each side of the scene was meant to add to the decor, but like the rest of the motel, they weren't much to begin with. The floor creaked with every random step and the furniture was old and in need of a renewal.

Nevertheless, that only made her stand out all the more in this rat hole of a place.

When the lights momentarily faded out, everyone seemed to quiet down as if on cue, some of them expectant of the show, others confused by what was going on. And then, the lights focused only on the platform, making the woman's long hair glow softly and giving a sparkle to her diamond necklace. Her hair, naturally sort of curly at the ends, the same color as of the charcoal, framed her face, with the aid of a side fringe which sometimes gave her a sultry look. Green eyes contrasted the tan skin she had inherited from her father of Latin origins. Her body as well, carried the genes of the family from her father's side, the curves of her chest and her hips worthy of a man's attention, especially from the way the dark long red dress clung to her. Height-wise, she looked rather tall, an illusion created by the heels she wore on a casual basis, since normally she would be the average female height, around 5'3 tall. All in all, it wouldn't be so hard to charm the men.

Not when her sleeveless dress showed the perfect amount of cleavage to make their minds run wild with fantasies. The necklace's shape accentuating the crevice of her breasts fit together so tightly wasn't making this any more innocent. But that was the point behind her so called beauty. She wanted to work in the entertainment industry, so it was a natural must have to look good. It did help that she had the right body, but the clothing, the make up, her attitude, they all had to be worked on too.

Along with her appearance on stage, the instrumental part of the song started too, a fine tune to match what was to come. Red lips parted slightly to hum in the beginning, followed shortly by a curl of her lips.

"You've been a bad, bad boy
I'm gonna take my time, so enjoy"

A whistle in the back and she smiled again, eyes taking in the ones who she had not seen before, trying some eye contact, in hopes that after this she'd get her hands on someone to take her back to the civilization.

"There's no need to feel no shame
Relax and sip upon my champagne

'Cause I wanna give you a little taste
Of the sugar below my waist, you nasty boy"

Ol' Bob suddenly widened his eyes as he stopped from whatever he was doing to look back at Karmen with a confused frown. This was perhaps the first time she was singing this kind of song, and he would have gone over to stop her right then and there. If only the men didn't show signs of being more interested, some of them giving her the eye, another asking him who was this woman, others whistling.

The bait was out. Now, she only had to choose.

The Middle Of Nowhere was Duane 'Duke' Reynolds ultimate destination and it had taken him two months cross-country to arrive. Wanted by Police on the East Coast for Bank Robbery, plus by two ex-girlfriends for misdemeanours best left unmentioned, the twenty-eight year thief and con-man had decided to escape, and lay low for a while.

Damn Elmer had fired a shot on the last job, and it had sent everything to hell. Duke had been the getaway driver, and as a man who'd prefer to charm people out of their money - or ladies out of their panties - rather than one who condoned the use of violence unless necessary, the moment he'd recognised the sound of gunfire, he'd stamped his foot on the gas, forgot about his chunk of the takings, and got the hell out of Dodge. He briefly called into the apartment he shared with his current flame, kissed her on the cheek, said he'd be back in a day or two, then collected every possession he owned, kissed her again, hopped into the battered Buick, and didn't stop driving until he'd crossed the State line.

Whether Elmer had talked, and Duke's name and face really did adorn the Post Office Wanted posters, and authorities were on his tail, he couldn't be certain, but in twenty years of thieving and scamming, it was the first occasion on which Duke had even come close to being apprehended, and it had put the frightener's through him. Why the fuck had he agreed to a bank-job? Better safe than sorry, he concluded; the bankroll he'd built up was large enough for him to maintain the good life for the foreseeable future, and it was time to go on the straight and narrow.

That vow to remain on the straight and narrow lasted less than an hour after crossing into Pennsylvania, where he pulled into the Roadside Diner driving the battered grey Buick, and exited behind the wheel of a late model, white 1955 Ford Thunderbird. One which was no longer white, but a dusty brown, covered in tumbleweeds, dirt and dust, with dead bugs smearing the windscreen when, seven weeks later, he entered the town of Reddell. A town that Duane found wasn't even on the map after he came to a stop between a sign advertising 'The Reddell Hotel' on one side of the road, and a second offering 'Board and Lodging' on the other. Perfect. If this wasn't the Middle of Nowhere, it was within spitting distance of it.

Duane stepped from the vehicle, and groaned and stretched his legs as he collected a suitcase from the trunk. With the sun having set, the day had cooled, but his throat was still parched and he licked his lips in anticipation of a cold beer. "Nightly performances by World famous stars." Duke chuckled at the sign placed outside the hotel; probably some failed Vegas performer playing the piano....badly; then turned his attention to the Boarding House.

Thirty minutes after being greeted by the geriatric, wheelchair bound and toothless hostess, and having paid for a week's lodging in advance after discovering that he was the only guest - not exactly a surprise - Duane had showered the dust of his six foot tall, slim and athletic frame, run a comb through short, curly brown hair, shaved the stubble off his face, and appraised the accommodations with bright green eyes. Better than it had appeared from the outside; the room was small, but nicely furnished, with a double-bed, oak dresser/mirror combination, a writing desk, and attached bathroom. According to the owner, there was also a telephone downstairs, he was free to make use of. Not that Duane planned talking to anyone.

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"What's the matter, never seen a suit?" Duke raised a brow at the men who stared at him as he entered the Reddell Hotel, dressed in a charcoal and dark gray pinstripe number, accompanied with a black pork-pie hat, and polished wing-tips. He held one man's gaze until the stranger averted his eyes, followed by the others around him. Men, all attired in filthy jeans and checkered shirts, or grease-stained bibs and overalls, wearing dirty beards, bedraggled hair, and the look of farmers, truck-drivers, or those who worked with their hands for a living. No women in this Hotel.

Whatever the response, if any, went unheard, as Duane turned to the bar, threw a ten dollar bill on the counter, ordered a beer, and naturally assumed that the appearance of a stranger, especially a well-dressed stranger, was the reason behind the sudden air of increased excitement. Until:

"You've been a bad, bad boy
I'm gonna take my time, so enjoy"

"There's no need to feel no shame
Relax and sip upon my champagne

'Cause I wanna give you a little taste
Of the sugar below my waist, you nasty boy"

The amber fluid spilt over the edge of his glass, as Duane's head shot around and his eyes alighted on the stage. Duke almost fell over, and it wasn't from the risque lyrics, but from the woman whose lips they'd come from. She may not have been a world famous performer; at least not one that Duane Reynolds recognised; but she also definitely wasn't some ugly old woman. The man's gaze appraised the singer's attractive features, then ran down her body to take in the red dress, and what lay under it. His lips curled up into a smile at the realisation that this town was quickly turning out to be much more interesting than he'd imagined.

The thief ignored the catcalls and whistles emitted by the crowd of males, and screams for him to get out of the fucking way, as he stepped away from the bar, and approached a table closer to the stage. Duke lifted his beverage to his mouth, took a long gulp, then sat down to appreciate the singer's assets. Nice cleavage was the first thought that popped into his mind. That her necklace could be worth a pretty penny was his second. The man allowed his gaze to linger on her body for a few seconds before he shifted his focus to the performer's face, tipped his hat, and shot her his most charming smile. Duane Reynolds wouldn't knock back the opportunity for a little taste of sugar if it were on offer.

At first, Karmen hadn't noticed the real reason there was a little bit of a commotion at the bar, her eyes subtly scanning the room for any potential man that could take her out of there without laying a dirty hand on her. Truthfully, there wasn't much to choose from, but after so many weeks spent in the middle of nowhere, her standards were going lower and lower by the minute. She guessed that in the end she could just take any man that at the very least had clean clothes on and didn't smell from a mile away.

That is, until her eyes laid on a man moving closer to the stage. A man that looked way out of place, such that for a moment she wondered if this was just a figment of her imagination. A man dressed up in a suit, no less! Jackpot!

This man would be her ticket to civilization. Or maybe even more than that, seeing how he didn't look that bad. No, on a second glance, this could be a catch indeed. If the way he was dressed was anything to go by, there was a change he had some money too. A charming man with money? A dream come true, of course. She could only hope that he didn't have the same kind of rotten personality like the one who dumped her in the middle of a desert. She swore that if she'd ever meet that man again, she'd beat him with her own hands. Though, she guessed that this whole experience had been a good chance to learn something. Never trust men who spend more time in front of the mirror than a woman.

Leaving the hatred aside for later on, the brunette suddenly caught her target's eyes on her, seemingly taking in the pleasing sight of her curves. As soon as her eyes met his, lips curled into an equally sultry smile from her side. There was no way she'd let him get away now that she had his attention. If the start of the evening had been shocking for the viewers, what she'd continue with would be a show worthy of the Las Vegas she had dreamed of so often.

"Hush now, don't say a word," she voiced out, a finger raised up before her plump lips to match the lyrics as she slightly swayed her hips to the music. "I'm gonna give you what you deserve..." she continued, feigning a slight frown before smiling slyly as she moved closer to the microphone stand, one hand on the mic itself, the other traveling down in a slow motion.

"Now you better give me a little taste,
Put your icing on my cake,
You nasty boy!

Oh no, oh there I go again
I need a spanking, 'cause I've been bad,
So let my body do the talkin'
I'll slip you that hot, sweet, sexy loving"

Those lyrics along with the hand going up to her own chest this time, only to move south again, but more suggestively, got the men whistling, clapping and laughing loudly in a vain attempt to catch her attention. Karmen's attention, however, was on the new customer, her voice fuller and richer than the usual monotone songs, now than ever. The rest of the performance continued in the same manner, a hand occasionally twirling the mic's cord around her index finger in a playful way, her eyes most of the time directed at her so called prey of the night.

Once the little show came to an end and the lights faded out after her thanks offered to the public, the brunette stepped off the stage, heels clicking with every new step she took towards that one table that seemed too empty with just one person sitting there. The noise went a notch louder again, marking the end of the usual 'good behavior' encouraged by Karmen's performances. The men were now returning to their previous business, just a few of them still following her with their glances. A quick sign to ol' Bob at the bar to bring her something to drink had him muttering under his breath at first, but in the end he resigned to doing her a favor just this one time seeing how well she had done tonight.

That matter out of the way, she took a sit at the table, one leg over the other in a fashion that would naturally reveal more of her thighs thanks to the side slit of the dress she wore. Not that she minded showing a little bit of leg. And she could bet on anything that Prince Charming here wouldn't complain about it either.

"My, my... Never thought that I'd live to see the day when a man dressed in anything other than a pair of dirty jeans would step into this little town." she started off with a smile, resting a cheek against the palm of her hand as she tilted her head. "What brings you around these parts, dear gentleman? Running away from home? Or perhaps from an angry ex-girlfriend?" she added, purposely having said that to check just to be sure that he wasn't tied down to some other woman already.

The beer went down a treat. Half of it was already gone when Duke seated himself in front of the stage, and tipped his hat to the singer. The only time his attention left her momentarily, was when he tilted his head towards the bar, raised a brow at a couple of men who were seemingly more interested in the pinstripe suit than the red dress of the woman on stage, and lifted a finger to order another. He didn't even glance up when shortly afterwards it was placed in front of him; his eyes were too busy elsewhere.

Duane had a perfect line of sight, and his smile widened again as he noted the woman stared straight back. He removed the hat, and placed it on the table in front of him, then displayed even more of his gleaming white teeth, shot her a nod, and unashamedly lowered his gaze to appraise her cleavage. It had been a while since Duane had enjoyed the company of a woman.

Whether the attention she directed towards him, as her movements and demeanour turned obviously more flirtatious, came from true interest, Duane wasn't certain. Being one who made his living from conning people, he possessed a naturally suspicious nature and knew all the tricks; or at least thought he did; and there weren't exactly a lot of other wealthy targets for her to focus on if her intent was malicious. However, that possibility didn't stop him from enjoying the show. Duke bit his lip, shifted in his seat a touch, and followed her hand south. 'Now you better give me a little taste' . At those lyrics, the tip of his tongue peeked out, and he ran it across his lips when he brought his eyes back to hers, and winked to let her know exactly what the gesture was meant to convey. He'd love to taste her sugar, in the most literal sense.

The crowd hooted and hollered, and the men clapped and encouraged, but Duke ignored them. The lyrics were risque, and the woman seductive, however he couldn't help but wonder if it were all just an act, and she'd more demure once the lights went down. He'd soon discover the answer to that question, as when the song finished and the lights dimmed, she ordered a drink, and headed straight for him. "Why don't you take a seat."

Duke's tone was teasingly sarcastic as he leaned forward in his own, adjusted the sleeves of his jacket to smooth out a couple of small creases, and rested his elbows on the table. The woman had already sat down. His fingers tapped the glass, and his head titled to the side to take a good look at the skin which had been revealed with the crossing of her legs, then his focus returned to her face. "My Momma always told me, don't matter even if you're dirt-poor, you can still take pride in your appearance." He flicked her a grin; pleased that she'd appreciated his dress sense; then paused to consider how best to answer her questions.

The truth was a good start, or at least a portion of it, and if embellishment helped get her in the sack, even better. He'd paid for a week's lodging, and would need something, or someone, to keep him entertained. "An ex-girlfriend is right, and I do stress, ex. You know how crazy some women can get. Saved me a bankroll over on the East Coast, caught my girl cheating, and thought it time to split. Heading to Vegas; might get in the Casino business. A lot of money to be made there." Duke finished the last of his beer, then wiped foam off his lips with the back of his wrist, and deftly changed the subject before she could probe any further.

"Now, what's a talent like you doing in a place like this. Escaping something?" He arched a brow, and wondered if she'd caught the double meaning, then his eyes flicked back and forth to survey the crowd. "Or you local, and I should be worried about some jealous boyfriend walking in, picking a fight and demanding compensation for talking to you? A brother with a shotgun, maybe?" The thief and conman shrugged; around these parts those two were likely the same thing; then proffered his hand. "I'm Duane, you can call me Duke."

It wasn't so much for the beauty of expressing her feelings through songs as much as it was for the attention she would get from it that she loved her talent. There was no doubt that Karmen loved being in the spotlight, her heart aching for the fame she was so certain that she deserved ever since she had gotten a proposal to get to Vegas. It wasn't exactly the same with going to Hollywood, but she figured it was a good start to make herself known in the music industry. Perhaps even make some cash, enough to live a much more luxurious lifestyle than what she had before.

Obviously, being able to play with the men’s minds whenever she’d be on the stage was like a very much welcomed bonus. It made up for the failures of her past back in her little hometown. Everything, in fact, was fueled by various events, from her goal to become a big name to her constant need of appraisal from men. There was no tragic or out of ordinary backstory to her, but she was simply a product of what some common disappointments could do to one’s mind.

Right now, this looked like the start of a change, the good kind of change that she had waited for so long. She had a good looking man in front of her, and from his responses to her flirty gestures, she could bet on anything that she had him hooked on her already. She couldn’t have even asked for a better ticket towards her goals. If things worked well, she could already imagine herself attending high class parties, wearing the most expensive jewelries and clothing, all by the side of one – or maybe more - handsome man.

The only thing she couldn’t be fully certain yet, was if this man, who was giving her the charming smiles and the kind of stares that made her think he was mentally undressing her, would be the one she’d keep by her side even after she’d reach Vegas. Then again, she guessed there was the other way too. What if he didn’t want her for more than just a short fling and would simply dump her on the way there?

No, but she wouldn’t allow this. Not a second time.

The sarcasm she had been greeted with as she took the liberty to sit down at his table brought a curl to her lips. For some reason she had a feeling that this one would be fun to socialize with, unlike the other times when men would try to get on her good side with politeness. Well, that would only make her evening even better, seeing how it had been a good while since she last had a conversation that didn’t consist of silly innocent compliments and stupid questions.

Unlike what would normally happen in such a situation, Karmen could only look him back in the eye with a smile that seemed to taunt and flirt at the same time, after he had gotten a good glance at her legs. “Was it also your momma, or was it your father that taught you to leer at women like that?” she returned the tease and gave a quick nod to ol’ Bob when he brought her a dirty martini. He already knew what was her preference after having had her working here for several weeks.

A chuckle escaped her lips when he started talking about his ex, but her attention was shortly caught by something else as he mentioned the one word that she wanted to hear. Vegas. After a sip of her drink, she also leaned in a little bit more, crossing both of her arms on the table, snuggly under her generous chest, of course, only to show her interest. She was about to say something, but before she could, he seemed to have read her mind, asking the right thing.

“You’re quite right. In fact, ol’ man over there staring at us is my brother who will most likely wring your neck as soon as you’re out of this place.” she pointed out to a random man at the other table, before cracking another smile. “I come from a modest city in Utah. The funny coincidence is that I was also headed to Vegas, but the one who was supposed to take me there decided to take all of my savings and dump my ass here, in the middle of nowhere. “ she explained and placed her hand over his, nearly having forgotten how it was like to be treated like a lady after being surrounded by farmers for so many weeks. “A pleasure to meet you, Duke. My name’s Karmen. “ she briefly introduced herself.

“What did you think of my performance, Duke? Did you enjoy the show tonight?” she suddenly questioned to keep the conversation flowing and to possibly incite some interesting answer from him.

Duane had found himself a little at a loss once he'd entered the Boarding House, and paid for a week's lodging. His entire plan since running from the East Coast had been to make it to the Middle of Nowhere. However, the problem was that once he'd made it, showered, hung his suits in the closet, tested the springs on the bed, examined the rest of the small room; which had taken about three seconds; and pulled aside the dusty white curtain to peer out the window and survey the emptiness of the streets, he had no idea of what he was going to do next.

The man wasn't used to being alone; back home, he was surrounded by his buddies and girlfriends - usually two or three of the latter at a time - , and up to some type of mischief or another. The drive across country had kept him entertained, but here in Reddell, he realised for the first time that he was totally alone, with no plan. Not that he minded his own company; in fact Duke thought he was a hoot to be around; but what of the future? The bankroll he'd built would last him another couple of months, but after that? He'd need to return to his former occupation, but that was always much easier with someone to watch your back, and act as a distraction. Maybe he'd meet someone at the bar, or at least strike up a conversation with one of the locals, and see what was available. The thought of having to find a real job gave him the shudders.

Any hope that he'd run into a like-minded soul was immediately shredded as he took in the clientele, however, his initial disappointment was quickly overcome as he was distracted by something he'd even less expected to find in the one-horse town; a hot piece of ass; and his immediate concerns faded away as he silently flirted with her throughout her performance.

His eyes gleamed with amusement when she seated herself, and he was glad to see his sarcasm had brought forth a smile, rather than a frown. Damn, she was cute, and she got cuter by the minute, Duke thought, as his gaze moved from her features to appraise her breasts, then slid down to take in her legs. His head shook as his mirth-filled eyes met hers again. "That was my Papa, and if you think that's leering, you haven't seen anything yet. Though I've got a feeling you'd probably enjoy it." He attempted to act like a gentleman, and keep his attention focused on her face for the remainder of the exchange, however the manner in which her cleavage was accentuated by the folding of her arms under her chest meant he didn't quite achieve it.

His lips had pursed at her retort to his teasing, and he'd had to hold back a chuckle as he located the man she'd referred to, then pulled his attention back to her. "I can see the resemblance, but can't figure out who's prettier. Your or your brother." Duke shot her a wink, and shook her hand, "A pleasure to meet you Karmen", before he motioned to Bob to bring fresh drinks, then rested his elbows on the table..

"Never been to Utah, and I won't ask why a guy would dump a girl like you out in the middle of nowhere. The sun must have gotten to his head." Duane was attempting to be charming, but unsure if he was succeeding. "However, if Vegas is still where you're looking to head, maybe we could partner up." He had no hesitation in extending the offer, if it helped him get in the woman's pants; she could always be dumped by the side of the road if she turned out to be a pain in the ass, as had the first guy, but intuition was already telling him that was unlikely. Karmen seemed the type of woman who'd be fun to have around.

"As for your performance, well, I liked it. Makes me wonder when I hear lyrics like that, if they're written from experience; or they just make it up? And the way you were showing yourself off on stage. I thought a couple of those old guys were gonna drop to the floor of heart attacks. Not me, though, all I could think about was getting a little taste of that sugar." He paused to allow Bob to place a new beverage in front of each of them, and reached for his glass. "Are you interested?" Duane held her gaze over the rim as he swallowed some of the amber fluid, then licked foam of his lips, and flicked her a cheeky grin. "In my offer of a ride to Vegas, I mean. Of course we'd have to get to know each other a little better first, to make sure I could be trusted."

She couldn't remember how or when did it happen, but the more she talked with this man, Karmen was realizing that not only he was trying to get into her pants, but she was also getting caught up in the game quite easily. While she did plan to use this as a way of making sure that he wouldn't dump her like what happened with her previous friend, and perhaps because she did want to get into his pants too at some point, she still didn't expect herself to be so willing to sleep with him at the very first chance. However, given the last months which lacked any kind of real physical pleasure from a man, she supposed that she could blame this eagerness on her aching body.

Karmen couldn't deny that the suggestive talking was much too fun to simply not be attracted to him. Flirting itself was fun, but doing it in two was always better than having to do the work all by herself, only to receive a smile and nothing else in return. So far, Duke seemed to be the type of man that would be entertaining to be around, not a narcissistic bastard, neither someone to be mopping the floor with.

"Is that so? Makes me wonder what else did your papa teach you to do" She could clearly see how hard it was for him to focus on her face when her breasts were nearly on display, begging the attention, but that didn't mean she would stop at that. The subtle smile on her face was a clear sign that she enjoyed teasing him by showing some cleavage here and there, while he was probably trying to act like he wasn't that kind of man. The conversation was only fuel to the flame, and darn, did she like where this was going. She had missed this. These kind of jokes with subtle undertones, the flirting; they were like foreplay, and she loved foreplay.

His attempt to make her feel better about the fact that she had been dumped there was nice of him, but Karmen knew better than to be relieved so soon that everything would be alright from now on. She had been naive enough till she had been fooled; this time she would make it hard for him to leave her behind, she'd take a different approach. After all, being tame had never brought her anything, aside from disappointment.

The grim thoughts had vanished as soon as they came, when she caught the words she had been longing to hear. Finally. The offer she had been waiting for long. And from someone who was no farmer, no less. She was about to give an answer to his suggestion, but his impression of her performance and the little play of words and timing caused a smirk to form on her lips. "Wouldn't be a ride just the perfect opportunity to get to know each other a little better, though?" she proposed with a cheeky smile, the tip of her shoe lightly grazing the side of his leg under the table, before taking hold of her new drink to take a sip like nothing happened. "A ride to Vegas, I mean, of course." she mimicked him playfully, followed by a slow lick of her lips.

"Regarding the lyrics... My, you're such a curious man, Duke. Some things are better left to be shown than told, don't you agree with me?" she added and tucked a dark lock behind her ear, exposing more of her neck as she locked eyes with him in a bold manner. "But, you know, not everyone gets a little taste of this sugar. Maybe only for the right words and gestures. Or perhaps for an offer I can't possibly refuse?" she continued in the same flirty tone.

Duke had had a few women back in the East; a couple of them serious girlfriends, but mostly just flings, or a floozy who could provide him with somewhere to live. The thief was a man who hated commitment, whether it was to a woman, or a lease on his own apartment, and if he could take advantage of someone else's hospitality, he would. It wasn't as if any of the women actually cared much about his infidelities; with the exception of Amy, his second before last, who was still probably hunting for him with a kitchen knife in hand. Cheating and lying was a way of life back home, and the girls were nothing but a little fun who'd used him for his contacts, and took advantage of his generosity, as much as he did they for their bodies and appearance. And that's pretty much all they possessed; good looks. Each had been seriously lacking in the way of brains, or conversational ability, which was why Duane found himself immediately intrigued by the singer.

Not only did she look good enough to eat, the first words out of her mouth had brought forth a chuckle. He'd always enjoyed women with a sense of humour; something which, in the hustle and bustle of New York, was as rare as hen's teeth; and who were confident without being a bitch. A lot of women thought those last two went together, but not Karmen, whose obvious quick wit and intelligence had quickly begun to work their charm. Her body, the flirtation, and sexuality she'd displayed on stage added to that, though, of course, Duke wasn't going to let on that he was a man who appreciated more than just a nice face and tight body. Maybe, having been on the road for two months, he was just lonely, and giving her more credit than she deserved. However, the offer of a ride to Vegas was nothing he couldn't get out of it he tried.

"My Papa taught me a lot of things, but some a man has to learn on his own. You seem a smart woman, so I'll let you figure out what they may be." Duane's gaze flicked back down, and the tip of his tongue peeked out to run to gather up the last drops of moisture from the beer on his lips as he nonchalantly appraised the cleavage Karmen so conveniently displayed, then he lifted his eyes back to meet hers.

The grin he'd been attempting to hide broke out, and he discovered he was enjoying himself more than he had in a long time. She had a way with words, and Duke was certain the double entendre's were deliberate, and he was not a man who liked to be bested when it come to a battle of wits. "You're right, a ride would be just the way, and I'm in no hurry, so we can take it slow, visit a few places along the way, and have a good look around." He sipped his beer, and sighed in contentment, then Duke placed his half-full beverage on the table, and continued. "Or, we could just head straight to our ultimate destination; it's up to you really, Karmen. Do you prefer fast or slow? Me, I'm partial to both, depending on mood."

He couldn't resist shooting her a wink, and barely managed to hide his surprise when her toes touched his calf. "I can't say I disagree about the lyrics; maybe we'll get to write our own song?" Duke's foot met her heel, and he slid her foot up higher as he took in the graceful column of her exposed neck, then leaned across the table so that his face was within inches of hers, and lowered his voice to a whisper. "I'm certain that sugar is an extremely valuable commodity, and you wouldn't want to just go giving it away. It should be saved for someone who knows all the right words and gestures, and can play you like a musical instrument. I can only image the tune you'd make."

Duane maintained eye contact for a few moments, then fell back in his seat with a smile. "Not like me, I'm afraid, I'm only a city boy, and all I can promise is a ride. Possibly the ride of your life, but just a ride all the same. So, tell me, Ms Karmen, when would you be ready to leave?" A brow arched, and Duke appraised the room, his gaze stopping at a lone drunk at one of the tables; bulging billfold placed adjacent to a half empty-glass; then brought his attention back to the singer.

His change of subject was sudden, but Duke realised that if she were to accompany him on the road to Vegas, he'd need to be confident that she wasn't going to run at the first sign of trouble. Or even worse, call the Police. If that were the case, he'd attempt to bed her that night, and slip out at dusk before she awoke in the morning. Or just keep her on the hook for the week he'd paid for his lodging. "Because I think it only fair that before you depart, we first ensure you've been properly compensated for your performances. Don't you?"

"I can most certainly take a guess as to what you mean." The words slipped past her lips with an amused tone to them, watching him directing his gaze below her face, seemingly not ashamed in the slightest bit. She had to give him the credits, however, that he did have a way of stirring her imagination whenever he'd run his tongue over his lips, and coupled with those glances of his, it made her wonder what he really was like inside the bedroom. Such thoughts weren't occurring very often, but given the stressful conditions she'd lived in for the past few weeks as well as for the lack of any sexual encounter in the past few months, she guessed that already having fantasies with someone she just met was only normal.

Then again, it was hard not to like him when he seemed to be completing her so well, conversational-wise. She just couldn't erase the smile on her face as he answered to her play on the words with something even better. "I have to say that we do share a lot of interests." At that, she paused to take a sip of her drink too, almost having finished it. As soon as the nearly empty glass was placed back on the table, she slightly tilted her head as if being thoughtful. "I do like both, slow and fast rides, too. Slow ones are great for making you desire getting to that destination even more, while taking it fast can make the ride feel like an amazing roller-coaster. Don't you think so too, Duke?" she continued with what was supposed to be an innocent smile before bringing the olives on a toothpick close to her lips, carefully pulling one into her mouth with her teeth to savor it.

At his suggestion of a possible new song, Karmen had to swallow what was left of the olive inside her mouth and chuckle. When he leaned in so close to her face out of nowhere, however, she was surprised. Nevertheless, she didn't move an inch away as her glance had to do that instead, averting it from his lips to his eyes. He'd certainly caught her attention with that, along with the 'inspiring' speech. Unfortunately, like the little devil that he was, despite the few moments in which the eye contact nearly made her think he was talking about himself, he crushed whatever image her mind had shaped in a matter of seconds.

The mocking smile on his face only brought forth a click of her tongue. "You're such a tease. Perhaps your mother should have taught you that it's not nice to raise a lady's hopes and then crush them like that." she scolded and finally retreated her leg. "I'm ready to go whenever you can. I believe that a month of staying in this place has been certainly more than enough for me." she then answered, though, it got her curious when she noticed his eyes drifting away from her. Not because she thought it weird that he could take his eyes off her, but because the question was sort of sudden.

The curious look on her face remained as he seemed to want to suggest something. While the thought of being 'properly compensated' for her performance for once was entertaining, she couldn't quite grasp what he had in mind. Not until she slowly and subtly shifted in her seat to follow the same direction he had looked in a few moments ago. She hadn't noticed anything out of ordinary, except for a man who was drinking by himself at one of the tables. When the billfold came into view, she somehow started to understand what he might have had in mind.

Her reaction to the thought that he might be one of those men who 'make' money by stealing from others? "My, my, Duke. Didn't think you were that much of a naughty boy." There was no smile on her lips as she returned her attention to him. "So, what is your plan?" she continued with a smirk, admittedly, after a longer moment of silence. "That is, unless I have mistaken your intentions. In which case, I apologize and hope you'll forget what I just said." she added shortly.

Normally, she would have been wary of potential thieves, especially after her previous friend who left her poor. But thinking about it from another point of view, what else she could lose right now? She had no fortune left; just a luggage of clothes and other cheap items. The only valuable thing she had left, was probably the necklace she was wearing, which thankfully wasn't found by that guy when he stole her money. Right now, she probably couldn't care less if Duke was a thief or not, as long as he'd take her to Vegas. Sex and fun conversations thrown in would be a plus.

"I've no doubt that you've enticed many a man to learn, though how many you've allowed to do so is a completely different matter." The expression of amusement on the thief's face matched that of the singer's, and he wasn't concerned in the slightest that she'd caught him appreciating her cleavage. In fact, as his eyes met hers again, Duane assumed she displayed it deliberately, and would most likely would be more insulted if he hadn't looked. "Reddell doesn't appear the type of town to provide much of a choice for a woman such as you." He motioned to the men who filled the tables around them, and an eyebrow arched. "However, I wager a few have attempted to prove me wrong?"

He grinned at the woman opposite, then found himself having to swallow down a sudden lump in his throat, and ward off the thoughts that came to mind as her lips plucked the olive off the toothpick, and it disappeared into her mouth. That sight, combined with the touch of her foot and the words which came next caused Duane to begin to experience a physical reaction, and he subtly, or so he thought, shifted in his chair to move slightly away from her touch, before it worsened.

"I definitely agree with you, there. Taking the scenic route, and simply concentrating on one area for a period of time can often be as satisfying as reaching the ultimate destination itself." Duke shrugged "And at other times, you just want to drive hard and fast, to get everyone off as soon as possible. Occasionally how long it takes and exactly how far you get, depends on if there's others blocking your way. Though that generally doesn't bother me; I'm one who enjoys a variety of scenery and locales, and it can make for quite a fun adventure."

The man smirked, then leaned forward, focused his gaze directly on Karmen and lowered his voice; the words meant to catch her attention, and distract his from the dirty imaginings that had increased their presence in his mind. It appeared to work, and there was a satisfied expression on his face when he pulled back. "You give the impression of a woman who likes to be teased, and as for crushing your hopes, I'd prefer to think of it more as as raising them." He arched a brow, then located the lone drunk seated at a table, and asked his question.

"Karmen, you've no idea what a naughty boy I can be." Duke winked, then swivelled his head to again appraise the drunk, and finished the last of his beer. He sighed in contentment, wiped the foam from his mouth with the back of a hand, then refocused his attention on the singer. "No need for apologies, I believe you've understood my intent correctly. My plan is for you to express your gratitude to the customer for attending the show, and ensure he receives a nice view of your assets." Duke nodded at her cleavage. "That's, of course, if you don't mind showing them off. It didn't appear to be a problem when it came to me." A cheeky grin broke out as the wood of his chair legs scraped the floor. "Whilst he's appreciating the view, I'll take care of the compensation."

Duke slid all the way from his seat, and stood, smoothed the creases from his suit jacket, began to re-do the buttons he'd undone, and glanced over his shoulder towards the bathroom. "We should go our separate ways now. Be sure to remain seated until after he discovers the missing wallet, to avoid suspicion being placed on you." The thief, used to partnering only with males in his life of crime, for the first time had been struck with the advantages being in cahoots with an attractive woman could bring, and had decided to do something previously unheard of as he collected his hat, and placed it on his head. That was, to leave without bedding her, or at least without giving it his best shot. He was certain that further opportunities would arise, and for the moment was more interested in discovering if she was up to the task of thievery. "I'll collect you outside at 7am, so that we can be on the road early, and of course, share in tonight's proceeds."

The man's eyes sparkled with confidence and good humour as they flicked to the bulging billfold. "Which should be more than enough for you to purchase a new outfit or two. If a woman is to make an impression in Vegas, she really should attempt to look her very best when she arrives." Duane finished with the last of his buttons, adjusted the porkpie, and shot her a smile. "What do you say, Karmen; I did mention the ride of your life, did I not?"

Duke really did have a way with words, at least from Karmen's point of view. Then again, he had her hooked already through his overall attitude, such that she found his naughty compliments to be charming in their own way. Had it been another woman, she wouldn't be so sure that she would have reacted the same way. There was this unwritten rule and idea spread around that women were supposed to be decent; meaning that in this case she should have blushed and pretended to be a prude innocent girly. And perhaps this wouldn't have bothered her, if only the guys she was attracted to in the past wouldn't have chosen those silly women over her in the end.

The thought itself made her smile at the irony as he mentioned Redell's men. "A few? You have no idea." she nearly laughed. For some reason her daring behavior was often understood as being some cheap slut, resulting with a lot of disappointment for the singer. Those she took interest in would shy away from her because she was apparently too promiscuous, and those who clearly weren't anywhere near her type were flocking to her. There had been some exceptions here and there in the past, but they were mostly some meaningless relationships.

This, however, was so far one of the most successful conversations she ever had with a man, and if by any chance he'd still take her to Vegas even after sleeping with him, she could perhaps call it a complete success. Until then, she'd still have to probe for the right hints and see if he was a man of his word or another one who wanted just to use her. Hopefully, it wouldn't be the latter or she'd have his ass beaten, even if it would be the last thing she did before being thrown in Redell's prison for the rest of her pathetic life. If they even had one.

Thankfully, he only managed to amuse her even more as he carried off the conversation into a direction where the real context was more and more obvious. Moreover, his guess was right, which was another plus in her book. Indeed, she loved teasing men, but she did love being teased just as much, a fact which was often overlooked by other people. Needless to say that Karmen was overjoyed because of this lucky encounter.

When he admitted to be a 'naughty boy', however, Karmen was truthfully a little bit surprised. Somewhere inside her mind, she had still expected him to call this a joke, yet as she listened to his instructions, everything started to feel real. He really was a thief. Despite the face she made as if she was paying complete attention to him, she couldn't help but think things through first. Was it really a good idea to throw herself into a mess such as this? She couldn't stand Redell anymore and neither was she a saint, but... to live with the constant fear of having cops on her trails? Then, it suddenly dawned on her.

Money. Jewelries. Expensive clothes. Luxurious living. Sex.

Compared to what she had now, meaning nothing much, how much would it hurt to try it? Besides, it wasn't like she would be doing this by herself. The only issue she had was how much she could trust him. Being greedy wasn't something new for the singer given how she'd always wanted much more from life, but she wanted to believe that she had also learned a lesson from her previous experience and that her desires wouldn't completely overwhelm her. For now, though, she could only blindly trust him until the next morning. By the time she had decided on going forward with the plan, he was already standing, adjusting his outfit.

"Alright, you naughty city boy. You got me interested." she finally gave in with a slight smirk, standing up as well and taking a brief moment to fix her hair. "You better keep you word, though. That's if you still want to have a taste of that sugar. I'll see you tomorrow, sweetheart." she added lastly with a chuckle and made her way towards the 'sad' corner of the bar, but not before giving him another glance.

The man sitting by himself did seem familiar to the singer as she approached him. If she wasn't mistaken, he was coming to ol' Bob's bar every night with his friends, which only made her think that he was putting up this pitiful face because he was alone tonight. Well, that could only be considered an advantage seeing how he might have seen her already so most likely he would feel lucky enough to have her at the table. After all, it wasn't always that she was interacting with Bob's customers, if ever. Karmen herself had the confidence that she could have any man's attention if she really wanted, so getting him distracted wouldn't be such a problem. The problem would arise when she'd have to get rid of him most likely. Hopefully, the loss of money would be enough to make him forget about her.

"No friends with you tonight? It's a pleasure to see that there's at least one person who still showed up. I hope that you have enjoyed tonight's show as well." Her best smile showed on her face as she reached for the chair at the table, on the opposite side of the bulging billfold, to move his attention from it to herself. Surprisingly or not, the man looked more than drunk, glancing up at her with a dumbfound expression until his eyes were directed at her cleavage with no drop of shame. Clearly all that money was spent on just as much of a ridiculous amount of alcohol. Heck, she could feel the scent of booze from where she was sitting.

"I imagine every man this side of Vegas would love to try. You're not exactly unattractive, however it's good to know you're apparently selective." Duane smiled as he issued the compliment, and alluded to himself. The woman had approached him, and the conversation had quickly turned sexual; the undercurrent of their words left that in no doubt; but it was in a flirtatious manner, and almost a competition as Duane saw it. To be spoken to so boldly was something he was unaccustomed to, as the women back East hadn't dared reciprocate his humour and wordplay with that of their own, or had just lacked the wit and intelligence to do so. No matter how good they were in the sack, he'd quickly become bored of them.

There was more to foreplay than a kiss and a quick grope before they got horizontal, and the man sensed in Karmen he'd found a like mind. Anticipation was half the fun and, as they discussed the possibility of riding to Vegas together, he realised that'd mean plenty of opportunities to have his way with her, so he'd decided to wait, and instead attempt to discover how innocent, or not, she was in other capacities; theft and robbery to be precise. For both their sakes, he'd best find out before they partnered up.

If things turned sour, or she reacted badly, he remained confident that he could once again switch on the charm, forget the anticipation, and talk her into his bed for the night. Though that wouldn't be quite as enjoyable as having an attractive and witty woman by his side as they drove the deserts of Nevada, with the possibility of sex in a multiple of locales and situations, it'd provide some satisfaction. He arched a brow as began to button his jacket, and attempted to maintain his calm and cool demeanour; as if her response either way was of no consequence.

"Good, because you had me interested from the first moment I laid eyes on you." He broke out in a grin, allowed his eyes to drift down her form, then it returned to her face and, for the first time that night, his tone turned serious. "I may be a thief and a scoundrel, Karmen, but an honest one, and a man of my word. Best you know now what you're getting into, rather than me telling you when we're on some dustbowl of a road, three hundred miles from the nearest town, with a cop car in pursuit; siren blazing."

"Plus, come on, it'll be fun. Now get on over there, and show me what you can do." The lightness returned to his voice as she straightened her hair, and his gaze followed her walk to the lonely corner of the bar, before he headed for the bathroom. Duke completed adjusting his clothes in front of the mirror, and whiled away a minute or two. When he returned to the bar, the crowd had thinned out; many of the men had departed after the singer's performance, and those who remained talked amongst each other. So far as the thief could tell, no-one paid any particular attention to Karmen. Except for the drunk who sat across from her, and had his eyes trained unabashedly on her cleavage.

"No friends." The man slurred as he reached for his drink. "Not a local. Just sold some cattle to some of these hick farmers. Twenty bucks a head do you believe they paid? Idiots." The drunk laughed, and finally his attention moved from her breasts to her face. "Loved the show. You wanna be my friend, honey? Enough room in the cab of my truck for the both of us."

Duane shook his head and internally rolled his eyes as the words floated into his ears when he nonchalantly approached the table. The drunk stared at Karmen as if she was the first woman he'd seen in a year, and Duke doubted that a bomb exploding would have distracted his attention. Let alone the swift, practiced movement of the thief's arm as it dropped to expertly palm the wallet. It bulged in his hand as, for two further steps, he headed towards the door. Then he stopped.

Normally, he would have just kept on walking, but that was when he worked alone, and surely, even as drunk as he was, the man would note his entire billfold missing, and the obvious person to be questioned or come under attention would be Karmen. So, instead, with his mind working as quickly as his nimble fingers, Duane slipped the majority of the cash from between the leather, and crumpled the dollar bills which remained inside to give the billfold the appearance of containing much more than it did, and tossed it under the man's seat, where it could quite easily have fallen from his pocket onto the floor. Hopefully he wouldn't notice that most of his money was missing until he'd sobered up.

"Whatya say, sweetie. You got great tits."

Duane chuckled to himself as he raised his attention to Karmen, lifted his arm to display the wad of cash in his hand; unsure if she was paying him any attention; then slid it into the pocket of his jacket, and shot a wink her way.

"They wanna be my friends, too?"

He continued to laugh as he exited the bar and entered his lodgings across the street, where he counted the stash, then lay on the bed and drifted off to sleep.

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Attired in another suit, this one a darker shade of grey, and without the jacket, Duane sat on the hood of his stolen Ford Thunderbird outside the Reddell Motel, in the early morning Nevada heat.

"Now you better give me a little taste,
Put your icing on my cake,
You nasty boy!

Oh no, oh there I go again,
I need a spanking, 'cause I've been bad,
So let my body do the talkin',
I'll slip you that hot, sweet, sexy loving"

Duke whistled the tune as he waited for Karmen, looking forward to spending more time in her company. That's if she hadn't gotten cold feet, following his antics of the night before.

There was no doubt that Karmen was desperate to get out of this pit hole at this point, which also meant that she might have even gone as far as to pay one of those slimy drunk farmers to take her to the nearest city if Duane wouldn't have shown up. Sure, it would have been a nightmare to sit for hours in that typical stench of theirs and she might have needed to keep a knife around her to keep their hands at bay from her, but if she spent one more day in this place she would have gone mad. The difference between her new friend here and these men nearly drooling over her, however, was that not only was she glad that he was saving her from the middle of nowhere, but his overall appearance was so pleasing to the eye and his attitude was like a refreshing breeze on a torrid day in Nevada. Thus, it was no wonder that she did consider having some dirty fun with him.

That he was a thief of all things, she could only ponder to what point would she be able to trust him. On one hand she was both eager to reach Vegas and curious as to how would this play out, in her favor or not, but on the other hand, she wasn't sure how happy she would be to have the police chasing her. Of course that his brief moment of honesty got her thinking. Judging by his words, his clothes and the way he spent his money on the drinks so casually, the singer was now wondering if by any chance she'd stumbled into the kind of really troublesome thief. The kind that would aim for big chunks of money, not just mere pick-pocketing. Yeah, there was no way a cop car would pursue a little thief like that.

Even so, she had made up her mind once. There was no turning back now, and maybe, just maybe, her luck wouldn't run out a second time.

The start of the journey looked good so far, unsurprisingly having fooled the drunk lonely man with just her cleavage in sight. The stupidity exuded by this man, though, had her want to roll her eyes and shake her head at the words coming out of his mouth. Not even to this day could she comprehend why these men believed that they really had a chance with her, be they drunk or not. The thing was, this guy was hilarious enough to think that she would actually accept to spread her legs for him. Obviously, she couldn't express her disgust at that thought, but instead she could only chuckle softly and play it off as a dirty joke. She could see Duane from the corners of her eyes, passing by and taking the wallet, but being aware that it could give away what was going on right under his nose, she kept her eyes solely on the drunkard.

When she did notice he was about to leave the bar, Karmen did have to momentarily look towards him, sort of glad that the drunk man was so fixed on her chest for now. The sight of money in Duane's hand and the wink were enough for her to know that now the rest was up to her. The man's next question got her attention back, trying her best not to raise an eyebrow at him. Oh, yes, Duane would have enough to laugh about for the rest of the night. But this was where it had to end.

With a smile on her lips, the singer tilted her head and crossed her arms underneath her chest. "I don't know what to say. I sort of like to play hard to catch, sweetheart. But who knows, if you try again tomorrow, I might be your friend and possibly more than that." she lied and as soon as she noticed him opening his mouth to say something, she place a finger over his lips -not the most pleasant thing to do- and shook her head. "I know what you're thinking, but trust me. The waiting will be worth it." she added quickly, before she nonchalantly faked to be surprised at the sight of the wallet underneath his chair. "Your wallet might have slipped from your pocket, sweety." she pointed out, at which he didn't seem to mind it at all. Not when the movement to retrieve his wallet gave him a nice view of her leg. "Liked what you have seen? Good. Just wait until tomorrow evening, because there's more in storage." she promised with a tone much more sultry than before and a charming smile, blowing him a good night kiss and then finally making her way back to her room.

It was 11 PM when Karmen was in her bed and heard some noises downstairs, perhaps the men making a fuss again. Maybe the earlier drunkard himself arguing with ol' Bob about paying the drinks. Whatever it was, she didn't care about that, as now she was realizing something. Duane had actually taken a risk there. She could have easily had the police at his door at this very moment if she wanted, but he actually trusted her that she wouldn't reveal his real nature. Well, there was in truth not much police here, but knowing Bob and the men here, they might have stepped in and 'worked out their own justice'.

***

While Karmen wasn't exactly a morning person, the fact that the day when she'd leave this place had finally come, motivated her to get up early. Her things had been packed up neatly a night before, and her clothes prepared beforehand so she wouldn't need to spend an hour deciding what to wear in the morning. When she walked down the stairs and towards the exit of the Reddell Hotel, Bob wasn't even awake yet, which only made her leave easier. The Middle of Nowhere would soon probably have a shock to find out that the beloved singer was gone so suddenly.

Wearing a black short-sleeved shirt along with a white knee length circle skirt and dark colored heels, once she was out the door of the Hotel, she slowly walked up to the man waiting for her, as she tried to balance the purse in one hand and the heavier baggage in the other hand. There wasn't much to be seen of her face, as she wore a big hat just perfect to shade her skin from the sun, and a pair of dak sunglasses to match her outfit. However, a smile could be seen on her face as she approached him and heard his whistling.

"Couldn't get the song out of your head, could you? I hope I didn't give you a hard time last night because of it." she greeted him ever as sweetly once she was in front of him.

The thought that Karmen could turn him in, or at least advise Ol' Bob, and his cronies, that they had a thief in their midst, and it was possible he'd be awakened to the sight and sounds of a lynch mob banging down the door of his lodgings, to be then strung from the nearest tree or thrown in the town lockup, had crossed Duane's mind. Albeit only momentarily. As much as he occasionally wished it to be true, the small-time thief didn't really believe his exploits in the East were of such infamy as to have his face and name plastered on wanted posters two-thousand miles away, or that there'd be an arrest warrant out for him in Nevada, and he'd left the drunk's wallet in the bar so there was no evidence to link Duane to any crime. Apart from the bundle of cash he'd stuffed under the mattress, which, with a white lie or three, could easily be explained away as his.

Aside from that, he'd gathered the singer was keen to get away from the town of Reddell, and with he as her escape route, she'd do nothing to inhibit that opportunity. The cherry on top, to relieve any lingering doubts, was that the woman had appeared to enjoy his company as much as he'd enjoyed hers. No, there was nothing to worry about, Duane had decided as he'd slipped under the sheets, with Karmen on his mind. The only concessions he'd made to the slight chance that he'd misread her was the placement of a chair-back under the doorknob, and the opening of the window in case he was required to jump out during the dead of night.

However, all remained peaceful, and rather than being aroused from his slumber by screaming, yelling, and accusations of thief and a robber, Duane was awoken only by the early morning rays of sunlight which streamed through the window, and hit him directly into his face. At 6am, there was plenty of time to gather his possessions, shower and shave, recount the takings from the night before, and be ready to collect Karmen.

Duane had slipped out the front door, careful to not rouse the Landlady, with suitcases in hand, and loaded the trunk of the Thunderbird, before he took a walking tour of Reddell. The journey required all of five minutes, but Duke did manage to locate a little mom and pop café and gas station, in the process of being opened for the day, and convinced the proprietors to serve him a mug of coffee to go. And one for Karmen. Beverages in hand, he sauntered back to his vehicle, did a U-Turn, and parked it outside the Reddell Motel, with nose pointed in the direction of Vegas.

"Morning, Karmen." The whistling stopped, and Duke's face lit up in a huge cheesy smile when the sound of her voice got his attention. His eyes rolled at her comment, and his attention was drawn to the baggage in her hand, then the outfit she wore, before he focused his attention on her face, and moved towards her. "It was you I couldn't get out of my dreams," he replied with a shake of the head and a grin as he removed the luggage from her hand, and popped the Thunderbird's trunk. "However, I managed to survive the night. As hard as it was, it could have been much harder." Duke wiggled a brow, placed the luggage in the trunk, then slammed it shut, and stepped around to collect his still half-full mug from where it sat on the bonnet, as well as the one he'd brought for Karmen.

"Didn't know if you'd be a morning person." He turned with the mug in hand, and whistled in appreciation. "But now I see that you are. Even more glorious in the light of day." Duke proffered Karmen the cup of Joe, placed his own on the roof of the vehicle, and fished for the keys in his pocket, then allowed his gaze to drift down the woman's form. "I was going request you drive, so as I could just sit back and admire the view, but you don't strike me as the type of woman who knows her way around a stick-shift." His smile had been replaced with a smirk when he pulled his eyes back to hers, and unlatched the passenger-side door. "However, I'm always happy to be proven wrong. Go on, hop in."

Duane used the last instruction as an excuse to plant a light tap on Karmen's butt, then made his way around to the driver's side, and spoke to her over the top of the car. "I was figuring we could stop along the way, and have ourselves a lobster lunch." The man paused, then his tone and demeanour became serious, and he shrugged. "Of course, that's if your morals allow it. Otherwise, it'd be best if I kept the stolen proceeds to spend on myself. Who would've thought that old drunk bastard had over five-hundred dollars?" As his head disappeared from view, and he entered the Thunderbird to fire up the ignition, the serious expression departed, and Duke grinned to himself, wondering when the last time was Karmen had seen that amount of money.

It wasn't the first time, and neither would be the last time that Karmen had someone looking her up and down first thing in the morning. The singer was used it by now and it wasn't like she didn't dress to impress. She was, after all, someone whose main talent and goal was to entertain people. Whether it was singing, appearance or something else, that depended on her spectators. Obviously, when she wasn't doing anything in particular, she simply caught people's attention with merely her presence, just like now. He could roll his eyes at her all he wanted, but the smile on her face remained. In fact, it only became more evident on her lips when he walked over to her to take the baggage from her hand, briefly running her glance over him to finally settle on his face.

"Harder than that? Is that even possible?" Had it not been for the eagerness to leave Reddell maybe Karmen wouldn't have forgotten about the fact that despite the flirtatious and sexual nature of their conversation from the other night nothing happened between them. Making him regret his decision to put the thievery first instead of bedding her did cross her mind before going to sleep, but her own priorities won over. Still, that didn't mean she couldn't tease him about it. "You talk as if it could have been worse than that. The way I see it, the only circumstances in which it could have been harder would also mean a satisfied smile on your face, not a frustrated scowl." she remarked, lips curling into a smirk.

Karmen was glad to be offered some coffee in the morning, to which she gave a quick thank you and almost proceeded to take a sip, before he made a comment at which she simply had to raise a brow and take a jab at him. "Oh, well, I actually thought that I knew my way around a stick-shift, but who knows, maybe you do have more experience with them than I do. I won't question where did you get all that experience though," she jested with a chuckle and only paused to taste her coffee. "But you know, I'm just as happy to learn from someone who's better at it!" she continued, somewhat raising her hands in defeat, for the shortest moment giving him a serious look. "Better at handling a stick-shift, I mean." she added lastly and broke into another grin.

For a second there, the singer naively thought that he was just trying to be gentleman by helping her get inside the car, but that thought soon vanished as she felt the light tap on her bottom. Then again, she hadn't been much of a saint the previous evening either, and honestly, she didn't mind it. What she did mind as she settled in her seat, fixing her dress and giving a last glance towards the Reddell hotel to check if Bob had woken up, was his so called suggestion to keep all that money to himself. Over five-hundred dollars! Karmen turned her attention back to him in an instant, redirecting her gaze from the window of the car to him, pulling the sunglasses a little bit farther down her nose to eye him with her green orbs. She kept silent until she could properly understand and acknowledge what he just said. This was no little sum of money.

"Don't be silly, Duane. You won't know how to spend all that money all by yourself." Her smile returned all of a sudden, one of her hands moving to rest on his thigh. "Besides, you did promise me some new dresses," she reminded him, her voice turning sweeter just like any other time she'd request something from someone. "I assure you my morals don't interfere at all with what I desire." She would have pressed on the matter, but knowing that she was going to travel for some time with him she certainly didn't worry that he'd really spend all the money on himself. Right now she was concerned about something else.

"Either way, I suggest that you start driving before my ol' friend Bob wakes up and sees I'm gone without a word. I've somehow dodged the other night's argument between him and the poor guy who had his money stolen, but he might sniff that something is wrong if he sees I'm gone so suddenly without notice." Karmen patted him lightly on the thigh and then retreated her hand to push the sunglasses up on the bridge of her nose.

Momentarily, as Duke congratulated himself on the witty comment, he thought that he'd won this round, and that Karmen would be standing there with her mouth wide open, trying to formulate a response. After all, it was morning, and as far as he aware the coffee he'd just handed to her was her first of the day, whilst he'd been awake for over an hour, and the caffeine he'd consumed had already had time to work its magic. Duane had an unfair advantage, and didn't have a problem at all with using it. Therefore, what unexpectedly popped out of her mouth stunned him, and it was his own jaw that dropped. Then his eyes blinked rapidly, Duane shook his head in admiration, and a grin crept onto his face.

"Touche", he laughed as he issued the tap to her butt; thinking what a very nice butt it was; and sauntered around to the other side of the vehicle. "I'm sure you'll receive the opportunity to hear all about just how hard my night was, and to experience exactly how much harder it could have been, whilst I?" The man's nose scrunched up and his lips pursed as he appraised Karmen, able only to see her upper half from his vantage point. "I'll be looking forward to waking up with a satisfied grin on my face. That is, if I manage any sleep at all. Now, hop in, and we'll begin your training. I suspect you'll be a quick study."

That was just before his demeanour turned mock-serious, and he deliberately made Karmen aware of exactly how much his antics in the Reddell Motel had brought in. If she'd had any ethical hesitation in regards to sharing in stolen proceeds, or helping to obtain further, he hoped those would be put aside by the mentioned sum. And that appeared to work a charm; or otherwise, underneath Karmen's apparent initial shock the night before, already lay a natural thief like himself; as she entered the vehicle. Her reply was music to his ears, however Duane found himself unable to respond, as his attention was distracted by the sensation of her hand on his thigh, and the sweet sugar in her tone.

After what they'd been speaking about a minute or two previously, the last thing he desired was to experience any physical reaction that Karmen could note, and tease him about, but, of course, the more he attempted not to think about it, or acknowledge the placement of her hand, the more likely that was to occur. So he remained silent, and instead pretended to have trouble locating the ignition key. It was only when she pulled back that he titled his neck and allowed his gaze to drift over her shoulder to the Reddell Motel, before he looked to Karmen. Duane nodded in agreement; they'd best get out of there.

"The nearest large town is 100 miles West." Duane had checked the map earlier; Reddell was situated in the very North East Corner of Nevada, whilst Vegas was in the South, and they'd need to traverse the entire state to arrive there. "I'm sure, we'll be able to locate a nice dress shop, and find you something appropriate." His gaze drifted down to appraise her body as his hand turned the key, "Though, we may have different ideas on what exactly that is," then he pulled his eyes back to her face, flicked Karmen a cheeky smirk, and cocked a brow. "Time to show you how to handle a stick-shift." With that, Duke's foot pressed in the clutch, his hand found the gear lever, and he fired up the engine.

Click....click...click...Thump!

He timed the ignition with the movement of the gears, however the engine didn't fire up, and the surprise caused Duke to release the clutch, and the car bunny-hopped two feet. He shook his head, glanced at Karmen, and attempted it again.

Click....click...click...Thump!

The car shot forward another two feet before it jerked to a halt, and he swore.

Click....click...click...Thump!

The third time, Duane's curse was accompanied by his fist coming up to bang against the steering wheel, before he tried again.

Click...click....Purr

"Sometimes they just require a little warming up." Duane shot Karmen an embarrassed shrug, and pulled out onto the road.

When they'd exited the town limits, the ticking coming from the engine had settled down, and as Duke drove down the lonely asphalt highway, surrounded by desert and tumbleweeds, with the sun blazing down from the azure blue sky, he wound down his window to allow in some fresh air, rested one elbow on the sill, and turned his attention to the woman in the passenger seat. "We should really build up a proper bankroll before heading to Vegas. A city that size is expensive." The words were spoken lightly, but contained an ulterior motive. He'd become enamoured with the idea of having her as a partner-in-crime, and didn't wish to provide Karmen the opportunity to disappear in the maze of a large Metropolis, before they'd truly become acquainted.

The car suddenly sputtered, which drew Duane's attention, and he witnessed a puff of steam shoot from the hood. Then, just as quickly, the vehicle regained it's smooth rhythm, the steam disappeared, and his twinkling blue eyes returned to Karmen. "Shall we first tour the sights of Nevada? It might be awhile until either of us receives the opportunity to take another vacation."

And why stop at Nevada, Duane had never visited the surrounding States, either.

There was no way that Karmen wouldn't feel some sense of pride as she turned his words against himself, although if she had to honest, she did look forward to when she'd have the chance to putting a satisfied smile on his face, just as much as he did. Whether he'd actually get some sleep however, was to be seen, because depending on the circumstances she could either pass out before anything would happen if she'd be too exhausted from the long trip, either keep him up all night long due to all that sexual frustration she had accumulated in the past few weeks spent in Reddell. Either way, she was indeed curious to see if Duane was just all talk or not, although she hoped it was the latter.

If there was one thing Duane would soon come to find out about Karmen if he hadn't already, it was that when it came to men, she enjoyed teasing them with subtle touches, just like how she did the previous night. Not only it made them more receptive to what she wanted from them, but it was also fun to watch their reactions and see how well they'd put up with it. Needless to say that she did pay attention and noticed quite quickly how he had quietened down and pretended to be busy as long as her hand remained on his thigh, so tantalizingly close to his crotch, yet so far away. Had it not been for having to drive already she might have dragged this on for a little while more, especially because it was all the more worth it after how cocky had he been. Still, she didn't want to cause an accident on the driveway now, did she?

Yet, as soon as she drew back, all that confidence seemed to come back in an instant, returning to his cheeky ways. "You can joke about it all you want, but at the end of it, you'll still be the one drooling over me and begging me to do something inappropriate to you." The scenario he had thought up did make her smile as she wondered whether or not he'd still have a grin on his face or a frustrated scowl instead, if she was to wear something more provocative, tease him at the same time, and deny him any sort of relief. She surely had missed these kind of games, like leading someone on that she wanted to get into his pants only to stop at the worst timing; something she had achieved a few times in the past and surely got cursed for a couple of times.

Karmen had been snapped out of her day-dreaming when he commenced with his so called lesson of handling a stick-shift, but found herself frowning slightly at the way the car acted. It was at times like these that Karmen felt religious enough to pray that the car would start working so that she wouldn't be stuck in Reddell any more, with ol' Bob angry at her for how she had planned to leave without a single warning. Besides, one more week in the middle of nowhere and she'd need a visit to a psychiatrist, something which this place didn't even have.

By the third attempt to make the car work, the singer already got worried to the point where she considered planning the theft of someone else's car, though that would mean taking one of those filthy cars used by the farmers who visited this place, which she wouldn't probably last inside for more than a few minutes given the smell of sweat and dirt. Thankfully, just when she nearly lost all her hopes, the car started, lifting away all those dark thoughts. The relief could be seen on her face as the frown faded away and she took a short deep breath. "Ah, I see, warming up. In that case, I presume that your kind of foreplay includes dirty talking? I just hope it doesn't involve fists too, though," she jested and took the last sip of coffee.

The sight of Reddell being left behind and fading away in the distance came as a blessing for Karmen, even if what lay ahead was the same boring desert she had seen on the way to that damned remote place. Just hearing him mention Vegas was enough to put her in a good mood, finally content with how things worked in her favor for once. The money matter was something else, but he was right about needing more cash. A city like that required more than just a few bills. "A proper bankroll and a car too, unless we want to be caught because of something so silly." she remarked, rolling down the window on her side to throw out the empty cup of coffee and then rest her forearm on the windowsill. Ironically, just as she'd talked about getting a new car, the current one started acting funny again. "Maybe we should get a new car before everything else." she added.

The way he spoke about taking a vacation had her confused for a moment before she looked back at him. Taking off he sunglasses, she smiled and shook her head at him. "By vacation, you mean a short period of time during which we won't be chased by the police?" she inquired with a chuckle. The more she thought about what she had agreed on, the more questions she had for Duane, on another note. One thing in particular stuck in her mind, and after what seemed like a longer pause in speech, she resolved upon discussing it before it was too late. "Do you always work this way? I mean, tricking people instead of shoving a gun in their faces. Asking just to make sure that I won't fall behind with what you're doing, because I don't cope with blood too well if you get what I'm saying."

Whether Karmen placed her touch so close to his crotch on purpose, Duane wasn't certain, and was not about to ask. The thief had quickly become accustomed to the woman's quick wit, and ability to reciprocate, with interest, any teasing of his own, and though he'd usually have no problem with engaging her, or indeed sliding her fingers subtly higher as a test to see if and when she'd stop him, this wasn't the time. Not when he'd be required to concentrate on the road, with his own hands mostly occupied, for the next one hundred miles, whilst she'd be totally free to do as she wished. There could only be one winner. Duke attempted to pretend nonchalance, which wasn't an easy task, and a fact likely caught by the woman. Thankfully, she said nothing.

Instead, she appeared to become concerned when the vehicle refused to start, and after the first failed attempt, Duane's mind focused on getting the engine to run. The confidence returned when it eventually fired up, and her hand pulled back. "You'll be the one begging, Karmen, and I don't believe there's anything in that naughty mind of yours that I'd consider inappropriate. However, feel free to prove me wrong. This here car won't be the only thing purring like a baby."

He patted the steering wheel at the completion of the last sentence, and waited until the Reddell Motel had disappeared from the rear view mirror, before he caught her eyes, and playfully shook his head. "Dirty talk is my specialty, but I promise, no fists. However, that doesn't negate a spanking." Duane wiggled a brow, then returned his attention back to driving; a smile pasted across his face. With the road smooth and straight, and absent of any other traffic, he soon had the Thunderbird rolling along at a good speed, and relaxed in his seat to enjoy the breeze flowing through the open window, and the company of the woman in the passenger seat. That calmness was broken when the car lurched and sputtered, and smoke shot from the engine, and he watched with a sense of dread until it dissipated.

Once it had, and the vehicle regained it's momentum, he turned his ears to Karmen's response to his mention of a vacation, and laughed. "Sure, I think just the two of us can make a road-trip interesting enough without needing to involve the Police, unless of course you have a thing for men in uniform, as well as suits?" His expression was lit with humour, however the cheeky grin disappeared, and his countenance became slightly more sombre as he contemplated her next question, and decided that Karmen deserved a serious and honest answer.

.... Clunk.......Clunk

.... Clunk.......Clunk.......Clunk

.... Clunk...... Clunk...... Clunk........Clunk

.....BANG

A noise reverberated through the vehicle, the Thunderbird shuddered violently, and moments later it was surrounded by a fog of thick, black smoke.

"Shit."

The car screeched to a halt on the verge of the Highway; about three feet short of the edge of a hundred-yard deep chasm between columns of bright red rock. Duke switched off the engine, expelled the deep breath he'd taken, removed his shaking hands from the steering wheel and looked at Karmen in silence, then slowly raised his eyes to the bright blue sky and blazing sun outside, muttered, "I guess you were right about that new car. Nice day for a walk," and exited the vehicle. A glance at the odometer had told him they were still fifteen miles from their destination.

As flames licked at the hood, he surveyed the deserted highway. The car was un-driveable, and couldn't just be left abandoned there to be noted by a passing police cruiser. The licence plate was sure to be checked, the Thunderbird revealed as stolen, and quickly linked to he and Karmen if they were found traipsing along the side of the road, luggage in hand, soon thereafter. He contemplated the situation for a few moments, then shuffled his feet in the dirt, and leaned in to peer at Karmen through the opened door.

"I never hurt a man who didn't ask for a hurting. One beats a woman, or bullies those weaker than himself, he deserves it, and those are the only times I've ever been violent. Never during a crime. As far as robbing itself goes, I figure if a person ain't smart enough to hold onto what's theirs, they're best without it. If I don't take it, someone else surely will." Duane Edward's had his own set of principles, and hoped Karmen would be okay with them. "Now jump out, unless you'd prefer to remain where you are when this baby goes over the cliff. Can't leave her where she is, for the authorities to find."

Duke, as if without a care in the world, then began to whistle a now all too familiar tune as he moved to the trunk to gather their luggage.

Karmen remained speechless for a moment when he suddenly seemed to exude confidence, talking as if he had the upper hand despite his amusing reaction to her earlier touch. Her mouth nearly dropped open as she turned her head to stare at him with an incredulous look. Even so, she had to give him the credits for the effort; not that a comeback from her part wouldn't make her feel better later on. There would be plenty of chances to return the favor anyway, that, she didn't have doubts about given how there was a long road ahead of them and enough time for her to make him eat his own words.

"Such a promising man that you are, Duane. I just hope that you will live up to the expectations." As much as refreshing it might have been to keep silent, it was impossible to not come up with a biting remark when it was in her blood to tease and provoke people, especially men. "I might have been trapped in the middle of nowhere with no men of my taste, but I'm still picky about my 'lovers'. Don't get me wrong, but you wouldn't want to dig your own grave now, would you? It's one thing to be honest, and another thing to be boasting about something nonexistent." A subtle smile found its way to her lips as her eyes focused on the road. Admittedly, the whole matter about being pretentious was a bluff, but she figured it would be a shame to give him the peace of mind that getting into her pants, or under her dress in this case, would be guaranteed.

That very same smile disappeared completely from her face when the car halted and soon she caught sight of smoke. Needless to say that she was starting to be worried as to whether or not they'd really reach the next settlement at the very least. This was no laughing matter after all, they were in the middle of the desert and the chances of someone passing by to save them from this hell were very slim.

The worry dissipated once again when the car seemed to work smoothly again, and her thoughts were soon derailed to something apparently more interesting. "I thought that my love for suits was already obvious from the other night," she joked with a grin, but before she could farther discuss this amusing subject regarding cops and uniforms, the vehicle started acting up for a third time that day. What she didn't expect this time, was that now it would be dying for real. Dreams of reaching the next city by lunch, eating some fancy food finally, taking a long shower and relaxing in a plush-like bed in the evening were rapidly being discarding as she watched their only means of transport giving its last breath. She only hoped that this could be fixed some way or another.

The look on the driver's face however, wasn't too encouraging as he gave her the silent treatment at first. The sun kissed singer was suddenly turning paler at his muttered comment. "Please tell me you're kidding me." With Reddell already being too far, there was no turning back now, and who knew how long it would take them to get to some sort of civilization. Dark thoughts crossed her mind as her glance shifted to take in the ever so pleasant desert of Nevada. She already dreaded the thought that she might have to stay under the sun for the next few hours.

While the fact that he was no irrational violent thief was reassuring in itself, that didn't make the next bit of information any better for Karmen. She silently and very reluctantly opened the door on her side after a moment of contemplating, and stepped outside the car to meet the uncomfortable heat. Too bad that if he thought this would end peacefully, he was in for a surprise. "Duane, we're in the middle of the desert! You can't possibly be serious! There's no way I can walk miles in a pair of heels, be they comfortable or not!" she whined, hands on her hips as it to prove her point. The complaining would have continued had it not been for how it dawned on her that this could turn into something even worse. "Is there really no way of fixing it? We're stuck under the sun of Nevada and we have no water. At this rate we'll die before we even reach any sort of city," she mused grimly, the thoughtful face staring down as she bit on her finger giving away how stressed she was under these circumstances.

"You know, I'm actually considering having a thing for men in uniforms. I'd go with the cops too, right now, if only it saved us from this," she added before looking over at the car. "The question is, won't it be hard to move this all the way to the nearest cliff?"

For the first time since he'd met her, Karmen appeared to be lost for words, and Duane's expression had glittered with amusement when he'd tilted his head to peer. Of course, the silence didn't last long, and the cocky smirk was nearly wiped off his face with her response. Nearly, but not quite. "Live up to expectations?" Duane arched a brow as he repeated her own phrasing, then grinned. "Nice to know that you're obviously expecting something? However, if I truly don't meet your selective criteria, we'll both just have to forever wonder about which of us would've lived up to their promises." Duke then graced Karmen with his famed doe-eyed, sad, puppy-dog expression, and sighed theatrically as his focus returned to the road. "Maybe we can find another Reddell Motel in the next town, where the men are more your type. Pity, it could have been fun."

As keen as the man was to get into Karmen's pants, and intended to do so, baiting her was just as enjoyable, and Duke wasn't going to provide her the satisfaction of admitting he was, in any way, desperate. The conversation caused the miles to fly by, and Duane expected they'd arrive at their destination by mid-morning, in plenty of time to lunch together, locate accommodations for the night, escort Karmen on the promised shopping expedition and plan their next move, when the car began to play up. The first occasion was over quickly, however when it happened a second, and Duane attempted to be appear unconcerned by continuing to banter with Karmen, in the back of his mind, he'd he began to think that they may arrive a touch later than expected.

That they'd possibly not arrive at all hadn't even been contemplated, until the engine exploded. The moment flames shot from the hood, Duke knew that he and the Thunderbird's relationship was over. A sense of dread flowed through his body at the thought of having to walk for fifteen miles through the deserted landscape, with the blazing hot sun bearing down, and no water to keep them hydrated. People had perished in those conditions, and he was about to blurt that out, when his eyes found Karmen, and the comment died in his mouth. No point in scaring the shit out of her, plus, after the initial shock, Duane's natural optimism quickly returned.

As did his natural instincts when he exited the vehicle, and decided it needed to be made disappear. There was no use in his being mad or upset as it would achieve nought, and anyways as Karmen stepped out, she appeared to be pissed enough for the both of them. Duane continued to whistle her song as he glanced up from the trunk, removed their luggage, and listened to her complaints. His countenance remained calm after he'd gathered the last lag, and finally noted her posture - he'd seen that enough times before to know what it meant -, with her words still echoing in his ears. "Who the hell wears heels in the desert?"

Duke immediately realised his mistake, and quickly raised a hand in a gesture of apology, then tossed their bags to the side of the car, and approached Karmen."I'd love to be the bearer of good news, but unfortunately, this baby's not going anywhere. She's cooked." Duane slapped the roof and shrugged. "It's not that far, only five miles or so to the town. A stroll in the park." A little white lie wouldn't hurt if it'd help lift Karmen's spirits, and with that in mind, Duane Edwards did something he'd never done with a woman before. He removed his treasured Pork Pie hat from the top of his head, and placed it on hers. "That should help with the sun. However, if you don't really don't want to walk."

Duke couldn't help himself as he stepped back, and slid his gaze down Karmen's body, then looked back up, with a twinkle in his eyes, and a grin plastered across his face. "We can wait by the side of the road, and have you show a bit of leg when a vehicle passes by. Who wouldn't stop?" The comment was followed by a low whistle of approval and a wink, before he stepped past her, and sauntered around to the drivers side of the Thunderbird, leaned in, released the handbrake and met her eyes again over the roof. "Now, let's get rid of this car before those lovely men in uniform pass by. Unless your fantasy also includes handcuffs and a jail cell?"

He cocked a brow, and didn't directly answer her question, but instead pointed to a spot about one-hundred yards distant, where two red rock cliffs, with an abyss between them, towered above the highway, "Over there is perfect." His head then disappeared from view as Duke lowered his shoulder to the door-frame, and shoved with all his weight in an attempt to get the vehicle rolling.

If the first time it worked, the second time he tried to use her own words against her it didn't work as he might have expected. In fact, the smirk on her face remained even as he implied that she expected something from him. Indeed, she had something on her mind, but then again, it wasn't like she was the only one with such intentions. The back and forth exchange of words with double meaning was more than enough to assure her that he most likely wanted to get into her pants, just as much as she craved a man's touch after so much time spent in the land of insufferable farmers and drunkards. So then, why would she be ashamed? No, if anything, it made her chuckle at his comments, at least until he mentioned Reddell. "Ha-ha! Such a funny guy that you are. I would've liked to see you in my place back there."

Any sort of banter and teasing had ceased however from her thoughts when the Thunderbird finally broke down for good, leading to what seemed like a very different side of Karmen to show up. And it was only natural to freak out, at least for her, knowing that the nearest shred of civilization was nowhere in sight and possibly too far away to reach any time before nighttime. If they'd actually be able to survive the entire day in the sun without water. Suddenly, being stuck in Reddell didn't seem like such a bad thing, though she couldn't say she completely regretted her decision to follow Duane. After all, it wasn't his fault the car decided to give its last breath when they needed it the most.

On the other hand, seeing his carefree attitude towards this troublesome situation was like adding oil to a fire; the first instinct was to direct her anger towards him, even if perhaps it was wiser not fretting over it as much as she was doing, seeing how it wouldn't really help that much. It also didn't help that in return to her comments, he questioned her choice of shoes, a mistake that costed him a glare from her part. Death stares weren't something showing too often on her face, but that only meant when she'd actually get angry at someone the singer wasn't to be taken lightly. The only reason he barely escaped a bigger fuss was because he realized it quickly enough.

The 'threatening'-like pose of hers was accentuated even more (if it was even possible) when she crossed her arms over her chest as if expecting some excuse from him as he approached her. Needless to say that the frowning didn't cease as he tried instead to make things seem not so bad. Surprisingly, it wasn't an apology that solved the problem, but the little act of kindness which caught her unprepared when he placed his hat on her head. For some reason or another, that somewhat messed up with her stubborn attitude and before she knew it, she was already trying her best to keep a smile away at his idea. She wanted to be upset with him, she truly did. Still, it wasn't always that a man would be nice to her. No, not in these circumstances. If it had been her previous 'friend', he would have probably walked away without even giving her a last glance.

Having to move the car, however, was another matter. Clearly she hadn't expected to be stuck in the middle of nowhere and neither did she expect having to push a car down a cliff, all the while wearing heels, but she couldn't really argue with him about the risk of being seen by the police either. Not too happy about it, in the end she did offer some help to push the vehicle, as much as she could anyway. By the time the Thunderbird needed just one more prod to fall over, Karmen felt like swearing for how uncomfortable she was with... well, everything. She could almost feel the sun burning every part of her body that wasn't covered by clothing, her mouth felt dry and she would kill for a cold shower to get rid of the sweat.

Her only relief was that they could now be done with the car and then be on their way. And just before pushing it into the abyss, Karmen had also retrieved her own hat, which she had previously left on her front seat, and which thankfully meant that both of them would have their head covered. With the Thunderbird gone, most likely in pieces at the bottom of the cliff, they were now left with the dreadful walk to the next settlement.

"The reason for which I wear heels in the desert is because I was initially headed for Vegas. Not to Reddell, nor the middle of nowhere." she finally explained, coming closer to him to return the Pork Pie hat to its rightful owner and put her hat back on. "And yes, regarding what you said earlier, I do expect something. Unless you're not interested in that kind of stuff, in which case I guess I can easily find someone else to have fun with," she shrugged her shoulders and walked over to pick up her luggage, after which she fixed her hat and slipped out a sigh at the sight of the road ahead of them. "That, if we don't die of thirst before anything."

For the briefest moment, Karmen had thought that she had seen something in the direction of where they came from, something that seemed to approach them. Although, the sun had its own funny way of playing with people's minds in places like these, so while at first hope swelled in her chest, when she thought of the high chances of being just a mirage of sorts, she quickly discarded it and figured that it would be stupid to wait there for someone to pass by. For all they knew, they could be waiting all day long and see no one.

"Ugh! If only it wasn't so darn hot! I'd give anything for some water or at least a gust of wind." With nothing else to do, grumbling and whining seemed like the only way of blowing off some steam.

Never criticise a woman's choice of attire, especially her shoes, no matter how unsuitable to the conditions, or inappropriate to the situation they are. Duane immediately realised his mistake, and attempted to atone for his error of judgement by holding up his hand. However, the effort to apologise wasn't driven by altruism - Duke had quickly realised that he could hardly expect Karmen to listen to his clothing advice on their planned shopping expedition if she were still seething at the comment about her heels, - unlike the gift of his treasured Pork Pie hat, which was.

The thief felt responsible for their current situation, and although he may not have been prepared to admit that outright, he'd do what he could to ensure Karmen's safety and comfort. Additionally, her expression and posture told him that he'd better do something to soothe her before matters got out of hand. Their exchanges thus far had been flirtatious and teasing, but he'd received a small glimpse of another side to Karmen that, if he were to be honest, attracted him to her even more. Feisty women had always been Duane's type, and as much as it made him keen to discover just how feisty she could be, now wasn't the time or place. Anger and fighting would only serve to drain their energy, and his chivalry appeared to soothe her. Duane even imagined he'd seen a smile attempt to break out on her face.

With her assistance, the car was soon at the edge of the cliff. "Thanks for the ride." Duane slapped the trunk, and then watched it fall over the edge. He expected to hear the shrieking of metal, or an explosion, but after half a minute, there'd been nothing. The abyss must have been deeper than he'd anticipated, and any sounds lost between the red-rock walls. Knowing that the Thunderbird would never be located, Duke was content when he turned to Karmen, wiped sweat from his brow with the back of a hand, and decided not to mention how cute she looked. Nothing like a woman all hot and bothered, with a flushed face and beads of perspiration coating her skin. Hopefully he'd get to see her in such a state again, under different circumstances.

"That makes sense." Duane nodded, although the wearing of heels still didn't particularly make sense to him - didn't she own a pair of sneakers? -, and settled the proffered Pork-Pie on his head. "You don't need worry about finding someone else to join in your fun. It's just I, being such a gentleman, considered it would be disrespectful to push my luck." Duane smirked, and lowered his eyes down her body as he reached for his cases with one hand, then touched her arm when he straightened, with luggage in hands, and twinkling blue eyes met hers. "However, I'm also aware there are times when a man should be anything but a gentleman, as I'm certain you'll discover. Now let's move."

As they walked, Karmen's grumbling and complaints caused Duane's own throat to feel more parched, and the bags to grow heavier in his hands, and he was about to ask her to please stop when he was distracted by a plume of dust that was visible over her shoulder. "Car." His tone contained a note of excitement as he came to a halt, and swiveled to ensure what he believed himself to have seen wasn't a mirage. As the plume grew closer, he dropped his cases, and grinned. "See, it's our lucky day, don't know what you were whining about. You need to learn to trust Ole' Duane." His cockiness had returned, but Duke forgot about asking Karmen to display some leg to attract the driver's attention, and instead, stood himself with a hand in the air in readiness to wave the approaching vehicle down.

Five minutes later, Duane bent down to speak to the driver; a man who appeared to be about his own age and size, wearing jeans and a chequered shirt, with eyes obscured by sunglasses; of a red and white Mustang, and explained their situation. "Me and my sweetheart," Duane indicated Karmen, "are on the run from her Daddy. He don't like me, and wanted her to marry some rich guy she don't hardly even know instead. I figured if we were betrothed, that he'd have to accept we're truly in love, and so we're headed to Vegas to get married. Decided to hitch so as to ensure I could provide my fiance with the expensive service and honeymoon she deserves, but the last guy who picked us up was some pervert, and I had to get us out of the vehicle before I beat him upside the head; Karmen's not one for violence. And that's how we ended up here."

"Isn't that right, baby?" Duke straightened to throw an arm over Karmen's shoulder and plant a surprise kiss on her lips; needed to make this look real; as he unlatched the passenger door, then returned his attention to the stranger.

"We appreciate the offer of a ride. The nearest town will do, and we'll catch a bus or something to Vegas from there." Duane had already motioned for Karmen to hop in by the time he shot the driver a cheery smile, and allowed him an opportunity to respond. With a story like the one he'd just spun, how could any reasonable man refuse?

Lips curled into a smirk and an eyebrow lifted, obviously entertained as he tried to play the innocent and make it seem like he was only being considerate. "Oh? Worried that you'd lose your chance now?" she mumbled mostly for herself to hear, finding it amusing how it didn't take too long to be reassured that he was available. Perhaps she was reading too much into it, but either way she fancied the thought of him wanting her badly, just as much as she enjoyed any other man's attention directed to her. Karmen herself was more than just interested in him after the conversations they had so far, so, it would make it all the more worth it.

Had it not been for the dire circumstances they were stuck with, the brunette might have purposely and teasingly questioned him about what he was talking about, however, her playful mood was soured by the heat making her so uncomfortable in her clothing and how thirsty she was. The sunglasses and the hat weren't doing much to help her, and the uneven ground made walking so tiresome with heels. All in all, she wondered if she'd even make it until noon without passing out or calling it quits. The grumbling was the only way she could let out some steam, really.

Eyes widened for a moment when he mentioned that one word. A car? Her head turned swiftly, wondering briefly if perhaps what she saw earlier wasn't simply just her hopeful imagination. Pushing the sunglasses a little bit lower on the bridge of her nose, the singer couldn't believe her eyes when she saw a vehicle indeed, approaching them even. It took all she had not to roll her eyes at Duane and his revived confidence, but she was so thankful for this miracle that she didn't bother to ruin his mood with more of her so called whining. Instead, she was too busy daydreaming already about how lovely would be the rest of the day if everything worked the way they wanted to from now on.

To her surprise, when the car stopped by a few minutes later, she didn't see the usual old man or the kind of person who'd be found in a drunken state in Reddell's bar, but a man who seemed close in age with them. Maybe Duane was right; this was their lucky day. Approaching the car too, she smiled sweetly as she went along with the made up story, which frankly made her want to laugh. To act like a pair of lovebirds who had just eloped would be certainly interesting, given how she couldn't even remember too well when was the last time she'd been truly a sweetheart to someone. Nevertheless, all the more better to refine her inner actress side.

Admittedly, she hadn't expected the sudden kiss planted on her lips, but that only incited her to return the favor later on. "Of course, darling," she confirmed, noticing that he was motioning to get in the car and thus, doing as told for now. "Oh, don't forget about the bags, sweetheart!" she quickly reminded him, before turning her attention to the driver. While Duane was alright with just a drive to the nearest town, Karmen had a feeling that she could get more than that.

"Ah, he's saying that, but I'm seriously getting sick of traveling all day long, and those cheap hotels where all kinds of bugs crawl out and beds are made from rocks are giving me the shivers by now." Once again, the whining commenced, but this time it was purposeful. Luckily, her words and the long sigh seemed to work wonders as it didn't take long for the man to make an offer.

"If it's a place to stay that you're looking for, we do have a guest room. I'm sure my wife wouldn't mind it." And that's all it took for Karmen to be contently smiling, knowing that there was no need to spend money on lodging but instead could be spent on many other better things. Add to that some possible free meals too, and all the more did it sound like a great deal. "That would be very generous of you! Well, as long as we won't be a bother to you, I would gladly accept the offer," she cheerfully said and turned to Duane. "What do you say, love?" she added, placing a hand on his like the loving fiancee that she supposedly was.

Duane shook his head in response to Karmen's comment, and his gaze lifted to survey the deserted highway, blue sky, and blazing sun overhead, before it made its way back to her face. He hadn't quite caught what she'd mumbled to herself, but assumed it was about him, and even in the midst of their troubles, Duke felt somewhat like a schoolboy dealing with his first crush. Karmen was one of a kind, and although they'd been acquainted for less than a day, he thought he'd finally discovered a woman he wanted to spend time with, for more than simply what she offered in the sack. Getting into her panties could wait if it meant their first occasion wouldn't also be their last. They were just subliminal thoughts, however, and ones that Duane himself wasn't completely aware of. Outwardly the man had convinced himself that the constant teasing was simply a way to increase Karmen's sexual frustration, and ensure when the moment came his advances wouldn't be rejected.

Any further banter was put to rest as the burning sun sapped his resources, and perspiration stuck the fabric of his shirt to his skin. He'd barely mustered the energy to roll his eyes at her whining when everything changed with the sight of the car, and he forgot all about how tired and sweaty he was. Or that by the time they arrived in the next town, Karmen might be so pissed with Duke having gotten them into this situation, that she'd refuse to speak to him at all, let alone sleep with him. A grin lit up his face, and the natural cockiness immediately returned.

The story he told the driver rolled effortlessly off his tongue, and Duane's demeanour was that one of self-satisfaction when he planted a kiss on Karmen's lips, and motioned for her to enter the car. His expression soon changed to one of awe, and pure admiration for the woman beside him. "Tut-tut, you naughty girl," he whispered as the man agreed to Karmen's not so subtle request for a place to stay, then his voice returned to its normal volume. "I say that's a great idea, Honeybunch." Duke issued a loving swat to Karmen's butt as the driver exited the vehicle to pop the trunk for their luggage.

As Duane had estimated, the man was around his own age and height, with a slim athletic body, buzz-cut brown hair, and matching brown eyes, which were revealed with the removal of his sunglasses. "I'm Duane, and this here's Karmen. We really appreciate the offer," Duke spoke as he shook the man's hand, and inclined his head towards his supposed bride.

"No problem, I'm Kurt, We Nevadian's pride ourselves on our hospitality, and my wife and I shall be glad of the company. Daisy should be home from the church bake-sale by the time we arrive. I know what it's like to be so crazy in love, that you won't let anything stand in your way. You're a lucky woman." The man smiled at Karmen as, after their bags were placed, he took his seat behind the wheel, and watched Duane slide into the rear, and slip an arm around her waist. "I'm due to start a shift at three o'clock, but I'm certain you won't cause Daisy any trouble." Kurt appraised them for a few seconds longer, as if to satisfy himself that his opinion was indeed correct, then turned his back, and pulled the Mustang onto the bitumen.

The thief's mind had been too occupied Kurt's mention of a guest-room, and the probability that he and Karmen would need to share a bed, to concern himself with what type of job would have the man commencing a shift at mid-afternoon. However, it was doubtful, even if his curiosity had been aroused, that he would have got a word in anyway before the man spoke again. "So where you are folks from, and why does her Papa hate you?"

That did get his attention, and Duke stopped whispering pretend sweet nothings in his pretend fiance's ear as he floundered in an attempt to recall the name of the State north of Nevada. Was it Idaho or Iowa? Um, we're from, uh. Idaho." With eye's locked on Karmen's, he held his breath and awaited the man's reaction

"Idaho, huh? Never been there."

Duane released the breath, content from the man's response that his hesitation hadn't been noted, and that he'd guessed correctly. It was then he decided that, having impressed him with her improvisational skills earlier, it'd be entertaining to see if Karmen could do it again. "And I'm not really certain. Why does your Papa hate me, baby?" The conman shot her a conspiratorial wink, then averted his gaze, and left his companion to satiate Kurt's curiosity whilst he rested his eyes.

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The Mustang, unlike the Thunderbird, experienced no engine trouble, and a short time later with their driver having done most of the talking, and Duke smiling to himself, Kurt pulled up in the driveway of a two-story red-brick residence on the outskirts of a town that appeared to be at least ten times larger than Reddell. "You two collect your belongings, and I'll let my wife know we have company." Kurt exited the vehicle and popped the trunk, then walked towards the house, cupped his hands to his mouth, and screamed for his beloved at the top of his voice.

"This will be an experience." Duane straightened, poked Karmen playfully in the ribs, and teasingly added, "Won't it, Sweetiepie?", before he unlatched the door, and appraised the bright green lawn, surrounded by a white picket fence. "Nice place though, and I'll wager there's a few valuables lying around. I hope you don't intend on taking advantage of our new friends hospitality?" The manner in which Duke's blue eyes twinkled when he brought them back to Karmen's, as simultaneously the sound of a woman's voice cut through the dry desert air, should have been warning enough that if she didn't, Duane certainly would.

A subtle smile crossed her lips and she briefly raised an eyebrow at him when Duane supposedly scolded her after pushing her luck for a place to stay overnight. She couldn't really let him do all the persuading now, could she? If they were going to aspire for the bigger rewards, they had to work as a team of two. Besides, she had to admit that their savior wasn't so bad looking either and she wouldn't mind seeing him around for a little longer. And just as she shamelessly thought of how fun it would be to play with his mind in spite of how he already had wife, a sudden swat applied to her bottom reminded her that maybe it wasn't so nice to be doing that, lest she might lose her own partner's trust.

Then again, she didn't know enough about Duane just yet, now that she thought about it. They had just met, their initial plan was to get to Vegas, but she had no idea as to what expect after they'd reach it. This could either be a temporary relationship, a simple fling to satisfy each other and bring some spice to their trip, either it could be something more. He didn't exactly strike her as someone who prefers a stable relationship, but what if she was wrong? What if he did expect at the very least some loyalty from her in this regard? This would definitely be something to ponder on and possibly discuss with him in the near future.

Returning her attention to the men, Karmen had to hide a grimace at the mentioning of a church bake-sale. She could only picture this Daisy woman as one of those perfect religious housewives who meet on Sundays with their friends, drink tea and eat cookies in the afternoon and giggle over the stupidest subjects. Maybe she had rushed into this deal too soon. The last thing she wanted was to keep up the good girl facade in front of someone like her, or end up having to listen her preaching. If it was the latter, she'd be out the door with Duane by one hand and the baggage in the other in a jiffy. She wondered what exactly could this man love to such a woman, but in the end she guessed she could also be wrong about his wife's personality. She could very well be a lovely and fun person, for all she knew.

As she was flashed a smile, the brunette did the same, partly because she wanted to be polite, and mostly thanks to the funny way Kurt was picturing Duane. "I sure am. Ain't no other man like my sweetie, to go to the ends of the earth to make me happy." she praised, both hands taking a hold of one of Duane's as he settled next to her, sticking to him like glue. A true perfect pair of lovers in their savior's eyes, no doubt.

The questions that followed, however, weren't something she wasn't prepared, and she had a feeling that neither her partner in crime was. She could probably pick any random state, but to avoid saying something that would possibly conflict with what Duane would say, she kept quiet and let him handle it, even as he surely took his sweet time deciding on one. When he came up with Idaho and looked at her, she quickly picked up his uncertainty and for a moment there she was amused at how he wasn't sure himself if what he said was right. Oh, he would not get away with this once it'd be just the two of them!

As soon as the subject shifted from that to something she'd have to explain, she just had to take a subtle jab at her so called soon to be husband. "Oh, well you know how fathers are. They want the best for their daughters, and I guess Duane here wasn't exactly husband material in his eyes. He wasn't anywhere as rich as the man I was supposed to be married to, and he did look a little bit like a player when it came to women. But he was so sweet whenever he'd take me out on dates that I couldn't say no to this sweetie pie!" Not even if she wanted to, could she have made up such a ridiculously cliche story. To some extent she was eager to get to that house already and be able to revert to her real self once it'd be just her and Duane. All this sweetness was on the verge of grossing her out, never having been one to be like this unless she was trying to get something from someone in exchange for sweet talk.


When the trip finally came to an end, Karmen was relieved and somewhat happy to see a town after such a long time of being separated from any sort of real civilization. That she'd no longer sleep on a creaky old bed and neither by herself, was like a welcomed bonus. Strange how these little things could uplift her mood so much. She was also glad to see that she wasn't the only enjoying this, certainly not regretting that she'd chosen to push Kurt to give them a place to stay. "Duane, sweetie, 'careful so you won't get diabetes from all this sugary talk", she joked with a chuckle, stepping out of the vehicle.

Kurt's home did have that perfect atmosphere about it, straight out of a magazine, with the fresh cut grass, white picket fence, flower bushes here and there and pretty patterned curtains at every window of the house. She didn't even need to see the woman, she just already knew behind that door was most likely one of those housewives she'd often see when she was child, back when her mother would invite her friends over to gossip about the latest news.

"I was going to take advantage of their shower and comfy beds, and maybe the free food, but now that you put it that way, we could take a look around their house. We'll probably need to think of when and how to do that." she mused and moved closer, placing a hand on his chest as her lips curled up. "Until then, however, I think you owe this 'naughty girl' some pampering for everything she did for you so far. And because I'm such a great 'wife' too, I'll let you choose how to pamper me." she added, before she heard another woman's voice and turned to finally see her.

A blonde woman came out of the house before Kurt, happy to see her husband at first, but frowning slightly at the sight of unfamiliar faces in front of her house. "Oh my, you didn't tell me we were going to have guests today!" she quickly tried to mimic excitement while she wiped her wet hands on the bright yellow apron she wore over her red dress. "Kurt, who are these people and why do they have so many bags with them?" she muttered lowly as she stood next to him, smile still on her face as to not leave a bad impression.