Ruthless

by Cheryl Douglas

  He pulled her closer when a group of rowdy men bumped her from behind. “Is your brother a fan?”

  She smiled and looked up into his dark brown eyes. “You better hope he is. I don’t think he’s heard you sing yet.”

  He frowned. “Okay, am I missing something here?”

  She laughed and slipped her hand free of his. “My name’s Marisa. My brother is Trey Turner.”

  He pushed his cowboy hat back on his head. “Well, I’ll be damned. Now if I ask you out it’s gonna sound like I’m just interested in getting an in with your brother.”

  Marisa shrugged, trying to hide her smile. “I guess that’s a chance we’re gonna have to take.”

  “Would you?” He grinned. “Consider going out with me sometime, I mean?”

  She plucked the cell phone out of the front pocket of his western shirt. She found the directory and punched in her name and phone number before slipping it back in his pocket. “I’m lookin’ forward to it.”

  He slipped his hand around her waist and drew her closer. “So am I, Marisa. Listen, I’ll be finished up here around midnight. Why don’t you stick around? We can grab a drink.”

  She flattened her palms against his ribcage, taking note of the chiseled abs she felt beneath the soft barrier of fabric. “I might just do that.”

  His eyes settled on her lips. “Is that a promise?”

  Her eyes traced his face, from the full, sensuous lips to the chiseled cheekbones to the blue eyes framed by ridiculously long lashes. The man was gorgeous. “Let’s just play it by ear.”

  He groaned. “If you’re playin’ hard to get, I’m game.”

  She threw her head back and laughed. “Does that mean you like a challenge?”

  He wrapped a strand of her long black hair around his finger. “When it’s something I really want, I don’t mind workin’ for it.”

  She watched her hair sliding between his calloused fingers. “Are you saying you really want me?”

  His eye closed briefly. “I haven’t been this attracted to a woman in a hell of a long time, darlin’.”

  He picked up her left hand. “My luck must be changin’ since you’re not wearin’ a ring. I’m hopin’ that’s a good sign?”

  She smiled. “You think I would have come over here if I was engaged or married?”

  He shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time a lady has come on to me just to get even with her husband or boyfriend.”

  She felt a niggling of guilt. Is that what she was doing, using Ty to get back at Luc? She didn’t want to believe that was the case. Ty was sweet and sexy; he didn’t deserve to be any woman’s second choice.

  “Uh oh, I know that look. There is a boyfriend, isn’t there?” He dropped his hands and took a step back. “Don’t know why I should be surprised. Women as gorgeous as you are rarely available.”

  She wanted to argue that she was available, but after spending last night wrapped in Luc’s arms, that didn’t seem like an argument she could state with conviction. “I don’t have a boyfriend, but my ex...”

  He held his hand up and chuckled. “I’ve heard this story before.”

  She slid her fingers into the belt loops of his blue jeans and drew him closer. “Don’t be like that. I really would like to get to know you better.”

  His guitar player slapped him on the back as he walked by with an acoustic guitar slung over his shoulder. “You ready to do this, Ty?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be right there,” he said. He slid his finger under Marisa’s chin and tipped her head until she was looking into his eyes. “Will you stick around? I wanna finish this conversation.”

  “You got it.”

  He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Good.”

  Marisa watched him walk up the steps at the side of the stage before turning around to head back to her table. She stopped mid-step when she saw that Lexi and Sierra weren’t alone. Trey and Josh had claimed seats next to their wives and Luc was leaning against the booth, glaring at her. She squared her shoulders and strolled over to their table, determined to act as though nothing had happened. “Hey, guys, you horning in our girls’ night?”

  Trey and Josh laughed. “I’m afraid so, Marisa,” Josh said, kissing his wife’s cheek. “I just can’t get enough of this pretty lady.”

  “Where’s my beautiful niece?” Marisa asked, looking at Trey.

  “She’s with our mama,” Trey said.

  Marisa tried to ignore Luc as she claimed her wine glass and took a fortifying sip. “Mama’ll be in heaven, getting to spend quality time with her little princess.” She took another sip of wine, her eyes involuntarily straying to Luc over the top of her glass. “Uh, I think I’ll see if I can’t find us a bigger table.”

  “Good idea,” Trey said. “Ashley and Avery are on their way too.”

  Lexi looked up at her. “I hope you don’t mind, Marisa? Ashley came by the house to drop the boys off earlier and I thought she might like a night out.”

  “No, of course I don’t mind.”

  Trey nodded toward Luc. “Yeah, and Luc just texted Avery and asked her to pass by on her way home from the gym.”

  Marisa looked at Luc. “Is that so?”

  “Yeah, I need her help with something.”

  “Whatever.” She refused to show him how much it still hurt to think of him with Avery or any other woman. “Okay, I’m gonna go and see about that table.”

  “I’ll join you,” Luc said quickly. He fell into step beside her. “What the hell was going on with you and McCall?”

  “Nothing. I just met him.”

  “Sure didn’t look like that from where I was standing.” He grabbed her arm and turned her to face him.

  “He kissed you.”

  “I know. I was there.”

  He glared at her. “Don’t be a smart-ass. Why the hell would you let him kiss you?”

  She rolled her eyes. Luc was never jealous when they were dating; he never had reason to be. He knew she only had eyes for him. Now that they were no longer a couple, Luc would just have to get used to the idea that she was moving on. “It was just a friendly little peck on the lips, Luc.”

  “Didn’t look like he was interested in bein’ your friend, Marisa.”

  She looked back at the stage when she heard Ty’s rich voice seep through the microphone.

  “This first song is goin’ out to Marisa. I can’t wait to get to know you better, darlin’.”

  Marisa felt her toes curl. His voice could make a woman do just about anything.

  “That’s it,” Luc said, gripping her arm tighter. “We’re goin’ outside, now.”

  She tried to shake him loose. “No way, I want to hear him sing.”

  “Too damn bad.” He grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd. He stopped at their friends’ table. “We’re gonna go for a drive. Tell Avery I’ll be back in a bit. Don’t let her go anywhere.”

  At the mention of Avery’s name, Marisa dug her heels in. He had some nerve, dictating to her who she could and couldn’t spend time with while he was making plans with Avery behind her back.

  Lexi winked at Marisa. “Aren’t you gonna stick around to hear him? If he were singin’ that song for me, I’d plant myself front and center.”

  Josh gave Lexi a side-long glance. “Is that so?”

  She laughed and kissed his cheek. “Honey, I love you, but that man is s-e-x-y.”

  Josh looked at Luc. “If I were you, I wouldn’t waste any time getting her out of here, man.”

  Luc grunted and tugged on Marisa’s hand. “Let’s go.”

  Marisa turned toward the stage. Ty’s eyes were boring through her. “No way, I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

  He took a deep breath. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Marisa. You decide.”

  She turned to face him warily. She knew Luc wasn’t the kind of man to make idle threats. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means you can leave voluntarily, or I can throw you
over my shoulder and haul you out of here kicking and screaming.”

  Trey laughed. “Now that I’d like to see.”

  Sierra elbowed him in the stomach. “Shut up and stay out of this.”

  Marisa narrowed her eyes at Luc. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  He took a step closer, crowding her. “You know I would.”

  She knew he wouldn’t hesitate to make good on his threat. Luc couldn’t care less what people thought of him, a point he proved on a regular basis. “Fine. I’ll give you ten minutes.”

  Luc didn’t argue the point; he simply tugged on her hand, leading her out of the bar. He kept her hand firmly ensconced in his until he had unlocked his car door and settled her inside. He didn’t say a word until they were out of the parking lot and stopped at a traffic light. “Okay, how about you tell me what the hell is going on between you and McCall?”

  She stared straight ahead, refusing to speak. He had no right to question her about her involvement with other men, and he sure as hell didn’t have the right to insist she leave the bar with him against her will.

  He turned his signal on and pulled his car into a deserted parking lot. “You’re gonna give me the silent treatment, is that it? That’s real mature, Marisa.”

  She shifted in the seat to face him as he put the car in park and cut the engine. “You have the nerve to call me immature? You’re forty years old and you still act like a goddamn teenager. Out every night with a different woman, afraid to make a commitment in case something better might come along...”

  He gaped at her. “Is that why you think I don’t want to get married?”

  “What other reason could there be?”

  He reached across to grab her hand, but she pulled back, refusing to allow him to touch her. “Damn it, Marisa, that’s not the reason.”

  She crossed her arms and tipped her head against the cold window. She was determined to put as much distance between them as possible. She knew if she allowed him to touch her, her resolve would melt faster than chocolate in a fondue pot. “Then tell me the reason.”

  He leaned his head against the headrest, closing his eyes. “I love you, baby. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Her heart still leapt at those three little words. He has taken years to say them, and when he finally did, she knew he meant them. “You’ve already hurt me, Luc. You’re still hurting me.”

  He opened his eyes and tilted his head until he was looking at her. “That works both ways, you know. It hurt like hell when you got engaged to Mitchell, but I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.” He sighed and gripped the steering wheel. “Then I think we’re finally getting back on track, and I walk into Jimmy’s and find you kissing another guy. What the hell do you think that did to me?”

  She shrugged. “It couldn’t have bothered you too much. You certainly didn’t waste any time asking Avery to meet you. Or was that just a ploy to give me a taste of my own medicine?”

  “Avery? Really, we’re back to that again? I told you, it’s been over between me and Avery for a long time.”

  She hated that she still felt so insecure where that woman was concerned, but she couldn’t help it. Avery was exactly the kind of woman she imagined would make Luc happy. Gorgeous, sexy, strong, opinionated, and totally independent. “Then why’d you ask her to meet you tonight?”

  He shook his head. “I’m embarrassed to even admit this.”

  Luc wasn’t the kind of man to embarrass easily, if ever. He had definitely piqued her curiosity. “What?”

  “Avery had a thing with McCall, and I got the feeling there was still something there.”

  Marisa’s mouth dropped open. “You’re serious?”

  “Yeah, I thought maybe if she showed up...”

  She glared at him. “You thought maybe he’d forget about me? Thanks a lot.”

  He threw his hands up in the air. “I’m sorry. I was desperate, okay?”

  “Please, that’s not a word I’ve ever heard used to describe you.”

  He turned to face her, reaching out to skim his hand across her cheek. “When it comes to you, that’s exactly how I feel. I’m desperate to hold onto you, desperate to make this work.”

  Her first impulse was to jump out of the car and do her happy dance. She had waited years for Luc to feel about her the way she felt about him, but she feared it may be too little, too late. “Why now? What’s changed?”

  He took her left hand in his. “I’d like to think I’ve changed. I’m not the same guy you broke up with last year, Marisa. I’ve been to hell and back since then.”

  “How so?” She wasn’t about to let him get away without laying it all on the table. She deserved that after all the times she’d done the same.

  He captivated her with his eyes, refusing to allow her to look away. “How pathetic is it that I’m forty years old and I’ve been in love, really in love, only once in my life?”

  She swallowed, trying unsuccessfully to break eye contact with him. “You’re asking the wrong person. I’ve only been in love once, too.”

  “You didn’t love Mitchell?”

  She shook her head. “I loved him as a friend.” She sighed. “I’m ashamed to admit I felt anything for him, given the way things turned out.”

  He kissed the back of her hand. “You know that wasn’t your fault, don’t you?”

  She shifted in her seat, facing him. “I guess so.”

  “Where do we go from here, sweetheart?”

  She was surprised by the abrupt change in the direction of the conversation, but she knew they would get there eventually. The question had been hovering between them ever since she ended things. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

  “I asked you this earlier, but you didn’t give me a straight answer...”

  “I don’t know how I feel anymore.”

  He slid his hand up her leg. “Do you still think we’re right for each other?”

  She bit her bottom lip, trying to stem the flow of tears. She was afraid that once they started, she wouldn’t be able to stop them. “I don’t know. We’re still very different people. Nothing’s changed since we broke up, not really.”

  “I’ve changed,” he whispered.

  She looked up and was caught off guard when she saw moisture pooling in his eyes. She had never seen Luc shed a tear; he had never allowed himself to be that vulnerable with her. “How have you changed?”

  “When we were together, I refused to admit that I needed anyone to make me happy, to make my life complete. I realize now that I was wrong.”

  “You’re saying you need me?” She held her breath, waiting for his response.

  “If I couldn’t work another day in my life, if I lost my money and everything damn thing I owned tomorrow, I’d be okay with that, but I don’t know how the hell I’m gonna go on if you won’t let me back into your life, baby.”

  She reached across to draw him into her arms.

  He held her tight, burying his face in her hair. “I need you... so goddamn much it scares me.”

  She allowed the tears to fall freely as she gripped his shoulders. “I need you too.”

  He pulled back to look at her. “Really? You mean that?”

  She smiled through her tears, overwhelmed by her love for this man. “Of course.”

  “I thought I’d really screwed it up this time. I thought I’d lost you for good.”

  “You were wrong.” She kissed him, trying to convey everything that she couldn’t express with words.

  He rested his forehead against hers when they finally broke the kiss. “Let me take you home, sweetheart,” he whispered. “Let me show you how much I love you.”

  She smiled. “What are we waiting for?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Luc battled with his conscience as he pulled his car into the garage. He knew he should tell Marisa about Nikki before they resumed a relationship, but he was terrified that she would shut him out, for good this time. He couldn’t take the risk. Maybe once they were on solid
ground he would be brave enough to explain his decision to leave his daughter, but not now, not tonight.

  Marisa wrapped her hand around his upper thigh. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”

  He turned toward her, feeling the weight of regret and fear. He was suddenly desperate to feel her body under his, her arms wrapped around him, making him feel grounded. He reached across to pull her into his arms, holding her tight. “Promise you’ll never leave me again?” he whispered. He hated that he felt so weak, so vulnerable, but this time without her had proved to him that he wasn’t as strong as everyone believed him to be.

  She pushed against his shoulders, drawing back to look into his eyes. “Where is all this coming from, Luc? It’s not like you to be so insecure. You’re usually so strong, so confident.” She stroked his cheek, smiling. “Don’t get me wrong, I like the fact that you’re willing to open up to me like this, but I get the feeling you’re not telling me something.”

  He kissed her deeply, delving into her mouth. He was on a mission to erase her doubts and make her forget her questions. He didn’t want to think about the past tonight. He wanted to focus on the here and now, the woman in his arms. He wanted to worship her the way he should have the first time they made love all those years ago. He hadn’t deserved her back then, didn’t believe he deserved her now. An honorable man may decline her invitation, but he never was able to resist the temptation of a beautiful woman, especially when that woman invaded his thoughts day and night.

  She climbed over the gearshift and straddled him. She kissed him hungrily, until they were both breathless. “God, I never thought we’d be doing this again, did you?”

  He nibbled a moist trail down the smooth column of her neck. “I prayed we would. I couldn’t let myself believe it was over.”

  She secured his face between her hands, halting his actions. “Why?”

  He plundered his hands into her hair, drawing her face closer to his. “Because I love you; I need you; I can’t live without you.” He smiled against her mouth. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”

  She smiled back, nipping his bottom lip with her teeth. “It’s a start, Spencer. You’ve still got a long way to go if you want to make up for lost time though.”