by KJ Bell
My flirty teasing brings a smile to his face. “You should take a nap.” He guides me by the waist toward the staircase. I feel the phone calling to me as I climb the stairs and I know Eduardo is going to find it.
The wrath that awaits me when he discovers what I’ve been planning will destroy me and Javier.
I made a horrendous mistake and as Eduardo tucks me into bed, I want to take it all back. As of late, life has been bearable with Eduardo. He may not be the man I want to love me, but he loves me. He’s been kind and decent and now I’ve made certain he’ll regret it.
My body beckons me to sleep, winning the battle over my mind to stay awake because I know my life won’t be the same when I wake up.
“Peyton’s very sweet,” Tori says, dangling a toy above Little A’s face.
I smile over at Peyton, who appears to be happy playing a game with Drew at the kitchen table. “Hmmm,” I respond, slightly amused.
“What? You don’t think so?”
“She’s a spit-fire, confident, sassy, argumentative . . . so many things, and yes, maybe a little sweet, too.”
Tori laughs deep from her chest. “She challenges you?”
I nod, joining in her laughter. “You have no idea.”
“I love it. And I’m happy you found someone.”
“Slow down there. I haven’t known her long and I’m still not over Maria.”
“I know, but it’s a start.” She picks Little A up, nuzzling her nose into his neck fat and blowing raspberries. My nephew’s laughter reminds me, life should be happy.
“You got a minute?” Brady asks. I didn’t hear him approach and I turn my head as he nods toward the back deck.
As we sit at the table outside, the worry casting over his expression means he wants to talk about something that will only lead to an argument. We may end up going to blows when I tell him what I’m doing and that Eduardo threatened his family.
To my surprise, Montez isn’t the name out of his mouth. “Have you talked to Liv?”
My head falls forward as irritation flares in my gut. I’ve only spoken to my sister a handful of times since she moved back to Pacific Beach to live with Harrison. He’s a cheating pig that will cheat again and she refuses to see it. “No.”
Brady pinches the bridge of his nose as I plan a trip to Pacific Beach to beat the shit out of Harrison. “She and Harrison are getting married.”
“What? How can she marry that fucker?” I shove back in the chair, balling my fists as I look for something to punch. I think I preferred the conversation where I thought Brady was going to tell me Harrison cheated on her again. “We have to talk some sense into her.”
Brady lets out a clipped laugh. “This is Liv we’re talking about.”
He’s right. Liv won’t listen to either of us and the more we press the more she avoids us. “He doesn’t deserve her.”
“No, he doesn’t, but she’s an adult and if we love her, we may have to let her fall. She’s convinced he’s changed.”
“That’s a heap of shit.”
“Probably, but she’s in love.”
Love. Fucking love. The one emotion that blinds reason and makes us susceptible to manipulation. Liv will experience her own version of the hustle. Harrison’s living the good life off her trust fund, but he doesn’t love her.
“When is this wedding supposed to happen?”
“Next year.”
I shrug and laugh. “Plenty of time for him to screw up then.”
Brady frowns. “Honestly, I hope he doesn’t. It’s time our family experiences some happiness.”
I clasp my hands together, fighting nerves so I can say what I came here to discuss with my brother. “I thought I could get Maria back and I went after Montez.”
“I know.” I blink rapidly in surprise as I lean back in the chair. “You think I haven’t noticed the security you hired following us around? I spoke with Sid.”
“He took my family from me.” I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Eduardo warned that if I crossed him, there may be consequences.”
Brady stays remarkably composed as he soaks in what I said. “And I assume that’s what you intend to do?”
“Eventually, but he’ll be dealt with by his own people before he finds out.”
“You hope, but this is serious shit you’re involved in. You need to stop whatever you’re planning.”
I rap my knuckles on the table with frustration. “Fuck, don’t you think I want to, but he’ll know I intended to play him if I quit now. You think he’ll accept that and leave us alone? That’s not how he operates.”
“You better be damn sure, little brother. If Maria is in love with him, and you get to him, it may be her retaliation you have to face. Maybe you’re fighting the wrong villain.”
“No.” I shake my head frantically. “He had something on her father and swayed the other cartels to save his life. Then he came for Maria. If she had a choice, she would have never gone back with him.”
Blood pools in my mouth as bite the inside of my cheek. I want desperately to believe Maria didn’t go willingly, but in those pictures, she was no longer fighting him. Is it possible she’s working a hustle of her own? Fuck, it’s all so maddening. I can’t think about it without feeling like I’m trapped in some enormous maze without an exit.
“I hope you’re right,” Brady says and then looks right at me. “But swear to me that before anything goes down, you’ll warn me so I can get Tori and the kids out of Mexico.” I nod as he reaches out to shake my hand. “What will you do after? If Maria returns? What about this girl you brought to my house?”
Before I answer, Peyton comes through the sliding glass door and sits next to me. I shake my head at Brady and shrug. Disappointment crosses over his expression before he turns his head to Peyton. He knows I fucked up again by getting involved with Peyton. I did, but I’m in too deep to walk away.
“So, Brady, your brother tells me you’re in a band,” Peyton says. “Which one?”
“Second Chances,” Brady answers politely.
“Never heard of you.” She flashes an awkward smile. “Sorry.”
“No biggie,” Brady assures her with a soft laugh. “The guys are a bunch of degenerate slackers.”
Peyton laughs hard. “Must be a rocker band then.”
I love that she’s comfortable teasing my family. I’m also terrified by how easily she seems to be slipping into my life. Brady laughs and follows up with, “That darn rock music hurts my ears,” in an old man voice.
“Damn hippies,” Peyton snorts.
The color in her cheeks and her lively smile makes me want to take her back to the loft and pick up where we left off this morning.
“You two want to stay for dinner?” Brady asks.
Peyton looks at me to see what I think. I nod and answer that we’d love to.
As my eyes pop open, I expect to find an angry Eduardo in my room, holding the cell phone in his hand, but he’s not here. The mansion is quiet as I descend the stairs. I find Guadalupe in the front room, reading a book. She informs me Eduardo took Javier riding. We’ve been taking the horses out for a daily ride as a family activity, but I guess they went without me today.
I venture into the Foyer toward the coat rack. Cameras mounted to the ceiling watch me closely. Retrieving my jacket has to appear natural or the jig is up. I pull it off the rack and slip it on before walking out the front door. To keep up the charade, I look toward the stables as though I’m simply trying to see Eduardo and Javier. When I don’t find them, I go inside and straight to the bathroom where there are no cameras.
I reach into the pocket the kid slipped the phone into—empty. Frantic, I check the other pocket—also empty. I cover my mouth, sagging against the bathroom wall. Eduardo has the phone. He knows.
After returning the jacket to my closet, I go the kitchen for a glass of water. On the way, I run into Eduardo and Javier.
“Feeling better?” Eduardo asks without a trace of
anger in his tone.
“Yes, thank you,” I answer with effort to keep my voice from trembling with the fear assaulting my insides.
“You missed a beautiful ride,” Eduardo tells me, taking my hand. “We went up the back of the ridge today. You can see the whole state from up there.”
“Maybe you can take me to tomorrow,” I offer, smiling down at Javier. “What do you think?”
“Can we, Daddy?” He beams at Eduardo.
“Of course. I think she’ll love it.”
It’s obvious Eduardo didn’t find the phone.
The question is . . . who did?
On the drive to the loft, Sid texts that he knows who broke into Peyton’s place. I have a name and an address. My first instinct is to drive straight to the psycho’s house and retaliate, but under Sid’s advisement, I’ve chosen not to.
“Do you know anyone named Robert Dellisen?” I ask Peyton.
She smiles. “I work with him. Why?”
I anticipated the name belonging to heartbreaker number one or two. Knowing she works closely with the perp sets my senses on full alert. “Has he ever bothered you?”
She shrugs, but something in her expression is off. She lowers her head and her knee bounces with nerves. “He’s asked me out a dozen times or so, but he’s harmless.”
“He’s not harmless,” I shout as she lifts her head to look at me. Her eyes widen slowly, growing larger when I add, “He’s the one who broke into your place.”
“Robert?” Her voice doesn’t rise in shock like I anticipated. “Are you sure?”
“Sid has proof from a security camera on the street.”
“It doesn’t make any sense. Why?”
“I thought you might know. Was anything missing?”
“I don’t think so, nothing valuable and the only jewelry I have, I was wearing.”
“What about things like underwear or bras?”
“Jesus. I don’t know. I didn’t exactly inventory my unmentionables. Why would he want those?” Her hands tremble as she rubs her legs.
“He’s unstable, maybe even fixated on you.”
She nibbles her bottom lip as the red color in her cheeks intensifies. I can’t decide if she’s embarrassed about this pervert ransacking her stuff or if she knows more than she’s telling me. “God. What do we do?”
Of course she’s embarrassed. My lack of trust with women is causing me to look for the hustle in the story that she’s sharing, when I should be focused on easing her concerns. “I’m having him followed. Sid thinks the scene suggests he was looking for something. Do you have something he might want?”
“No, not that I can think of.”
I take hold of her hand and offer her the support I should have been giving her all along. “We’ll file a police report so you can press charges. They’ll be pissed we didn’t do it that night and that we cleaned up, but Sid knows the Chief.” She stays quiet, possibly not hearing me at all. The pressure of how I feel about Peyton wants to control me, wants me to send her out of my life before it’s too late. Before she destroys me. Only I won’t let her go because I have to protect her from this creeper. No . . . she needs me to protect her. “Hey, I won’t let him hurt you.”
She gives me a weak smile. “Thank you.”
“Once, he’s locked up, you can go back to your own place.” I realize what was intended as teasing sounds more like I want her out of the loft.
“I’ll go whenever you want,” she answers softly.
“Good.” Her eyes flash with shock, but then she laughs when I say. “We have two rooms left at my place and then we can christen all the rooms in yours. Unless you’re ready to be rid of my sorry ass.”
Her lips stay curved up as she shakes her head. “Not yet, but you’re pushing it.”
The air in the car feels significantly lighter as I pull into the garage at the loft. I speak with Mike and JT while Peyton goes up to shower. When Peyton does return to her loft, they’ll still be assigned to protect her until Eduardo is dealt with. It’s hard admitting how much I’m going to miss her.
Steam billows from the bathroom as I open the door.
“Took you long enough,” Peyton teases from behind the glass wall.
Her sultry voice beckons me to strip naked and join her. To which I humbly oblige, slipping into the shower behind her. I rub my palms over the points of her shoulders as my teeth graze her earlobe. “Were you growing impatient?”
“No,” she giggles, as one of my hands lowers, tickling her ribs. “I was growing horny.”
“Direct as ever.” I laugh.
Her head falls back against my chest as I splay my hand across her firm stomach. As I work lower, she sucks in a ragged breath. It’s been awhile since I considered a woman’s needs before my own. But then again, it’s been awhile since I’ve been with a woman I wanted to please.
My hand slides down her abdomen until I reach her folds. Her breath hitches when I push into her clit and continues in quick gasps as I stroke her to a back arching climax. Quickly, but gently, I push her forward. Her palms press flat into the tile in front of her as she peers back at me over her shoulder. When I slam into her, she cries out in carnal scream that nearly makes me lose my load.
I pump my hips, wanting to reach the brink as quickly as possible. Maybe later, I’ll go slow and savor the moment, but right now, I seek escape from my thoughts.
It doesn’t take long for my balls to tingle. Warmth spreads down my legs and up my groin as my body goes rigid on release. I stay buried inside of Peyton until my head clears and until I’m ready for more.
Now I shall take my time and enjoy how incredibly beautiful it is to be inside of her.
Just before bedtime, I allow Javier to watch a movie while Eduardo busies himself in the study. The missing cell phone has taunted my thoughts all evening. I start in the foyer, searching to see if I dropped it anywhere before making my way to the bathroom.
It’s vanished.
As I exit the bathroom, I run into Marco, who nods for me to go with him outside. I follow him out and he tips his head for me to come closer until we’re out of camera shot.
“Looking for this?” he whispers.
“How did you get that?”
“I’m not an idiot, Maria. And neither is Eduardo. I pulled it from your jacket when Eduardo took you upstairs. It’s a good thing, too. He searched the pockets when he came down. He doesn’t trust you and you should never believe for a second that he does.”
“Marco, the cameras will have seen you.”
“As I said, I’m not an idiot. I wasn’t seen. I’m going to give it to you because I know you’ll do something more dangerous if I don’t, but you must return it to me when you’re done so he never finds it. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good, you have ten minutes. Use it somewhere you aren’t seen.”
He’s taken by surprise when I hug him. “Thank you, Marco. I knew you were a good guy.”
“I care about your father, but if you get caught, I can’t protect you.”
“I know,” I whisper before I go back inside.
The fan buzzing in the bathroom should muzzle the typing. Emotions zip through me as I type, everything from nervous excitement to debilitating fear, but none strong enough to stop me.
I toss the sheet over a sleeping Peyton before getting out of bed and strolling to the kitchen. Sid phoned earlier to let me know he filed a police report on her behalf, but she’ll have to go to the station in the morning and speak with a detective before an arrest can be made. She put on a tough face, but I know she’s scared and not just of her coworker. Eduardo harming her lingers in the back of her mind as it does mine. Failing her is not an option. I’ll die before I let him near Peyton.
My cell phone buzzes on the counter and I see a text from an unknown number. It reads, My dear. That’s it. I consider replying, but as Peyton strolls into the kitchen wearing nothing but one of my T-shirts, I decide the messenger probably had
the wrong number.
“I’m starving,” she mumbles.
“Maybe we should eat more and fuck less,” I say with a smirk.
She flips me off and opens the fridge. The under curve of her fine ass peeks out from the bottom of my T-shirt as she leans over looking for something. My dick takes immediate notice. When she sets a jar of pickles and a bottle of ranch dressing on the counter, what she’s concocting holds my focus. She grabs a bowl from the cupboard and then squirts ranch into it. I exaggerate gagging when she dips a pickle chip into the ranch and eats it.
“Want one?” She holds out a pickle chip, dripping in slimy white dressing.
My face squishes up by itself as I stare at her offering in disgust. “I’m never kissing you again.”
“Liar.” She bites down on the pickle and dressing runs down the side of her mouth. She ignores it and continues crunching.
“You Shingle Springs’ girls are classy,” I tease, wiping her mouth with a paper towel.
I can’t help but laugh as she sucks her fingers in mock fashion.
“Let’s go out to dinner?” I ask.
“Like an actual date?”
“Yes, as long as you think you can chew with your mouth closed . . . Ouch,” I scream when she smacks me in the arm.
She slips my T-shirt over her head, exposing her beautiful naked body as she saunters to the bedroom. I love that she’s not shy. As if she has no insecurities beneath the surface that could ruin what we have. As long as I keep my issues in check, a relationship between us could actually work.
My dick beckons me to stay in, but I want to take her out and show her she’s more than a bang buddy. Or maybe it’s myself I want to convince.
Either way, this is the first time in forever that I’ve wanted to be out and seen with someone.
Peyton glows as she exits the bedroom in a sleek black dress and a new pair of tall black heels that make me weak in the knees.
