“You have?” I asked.
“Yeah, long story,” Alex said.
“Where have you been for the last twenty minutes?” Macey demanded as she walked into the living room. “You texted to say you were here like six days ago.”
I giggled. “You’re funny.”
She hugged me and then smiled at Alex. “Hey, Hawk.”
“Hey, babe.”
I introduced Alex to everyone he didn’t know, which was pretty much only Bailey. Alex got around it would seem. Dani, Kim, and Booker were already there, so Booker and Alex gravitated to one another while the rest of us reconnected. Dani looked gorgeous in her killer dark blue dress, knee-length and low-cut that showcased her very full chest… I’d die for boobs that big, alas, I was stuck with my B-cups… and a dark blue pair of peep toe boots that showed off her shapely calves.
Kim was new to me and she was gorgeous. I was sure she must be a model, because she was tall, probably five-foot-ten or eleven, with killer legs that went on for days. She had long dark hair, soft brown eyes, and full lips that seemed to be in a permanent smile. She wore a skin-tight tiny black dress that stopped just below her butt and stiletto boots that went up past her knees, emphasizing her long legs, and she was super sweet.
“Can I get you a beer?” Dallas asked Alex.
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Okay, honey, you can go,” Macey said.
“In a bit,” Dallas said. “Where are you going?”
“I was thinking Blush,” Dani said.
“Fuck me,” Booker said.
“Too soon?” she asked, and Kim started laughing.
“I’ll host you at Blush,” Booker said. “But another time when I can keep an eye on you.”
Dani giggled. “Killjoy.”
There was obviously a story there and I couldn’t wait to find out what it was.
“We’re going to Mississippi Studios,” Macey said. “Under Oaks and the City Suns are playing.”
“Then where?” Brock asked.
“You’re on assignment all night, honey. Or did you forget?” Bailey said, smiling up at him.
“So?” Brock countered.
Bailey rolled her eyes at me. “So, we’ll be fine.”
“Hey, big brother, we can take care of ourselves you know,” I said. “Hawk’s playing chauffeur tonight.”
“And I got Dani and Kim,” Booker said.
As the group talked logistics and my fellow girl posse objected to the sudden need for babysitters, I turned toward Alex and narrowed my eyes at him. He smiled, but he looked guilty.
Grabbing his arm, I faced the group and forced a smile. “Excuse us for a minute.” Before anyone could respond, I dragged him into the hallway and crossed my arms. “When did all of this come about?”
“What?”
“You know what.” I paced the hall, waving my finger at him. “I’m just curious… do you have to touch your magic rings together to physically become the Super Protecto Twins?”
“Babe.” Alex laughed. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“If you put on glasses, would I suddenly fail to recognize you?”
“Payton.”
He sounded a little peevish, but I was going for contrite.
“There is one thing I’ve always wondered, handsome.” I paused in my pacing and settled my hands on my hips. “Do y’all have to wear those tights? Are they government regulation, an aerodynamic thing… or just a lifestyle choice?”
“Fuck me,” he whispered as he dragged his hands through his hair.
“So, you didn’t offer to drive just because you were being sweet and wanted to make anything up to me, you are essentially a glorified bouncer.” Okay, now he was looking mildly contrite. “Right. No argument. Got it.”
“If I could speak, Payton, then I could explain.”
“Don’t bother. Go home, Hawk.” All manner of emotion flooded me. Irritation that he had ulterior motives to seeing me tonight, anger that he felt I needed to be watched and he’d obviously planned something with Booker… or worse yet, my brother… and then, just plain hurt. This last emotion deflated me somewhat. Partly because I didn’t want to feel hurt by someone I hardly knew. It brought to light that I’d once again misread the situation, something I didn’t do, and thought he felt the same way I did. At this point, I was resigned. If I continued on the path I was on, I’d get dizzy with wondering whether ‘he loves me, he loves me not.’ I had to cut him loose and move on or I’d be in a constant state of emotional nausea.
“Babe.”
“Just go,” I whispered, and pushed past him to go back inside.
Macey was at my side immediately, wrapping an arm around me, and guiding me to her bedroom. “Are you okay?”
“Yep.”
“Then why are you crying?”
I gasped. “I’m not.”
She grinned and pointed to my face. “Okay, not totally, but you have a little wetness there.”
“Bite me, Macey!”
She giggled, which meant I did too. Gotta give it to my best friend, she knew how to get me out of my head.
“So, what happened?” she asked.
I sighed and flopped into the chair by the window. “He lied. No biggie.”
Macey smiled and sat in the matching chair next to mine. “How did he lie?”
“He told me he’d call me. He didn’t. Granted, Lily was sick, so I get why he couldn’t. And I thought he was being super sweet when he showed up on my porch, all romantic and crap, saying he missed me and that he wanted to make this week up to me. But now I find out this watchdog crap was all planned. Planned, Mase. His sweetness was all under the guise of backing up his “brother” to keep Dani and Kim safe.” I shook my head. “And my feelings are hurt. Damn it, Macey, I don’t get my feelings hurt this soon. Boys suck!”
“It had nothin’ to do with Dani and Kim, Payton,” Alex said. He was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, his face unreadable.
I squeaked. “Stop doing that!”
“I’ll give you a minute, hmm?” Macey said, and rose to her feet.
“No, it’s all good,” I countered, sinking further into the chair. “Hawk was just leaving.”
He smirked. “I’m not goin’ anywhere, Payton.”
Macey smiled down at me and I glared up at her. “If you leave this room, Macey Stone, I will kill you. Like as in dead, dead. Not figuratively, literally. Murder, Macey. Murder. I will commit it.”
“Okay, honey. I only ask you make it quick.” Macey grinned and started toward the door.
“I won’t. I’ll make you suffer.”
She slid past Alex and he closed the distance between us, sitting in the seat Macey had just vacated and settling his ankle on his knee.
“Don’t get comfortable, bub, you’re not staying.”
“Payton, you’re overreacting.”
“Don’t tell me I’m overreacting, Hawk. I get to feel how I feel.” I scowled at him. “Do you know nothing about women? God, you’re infuriating!”
He smiled at me. Smiled! Gah!
“Break it down for me, baby.”
“No.”
“Babe, you gotta work with me here, or this isn’t gonna work.”
I shrugged. “It’s not going to work. I’m calling it.”
Alex chuckled. “You’re callin’ nothin’, baby.”
“I am.” I stood and faced him. “We’re just too different, Alex. It’s okay. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. I hope we can be friends.”
I watched his face as he stared up at me. His expression gave nothing away, but his eyes. God, his eyes. I bit my lip, hoping the pain would bring me to my senses. It didn’t. Then, he ran his fingers over his sexy moustache and I all I could do was imagine those same fingers on me, but I forced the thoughts aside and took a deep breath.
“Friends,” he said.
“Yes. Friends. You’ve heard of those right?” I crossed my arms. “I’m a pretty decent one, I’m told.
”
He pushed out of the chair and moved toward me. I stepped back, grabbing for the edge of the bed when I tripped on the rug… not that I needed to. He caught me, which meant he also pulled me against him. The hand attached to the arm not holding me like a vice grip around my waist, slid to my neck and stroked my pulse, and he studied me, his eyes dropping to my mouth, which of course made them dry, so I just had to lick my lips. He smiled again. Damn it!
“What are you doing?” I demanded… okay, demand wasn’t the word, because there was nothing demand-y about my voice. It was shaky and breathy… and might I add, somewhat turned on? God, I was insane!
“Do friends cut off other friends so they can’t get a word in edgewise when trying to explain somethin’ to the other one?” he asked.
“I wasn’t—”
He raised an eyebrow. “Do friends jump to conclusions before askin’ questions in order to understand a situation fully?”
“I didn’t—”
“And tell me, Payton. What kind of friend is consumed twenty-four, seven with the desire to fuck the other one?”
Ohmigod! “I—”
His mouth landed on mine and I was transported somewhere so far out of the friend zone, it might as well have been the moon and this pissed me off, so I pushed at his shoulders and broke the kiss. I laid my fingers against my lips trying to ignore the tingle.
“In answer to your question, handsome. No, friends aren’t consumed with the need to fuck each other,” I snapped. “So maybe we can’t be friends after all.”
“Fuck me, Payton, what the hell do you want me to do?”
“I want you to stop kissing me every time you want to get your point across!”
“Damn it, woman!” He dragged his hands down his face. “You make me fuckin’ crazy, you know that?”
I threw my hands up. “Bite me!”
His gaze swept my body from tip to toe and I shivered.
“Not literally,” I rushed to say.
“Fuckin’ shame, baby. I’d make it good for you.”
“I hate you so much right now.”
He sighed and his face softened. “I’m just askin’ you to talk it out with me, Payton. Can you do that?”
“Honestly, Alex? I don’t know. You’re not what I expected. You’re sure as hell nothing like anyone I’ve ever met, so I’m kind of lost as to what to do.”
He smiled gently and held his hand out to me. “Break it down for me.”
I took his hand and he led me back to the chairs. I sat in the one I’d been in before, and he did the same. I couldn’t help looking over my shoulder and staring out at the view of the water. It was so incredibly calming and I needed that right now. “Relationships have always been easy for me,” I admitted. “In the past, I’ve been friends with someone for a while, then we’d go on a few dates and decide if there was something to develop. If there was, we’d see each other for a period of time exclusively, then if we fell in love, we’d take it to the next level.” I focused on Alex again. “There has never been drama. Ever. Even when the relationships didn’t work out, we’d separate amicably and go on with our lives.”
“Sounds pretty fuckin’ borin’, baby.”
“Well, it wasn’t. It was great,” I countered. “I always knew where I stood, always understood where we were going. No guessing.”
“Because it was all on your terms.”
“It was not!”
“Babe, it was,” he said. “Sounds like you dated a shit ton of pussies, none of them willing to fight for you or make you feel anything real. They let you run everything… afraid to disappoint the great Payton Williams.”
I rolled my eyes. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
A Macey sounding giggle came from the hallway and I shot out of my seat to find my best friend with her hand over her mouth, standing about a foot from the open door.
“Eavesdropping now, Mase?” I snapped. “Nice.”
“I was coming to find out if you still wanted to come with us or if we should go without you. I didn’t mean to catch that last bit of the conversation,” she said, and then raised her voice and added, “Even if he is totally right.”
“He is not right! And, yes, I’m coming with you.”
“Okay, well we need to get going.”
I nodded. “Let’s go.”
“Give us a minute, babe,” Alex said to Macey from right behind me. Again, I hadn’t heard him move.
“Do you float?” I snapped.
“I’ll give you a minute,” Macey said, and walked away.
“I have to go,” I said, and faced Alex.
He closed the bedroom door and stroked my cheek. “One minute.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Fifty-eight seconds, handsome. Make ’em count.”
“No one conspired against you, Payton. When I was at the club earlier, Booker did say Dani was joining you, but it was after you and I spoke and you said you were busy. He didn’t say anything about Kim or driving them.” He smiled. “I just wanted to see you, baby, and, yeah, I want to know you were safe. If I’m driving, then I can guarantee it.”
I bit my lip. “You really didn’t plan it?”
“Can’t speak for the others, but no, I really didn’t plan it.”
I melted. “I still hate you.”
He chuckled and ran his nose against mine. “No you don’t.”
“Yes I do,” I whispered.
He kissed me gently. “No you don’t.”
I licked my lips. “Um, yeah, I do.”
He grinned and kissed me again. “Um, no, you don’t.”
I wrinkled my nose, mostly because I didn’t want to smile.
“I can keep doing this,” he said.
“I bet you can.”
Alex chuckled. “Forgive me?”
“For which part?” I retorted.
“All of it, baby. That way I’m covered.”
I rolled my eyes. “I guess I should probably apologize too.”
“What for? You’re perfect, Payton.”
“I never said I was perfect,” I snapped.
“Don’t get mad, baby.” He smiled again. “I’m just fuckin’ with ya. Don’t get your panties in a wad.”
“Don’t tell me not to get my panties in a wad, then.”
He raised an eyebrow. “We’ll work on your sense of humor.”
“Bite… never mind.”
Alex laughed and I couldn’t help but smile.
“We friends?” he asked, and I punched his arm. “Shit, baby, that fuckin’ hurt.”
“Yeah, well, my brother taught me how to hit,” I said smugly, but when I saw him rubbing his arm, I felt bad. “I didn’t really hurt you, did I?” When he gave me an irritating smirk, I wanted to hit him again. “I’m back to hating you.”
At that, he dropped his head back and let out a roar of a laugh. “Fuck me, baby, you’re gorgeous.”
“I’m going now,” I said in a sing-songy voice, and pulled open the door.
Before I could step into the hallway, I was dragged up against Alex and kissed senseless. How was it possible kissing him just got better and better?
“Payton,” Macey called, although, she was sounding a little less patient than before.
I pushed against Alex and he broke the kiss. “You’re killing me,” I complained.
“Told you I’d wear you down, baby.”
“Come on,” I said, and headed back to the living room. “Dallas and Brock left already?”
“Honey, you’ve been in there for like an hour,” Macey said.
“Bite me, Mase.” I heard Alex clear his throat behind me, but I didn’t react. My body did though, and I had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself. “We ready?” I asked.
At the murmurs of assent, we locked up the apartment and headed to Mississippi Studios.
“AM I REALLY a control freak?” I asked Macey as we watched the rest of the group dancing on the floor a few feet in front of us.
&nbs
p; She turned away from the dance floor and focused on me. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Mase.”
“Okay. Let’s just say, you’re a bit of a hyper-administrative enthusiast, like me.”
“I think I prefer ‘outcome enthusiast.’”
Macey laughed. “Ohmigod, that’s good.”
“You really shouldn’t be surprised by my brilliance.” I shook my head. “But, be serious for a second.”
“You’re thinking about what Hawk said?”
I nodded.
“Okay.” Macey sighed. “You know how people pretend to be afraid of me?”
“No one pretends, Mase.”
Macey giggled. “For the sake of argument, let’s say they do pretend.”
“Okay.”
“Well, although people aren’t typically afraid of you, they do want to live up to you.”
I wrinkled my nose. “What?”
“You’re an ideal, honey. People are drawn to you because you’re beautiful and confident, and then they find out you have a wicked sense of humor and are sweet on top of that, and they can’t help but want to be near you. But you expect the highest and best out of people and when they don’t perform, you tend to back away a little.”
My stomach churned a bit. “Why am I an ideal?”
“This is where I find you totally fascinating.” Macey grinned. “On the outside, you appear to be perfect—” I opened my mouth to object, but she held up her hand. “I know, I know, you’re not perfect. Just listen.” I rolled my eyes, but I did close my mouth again. “Your family is amazing, you’re amazing, even your pets have all been amazing.”
I giggled. We’d owned two dogs throughout our lives, a Boxer and a black lab. Our Boxer died when I was about ten and our lab had died about three years ago. My parents couldn’t bear to get another one, especially since us kids were all out of the house, so we were currently petless… unless you counted the stupid cat that showed up on the door and refused to leave. Probably because Mom fed it every day. But Macey was right. Our dogs had rocked. We’d taught them tricks, they never had to be leashed because we all worked with them, so yeah, they were pretty amazing.
“Your parents adore each other and have been married forever, you’re actually close to your siblings, and you’re all smart, educated, and other than you… although, that will happen, I know it… have married their soul mates. What isn’t attractive about that?”
Road to Redemption Page 6
