by Rylon, Jayne
He paused, though not long enough to give her an opening to speak.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t think about things from your perspective. I’ve held a grudge for a long time. Against my dad. And yours. For the way they use the power of their money, their positions. I forget sometimes that not everything from that life is…”
“All show, no soul?” She understood completely, and hated that he’d lumped her in with the rest even for a moment.
“Shit. I’d never think of you that way.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “More like I felt for the first time in a long time like I, and what I have, wasn’t good enough. It pissed me off. And I was afraid.”
“Of what?” She tipped her head as she read the genuine concern in his eyes.
“That I don’t deserve you. That I can’t keep you the way you’re accustomed to living.” He sighed.
“First off, you can’t keep me at all.” She had to get this straight right now or she’d leave in the car they’d repaired earlier and never look in the rearview mirror, no matter how much of her heart she left behind. “I’m my own woman now. I won’t belong to anyone else.”
“What if you take me instead?” He sauntered closer, perfuming the air around her with the scent of man and motor oil.
“Then I’d be the richest girl in the state.” Kaelyn smiled.
“I’m yours. If you still want me. Dumbass moments and everything.”
She went into his open arms and rested her cheek on his chest, right over the flaming patch that held his name embroidered on it.
He squeezed her tight.
“This is what I want, Bryce.” She hugged him back, reveling in his solid embrace. “You’re all I need. You, a place where I can be myself, take what I need and contribute meaningfully to the people who…”
“Who what, lady?” He stroked her hair from root to tips, which landed barely above her ass.
“Who will be my new family,” she whispered. “I feel it already, Bryce. I could belong here.”
“Damn straight.” He lifted her up and she locked her legs behind his back so they were eye to eye, then lips to lips.
Their kiss escalated until the thick length of his cock rubbed her mound and she moaned into his mouth.
“Hold that thought.” He looked around, kind of guiltily. Did he care if the rest of the Hot Rods caught him making out during shop hours? “I came in here to ask if you wanted to do something with me.”
“There are zillions of naughty things I want to do with you. But I get that’s not what you mean.” One more stolen kiss would have to hold her. It wasn’t like him to act like this. Now that his past was in the open, he didn’t seem to have any secrets from his garagemates. “What’s going on?”
He nuzzled her neck, close enough to whisper.
“Kaige is going to pop the question to Nola tonight. He’s got some elaborate thing set up. When we went out at lunch, it was to help him pick out a ring. The Powertools crew is even coming. They’re on their way now. I can’t wait for you to meet them. Would you help me with my part? I have to pull off some dumb dance and lip synch. Plus, I thought….”
“Yes?” Her heart melted as she watched his cute factor shoot through the roof.
“I’d like you to be part of it. With the rest of us.” He cleared his throat. “If I haven’t totally fucked things up with you, I think you should be there. Celebrating the future with us. I want you to be one of the gang.”
And that was the best pledge she’d ever heard.
“Of course. I’d love to.” She sighed. “But Bryce, are you going to keep me locked away somewhere? If that’s what you expect of me, to be arm candy and wait all day for you to come home and fuck me… I can’t do that. I’m not that woman anymore. Promise me, you won’t do that to me.”
“Son of a bitch.” He let her down gently then smacked his fist into the filing cabinet she’d finished sorting through so recently. “Is that what you think?”
“Isn’t that what you said? That you didn’t want me dirtying my hands?” She stood akimbo, daring him to deny it.
“Yeah. Damn. I guess I did, but I didn’t mean it like you’re thinking. I want you to have the life you’re used to. The standards you’re accustomed to.”
“Bryce, think about what you’re saying. I’d willingly trade a life of luxury for one of love.” She watched her words sink in. “Isn’t that what you’ve done yourself? I don’t want fancy things or to waste my time on idle pursuits. The only thing that’s important to me is you. Us. Maybe the Hot Rods, if they’ll have me too.”
He rushed to her and swung her in circles. Thankfully the desk had been cleaned off or he would have scattered months of paperwork in a hurricane twisting around them. “I’m so sorry, Kaelyn. I didn’t mean to underestimate you. I swear. I only wanted to give you what you need to be happy.”
“I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Every day until you believe me. I already have everything I need. As long as I have you.” She stared up at him. “Don’t stifle me, please. Like with Holden last night, the freedom you gave me… It means everything. I thought you understood.”
“I do now. I won’t take that away from you. And after Cobra sees what you’ve done in here, I’m pretty sure he’s not going to let you off office duty for the next fifty years. Sorry for your luck.” He grinned then rested his cheek on the top of her head.
“Okay. Why don’t we go upstairs and figure out what to do so that your part of Kaige’s proposal kicks ass?” She wondered if they might fit in some make-up sex too.
“Our part, lady,” he corrected her.
When he hauled her into his arms, shouted that he was taking a break as he marched them out of the open bay, then leapt up the stairs three at a time, she figured they were finally on the same page. No one seemed surprised by their departure. In fact, she thought she saw Sally clapping and bouncing from her perch on Tom’s front stairs, where she was chatting with Ms. Brown.
Later that evening, they stood in the twilight, hand in hand.
Bryce had parked his white Rebel AMC, complete with blue and red stripes, in the lot around a bend in the road. After a quick make-out session in the backseat of his car, they’d traipsed to their mark, a few trees behind Nola and a few trees in front of Mike—the Powertools crew’s foreman—and his wife, Kate. They had their adorable little girl, Abby, with them as well. After they were finished here, Kaelyn intended to play with the toddler and her equally adorable buddy, Nathan, who belonged to another of the couples.
The nine friends who’d joined the Hot Rods’ scheme made Kaelyn feel like she’d inherited a whole network of people in a single day. They accepted her as part of Bryce. Not questioning their bond, which had reformed in an instant. Suddenly she felt wealthy beyond measure.
Crisp air proclaimed the coming fall. Scarlet leaves rained around the dirt road they stood on the side of, waiting for their cue. Buster McHightops sat near their feet, looking preposterous yet dapper in a doggie tux. A top hat with slits for his ears perched at a jaunty angle, completing the look.
Kaelyn took stock of Bryce in a nice pair of jeans, the first ones she’d seen him wear that didn’t have tears or a prominent grease stain. A navy plaid button-down shirt only enhanced his rugged beauty. She scanned him from head to toe before licking her lips.
“If you do that again, they’re going to find me nailing you to that tree over there when they come by. Which should be any minute now.” He wrenched his stare from her to peer down the lane.
“It’s been a looooong time since last night.” She loved that she could make him yearn the same way she did.
“You should have let me return the favor earlier.” Bryce crossed his arms, putting her off-balance at the sight of his strong forearms beneath the unbuttoned and rolled-up sleeves of his shirt.
She licked her lips again as she remembered how he’d tasted and how full her mouth had been of his heat and hardness when she’d seduced him into letting her try her hand—
or mouth, she supposed—at a killer blowjob. At least she figured she’d done a pretty bang-up job for her first try. It hadn’t taken long before he’d begged her for release. Assuming control, reducing him to the bundle of neediness she’d been the night before had reaffirmed her decision, and granted her power she’d never experienced.
The mixture had been potent enough to make her feel drunk on it.
And she couldn’t wait to do it again.
“As much as I love that deviant look in your eyes, it’s show time. Here they come.” Bryce took her hand and seemed to be counting under his breath.
“Relax, Bryce. You were always a great dancer.” She remembered how watching him or swirling around the ballroom in his arms was the only fun part of the tedious events they’d attended.
“It’s been years since I waltzed.” He shook his head. “Are you sure this is the way to go?”
“It’s going to be perfect. Look, they’re starting!” she shout-whispered, though Kaige and Nola were too far away to hear.
Kaige’s Chevy Nova came crawling into view. The windows were rolled down and Bruno Mars’ “Marry You” spilled from the vehicle. As Kaige inched along the lane, people began to jump out from the hedges on the side and sing lyrics to Nola, who had her hands in front of her face and appeared to be laughing or crying—or both.
Each new verse was delivered by someone important to her. First Eli, Alanso and Sally. Her mother and Tom danced across the road while singing in perfect tune. Then her sister threw petals in the air as she continued the song. After each group was featured, they joined the parade of singing, cheering friends making their way down the lane in an ever-growing procession.
Kaelyn found herself holding back tears of her own as Bryce whisked her into his arms and they twirled along to the music with Buster yipping at their heels.
She was surprised when they merged into the crowd escorting the Nova. She looked up to see a woman with a microphone, which was surrounded in a box-shaped ad for the local TV station, trailing them—a videographer right behind—along with a gathering of random people who must have been out for an evening walk before catching on to the sensational proposal unfolding in the park. Lucky break for the station. They must have been filming something nearby.
Kaelyn ducked her head, hiding in the crook of Bryce’s arm as they relished the squeals coming from the passenger side of the Nova as the Powertools crew continued to enhance their celebration. By the time the song ended, Kaige had pulled his car next to Bryce’s Rebel and the rest of the Hot Rods’ hot rods.
He climbed from the vehicle and opened Nola’s door. She barreled him over when she rushed from the vehicle and pounced on the gorgeous man, making his dreads swirl around them. He cushioned her so that she landed on top of him, his hand over her still-flat stomach.
And then he set her down and got on one knee.
The words he spoke were low enough to be private, but the looks on their faces told the entire story. The cute news reporter rushed past Kaelyn, bumping her shoulder as she snuck in for a close-up. Holden stepped up, preventing the woman and her cameraman from intruding too much on the precious moment.
Then no one had eyes for anything but the pure bliss radiating from the couple, who embraced before Kaige slid his ring on Nola’s finger. The group of friends and family surrounding them cheered in support of their everlasting promises.
Together, they led the way to the pavilion Nola’s sister, Amber, and Kaelyn had rushed to prepare for an informal engagement party. No way would the Hot Rods let their Powertools friends leave without enjoying every bit of their company.
It was the most perfect moment she could ever recall, watching the couple blossom while Bryce held her close to his warmth and the pounding of his heart, which she could measure against her cheek.
He looked down at her and smiled, then covered her lips in a delicious kiss that neither of them was in a rush to end. So what if they were the last ones to dinner?
It was worth it.
Kaelyn tidied up some white lights that had drooped from the tree branches and surveyed the apothecary jars filled with punch, which sat on the lace tablecloth that draped a picnic table. At least they had been full. It seemed people were enjoying the fruity concoctions.
Same could be said for the appetizers that had been scarfed down before moving on to the cupcake bouquets and the plates of cookies.
“I can’t believe we pulled this off.” Amber high-fived Kaelyn.
She clapped hands, then went in for a full-on hug.
“We make a good team.” Her smile was genuine. When was the last time she’d been part of anything bigger than herself?
“Yeah, we do. Your hors d’oeuvres are amazing. Those gorgonzola pear tartlets are going on my catering menu for sure.” Amber laughed, then stopped, growing very serious. “You know…my sister ditched me for this lot.”
She waved toward the Hot Rods. Kaelyn could see that she was happy for her sister, but maybe a teensy bit worried too. “I have a ton of events coming up, stuff I hadn’t even told Nola about yet since she’s been so preoccupied.”
“Do you need help?” Kaelyn was glad to pitch in.
“More like I need a new partner.” Amber’s eyes grew big in the twinkling lights. “You’d be perfect. I mean, I don’t know what you’re planning to do…”
“Are you trying to steal my admin?” Eli sauntered over, one arm flung around Sally’s shoulders. “I just got her.”
“Oh, you’re working for Cobra?” The pretty mocha-skinned woman tried to hide her disappointment, but Kae could tell. She was flattered.
“Part-time, anyway. Maybe I could do half and half?” She nibbled her lip, wondering what Bryce would say. “I do love setting up events. It’s something I actually have oodles of experience with.”
“I can tell.” Amber smiled. “You’d be a huge asset to my company. It wasn’t Nola’s favorite aspect of our collaboration. She was more into the marketing and consulting side of things, but…I think this is what I like best. And now that it’s just me, I can take some new and different clients. Steer the business in a more specific direction. What do you say? Would you be my part-time partner? I’m willing to settle for joint custody.”
“Hey now, that’s what I like to hear.” Holden planted a smacking kiss on Amber’s cheek. “A woman who shares. Perfection.”
“Eww, Swinger.” She swatted at him. “Not like that. Not when my sister’s in the picture.”
Kaelyn, Eli and Mustang chuckled at their antics. But when Amber refocused, Kaelyn knew it was the right thing to do. She put out her hand and shook Amber’s. “I’m thrilled to accept. Thank you.”
“Sweet!” Amber rushed forward and hugged her. “This is going to be great. I can’t wait to tell my mom. Have you seen her?”
“I think she’s over there by the tree swing.” Kaelyn pointed to where Tom pushed Ms. Brown lightly in an arc while she dangled her bare feet and her dress rippled in the wind.
“Oh, jeez. I’m surrounded by hopeless romantics.” Amber pretended to be put-out, but Kae caught her soft smile.
“I’m afraid you are.” Bryce rejoined the group along with Nola and Kaige. He stared right at Kaelyn, his gray gaze lasering into hers with an intensity that had her checking her watch. How much longer until they could be alone?
Or slightly less than alone, but in private.
She counted the seconds.
“Rebel, I think you should know I hired your girlfriend. Meet my new partner in crime.” Amber grinned.
“Seriously?” He looked to Kaelyn. “That’s great. I still can’t believe you two did such an awesome job with short notice. Everything looks phenomenal.”
His praise warmed her from the inside out.
“Thank you.” She went onto her tiptoes to kiss him. “You don’t mind me taking a job, really?”
“Absolutely not.” He hugged her tight. “I’ll support you in whatever you want to do.”
“Even…” She
whispered a wicked suggestion into his ear.
“Definitely.” He shouted over to his friends. “Kae and I are going home. See you guys there.”
They laughed and teased him about his eagerness, but he didn’t seem to care.
“Congratulations,” he said more seriously when he turned to Kaige and Nola. “It couldn’t happen to better people, truly.”
“We could say the same.” Nola hugged first Bryce, then Kaelyn.
And while they rushed back to Hot Rods, they missed Holden intercepting Sabra Harp—the local news reporter—after she’d interviewed the newly engaged couple about their spectacular proposal. Bryce and Kaelyn hadn’t thought to remind anyone to make sure they were kept out of the footage when it was shown as a feel-good piece on that night’s news.
Swinger did it for them, looking out for his own.
Chapter Ten
Kaige took Bryce aside as they entered their apartment. “Do you think Kaelyn’s ready?”
“For?” He took a deep breath.
“Tonight won’t be the same if we can’t celebrate our way. You know, start the rest of my life as I intend to live it.” Nova had never seemed so earnest before. “Tom and Willie—I still can’t believe that’s her name—are gone for the night. The Powertools crew had to hit the road, though I wish they could have stayed too, and I’d really love to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with you guys. Kaelyn included. You’re not going to let her go, are you?”
“Never,” Bryce confirmed.
“Then we have to test the waters sometime, right?” Kaige cleared his throat. “Unless you don’t imagine yourself sharing anymore.”
That wasn’t an option. Not for Bryce and not for Kaelyn.
He couldn’t believe how much their needs aligned.
Complementary decadence.
“No, you’re right.” He glanced over to where Kae chatted with Nola. She was sandwiched on the couch between Holden and Carver without seeming the least bit intimidated. In fact, she seemed to be leaning on Swinger a bit as she talked to Kaige’s fiancé about embarking on a partnership in the event-planning business with Amber, Nola’s sister.
