by Penny Dee
Heath laughed and grabbed my hands, securing them around his waist.
“I like how you think, H-bomb,” he said, flicking down his aviators.
With a flick of his strong wrist the Harley rumbled to life and he eased us into the traffic. It only took me a few minutes to relax and begin to enjoy our ride through the sunny streets. The warmth of his body against my chest and the deep vibration of the motorbike sent tiny tremors down my spine and throughout my body. I could hold onto him all day and night and not get tired of it.
Wind whipped past us and I ducked in closer to shield myself against its cool bite. Holding him this close I could feel the taut muscles beneath his t-shirt whenever he moved and the sensation was … wow.
All too soon our ride was over and we pulled up out the front of a dinner with the name Johnny Rockets illuminated in a neon sign out the front.
Johnny Rockets was a quintessential 1950s diner with a shiny checkered floor and gleaming red booths. Framed posters of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and other icons of the era lined the walls alongside ’50s pin up girls in modest bikinis. Against one wall an old-style jukebox played early rock n roll. The smell of burgers and fries lingered with that of milkshake and cherry pie.
We slid into a booth along the far wall. It was too early for the dinner crowd, and apart from a couple at the soda bar and a table of tourists at a booth by the front windows, it was quiet.
Straightaway an eager blonde waitress appeared at our table.
“Hey, Heath, sugar,” she greeted Heath in a heavy Texan accent and with a playful wink. Shiny pink lips parted into a large white smile. Her blonde hair was pulled into a style reminiscent of the era and she wore a tight Rockabilly dress that did little to hide her curves. “How’s my favorite babe? Have you been behaving?”
Heath smiled, feigning innocence. “When don’t I?”
Her long lashes blinked and she smiled. “Oh I can think of a few times. Can I get you your usual drink?”
He nodded. “Thanks Elly.”
“What about you honey?” She turned her attention to me, her blue eyes twinkling and rolling over me. “What can I get you?”
Heath leaned forward. “You should try the malt shakes here. They’ll ruin you.”
I was all for a bit of ruining so I shrugged, “Okay. Why not.”
I could feel the waitress looking at me. “Sure thing. I’ll be back with your drinks and I’ll take your order then.” An unusual look passed between her and Heath. It was a secret smile from her that made his dimples crease in his cheeks.
I frowned.
“What?” Heath asked.
After watching the gorgeous blonde disappear into the kitchen, I asked, “A fan of yours?”
Heath looked puzzled. “Elly?”
“If that’s what her name is.”
“It’s what’s on her name badge,” he said with a wicked twinkle in his eyes.
“Whatever. I guess I should just be pleased she isn’t throwing a drink at you.”
Heath laughed. “She hasn’t come out with them yet. Maybe you should get ready to duck.”
“Really? You’ve nailed her too?” I rolled my eyes. “Why am I surprised?”
Heath burst into laughter, holding his palm flat against his stomach. “Oh c’mon H-bomb! You seem think if it has girlie bits and a pulse that I have nailed it. I’m not really that bad.”
Girlie bits? Did he really just say that?
I shrugged. “I don’t care.”
His smile faded and his eyes were serious. “I didn’t nail her.”
I shrugged again. “Like I said, I don’t care. Y’all can sleep with whomever you like. It makes no difference to me.”
He took on a mischievous look. “H-bomb, I wouldn’t have a chance with Elly if I were the last man on earth.”
“C’mon Heath. I saw the look she gave you when she was walking away. It’s okay. I’m here for the food. Not to sleep with you.”
“You’re not going to sleep with me, I get it.” He leaned in, his eyes bright and a playful smile on his face. “And that look … that was Elly letting me know she approves.”
“Of what?”
It was his turn to roll his eyes. “You.”
“Me?”
“Don’t be so surprised. You’re gorgeous.”
“I’m confused.”
He grinned. “Let’s just say, you would have more of a chance with Elly, than me.”
Momentarily, I was puzzled and then it dawned on me. “She…?”
Heath nodded. “Likes women … yes.”
I cocked a brow at him. “Bullshit.”
“True story.”
I studied his face for a moment and then shrugged. “Whatever.”
“She thinks you’re hot. I can tell.”
“Of course you can.” I studied my menu.
He cocked his brow in the sexist way. “I do too.”
I shot him a warning look over my menu. Even if it was kind of nice hearing him say it. I decided to change the subject.
“So, are there more Dillingers, or did they break the mold when they made you?”
He grinned. “I have an older brother, Leigh, and a younger brother and sister, Nikki and Rhett. They’re twins.”
“Do you see them often?”
“I live with them. A few years back Mom and Dad bought a property in Napa Valley but us kids stayed in the family home.” He shrugged. “We make it work. And it’s nice having them around. As a family we’re pretty close. Although, Leigh is away a lot because he competes in the UFC and Rhett’s at college and lives on campus. Well he says he does, but he always seems to be at our place eating our food.”
He dipped his French fries in mayo and then ketchup. “We also have cousins in Alabama. Dad was born in Eureka and still has family there.” He bit into his French fries. “What about you? Is it just you or are there more of you back in Georgia?”
“I have an older brother, Harry. Well it’s Harrison, actually, but he’d cringe if y’all called him that. He’s twenty-one. And then there’s Harper, my younger sister. She’s sixteen going on twenty-one.”
When I looked up Heath was grinning.
“What?”
“I just enjoy listening to your accent.”
“I don’t have an accent.”
“You’re in my town now, remember? You’ve got an accent and it’s awesome.”
I rolled my eyes and Elly arrived with our drinks. I had to admit that the malt shake was just as amazing as Heath had said. Trying not to make eye contact with Elly, only because I knew it would make Heath happy to see me blush under her gaze, I ordered my burger and fries off the menu, fully aware of Heath’s amused grin.
When she left, I took a mouthful of my frothy milkshake.
“So how did you come up with the name Vengeance?”
“It’s from a John Legend song called ‘Who Did That To You?’ Do you know it?”
When I shook my head he explained. “It’s from the first two lines of the song.” He sang them to me and added, “It’s an awesome song. Slow tempo. Distinct beat. Dark undertones. It’s a promise of revenge.” His blue eyes gleamed. “Quiet revenge.”
“Have you thought of doing a cover of it?” I asked.
“I thought about it. But I don’t really want to mess with it.”
“Do you have any other favorite songs you’d like to do?”
“In the real early days we use to do quite a few covers. Credence Clearwater’s ‘Run Through the Jungle’, Pink Floyd’s ‘Young Lust’, hell, I even managed to get David Bowie’s ‘Starman’ mashed into one of our sets mid-performance one night. 70s glam rock with twenty-first century metal … who would’ve thought it would prove to be so popular.” He shrugged and asked, “What about you, H-bomb? What song do you think we should cover?” before biting into his burger.
I picked up a fry, dipped it into mayonnaise and thought for a moment, before popping it into my mouth. Music had been a big part of my growing up b
ack in Georgia. My cousin, Bobby—Bridget’s older brother—was a massive music lover and had bought me my first iPod. He introduced me to good old rock n roll.
“That’s easy,” I said. “Gimme Shelter. The Rolling Stones. It would have to be my favorite of all time.”
Heath’s eyebrows disappeared all the way up his brow. “You know The Stones?”
“I grew up in Georgia, Heath. Not on Mars.” I took a sip of my milkshake. “I grew up on the classics. Led Zepplin. Hendrix. Pink Floyd. Ozzy.”
Heath smiled broadly. “So under all that cashmere and pearls, you’re just a badass rock chick.”
I laughed. “Hardly.”
“Zeppelin? Hendrix? I think I just fell in love with you.” His eyes twinkled and he looked amused as he popped fries into his mouth. “Enough about me. What’s your story? Is there someone back home? Some preppy prince back on the plantation pining away for you amongst all his money?”
I shook my head. “Not anymore. We broke up just before I came out here.”
“Oh yeah? Why? Did the good girl want to be bad out west?”
“He was cheating on me.”
Heath paused and was still and then said with what seemed like genuine regret, “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m okay with it now. I got over it.” I smiled. “Anyway, the more time I spend out here the more I realize he did me a favor.”
A half-smile curled on his lips. “How long were you together?”
“Two years.”
He whistled. “I haven’t been with a girl for two days let alone two years.”
I didn’t go into details about Colton’s cheating but I did notice how the thought of it didn’t register even the remotest hint of hurt inside. It hadn’t always been the case. When I’d discovered Colton had been having an affair with my best friend I had been devastated. It was like my world had been ripped away. On the same day I had lost my boyfriend and my best friend. It was one of the reasons my parents had relented and let me come out to California. They thought the break from Colton would do me some good. I guess they assumed I was still pining for him. The truth was I wasn’t but I just used their assumptions to my benefit.
“So you’ve never been in a long-term relationship?” I asked.
He chuckled. “No. Never.”
“Really?”
He smiled. “I’m not boyfriend material. Or so I’ve been told.”
After we’d finished our burgers, I noticed the smallest amount of mayonnaise on the corner of his mouth and without thinking, reached over and wiped it with my napkin. It surprised both of us.
Immediately, heat flamed against my cheeks.
OMG, why the hell did I do that?
Heath’s eyes were bright and then gleamed. They held mine in a blue gaze that drew the air from my lungs. A small half-smile tugged at his lips, deepening the dimples either side of his mouth.
Embarrassed, I sat back and looked away.
“We should go,” I mumbled, not sure what had just happened.
“I like that you did that,” he said quietly.
I looked up at him and felt a small tug on my heart. Away from the stage lights and hordes of screaming women, he looked harmless and gentle. Not that he was your regular Joe. The absence of his stage persona didn’t make him any less attractive. In truth, he was devastating. I could see why all the girls fell for him.
But I could also see he was trouble. And not someone you could trust with your heart. It would be exhausting trying to compete with all those girls who went to watch them play. I’d just left a whole world of trouble behind me and I was done with the popular boys. The next guy was going to be vanilla safe, not beautiful dangerous like Heath Dillinger.
“Can I take you for a ride somewhere?” he asked.
“Where to?”
“Somewhere special,” he said as he pulled several bills from his billfold and dropped them on the table.
“Sure. Why not.”
I may have been wary of this beautiful man but I wasn’t ready to call it a night just yet. I guess you could say my curiosity was piqued. He was a nice guy and I actually enjoyed being around him.
Plus, I was pretty much friendless in California so I was running low on offers.
We slid out of the booth and I turned to grab my denim jacket. I didn’t notice the attractive brunette until she was standing in front of us. Her face was a contorted mask of anger. Eyes heavy with makeup bounced back and forth between Heath and me.
Before I could avoid it, she flung her milkshake at us. Chocolate milk flew out of the silver milkshake cup and, of course, I bore the brunt of it.
“You’ve. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me!” I exclaimed, shaking chocolate milk from my hands. I glared at Heath. “Really? REALLY?”
Seriously? What was the go with this guy and these women throwing their drinks at him?
“Jesus Christ!” he yelled at the brunette. “What the fuck is your problem?”
“You, you jerk!” she shrieked. “I had a great time, you said. I’ll call you, you said. So I wait for you to call me. I wait for two fucking weeks but no fucking phone call. Did you lose my number? Or are you really just the prick they say you are?”
“Listen I don’t know what your fucking deal is …” He meant to say her name but stalled. This only enraged her further. Her eyes widened and her face went so red I thought she would pop.
“Sherry! My fucking name is Sherry! Or did you forget that right after you fucked me on my grandmother’s couch?”
Eeeeeewwwww! I wrinkled my nose.
“Apologize to Harlow,” Heath demanded looking furious.
She flicked me a vile look, glaring at me as if I had just run over her cat.
“Fuck you and your Harlot!” she snapped, and turning on her stiletto heels, stormed off.
Elly magically appeared with a towel. “Here Sugar, it won’t take the stain out but at least it’ll help dry you off.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, wiping at the stain across my chest. But it was pointless. My white shirt looked like Willy Wonka had thrown up on me.
“Harlow I am so sorry …”
I held up my arms but bit my tongue, afraid of the words that might tumble out. Heath looked crestfallen.
I gave up on my stained shirt and sighed. “I’m going home. Don’t worry about taking me, I’ll catch the bus.”
“No! Please,” He stood in front of me, gently stopping me with his big hands. “I am so sorry …”
“So you keep saying.”
“Please let me take you home. It’s the least I can do,” he said, humbly.
The idea of catching the bus home with a shirt soaked in milkshake didn’t appeal to me. Especially when it made the fabric cling tightly to every curve.
“Fine,” I mumbled and handed Elly the towel. “Thanks Elly.”
“No problem, sugar.” She nodded and then patted Heath gently on the arm. “Take care, babe.”
He nodded solemnly and we left the diner in silence.
* * * * *
HEATH
The situation was shit. Plain and simple. I knew Harlow had a preconceived idea of who I was and I had hoped to prove her wrong. But again, my dick had gotten me in trouble, with yet another girl deciding to unleash her anger right in front of the one girl I might be seriously interested in. Things were going from bad to worse. And the way Harlow was looking at me in sheer disgust made me want to take her by the shoulders and tell her that this isn’t what I’m about.
But that would be a lie.
This was what I was about.
Those girls, I made them act that way. Maybe not intentionally. But it was because of me that they were angry. So I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t need her thinking about what a piece of crap I was.
I took my time riding us back to the apartment she shared with her cousin. It was a small tall and skinny by the beach. I kept the Harley at a low speed, trying to think of a way to make this better. For some crazy reason I really cared about what she
thought of me. Even more crazy was me dreading the idea of her climbing off my bike and storming out of my life.
For whatever reason, I seemed to like being around her.
A little too much for my liking.
Pulling the throttle back I slowed down as I turned into her street, and pulled my bike to a halt out the front of her apartment block.
She didn’t take her time getting off the back of the bike and I couldn’t blame her. In the two times we had been out together, some crazy chick had thrown drinks at me because they felt I had let them down somehow. No matter who you are, that had to be some kind of fucking red flag.
After climbing off the bike she shook her hair free of its elastic band. It cascaded around her shoulders in thick chocolate waves and in the soft light of the dying sun she looked fucking amazing. I wanted to grab her and keep her with me. I didn’t want her walking away thinking I was such a jerk, even if it was the truth.
My eyes fell to the splash of chocolate milkshake across her shirt and I grimaced. She looked at me with those amazing bright eyes and I felt desperate for our date not to be over.
Date? Had I just thought that?
What the fuck?
I. don’t. date.
This chick was messing with my head.
“I guess I’ll see you around,” she said with a half-smile that made her look so freakin’ beautiful I wanted to beg her not to walk away from me and let me make it up to her somehow. “Thanks for dinner. It was … interesting.”
As she turned to walk away, I reached for her arm. “Hey, I really am sorry.”
It sounded feeble, but I was struggling to find the words to show her how sorry I really was.
“I know. But I think it’s probably best if …” She bit her lip in the most distracting way. “I’m sorry Heath, but you’re not a mistake I’m willing to make.”
Her words hit me like a kick in the face.
I stood there like a dick, speechless, as I watched her walk away.
“Look I don’t know why I am how I am.” I said suddenly, not sure where this sudden outburst had come from, yet unable to stop it. “And until I met you I never thought about it.”
She stopped and half-turned to look at me over her shoulder.
