by Shyla Colt
Two heartbeats passed.
“No, I don’t want you to take me home. I want to stay.”
He grinned. “Then relax and enjoy yourself. I want to show you what life is like when you’re with me.”
“I get the feeling it’s going to be one hell of a ride with you, Shooter.” She tilted her head back and flashed a shy smile.
“I think you can learn to love walking on the wild side, Librarian.” She leaned forward and he bent down, capturing her full lips. He thrust his tongue inside her mouth and moaned at the taste of her. She was lightness, sweetness and sunshine. A ray of purity in his dark world. His soul rejoiced. His jeans grew tight. He deepened the kiss, seeking more of the soul-nourishing vibrations she offered freely.
He slid his hand down her back and cupped her thick ass. She gasped. He swallowed the sound, greedy for more of the woman who made him feel. His soul ignited and he knew in his gut he wouldn’t be able to let her walk away. He wanted to explore the connection that existed between him. The intensity of her lure was so strong he’d broken his rule about getting close and hadn’t looked back.
She pressed her hips against his, gripping the edges of his cut. They moved their heads this way and that, exploring. His dick turned to granite. She rocked her hips and he pulled away, sucking in air.
“Unless you want me to lay you down here and now, I think we’d better stop.”
She glanced up at him, stunned. He chuckled and rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve been dying to get between those killer stems of yours since I first saw you. But I know you ain’t ready yet.”
“And you don’t mind waiting?” She arched an eyebrow and he frowned.
“What kind of asshole would? I told you this isn’t just about pussy. When it goes down between us it’ll be worth the wait.” He let his arms drop to his sides and stepped away from her. “Let’s go back out there with everyone. You’re too damn tempting for your own good.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her back down the trail.
Chapter Four
Juliette stumbled toward the kitchen, in desperate need of caffeine after her impromptu late night. A breathy sigh slipped from her lips. Shooter was everything she should run from. But god, do I want him. He made her toes curl in her shoes, her heart speed and the well of happiness in her soul overflow. Shooter woke good things. He helped heal that badly bruised portion of her ego. She spun the carousel of coffee flavors, picked a dark roast, popped it into the Keurig and pressed brew. The rich aroma filled the air and she grinned as the liquid filled her favorite mug. For now, she was okay with the risks she was taking. Shooter wasn’t the type of man you took home to your parents. He didn’t have a polished exterior or an affluent family. Yet, he embodied throwback qualities she longed to discover in a modern man.
A knock sounded on her door. She glanced at the clock. Who’s this at nine in the morning on a Wednesday? She walked over and peered out the peephole, surprised at the man clad in a brown uniform. Curiosity piqued, she opened the door.
The close-shaven brunet smiled. His hazel eyes crinkled and he held up the electronic keyboard.
“I just need a signature from you, ma’am.”
“Okay.” She signed her name on the line and eyed the rectangular box tucked under his arm.
“Excellent, here you are, have a nice day.”
He handed her the box and she took it, offering up a small smile as she retreated into her home, confused. Did my mom send me something? It wasn’t unusual for her mom to send her goodies in the mail. Juliette was guilty of doing the same thing if she saw something her mother might like. Who doesn’t like surprises? Closing the door behind her, she engaged the lock and walked into the kitchen. She placed the box on the counter, grabbed a pair of scissors and gingerly cut through the tape. She pulled back the freed flaps and gasped at the brilliant display of wild flowers nestled in packaging with a square vase.
The doubts she’d harbored vanished. His lifestyle would be a challenge to understand. Bitches, Biker Bunnies and a set of rules she didn’t get left her off-kilter. While everyone seemed to be happy, it was harsh and cruel. A happy ending seemed doubtful. Then Shooter did something like this. Her hands shook slightly as she removed everything, filled the vase with water and added the flowers, carefully arranging the baby’s breath among the multicolored blossoms that included daises, sunflowers, peony, pom poms and a few others she couldn’t recognize. Butterflies danced in her stomach. The way this man her feel was unreal. Wonder and awe for his hidden depths brought a silly grin to her mouth. The lack of a card seemed just his style. He didn’t strike her as a poet. She stepped back to admire her work. I am in trouble.
She lifted her mug and sipped her coffee carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was open the floor for her friends to judge her. Nibbling her bottom lip, she shifted her weight. Best to keep it to myself for now. It was a good kind of secret to have. Pleased with her decision, she finished off her coffee, and padded down the hall, feeling like a teenager secretly dating the high school bad boy. Not that she saw Shooter that way. Bad boys had never appealed to her. Sure, there was something sexy about the dark and brooding men, but she’d never been drawn to them, which was why this thing with Shooter came out of left field.
After a quick shower she snapped a picture and sent a photo.
Thanks for the flowers, they’re beautiful. J
Can’t take credit for that. You got a secret admirer? S
She frowned at the response. Who the hell would send her flowers?
No, it’s probably my Mom. J
A woman has to keep things interesting, right? J
Juliette laughed. She hadn’t managed this on purpose, but she wouldn’t tell him that.
Keep doing what you’re doing cause it’s working on me. S
She beamed, glad he couldn’t see her. Her sappy expression would ruin the cool façade she was creating with her words.
You think about what I said last night? S
She furrowed her brow. Their conversation in the woods had ended with an ultimatum. Holding her breath, she cast the die.
I’m in this for the long ride. J
Be sure. I’m persistent about the things I want, and I’m an all or nothing type of man. S
Her stomach tangled into knots and moisture coated her panties. She could hear him saying the words in his sexy baritone. He’d been nothing but honest with her. There was no sugar coating or hiding things until a later date. So she took his words to heart. Mulling over the things that would happen if she said yes, she hesitated. She didn’t know his world. The things she’d seen going on at the lake shocked and partially disgusted her. It was like a mini-Woodstock. Men and women in various stages of undress. Smoking, drinking and fornicating…there was no kinder word she could give the sexual activity going on in those tents.
The thing was, they were free. They did as they pleased and no one was being hurt, or forced into things. There was something admirable in that.
I’m sure. J
It’s a done deal then. S
The text sent blood rushing to her face. Things had changed between them. They were no longer dipping their toes into the water and seeing what happened. Her heart raced and her throat tightened. She took a deep breath, staving off the panic waiting on the wings to rush in. I will not become the things that happened to me in the past. I will move on and be happy. This is a huge step, but nothing I can’t handle. Her heartbeat slowed and she cherished the victory. She was nothing like the woman who’d retreated to lick her wounds.
Taking a deep breath she calmed herself. I’ll go into this with a level head. Everyone had secrets. It was just a matter of time until they came out. Her thoughts turned to Joey. I’ve known that girl all my life and she never said a word. Suddenly her best friend’s attraction to rebels made sense. Her thoughts shifted to her own mother and her stomach bubbled. An old-fashioned woman left alone to raise a child, she had a very narrow view on the type of man she wanted fo
r her daughter. Her mom thought a good job, strong family ties and dependability equaled happiness. If she only knew how wrong she was.
Brushing away unhappy thoughts from the past, she moved toward the bedroom to get dressed and shower to go in to work for the afternoon shift. Humming to herself, she dressed in a pair of black slacks, a white tank top and her favorite black polka dot cardigan. Despite the heat outside, the library was kept at a chilly temperature. She added a funky silver necklace with turquoise squares for a pop of color and got into her car feeling like a million bucks. Embracing the exceptional mood, she turned her Mp3 player to the Beastie Boys and sang along.
* * * * *
Exhausted from a day on her feet and not enough sleep, Juliette made her way toward her car. The library had been packed by kids working on a term paper. It happened in spurts that way throughout the semester. She approached the car and froze. Tiny purplish-blue flowers with yellow centers were strewn across the hood of her car. Narrowing her eyes, she looked around the empty parking lot. There was no sign of anyone, and all the other cars were untouched. The name of the flower eluded her. She wanted to place this on Shooter but it didn’t feel like him. Nothing that man did was low-key. Maybe they were on other cars that left earlier.
Walking closer, she looked for signs of a flyer or a note. It wasn’t unheard of for churches to hit their parking lot, maybe this was a new gimmick? A really, really creepy one. Blowing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes, she brushed the flowers off, keeping one to look up that night on Google. Unlocking the door, she slipped inside, locked the car and shoved her keys into the ignition. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She didn’t like odd occurrences. Her trust in the basic goodness of humanity had been shattered, so she always thought the worst.
She turned the engine, threw the car into drive and sped from the parking lot. “I can’t let this make me go off the deep end. If I call the girls panicking it’ll look like a back slide,” she said out loud, talking herself down. “It doesn’t mean anything. I need to calm down and wait things out.” Satisfied with her short-term plan, she relaxed. Too wound up to head home, she took a detour and headed for her mother’s house. The only child to a single parent she felt responsible for a portion of her mother’s happiness. She’d worked two and three jobs to keep them both fed and put her through school, so Juliette went out of her way to visit at least once a week. Not that it was a complete chore. She loved her mom. They just had very different views on how she should be living her life.
She pulled up in front of the ranch-style white house with hunter-green shutters and smiled at the brilliant displays of flowers arranged around the large oak in the front yards and in the flower beds in front of the walkway. A yellow beautification from the community group stood out among the dark purple Impatient. She glanced at the clock, 9:00p.m. A secretary for a local insurance company, her mother kept early hours, but the living room lights were on, which meant she hadn’t headed to bed yet. Climbing out of the car, she hurried to the front door and let herself in with a key.
“Juliette?”
“It’d better be. Or do you have some relationship news you need to share?”
“Honey, I’m just fine being alone. A man would only be underfoot. I’ll be out, I’m just setting my coffeemaker.”
Juliette locked the door behind her and sank down on the comfortable beige couch.
“Take your time. I got off work and thought I’d swing by and see if I could catch you.”
Her mother emerged from the kitchen in a lavender robe, bunny rabbit slippers and a purple headscarf. “You came right on time. I haven’t gotten a chance to talk you recently.” Her mother sat down beside her and they hugged. “How’ve you been?”
“Good, I’ve been getting out more.”
“I’m so glad. I know you took the breakup with Peter hard, but there are other fish in the sea. You really had a winner with him though.” Her mother shook her head.
Juliette bit the inside of her lip. She’d never told her mother what had actually happened. It was far too embarrassing. “Just wasn’t meant to be. We weren’t compatible where it counted.” Because I’m sane and he’s a sexual deviant.
“Any new prospects on the horizon? I’d like to have grandkids some day, and you’re my only hope.”
“Mom, I have plenty of time.” Here we go again.
“I know, honey. I just want to see you settled and happy.” Her mother patted her hand. “I don’t want to see you end up like me.”
“Mom, there’s nothing wrong with being like you. You’re amazing.” She squeezed her mother’s hand.
“A person gets lonely after a while. Always love yourself enough to be able to be alone but don’t put things off so long you regret them.”
The wealth of sorrow in her mother’s words made her chest ache. “I won’t, Mom. As a matter of fact… I met someone. It’s new and unexpected, so I don’ t want you to get your hopes up.”
“That’s wonderful. Unexpected? Did you meet him at work?” The joy that lit up her mother’s face reinforced the rightness of the impromptu reveal.
“No, while I was out with the girls.”
“So he’s passed the test. That’s a great way to start off.”
“Mmhmm.” Juliette forced a smile. He hadn’t failed the test exactly, they just didn’t know she was still seeing him.
“Tell me about him.”
“We’re still getting to know each other, but so far he’s very respectful and kind of old-fashioned in that masculine way you know I like.”
Her mother narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that. You have to be careful. You want to be the one running the show. A man will control you as much as you allow him to. Always have a backup plan. Money set on the side and enough of yourself held back to continue without him.”
“I know, Mom,” Juliette said. She understood where her mother was coming from, but she didn’t agree. A lukewarm love based on mutual likes and similar goals wouldn’t make her happy. It was all or nothing. She needed passionate, crazy, heated and forever. Life was too short for watered-down versions of what you really wanted.
“You were always so sensitive and idealistic. It worried me to death growing up.” Her mother shook her head and placed a hand over her heart. “Just trust your old mom on this one.”
“Stop calling yourself ‘old mom’, and I do listen to you. I really do. But we both know our wiring is different. You raised me to be strong and independent. No relationship will take that away from me. I’d never let it. That I can promise you.”
Her mother smiled. “I’ll hold you to that one. When am I going to met this mystery man?”
“When I know if it’ll pan out or not.”
“Can I at least get a name?”
I can’t tell her Shooter. She flashed back to the first night she met him in the club. “Daniel.”
“Daniel, that’s a nice all-American name, is he cute?”
Not the words I’d use to describe him. “He’s ruggedly handsome. Dark hair, dark eyes, massive frame and he’s tall, Mom. He actually makes me feel short.”
“That’s just wonderful. Ruggedly handsome…is he into camping and fishing?”
“No, more adventurous things, he drives a motorcycle.”
“Ohhhh.” Her mother’s eyes narrowed. Her brow wrinkled, turning her previously glowing face into the site of an oncoming storm. Taking that as her cue to leave, Juliette stood. “Well, I don’t want to keep you. I know you have to be up early, and I have the morning shift. I just wanted to check in on you.” She kissed her cheek. “Night, Mom.”
“Night, Juliette.”
She hurried out of the house feeling like a child who’d narrowly escaped a parental Spanish Inquisition.
* * * * *
Shooter dumped his saddlebags by the door and sat down on his bed. After a day working in the shop, he was ready to veg in his room. The constant fuck parties going on got old when you weren’t chasin
g after trim. If he was anything, he was a man of his word. Something he’d learned from his father and had ingrained by the Marine Corps. He locked his door, trudged over to the bed and sank down, unlacing his boots. Setting them by the nightstand where he could reach them at a moment’s notice, he grabbed the remote, turned on the television and lay back with his arms under his head. The show on the television was pure background as he allowed his tense muscles to relax. A beep turned his attention to the phone in his pocket. Juliette.
He smiled and dug in his pocket, hoping for a text. The flashing emblem made him scowl. Another three voice messages. I have to give it to Joel, he’s persistent. There was a time when his older brother had been the closest person to him. The only two children of a close-knit family, he’d idolized the guy four years his senior. He’d learned everything his father wouldn’t tell him from Joel. He chuckled, remembering the mischief they’d caused. Pranks, and later driving the girls of their small town crazy. The smile left his lips as the reason they no longer spoke rushed to the forefront. Why is he calling now, after all this time? What if it’s important?
“Fuck.” He hit the right buttons and placed the phone to his ear.
“Hey, Daniel. Look I know I can’t take back what I did. But it’s been almost ten years. You’re the only family I have left. Brittany is asking questions, wondering why you don’t come around and if she can meet you. Can’t we just leave this in the past and move forward?” Joel sighed heavily. “I miss you, bro. Call me back, tell me to go to hell if you want, but please let me know you’re okay, at least.” The message ended and Shooter moved on to the next.
“It’s me again. The song remains the same.” Joel’s reference to their favorite band growing up made him smile. They had a lot more good years than bad. He closed his eyes and rubbed his lids with his fingers as the message played. “You know me well enough to realize I’m going to keep doing this until I get a response. Too much time has passed as it is. You wanted space, and after Mom and Dad passed I gave it to you. Enough is enough. I’ll be turning forty soon. I want to do that with you by my side.”
