Reckless Rebel: A Hero Club Novel

by TC Matson

  “Dear Jesus,” I groan, dropping my face into my hands.

  “Just because you get to my age doesn’t mean the sex drive diminishes. I’ve got the engine of a twenty-year-old. It’s purring and ready for an oil change.” Straight face, no remorse, or embarrassment in sight.

  “Ted had his hands full with you. Didn’t he?”

  Her face lights up. “You better believe it. We were always—”

  “Nope.” I hold my hands up stopping her. “No details needed.”

  She titters. “We slowed when Thomas was born, but picked back up where we left off a few months down the road. Can’t believe I didn’t stay pregnant, but the Lord only wanted me to have one.”

  “Did you ever want more kids?” I take a seat on the couch.

  “A little girl would’ve been nice. Before Thomas died in the war, he gave me a few grands and I got a girl. Elizabeth is precious and that wild brother of hers is a spitting image of their father.”

  I’ve met them a few times over the years. Mainly during the holidays. She’s a doting grandmother. Pictures of her family are placed throughout her apartment and she glows when she talks about them.

  “You got me too,” I chirp.

  She beams. “That I did. Which begs the question. When will you be giving me grands? I’m not getting any younger.”

  “Pffft. You’ll outlive us all.”

  “Lord, I hope not. I’m in no rush, but the world is a crazy and evil place. Plus, I want to hug my husband and son again.”

  My phone pings with the name of the place Lucia wants me to meet her. “I’m meeting Lucia for drinks,” I grab her water and refresh it.

  Dotty places her hand on my arm when I set her glass on the table beside her recliner. I’m met with warm, sugary love in her eyes. “I know your mother leaving hurt, but one day I hope you’ll let those scars be a display of strength. You’re a good girl, Pea. Your mother is a coward for leaving and a damn idiot for not looking back. She’s missing out on one remarkable woman.”

  Tears spring. “Thanks, Dotty.”

  “I mean it. Your pop did a great job raising you on his own. Don’t let that witch’s errors distort your life. Grow from her mistakes and do better.”

  “You’re killing me.” I sniffle, wiping the tears from under my eyes.

  “Love you, Pea.” She pats my arm.

  I wrap my arms around her shoulders and give her a hug. “Love you, too.”

  “Now. Go find a man and give me some more grands.”

  Shaking my head, I cough a laugh, clearing the emotions from my throat. I kiss her cheek and leave.

  Chapter Seven

  “How’s Dotty?” Lucia asks as I pull out my chair.

  She got us a table outside on the terrace and has a Lemon Drop Martini waiting for me. After the noodle fiasco, sex talk, mother talk, and grandbaby talk…I need this drink.

  “She’s great. She’s got a hot date tonight with the man who lives across the hall from her. She’s cooking him spaghetti.”

  “An eighty-year-old with a hot date? She’s my hero.”

  “And apparently she has one hell of a sex drive.” I lift a hand when her mouth pops open. “Don’t ask. I stopped the conversation before she went into further detail.”

  Lucia’s laugh bursts from her. “She’s my favorite person.” She takes a sip of her drink and checks her phone for the tenth time.

  “Are you expecting a phone call or am I just that boring?”

  I’m met with a toothy grin containing a conniving edge. “Text actually. You remember Steve? He reached out to me last night.”

  Ah, Steve. I had high hopes for him. He was a good guy—successful, handsome, and was into Lucia. However, according to her, he didn’t know how to swing his sword very well.

  “Didn’t he move to another state across the country?”

  She bites her lip. “Yes. But he’s in town on business and wants to catch up.”

  “Code for wanting your ass bouncing on his lap again.” I snort.

  “He might not have known what he was doing, but I did and I loved riding him.”

  Her gaze lifts over my shoulder and something flickers in it. She bites down on her lip and looks back to me. I open my mouth to ask her what the look is for when the chair to my right suddenly slides out and a body drops in. “Ladies.”

  Ash. Just when I thought I had dodged him today, he’s here. In the flesh. Looking hot as hell. His eyes are gorgeous, the clearest of gray, almost translucent and it highlights the light blue ring at the edges. He’s blessing me with a panty-melting smirk that’s outlined by short stubble on his jaw.

  I shake from the Ash-induced fog. “What are you doing here?”

  He leans back without a care in the world. “I was around and saw you. Figured I’d stop and say hello.”

  Lucia beams behind the rim of the glass she’s got pressed to her lips. There’s a scheming glint in her eyes when she looks from me to Ash. “Did that guy end up getting his dick pierced?”

  Ash’s deep and rumbly chuckle causes my heart to skip a beat as my stomach flutters. “Nah. Del got everything out and had his dick in her hands and tough guy wasn’t so tough anymore. Chickened out.”

  My traitorous eyes lower to Ash’s lap. Would having a pierced dick make him hotter? I’ve never known anyone personally that has one, well, that I know of. For all I know the CEO of Graffix has one. But does Ash?

  “No.” The word snaps my eyes back to his face. A smirk plays at the corners of his lips. Heat scalds my cheeks. “It’s not pierced.”

  “I, uh…” I shake my head vehemently.

  Thankfully, I’m saved by Lucia’s phone ringing. She snatches it up and shoves to her feet. “Steve’s calling. Be right back.”

  The silence eats at me. I’ve got to say something to save face. “So do you pierce dicks?” Oh my god, no I didn’t.

  “That’s Del and Fay’s job. I only tattoo and I won’t tattoo dicks. It’s too painful for me.”

  “Too painful for you?

  “Phantom pains. I’m sure I’d be in tears.” His smile is hypnotic.

  Lucia comes back and drops a twenty in front of me. “Steve wants me to meet him at his hotel in thirty.”

  As I start to stand, she pushes me back into the chair by my shoulder. “Stay. Enjoy the rest of your drink.” She winks. “I’ll see you later.”

  I’m left alone with Ash. My nerves kick up. I don’t trust myself to speak since my last try at it was about dicks. Idiot.

  Ash tosses some money on the table and clutches my hand. “Come on. Let me show you something.”

  There’s no time to dispute. He pulls me to my feet and leads me to the side of the building where he jumps and grabs a fire escape, lowering it down.

  “What are you doing?” I glance around, freaking out.

  He throws his thumb to the stairs. “Climb. You’ll love it.”

  “We could get in trouble.” I fret.

  Reaching out, he pulls me to the stairs. “Then you might want to hurry before someone sees us.”

  My pulse is in my ears as I ascend the metal rungs. If I go to jail, I’m disowning Lucia. This is her fault for leaving me here.

  His eyes are on my ass. I feel it with every shaky step up, all the way to the rooftop. My legs are trembling, so the moment my feet hit the flat roofing, I stumble slightly. Then I gasp at the sight.

  The sun is beginning to set, descending behind buildings and skyscrapers. Rich hues of red blended with oranges, crimsons, and purples paint the sky, making the normal busy and never-sleeping city seem tranquil. This would be the perfect picture to capture and hang somewhere luxurious.

  “Told you you’d love it.” He steps up beside me and shoves his hands into his pockets.

  The cool evening breeze whispers across my face and grabs my hair, teasing it. “How’d you know about this?”

  The glow shines on his face and dances in his eyes when he peers at me. “Spent a lot of time up here.”

>   Of course he’d enjoy breaking the law.

  He chuckles, shaking his head like he can read my thoughts. “I know the owner of the building. He’s okay with me up here.”

  My mouth drops. “You could’ve led with that.” I bristle. “I’ve been seconds away from having a heart attack.”

  He moves closer to the ledge, the glow of the sunset outlining his silhouette. His shoulders are broad under the black t-shirt. Tattoos wrap around his wrists and crawl up the skin of his arms, disappearing under his sleeves. I wonder how many more he has that are unseen.

  “How long have you been tattooing?” I ask.

  He turns, his gaze meeting mine. “Few years.”

  “What made you decide to become a tattoo artist?”

  An easy smile spreads across his lips. “My love for art and how it’s ever-changing. Tattooing is fascinating just as much as it’s challenging. Every person, every day, it’s something different.”

  In a way, I can relate. I’m met with daily challenges, a push for creativity on each project, a shove to keep up with the ever-changing times. “How many do you have?”

  “A lot,” he chuckles. “Arms, chest…” My eyes follow. “Shoulder blades.”

  “Do any of them have significance or are they random?”

  “Some.” He doesn’t elaborate. “What do you do for a living?”

  “I’m a graphic designer for Graffix. Been there for a little over four years.”

  At my words, his face lights up and his sexy smirk explodes into a sexy grin. “We’ve got a lot in common.”

  The laugh that comes from me is anything but lady-like. It’s more like a snort. “It’s entirely two different worlds. The only thing we share is our creative brain. You work with a needle buzzing and I work with an entire art supply store and computer software.”

  He moves closer to me. “Nah. Not too different. Just because I create on a skin canvas instead of paper doesn’t mean we’re in different worlds. What area do you specialize in?” He’s genuinely curious.

  “All, but I prefer advertising.”

  “And your work is everywhere to be judged. As is most of mine.” Another step closer. Satisfaction ghosts across his lips. His stare is penetrating. “Are you scared of heights?”

  Ripping my gaze from his, I glance to the ledge. Every action-packed movie flashes behind my eyelids—people leaping from rooftop to rooftop, swinging from a rope to a floor below as they dodge bullets. Falling to my death…

  “Somewhat.” It’s truthful.

  He grasps my hand and gently begins pulling me closer to the side. I freeze, digging my heels in. “I do—”

  A yelp escapes me when he tugs hard, yanking me against his body. My free hand flies up to his chest to stable my stumble. He brings my other hand up, and places it beside the other. “Trust me.”

  He smells good, dangerously good—like mahogany, teakwood, and soft lavender. It’s sweet and sexy. His tongue darts out and sweeps across his bottom lip. My gaze falls to the motion. We’re so close. All I’d have to do is raise to my toes and I could have his lips on mine.

  “I don’t know you.” I’m breathless.

  “I’m working on that.” His tone is low. Heat licks through my body, warming the blood in my veins with a burning lust. “You already know I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  My gut says to trust him.

  My mind says to run away screaming.

  My body is still stuck on kissing him.

  He takes a step away, keeping a hold on my hand and leads me to the ledge. I stall, ripping my hand back to my side when he hops up on the edge.

  “This is as far as I’m willing to go.” I hate that my voice trembles.

  He squats and then sits, kicking his legs off the side. “Sit.”

  No. He’s crazy.

  My feet move. What the hell am I doing?

  I inch closer, taking a deep breath, and place my butt to the ledge while keeping my feet securely planted on the rooftop. I take another huge breath, twist slowly, and swing my legs over the edge. My grip on the side is white knuckled and the air I have left in my lungs rushes out at the sight.

  Night has fallen around us. Lights from building occupants across the city litter the night sky. There isn’t much noise from the busy streets below us. My body buzzes with fear, with exhilaration.

  “When my days bleed into the next and my thoughts drown me and clog up my creative side, I come here. Helps clear the stress.”

  My grip hasn’t faltered. “You could do the same thing safely in a bath.”

  He chuckles. “Cramming my ass into a bathtub seems the opposite of relaxing.”

  “Hot tub, maybe?”

  “Too much bacteria in those. This is safer.”

  Is he serious? I snort. “This? Dangling on the side of a building is safer?”

  “Won’t fall unless I leap and I’m positive my wings are broken.”

  A comfortable silence settles around us. Time seems to pass but stand completely still all the same. It’s as peaceful as it is frightening.

  The distant sound of a horn makes it to my ears and my tranquility is shattered. I move off the edge and find my footing under my shaky legs.

  “Did you drive?” he asks.

  “I don’t need a car in the city.”

  He spins, and jumps off the ledge. “Can I walk you home? It’s late.”

  “I’ve walked my way home in the dark many times. I’ll be fine.”

  Instead of voicing the argument in his eyes, he leads us back down the fire escape, into the alleyway and pauses on the sidewalk.

  “Which way?” he asks. I open my mouth to protest but he cuts in. “Either you let me see you home or I’ll follow you to make sure you get there safely. It’s your choice.”

  The last time he followed me, I didn’t have the choice. As much as it’s creeperish, it’s also sweet.

  “You’re not coming in.” I sound like a bitch, but I know if he comes in, I’ll be tempted to do things. Things I shouldn’t.

  Like he knows my thoughts, the corners of his lips quirk up. “I didn’t say I would.”

  We talk about work side by side—mostly me listening to him describe some of the tattoos he’s done. It’s comfortable, like something we’ve done a hundred times before. Unfortunately, time never seems to move slowly when you want it to, and before too long, we’re standing in front of my building.

  “This is me.”

  “Let me see your phone.” He holds out his hand.

  My face pinches. “For what?”

  “Let me see it.”

  “No.” I laugh, but it’s sucked back into my throat when he puts himself inches away from me. The heat from his body reaches out and warms me. He rubs my arm, his palm hot against my skin.

  “Are you always this stubborn?” His voice is low and husky, sexy, and it sends a zing down my spine.

  “Yes,” I answer honestly.

  His smile can cause fires in every woman’s panties within a mile radius. He bends, bringing his mouth closer, but doesn’t touch mine. I’m suffocated with the want to kiss him. There’s a devious tic in his brow. He glances to my mouth, licks his lips and flicks his darkened gaze back up. I’m consumed by him, all of him. My body comes alive with sexual tension.

  And it falls flat when he takes a step back, dangling my phone in front of my face.

  “What the hell?” I feel my back pocket where it should be, but find it empty. “How’d you—”

  “You really should put a password on this.” He barks a laugh, twisting his body to fend off my grabby hands. His laughter echoes around us, his shoulders shaking as his thumbs work.

  He holds it out and I snatch it back.

  “You have my number now. Call me tomorrow and let me know your answer.”

  Did I miss something? “My answer to what?”

  “If you’ll let me take you to dinner tomorrow night.”

  “Who asks people on a date like this?” I ask, slightly
humiliated that I allowed myself to get so caught up in him that I didn’t feel him take my phone. “I’m not inter—”

  “No fancy restaurants or long romantic walks on the beach. Just dinner.”

  I mash my lips together.

  “Just think about it. Let me know before lunch.” He gives me a chin tip and strolls away without giving me wiggle room to argue.

  I watch as his back disappears into the distance without ever looking back.

  What the hell just happened?

  Chapter Eight

  My phone vibrates on the nightstand with a low humming racket that rips me from my sleep. I reach out and seize it, blinking the screen into focus. Normally, I’d turn the damn thing off, but I’m anxious to hear from Kenlyn. And because of her, I didn’t sleep for shit. Her number on my phone from the text I sent myself taunted me.

  It’s the woman I hoped for, but not the text.

  Kenlyn: I’ve got a huge project in the morning. I’m passing on your dinner offer.

  I groan, dropping back onto the bed and scrub my hands over my face. She’s so damn stubborn.

  Me: I’ll have you back before nine.

  Kenlyn: Sorry.

  Me: Lunch?

  Kenlyn: I’m busy.

  If I was in front of her, I could change her mind. Whenever I get close to her, her mind shuts down and her body takes over. I enjoy knowing I create havoc with her thoughts and stall them out at the same time. She does the same shit to me.

  Time for another tactic. I head to the bathroom to shower and then get ready. If she won’t meet me for lunch, I’ll go to her stubborn ass. It makes me wonder what the hell has happened to her to build such impenetrable walls and stay on guard.

  Cody’s on the couch, hoodie over his head and phone in his hands. “Care if I crash here for a few days?”

  Of course not.

  “You know the rules. Clean up after yourself and take out the trash.”

  He nods, eyes still never meeting mine. “I’ve got to work, but I’ll be at the meets though.”

  “You need a ride?”

  I get a rare sighting. A boyish and very mischievous smile dons on his face. His brown eyes flash to mine. “You gonna let me drive the motorcycle?”