“Sssh.” I didn’t want to hear her excuses. If she couldn’t be with me, the reasons didn’t matter. “It’s okay. You don’t owe me an explanation. I mean, we barely got started, right? Hell, we haven’t even slept together.”
But I knew that didn’t make what I felt for her any less real. I’d slept with some women dozens of times and felt nothing when I said good-bye to them. But with Lacy, it was different. She was different.
“Good luck against Morales.” She tried to smile, but it never reached her eyes. “I’ll be watching you kick his ass.”
Sure, she would—on the TV screen, from her comfortable sofa. Where her heart wasn’t at risk. Where I couldn’t touch her and she couldn’t touch me. Where it was safe.
“Thanks.” I reached the door, and I felt her chest brushing my back. She may have just been anxious to leave, but I preferred to think she wanted the same thing I did. I turned and cradled her face, remembering my promise not to touch her. “One more kiss.”
She responded by thrusting her hands into my hair and plastering her tight little body against mine. Our tongues danced, both of us getting hotter with every stroke, and I knew if I didn’t get the hell out of the club, I’d take her right there on the desk.
“Gotta go,” I panted, tearing my lips from hers. “While I still can…”
Chapter Seven
Lacy
“This can’t be happening,” Ash said, pacing his penthouse. “How the hell did this happen?”
He turned on our older brother, Cooper, and glared at him. Coop, not one to be intimidated, glared right back.
“Don’t blame me!” Coop shouted. “I’m just the messenger! If I had my way, that prick would be in jail for the rest of his life after what he did to Lace.”
The prick my brother was referring to was my ex-husband. The man who’d tried to take my life. According to the prosecutor who’d put him away, Jordan had paid his debt to society, and now he was getting out early for good behavior.
I thought I’d have more time to live my life, more freedom. By my sentence came early. Eighteen months early. Now his period of incarceration was ending, and mine was just beginning. I knew he’d come after me. His last words still haunted me. A threat promising it would never be over, that he’d never let me go.
“He can’t come within fifty feet of her,” Coop said. “And he’s still on probation. He’ll have to check in with his probation officer for the next—”
“Are you even listening to yourself?” Ash asked, throwing his arms in the air. “You think this son of a bitch gives a goddamn about some restraining order? You’re a cop, Coop. You know those things aren’t worth the paper they’re written on half the time.”
Coop was an undercover cop who busted drug dealers. He looked the part with his bulging, inked biceps, faded jeans, leather jacket, biker boots, and black bandana. No one would question whether he was a legit member of the motorcycle gang he was currently trying to infiltrate.
“Well, it’s all we’ve got,” Coop said with a worried glance in my direction. “Besides, she’s not as defenseless as she was back then. She’s got a gun, and she knows how to use it. I made sure of that.”
I loved going to the shooting range with my brother, but the thought of putting a bullet through someone, a man I’d once loved no less, scared the hell out of me. “I’ll be fine,” I said, trying to assure them as well as myself.
Not looking convinced, Ash said, “Maybe you should stay with me for a while, until we can figure out what he’s got planned. This building has twenty-four security and—”
“I won’t be his prisoner,” I said, thinking of the dark days when he’d made me just that. “Not anymore.”
Coop’s eyes softened before he pulled me into his strong arms. Ever since we were kids, these two guys had been my lifeline. I knew I wouldn’t be as brave as I was if I didn’t know they had my back, that they’d lay down their own lives for mine.
“You don’t have to be,” Coop said fiercely and kissed the top of my head. “Because I swear to God, if he comes after you again, I’ll hunt him down like a dog, and this time I will kill him.”
Last time it had almost come to that, but I’d convinced Coop to let the law handle Jordan. I just assumed he’d get more than seven years for attempted murder and kidnapping. But he’d cut a deal. It seemed like a long time ago when the prosecutor proposed the plea deal that would allow me not to testify at his trial. I thought I’d have more than enough time to banish the ugly memories, but I still woke up screaming and thrashing, begging for my life and feeling as though my hands were bound while his threats echoed in my ear.
“What’s this I hear about you having a new boyfriend?” Coop asked, holding me at arm’s length. “Are you really dating a fighter?”
“Not anymore.” It had been five days since I’d heard from York. He’d probably forgotten about me by now.
He glanced at Ash. “I thought you said they were together?”
“Last I heard they were,” Ash said, shrugging. “But how the hell should I know? She doesn’t tell me shit about her personal life.”
Because my brothers were overprotective and didn’t think anyone was good enough for their baby sister. Except York. Ash had made it clear he thought he was good enough. Probably because he was angling for front row seats to his next fight.
“I can’t think about that now,” I said, hoping they wouldn’t ask questions I couldn’t answer. Like why I’d pushed York away without giving him a chance. I’d been asking myself that question ever since I watched him walk out of my brother’s office. My safety would always be more important to Coop than my love life, or lack thereof, so I asked him, “Do I need to take any special precautions?”
“For starters, you can take my Mustang,” Ash said. His “spare” car was the classic car he’d lovingly restored because he’d obsessed over it as a teen and believed he’d never be able to afford one. “It’s safer than the bike. Plus, asshole doesn’t even know I own that car, so he wouldn’t know to look for it.”
I loved my bike and the sense of freedom she promised every time I straddled her, but Ash was right. I wouldn’t feel safe out in the open like that, where any maniac with a grudge could have a clear shot at me. But I knew how much he loved that car. “Are you sure?”
“You’re more important to me than a set of wheels,” he said, as though he could read my mind. “Take the car.”
“It’s not a bad idea for you to think about staying here,” Coop said, leaning on the arm of Ash’s leather sofa. “Just for a little while.”
“I don’t want to turn my whole life upside down.” I knew I’d have to make some concessions, but he’d already taken too much from me. “I’m staying at the apartment with Rachel. Besides, I can’t leave her there alone knowing he’s out there. He might come looking for me, and that would put her in the line of fire.” At least I had a prayer of defending us if my ex showed up on our doorstep. My friend was defenseless.
Ash seemed to consider that before he said, “You could both stay here.”
Coop chuckled. “You’d want your ex-girlfriend staying here with you?”
“She wasn’t my girlfriend.” Ash swiped a hand over the dark stubble on his jaw. “She was a hook-up.”
“Oh?” I said, deciding to test him. “Then it won’t bother you that she’s dating Ace Matthews.”
Ash’s jaw dropped. “Shut the hell up! Since when?”
Huh, so he wasn’t as immune as he pretended to be. Interesting. “Less than a week, I guess. But they’ve been together almost every night. I think he’s spending the night at our place tonight. Which reminds me, can I crash here? They can get kind of loud.”
Ash’s neck was corded as he folded his arms. “Are you telling me she’s sleeping with this guy already?”
“Why should that bother you, Ash?” Coop asked, tongue in cheek. “You said she was just a hook-up.”
“It doesn’t bother me. Why the hell would it bother me?
”
Coop and I refrained from laughing as we watched our brother stalk down the hell and slam his bedroom door.
“He took that better than I thought,” I said, sinking into couch cushions and kicking up my feet.
***
I sneaked into the apartment early the next morning, hoping to grab a quick shower and change my clothes before work without having to run into the happy couple. I liked Ace and I thought he was good for Rachel, but I always got the feeling he was sizing me up, trying to figure me out, and it made me uncomfortable.
“Hey,” Ace said, making me jump as I closed and locked the door.
“Shit, you scared me,” I said, hand to chest. “Why’re you up so early?”
“I like to train first thing in the morning,” he said, raising his coffee cup. “I was going to whip up some eggs. You want some?”
My stomach was grumbling, but I wasn’t sure breaking bread with one of York’s best friends was a good idea. “I have to get ready for work.”
“Rachel said you guys didn’t start ‘til nine.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s only six thirty. That’s why I let her sleep. You have plenty of time. Come on, join me. I hate eating alone.”
The lure of freshly brewed coffee finally convinced me. I sat on a stool at the breakfast bar between the small dining area and kitchen, watching him whip up scrambled eggs for himself and a cheese omelet with toast for me.
“So why’d you screw my buddy over?” he asked, tossing a tea towel over his shoulder.
I should have seen that coming. “Is that what he told you?”
He passed me a cup of coffee with sugar, milk, and a smile to soften the blow. “He didn’t have to tell me anything. I’ve known him a long time. When he gets all quiet and broody, I know there’s a reason.”
“And it’s usually a woman?” I asked, adding another teaspoon of sugar to my steaming brew.
“No, it’s rarely a woman. But this time, the pieces fit,” he said, stirring his scrambled eggs in a smaller skillet. “He was psyched about meeting you, then all of a sudden he doesn’t want to talk about it. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out something went wrong.”
“If he doesn’t want to talk about it, what makes you think I would?” I could tell Ace was the kind of guy who didn’t pull any punches, so I felt comfortable calling him out.
He grinned. “I can push you. I can’t push him. There’s a good chance he can kick my ass. You can’t.”
I didn’t appreciate being underestimated, but not many men could stand their ground against Ace Matthews. Even with years of kickboxing under my belt, I still wouldn’t stand a chance. Not that a guy like Ace would ever go toe-to-toe with a woman. I could already tell he was too much of a man for that shit.
His smile slipped, and he tipped his head toward the door. “Since you didn’t come home last night, can I assume there’s someone else?” When I didn’t respond, he said, “Don’t worry. I won’t tell him. I wouldn’t do that to him.”
“I spent the night at my brother Ash’s place.”
“Ah, yeah, this brother I keep hearing so much about.” His lips were drawn tight as he set two loaded plates between us.
“Rachel’s talked to you about Ash?” I couldn’t believe she’d talk to her new boyfriend about her ex-boyfriend. What was she thinking?
“Just in passing.” He shrugged, trying to play it off as if it didn’t matter. “She mentioned something about you working for him.”
“Then you know they dated?” I asked before popping a bite of cheese-laden perfection into my mouth.
“Yeah, she said something about it.” He looked wary, as though he was holding his breath. “She said it wasn’t serious though. Was it?”
I thought about Ash’s reaction when he’d found out Rachel was sleeping with someone else. “Um, I don’t think so.” When someone tapped on the door, I gasped, my eyes widening. “Shit, who could that be?”
“Relax,” Ace said, resting his hand on my shoulder. “It’s just my training partner. We’re going to hit the gym.”
He walked to the door and checked the peephole before he opened it. I swore softly when I saw York walk in. Ace couldn’t have warned me?
“Hey,” I said when York’s eyes landed on mine.
“Hey,” he said softly, looking as uncomfortable as I felt.
“I’m just going to get changed and say good-bye to Rachel,” Ace said. “Be right back.”
I gestured to the coffee pot on the counter across from me. “Coffee’s hot. Help yourself.”
“Thanks.”
The sight of his broad shoulders in a tight gray T-shirt made my heart thump erratically. If I’d had half a brain, I would have fucked him senseless before I sent him on his way. At least then I would have had memories instead of worthless fantasies.
He turned to face me, taking in my skinny jeans, black tank top, and ballerina flats. “You’re up early. I thought the studio doesn’t open ‘til nine.”
“I just got in.” I sipped my coffee as I waited for his reaction. Testing him was cruel, but I wanted to know if he’d care that I may have been with another man last night.
“You just got in?” He leaned back against the counter, bringing the mug to his lips. “From where?”
At least he wasn’t jumping to conclusions. “I spent the night at my brother’s.” I tipped my head toward the bedrooms. “Thought I’d give those two a little privacy.”
“I asked Rachel why they don’t just spend the night at Ace’s place. You know what she told me?”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to guess. “No. What?”
“She told me that she doesn’t like leaving you alone. She said you have wicked nightmares. What’s that all about?”
Rachel hadn’t known me when Jordan was a part of my life, and since I didn’t talk to anyone outside of my family about my ex, she had assumed I’d suffered from night terrors since childhood, and I let her believe that.
“Who knows why people have night terrors?” I said, tearing my gaze from his. “It’s a mystery, right?”
“Is it?” His eyes locked on mine as though he could hear what I hadn’t said.
I cleared my throat, desperately hoping he’d be willing to change the subject. “So how’ve you been?”
“I’ve been better.” He took a sip of coffee. “You?”
“Same.” With a fork, I pointed at the skillet. “There’re some eggs left over. Help yourself.”
“Did you make them?” he asked with a smirk.
“No, your friend did.”
He shrugged. “They should be edible then.”
“And if I made them, they wouldn’t have been?” I asked, trying to hide my smile.
“I didn’t say that.” He scoured the cupboards until he found a bright pink plate that made him grimace. “Seriously?” He held it up. “You expect me to eat off this thing?”
“What’s wrong? Does it threaten your masculinity, big guy?”
He chuckled before dumping the rest of the scrambled eggs onto his plate. “No. Nothing threatens my masculinity.”
As my eyes trailed over his muscular body, I realized he was right about that. He was all man. No doubt.
He slid his phone across the counter. “You wanna take a picture? Make it last?”
He was so full of himself that I had to laugh. But I was glad he wasn’t making things awkward. After our last meeting, I wasn’t sure what to expect when or if I saw him again. “I’ll pass, thanks.”
York watched me watching him as we both brought forks to our mouths slowly. It was obvious we were both hungry, but not for eggs.
“I figure we should clear the air,” he said. “Since your friend is dating mine, we’ll probably meet up like this from time to time. Might as well be civil, right?”
“Sure.” I’d been preparing for this role my whole life—pretending everything was fine when it wasn’t. “Why not?”
“You still seeing the sleazy car salesman?” he asked, his gaze
on his plate.
“I was never really seeing him.” I polished off my last bite of food before moving to the sink. I piled the dirty dishes into the sink and added soap to the mix while submerging my hands in the hot water. “Just a few dates.” More like hook-ups, but I wouldn’t tell him that.
York’s chest was suddenly pressed to my backside, his arms curling around me as his empty plate disappeared into the water. I swallowed before holding my breath, wondering what he might do or say next. He was hard. Everywhere. I wondered how long it would take him to lose those shorts and whether we could be quiet enough to keep it from Ace and Rachel.
“What are you doing?” I asked when his hands settled on my hips, his lips nuzzling my neck.
“Thinking maybe we could keep it casual.”
Casual sex? Any other time, I would have jumped at the chance, but knowing my ex could be waiting downstairs made me hesitate.
“Unless you’re not into it?” Even before I answered, his hands were working the button and zipper on my jeans. “If not, just say the word.”
No. It was playing on my lips, but I couldn’t make myself say it, even though I knew I should. My life was already too complicated without adding a lover to the mix.
My only response was a sharp intake of breath when he slipped a hand inside my black lace panties. He took that as a green light. I leaned back into him, needing the support of his big body when his fingers teased me. Circling, probing, thrusting…
“Oh God, York…”
“Sssh,” he whispered, kissing my neck. “We don’t want them to know, do we?” He leaned forward, using his free hand to shut off the tap when the water reached the edge of the sink. “We can keep this just between us. That’s the way you want it, isn’t it?”
I felt as if I should say something, but I couldn’t. All of my focus was centered on the wicked things he was doing with his fingers. He slid his thumb back and forth, the movement hypnotizing. I bit my lip and shuddered as the momentum built.
“Yes… don’t stop…” I rolled my head around like a bobblehead, dropping my chin to my chest as my breath came in short, ragged gasps. Heedless of the water and soap dripping from my hands, I curled them around his neck, into his hair, and thrust my breasts out when he tweaked my nipple through the thin cotton.
Drunk Dial (Hard Core #1) (Hard Core Series) Page 7
