Reckless Hearts Series, Book 1

by Heather Van Fleet

  The tall guy in front of me was dressed in a black leather coat with leather gloves. He tapped his fingers against the counter as he waited for the owner, Betty, to finish his order. Part of me wondered if he was the truck driver, and I had half a mind to tell him where he could shove those hubcaps. The other part had one thing on the brain: caffeine, caffeine, caffeine. But, still, I took in his form because I had nothing better to do as I waited my turn.

  He was tall—ginormously so—and something told me I didn’t want to mess with him.

  “You’re gonna be here awhile.”

  “Excuse me?” I pointed my gaze toward the floor at his question, admiring his big, black boots. Motorcycle boots, not trucker’s boots.

  “Said you’re gonna be a here awhile. They only have one espresso machine working this morning.”

  I shrugged, looking to avoid all things talk, even the small kind. Still, when he cleared his throat, I found myself looking up—and up—at him anyway. It was obvious he wouldn’t give up on the chitchat anytime soon.

  “Well, hell. If it isn’t the source of all evil.”

  My lips parted. The source? Evil? What the hell did that mean?

  His dark face, high cheekbones, and square jaw made up a picture-perfect specimen. Add his closely cut, styled black hair and midnight eyes, and it was like looking into perfection—the rugged pretty-boy kind.

  “Excuse me?” And now I sounded like a parrot. Next thing I knew, I’d sprout feathers and ask him to call me Polly.

  “You’re the root of all the evil at my house right now.”

  I took a step back and then another until my back collided with a table.

  So…I hadn’t heard him wrong then.

  He laughed, looking far too amused for having just called me evil and the source of it. Tiny wrinkles curled at the corners of his eyes.

  “Um, yeah, I think I’ll just wait over—”

  “You don’t remember me, do you?” His face softened, less amused and a little sweeter. My shoulders dropped at his change, and I didn’t quite feel the need to run…at least for the moment.

  He smiled so widely that his perfect, white teeth practically glowed. Was he a model?

  “You’re Lia’s friend. I met you the other night.”

  Nodding once, I murmured, “I know her, yes. She works here.” And was once my friend of sorts until she suddenly shared the same blood as that…

  Oh.

  I blinked, tipping my face to the side as recognition sank in.

  Yeah. So I did know this guy—Couch Man.

  I shifted my weight back and forth between my feet, wondering how I’d gotten so unlucky as to run into another person associated with Number Six. He winked and then turned to grab his coffee from Betty. Her pale-blue eyes brightened as she waved his money away.

  “Any friend of Lia’s is a friend of mine.” She leaned over and ran her fingers along the back of his hand. I had a feeling this guy possessed hypnotic charms when it came to the ladies—even the eighty-year-old ones.

  Turning my way, he motioned me toward my booth. “Think I’m going to join you.”

  My eyes widened. “Um…” Damn, my vocabulary was limited this morning.

  “Don’t try to talk me out of it, Short Stuff. I always get what I want.”

  My face heated. “Y-you… I mean, I…” And I was done for.

  He glanced over his shoulder at Betty. “Put whatever she’s drinking on my tab.”

  Five minutes later, I was sitting across from this über friendly, sexy man having a conversation about nothing. Small talk—something I didn’t typically do. We’d gone over the weather, followed by him asking me if I liked cream in my coffee and then if I had a boyfriend.

  “I’ve got to hand it to you.” He sipped his drink, stretching an arm over the back of the booth. “You know how to make an impression on people.”

  So it was time to get to the nitty-gritty—the real reason he wanted to converse with me. Most likely having to do with me being the source of evil…and Number Six.

  “How so?” I cleared my throat.

  “I’ve got one best friend who thinks you’re some sort of siren in disguise, created to lure men to their doom. And the other friend thinks you are a wasted piece of space, not worthy of—”

  “Just…please, stop right there.” I reached for my cup. “I came to get some coffee and look through the want ads, not get scrutinized by some guy who’s only met me once.” I stood and glared down at the tabletop, wishing for blinders that would help me un-see things—particularly this specimen of ridiculously hot man-candy.

  “Hold up now, Short Stuff.” He grabbed my hand, stopping me. “You have no idea what I think of you. Aren’t you a little curious?”

  Jaw clenched, I met his gaze. “No. I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks about me. So if you’ll excuse me, I—”

  “You don’t trust people. I get it. Neither does Colly.” He dropped my hand, folding his arms.

  I arched one eyebrow at him, waiting. Ten seconds is all he’d get. And that was being generous.

  He studied my face, his lip curling up on one side. “But you see, Lee-Lee said you’re good people, and I trust her more than anyone else.” He leaned back in his seat. “So here’s the thing. I think you should come home with me today. Meet Chloe and Collin. Start fresh.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “Why not? Heard you needed a job, and this one would be perfect for you. Am I right? And I dare you not to fall in love with Chloe Bean.” He grinned like a proud daddy. It was almost endearing that he seemed to love this Collin guy’s daughter like his own. But even though the idea was tempting, I knew it wouldn’t work out. Not when it came to Number Six. Sliding out of the booth, I fumbled through my purse, hands trembling so badly I dropped my bag. All the contents scattered across the floor and under the table. Lip gloss to tampons, anything and everything important—and humiliating—was now on display.

  “Damn it.” I fell to my knees, trying to sweep the stuff up with my forearm, only to be stopped short when he crouched down to help me.

  “Jesus.” He laughed.

  “What?” My face heated.

  His eyes locked with mine. “You’re more nervous than a whore in church, Short Stuff. Something on your mind?” An unnerving grin sat on his lips.

  “What’s wrong is that I have a problem with being called a whore and evil within the span of fifteen minutes by some guy I don’t even know.” His face fell. The guy had the audacity to look like he was the victim here. I huffed once, stood back up, and yanked my half-zipped purse against my stomach. “I’m leaving. And you”—I jerked my now-empty coffee cup his way, and a few remaining drops of cool liquid sloshed against my wrist—“will leave me the hell alone.”

  And with that, I left the coffeehouse and jumped into my car.

  Chapter 7

  Collin

  I sneered at Max and jabbed an elbow into his ribs.

  “You son of a bitch!” Groaning, he fell back against the couch cushions, probably more pissed my team scored the winning try than about my cheap shot. Some days, rugby on the Xbox was fiercer than on the pitch for the two of us.

  I tossed my controller onto the coffee table and stood, stretching my arms over my head. What could I say? Success was sweet, cheating or not.

  “Shut the hell up.” Gavin staggered down the hall, dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. Guy looked like he’d seen better days, that’s for sure.

  Max shook his head and stood next to me. “Try not to stay out ’til three in the morning getting pussy next time.”

  “I was working, you idiot.” He flipped Max off and went into the kitchen, then headed back, a bag of chips in hand.

  “Ah, that’s right. You live to work, and you work to live.” Max grabbed a handful of chips and stuffed them into h
is mouth.

  “At least I can keep a job longer than two months.”

  Max’s smile fell. “I’m working two jobs right now, you idiot. Chef and waiter.”

  “Real-life goals there, Maxwell.” Gavin moved to sit in a chair at the dining room table.

  “Least I get some ass too. When’s the last time you had sex?”

  “None of your business.” Gavin kicked Max in the shin as he sat beside him.

  The two of them fought like brothers, while I was their constant referee. Problem being, I wasn’t in the mood to deal with it this afternoon.

  Over the past two weeks, I’d used all the vacation time I had left to stay home and watch Chloe, which meant tonight I would’ve been screwed if Lia didn’t have a rare night off. Tomorrow, on the other hand…

  I stuck Chloe in her high chair with some Cheerios and walked toward the kitchen to get her lunch ready. As I waited for her baby food to warm up in the microwave, my thoughts went to Bar Girl Addison—like they’d been doing since the night she ran out of my house. I couldn’t help but wonder: was she like one of those hit-and-run ladies Max talked about? Or maybe she was like me and Gav, commitment-prone but too damn busy—not to mention picky—to just find someone to take the plunge with.

  Not that it mattered either way. The girl was out of my life for good. She was nowhere near out of my head though, and that was scary enough right now.

  I walked back to the dining room, smiling when I heard Chloe’s giggles echo from the table. Something like a monkey or a dying baboon sounded from there too. Stopping at the end of the hall, I found Gavin on the chair in front of Chloe, trying to coax the cereal into her mouth, while Max stood behind him, yipping and bouncing from foot to foot.

  “You’re an idiot.” I laughed, secretly wishing I could be as carefree as Max was. The goofy ass made everything in life seem so easy.

  “She wouldn’t eat. Max thought it’d help.” Gavin gave me a tentative grin, one that said save me. Chuckling to myself, I leaned over and kissed Chloe’s hair, shutting my eyes as she pounded her little fists against the tray. I inhaled through my nose, taking in the soft baby smell that was my little girl.

  Fifteen minutes later, I was in the shower and getting ready for work when the door slammed open against the bathroom wall. I peered out from behind the curtain, expecting Max or Gav, but found Lia instead.

  “The hell are you doing?” I scrubbed a hand down my face to get the water out of my eyes.

  She sat on the closed toilet lid, frowning. “We need to talk.”

  I moved back into the shower, pulling the curtain closed. “It couldn’t wait until I got out?”

  “No.”

  I rolled my eyes. The girl could’ve gone off to Hollywood and been an actress if she wanted—that’s how dramatic she was.

  “Well, talk. You’ve got five minutes, maybe less.”

  “Fine. I’m talking.”

  I laughed.

  “You know, Addie won’t even come in to see me at the Java Java Hut anymore. I mean, she’s one of the only girls who understands me, but you had to go and run her off.”

  I stiffened.

  “Can’t you just call her and—”

  “Damn it, I’m not calling her. Don’t even have her number. You go to her place and see why she’s stayed away. Not my job to play girlfriend mediator.”

  She groaned. “Why can’t you give her a second chance?”

  It’d been the same thing for a week now: Lia either calling to rag on me or coming by to trap me with her guilt-ridden words. I was getting damn sick of it.

  “She’s right, man.”

  I blinked, whipping the shower curtain back a little at the voice. Max stood against the wall with his arms crossed at his chest. “Get out,” I told him.

  I glared back and forth between the two of them, not liking the knowing looks on their faces, then moved back under the water.

  “I’m not leaving,” Max grumbled.

  “We’re not leaving until you agree to call and at least apologize for being a jerk,” Lia hissed.

  “You scared her that night, Colly. Did you know that?” It was like a tennis match, the ball being hit back and forth between the two of them, almost like they’d planned this sabotage—which they damn well could’ve.

  Except that what Max said made my heart skip. Had I scared her? I frowned at the idea. If anything, I thought she was a sassy cat, all bite and attitude.

  Or maybe that was her front?

  “Didn’t scare her,” I said.

  If anything, she’s the one who scared me. All sexy and wide eyed and warm as she blinked up at me… Then I thought of her body. Again. Even with her in that dress, I wanted to lick her. But licking was off limits because the girl was unlickable. I mean, damn. She would taste good, I’m sure. Smooth skin, probably like warm sugar… I shut my eyes, imagining her hot hands on my cock in the shower, instead of the water.

  “Dude, you jacking off in there or what?” Max snorted.

  God damn it. “No. Now would you two get out, please?”

  “Need to finish getting one off?” Max laughed.

  “Eww, gross,” Lia groaned, a slap sounding against skin.

  “Ouch, woman, cut your claws.”

  Lia laughed. “All the better to scratch you with, my dear.”

  I leaned my forehead against the tiled wall and groaned, not seeing any way out of this other than doing what they wanted. “Christ, would you both just get out of here? Let me shower in peace. If you do, I’ll call her when I get out. Promise.”

  “Pay up, ten bucks. Knew he was jerking off in here.”

  More skin slapped against skin. “Quit talking about my brother’s sex habits. And I didn’t bet you a dime.”

  I pinched my lips together, not wanting to smile, especially since I’d just given in, but the two of them together—all vinegar and oil—made for some damn good entertainment, even though it was happening in the bathroom with me and about me.

  Once the door closed, I leaned back and squeezed my eyes shut to try to get the vision of the sexy woman out of my head. Had enough of her in my dreams at night and even before I went to sleep. Visions of her bent over my bed, naked, begging for me to take her…

  Damn it. Showers were off limits. They had to be. Because having this girl invade my thoughts in all aspects of life wasn’t right.

  A little while later, I was dressed in my work uniform and sitting on my bed with a couple of hovering idiots on either side of me. One of those being my sister. “So, what are you gonna say first?” She bounced on the bed next to me, looking like an eight-year-old kid.

  “I’m not fifteen, Lia. I know how to talk to a woman.”

  Max laughed, knowing how much of a lie that was. Again, I hadn’t actually been with a woman in eighteen months—not many choices when you were off in the desert dodging bullets and avoiding IEDs. And even before that, Amy had been the only one.

  Since college, the two of us had always been close. Best friends to fuck buddies, to…something more. But the second I heard her voice on the phone when she told me she was pregnant—eight weeks to the day I’d last been home on leave for my uncle’s funeral—I’d promised her we’d get through it together.

  Except I lied and, three months into Amy’s pregnancy, I chose another six months of deployment rather than heading home. It wasn’t a normal situation, but to me, it was the only logical choice. My only real duty at the time had been to stay with Gavin, Max, and the rest of our unit until the end. Part of me didn’t care if I’d missed Chloe’s birth. Not because I didn’t want to be there or didn’t love Amy, but because, for nearly six years, my life had been with my friends, making sure everyone in our platoon came home alive. Together.

  My brothers meant more to me than anything else back then. And things at home were, in my warped min
d, a fantasy. Something I didn’t have a moment to think about—didn’t see or experience either. Then the accident happened, and my time as a marine came to an end soon after that. But instead of coming home to start my life with my new family, I came home to a casket and a child I didn’t even know.

  My hand tightened around my phone at the thoughts messing with my mood.

  Fuck me sideways, would I always be such a selfish man?

  A hand slapped my back, jarring my eyes open. “You all right?”

  I turned toward Max, nodding. “Yeah.”

  “Good. Here’s her number then.” In his hand sat a business card decorated with white-and-black lettering. Addison’s name, number, and personal information were written across the front.

  “Where’d you get this?” My gaze flew back and forth between the card and Max’s smug face.

  “Ran into her this morning when I took your truck to get coffee. It fell out of her purse.” He grinned, unashamed. “We had one helluva chat.”

  Lia elbowed him in the ribs like I’d done earlier. “You messed her all up, according to Betsy. She ran out of that place like the devil was riding her ass.”

  Max groaned, rubbing his side. “Damn, you Montgomerys are abusive.”

  “What’d you say to her?” I stood, my protective instincts flaring to life. Didn’t like the fact that he’d been alone with her—let alone talked to her. Not because I was jealous. At least, that’s what I was telling myself.

  He shrugged. “I may have insulted her. But not on purpose.”

  “Jerkface. She’s my friend.” Lia stood, shoving past Max to go out into the hall.

  “Lee-Lee,” Max pleaded. “Come on, I didn’t… She caught me by surprise, is all.” He threw one hand up and then let it fall to his side.

  “I’ve gotta make this phone call. Go make sure Gav’s not losing his mind with Chloe out there, would ya?” I offered up a sympathetic smile to Max, placing orders like we were still neck deep in Taliban fighters.