by Rylon, Jayne
A miracle in and of itself.
Business was booming. They’d been slammed the whole damn summer and had a mile-long waitlist for restomods. It grew each day thanks to Nola’s new graphic proposals. Kaige’s girlfriend had shaken things up. Advanced them. Evolved the whole shop. Both at the garage and on the home front.
The addition of Nova’s lady brought a new layer to their already complex relationship, which had cemented some with Eli, Alanso and Sally’s wedding. In a group of people who’d lived transient childhoods, the stability itself was welcome. Attractive.
And that was before he tallied how much being included in that sphere of love counted toward easing the knots that had been tied in his guts for years. Since he’d left Kaelyn.
The sexual sharing the seven guys and two women had done recently filled a void in Bryce, one he had long ago resigned himself to living with. At least once he’d realized no woman would replace in his heart the one he’d had to sacrifice more than a decade ago. He might not be part of a soul-mate pairing—like Eli, Alanso and Sally or Kaige and Nola—but those in their group who were made it clear that he and the rest of the unattached guys hadn’t been left in their dust. In addition to the Hot Rods’ friendship, which had lasted since Bryce had leeched Tom London’s hospitality and moved in above the garage, he now had something…more.
They’d begun to explore the connection they’d formed, expanding their relationships beyond partners to lovers, forming a web of intersecting bonds that were complex and deceptively strong. Durable. A natural marvel.
Bryce had taken pleasure in delighting Mustang Sally or Nola with the knowledge he was giving to his fellow Hot Rods—their guys—in the process. Hell, he’d even started to look forward to messing around with Holden or Carver or whichever of his garagemates might be impatient to play when the ladies were otherwise occupied. Meep gave damn fine blowjobs. Enjoyed doing it too.
Who was Bryce to reject an offer like that?
Group sessions in their living room had become a regular occurrence. Something he anticipated. It helped ground him. Made him feel almost whole. Settled.
The Hot Rods’ open-minded arrangement had been a lifesaving compromise, which he’d never dreamed possible. It allowed him to feel as if he hadn’t betrayed the memory of the girl he’d pledged his soul to while granting himself some comfort. Non-traditional intimacy filled the emptiness within him. Dark loneliness had been eating him alive, rotting him from the inside out.
Finally, he had battled back.
Shit, these days he even had a dog. Sure, Buster McHightops was a tiny runt of a thing, not much to look at yet. But he was fierce. A survivor. He loved unconditionally. Like the rest of the gang. Speaking of the pup, he trailed hot on Bryce’s heels, whining as if he could possibly be as concerned about the lady Bryce held as Bryce was himself.
Carrying Kaelyn DuChamp up the open-backed metal stairway to his home, he couldn’t help but wonder how her presence would alter his future. Rock the foundation of his newly expanded happiness. There wasn’t a question of if she would shift his course. No, it was more like how much she would bend his trajectory through this new life he’d created.
Because the woman he held was even more amazing than the girl he’d left behind.
Stunning. A fighter, yet vulnerable. He attempted to work the ache out of his jaw—both from clenching the damn thing and from where she’d bopped him—as he studied her lax features. Gorgeous. Though he wondered about the puffy redness of her face. Had she been crying? What had brought her out this way if she really hadn’t known he was here? And why hadn’t she had anyone to call for help when that damn tire blew?
He’d checked it quickly while loading the car on the flat bed. They were the same fucking set he’d put on the car himself, far too long ago for them to be road worthy.
He had to know more about the fear he’d glimpsed in Kae’s eyes before shock had paralyzed her. It hadn’t been entirely a product of seeing a man she’d thought long vanished that had derailed her from her usual patrician serenity. At least he didn’t think so. His blood boiled at the thought of someone trying to hurt her. Fuck, hadn’t he given up everything to keep her safe?
Like hell would someone threaten her now.
Maybe there was such a thing as fate after all.
In one morning, two worlds had collided. Bryce had yet to see through the glare to determine the damage that had been done. Even once they untangled the snarl of deceptions he’d perpetrated, how would she react if she found out about his new lifestyle?
Too many unanswered questions clogged his mind. The safe haven that grew closer with each step attracted him like a bug to a flickering neon light. With the help of the Hot Rods, they could fix this. He trusted the gang to make things right again. It was what they specialized in. Alanso, Sally and Kaige had each had recent run-ins with their pasts. Bryce refused to break their winning streak. He’d conquer his demons too. He hoped. The alternative was unacceptable. Raining danger on his pseudo-family wouldn’t be tolerated.
Tom, the guys, Sally and Nola… People who cared would rally around him. Extending that same protection to Kaelyn would be second nature. Grateful as ever, he hoped that what they would learn about him today wouldn’t change that fundamental tenant of his life. Please don’t let them kick me out.
He couldn’t survive without them. Maybe Kaelyn couldn’t either, given her panic over going home.
For her, he’d come clean.
As he approached, the door to the apartment over the garage opened. Holden ushered him inside, peeking at Bryce’s precious cargo.
“You brought me a present?” The smartass raised his brows. “She’s a mega-hottie. Thanks.”
But when the guy reached out, Bryce couldn’t believe the overprotective instincts that roared to life. They had him turning away from his partner. “She’s mine.”
Uh-oh. Hot Rods didn’t do possessive.
At least, not after a primary claim had been staked. Shock flashed across Holden’s face before he stood back and held the door wider. “Got it. Bring in your girl. Everyone’s here. Except Tom. We thought we should wait and see what was up before calling him over.”
Swinger—nicknamed for the car he drove, like the rest of the Hot Rods—spoke loud and clear enough to transmit the message to the entire gang. Though they loved their surrogate dad, Eli’s genetic father, they could tell by Bryce’s earlier vanishing act that something was haywire. A sketchy guy had come into the shop today and described a stranded damsel so uniquely amazing, Bryce had immediately known who’d crash-landed in his backyard.
He’d hightailed it out of the garage to rescue her.
Alone.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out she was a part of his past. One he didn’t discuss with anyone, not even his mechanic family.
He tried not to meet their worried gazes as he came inside. Instead, he concentrated on depositing Kaelyn gently on the couch. Then he knelt on the floor beside her. Buster McHightops hopped onto the leather sectional and curled against her torso. When Bryce attempted to shoo the pup, he emitted a rare growl.
“Whoa.” Bryce withdrew his hand in a hurry before his fingers got nipped by baby teeth capable of shredding a pair of thick leather work gloves in less time than it took to go zero to sixty in his Rebel AMC.
“Guess Buster thinks she’s his.” Holden clapped Bryce on the shoulder before taking a seat on the sofa, around the bend in the couch. “Maybe you should have peed on her. Marked your territory or some shit.”
“Fuck you, Swinger.” Bryce stared at his dog, not too upset since he liked the idea of Kaelyn having an ally. God knew she wouldn’t count him as one once she realized how much of the history she thought she’d lived through had to be rewritten to be accurate.
Everyone gathered around gave him courage. He took a breath, prepared for her to despise him, then shook her shoulder gently. “Kae?”
“Bryce?” She fisted her hand.
“Y
eah, it’s me. And you already clocked me once when you realized I wasn’t gallivanting around Europe, so you don’t have to do it again.” He grinned, since his jaw hadn’t suffered much from her ineffectual punch.
Instead of hitting him, she rubbed her knuckles into her eyes, then blinked and took a second look. He figured it was a good sign when her gaze lingered on his mouth. “This isn’t a dream? It wasn’t a nightmare.”
Her head flopped onto the throw pillow as she went limp again.
“Europe?” Eli—the garage’s owner, their King Cobra—shuffled closer, speaking at the same time. “What’s that about? Why would she think that?”
Bryce shook his head. “It’s a load of bullshit my father told her. Kae and I knew each other when we were kids.”
Damn if he hadn’t done a helluva lot of growing up those last few years he’d spent with her. Too bad she’d been too young then. Too innocent for the thoughts he’d had of her. The desire. And too dependent to run rebel with him. Otherwise, life could have been so much better…
He swallowed hard, then looked at Kaelyn directly. “That boy is as good as dead. I’m not that person anymore. So if you came looking for him, I’m sorry. You’re not gonna find him.”
She seemed as though she might argue. Except when she parted those lush lips, a croak came out, followed by a wince.
Bryce leaned in to support her as she sat up, trying not to notice the elegant curve of her shoulder against his palm. “What hurts?”
He ran his hands along her arms, noting the gooseflesh that broke out in the wake of his rough fingers on her porcelain skin.
“Nothing physical.” She glanced around the room, her gaze flitting to him, and his mouth, periodically. Though so many tough guys—tattoos and piercings galore showing beneath tanks or ripped jeans—hovering in a semi-circle had to be overwhelming for a sheltered, refined woman like her, she didn’t cower. Instead she spoke, in a tone filled with husk. “I’ll take the biggest glass of water you have, though. Please.”
“You got it.” Carver, closest to the kitchen, which sprawled open to the living area, trotted over and rummaged through a cabinet.
In the meantime, Kaelyn stared up at Bryce with enormous eyes. “I wasn’t looking for you. I thought you were long gone. I still can’t believe this is happening.”
He held absolutely still as she cupped his cheek, her thumb caressing the stubble there. Her awe he could handle better than her ire. Though if she didn’t stop eyeing him like she planned to lean in and kiss him hello, he might do the job for her.
“Okay, then what’s going on?” he asked. “What brought you to Middletown?”
“Sorry. I’ll tell you, I promise.” Her scratchy whisper had Carver hurrying at the sink. “But who are these people?”
“Oh, crap. Um.” Bryce pointed as he went around the room. “Guys, meet Kaelyn DuChamp. Kae, the bossman is Eli London. Hot Rods is his place, his and his father’s. Tom’s. Next to him are his husband and his wife. Alanso and Sally.”
“Excuse me? I think I heard you wrong.” Kaelyn shook her head as if to clear it.
“Nah, chica. You got it right. The three of us are a set.” The bald Cuban man spoke for himself and his partners. “Nice to meet you, by the way.”
Kaelyn blinked a few times but didn’t object. She bestowed a hint of her brilliant smile. “Same here. You make a cute trio.”
“Thanks.” Sally grinned, then waved her fingers, showing off pretty pink-and-silver nails. “I think they’re handsome fuckers myself.”
“She was talking about you, Mustang.” Eli kissed her on the forehead. The scorching gazes they exchanged might have led to something more, if the situation hadn’t been so unusual and so serious.
Bryce hurried so he could hear her story. “Next to them is Kaige—we call him Super Nova—and his girlfriend, Nola.” He pointed out the guy with dreads and the mocha-skinned woman who’d only formally agreed to join their enterprise earlier that morning. She sat in Kaige’s lap and rested her head on his shoulder. A subtle smile curved her full lips upward. It was nice to see her happy and at ease in their group.
“Kaelyn DuChamp, you look familiar.” Nova tilted his head and squinted a bit. “I think I’d remember a fancy name like that, though.”
Nola smacked her guy on the chest. “It’s a lovely name.”
“Yeah, sounds like something I can’t afford.” He obviously was trying to compliment Kae.
“Please, ignore him. He doesn’t mean anything bad by that.” Nola grimaced.
“Well, anyway, she must look like someone else. You’ve never met her,” Bryce jumped in, denying his friend’s instinct. Before the intuitive man could insist, Carver returned. They didn’t call him Meep for nothing. Not only did he drive a Roadrunner, but he was a fast fucker too. A trait that had come in handy when Roman had landed them in heaps of trouble as a teen.
“Thank you.” Kaelyn sipped from the enormous water bottle.
“Go ahead and chug that. No need to be dainty with it. You must be dehydrated to have passed out like that.” Bryce lifted the bottom of the container, forcing her to swallow more, faster. A dribble escaped her lips and trailed along her chin.
He snuffed a groan and wiped the drop with the pad of his thumb.
“If you’re thirsty, drink up. Free refills.” Roman surprised Bryce with his reassurance. Usually quiet, he seemed curious about their impromptu visitor.
“Yeah, we won’t take your eagerness the wrong way. I like ’em big too.” Carver grunted when the back of Bryce’s hand smacked him in the gut.
“Not appropriate, asshole,” Bryce growled.
“Since when do you expect us to have manners?” Holden chimed in. “We’re mutts, not purebreds, remember?”
“I thought that was the way you liked things.” Alanso raised a brow at Bryce. “Nothing refined, nothing classy… I think I get it now. You’re in denial. You grew up with her?”
Kaelyn choked when Alanso pointed first at Bryce and then at her. She kept drinking through their banter until the entire bottle had been drained dry. Despite the blush creeping over her cheeks and across her décolletage, she held the vessel out to Meep. “Please?”
“Sure. Nothing to get embarrassed about. We appreciate a woman who can suck it down around here,” Carver assured her, Hot Rods-style.
“Meep!” This time it was Nola who objected. “Next thing you’ll be making ‘that’s what he said’ jokes like the Powertools crew. Stop that!”
Good thing since Bryce had clenched his jaw and fisted his hands.
Sally came to the rescue. “It’s habit, Kaelyn. Ignore them or feel free to rip them right back. That one is Carver, his roommate Roman and this guy here is Holden. Or Meep, Barracuda and Swinger, depending on who’s talking. Sorry, we have these nicknames. It’s a pain in the ass to get to know us. There are about a million of us and we each have at least two names… I don’t know who thought that was a good idea.”
Kaelyn laughed along with Sally. “As long as you give me a bit to remember them, it sounds fun to me.”
“Maybe you need one too then. I have a few ideas.” Swinger flashed his charming grin while Bryce gnashed his teeth. “Ours are based on our favorite cars. The ones we drive. And that was one hell of a ride I saw you two pull in with. Sexy. If you let us under your hood we could do a lot with that.”
“So anyway, now that introductions have been made. Stupid formalities.” Bryce grumbled. “Why the hell were you stranded on the side of the road in my town?”
“What are you, the mayor or something?” Kaelyn made him feel a hell of a lot better when she revealed some of her true inner core. He’d started to think maybe it had withered in their old stodgy environment. “Forget you. I had a flat tire. It’s just bad luck that I also discovered your hiding place.”
She glared at him, anger replacing the wounded, lost looks—not to mention the endless glances at his mouth—that had been crushing his heart.
Bryce wanted to
set her straight, but he couldn’t. She had the gist of it right. “You were running. Scared. I know myself that this town is on the path from Windsor. Especially if you’re trying to keep off the interstates, avoiding being seen. For me it was a single tank of gas from home. And that’s as far as you can go when you’re broke. Lost. So who are you trying to escape, Kaelyn? Why?”
Tears filled her eyes. When he reached out, she shook her head. “Don’t touch me. I’m tired of liars thinking they can rule my life. You’re just as bad as him.”
“Who?” Rebel asked again.
“My father.” She bit her trembling lower lip.
“Hey, whoever’s got you frightened, don’t worry. We won’t let anyone bother you.” Carver returned with more water and did what Bryce was banned from doing. He leaned down and hugged Kaelyn, offered her his strength and reassurance. That she accepted the gesture from a stranger over Bryce tore his guts out.
And earned his friend his undying appreciation.
He knew he could count on the Hot Rods. At least until Kaelyn blew his cover.
Revealed to them what a fake he really was.
“What did that jackoff do?” Bryce focused on what was most important—Kae.
“He tried to arrange a marriage for me. To sell me, essentially, to Montgomery Price, in exchange for the guy’s support in the election and the boost to their images a grand wedding would provide.” She sniffled. “I’m so stupid. I believed it was this whirlwind affair. That I’d finally found someone to replace…you. When I overheard my dad and Montgomery laughing at me, and my stupidity for not realizing the whole thing was fake, I called off the wedding. Daddy threatened to disown me.”
Bryce cursed. He knew the weight a fortune could have when wielded against you. The finer things in life had always been more important to Kaelyn.
“So you took your platinum cards and ran,” he finished for her. “He’s probably already canceled them, lady.”
