I smiled to myself when I thought of her surprised reaction at the restaurant. I had definitely hoped that had gone smoother, but I got the reaction I was hoping for. She was completely and totally shocked to see me there and I started to get hard when her cheeks flushed a bright pink. After the mishap with the dish bucket, I was trying to get my flirt on when I that group of annoying fan girls came up to me, one of whom I’d seen jerking some nasty old dude off in the parking lot of Deuce’s…classy.
When they shoved Everleigh to the side and then spoke about her like she didn’t even exist, I saw red. I shot right back at them and when they couldn’t fathom in their tiny brains that I would have the hots for a smoking hot girl like Everleigh, I decided to step it up and planted a kiss on her lips. I thought she’d knee me in the balls but surprisingly she went with it and let me slide my tongue into her mouth. Thank God I was wearing black jeans because my dick was straining so hard against my zipper I thought I would pass out. My toes curled up in my shoes and I gripped her tighter…I wanted her as close to me as possible.
When the girls finally left, I tried to apologize to Everleigh because, well, it just seemed to be the right thing to do even though I wasn’t a damn bit sorry. Kissing her just felt right. She got all flushed and was obviously upset with me so I decided to leave so I didn’t mess her day up anymore than I had. However, I made damn sure that I would see her again, leaving her a thousand dollar tip with my cell phone number tucked inside the money.
I know that it would piss her off enough for her to call me and demand to give the money back, not that I would take it. I wasn’t trying to buy her attention, but seeing how hard she worked made me want to reach out and help. Hopefully it didn’t piss off this “guy” that she had to get back home to…my hands gripped the wheel in anger. It couldn’t be have been too serious if she let me kiss her.
The GPS told me that I was close to my hotel when my cell phone rang. Excitement shot through me for a moment hoping it was Everleigh, but I frowned when I saw the caller ID. Beau’s face was staring at me from the phone display and I sighed and answered it. “Hey man,” I said.
“’Sup big guy. Did you make it to town yet?” he asked me.
“Yeah, I’ve been here for about an hour now.” Beau was the only one that knew I was making this trip before I left, and I’m pretty sure Jude and Kris knew by now. I don’t think they would care though and even if they did, I really didn’t give a fuck. We were on a break for the next few weeks before we had to head into the studio to continue recording our next album so it didn’t matter where I went. I wasn’t messing up anyone’s schedule.
“So, did you see her yet?” he asked.
“Uh, yeah, I just left the diner she works at.”
“How’d that go?”
I chuckled. “Well, let’s see. When she saw me she dropped a bucket full of dishes, blushed like crazy when I knelt down to help her pick them up, got snapped at by some random slutty fan girls, let me kiss her, and then I left her a thousand dollar tip and my phone number before I left.” When I said it back out loud, it sounded so ridiculous.
Beau laughed out loud. “Jesus Christ, man. What the hell? You kissed her already?” I proceeded to tell Beau the story, and he just laughed harder. “Damn, dude, you certainly know how to make an entrance.”
“Shut up, man. Well, at least after the tip I left her I know I’ll definitely see her again.”
“Yeah, and you will probably get either a face slap or a dick punch for your troubles,” he said, and I laughed.
I pulled into the parking lot of the Holiday Inn (the nicest hotel in this town) and parked the Escalade. “Well, at least her hand will be on some part of my body, so no complaints there,” I joked. I got out of my car and grabbed my luggage out of the back seat.
“So, did you see Danni there?” he asked, not at all trying to be inconspicuous. Since that night in Cincinnati, he and Danni had struck up a friendship on Facebook after she tagged the pictures of us that John took. I knew he had a thing for her, but he wasn’t the girlfriend type so he never really pursued it but I know he wanted to bad. I’m glad that he hadn’t told Danni I was coming to Muncie because that would have ruined everything for me.
“Yeah, I saw her for a second before Everleigh came out. She looked pretty cute in her apron, man,” I said.
“Shut up. Don’t put images in my head or I might just drive there and join you,” he said.
“Well, you know where I’m staying if you do. Listen, I’m at the hotel so I’m going to get checked in. Call me if you decide to drag your ass here,” I said. “Tell the guys I said hey.”
“Will do. Good luck with Everleigh, man. I’m sure you’ll need it,” he said. I hung up with him and walked into the hotel. When I reached the reception desk, a young brunette inhaled sharply when she saw me, recognition on her face.
“W-welcome to the Holiday Inn. Are you checking in today?” she asked, shock and surprise in her voice.
“Yes I am. The reservation is under Dick Grande,” I said, smiling at the girl. I know it was childish, but all of us guys in the group had penis inspired nicknames as the fake names we used to check in at hotels.
Her face was red and she was smiling ear to ear as she typed some information into the computer. I gave her my credit card and she swiped it and gave it back to me with shaking hands. “Here is your key, Mr. Grande,” she said, smiling and sliding a key card across the desk. After she gave me my room information, she batted her eyelashes at me and said, “Enjoy your stay.”
She obviously knew who I was but, thankfully, she didn’t say anything out loud. Bad Blooded Rebel was a hard rock band and we were pretty famous but luckily I had been able to get into town relatively unseen. I’m sure after the girls at the restaurant got onto their social media sites the press would catch wind and swarm down on me, but I hoped it wouldn’t happen. I came here for Everleigh and I didn’t need another reason for her to pull away from me.
I walked to the elevators and took it to the top floor. My room was the one at the end of the hall and when I finally reached it, I opened the door with the key and walked inside. It definitely wasn’t what I was used to as far as hotels go, but I wasn’t complaining. I had more money than I knew what to do with but I didn’t like to go flashing it around (with the exception of today). As long as I wasn’t sleeping in a roach motel with crack needles everywhere, I was pretty content. I put my luggage down and flopped back on my bed, sighing. All I could do now was sit and wait for Everleigh to call me…the thought of seeing her again gave me an instant hard on. I groaned and put my arm over my face, thoughts of her lips on mine flashing in my mind.
I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep until I heard my cell phone ringing in my pocket. I opened my eyes and blinked a few times, remembering where I was. It had gotten dark outside so I sat up and flicked on the lamp. I dug my phone out of my pocket and swiped the screen, not even looking at the caller ID. “Hello?” I answered sleepily.
“What the hell were you thinking leaving a thousand dollar tip, Ryder?” Everleigh shouted angrily into the phone.
I ran my hand through my hair and smiled. “Got you to call me, didn’t it?”
“This isn’t funny. Do you realize how inappropriate that is?”
“Well you don’t have to keep it, you know. If you want to give it back all you have to do is come to my hotel,” I said.
I could practically hear her rolling her eyes over the phone. “Nice try, rock star. I’m not coming to your hotel room. We can meet some place public.”
I grabbed the remote and flicked on the television and I was immediately bombarded with pictures of my visit to Deuce’s Diner this afternoon. Shit, I thought. Those bitches took pictures of me and Everleigh at the diner and now they were all over the news, including the tag line “Who is the new mystery woman in Ryder Matthews’ life?” under a picture of me kissing Everleigh.
“Uh, that might be impossible at the moment. Have you seen the news?”
“No, I’ve been home all afternoon. Why?” she asked.
“Well, those bitches at the restaurant put pictures up of me and you at the diner and now it’s all over the news.”
“What?” she shrieked. “Ryder, how the hell am I supposed to leave my house?”
“I can come to you if you want,” I said.
“Then the press will know where I live!” she said, sounding panicked.
“Everleigh, they are going to find out where you live anyway. It’s just a matter of when,” I said.
“Oh no,” she said, sounding like she was on the verge of tears. “This is the last thing he needs right now.”
“Who?” I asked, feeling jealousy surging through my veins.
I heard her sniff. “Never mind, I’ll come to you. Where are you staying?”
I smiled. “The Holiday Inn. I think it’s on Bethel Aven-”
“I know where it is,” she snapped. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Ask for Dick Grande,” I said, smiling.
“Really mature, Ryder,” she said, and hung up the phone. Still smiling, I got up from my bed and stretched out. I got into my suitcase and grabbed a clean pair of boxers, jeans, and a tee shirt and jogged into the bathroom. I took a five minute shower and quickly styled my hair after I got dressed into my signature faux hawk. I quickly brushed my teeth and slid into my boots just in time because after I laced them up someone knocked on the door. I took a deep breath and walked to the door, pulling it open.
“Everleigh,” I said hungrily. My mouth suddenly went dry at the sight of her. She was wearing a pair of faded dark wash jeans, a pink cheetah print hoodie jacket, and black flats. Her hair was pulled up into a messy knot on her head and she was wearing a pair of black framed glasses. She looked like a naughty school teacher…I moved around to try and hide my growing erection. “Come in,” I motioned, moving aside to let her pass. She reluctantly passed by me and stood as close to the door as she could after I closed it. “You look beautiful.”
“Um, thanks,” she said in disbelief. “Listen, I can’t stay long. I just wanted to give this back to you. It was generous but unnecessary,” she said, holding the money I’d given her earlier.
I decided to try and get to know her a little better…like who this man is that she had referred to earlier. “Why won’t you keep it? Did your boyfriend find out about it?”
“What? I don’t have a boyfriend,” she said, and I could tell she instantly regretted admitting it. I was definitely happy by that admission.
“Really? Nice,” I said, cocking an eyebrow. “Then who is this ‘he’ you keep talking about?” I asked.
After looking at me for a moment, she threw her hands up and sighed. “Well, I’d say it’s none of your business but since I’m apparently being talked about on the news you’ll find out soon anyway. It’s my dad.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Your dad? You’re a grown woman, Everleigh. Is he still that over protective of you?”
“No, if anything he’s been pushing me to have a life of my own instead of taking care of him,” she said sadly.
“What do you mean, ‘taking care of him’?” I asked.
She looked down at the carpet for a second before she looked back up at me. “He has stage four pancreatic cancer and we have a full time hospice nurse living with us now. His doctor said he had very little time left, and that was four months ago. This is the last thing in the world our family needs right now, being hounded by camera-toting leeches while he’s in his last days,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.
“Oh, fuck, Everleigh. I’m so sorry,” I said, and I instinctively pulled her into a hug. I felt her tense up at first, but when she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing she wrapped her arms around my waist and began to sob. I held onto her and stroked her back, massaging it.
“I don’t want people messing with him and coming to the house all the time. He’s going to die soon and I want him to die in peace, not having people trying to peek in our windows and taking pictures of me every time I come and go from the house. He doesn’t deserve this.”
“I know he doesn’t. I’m going to hire security to make sure your dad gets all the privacy and rest he needs,” I said.
She broke away from me and took a few steps back. “Ryder, you don’t have to do that. I can find my own way to keep my father safe. I don’t need your help,” she said. She held her hand out that was still filled with money. “Here. Take this.”
“I’m not taking it back, Everleigh. Use it to make your dad’s last days nice,” I said. I could definitely relate to what she was going through. I lost my dad to lung cancer when I was twenty and my mom was so devastated by his death that she overdosed on pills two years later. If anyone could feel her pain it was me.
“I’m not keeping this money, Ryder. Take it.”
“Well I’m not taking it back, Everleigh. Keep it.”
“Why do you want to help me so much? Why did you come here?” she demanded, tears still pouring down her cheeks.
“Why do you think? You have been driving me crazy since the night of that concert, Everleigh! I knew from the first time I saw you that you were different than any girl I’ve ever met.”
“Meaning I’m the first able bodied female that didn’t immediately drop their panties for you just because you’re famous,” she spat.
“No, that’s not it. You didn’t give a shit about me at all. You saw me for me and no one ever has besides you, my parents, and the guys in the band. You are the first girl I’ve met that doesn’t want something from me. Everyone always has, but you don’t. That means something to me.”
“What does it mean, Ryder? That the only reason you came here was because I wasn’t impressed by you when we first met?”
I looked at her and was completely dumbfounded. “Are you being serious? It means that I think you are the most beautiful woman on the god damned earth and that I have dreamed of you every night and thought of you at every moment of every day for the past three months. It means that I can’t get you out of my head, Everleigh, no matter how hard I have tried. It also means that if I stand here for one more second without kissing you that I’m going to lose my fucking mind,” I said, and I took a step closer to her. I waited for her to stop me, to back away, to slap me…do anything to put the brakes on what was happening, but she didn’t. She just stared at me with her big brown eyes as I tilted my head to the side and brushed my lips with hers. I slightly opened my mouth as I placed a hand on her cheek, tracing her jaw line with my finger tips. I wanted to deepen the kiss so badly, but I wanted her to be the one to make the move. It didn’t seem like she was going to get into it so I started to pull away. Before I could break the kiss, I felt her head tilt opposite mine and she opened her mouth. That was all the invitation I needed and I glided my tongue past her lips. When our tongues met, I heard her moan into my mouth and I felt myself getting hard again. My hand moved from her face down her neck and came to rest with my other hand, which was anchored at the small of her back.
Just as the kiss was getting deeper, I felt her pull away from me. She placed a shaking hand on my chest to steady herself. “Ryder,” she whispered, “I can’t do this. I’m sorry.”
I moved my hands from her back to her shoulders and rubbed them as comfortingly as I could. “It’s okay, Everleigh. I’m sorry too.” She nodded and started pulling away more, but I gripped her tighter and pulled her back to me. “You know what? I’m not. I want you and I’m not going to apologize for it.”
“Why do you want me? You heard what that girl said earlier. I am nothing but a low class waitress. I have more ass than the average girl I’m swimming in an ocean of debt because of my father’s mounting medical bills. Why the hell would you want to chase someone like me? I’m nothing!” she shouted.
“You are not nothing, Everleigh, because trust me if you were I wouldn’t be here. Why do you talk about yourself like that?”
“Because it’s tru
e! I have had enough people in my life tell me what a waste of time I really am, including someone who claimed to love me more than anything! I can’t believe I fell for it, but I’m not falling for it again. I need to leave. Now,” she said. “Let me go, Ryder.”
I reluctantly released her. “I’m not giving up that easily, Everleigh.”
“Well you are wasting your time because I will never believe anything you say to me. I won’t fall for the lies again,” she said. Who the fuck could have told her that she was so unattractive that it was literally crippling her with doubt? I wanted to find out…and beat the fuck out of him. “Take your money back, please.”
“I’m not taking it, Everleigh. Please just enjoy your time with your dad. Trust me, you will regret not making those last days the best they can be. I know from experience.”
“How do you know how this feels?” she cried, tears pouring out of her eyes again. “Have you ever had to watch your father waste away and die before your eyes?”
The pain of remembrance stabbed at my heart and my jaw squared. “Yes, actually, I have.” Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. Before she could say anything more, my cell phone rang again. This conversation was opening old wounds for me, so I took the opportunity to back away from her and answer my phone. Without looking at who it was, I answered it. “Hello?” I asked, my eyes still on Everleigh’s.
“Hey man, it’s Kris. Just heard the news about your new girl,” he said.
“She’s not my girl. Yet,” I said, my eyes boring into hers. She gasped and swallowed hard. “What’s up man?”
“I was just checking up on you. I don’t know how much you’ve heard on the TV, but the press is all over this shit.”
“They are? Jesus, I haven’t really watched any TV until just now.”
“Well, I bet if you look out your window you’ll probably see a few reporters,” he said. I walked over to the window and slightly pulled back the blinds. I saw about forty reporters and photographers with their cameras ready, waiting to snap a picture of the two of us if we tried to leave. Fuck! “Tell Everleigh to lay low if she can. Everyone’s wanting the story on her.” Kris was a truly nice guy and for him to call with a warning the news reports already must be bad. “You want us to come there?”
Rebel (Bad Blooded Rebel Series) Page 4
