There's Trouble: A Friends to Lovers Romance

by Nadine Hudson

  “That depends, do you do lap dances?” I ask, smirking at her and letting my eyes roll over her body.

  She blushes slightly. Then walks around my chair until she’s standing between my legs. She leans down to my ear and says, “I’ll give you something better than a lap dance if you wanna take me back to your place.” My pants suddenly get a little tighter as her words travel to my cock. As she stands again, she rubs her hand across the bulge on my lap. Shit. She’s good. I rise from my seat and lead her to the dance floor.

  ****

  Brooke

  I end my apology to Marcy with a big hug.

  “Thank you for understanding Marcy. And thanks for calling Conner when you did. I don’t know what came over me.”

  “It’s okay honey,” she replies, hugging me back. “Men can make a woman do crazy things.” Her eyes dart down the bar to Conner then back to me before she gives me a knowing grin. I inhale sharply. Does she know? I realize I don’t care and let go of my breath. If she does know how I feel about him, she seems to understand. I smile back to her and nod.

  I turn to go back to sit with Conner but spot him talking it up with a gorgeous blonde behind the counter. I feel an ache build up in my chest. I refuse to try to compete with girls like that. She’s clearly all the company he needs. Maybe I should just go home.

  I stare down at my shoes trying not to make eye contact with anyone as I walk to the door to leave. I push it open and run right into Ian’s chest. Shit. His hands are on my hips in an instant and he pulls me away from him, holding me at arms length.

  “Woah. You okay?” He asks as he takes me to the side to let the guys behind him in. I feel like such an idiot. Why couldn’t I just watch where I was going?

  “Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Thanks,” I answer, not looking at him. I breath deeply through my nose and it fills with the sweet musky smell of his cologne. I hadn’t noticed how good he smelled before.

  “Are you leaving already?” He looks down at me, his expression suddenly disheartened. I feel his strong hands grip slightly harder to my hips.

  “Uh, I was actually…” I trail off.

  “You’ve gotta let me at least buy you a drink before you go.” He smiles at me brightly. He’s so charming and sexy. How do I say no to him?

  “Okay.”

  “Great! C’mon,” he says, turning back to the front door. With his arm still around my waist he leads me inside. As we walk through the door I feel his hand drop down my back slightly so it’s resting still on my back but just at the top of my ass. A shiver runs up my spine at his touch. He’s so unnerving. I don’t know how to act around him. I’m not used to giving into my desires. With Conner, I’ve always had to keep them buried. I don’t know how to do this and it’s very unsettling.

  I follow Ian to an empty table where he pulls out a chair for me before disappearing to the bar to get our drinks. I look around and suddenly feel off. I’ve never felt so uncomfortable in such a comfortable place. What if I say something stupid? What if he realizes how I feel about Conner too? What if Conner goes all white knight on me again? My heart pounds in my chest as the thoughts rush through my mind.

  “Long Island Iced Tea okay?” Ian asks as he returns to the table.

  A Long Island Iced Tea? What’s wrong with just a beer like you have? I’ve only had a Long Island one other time and I didn’t care for it, but I didn’t want to be rude.

  “Yeah, it’s great. Thank you.”

  He takes his seat next to me and sighs. I notice his muscles tense as he eyes my body.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Oh, yeah, just a long day. Meeting all these new people, learning the responsibilities of my new role. It’s just a lot and it’s been tough to concentrate today. It’s nice though that you guys have this place to come to to blow off steam. Outside of the fire company, I don’t know anyone here.”

  I look around the room and realize not only do I know just about everyone here but I know details of most of their lives. I look back to Ian who suddenly looks almost overwhelmed. It’s endearing to see him a bit vulnerable but I just want to see him smile again.

  “Want me to give you the road map of the town?” I ask with a grin.

  He eyes me curiously. I nod toward Marcy. “The red-head behind the bar. That’s Marcy Coleman. I’m almost positive somebody has told you the story about Marcy and how Micky’s came to be here, right?”

  He laughs. “Yeah, actually I think Andy told me once and then Bobby told me at least twice.”

  I love the sound of his laugh. It makes me laugh too. “Sounds about right. It’s one of their favorite stories to tell. But I bet they didn’t tell you that Marcy has lived here her whole life and so have her parents. Marcy’s dad actually used to be the mayor around here which is one of the many reasons our company has been given all the privileges it still has today. After Marcy was rescued from the fire, her dad made sure to grant the chief just about any and every request he had.”

  Ian nods, taking in the information. “And what about that lovely creature at the end of the bar?” He discretely points to Mrs. Jones, a sixty-year-old woman sitting at the bar. She wore tight jeans and a black tank top. Her long thin arms were covered in tattoos.

  “Ah, yes. That would be Mrs. Jones. She and Mr. Jones, sitting beside her, enjoy motorcycling and it’s rumored that Mr. Jones was a part of the Hells Angels and is now hiding out here after he narked on one of the club members.”

  “Seriously?” Ian looks at me, narrowing his eyes.

  I shrug, “It’s a small town and people get bored easily.” He laughs.

  “What about the brunette there on the end? She seems to know you.” He grins. My eyes continue scanning the bar until I see who he’s referring to. Oh shit! Rachel. I didn’t even realize she was here.

  “Uh, she is one of Conner’s flings… Not exactly my biggest fan. Can we just leave it at that?” I smile casually but deep down I’m praying he says, yes.

  “Okay, and what about the company? What are the dynamics like there?”

  “Well, I mean you’ve met Chief Joe. He doesn’t really spend a lot of time with us outside of the firehouse. You’ll rarely see him here, but he’s very much an all-work-and-no-play kind of guy. Then there’s Gabe.” I giggle to myself. I love Gabe. “I like to think of him as the dad of our company.”

  “The dad?” He looks at me curiously.

  “Yeah, I mean he usually has great advice, looks out for all of us, and always helps you to see things from a different perspective.”

  “Now that you mention it, I definitely get a wise old man vibe from him,” he says nodding his head in agreement.

  I laugh. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. He told me earlier that a beautiful woman would walk right into my arms and she would let me take her on a date. A few hours later here you come storming out the door, right into my arms,” he says matter-of-factly as he smiles at me. I feel my face turn red and at first I try to hide my amusement. Then I realize I don’t have to hide it anymore. He’s not Conner. I’m allowed to be interested in him. He’s allowed to make me happy. The thought alone was enough to make my smile spread widely across my face.

  “I said he gives great advice. I didn’t say he was a fortune teller,” I laugh. Ian laughs too.

  “I don’t know,” he says, “Maybe he’s both. Only one way to find out.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Well if you agree to let me take you out I guess his prediction was right on the money.”

  I inhale sharply and my heart starts to beat hard again. My thoughts are fleeting through my mind and my eyes dart around the room as I think until I spot Conner. He’s sitting at the next table over and I hadn’t even noticed he was there. He’s looking back at me and I feel a familiar warm sensation run through my body from his gaze. I give him a slight smile. I love you, Conner Smoak, but I can never be with you. I’ve got to stop torturing myself. I deserve a chance to be happy too. And as if he can read my thoughts h
e smiles gently at me.

  I turn back to Ian who’s looking at me with his dark eyes.

  “I’d love to,” I answer quietly.

  He glances in Conner’s direction then back to me.

  “I told you earlier, subtly really isn’t my thing.” My mind flashes back to what he said to me at the firehouse and my face reddens. “I’ve gotta ask, Brooke, is there something going on between you and Smoak? I mean he made it pretty clear that he wasn’t going to run my fan club but that seemed especially true after he saw us talking,” Ian asks.

  “No.” I answer suspiciously fast. He eyes me warily. Shit. He’s looking for more. I clear my throat. “No, Conner and I are just friends. We have always been close and he is just very...protective of me. That’s all.” I feel my heart pounding hard in my chest again as I lie. I fidget with my hair, the silence making me feel nervous. I wasn’t prepared to answer questions about Conner and myself.

  “Do you anticipate him being a problem for us?” His question surprises me. A problem? “I mean, I don’t mind fighting for you, Brooke but I just want to be prepared if it comes to that.” His smile broadens and I think he’s joking but I honestly can’t tell. I search his eyes but they give nothing away. They only suck me in deeper.

  “No, I don’t think it would come to that.” I chuckle unsurely and glance in Conner’s direction. But he is already gone. On the dance floor with the gorgeous blonde wrapped in his arms.

  “Good.”

  I watch him bite his lip and allow his eyes to travel down my body. I feel a fire start to ignite inside me.

  “So it wouldn’t be a problem if I told you that the reason I couldn’t concentrate today was because all I could think about was wrapping my hands in your hair, pressing you up against the nearest surface, and finding out what you taste like?”

  Holy shit! I inhale sharply and my eyes grow large. The fire is now blazing inside me. He is so sexy. I’ve never had someone talk to me like that before, but it is so freaking hot. I shift in my chair and slide closer to him. I immediately feel his hand on my thigh and it sends shivers throughout my body. My breathing starts to accelerate. Calm down, Brooke. He’s just touching your leg. He squeezes and caresses my thigh firmly and his hand starts to move upward. His grip is so firm and I can feel how badly he wants me. And I want him just as bad. It’s been so long since I’ve been with anyone. Hell, I’ve never been with anyone who looks like him. The closest I’ve come have been my dreams about Conner. I’m so pathetic.

  “Wait five minutes. Then come outside,” he demands, rising from the chair leaving me breathless.

  “What do you mean wait five minutes?”

  “I’m new around here but I know how small towns work. I don’t want to build a reputation for myself and I certainly don’t want to tarnish yours. I don’t need rumors going around about what people think they saw.”

  I didn’t even think about that. He was right though. About everything except tarnishing my reputation. I’m pretty sure I had already done that all on my own last time I was here. I suddenly felt a little embarrassed. I watch Ian walk across the bar and out the door. His steps are so smooth and casual. Damn it even his walk is sexy. I sip on my almost completely full Long Island and sit at the table by myself. I slurp in a sip of the cold overly sweetened drink and cringe at the taste. These things are just as nasty as I remember.

  Am I really going to do this? Am I really about to sneak outback to fuck our new Captain? My heart starts to pound hard. Can I do this? I mean I know I could do it with Mitch when I was heartbroken and six shots deep but can I do this with Ian completely sober?

  I start to feel a bit panicked as I frantically look around the room. I see Conner standing beside the gorgeous blonde at the bar. I watch him carefully as his hands discretely explore her body. For just a moment I feel jealousy surge through me. I want Conner’s hands on me like that. I want him to look at me with that same desire in his eyes. My eyes drop back down to my table. I check my phone. It’s been six minutes since Ian walked out. I glance back up at Conner. He won’t think twice about taking that girl home tonight. Why should I second guess myself?

  I push my chair away from the table and march out the doors. I look to my right and see Ian leaning against the far end of the building. I quickly move toward him and his hands reach out for me as I approach. I run my fingers up the back of his neck and into his unruly hair. I feel his hands twist themselves in my mess of curls then grip them tightly. Using his grip he tilts my head back leaving my neck open and vulnerable to him. I feel his lips, his teeth, his tongue all on me. Kissing me, nipping me, tasting me just like he said he wanted to.

  He sends chills down the length of my body and I moan softly in response. I wobble uneasily as he moves around my neck making my legs weak.

  “You taste better than I ever expected,” he groans, still moving down my neck. “Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you are?” He whispers in my ear before biting my lobe.

  “Ahh!” I call out as quietly as I can in response. I pull one hand down from his head and wrap it around his back pulling his body closer to mine. I want to feel him against me. I want to feel how badly he wants me. I dig my fingers into his back and pull him close. He groans in appreciation.

  He pulls a hand from my hair and takes my ass in his strong grip. Surprising me he spins me quickly toward the building and slams my body hard into the wall. He presses his body against mine and I can feel his stiffness bulging through his jeans. He pushes it against me and finds my mouth with his. I eagerly take in his tongue and rub mine to his. He tastes so good.This is so fucking hot!

  My hands travel up the front of his shirt and I greedily grab his sexy body, touching and rubbing up his front and around the sides then digging my fingers into his back.

  “Ahh,” he moans in pleasure. I let my mouth travel across his face and start down his neck. His hands now both grasp my ass squeezing tightly. I kiss him firmly across his collar bone then start back up his neck. I hear his breathing grow as rapid as mine is. He wants this too. I nip at his ear while pressing myself against him and he groans loudly.

  Suddenly using his grip on my ass he lifts me in the air pressing my back against the building and wrapping my legs around him. Now I can feel his hard cock rubbing right against my pussy. I want you now. He uses his body and the building to hold me in place as he continues kissing and groping me. His hands travel up the back of my shirt and under my bra. He slides them around to the front and squeezes my tits tightly. I moan in response.

  He immediately lifts my shirt and bra just below my chin and wraps his lips tightly around my nipple and sucks hard. “Ahh Ian!” I call out. I squeeze my eyes closed as I’m trapped between him and the building with nothing to do but absorb the pleasure. With one arm he helps to brace my body. With the other he squeezes my other breast and twists and tugs at my nipple causing it to harden under his touch.

  “Oh, Baby. The things I could make you do,” he whispers against my skin. I feel him reach up and tug my bra down over my breast followed by my shirt. Wait what? He wraps his arms tightly around me and squeezes as he sets me back on my feet and kisses me again hard. When he releases me I’m breathless. I’m ready. Willing.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, suddenly confused.

  “Brooke, if I don’t stop now I’m gonna end up fucking you right here against the bar. As appealing as that sounds,” he pauses and licks his lips while looking me up and down, “we only just met today and I’m really into you. Clearly,” he says motioning to the bulge coming from his pants. “But this isn’t how I want to start things between us. I’m sorry. I hope you don’t think I just led you on back there but you’ve been driving me crazy all day and I just had to have a taste of you.”

  I try to control my breathing but my pants are feeling a lot like the amazon rainforest right now with how wet he just made me.

  “Let me take you out a time or two and if you still feel the same way which I really, really hope you
do, then we’ll come back to this. Just maybe not beside the parking lot of a bar.”

  He grins at me. I was not expecting sensitivity from him at all. I expected him to be all alpha male like Conner but something about him is just different. It kind of makes me want him even more.

  “I’d really like that,” I reply.

  Five

  Conner

  I roll over in bed and feel the warmth of the topless body laying next to me. My eyes flicker open and I see a mess of blond hair scattered across the pillow. Brooke?! I sit up quickly and realize it’s not her. I’m not sure why the thought startled me so much. I lay back down slowly and stare at the woman laying next to me. Shit. What the hell was her name? Mindy? Mandy? Shit!

  She begins to stir and rolls over to face me. Her eyes are puffy like she didn’t get enough sleep. A small grin spreads across my face when I recall why she didn’t get much sleep.

  “Hey,” she says with a tired smile.

  “Hey...you.”

  She rolls onto her stomach and sits up on her elbows.

  “You want to get breakfast?” she asks and leans in, planting a soft kiss on my lips.

  “Uh, I’d love to but I’ve gotta get to my shift.” I sit up and quickly roll out of bed. I walk to my dresser and pull on some clothes before she seduces me back into bed.

  She was fun last night. Dancing and after but there could never be anything serious between us. She is only here for the summer and I’d rather she didn’t get too attached. That just turns into long, drawn out, messy, dramatic goodbyes. Better let her down quick and easy. Rip it off like a bandaid.

  “Well, I really had fun with you last night. Can I see you again?” she asks, looking at me all doe-eyed. I feel a bit guilty. She looks so innocent.

  “You said you were in town for the summer. I’m sure we’ll see each other again while you’re here,” I say, offering her a slight smile.

  “Listen, I’ve really gotta go. You want me to give you a ride home or something?” I ask.

  She looks like she’s thinking over what I had said. There ya go. Put the pieces together.