by Logan Chance
My tour here in Afghanistan is almost over. Get my ass stateside is my primary goal.
Davis opens the door, and I hit the steel floorboard.
“Sir, Hello sir?” a flight attendant asks me.
I shake my head, coming back to the present. “I’m sorry.” I glance around the empty plane and widen my eyes.
“We’ve landed. Do you need help off the plane?”
“No, no.” I stand and grab my duffel bag.
“Welcome to Florida,” she says as I exit the plane.
Florida. Home. It feels weird to be home.
As soon as I get through the security area and into the baggage claim, the flashes of lights nearly blind me.
“Over here, Private Wagner,” a reporter says, trying to shove a microphone in my face.
I smile, or at least I try. The flashing lights, the screams of the reporters make me nervous.
Leave me alone.
“Are you happy to be home?” they ask.
I don’t answer. My mother is in the distance and I push through the crowds to get to her.
Towering over her, I drop my duffel bag and lift her in my arms. “Mom, I’m so glad to be home.” Not really sure if I mean it.
“Ryan, I’ve missed you.”
I kiss the top of her head as I set her down. Her gray eyes shine with tears as she glances me over.
“Now, is that any way for a war hero to act?” She puts her hands on her hips. “You should answer the reporter’s questions. Everyone is so happy for you to be here.”
I scrub my hand down my stubbled jaw. “Yeah, maybe.”
Thing is, I don’t want to be Ryan Wagner the war hero. I just want to be Ryan Wagner, civilian.
My mother grabs my hand as we push past more news people.
The crowds make me anxious. The sounds of applause as I leave the airport make me sick.
I toss my duffel into the bed of my red pickup truck. She hands me the keys with a laugh, and I gaze at my baby I’ve missed her while I was away.
Behind the wheel, I fire up the engine as my mother hops in the passenger side.
“Your cousin’s getting married,” she starts as I pull out of the parking lot.
“Grant or Davie?”
Her laugh is accompanied by a harsh stare in my direction. “Who do you think?”
Grant was always better with women, Davie has always been awkward and a jerk. “Grant.”
“Yes, in two weeks. We’re heading down to the keys to the hotel before the wedding.”
“Oh yeah? Which key?”
“They’re getting married in this gorgeous house on Marathon.”
“Cool,” I say, pulling out into Miami traffic.
“Alice and him are so excited.”
My foot slams on the brake as I shake my head. “Alice? Livingston?”
My heart bangs into the side of my ribcage and my fingers go numb. Alice? No.
She’s the one. The one meant for me. She just doesn’t know it yet.
I hold my breath, praying my mother says it’s a different Alice. I release the breath when she confirms my worst fear.
Mother fucking Grant is marrying Alice. My Alice.
19
Deleted scenes from Like A Boss
Who’s been missing Theo? Well, when I first started this book, it was my first and the storyline kept getting away from me. I kept hitting a wall, or running into babysitting issues with Lucy. So, I deleted 24k words and started over.
Here’s some of the good scenes from it.
Ok, let me explain…this scene is NOTHING like the finished product. I had Theo going to a club and meeting some random girl. So, enjoy this random scene. In the end, I wanted it to be Penny he had sex with instead of someone he would never see again.
Theo
He had been with his current “love of his life” for less than a month. Dumbass. He would learn women are just as ruthless as men are when it comes to monogamy.
Yeah, I didn’t believe in that shit anymore. Why should I? That was for stupid school kids who didn’t know any better. Not saying I wasn’t one of those kids, I’d come close once and failed.
So, to me the happily ever after was bull.
Ashley’s fingers were getting closer to the bulge in my pants pulling me back into the present where I needed to be. I needed release, and bad. And she was just the ticket.
She rubbed along my hardness as I nipped at her earlobe. My dick coming back at full force as I pushed thoughts of Dex away.
The cab stopped in front of an apartment complex and she scooted toward the door. Her high heels hit the pavement as I threw some money to the man behind the wheel.
My chest was plastered to her back as we sprinted up to her floor. Once inside the apartment, she attacked. I had seconds to notice the white leather sofa which sat next to the far wall. Pictures of children lined the curio cabinets I realized I knew nothing about her, and it was perfect. It didn’t matter if this fact bothered her because she was quickly unzipping my pants as she sank to her knees before me.
My hands fisted in her hair as she stroked along the outline. She yanked my jeans down to the hardwood floor while her hand continued its assault. I was rock solid and I couldn’t wait.
She removed my boxers and landed her perfect lips on the tip of my dick her tongue taking the precum with it. “Oh God,” I moaned. My fingers clenched in her hair ensuring she didn’t go anywhere.
Her tongue lashed out, swirling around and as she lowered her mouth down my dick and her blue eyes gazed up at me as I hit the back of her throat.
She took me down her throat again and reached her hand under to cup my balls. “Fuck, baby,” I hissed as my hips bucked trying to crawl down her throat. Her cheeks hollowed out as she pulled away only to go back again pushing me into her mouth even further.
“Don’t stop”
My encouragement egged her on even more and she picked up her rhythm. My knees threatened to buckle as she continued her assault on my dick using her mouth, tongue, and hands.
“Fuck yeah, suck my cock.” I shut my eyes tight trying to hold off as long as I could. She was a fucking pro at this and I didn’t want it to end.
She bobbed her head up and down as I pulled on her hair. My thighs were tight as they tried to keep me upright. I was so close to letting go and exploding in her mouth, but didn’t want to end the night this way, I was a gentleman. The need to be inside her grew fierce I reached down and pulled myself out of her mouth a loud pop echoed against the walls as I broke the suction she had on me.
“What are you doing?” she asked. Her pink lips swollen from her exertion.
“I need to be inside you.”
She smiled, her teeth a perfect row of white. Her hands skimmed under my shirt as she climbed to her feet. I pulled up my pants not bothering to button them, knowing they were going to come right off again. Not saying a word she grabbed my hand and led me down the hallway. My eyes were locked on her luscious ass.
She kicked off her heels and together we fumbled to the middle of the room where a big four-poster bed waited for me to destroy it. Damn she was hot.
Her body, like a fucking masterpiece fell to the mattress and I chased her down. Our lips smashed together I couldn’t get enough as I thrust my jean clad erection into her.
“I need you now,” I demanded pushing my pants down to my ankles.
She spread her sexy, long legs and I grabbed the side of her red laced panties ripping them from her body and throwing them behind me.
“You won’t be needing these,” I said, laughing as my dick throbbed at the sight of her bare pink pussy glistening with need.
She sulked for a moment. “Those were my favorite pair.”
“I’ll buy you more.” We both knew this was a lie. Or at least I hoped she knew it was a lie. I didn’t do repeats this was a one time thing, and I was planning on making it worth it.
She grabbed at my neck and pulled her lips to meet mine. I rocked my body into he
r, grinding against her wetness..
My cock rested at her entrance and I leaned back to reach my pants on the floor. Never leave home without a condom was my motto. Her eyes were glued to mine as I rolled it over myself ready to push into her.
Her dazed eyes roamed up to my face and I grinned at her before slamming my cock deep inside her enough to illicit her scream. I loved making them scream. She called my name as I sunk in deeper and deeper, in and out. Lost in the feeling of her hot wetness surrounding me. Her body was tight and oh so fucking sweet I never wanted this to end. The sounds of our skin slapping together filled the room. I needed more. I grabbed onto her waist to pound into her, harder.
“Oh Theo, I’m so close.”
“That’s right baby, come all over me.”
I thrust deeper throwing one of her legs over my shoulder to get a better angle as her body tightened all around me. Her eyes squeezed shut as she screamed out her orgasm. By the sounds of it, I knew she was seeing fucking stars. Her body pulsated around me, but I didn’t stop.
I was relentless as I continued pumping into her long after she came down from her high. I felt my balls tighten, I was close.
The moonlight filtered through the room as I watched her tits bounce with every thrust. I grabbed onto one, rolling the nipple between my fingers. She moaned, I groaned and before I knew it I was fucking coming deep inside her.
My orgasm was never ending as my cock throbbed uncontrollably.
The minute I had function over my body I flung onto my back on the bed and she gasped while I stared up to the ceiling.
“Holy fuck that was amazing,” she said.
I smiled and sat up to remove the condom.
The door flung open and a burly man taller than a brickhouse entered the room. “What the fuck, Ashley,” he barked.
She flew out of the bed, grabbing the covers to shield her naked form from his eyes. Shit, that was my cue to get the hell out.
I hopped out of the bed, trying to gather my clothing as the mammoth of a man charged for me. “Who the fuck are you?”
I didn’t answer, I wasn’t stupid.
Side-stepping him to get out of his way I picked up my jeans at the side of the bed. Like a flash of lightning, I had the condom off and tossed it, my boxers were halfway up my ass and I was still trying to gather my things while Ashley cried her apologies to a man she kept calling Jason.
“Jason, I’m so sorry,” she begged.
Jason on the other hand wasn’t having any of her blubbering, No, his sights were set on catching me. As for me, having the agility of a runner was going to work out in my favor. I was at the edge of the bed, my jeans, shoes, and shirt were bundled in my hands as I got ready to make my exit. Only problem Jason figured out my next move.
His fist flew at my face, brushing just along the edge of my beard. I ducked at the last second before he could connect. Ah, home free.
Before I could take the next step, I felt the blow from his other hand as it landed across the side of my cheek.
Fuck.
Stumbling over to my destination, I swiped at the pain erupting through my face.
“Fuck you if I ever see you around here again you’re dead.”
I turned on my heel shifting my clothes to one arm and saluted him. “Duly noted,” I said then charged out the door, running as fast as I could toward the front door while getting dressed.
That was twelve long weeks ago. The swelling in my face finally went down, but I stayed true to Jason’s threat and never saw Ashley again. Ok I knew I would never see her again in the first place, but still.
20
For the longest time, I was going to have Penny in a relationship with Dex the whole while Theo and her fell for each other. But, again I didn’t like the cheating aspect of it, and wanted Penny to not be hated.
So, here’s a very early scene.
“Why don’t I give her a bath and you and Penny can go over the details of her working for you,” Dex said as he grabbed Lucy’s hand to walk her down the hall to the bathroom.
As soon as they left a quiet calm settled over the kitchen. It should have put me at ease but having her body so near made it awkward and weird The back of my neck prickled from the tension surrounding us, and I didn’t like it.
Really,What do I say to the woman I just asked to dinner mere hours before? So I guess you weren’t lying about having a boyfriend. Right that would totally work.
“I’m happy to be working for you,” Penelope said and I could hear the formality in her tone, giving me a clue that I wasn’t the only one feeling out of my comfort zone. I would have rather went another round with an angry husband then to be subjected to what was happening in my kitchen.
“Yeah, it will be fun.” Shit we sounded like two aliens trying to have a normal human conversation but failing miserably.
“Fuck,” she whispered and my body sparked with excitement momentarily. The low, throaty timbre of her voice echoed through the room. Get it together Theo, I thought tucking my hands in my pockets to make sure little Theo didn’t make his presence known.
She slapped her hand over her mouth and her eyes showcased her shock.
“Did you just say fuck?” I teased.
Her hand fell away from her mouth in one slow movement as my eyes followed. “I’m sorry. This is just so uncomfortable.”
I leaned in, pressing my hand against the counter she leaned on. She was close. Too close and I needed to back away. It seemed both Theo’s weren’t taking orders. “Do I make you feel uncomfortable?” I asked, entirely too close to her ear.
It almost sounded like she stopped breathing and I knew I was affecting her in some way. This should stop. My daughter, and my brother her boyfriend were only a couple of yards away. I couldn’t help myself, she stirred something in me and I needed more. From the moment the word ‘fuck’ fell from her perfect, plump lips I was aroused.
My heart thumped as I waited for her reply. A reply I shouldn’t be searching for. What would she say?
“No, you don’t make me feel uncomfortable. Could you please back up? I’m dating your brother, and if we’re to work with each other than you can never stand this close to me anymore. Is that understood?” She pushed off the counter and stumbled a few steps back, her cheeks flushed and her perky breasts bobbed with every sharp inhale.
21
In this scene, again the characters went through a major transformation from this original story to the finished product.
I always change and change my books, and start over, or change my mind, or rewrite the hell out of my books.
So this is another scene from Like A Boss, the originally. It’s what happens from Penny’s pov, right after the previous scene.
They were all having a bbq at Theo’s house, and he offers Penny a job at his bar. Well enjoy…
Penny
Uncomfortable was not the word I would use for the way Theo made me feel. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what my body’s reaction to him was, but I knew I needed to tamp things down before they spiraled out of control. I was his brother’s girlfriend for god sake.
The way he stared at me with one cocked eyebrow and a sexy smirk plastered against the black and blue of his face, made me flushed with anger. Yeah, I’m going with anger. I would not allow any other emotion to come forward.
He was my new boss, my boyfriend’s brother and completely off-limits. Yet, I was having a major reaction to him which I needed to assess in the privacy of my own home. I needed to come up with a plan. The job he offered me was my saving grace, and I refused to let my hormones cheat me out of rent money. As soon as I get home I’m opening a bottle of wine and drinking until my resolve is good and strong.
With determination on my face, I asked him about the job I would be performing for him at his bar. Wanting him to realize I would make a valuable asset and also get the conversation back to neutral ground.
“About the job, when would you like me to start?”
He eyed me cau
tiously as I twirled a loose tendril of brown hair in between my fingers. He wasn’t answering as he stood there, the wicked grin still on his face. “Well? Are you going to answer me?” I asked. My frustration grew as his eyes continued to hold mine longer than necessary.
Out of nowhere, he laughed. It was a deep laugh which almost sounded foreign even to him.
Annoyed, I shot him my best evil glare as I tried to reason with myself over my unwarranted hostility toward him. This was the same man who had helped me this afternoon with my car. The same man who listened to cheesy kid songs, and yet here he was being wildly inappropriate to his future employee. Any other thoughts about what I could also be were bottled up. I didn’t know how to handle any of this making my annoyance grow.
“What’s so funny?” I huffed.
His laughter subsided briefly as he tried to regain control long enough to speak. “Oh God, you are.”
“Am not.” My retort unleashed more laughter from him as he held his hand up signaling me to hold on while he finished laughing, at me. My cheeks blazed hot, and there was a fury growing inside my chest.
“Are too,” he said with tears from laughing so hard in his eyes.
I blew out an angry breath and took two steps to walk away before he grabbed me by the arm and spun me around, pressing me firmly against his rock, solid chest. I should not be thinking of his chest. Damn why did it have to be so hard?
The laughter was gone, the air thickened with an unknown electrical charge and the tiny hairs at the base of my neck stood on ends.
His eyes were intense with an expression I’d never seen on any man before. “Let’s get one thing straight, Penelope.”
The way he breathed my name made my insides ignite with a foreign sensation which traveled through my system.
My words betrayed me as I answered him with a single, breathy, “yes.”
“As for how close I can stand to you, well, I’ll stand wherever the fuck I want. We will be working side by side behind a tight, small bar. So, if being this close to me bothers you maybe you should find another job.” His words pierced straight through me and I trembled slightly.
He let go of me in a flash and my knees almost buckled. What the hell?
“Now as for when you can start, will you be able to start the day after tomorrow?” he asked this time he had the hint of annoyance in his voice.
