Nothing But Trouble

by Ashley Bostock

  “You aren’t going to tell me?” she asked.

  “Not yet.”

  “When will you tell me?” she laughed.

  “After we eat and once Aslan pulls up. It’s not too far. I decided it’s time for a visit. It’s been too long since I’ve been there.”

  “Are you trying to mix business in with pleasure?” she asked him.

  Considering his image, anything with her was all business. It would do her and himself good, if they both remembered that.

  Chapter Eight

  Once they drove around the city and Aslan took the two of them out toward the mountains, their packed meal finished, they arrived at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Sophia’s breath caught in her throat because it was beautiful, and tonight was the first time she’d ever seen the place in person.

  Red Rocks was something that couldn’t be described. The red, smooth stones that were used as seats, and the way the entire amphitheater overlooked the magnificent view of Denver – there was nothing comparable. It was all breathtaking. She’d lived in this area all her life, and she’d never made it up to Red Rocks. Now there she was, alone with the most handsome man in Denver, gazing out over the night’s sky at all the city lights as far as her eyes could see. It was a dream.

  She watched Michael’s slow, perusing movements like he had no care in the world as he gazed around the amphitheater, eyes assessing every nook and cranny. His stance, as he leaned back along a snow-covered ledge while he gazed toward the stage, was unfaltering. Even as his back was no doubt getting wet from the partial snow that he was leaning into, she watched him. He exuded so much confidence, she envied how he did it. Powerful. Sharp. In control of himself. He had an air about him that said he was a man on his own. He held the keys to his life. No one else. She put on a mask, a show, every night trying to become what he looked like all the time.

  Some people were just born with it.

  Most of the snow that had fallen last night had melted. Small wet spots still lingered around certain areas where the snow had accumulated more than it had in other areas, threatening to turn into ice by morning where the sun would begin its process all over again.

  “What do you think?” His mouth quirked up into a semi-grin. God, he was so…freaking hot.

  “I think I’ve been sheltered far too long to have not made it up here.”

  “A lot of people that live in Colorado haven’t been here. I haven’t been up here since November, and I own the place.”

  Wow. Owner. She couldn’t fully grasp that concept. He must be really proud of himself at the accomplishment. “Why now then? Why tonight?”

  “Because of you.” He shrugged.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Something about you makes me want to do stuff. Stuff I’ve not let myself enjoy for a long time.”

  “How long?”

  “Long enough. Cold?” There was something peculiar about the weather in Colorado when it snowed. It made it colder, but sometimes not enough to require a coat. Which was why no one wore a coat when it only snowed a little bit. Now though, that they’d been standing outside for at least thirty minutes, the chill was starting to seep into her bones.

  “Yes. Do you want to go?”

  “Almost. There’s one more thing I want to show you. Follow me.” He held out his hand, and she grasped it, reminding herself that even though everything about this moment felt good, right, it was all temporary. The warmth of it startling against the cold night.

  He led Sophia down the steps, and she couldn’t help the smile on her face as she trudged after him. She’d read articles, and seen plenty of pictures of Red Rocks, but the sight of it, walking down the steps that were the red rocks, it wasn’t just the cold that stole her breath. It was being surrounded by this surreal beauty. He led her to the stage. Nothing stood out of the ordinary. Just a shell of an amphitheater. Still holding her hand, he guided her up a few steps and onto the stage.

  “It’s a different view from here. That’s for sure,” Michael said.

  “Unbelievable.” Sophia agreed.

  The view was still fantastic. All the seats and the elevation of the stage, however, reminded Sophia of work, and she didn’t want to go there. Not with him. He was wearing a knitted navy-blue sweater over his jeans. A white shirt peeked out from beneath it making his skin appear darker than it was. He was so pristine and polished. She wondered what he would say if he knew he was with a girl who could keep up with all the other performers that had graced this stage. She could break out into a striptease with Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” tune in her head and not miss a beat. Would he be disgusted? Angry at her secret? Respectful of her and her job?

  She knew she should tell him but one month. They had one month together, and it would go by so quickly, honestly, she didn’t think he would need to know at all.

  “What are you smirking at?” he said.

  “Just imagining all of the performers who have graced this stage.” Including me.

  “There’s been quite a few. Blink 182, Doobie Brothers, The Eagles, some country singers.”

  “You must have quite the army of employees to operate something like this,” she said.

  “I do. It takes a lot of good people to manage a good business.”

  “Yeah, but you have to be smart, too.”

  “That’s some of it.” Michael pushed his hands into his pockets, watching her.

  Sophia swung her arm out to highlight the beauty surrounding them. “It’s amazing up here. The snow on the mountains. Not every day you get to look from this point of view.”

  “No. I haven’t owned it long, but I never get tired of seeing it. It’s only one of its kind in the whole world. Perfect acoustics. Occurs naturally.”

  “That is something, isn’t it?” Sophia said in awe.

  He turned to her again. His eyes were dark, forbidding. She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. His face didn’t show emotion. He was silent and still. She couldn’t move. He’d caught her in his web, and her traitorous heart wasn’t sure if she should fight it or succumb to whatever mysteries waited for her.

  “Let’s go.”

  The moment was broken, and she had no choice but to follow him. What was that about? He looked angry, but she knew he wasn’t mad. He couldn’t possibly be with what they’d been discussing. Did he somehow know she worked at the club? Was he giving her an opportunity to tell him? He’d never been a customer in there. She would have noticed. Besides, wouldn’t he have said something at this point? Some flippant comment about her being on stage and on his stage. She wanted to press the issue, but when the limo approached, decided against it. Whatever it was, was gone.

  “Would you like a drink as we make our way back?” He proffered an open thermos, and chilled as she was, she happily agreed.

  “What is it?”

  “Hot Buttered Rum.”

  “Hmm. Never had it.”

  “Try it. I think you’ll like it.”

  Sophia brought the thermos up to her lips, a thrill of forbidden excitement pooled low in her gut with the knowledge that his mouth had been grazing the same rim as she was putting her lips to now. She stared at him intently as the warm mixture spilled over her tongue, awakening her senses. He eyed her back, his stare unforgiving as she swallowed the mixture. It immediately left a pleasant burn down her throat and into her belly. The open desire in his eyes heated her insides, burning up her womanly parts as she envisioned herself naked, spread eagle over one of those smooth red rocks. An offering for him to take as he pleased. She squeezed her thighs tightly together, unable to think of something to say as her fantasy took hold of her being.

  “So good it left you speechless?” he asked her in a lazy, husky voice, and all she could think about was having his lips on hers. How they would taste with the sweet mixture of alcohol and warm brown sugar.

  She licked her lips, and his eyes focusing on her mouth didn’t go unnoticed. He wanted it too. She leaned across the small expanse
of the limousine that separated the two of them, and their fingers tangled as Sophia handed him back the thermos. She hoped, waited even, for him to kiss her, when he didn’t, she broke eye contact and leaned back in her seat.

  “It’s really good.”

  “I’ve always thought so, Sophia. Hits you in all the right places.”

  “I’m sorry this is so awkward,” she blurted out. He must think she was some tool. The guy wouldn’t even kiss her after all. All night he’d been one step away from her. One step between them that might as well have been as wide as the Grand Canyon for as well as they knew one another. She regretted opening her mouth at the gala. That was what she did, and it should be no surprise, but being in this man’s graceful company, she felt like she would at least learn to think before speaking.

  A small smile tugged at his lips. “This isn’t awkward for me. Is it awkward for you?”

  “Yes. No. It’s just, I feel like we have these weird moments of attraction, and then they’re gone. Like they were never there to begin with.” There. She voiced her thoughts and felt good about saying it.

  He was quickly at her side, his large hands gathered up hers, and he smelled so good, looked so handsome inside the dim lighting of the car, that she was sure he was going to tell her that she wasn’t what he had in mind. Their faces were extremely close together all she would have to do was lean in an inch, and her lips would be on his. She didn’t do it though. She was too nervous.

  “Sophia.” His breath fanned her face. “I don’t find this to be at all awkward or boring. You are an enigma to me. Every time I look at you, it takes my breath away. Your smile is downright amazing. Your body. I want to do things to it that I haven’t felt in a long time, Sophia. Kiss things I haven’t kissed in a long time—”

  “You could start by kissing me here. Now. My mouth,” she whispered a little breathlessly. His mouth quirked up slightly. They were still entirely too close to one another. Then she felt his lips moving along her cheek as he spoke. She turned her head ever so slightly, and her mouth caught the corner of his mouth.

  “No, Sophia. I never kiss on the mouth.”

  Chapter Nine

  No kissing. No matter how badly he wanted to. Especially in this case. The look on her face was priceless, and he bet she was wishing she’d known it before their agreement. She would’ve added that into their terms as well. He was sure about that. He was wishing he would have told her so in the hopes that she had. Kissing was a must. He could see it all over her face. Not for the first time tonight, he was thinking about breaking the rule. It was his rule after all. Wasn’t he allowed to break it?

  She’d be the first woman he would go rule-breaker on, and he was starting to like the idea. Especially like now. When her face was mere inches from his, and he could see the deep valley between her breasts. Her lovely scent filled his nose, his mind, swirling around him like a witch’s magic spell. For just a second he allowed his mind to imagine what her lips felt like, what her mouth tasted like, all hot-buttered rum and something equally profound that made her unique, and fuck if it didn’t make him want to pull her into his lap and let her feel all the craziness he’d been experiencing all night

  “You what?” She choked out as his eyes flashed a gentle but firm warning.

  “I don’t kiss. Not on the mouth.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  He shrugged, unable to articulate his exact reasons. Not unable, unwilling.

  “Afraid you might have feelings for someone if you did? Too personal?” Sophia widened her eyes as if she couldn’t fathom something so crazy.

  Michael thought about what she was saying, how he’d been on the verge of losing control all night in her presence. How he couldn’t pinpoint the whirl of emotions he’d been feeling. How one minute he wanted to keep it fake and the next, he wanted all of her. Naked. In his arms.

  Yes, she was right.

  Definitely too personal.

  “Yeah, I suppose that’s correct. It makes dating too messy. I’m not a relationship kind of guy.” Did she just roll her eyes at him? “Who do you think you are rolling your eyes at my personal preferences?”

  “It’s just, well, it’s such a guy thing to say. Not that I’ve been around a lot of them in that sort of context. But you do sound like a broken record. Oh, my gosh, don’t kiss me. Not on the lips, no!” She grabbed her neck, rocking dramatically from side to side. “Oh, and I’m not a relationship kind of guy!”

  Michael couldn’t help but laugh. He enjoyed a woman who had a sense of humor.

  “That is not how I sounded,” he protested.

  “Not exactly but come on, it is a broken record. Isn’t it? All guys just want whatever it is they want from a relationship, and if there’s no commitment, hey! All the better. Am I right? Or am I wrong?”

  “You’re mostly right. There are some men that settle down when the time is right. The time isn’t right for me now. Probably never.”

  “Besides, what do you do if you don’t kiss?”

  He smiled widely and told her honestly. “I fuck.”

  He enjoyed the way her eyes filled with a curious longing and she flattened her palms against her legs. Way. Too. Much.

  “Oh. Well,” she whispered, and her delicate throat bobbed up and down making him think of fucking. Sucking.

  “You said the time isn’t right, but will it ever be? What all happened with you and Mindy anyway?”

  He knew her asking about Mindy would come eventually. “You heard what I said at the gala. She left me at the altar. There’s nothing more to say after that. All she wants is money. I have a lot of it, and there’s nothing that makes her happier. She is a tried and true gold-digger.”

  “She broke your heart,” Sophia said matter-of-factly.

  He ignored her statement with a shrug. “Why are you being so inquisitive? Did the hot-buttered rum make you that way?”

  Even though he was teasing, he handed it to her again. Their fingers brushed against each other, and when he looked into her eyes, there was a spark there. A connection between them that Michael couldn’t seem to figure out. He watched her tiny throat shift up and down as she took down the drink, and he knew that was what her throat was going to look like when he got the opportunity to thrust his dick into her mouth. When? He shook his head. Their fake engagement had gone from that, completely fake, to something. He had to give credit where credit was due: Julia knew him too well.

  Sophia was so innocent and pure sitting there. He wondered what kind of life she lived. She lacked the hostility one carried from having to deal with the real world and the mean, cruel business people that inhabited it. She was joyful. Eager. Naïve.

  “What’s wrong with your grandma? Aside from being elderly?” he asked in an attempt to change the subject away from himself.

  Sophia gave Michael a pointed look as if she were calling him out on his change of subject. “Just the usual health problems it seems. She’d gotten sick a while back. Then she got pneumonia. Then it was double-pneumonia. That’s what’s kept her down pretty much. I think it’s something more though—”

  “What do you mean something more?”

  “I don’t know. It sounds crazy. I’m not a doctor or anything, but it just seems like she may have more than just your standard health problems.”

  “Why don’t you go and get a second opinion? Take her somewhere else?” he asked.

  She didn’t answer, and as he sat there assessing her gaze, he managed to put two and two together. Considering the shack she lived in, it was most-likely the case that she didn’t have a whole lot of money to seek out second opinions.

  “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t be prying.”

  “It’s okay. She has a good doctor who seems to actually care about her and her well-being. Seeing someone new would mean filling out new papers, rehashing all the illnesses she’s been through, listing all the medications she’s on. It’s something that has to be dealt with through insurance, and
my God, I’ve had enough of having to deal with insurance lately. It’s one more thing in my pile of never-ending things, you know? I probably sound like a basket case.” Frustration laced her voice, and he understood it. He would do anything for Regina.

  “Don’t apologize. You sound like a caring granddaughter. And it sounds like you needed to let that out. Isn’t there anyone else that helps you with your grandmother?”

  “No. My mom left us for good three years ago. She was always here and then gone. My dad…who knows where he is. The last time I heard from him, he was backpacking across Thailand with a group of friends, and that was a year ago. I’m assuming he’s no longer in Thailand, but I have no way of knowing that. He occasionally calls when he remembers it’s my birthday or some other big holiday.”

  Michael was silent for a moment contemplating the differences between their lives. Huge differences. Her absentee parents who found their daughter not important enough to have in their lives. Her lack of money, which thanks to Together, he swam in. And lastly, his grandmother who, every day drove him crazy, but was healthy as could be. They couldn’t have more opposite lives if they tried.

  “Don’t do that,” she said.

  “Don’t do what?”

  “Don’t sit there and start feeling bad for me. Comparing my life to yours.”

  “I’m not,” he lied. “I think you’re doing the best you can with what you’ve been dealt. I’m not saying I understand, because I haven’t lived in your shoes. But I admire you for not being bitter or angry about your life. A lot of people wouldn’t be the way you are if they were in your shoes.”

  “You’re one of the first to say that to me. I get a lot of pity. Doctors and nurses look at me like oh poor thing and pat me on the back as they leave. It’s frustrating.”

  “I bet it is.” He noticed they’d made it back to Denver, and Aslan was making circles, waiting for his instruction.

  “Would you like to see my place?” It was out before he realized what he was asking. Or at least, what that could lead to.