PowerShift: Skid Row Kings Series, #2

by Winter Travers

  “And what I need is a knight in shining armor?”

  “No,” I snarled. “What you need is someone who fucking cares about you. Lord knows from the bruises all over your body you haven’t had that in years.” She reared back at my words, and I knew something had finally penetrated that stubborn shell she was wearing. “And before you tell me you don’t have anything to give me, you give me a whole hell of a lot more than I’ve ever gotten from a woman.” I grabbed the spatula out of her hand and tossed it on the counter. All I wanted to do was kiss that shocked look off of her face. “You know what you can give me right now?”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head.

  “This,” I growled. I delved my fingers into Scarlett’s hair, grasping her head and her mouth opened on a gasp right before my lips touched hers, making everything in my world right. Just a touch from this woman made me feel like everything I had been looking for was now laid out at my feet, and all I had to do was take it.

  She gripped my arms, digging her fingernails into my skin as I leaned into her, arching her back and pressing her warm, lush body into me. I felt her resistance fade, and I knew I finally had her.

  It was about damn time.

  _______________

  Scarlett

  Sweet mother of Jesus, Mitch could kiss. All the reasons why Mitch and I didn’t work flew out the window and all I could think about was how to get him to kiss me more. His hand grasped my head, arching my neck backward and his lips trailed down my neck, leaving a heavenly trail of sweet kisses.

  “Mama! Mama!” And just like that, I was sucked back into reality.

  “Um, I better go see what he wants,” I mumbled breathlessly as Mitch lifted his head. His eyes were clouded with desire, and I wished I had just five more minutes of his lips on me.

  “We’ll pick this up on Friday,” he said, but I took it as a promise or possibly more like a threat. Although I had to admit, if it was a threat, I hope he followed through on it.

  ______________

  Chapter 19

  Scarlett

  “That’ll be five seventy-six.” It was Friday afternoon, and it felt like the day was never going to end. I had dropped Levi off at the shop with Mitch this morning, leaving hot and bothered like the past four days and now I was once again counting down the hours until I would see Mitch again. Every morning he would tell Levi he was going to walk me to my car, and then he would proceed to pin me against the door of my car and give me just enough to leave me begging for more.

  “You got any plans tonight?”

  I glanced up from the cash register drawer and looked at the man who was standing in front of me. He had been in every day this week, never saying a word to me, but I had noticed him. It wasn’t the good kind of noticing either. It was the kind where I noticed him because he scared me. “Um, yes.”

  “I think you should cancel them.” His words were menacing and not a suggestion, they were an order.

  “I don’t thi-”

  “Mama!” Levi yelled, bursting through the front door. He ran around the counter and threw himself at my legs.

  “Levi, I told you to wait for me.”

  I spun around and saw Mitch sauntering through the door. He pushed his sunglasses on top of his head, and he had a lazy smile on his lips. “You’re early.” I sounded surprised, but I was relieved.

  “Levi was chomping at the bit to get his bag and head back to the shop.” Mitch’s gaze traveled over me, and I felt my cheeks heat under his inspection.

  “Mitch Jensen.” My eyes snapped to the man who was still standing at the counter, and I could feel the tension in the air at his words. “What are you doing on my side of the tracks?”

  “Pretty sure this was my side of the tracks before you even knew this place existed.”

  “Yeah, but now you’re one of the Kings of Skid Row because you made it out.” The man turned around, facing Mitch, and leaned against the counter.

  “You got everything you need, AZ?” Mitch asked.

  “I was just about to get your girl’s phone number.” I gasped at his words. What a dick.

  “I believe that’s one number you’ll never get,” Mitch growled as his fists flexed at his sides.

  “Yeah, I guess I have more of an effect on your aunt.” AZ smacked the gum in his mouth and slid his sunglasses down his face. “Maybe I’ll swing by and see her.”

  “I doubt you’ll be able to find her.”

  “Hmm. I think you’d be surprised about the things I know.” AZ pushed off the counter and walked to the door. He slid past Mitch, bumping into his shoulder and walked out the door.

  “Mama?” Levi called.

  I looked down, his arms still wrapped around my legs and his head was tipped back, looking up at me with big eyes. “Yeah, bud?” I had no idea what just happened, but Levi and I could both tell it wasn’t good.

  “Who was that man?”

  “He’s nobody, Levi. He used to be a friend.” Mitch turned to look out the door, and AZ raced past the door, his tires squealing.

  “Mama! Mitch said we could go get my bag.” Levi tugged on my shirt and jumped up and down. Apparently, Mitch’s words pacified him enough to where he didn’t care about AZ. I wished the same could be said about me.

  “I don’t get off work for another hour, big man.”

  “I can take him to get his bag, head back to Frankie, drop him off and then I can meet you at your apartment.”

  “Are you sure? He can wait. You've had him all day, all week really.” I was still getting used to Mitch helping so much, and it took everything I had not to tell him no all the time.

  “I'm sure. I'll meet you back at your place in an hour.”

  I nodded my head, trying my best not to argue. Mitch was just trying to help I told myself. “I can meet you at the shop.”

  “Nope, I'm coming to your place.” Mitch’s gaze traveled over my body again, and I knew the real reason he wanted to meet me at my place.

  “OK, but then I won't see Levi the rest of the night.”

  “It's OK, Mama. I really wanna spend the night with Frankie. She said she was going to get all of the Transformer movies, and we could watch them all night. And, we get ice cream!” He shouted.

  I was glad Levi was so excited to spend time with Frankie, but it also made me a little sad that he was good with not seeing me for so long.

  “Maybe we can stop by the shop on the way to the movie after the race.”

  I looked up at Mitch, and my heart skipped when he winked at me. I knew how badly Mitch wanted to be alone with me, but he also knew that I was going to miss Levi. I had barely gotten used to not seeing him for a couple of hours, and now I was going to have to go all night without seeing him. “Um, if you’re sure we’ll have time.”

  “There’s always time.” He winked at me again, and I was a goner. “Say bye to your mom while I make a quick phone call.” Mitch walked out the door as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and disappeared around the corner.

  Levi rambled on about everything Mitch and him had done today, but I couldn’t get my mind off AZ. Mitch had tried to blow him off except I had lots of questions. I just hoped I’d be able to ask them tonight before Mitch and I picked up where we left off last week.

  ______________

  Mitch

  I put the phone to my ear and leaned against the truck. The last thing I expected to see when I walked into the gas station was AZ talking to Scarlett. Levi had been bugging me all day to go grab his bag, and I had finally given in. Thankfully we had shown up at the right time.

  “Crank.”

  “Mitch. What the hell’s going on, man?”

  “You think you can be to the Gas Go on the corner of Mill in one minute?”

  “What the hell are you doing over there?”

  “My girlfriend works here. I just walked in on AZ hitting on her.”

  “No fuck. I’m over on Elm. I can be there
in thirty seconds. You about to beat the shit out of him?” I heard a car door slam and the roar of his engine.

  “Naw, he’s gone right now. I got a couple of things I need to do before Scar gets off work and was hoping you could stick around till I get back.”

  “Yeah, I’m on the way. You should be able to hear me in about ten seconds,” he laughed.

  “If you had the ‘Vette, I would have heard you by know.”

  “Yeah, yeah. You and that damn American muscle. I ain’t trading in my import. No way, no how.” I heard the roar of his car and thirty seconds later he pulled into the parking lot next to the ‘Vette. Crank climbed out of the car, and we clapped each other on the back.

  “Thanks for coming, man. I doubt AZ will come back, but you can never be too sure.”

  “Eh, you can never be too careful. Hell, I didn’t even know you had a girlfriend. I was more surprised by that fact than that AZ was sniffing around. First Luke and now you.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against his car. “She from around here?”

  “Naw, she just moved here a month ago.”

  “You work quick, man.”

  I ran my hand over my head and shrugged my shoulders. “Sure as shit doesn’t feel quick.” I had been working my ass to get Scarlett to give me a chance. I just hoped AZ sniffing around didn’t fuck things up and scare her away. “She gets off work in an hour. I’ll let her know you’ll be out here and then follow her to her apartment if you don’t mind.”

  “Sure thing, man. I know you’d do the same for me.”

  I walked back into the gas station, and Levi ran straight for me and wrapped his arms around my legs. “Let’s go,” he shouted.

  “Alright, bud. Just let me talk to your mama for a second. Why don’t you go say hi to Crank? I’m sure he’ll let you sit in his car. Just tell him you know me.”

  “Yes! Bye, Mama!” he yelled as he ran out the door.

  “Who’s Crank?” Scarlett asked as she walked around the counter.

  “He’s gonna hang out here until I get back from dropping Levi off.”

  “He’s here because of AZ, isn’t he?” Scarlett walked to the door and looked for Levi. “I knew he wasn’t good the second he opened his mouth.”

  “Yeah, you’re right about that, Sparky. AZ is anything but good.”

  “He’s the one who smashed into Luke’s car, right?” She turned around and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Yeah, and he also messed up my aunt really good.”

  “He beat her up?”

  “Naw, although getting her hooked on drugs is just as bad.”

  “And he was here talking to me because he’s trying to piss not only you but both of your brothers off.” She ran her hand through her hair and shook her head. “Well, things were going well for a while. Although it is a pattern in my life that everything turns to shit.”

  “Scarlett, what the hell are you talking about? AZ was a problem before you moved here. This has nothing to do with you. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Mitch, I moved here to get away from a psycho, now I have to worry about another one.”

  She hung her head down, and I felt like an ass for bringing this to her. “Scarlett, look at me.” She shook her head but raised her head. “I promise on my life, that nothing will happen to you and Levi. As long as I’m breathing, you will have the life you always deserved.”

  “You’re crazy,” she whispered.

  “Probably,” I laughed. Scarlett launched herself into my arms and wrapped her body around me. “You’re not going to worry, right?” I whispered in her ear.

  “I’ll try not to.”

  “Good girl,” I said. “Now, you gonna let me go so I can get Levi over to Frankie, or am I going to have to take you with me?”

  “Hmm, as much as I’d love to leave with you right now, I need to work. Brooke always comes in a bit early so I’ll see about punching out a couple of minutes early.”

  “Sounds good.” I pressed a kiss to the side of her head and gave her one last hug. “Crank is going to follow you to your apartment after work, OK? I’ll meet you there.”

  “OK,” she whispered as she stepped out of my arms. “Here’s the key,” she said as she pulled it out of her pocket and put it in my hand.

  “I’ll see you soon, Sparky.” I walked out the door, glancing over my shoulder and wished I didn’t have to go. But the sooner I grabbed Levi’s bag and dropped him off with Frankie, the sooner I would be able to hold Scarlett again.

  ______________

  Chapter 20

  Scarlett

  I had butterflies flying in my stomach, and I swear I was ready to pass out.

  Crank had followed me home from work, and when I had pulled up to my apartment, my heart had skipped a beat when I saw Mitch leaning against the side of his car waiting for me. He had changed into a ripped pair of jeans and was wearing a tight blue shirt that made me wish we didn’t have to leave the apartment.

  Now I was standing in the bathroom trying to get a hold on my nerves. This wasn’t my first date with Mitch, but this felt completely different from anything we had done before. It had taken me forever to figure out what to wear, partly because I wanted to look nice for Mitch, but I knew we were going to the race and wasn’t really sure what the dress code was. Leelee and Violet had worn normal clothes when I had seen them there, but then other girls were dressed up and definitely trying to impress. I figured somewhere in the middle was where I needed to be.

  I didn’t have a lot of clothes so my choices were limited. I had settled on my best pair of jeans, a black cami and purple and green flannel shirt over it, left open. I had managed to find the only pair of shoes that weren’t tennis shoes and slipped them on my feet. My normal shortness of 5’ 5” was gone as the shoes boosted me. They were only black pumps, but they helped to jazz up the outfit a bit.

  “Scarlett, you ready?” Mitch asked as he knocked on the door.

  “Um, I think so,” I said hesitantly. I don’t think I could ever be fully prepared for going on a date with one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. I opened the door and held my breath as Mitch’s gaze traveled over me. “Um, do I look OK?” I rubbed my hands on my jeans trying to get a grip.

  “There’s only one way you’d look better.”

  “Oh, should I change?” I knew the damn heels would be too much. I stood on one foot and raised the other as I balanced trying to pry the shoe off of my foot.

  “Whoa, whoa. What are you doing?” Mitch asked as he grabbed my arm before I fell over.

  “I look like a fool.”

  “No, you definitely do not look like a fool.”

  “You just said there is something better that I should be wearing. I bet I look like a redneck hick with this on.” I ripped the shirt off my arms and tossed it on the floor.

  “Scar,” Mitch bent over and picked up the shirt off the floor. “You looked hot as hell. I meant the only way you could look hotter is if you weren’t wearing anything at all.”

  “Oh,” I gasped, my mouth dropping open. “I thought I looked embarrassing.”

  “Embarrassing is the last word I would use to describe you. Especially with these heels on. Take a deep breath, Sparky and tell me what the hell is going on.”

  I put my foot down, and I shrunk three inches. Mitch leaned down, grabbed the shoe I had taken off and slipped it back on my foot. “That better?” He asked looking up at me.

  “I’m embarrassing. That’s all I’m going to do is embarrass you. I don’t even know how to dress, and I’m twenty-five years old.”

  “Scarlett, you need to knock this shit off right now. You’re not fucking embarrassing and you sure as hell know how to dress. I haven’t had any complaints about any of the clothes I’ve seen you in.”

  “Ugh, never mind.” I didn’t want to sound like a whiny little girl.

  “No,” he said standing up. “Tell me
what’s wrong.”

  “I just don’t know what to wear, Mitch. All I own is jeans and t-shirts. That’s it. All those girls I saw at the race last week were wearing way skimpier clothes than that. Well, Violet and Leelee weren’t, but they’re cool enough that they don’t need to worry about what they wear. Violet is gorgeous with her hair piled up on her head, and Leelee is so kick ass that she could wear a burlap sack, and she’d look amazing. Me, I put on a flannel shirt, and I look like I’m going to a hoedown, not a street race.” Mitch looked at me with a blank stare.

  “I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you say at one time.”

  I shrugged my shoulders and grabbed the flannel shirt out of his hand. I was acting like an idiot, but I couldn’t help it. I shrugged the shirt back on and ran my fingers through my hair. “I guess I just don’t normally have a lot to say.”

  “Wouldn’t you know when you actually talk, it’s all bullshit.”

  I gasped and propped my hands on my hips. “What I think is not bullshit.”

  “No, normally it’s not. But what you just went on and on about is pure bullshit. There’s only one person you need to care about when you’re getting dressed.”

  “Let me guess, you.”

  “No.” Mitch stepped forward and wrapped his arms around my waist. “The only person you need to care about is yourself. If you like the way you look, then everyone else will too.”

  “That’s so much easier to say than do.”

  “I guess I’ll just have to help you.”

  “Ugh, there’s that damn word again; help.” I was seriously starting to hate that damn word. All Mitch seemed to do was help me. “Do you think you can go the whole night without using that word again?”

  “Now we’re going to get into this again, Scar?”

  No. I really didn’t want to get into that again. Mitch was never going to understand how I felt about him helping me all the time. I was so independent before I moved here and now it felt like I was constantly leaning on Mitch. “No, we’re not. I plan on watching you kick ass at the race and then watch a movie.”