“How?” She bites her bottom lip, face turning a light shade of pink.
“Aunt Suzy would send me photos a few times a year. And you were so pretty in one, I pulled it to the side, keeping it close.”
“Which one was it?”
I focus on my coffee, turning the mug in my hands. “I think she said it was taken at your high school graduation party. You were wearing…”
“A pink sundress with spaghetti straps,” she finishes my statement.
I nod, wishing I could punch Marcus right in his traitorous face. “You looked so happy in that photo. I’d never seen you in much more than your khaki pants and polos. I couldn’t take my eyes off the photo, and I carried it in my pack for years.”
“So fucking hot,” Marcus adds, earning him a death glare from me, but Lily doesn’t even blink.
“You thought I was pretty?”
“I’ve always thought you were and are pretty, Lily.”
“A hot chick who doesn’t know she’s hot,” Marcus mutters into his mug. “Totally unbelievable.”
“I just can’t believe you would keep a picture of me by your bed,” she whispers. “God, I didn’t even think you realized I existed sometimes.”
“Oh, he knew,” Marcus says, almost choking on his coffee when I swing my glare his way.
“I told you I always saw you, Lily. I told you I always had a thing for you.”
“You never really spoke to me, though.”
“Anytime I tried, you’d run away.”
She giggles so sweetly, the sound makes my heart flutter. “Well, you’re Jett, the cool kid with the line of girls a mile long waiting for your attention. And I’m…”
“Hot as fuck,” I tell her. “Smart. Sweet. Quiet. But always hot as fuck.”
“I second that,” Marcus adds.
“Dude, shut it,” I tell him, making my way around the island to stand next to my girl.
He throws up his hand, dipping his head. “I’m just going to enjoy this delicious coffee.”
“Don’t be so mean, Jett Michaels. I’m happy your friend told me. I never would’ve believed you had a thing for me.”
I run my finger across her bare shoulder, wishing we were alone and had time to spend together this morning. “I told you I always had it bad for you, but you never believed me.” I smile, staring her straight in her beautiful blue eyes. “It took this fool to utter my secrets, and suddenly, now you’re a believer.”
“Want to know something about me?” she asks, tipping her head back and placing her hand on my chest.
“I want to know everything about you.”
“I had a picture of you on my nightstand too.”
“You two are like a gross Hallmark movie,” Marcus whispers, but neither of us looks at him.
I smile, loving that she had a thing for me too. Maybe somewhere in the back of her mind, she was always saving herself for me. At least, I like to think she has been, not giving her body to anyone before now.
“We were meant to be, Lily Gallo,” I whisper before bending my neck and taking her lips with mine. The kiss is sweet and short since we have an audience. “Are you working late tonight?”
She nods, groaning. “I’ll be back around midnight.”
“I’ll wait up for you,” I tell her, tightening my hold around her back.
“Okay,” she says softly, pressing her body into me.
“I’ll take Marcus with me so you can have some time to yourself this morning.”
“I’m exhausted after taking the red-eye. Maybe I can just crash here while you go wherever you’re going.”
I level him with my gaze. “You’ve done more on less sleep. You’re coming with me. There’s no way I’m leaving you here with my girl.”
“I’m trustworthy,” he argues.
“Still not happening.” I can’t trust him to keep from saying anything else, spilling every secret I have or telling her everything I ever said to him about her.
“Fine,” he grumbles, which causes Lily to giggle.
I kiss Lily goodbye, forcing Marcus to his feet and out of the house.
“You got it so fucking bad for her, man,” he says, following me down the sidewalk outside the house. “Never thought I’d see the day, but I never should’ve doubted your ability to make shit happen.”
“Didn’t think I’d be living with her, but the timing was perfect and things just worked out.”
“Some people have the best dumb luck.” He slides into the truck next to me. “You going to put a ring on her?” he asks.
“We’re not there yet.”
“Sounded like you were to me.” He shrugs.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to lock that shit down as soon as the time is right.”
“Don’t wait too long, or else you could end up messing up the best thing to ever happen to you.”
“It’s only been a few weeks. I don’t want to scare her away. She’s never been with a guy like me before.”
“You mean an asshole?” Marcus laughs.
“Takes one to know one, man.”
But Marcus is right. It’s not time to propose to Lily, but I need to tell her how I feel.
23
Lily
The lights are on in the kitchen when I walk in. There are no voices, no low murmur of the television like on most nights when I get home late.
“Jett?” I call out, kicking off my sandals and dropping my purse near the door.
“Marcus,” Marcus hollers back from the kitchen. “Jett got called out on a case.”
My shoulders slump, exhaustion and disappointment overcoming me. I was really looking forward to coming home, curling up with Jett, and getting some much-needed sleep.
Marcus stalks out of the kitchen, drying his hands with a towel, wearing entirely too little clothing. “He said he’d be late and not to wait up.”
“Oh. Okay.” I glance up the stairs, feeling a bit awkward with his half-dressed friend I barely know. I’m annoyed Jett didn’t so much as text me, telling me he was leaving Marcus, a man I didn’t know, alone in our house. He and I will have words about that later, but for now, I put aside my feelings and try to be a good host. I smile, mustering all my mental strength to be nice and courteous. “I’m going to head to bed. Do you need anything before I crash?”
“Did you eat?” Marcus throws the towel over his naked shoulder and moves his hands to his hips. “I made something, and I can’t eat it all myself.”
My stomach rumbles, betraying me. “Eh, I don’t think it’s…”
Marcus laughs, motioning for me to follow him. “Eat a little something before you go to bed. It’s never good to sleep on an empty stomach.” He takes a step back, but I don’t move. “Come on, Lily. I won’t bite.”
There’s something about the smirk on his face that makes me want to run up the stairs and hide away in my room. But this is also Jett’s friend, and I’ve always been taught to welcome guests, even ones I never asked to stay. “Okay,” I whisper and finally find my feet.
Marcus walks in front of me, and I stare at his back, studying the ink between his shoulder blades. A skull with roses, the vines sweeping across his back and crawling up to the bottom of his neck.
“I made queso,” he says, reaching for a pan on the stove like he’s always lived here. “I hope you don’t mind spicy.”
I slip onto the stool on the other side of the island, trying to keep my distance. He’s handsome, someone who would’ve made my heart flutter if I’d met him under different circumstances. His eyes are the darkest shade of brown, melting into the blackness of his pupils.
“I love spicy,” I say, placing my hand over my stomach as it grumbles again.
He opens the drawer next to the stove, fishing out a towel, and sets it in front of me before placing the hot pan on top. “So, how was work?” he asks like we’ve done this a million times or are at least friends.
“The same,” I tell him, fidgeting in my seat and telling myself to calm down. Thi
s is Jett’s friend after all, and I’m positive he wouldn’t leave me alone with someone who’s questionable.
He moves toward the fridge, reaching for the handle, his back to me. “I could use a beer, you?”
“Sure.”
He pulls out two beers, making quick work of twisting off the caps, and hands me one.
“What did you two do today?” I ask, trying to make small talk. At the very least, maybe I can find out about Jett and what he’s been up to for the last handful of years. I can most certainly ask about the photo Marcus told me about earlier.
“Nothing unusual.” He lifts the beer to his lips, taking a small sip before moving around the island to sit next to me. He pulls the bag of chips in front of us and pushes the opening toward me. “You first,” he says.
I give him an impish smile, grabbing a chip and digging into the queso. I smile at Marcus, chewing slowly to avoid conversation.
I’m not a people person. I’m definitely not great with strangers, especially handsome ones I don’t know.
Marcus does the same, chewing quickly before filling the silence. “Jett showed me around some of his old haunts. Places he’d told me about for years.”
“There’s not much to see around here.”
“Everything I’ve seen is beautiful,” he says, staring at my mouth as I lick the cheese from my lips.
I swallow, almost choking. “Florida is beautiful,” I say, averting my eyes back to the steamy pan of cheese.
“You really are more beautiful than your photo.”
I lean my body away from Marcus, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on their own. “Thanks,” I mutter, feeling completely uncomfortable but trying not to show it.
“Jett carried that damn thing everywhere. If it wasn’t above his rack, it was in his wallet. Never saw him so stupid over a chick.” Marcus shakes his head, smirking. “But now, sitting here with you, I can understand the fascination.”
I smile, grabbing another chip from the bag, confused about what the hell to say. I’ve never been the girl who men flirted with unapologetically.
“Great dip,” I say, chewing on the chip, being as unladylike and not cute as possible. “Thanks for the snack, but I think I’m going to go to bed.” I leave out the part about locking my door and having words with Jett tomorrow over not being comfortable with Marcus in the house. His words and the way he looks at me give me a funny feeling, and not one I welcome or enjoy.
But before I can slide off the stool, Marcus’s hand is on my knee. “You know Jett and I shared a lot in California.”
I turn my head and blink. “Is that so?” I ask, knowing without a doubt where this guy, who I now realize is also a sleazeball, is going.
Marcus nods, smirking at me like somehow the look alone will make me part my legs, granting him entrance. “If you’re lonely tonight, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind…”
I clench my teeth, avoiding stiffening or showing fear. Men like Marcus don’t scare me. My dad taught me how to protect myself and take control of situations like this. I may look meek and mild, but put me in a spot I don’t want to be in, and anyone, at any size, is going to be in a world of hurt.
“I’m pretty sure he would mind,” I tell Marcus, my eyes narrowing on his smirk that is more creepy than sexy.
“Baby.” He squeezes my knee tighter. “We’ve shared girls before, even girlfriends.”
I slip off the stool, and so does Marcus. “Listen, while I’m flattered…” I say, but I’m not. “I know Jett isn’t into sharing me, and honestly, I’m a one-man type of girl.”
I try to move to the right and around him, but he moves too, blocking my way. His hands are on my shoulders, touching my bare skin. “No one likes a girl who plays hard to get.”
I tilt my head, peering down at where his hands are, knowing my patience has run dry and Marcus’s time to keep standing upright is over. When his hand glides across my skin and he rests his palm on my cheek, stepping closer, I know it’s over.
“I’m saying no, Marcus,” I tell him, giving him one more warning.
I’m cute, but looks are often deceiving. The same way a kitten can be until they swipe at you with those razor-sharp claws and draw blood.
“Come on,” he says, still not getting that I don’t want him to touch me, or maybe he doesn’t care. I’m assuming he doesn’t give two flying shits since I’ve given him every possible signal that this entire thing is a hard no for me.
In my short twenty-one years, I’ve never had to put my hands on another human being, but today, I’m breaking the seal. If anyone deserves it, it’s Marcus.
“You have ten seconds to remove your hands from me and step away,” I warn him, giving him one last chance to back off. “Get your things and go.”
But Marcus, clearly a man who doesn’t give a shit, also doesn’t do as I’ve asked and hoped. “Baby, you know you want me. I see the way you’ve been looking at me.”
I snort right in his face. “Baby, this isn’t the look of lust.”
He crowds my space, and I know this is my time to act. The only time I’ll have the proximity advantage to carry out what I need to do to make him regret ever hitting on me.
Just like I’ve practiced, I thrust out my arm, smashing the palm into his face, connecting with his nose. “I said no.”
He staggers back, his hands moving to where I’ve just hit him. “Fuckin’ bitch,” he wails, his eyes watering.
My leg rises, my knee crashing into his balls, making him crumple forward. He’s no longer worried about his nose because my bony-ass knee is wicked.
He gasps for air, one hand on his face, the other at his crotch. I’m just about to hit him with an uppercut, making him straighten, when the front door opens, and Jett appears.
His eyes snap to me then to Marcus and back to me. “What the fuck?” he hisses, running into the kitchen.
“Your friend—” I wave my hand at Marcus “—doesn’t seem to understand personal boundaries.”
“The fucking bitch hit me,” Marcus groans.
The look of shock on Jett’s face vanishes just as quickly as it came. “The fucking bitch is my girlfriend.” Jett doesn’t waste any time in doing what I had planned next, delivering a wicked uppercut, causing Marcus’s body to fly backward.
I stand there, watching with wicked fascination as Jett kicks the shit out of his so-called best friend.
“Go get his bag for me, please,” Jett says, grabbing Marcus by the collar and hauling him toward the door. “While I take out the trash.”
I’m out of the kitchen a second later, running up the stairs to the spare bedroom. Marcus’s bag is near the bed, only a few pieces of clothes scattered on the duvet. I jam everything inside, not giving two shits if I forget anything.
By the time I’m back downstairs, Jett has Marcus on the cement outside. “You’re an asshole. You’re lucky I’m letting you leave here breathing.”
Although I had the situation somewhat under control, I’m happy Jett came in when he did and took over. I only had a plan to make Marcus regret touching me, but I didn’t know what I’d do afterward, other than possibly grabbing Statham and making him ever regret laying his hands on me.
Jett’s eyes meet mine as he grabs the pack from my hands. His gaze is filled with so much emotion—anger, sorrow, regret—and I know what he said while drugged is true.
He loves me. Maybe not the kind of love that lasts a lifetime yet, but he cares more than I realized. This isn’t a fling to him. The man I never thought would settle down has fallen for me. The boy I crushed on for years is now mine.
Jett throws the pack at Marcus as he stumbles to his feet. “Get the fuck out of here. Forget I exist. If I ever see your face again…”
“Whatever, man.” Marcus wipes away the blood on his lips with the back of his hand, glaring at Jett. “Can’t believe you’re throwing us away for some ass.”
Jett’s arm is around me, pulling me to his side. “You know what she means to me, but
you still betrayed me and hurt the only woman I’ve ever really loved.”
I blink, my mouth opening and closing, because hearing the words from him again still takes my breath away.
“Asshole,” Marcus mumbles. “Nothing but a pussy-whipped loser.”
“Marcus,” I call out, finally coming to my senses.
He growls and narrows his eyes as he hoists his pack over his shoulder.
“Just remember a girl beat your ass, ’kay?” I smirk, holding back my giggles but just barely.
Those words make Jett’s body relax, but his hand digs into my hip. We watch as Marcus stomps to his car, cursing and ranting with his arms waving until he gets in and peels out of the driveway like he’s wanted by the cops.
“I’m so sorry,” Jett says as soon as Marcus’s taillights fade. He turns me, his hands on my cheeks, gazing into my eyes. “I’m so, so sorry, Lily. I never should’ve let him stay here.”
I touch his hands, giving him a warm, kind smile. “Did you know he was like that?”
Jett shakes his head, his eyes never leaving mine. “I knew he could be a jerk, but I never saw him do anything even remotely like he did tonight. You have to believe I never would’ve let him stay here and be alone with you if I had.”
I wrap an arm around his waist, holding on to him as my legs start to shake. The adrenaline from earlier is finally beginning to wear off. “I believe you,” I whisper.
Jett smiles, leaning forward and planting a kiss on my forehead. “You kicked the shit out of him, Lily.”
“I know.” I giggle, remembering the way Marcus’s eyes filled with water after I smashed him right in his face.
“You’re pretty badass.”
“I can be.”
“That scares me,” he admits against my skin.
I peer up, a smile on my face. “My dad taught me a few moves.”
“Maybe you should be the one working at ALFA instead of me.” He pulls back, bringing his lips near mine. “Lily.”
“Yeah?” I whisper, staring into his eyes.
“I love you,” he says. “I think I’ve always loved you.”
My insides go squishy. “I love you too,” I breathe, saying the words for the first time.
Blaze: Men of Inked Heatwave #4 Page 21
