Summer Lovin': A Wounded Hearts Novella

by Jacquie Biggar

  Some perverse demon riding his shoulder prodded him to force her into admitting their relationship to her friends. The peace-making angel on the other side whispered dire warnings in his ear. He’d only make things worse. She’d never forgive him. He’d lose her forever.

  Mitch brushed them both away and forged his own path. He nudged a stray black curl behind her ear, satisfaction curling like warm smoke between them as he registered her involuntary reaction.

  “Oh yes, sweetheart, we shall.” And they both knew he wasn’t talking about the dancing.

  Chapter Seven

  Rebecca was in Hell.

  What other explanation could there be for the reappearance of Mitch in her life when she’d worked so diligently to avoid him for the best part of eighteen hundred and eighteen days—not that she was counting.

  The divorce papers sitting on the desk at home were burning a hole through her brain, making her ache with things she dared not admit.

  He looked amazing, by far the handsomest man in a room full of fine-looking men. His white dress shirt emphasized the breadth of those impossibly wide shoulders, honed to steel by years of honest manual labor. But then she’d always admired that about him. When his football career had come to an abrupt end he could have turned to a bottle and no one would have faulted him for it. Instead he picked himself up, went to a community college, got his welding ticket, and opened a business. Now his work was often sought after from all over the state and his shop had grown from a backyard garage to a fully equipped warehouse on a prime piece of Tidal Falls land. Mitch Taylor was a local success story.

  He grasped her hand and she reluctantly followed his lead across a floor now packed with swaying bodies. He didn’t stop until they reached a shadowed alcove off to one side of the stage. When he turned and held out his arms she stepped forward like a lamb, letting his jacket drop onto a nearby chair. The moment his arms wrapped around her and his calloused fingers found the bare skin of her lower back, Becky knew she was in trouble.

  Her startled gaze rushed upward and tangled in the molten heat of his amber eyes. The light and shadows created by their surroundings turned his face lean and mysterious and oh-so-hypnotic. Someone bumped into them but she barely noticed, she was so caught up in his aura. It had been like this before—in Las Vegas.

  Rebecca tried to pull away, her heart beating double time, an out-of-sync counterpoint to the drums playing on stage. Mitch simply tugged so that she had to grasp the front of his shirt to keep from falling—not that he would have let her. There were many things about Mitch Taylor that bothered her, but she never doubted his kindness.

  He bowed his head and rested his cheek against her temple and his voice rumbled through her soul. “It’s just a dance, sweetheart. What are you afraid of?”

  Everything.

  Him.

  Herself.

  She gave in and let him win this round. Besides, her body had already betrayed her and snuggled into the protective warmth of his chest.

  They were barely moving. Her hips brushing against his hardened thighs left her breathless and aching, not helped by his fingers exploring each curve and valley of her spine like braille.

  Her own hands were busy documenting the changes since they’d last known the ridges and planes of a man’s chest. They may have been separated but she’d never once given thought to sleeping with anyone else, even if her marriage was little more than a joke.

  Disturbed from her sensual fog, Rebecca lifted her head with the intention of ending this farce. But before she could string two words together Mitch’s lips lowered to hers. All the lights and sounds became a sparkling kaleidoscope and mixed with the sheer perfection of his mouth.

  Oh my…

  She could die happy right now, in this moment. That wicked, delicious tongue knew where every nerve was located and how to parry and thrust until Becky was utterly lost. She hung on for dear life, eyes sealed shut to keep the world at bay. Every sense was on fire. Her skin prickled, desperate to know the mastery of his touch. He held her so close she could feel his arousal.

  Somehow, that helped. Knowing he was as affected by what was happening as she was made her feel less helpless, more in control.

  Her arms roped his neck, keeping his head where she wanted him while her pelvis ground shamelessly against his erection, desperate for some kind of release… until the nearby laughter from a couple of women nearby ripped the blindfold away.

  What was she doing?

  They’d practically been having sex in the middle of the dance floor for crying out loud. Frantic, she tried to push away, her gaze searching for witnesses, and only minimally relaxing when she realized the room was half dark and no one was looking at them. Mitch refused to let her go, and she growled, “Get your hands off of me.”

  Slow on the uptake, it took him a moment to switch focus and realize she wasn’t on the same page anymore. Hell, she didn’t even want to be in the same book.

  He loosened his grip and took a step back, hands raised in surrender. “Calm down. What’s your problem?”

  Seriously?

  “You, Mitch Taylor. You’re my fricken problem. But not for much longer.”

  She turned, and with as much dignity as a woman on the edge could summon, she walked off the dance floor and into the blessed darkness.

  Chapter Eight

  Mitch listened to the clanging of the band—or was that his brain?—for a few seconds then started off the dance floor in search of his estranged wife. Enough with this bullshit. He was sick and tired of her walking out on him. They needed to hash this thing between them out one way or the other.

  He only hesitated long enough to grab his jacket and take a deep calming breath. Rebecca was driving him crazy. Maybe it would be best if he let her do as she so obviously wanted and divorce him. Then they could continue on with their lives, instead of living in this limbo. The problem was he couldn’t picture letting her go. She’d wormed her way under his skin that night in Vegas and he couldn’t seem to extricate her.

  Mitch punched a hole through the crowd, anxious to find her. He headed in the same general direction she’d taken but stopped when Ty slapped him on the back.

  “Hey, glad you could make it.”

  He shook his friend’s hand while searching the crowded room. No sign of her. Where did she disappear to so quickly?

  Sighing, he focused on Ty and his new wife, Katy. “How’s the theatre working out?” He’d been grateful for the opportunity to update the old Twilight Theatre last fall for Katy and her family. The building was a town landmark and the job had been a bonus for his business.

  She beamed up at him, a ray of sunshine with her shiny blonde hair and yellow dress. “It’s perfect. Ty and I can’t thank you enough. We’re getting bookings from as far away as Seattle. They heard of the new multi-level stage and want to try it out. Isn’t that great?”

  Mitch swallowed his envy as she gazed adoringly at her husband. He craved someone like that to share his successes with. He was damn tired of going back to an empty house at night.

  He smiled at Katy’s enthusiasm. “You can thank your husband. Those plans of his kicked butt.”

  “I have more where they came from. We should talk,” Ty said, sliding an arm around his wife’s trim waist.

  Mitch had enjoyed the challenge of making Ty’s dream a reality. If he had more ideas of that caliber… “I’m interested. Meet me at the office tomorrow.”

  “Meet for what?” The unmistakable rumble came from behind and Mitch tensed before twisting to meet Jack’s ever-so-friendly scowl. Laurel stood at his side, ravishing as always, her pale pink nails wrapped around his arm.

  “Just talking business, bro, no worries.” Ty grinned, not in the least intimidated by his older brother. “Good thing I’m a happily married man or I’d be thinking of stealing your wife away tonight. You look amazing, Laurel.”

  Laurel smiled good-naturedly. “You Garretts are all the same, natural born flirts.”


  Mitch smirked. Ignoring Jack, he leaned over and bussed first Laurel’s cheek, then Katy’s. “Fun as this is turning out to be, I need to get going. I’m trying to catch up to someone.”

  That caught the women’s attention.

  Damn. Women’s intuition was a scary thing.

  “She ducked out the back door,” Katy said, and grasped his arm. “Don’t go unless you mean it, Mitch Taylor. Someone scared her off men a long time ago. She doesn’t need you if you’re not serious.”

  He appreciated the warning; they were only trying to protect their friend. Actually Mitch was relieved Rebecca had a strong support network. There was nothing worse than feeling alone in this world. He should know.

  “Honey, they have to work out whatever it is for themselves,” Ty said, and gave Mitch an awkward shrug.

  Mitch smiled and patted Katy’s hand. “Don’t worry, I promise not to hurt her. I only want what’s best for Becky.” And if that included him, so much the better.

  Rebecca pushed open the steel exit door and reveled in the cool caress of night air on her flushed body. She’d like to attribute her warmth to the crowded party but knew it had more to do with Mitch and her momentary loss of control. Thank goodness none of her friends had seen them necking like a couple of teenagers or she’d never live it down.

  Becky prided herself in being the levelheaded member of their group. She was the one others came to for advice. Ironic really, since she didn’t have the foggiest idea what to do with her own love life.

  “Well, what do we have here?”

  She inhaled a startled gasp as two men came out from the shadows of the building and scared the crap out of her.

  The tall, skinny one sneered. “Hello, pretty lady. Did you make a wrong turn?”

  She backed up against the door, her head shouting to get the hell out of there.

  “I don’t want any… any trouble.” She pushed, but the door wouldn’t budge.

  “Hey, ain’t you that teacher we saw this afternoon?” The other man moved closer to stare at her through blurry eyes and Becky’s heart crammed into her throat. It was Tommy’s guardian, or whoever he was. This wasn’t good, not good at all.

  “Look, you guys can go back to whatever you were doing.” She really didn’t want to know. “I have a friend joining me right away. He wouldn’t like it if you bothered me.”

  “Ooh, tough talk, teach. Except I don’t see anybody out here except us chickens,” Tommy’s guardian cackled. Then the smile slowly faded and something much darker took its place. “I think maybe I should be the one to school you a lesson. One on how to mind your own good goddamn business.” He grasped her arm and yanked her away from the door so hard she fell against his sour-smelling body. “What do you think of that, Teach?”

  Rebecca let out a yelp just before his lips mashed against her teeth. His tongue poked out and tried to force an entry. Becky bit down hard and he jerked back. The next thing she knew she was seeing stars as his fist exploded against the side of her face. She tasted blood and gagged, not sure if it was his or hers. He let go and she fell to her hands and knees, barely registering the scrape of cement breaking skin.

  Stunned, she panted through the pain then tried to scramble away but the skinny guy grabbed her hair, tipping her head back while he fought with his zipper. “We’re going to have us some fun tonight,” he crowed.

  Petrified, Becky reached up and frantically tried to free herself from his grip, her breath see-sawing so hard it burned her chest.

  A muted clang and then a roar sounded in the distance followed by the sudden release of her hair. Rebecca sank to the ground, the pavement cool against her aching face, and let the tears flow.

  Chapter Nine

  Mitch pushed the steel bar to open the exit doors and peered to see through the rays of light streaming from the hallway. They could use some better illumination back here. Rebecca wouldn’t be foolish enough to wander around in the dark, would she?

  Something turned his gaze to the far side of the alley and his heart stopped. Time warped. Becky was on the ground with two dark, hulking figures standing over her. One of them had her hair twisted in his fist, yanking her head back viciously.

  Mitch saw red.

  A growl rose from his chest and he charged them, the urge to kill taking over logical thought. They noticed him at the last moment and attempted to run, casting Rebecca aside like a piece of trash.

  That was their first mistake.

  The second was assuming he’d let them go.

  He caught the guy who had hurt her with a roundhouse jab to the chin, snapping his head backward with a resounding crack. He dropped like a felled tree.

  Mitch crouched to make sure Becky was okay. Her sobs twisted his insides into a knot of helpless rage. He brushed a gentle hand down her back to let her know she was safe, and cursed when she recoiled.

  Anger rode him hard.

  His focus shifted to the asshole cowering against a stack of garbage cans. He pulled his cell from his pocket, rose and stalked the scum, more than ready to pounce if he even breathed wrong.

  “Tidal Falls County Sheriff’s Office,” a competent female voice chirped in his ear.

  “I need help. There’s been an assault.” Mitch hesitated, “You’d better send an ambulance.”

  “Okay, sir, slow down.” The dispatcher became all business. “I need your name and where you are so we can send someone to assist. Are you in any danger?”

  Mitch turned to check on the fallen man who had started to groan. “No, but…”

  Something slammed his head with the force of a sledgehammer. The blow drove Mitch to his knees. Squinting through a haze of pain he watched the blurry form step carefully around him, throwing the two-by-four aside and hefting his partner to his feet before the pair of them loped off down the alley.

  Fuck.

  Talk about your rookie mistake. He deserved the splitting headache no doubt heading his way. He felt around on the ground until his hand connected with the cracked body of his cellphone. Great.

  Giving up on the phone he rose and stumbled back to Rebecca. She lifted her head as he kneeled beside her and Mitch swore a blue streak. Her right eye and cheek had already turned several shades of purple and her lip was split and sore looking.

  “Oh, baby,” he murmured. He laid a gentle hand against the injury, wishing like hell he could draw the pain into his body.

  Rebecca raised her shaking hand in turn and touched his aching forehead with cool fingertips. “You’re bleeding.”

  Mitch ignored that, more interested in making sure they hadn’t done anything worse before he arrived on scene. “Did those bastards lay a hand on you?”

  Her eyes overflowed. She shook her head. Mitch sighed his relief. He flopped down on his ass and wrapped his arms around her, tucking her up tight against his heart while sirens wailed in the distance.

  The exit doors slammed back on their hinges. First Jack—who’d probably received a call from the station—then Ty, Jared, and half the damn town spilled into the alley.

  “What the hell, Taylor?” Jack demanded, towering over their prone bodies.

  Mitch didn’t bother to raise his head from its safe haven against Rebecca’s tousled hair, it hurt too damn much. “Hey, chief.”

  “Give them some room,” he yelled, and Mitch scowled as the words reverberated in his brain. “C’mon, back it up.” Then he crouched beside them and Mitch would’ve smirked at the crack from Jack’s knees if he didn’t hurt so bad. “What happened, Mitch? Is Rebecca hurt?”

  No shit, Dick Tracy.

  “Nah, we just decided to take a break. Out here…” He glared at Jack. “In. The. Freaking. Alley.” His tone rose with each syllable, but he couldn’t help it. The adrenaline had ebbed, leaving him shaking and about to go bonkers. What if he hadn’t followed her? Who the fuck were they? Where was that ambulance?

  Rebecca lifted her head and the men around them collectively swore.

  “Holy shit.”
/>   “What the hell happened?”

  “Calm down,” Becky lisped, her poor lip swollen and discolored. “I’m fine. Mitch showed up before anything worse could happen.” She turned her gaze on him. “I guess I owe you. Again.”

  Mitch’s brows lowered. He didn’t need her feeling beholden to him. It was sheer good luck that he happened to be in the right place at the right time. First with that kid’s guardian, then… hey, wait a minute. Why hadn’t he noticed before?

  “It was him, wasn’t it? The same asshole that bothered you this afternoon at school.” He turned to Jack. “Why haven’t you caught him yet? If you did your job, this never would’ve happened.”

  Ty stepped forward. “Hey, man, cool it. Whatever it is you’re talking about, you know Jack’s doing everything he possibly can.”

  Jack glanced at his brother over his shoulder. “It’s okay, Ty. He has reason to be pissed. I’d feel the same way.” The deputy’s car turned into the alley with the ambulance hot on its tail. The emergency lights flashing on the walls created a surreal image of the scene.

  Jack rose and went to meet the car, leaving an uneasy silence in his wake. Mitch nodded to Jared, who reached down and helped Rebecca to her feet. Ty held out a hand to Mitch. He contemplated ignoring him but thought better of it and grabbed on, squeezing his eyes shut against the resulting pain and dizziness at the change in elevation. Whoa, might have a bit of a concussion going on. Getting hit in the head with a chunk of wood could do that to a guy.

  The ambulance attendants rushed over with medical bags and proceeded to twenty question Becky who was looking worse by the minute. Mitch waved away the one who turned to him. His only concern was to see that Rebecca got the care she needed. A few minutes and a thorough exam later a gurney was brought out against her wishes and she was headed for the hospital.

  Mitch followed to the back of the ambulance and watched them load her inside. The female attendant turned to him, her hand on the door, “Are you a family member of the patient?”