by Rylon, Jayne
Soft knocking came at the door, except she was too embroiled in the battle against the bling to respond quickly, or at all.
Another knock.
Kaelyn began to thrash in the tub, trying to knock some of the glitter off and disperse the foam that rose like a skyscraper on top of the water’s surface. It would topple any second. She dove for the drain, knocking it out but grunting and shouting—something she almost never did, it wasn’t ladylike—in the process.
Just as she lost the war, two things happened simultaneously. A wave of gleaming foam splashed onto the floor and deposited some of the sticky shimmer while the door burst open and banged against the poor black-painted vanity, which certainly didn’t deserve such abuse.
“What the hell—?” Bryce shot into the room, skidding on the blob near the tub before he could stop.
Kaelyn shrieked and covered herself, or as many of the important bits as she could manage with two handfuls of twinkling bubbles. Great.
Hot on Bryce’s heels, the rest of his roommates swarmed the bathroom as if prepared to fight off ninjas that had rappelled through the window. Shocked and embarrassed to have sullied their bathroom, Kaelyn could only stand and stare at her audience as Bryce struggled to regain his footing.
Nola rushed to her aid. “Guys, this isn’t some kind of peep show. Jeez. Leave her alone. Nobody’s dying in here. Stand down.”
Just as Nola reached toward the towel rack, Buster McHightops flew in from the hallway, barking his fool puppy head off at the sight of the mountain of gleaming froth. He nipped at a wayward pile of suds, oblivious that he’d cut Nola off.
She shooed him toward the hall, stopping short and skidding on a slick patch of tile in the process. Her eyes grew wide and she braced herself for the inevitable crash.
Before she could fall, Kaige rushed in and swooped her up.
“Careful, babe.” He seemed more upset than was warranted as he dropped to his knees and hugged her tight. “It’s not just you we’ve got to worry about now.”
A hush fell over the room, which was entirely too small for the gang now packing the tiny space. Nola peeked over her boyfriend’s shoulder at the bug-eyed stares of their partners. If there’d been any way to sneak past undetected from her post at the center of the bubblestorm, Kaelyn would have slunk away. Instead she hunkered down in the tub, using the lingering foam as cover, though it had started to fizzle away bit by bit.
The air in the room was charged in an instant.
“Did that come out funny, or did you mean it like it sounded?” Eli—the guy they called King Cobra—tipped his head and studied the pair huddled together on the bathmat. Blond dreads and blue eyes made Kaige striking, but the pure adoration in his gaze as he looked at the woman he cradled melted Kaelyn’s heart.
Nola cupped Kaige’s cheeks in her palms and kissed the tip of his nose then nodded briefly.
“We were going to wait a little bit. Until the doctor has a chance to give us the thumbs-up. There are tests and stuff. To make sure everything is normal.” Kaige’s voice sounded gruff and thick. “But, yeah. Nola’s pregnant. We’re going to have a baby. A mini Hot Rod.”
Mustang Sally shrieked and skidded across the floor to kneel beside the couple. She encompassed them both in a bear hug. “That’s fantastic.”
“Are you sure?” Nola swallowed hard, though she didn’t look away from Sally. “I was a kind of afraid…”
“Of what?” Alanso said something in rapid-fire Spanish that no one seemed to understand. “Don’t say something to piss me off on such a happy day either.”
“Well.” Nola shrugged. “It’s so new. You know. Stuff.”
No one looked at Kaelyn, but she felt bizarrely out of place. She tried to read between the lines of their sketchy conversation and failed miserably.
“And we all live here. How will a baby fit in? Will it cramp your style?” She swallowed hard. “Plus, I didn’t want anyone to think I did it on purpose. To trap Kaige into staying with me or something crazy. It was the night of your wedding, Eli. Kaige forgot to wear a condom that one time. It was a mistake. A happy one. I mean it wasn’t intentional, but I wouldn’t change it either.”
Kaelyn almost broke her silence at the woman’s pure nervousness. Even she could tell Nola’s concerns were unfounded. Her friends adored her. They would never think something so despicable about her. What would it be like to have that kind of unflinching support? She shivered, wishing she knew.
“Stop being ridiculous.” Alanso spat some more Spanish words that had to have been curses.
“Nola, I get what you’re saying.” Holden laid a hand on her shoulder. It seemed more reassuring than a brotherly touch. “But Al’s right. Don’t go any further. There’s no need to worry. We love you. You’re part of us now. And it’s no surprise using protection slipped your minds that night. We were all th—”
This time Roman did glance at Kaelyn. Right before he smacked Holden in the gut, cutting him off by stealing his air.
Carver covered, coming to the rescue of the stony-faced man they called Barracuda. Apparently, they’d worked out some of their tension since she’d seen them last. Funny that the harder of the two had been more forgiving. If she’d met Roman on the street, without Bryce’s endorsement, she might have been frightened of him. Lost eyes, deep lines on his face and tattoos that spoke of a life full of tough living—skulls, flames, dice, booze and drugs. He intimidated her. Enough that she nearly forgot about what it sounded like Holden had been about to say.
“Does Tom know?” Bryce changed the subject, smoothing things over like he always had. It was hard to imagine him as the rebel his friends called him when she saw him as a peacekeeper. “He’s gonna freak out. In a good way, I mean.”
“I hope you understand.” Nola bit her lip. “I asked him for advice. I think my mom might have let it slip anyway, now that they’re besties.”
“Hell, Cobra, your old man knew before I did.” Kaige rolled his eyes, then met Eli’s stare before glancing back to the woman he held so close to his heart. “Who doesn’t lean on Tom in a crisis, babe? We understand.”
“And you have nothing to worry about.” Sally kissed her friend on the cheek. “We’re excited for you. Thrilled. I can’t wait to be part of this baby’s life. If you’ll let me. Us.”
“Of course.” Nola blinked furiously as her eyes filled with moisture. “I wouldn’t want to raise a kid in any other family.”
She clutched Kaige’s hand, her rich skin turning white at the knuckles. Had she worried they’d ostracize her? Kaelyn had only known them a matter of hours and she could have guaranteed that wouldn’t be the case. She’d never met a more tightly bonded pack of people.
Loneliness swamped her.
She had to get out of there. Somewhere private, where she didn’t have to face how utterly solitary she was compared to this network of comrades that included her one-time best friend.
Envy didn’t look good on her.
“You guys?” Kaelyn hated to interrupt. Still, she couldn’t even wipe the tears streaming down her cheeks since her hands were attempting to grant her an iota of modesty. “That’s super touching, but can someone hand me a towel or the robe or…something?”
As her skin cooled, her nipples began to harden. At least she told herself it was the environment and not the guy she’d had a crush on as a teenager that did the trick. Seeing him like this, relaxed and surrounded by genuine, caring friends, she couldn’t help but be jealous. No wonder he’d never come back for her.
“Shit. Sorry.” Bryce lunged for the robe then crossed to her.
Not before his garagemates stole a few more glances, though.
“Don’t be so quick to cover up, honey. It’s a nice view. Though I’m not sure if you look more like a super classy stripper or one of those sparkly vampires with all that glitter going on.” Carver cracked up as he leaned his hip against the sink and openly admired her. She knew some of his brashness was really aimed at mashing Bryce’s b
uttons, so she didn’t hold it against him. Besides, it was nice to know they found her attractive despite the two sexy women in their midst. “Either way, you’re doing ’em proud.”
“I’m going to kick your ass.” Bryce swiped at his friend, but the other guy ducked.
“What? I said classy stripper!” Meep snorted as he made a break for it, evading capture while shoving through the crowd of his friends, dispersing some of them into the hallway. The crowd thinned.
“Rough-housing in the bathroom is a good way for one of you to end up in the emergency room with an absurd story again.” Sally peeked around the crowd huddled in the bathroom. “Quit that before you knock into Nola. Besides, if you don’t give Kaelyn some privacy, she’ll think we’re total pervs.”
Holden choked, though Kaelyn couldn’t quite understand why.
“We are,” Roman muttered, earning a glare from Bryce. He held his hands up and out. “Okay, okay. Leaving. Glad to see you’re not drowning yourself in our tub or some such, Kaelyn.”
He stopped short of rolling his eyes at Bryce’s overprotective urges, though it seemed as if it took some effort.
Surprisingly quick for a herd of built mechanics and a pair of women, they filed out, leaving her alone with Bryce.
And very naked.
Chapter Four
The shutting door unleashed a report at least as jarring as that of a rifle shot. Kaelyn should know, since an elaborate skeet shooting range occupied a section of the basement of her family’s mansion. The powerful sound had nothing on the intensity of Bryce’s stare, though, as he scanned her from head to toe.
Chills raced through her body, shaking her. Although she was feeling the effect of the cooling water that still dripped off her skin, she knew her body’s reaction had a heck of a lot more to do with the guy stalking toward her than it did with the temperature of her bathwater.
“You’re cold,” he murmured as he approached. Was he daring her to call him a liar? To admit that she’d never been as sizzling inside as when he looked at her…like that?
Knowing that the horror stories of his endless string of beauties were false, she gave herself permission to feel all the things she’d buried. Overwhelming attraction swamped her. She could let him take care of her. He would. In many ways.
Kaelyn didn’t nod or shake her head, but instead continued to meet his gaze despite the urge to turn away or blink. Anything to sever this unnatural connection they’d always shared. After having it stolen once, she couldn’t bring herself to give it up, even if indulging herself was supremely foolish.
So she took the time to admire the changes in this man she’d once known so well. Maybe better than herself. Shirtless, the ink that accentuated his defined muscles mesmerized her as did his new, rugged frame. Inside, she could still see the things she’d loved most about him—the kindness in his soft gray eyes, the thoughtfulness he displayed as he plucked a towel from the bar on the wall, out of her reach.
“I hope you don’t mind. It’s mine.” He grimaced. “I would get you a clean one out of the closet, but I think it’s Holden’s turn on laundry duty and he sucks at it. Puts it off until there’s hardly anything left.”
“This is fine.” Despite what he might think of her, she wasn’t stuck-up. Or at least not on purpose. She’d always had things handled for her. Towels laundered and folded by the house staff, replaced after each shower or bath before she bothered to think about how they never disappeared for long. This one smelled much nicer. Like his soap instead of some floral detergent.
Their fingers brushed when she tried to accept the cotton from his broad, calloused hands. The dings and nicks in his knuckles, and the occasional shadows beneath his nails, made her aware of the hard work he put in each day. At Hot Rods. A place he clearly loved.
Another shiver ran through her at their fleeting connection. Or maybe at the knowledge that he had found his bliss. She bit her lip to keep it from trembling, but he noticed the tears burning her eyes anyway.
“Shit. I’m sorry about the rest of the gang. They didn’t mean to embarrass you. We’re not big on personal boundaries.” He cleared his throat at that.
Kaelyn shushed him and stood still as he knocked foam from her body, then bundled her in his well-worn towel. Between the scent of him—pure, masculine, clean, evergreen—and the softness he pressed to her flesh with those deft, if mammoth, fingers, she trembled yet again.
When he swaddled her in his arms and smothered her in the heat of his body, she quit attempting to resist. Instead, she rested her head on his shoulder and allowed him to care for her as he lifted her from the tub and set her on a fuzzy bathmat that had barely avoided being gilded by the extra-sparkly froth. The cartoon car-shaped rug felt divine when she curled her toes into it.
For the first time in a while she felt…safe.
Like the disaster her life had become might not be so scary after all. It might be nothing like what she’d planned for herself, but these people she’d stumbled across had rallied around Bryce. She’d bet none of them had a straightforward journey to this refuge where they’d grown to accept and cherish their differences.
The concern they’d shown for Bryce made her certain they would never give up on each other. And if she could pretend, for a few fleeting ticks of the clock, that their protective bubble included her, why shouldn’t she?
Especially if Bryce was willing to keep holding her and rocking her and murmuring things as he glided his hand and the towel across her skin.
“You smell so good.” The truth slipped out of Kaelyn as he returned the relaxation she’d gleaned from the steamy water.
“I could say the same.” Husk infiltrated Bryce’s timbre, roughening his voice, though not his touch. He knelt then nuzzled her belly as he began drying her thighs. “Honey, you might as well move your hands so I can do a good job here. I’ve pretty much seen it all anyway.”
Kaelyn balked. “Maybe on your other women, but not me.”
She couldn’t help her old beliefs from slipping out.
“Do you mean Nola and Sally?” Bryce paused at her acerbic tone.
“Sorry, sorry.” She swallowed hard and shook her head. “I wouldn’t say something like that about your friends’ ladies. It’s just that your dad…”
“What?” He gritted his teeth. “What did that fucker do?”
“After you left, he seemed chattier. He’d always find me to tell me how proud he was that you were seeing some beautiful woman or other in Europe.” She couldn’t help the bitterness draining from her. “He would tell me how charming they were, how worldly, how—”
“I get the picture.” Bryce gripped her tighter than he probably intended. “Listen. I hooked up with women. I’m not saying I was some kind of monk. But they weren’t that frequent and I certainly didn’t have any meaningful relationships. I haven’t since…”
He swallowed hard, then looked directly into her eyes.
“No one’s meant to me what you did. Do,” he promised. Except something flickered in his gaze when he rubbed the back of his neck.
Suddenly, she didn’t want to know. For the first time in forever, part of her blossomed, yearning to be touched. It’d been ages since she felt compelled to explore. “Hey, you don’t need to explain. It’s not like I’m a virgin either.”
He winced at that.
Some selfish part of her kept her from telling him how bland her experiences had been. How boring. Unfulfilling.
“Besides, Kae, it wouldn’t matter if I’d slept with a thousand women. None could compare to you.” Bryce melted her last shreds of resistance. “Who are you going to trust—my father or me?”
She touched his cheek, hoping he could tell she felt the same about him. Between him and the evil bastard who’d raised him, there was no contest. Bryce deserved her faith. At least she prayed he did.
“So I’ll be honest. If you think I really had my eyes closed those times we went skinny dipping…” He caught himself, maybe because he noticed
her eyes narrowing as she thought yet again of how naïve she’d been.
Unfortunately it was true. And her chill returned.
“Fuck, Kae.” He growled. “I can’t think when you’re around. That was dumb. I’m sorry. And I was a jerk for sneaking a peek back then.”
“You’re not really sorry, are you?” The revelation awed her. She’d tempted him? Those times he’d seemed oblivious to her crush—could he have actually felt something?
“Ah. Honestly?” He blew out a sigh that fluttered his hair over his creased brow.
Her fingers curled into fists to avoid burying themselves in the strands. Still, she nodded as she looked him straight in the eye. So she saw it, when he told the pure, unadulterated truth.
“No. I’m not. They’re some of my favorite memories. You were gorgeous.” His pupils dilated as his praise gave her the courage to let go of some of her insecurities and her death grip on her goods.
His Adam’s apple bobbed after she bared her breasts to his stare. When he rocked forward slightly, she wondered if he really meant to lick his lips right then. Distracted by his intense admiration, her hand between her legs fell away also.
“Fuck me.” He moaned. “You are gorgeous, I meant. More than I ever dreamed, Kaelyn. Lush. Filled out from that girl’s body. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Squirming, she shifted restlessly before him.
“I’m making you uncomfortable.” He squeezed his eyes closed, causing wrinkles where she’d never seen them on his youthful countenance. “I’m screwing this up.”
“You’re not.” She reached out and cupped his handsome face, enjoying the rasp of his light beard on her palms. “I thought you didn’t feel it. I mean, you never acted like we were more than friends. Would ever be. So when your dad told me…I believed.”
A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed. Hard.
“Ah, Kae.” Bryce lunged to his feet, enfolding her in the towel and lifting her as though she weighed no more than Buster McHightops. He pivoted, placing her on the sink so he could meet her gaze once again. The towel rested beneath her, ensuring the cool surface of the counter didn’t reach her, the same way he insulated her from reality.
