by Jenny Penn
“Now!”
With that she slammed through the doors, Alex could hear her start barking orders almost immediately at Howie, who appeared a moment later to shoulder past both of them with a mutter about how he didn’t need to work for any crazy lady. He shot Alex a look that assured him he was being blamed for Heather’s currently unstable state.
Howie wasn’t alone in that opinion.
“If you screwed things up with Heather, so help me God, I will pound you into dust.” Konor snarled, feeling the need to repeat himself as he took a threatening step forward. “Into dust. Got me?”
“Dust. Got it.” Alex nodded, fighting hard not to burst out laughing, given he really didn’t want to get hit.
He almost did anyway. There was no masking the amusement in his tone or the way it made Konor’s fists tighten. He managed to keep them down, though, by his side where they belonged. Instead, Konor simply walked away, leaving Alex snickering as he followed after him.
“How could you?” Heather lit into him before the door behind Alex even had a chance to finish swinging closed.
She was right there in his face, waving her tiny clenched fist as she emphasized every other word that she snapped at him. “I don’t even want to hear whatever lame-ass excuse you have planned for this moment, I just want to know, how could you?”
“How could I what?” Alex asked calmly, secretly thrilling at the way his words had her flushing even brighter.
The woman was like a live wire, sparkling with an energy that had his balls aching with the need to sink into all that chaos and explode with it. Heather had no idea of the direction his thoughts had turned toward. If she had then she would have known better than to jam a finger into his chest as she gave voice to her jealousy and rage eating her alive in that moment.
“And with Gwen Harold! I mean really? Could you have worst taste? Good God, the woman has seen more action than a public toilet seat…but then, look who I’m talking to.”
“Hey, now! I take offense to that,” Alex complained. “I’ve gotten more ass then Gwen, please.”
“Yeah?” Heather jerked her hand back, clearly not amused by his retort. “Well, you can just kiss this one goodbye!”
“Or I could just paddle it,” Alex shot back, not half as offended as he sounded.
Heather’s gasp, on the other hand, matched the shock that had her mouth opening and closing before she finally managed to stutter up a couple of words.
“Get. Out.” Drawing herself up with haughty indignation, Heather managed to look down her nose while looking up at him. “Now!”
Heaving a deep sigh, Alex hung his head and turned to walk away, playing the role of vanquished suitor and allowing that to speak toward his guilt. He wanted to make damn sure the screw was turned nice and tight before he made the pain disappear.
* * * *
Heather felt strung out to the point of breaking. She didn’t want to believe this was happening, couldn’t believe it was. A part of her clung to the notion that it any second Alex would turn around and surprise her by explaining how all of this was a joke, but he didn’t.
Instead, the heavy kitchen door swung closed behind him as he walked away without ever once glancing back. The bastard didn’t even bother to try to deny or explain how he’d come to be seen at a motel with a half-naked Gwen chasing after him through the parking lot. Heather didn’t know what to think about what Kitty Anne had told her, all she could do was feel.
And she felt wretched.
Bursting into tears almost the second the door swung closed behind Alex, Heather turned and buried herself into the warmth and comfort of Konor’s open embrace. He didn’t bother to defend Alex this time. Neither did he try to offer her false assurances. Instead, his arms closed tightly around her as he held her through the storm of tears that flowed out of her in endless waves of wrenching sobs.
“Oh for God’s sake,” GD’s disgusted tone cut through Heather’s loud wails as he heaved an aggrieved sighed. “Look what you did and didn’t I warn you?”
Heather sniffled back the next rush of tears as she glanced up to blink in watery confusion at him only to find GD glaring at Alex, who was grinning ear to ear. He hadn’t left. He’d only gone and gotten GD, which made little to no sense to Heather because GD would surely be on her side this time. If he wasn’t, then he was either not her friend were knew something she didn’t.
“Yeah, bending and all that in inappropriate ways,” Alex waved away GD’s question as he continued to smile smugly down at her. “Whatever, man, just tell her what she needs to hear.”
“And what do I need to hear?” Heather asked as she began to straighten away from Konor, uncertain and suspicious of just what was going on.
“Alex didn’t sleep with Gwen. God, I sound like a broken record,” GD complained, casting another dark scowl and Alex’s direction. “I hope this is the last time I have to do this.”
“Well, that all depends on Heather.”
“What all depends on me?” Heather demanded to know, her patience thinning right along with her temper. “And how do you know what Alex and Gwen did? Were you there? And what the hell were you doing there? Refereeing? Or serving as an alibi? Is that what this is? Is this a setup?”
Heather worked herself into a fit as all the pieces began to fit together. He’d set her up. She didn’t know how. She didn’t know why. All she knew for certain in that moment was that he had intended to make her cry. That’s all she needed to know to launch herself at him.
She’d have tackled Alex and taken into the ground if Konor’s arms had and tighten around her, pinning her to him as she flailed about, spewing curses and threats with every breath. Alex lived up to her low opinion of his sanity and laughed, appearing delighted at her outrage. GD, on the other hand, didn’t appear the slightest bit amused.
“Oh for God’s sake,” GD muttered to himself before turning and slugging Alex in the arm.
The blow damn near felled him, and he teetered toward the right, stumbling over his own feet as he gripped his arm and howled in pain. GD paid him no mind as he turned to pin a hard look on Heather, who had found her first smile and the past several minutes.
“There, are you happy now?” GD asked in exasperation.
“Yes, thank you.” Heather nodded politely at him, patting Konor on the arm as she fell still. “You can let me go now.”
Konor did, slowly. He clearly expected her to lunge for Alex again and that is just what Heather did. Tackling him and taking him to the floor, she ended up rolled beneath him and pinned against the cool tile with his hard, heavy weight pressing down on her. That wasn’t the only thing pressing against her.
He was aroused and, God help her, so was she. That would have been fine, but Heather was still hurt, still confused, and she still wanted to know why…that is until she heard his answer.
“To prove that you love me,” Alex stated without hesitation, as if he were absolutely certain of his words. “And you know I wouldn’t have to prove it if you would admit it, so if you really think about it, this is all your fault.”
“My fault!” Heather gaped up at him, choosing to ignore the first part of his explanation to focus on the last. “How dare you?”
“Well? Are you going to admit?”
“Admit what?” Heather blinked up innocently at him, not about to make any confession there on the kitchen floor.
“That you love me.” Alex pressed, grinding subtly against her, making Heather’s breath catch as memories flooded her body with a warmth that made it hard not to arch up in response.
The want that was always there, simmering beneath the surface, flared again, but after the past week, Heather had learned how to control the desire. She even managed to pull back far enough to glare up at him and challenge him directly.
“I think you got me confused with you.”
“Oh, do I?”
“Oh, yeah, so why don’t you admit that you’re in love with me, and free yourself of the burden.�
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“Oh for God’s sakes,” GD groaned yet again, drawing both Heather in Alex’s attention toward his scowl. “I don’t have time for this shit. So if you’re done with me…”
Nobody spoke up and GD didn’t finish his question. He did pause, though, with his hand on the door to cast a backward glance down at her and Alex.
“And just so we’re clear and you two can put the past behind you, I’m the one who threw Heather’s Barbie into the chipper.”
With that startling revelation, GD stormed out of the kitchen, leaving both Heather and Alex scrambling to their feet as they chased after him. He almost made it to the front door before Heather managed to latch a hand onto his arm, bringing him to a stop.
She didn’t need to ask any questions, GD was in a rush to provide her all the details. More than she wanted.
“I know. I know. I should have told you before, but… There didn’t seem to be any point.” GD shrugged before turning his gaze toward Alex. “And I’m sorry, man, especially about what happened to your bike, but you were hitting on my lady. What did you expect?”
“I wasn’t—”
“Oh spare me,” GD cut Alex off with a snort. “I saw the way you were looking at Heather and she was all giggling and blushing at everything you said. The writing was on the wall. I was about to become the third wheel and you, some scrawny, little, freckle-faced punk, were about to take my chick.
“I couldn’t let that happen. So…sorry.” GD didn’t sound in the least bit apologetic, neither did he stick around to see if Alex was man enough to forgive him.
He once again fled through another door, leaving Alex and Heather standing there in a shared state of shocked amazement. Alex recovered faster than she did, managing to find a smile once again as the satisfied sparkle returned to his eyes.
“See? I told you.”
Heather shot him an annoyed look for that one. “What? That you didn’t destroy my Barbie, or that I’m in love with you?”
“Both.” Alex smirked. “So, you going to admit it?”
“Why are you so pushy all of a sudden?” Heather shot back, not caring for being hounded.
“Because Taylor’s coming back tomorrow,” Alex stated simply, as if she didn’t know that or what it meant.
She had one night left…one night to pay Alex back for screwing with her. She better make it good.
“Oh, no. You’re smiling.” Alex pulled back as if that fact threatened him in some way. “You’re up to something, aren’t you?”
“Maybe,” Heather allowed with a shrug before turning to saunter off, leaving Alex calling out after her.
“You’re not going to admit to anything, are you?”
Heather didn’t answer that question. There was no point. They had one night left. Whatever she felt beyond that didn’t matter.
* * * *
Alex came whistling back through the kitchen, clearly pleased with himself, but Konor wasn’t. Neither was he shy about expressing himself.
“Was that all really necessary?”
“No,” Alex admitted, glancing up to cast a grin in Konor’s direction as he strolled over check out the fries cooling in their basket. “But it sure was fun.”
“Whatever.”
Konor knew better than to waste his time arguing. It had become clear over the past few days that Heather and Alex had no intention of calling a truce in their long-standing war. The only thing Konor could do was try to avoid getting hit in the crossfire.
“I assume you are not planning any more surprises for tonight.” Konor hesitated with his hands over the sandwich he’d been building as he waited for Alex to offer him some reassurance, even if he wasn’t completely convinced it wouldn’t be a lie.
“Nah,” Alex answered around a mouthful of fries. He finished chewing and even swallowed before trying to speak again. “And I’ve got everything set up just like you asked.”
Konor doubted that but he kept that opinion to himself. “Great…you remembered the flowers, right?”
“Yes.”
“And the candles?”
“Check.”
“And they’re pe—”
“—peach scented, yes!” Alex snapped in exasperation. “Dude, I’m not stupid. I think I can manage to set the stage for a romantic picnic.”
“Uh-huh.” Konor knew what Alex’s definition of romantic was and it normally resembled something out of a porn movie, and that was being generous.
“Hey, I’m the one that told you that her favorite scent was peaches and that her favorite flowers were roses, so you can just take your ‘uh-huh’ attitude and stuff it,” Alex shot back, bristling under the condescension Konor clearly hadn’t hid well enough.
“Now, if you will excuse me.” Sticking his chin arrogantly into the air, Alex turned with clear intention to march away. “I have to get back to hiding from the Davis brothers.”
“The Davis brothers?” Konor scowled as he glanced up. “For God’s sake, you haven’t told them the truth yet?”
“Nope.”
“You know they’re going to hurt you when they find out that you cut them out of the investigation.”
“Little late for that concern.” Alex paused at the back door to look back and cast Konor a half-smile. “Apparently they hired themselves some professional help that discovered just enough to make me squirm.”
Konor couldn’t argue with that. He was just thankful it wasn’t his headache to deal with. Instead of having to dodge the Davis brothers, Konor only had to cook a gourmet meal and pack it away without Heather once noticing anything. It helped that she was currently ignoring him.
She had gone quiet after her encounter with Alex, which did not bode well. One thing Konor had learned over the past few days is that a quiet Heather usually meant a plotting Heather, and a plotting Heather was never a good thing. Fortunately Tina’s arrival just after the dinner hour rush had died down surprised Heather enough to distract her from whatever thoughts had been consuming her all day.
She didn’t object when Tina shooed her away, insisting that she would close up the bakery that night. Neither did Heather press Konor for answers as he left the kitchen to Howie and escorted Heather out to his truck where he had already hidden his surprise picnic in the bed.
It was time to re-create some magic.
Magic required lure and mystery, which was just why Konor remained silent as he pulled into Heather’s driveway, ignoring the curious look she cast in his direction. Up until that night, they’d always retired back to the cube, but now he and Alex had decided to make a real statement…though, apparently not the same one.
He should have known.
That was the first thought that hit Konor the moment he opened Heather’s front door. The heavy scent of peaches damn near made him gag, right along with the smoke tinting the air. It was thick enough to make Konor’s eyes burn and bad enough to make Heather take a step back, but curiosity had them both following the trail of slaughtered rose buds that led from the front entry into the living room where the rich, husky moans of passion filled the air.
Konor recognized the sound and the source instantly. It was a sex tape recorded out of the club when the members had conducted their own scientific experiment, binding and blindfolding the woman and leaving them listening to the tapes just to see how hot that got them. It had been surprisingly successful, but completely inappropriate for this situation.
Alex had to know that, just like he had to know when Konor had told him to spread some petals around he hadn’t meant for Alex to butcher an entire florist shop. Instead of looking like an inviting, thoughtful gesture Konor had intended, it looked like a rainbow had vomited all over Heather living room.
Alex reclined in the middle of the mess wearing only the petals piled around him. Konor’s eyes widened at the sight. He looked like some cheesy model on the cover of a dirty-girl book. It embarrassed Konor even to look at Alex.
Heather, on the other hand, couldn’t stop staring, or laughing. She
crumbled onto the couch, giving under the weight of the chortles rattling out of her in great gasps. Not that Alex took any offense. He just kept on stroking—
He couldn’t take it anymore. His plans were ruined.
Again!
* * * *
“Oh, for God’s sake! Stop that and put on some damn pants!” Konor snapped.
“Why?” Alex tossed back with a wink in Heather’s direction. “I’m comfortable the way I am.”
“Alex!”
“What?”
Heather found it amazing that a man so large, so naked and clearly indulging some private pleasure time could manage to look so innocent. Alex did, though. Not that Konor was impressed.
“What do you mean what?” Konor exploded. “Where are your clothes? Dude! Stop. Touching. Yourself.”
“Why? It feels good.”
“I can’t even talk to you right now!”
With that, Konor turned and stormed out of the house, slamming the front door hard enough to make the wall shake. He was pissed and he wanted everybody to know it. Now the question was, did anybody care?
Alex certainly didn’t. He continued on with his ministrations, looking funny, sexy, and strangely sweet as hell laying there amongst the petals masturbating. She knew what he was doing. He was trying to tempt her. Heather wasn’t sure what that said about him, but was more worried about what the fact that it was working said about her.
She couldn’t help but eye the thick, flushed width of his erection and ache a little. He was hard and ready and it always fun to ride. Normally Heather wouldn’t hesitate to take Alex up on the offer, but normally Konor wasn’t pissed off. It didn’t seem right to completely dismiss his dramatic exit.
Sighing as she tried to pull herself together, Heather couldn’t help but feel a pinch of sadness as it dawned on her that this would probably be the last time she ever came home to a surprise so amusing and touching. She pushed that thought aside along with the last few chuckles still tickling in her throat as she focused her attention on only Alex’s face.
