by Nicole James
“You’re fucking beautiful, Velvet. ” His hand fisted in her hair. “It’s never been this good with anyone else before. I feel it. Tell me you feel it, too.”
She nodded, unable to deny it. “Yes, I feel it.”
He kissed her softly at first, and then with more urgency. He trailed his lips down her neck, to her nipples, where he latched on hard until she tightened her legs around him and exploded in another orgasm.
He followed in a few more strokes, spearing into her and shouting his release.
CHAPTER TWO
Twelve hours later…
Velvet stared down at the gorgeous tattooed man lying among the white hotel sheets. They’d spent an incredible night together. He’d been her secret crush for years, and when the opportunity to spend the night with him presented itself, she’d jumped at the chance.
They’d shared an amazing connection, something she’d never felt before with any other man. And he’d felt it, too. He’d admitted as much last night.
Her gaze skated over his chest, where she’d cuddled against him when they’d both finally fell into an exhausted sleep as dawn approached. God, how she longed to lie back down beside him and take him in her arms. But as her eyes moved lovingly over his muscled inked body, fear flooded through her. She couldn’t risk him finding out the truth. If he ever found out her secret, he’d look at her with different eyes, and he’d come to hate her, and that she couldn’t bear.
So she did the only thing she could. She forced herself to slip out of his hotel room without saying goodbye, without so much as leaving a note. Of course she couldn’t have left one if she wanted—and that was another secret she kept guarded. She couldn’t read and could only write enough to sign her name.
She turned her back on what might be the only opportunity she had for any kind of relationship with the one man who had ever made her feel something, and that was why walking out that door was so incredibly hard.
The door quietly latched as she slunk out, and the feelings of regret overwhelmed her. She pressed her forehead to the door, and as her chest tightened, she allowed a single tear to fall. Finally straightening, she took a deep breath and walked down the hall. Stepping onto the elevator, she stared at the doors as they slid closed, and she couldn’t help the hope that flared inside her that maybe last night would be as ingrained in his memory as she knew it would be in hers.
Yes, perhaps he would remember her. After all, she’d heard what men said about her…Velvet—Nobody forgets Velvet.
She took out her phone as she crossed the lobby and dialed Aaron. He’d talked about meeting for breakfast and then doing a shoot with the city skyline as a backdrop, but she hadn’t heard from him, and they’d have to be quick if they wanted to use the morning light.
He didn’t pick up, and she frowned when a recording came on saying the subscriber was not available. What the hell?
She stood at the window and redialed, her gaze darting around the parking lot. As she listened to the message repeat again, her eyes locked on a figure, and her mouth fell open. Pulling the phone from her ear, she stared in disbelief. Aaron was across the parking lot, throwing a suitcase into the trunk of his car. Slamming it, he slid quickly behind the wheel.
What the fuck? Where the hell was he going? Was he leaving her here? They hadn’t even split the money from yesterday’s sales yet!
She dashed out the glass doors and ran after his car as he sped off the lot. “Aaron!” He didn’t stop; he didn’t even slow down.
He glanced at her as he flew past, the car accelerating. She stomped her foot. Oh. My. God! That jerk! He’d taken off with all the money! And he was her ride! She was left high and dry in LA.
“No, no, no! This cannot be happening. It has to be a mistake.” She frantically dialed his number over and over but got the same message.
“You son-of-a-bitch!” she screamed into the air, her body going stiff with her rage.
When she calmed down enough to function, she dialed her best friend. “Chloe?” she whispered, her voice shaky.
“Velvet? What’s wrong?”
“Aaron just took off on me… with all the money we made!”
“Are you shitting me?”
“I wish I was.”
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.”
“I can’t believe this is happening. I had such big plans and everything hinged on that money. It was everything to me. My means of finally being able to break free of my family.”
“Oh, Velvet. He took all of it?”
“We made over thirty grand.”
“Wow! And he left you with nothing?”
“Yep. We were supposed to do another shoot this morning and split the money then. I can’t believe I let this happen. I can’t believe I trusted him.”
“I’m so sorry, babe. I tried to warn you. In this business you can’t trust anybody. I’ve told you before, you’re too nice.”
“I thought he was different. I thought we were in this together.”
“You deserve so much better, honey.”
Velvet fought to swallow down the heartache. Every word her friend spoke was true. She did deserve better, and she needed to stop letting people use her. The funny thing was, she thought she already had. She believed she was really turning her life around. Everything had been looking up. She’d had big plans. And now? Now she didn’t even have a ride.
“So what about that lease on that shop you were supposed to sign?”
“I won’t be able to if I don’t have the money Aaron stole.”
“Well, you know you can keep staying with me for as long as you need.”
“I hate to impose on you. You’ve already let me stay for longer than I planned.”
“Honey, you’re not even here half the time. It’s no problem.”
“This isn’t how it was supposed to be. I was supposed to sign that lease and finally be able to make my dreams come true.”
“I know, honey. Do you need me to come get you?”
“Um, maybe.” She bit her lip, knowing her friend was hours up the coast. Her cell buzzed with an incoming call. “Hold on a second. Maybe that’s him.” She took the second call. “Aaron?”
“Nope, Kitty-Kat. It’s your big brother.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Vano.”
“I was just driving through LA and heard you were at the big expo this weekend. You still in town?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Just thought we could get together for a cup of coffee or a beer. Haven’t seen you in months.”
“Hold on a second.” She flipped back to Chloe. “It’s Vano.”
“Your brother?”
“Yep. Says he’s in town. I can get a ride from him.”
“I thought your goal was to disassociate with your family. You know they always suck you into their bullshit.”
“I know, but what choice do I have? Anyway, I’ll call you later.”
“You sure you don’t want me to come get you?”
“You’re hours away. He’s right here. It only makes sense.”
“Do not let him pull you into any of his schemes.”
“I won’t. I’ve got to go before he hangs up.”
“Okay, honey, but remember I’m always here for you.”
“I know, babe, and I love you for it.”
She chuckled. “Of course you do, I’m very loveable. But seriously, call me tomorrow or I’ll hunt you down.”
“I will. I promise.” Velvet switched back to the call from her brother. “Hey. Sorry, I had another call.”
“So, where are you?”
Velvet bit her lip, hoping she wouldn’t regret this. “The Excelsior.”
CHAPTER THREE
The AC kicked on and a cool breeze blew over the skin of Liam’s back. He twisted his head, pulling the adjacent pillow under his face. Memories of last night flooded his brain as he sucked in the scent of Velvet’s perfume on the hotel linen. He pushed up off his chest and scanned the room. Dim light filtered t
hrough the slit in the drapes.
“Velvet?”
The bathroom was dark.
He sat up quickly, scanning the floor and chair for her clothing, shoes, and purse. Nothing. She was gone.
His chest tightened with the ache of losing her. He didn’t even have her number. He’d thought there’d be time for that this morning. He’d never imagined she’d sneak out on him.
Things last night had been good. Better than good—they’d been phenomenal. The two of them had clicked, intellectually and physically. Liam had never been one to believe in soul mates but something about her drew him in and made him feel like he’d found his other half.
Apparently, it was all one-sided. Although, last night, when he was on top of her, moving slowly in and out of her and staring into her gorgeous, expressive eyes, he could have sworn she was as connected as he had felt.
Jerking the sheet away, he strode naked to the window and pulled the curtain aside. He scanned the parking lot, not that he expected to see her. His hand closed in a fist around the fabric of the curtain. Damn it, the little minx could have at least said goodbye or…
His head swiveled to the far nightstand, scanning for a note and landing on the hotel notepad and pen.
His jaw tightened when he saw it was blank.
He stared out the window again, wondering at all that could have been and aching at the loss of it.
His phone rang, and he twisted to dig it out of the hip pocket of his jeans that lay on the floor by the bed. Hope flooded him once again that maybe it was her calling.
He stared at the screen.
Jameson.
He put the phone to his ear, taking the call. “Yeah man?”
“What time are you leaving?”
“Noon.”
“How’d the show go?”
“All right.”
“Everything okay, brother?” Jameson had always been able to read him like a book.
“Yeah. Everything’s fine.”
There was silence on the other end. His older brother didn’t buy his lie. “We’ll talk when you get back.”
“Yep.”
Liam disconnected and tossed the phone on the bed. He slid his jeans on and again moved to the window. He leaned his palm on the frame and stared out at the traffic and the morning sun rising in the distance. He was different today. Last night had left an indelible mark on him. He stared at the horizon, but all he could see was Velvet’s sparkling eyes. All he could hear was her soft laughter. All he could taste was her sweet kiss.
And now she was gone.
Goddamn.
***
“Sounds like you’re in a bit of a predicament.”
Velvet sat across the booth from her brother, slowly stirring her coffee. “You could say that.”
Vano was well dressed, as usual, in a pair of expensive jeans, a nice button down, and his dark hair slicked back without a lock out of place. He grinned his Cheshire cat grin. “The best thing for you to do is come back home with me.”
Velvet let out a huff. “Home? Where’s home this week?”
“Grand Junction. I’ve opened up a shop. I could really use some help.”
“A shop? Doing what?” She really wasn’t interested in the answer; her brain was still stalled back on the location. Suddenly she felt light-headed.
“Don’t be obtuse. A tattoo shop.”
“A tattoo shop?” That drew her from her trance. “You tried that once. You hated it.”
“I didn’t hate it. I just had other opportunities come up.”
She took a sip of her coffee cup and set it back in the saucer. “You were shit at it.”
“Gee, thanks.” He leaned his folded arms on the table.
“Sorry, but you know it’s true.”
“Whatever.” He met her eyes. “Well, are you in?”
She looked away. “I don’t know.”
“I’ve got some artists working for me now. The place is doing pretty well.”
Her gaze snapped back to his. “What do you need me for then?”
“You’d be a big draw for business, and I could use a hand. You got a better offer right now?”
Velvet drew in a deep breath and scanned the restaurant, her eyes going to the street beyond the window. She flipped the spoon on the table over and over. Vano would suck her right back into whatever shit he was doing. She knew it, and yet, what choice did she have? She was flat broke. No place to live and no job. Perhaps she could stand it long enough to get some modeling jobs lined up. Or maybe she could get another calendar put together. But Grand Junction was where Brothers Ink was located. What if she ran into Liam again? Perhaps it wouldn’t be too hard to lay low. Surely she could avoid him for a few weeks.
Hell, she couldn’t lie to herself; she’d want to catch a glimpse of him, at least from a distance.
“Velvet?”
Her brother’s voice broke into her thoughts, and she turned back to him. “All right. Temporarily.”
“Suit yourself.” The smile on her Vano’s face betrayed the fact that he thought he’d succeeded in getting her back under his thumb.
If he thought she was going to be as easily manipulated as she’d been by her family in the past, he had a rude awakening coming. She’d been making her way on her own for years now, and although they constantly tried to suck her in, she swore her time with them would be short.
She had dreams in life, and she was determined somehow to make them happen. Being sucked into their bullshit was not part of her plan.
CHAPTER FOUR
Liam’s mind wandered as he cleaned his tattoo station. He operated on autopilot a lot these days since he returned to town.
“So, how did the expo go?” Maxwell wiped down the chair at his station, his gloved hand running over the seat and armrests.
Liam pulled his gloves off with a snap and tossed them in the bio trashcan. “Good. Lot of people.” Talking about it was the last thing he wanted to do.
Max gestured to the calendar Liam had recently stuck up on his mirror, the one Rory had gotten for him. “Was she there?”
Liam glanced up and reluctantly answered. “Yep.”
“Nice. Did you get to meet her?”
“Yep.”
“You’re a man of many words, brother.”
Liam folded his arms and leaned on the counter. “Guess I just don’t kiss and tell.”
Max froze mid-swipe, his brows lifting and a sly grin tugging at his mouth. “You dog! No way!”
Liam just grinned back, returning momentarily to the happiness he’d felt in L.A.
“How the hell did that happen?”
He shrugged. “We met in the hotel bar. I bought her a drink.”
“And?”
Liam ran one palm over his tired neck. “And what? You want a blow-by-blow?”
“Hell, yeah!”
“Sorry, not gonna happen, Max.”
“You gotta give me something! Did you two make a connection?”
Liam stared at the tile floor, not really seeing it. “Off the fucking charts.”
“I’m happy for you, man. You seeing her again?”
Liam shook his head. The same pain he’d felt waking up that morning and finding her gone flashed through him.
“What? Why not? You got her number, didn’t you?”
“She snuck out the next morning.”
Max frowned. “That sucks. Any idea why?”
“No clue. Everything was great… at least I thought it was.”
“Sorry, man.” Max was quiet for a moment and then continued, trying to inject a lightness to his words. “Chicks. Sometimes there’s just no figurin’ ‘em out.”
Liam nodded. “Guess so.”
“She know where you work?”
“We talked about the show.” He frowned. “I think I mentioned the shop.”
“Well, maybe she’ll call here.”
Liam rocked forward and stood. “Yeah, maybe. Let’s go get a beer.”
“Soun
ds like a plan. Did you lock the front door?”
Liam headed to do the task.
“You know we could always drive out to the farm to have a beer.”
“Malee’s not gonna mind?”
“Just because I got married didn’t mean you had to move out. It’s your home just as much as it is mine, Rory’s and Jameson’s.”
“I just thought with Jameson moved into his new place with Ava and the baby, maybe it was time I left, too, and gave you some privacy.”
“Liam, I never asked you to go.”
“I know, but you’ve got Ben now, and Mrs. Larsen’s living there, helping take care of him, and look that’s all great, but I just feel like the third wheel, you know? And now with Malee pregnant—”
“Are you happy living in town?”
Liam shrugged. “Yeah, sure. Why?”
“You’d rather live in that tiny apartment over the bakery?”
“Hey, livin’ over the bakery has its advantages; breakfast is only steps away and the place always smells like fresh baked bread. Can’t beat that, man.”
Max chuckled. “Yeah, as long as you don’t put on twenty pounds.”
Liam patted his flat stomach. “That’s what sit-ups are for. That and I’ve been running a lot.”
“Hmm. Yeah, I heard you’ve been running. You should stop by the gym and spend some time with the punching bag. Or I could always go a couple rounds in the ring with you.”
“I’m not suicidal. Thanks.”
Max put Liam in a headlock and pretended to punch him in the face. “You sure? Maybe I could rearrange this mug for you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Velvet took a walk through town one afternoon. She had to get out of the shop and away from Vano. He was a shit artist, and she knew he was using her as a draw for business, but she felt like she was useless.
Being back in Grand Junction was bittersweet. She hated working for Vano, but Liam was here. She drifted aimlessly toward Main Street, turning right and heading down the block. Maybe she’d stop and get a Frappe. Her steps slowed as she approached one storefront window with colorfully painted silk garments and artwork all beautifully arranged. While she appreciated them, she couldn’t help the pull that turned her head to look to the shop across the street.
