by A. K. Evans
After Luke walked out of the studio, Lexi and I sat on the couch I had in my waiting area at the front of the studio. She talked to me about school, which she was planning to finish within the next three weeks. Her major was in public relations and communications, so she was an even better fit for my studio. I figured she’d be able to help get the word out and know the best ways to accomplish it. Lexi had a relatively light schedule at school and could start working right away since her classes were scheduled for first thing in the morning. She told me she’d be able to make it to the studio by one o’clock in the afternoon every day. That worked perfectly for me since I knew I’d be busiest in the evenings.
Roughly thirty minutes after Luke left, I had officially hired Lexi. She was excited, however, to get over and meet Nikki.
“Okay,” I started. “So, you’re officially hired and I’ve got my first dance instructor hired. Her name is Jenna. She’s going to start on Monday and help with preparations for the grand opening next Thursday. If you are good with that, I’d love for you to start on Monday as well.”
“That sounds great. I’ll be here,” Lexi said as her eyes slid to the side and she looked beyond me. I watched as her eyes turned liquid.
My brows drew together and I turned to look behind me.
Cruz was standing there, frozen on the spot. His eyes mirrored Lexi’s.
Liquid heat.
My gaze went back and forth between Cruz and Lexi. The longer I stood there, the more I felt like a third wheel.
“Um, so have you two ever met?” I asked.
Lexi shook her head slowly back and forth. Cruz’s gaze grew even more heated and a sexy grin spread across his face.
“Really?” I asked, dumbfounded. It seemed odd to me that the guys knew each other, but that Lexi and Cruz hadn’t ever met. “Lexi, this is Cruz. He’s Zane’s younger brother. You know Zane, right?”
She tore her eyes from Cruz and looked to me before she nodded.
“Okay,” I continued, turning my attention to Cruz now. “Cruz, this is Lexi. She’s Luke’s younger sister and my new receptionist.”
Realization dawned in his features.
Lexi turned my attention back to her when she spat out, “It’s nice to meet you, Cruz. I’ve got to get going. Monroe, thank you so much for the job opportunity. I’ll see you next week.”
She flew out the door while I turned back to Cruz. He was staring at the empty space where Lexi once stood. I silently laughed as I began walking toward him to go back to one of the dance rooms. Just as I was about to pass Cruz, I brought my palm up to rest on his chest and joked, “Welcome to my world.”
Chapter 13
Monroe
It was Thursday morning and it was early.
It was also my birthday.
I was awake and getting ready to spend my day with Stone. He called me last night after I had gotten back from the studio to give me the details of our day today. He didn’t exactly give me full details; rather, he called and said that I’d need to be ready to go by eight-thirty this morning because we had an hour and a half drive to the location of the start of my birthday celebration. He did not tell me where we were going, but did tell me that he had checked the weather and was happy that the slight warm-up that had started two days ago was going to continue through the weekend. Apparently, the weather being nice was a big deal.
My outfit for the day was casual. Stone also explained to me during our phone call last night that I needed to keep it laid-back for the day and that sneakers were a must. I had to admit that I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to see what he had planned. I went with a pair of light wash blue jeans, a black, long-sleeved, V-neck tee, and a pair of cute sneakers. I didn’t curl my hair, but I took the time to make it look decent instead of just throwing it up in a messy bun on the top of my head.
I had just finished the final touches on my make-up, which I kept natural for the day, when my phone rang. I looked down at the display and saw Vaughn’s name on the screen.
“Good morning,” I said, holding the phone up to my ear.
“Happy birthday, kid!”
“Thanks, Vaughn. I’m twenty-five now, definitely no longer a kid.”
He laughed into the phone and expressed, “You’ll always be a kid to me. How does it feel being a whole quarter of a century now?”
I smiled as I thought about everything that had happened over the last couple of days before I answered, “It feels fantastic.”
“What did I miss?” he asked, instantly sensing something was different in my tone since the last time he spoke with me.
“Nothing,” I responded, immediately. I knew he’d probably give me a lecture if I told him about Stone.
“Monroe Allison Archer, don’t lie to me.”
So, I knew he’d give me a lecture if I told him about Stone, but I also knew he’d be persistent and not let me off the hook if I didn’t explain my mood.
“Okay, then you have to promise to be nice to me because it’s my birthday. Yelling at me today would be highly inappropriate and very, very mean.”
“Spit it out,” he demanded.
I let out a sigh.
“I forgave him. He sent more flowers. He hand-delivered flowers. He asked me out on a proper date. I accepted and I had a phenomenal time. When he found out it was my birthday today he asked me what I had planned. I told him the girls were taking me out this weekend, but nothing else, otherwise. He wants to spend the day with me today.”
Vaughn stayed silent.
“Vaughn?” I called after too much time had passed.
“I’m here,” he said, quietly.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Don’t want you getting hurt, Monroe. You were shredded when I came to visit and you hadn’t even been in a relationship with this guy. I could tell when you talked about him how deep that feeling is for you. Do not let this guy destroy you.”
“I can’t help how I feel,” I admitted.
“I know that,” he maintained. “I’m not going to upset you today and I hope you have a great time. Just try to proceed with a bit of caution, okay?”
“I’ll do my best. Thank you, Vaughn.”
“I’m not pushing for it immediately, but I’m looking forward to hearing about your day. I want to know he treated you right and at least made the day special for you.”
I felt my insides warm. I knew this wasn’t easy for Vaughn being so far away. It hadn’t dawned on me until this moment just how much he was affected by me leaving California. I guess I continued to tell myself that family all had each other to lean on, but the reality is that even though Vaughn had our parents, Remi, and Deacon, he and I were the closest and the separation was just as tough on him as it was for me.
I wanted to reassure him so I insisted, “He will, Vaughn. Trust me. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Love you, kid.”
“Love you, too.”
I disconnected the call and heard a knock at the front door.
Stone.
My insides started trembling because I was so excited to see him. I made my way to the front door and opened it. When I saw Stone standing before me, looking as good as always, I broke out into a huge smile.
Stone stepped inside, closed the door, wrapped his arm around my waist, and pressed his lips to mine. After giving me a very sweet birthday kiss, he pulled back and breathed, “Happy birthday, my angel.”
His angel.
I loved that.
He could do nothing else for the rest of the day and I would have had the best birthday ever just hearing that one little word from him.
“Thank you, Stone.”
“You ready?” he asked.
“Yep.”
“Is your overnight bag packed?”
I raised my eyebrows in question.
“Monroe. I told you I planned to have you stay at my house tonight. You need to pack an overnight bag.”
“Oh,” I murmured, feeling foolish. “I didn’t think
about that.”
“It’s alright. Show me to your room and I’ll help you pack.”
I narrowed my eyes at him before I challenged, “Are you sure this isn’t just a ploy to get yourself in my bedroom?”
Stone laughed and countered, “It’s not, but do I need to come up with an elaborate scheme to get into your bedroom?”
I relaxed my face and dropped my shoulders.
“I’m afraid not,” I answered honestly.
His lips quirked up into a half-grin that was incredibly sexy, so I turned and threw him a bit of sass as I began walking away, “You don’t need to rub in the fact that you’re hot. Follow me.”
He laughed as he followed behind me to my bedroom.
Fifteen minutes later, my bag was packed. Stone carried my bag down the hall toward the front door. As we passed the kitchen I realized I had nearly forgotten something.
“Wait!” I yelled out, as I grabbed his forearm to stop him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I snuck off into the kitchen, grabbed the bag, and came back.
Holding the bag up between us, I noted, “I almost forgot this.”
He took in the bag and his now smoldering, baby blue eyes came to mine.
“What’s in the bag?”
I grinned up at him and tempted him, “Just a little something fun for later.”
“Show me.”
I shook my head. “No way. You are not getting a preview. You’ll have to wait until I’m wearing it.”
“You have me considering rearranging our plans for today. Maybe I should take you to my place first or, perhaps, back down the hall to your bedroom.”
Now my eyes heated.
I swallowed hard. When I spoke again I almost didn’t recognize my own voice. It was filled with lust. “I’d be totally okay with that.”
Stone held my eyes a beat before he swore, “Fuck. No, we’re doing what I planned for the day. I’m just going to struggle to try and stay focused.”
I made a sad face.
Stone laughed, threw his arm around my shoulder, and informed, “I think you’ll like what I have planned, Monroe. Come on.”
We walked out the door and to the parking lot. I was searching for Stone’s truck, but it wasn’t in the spot he typically parked. Stone began guiding me to the back side of the lot where I finally spotted his truck. A huge enclosed trailer was attached to it.
I stopped walking and turned to him.
“What’s in there? What are we doing today?” I asked, feeling excited.
“If I’ve got to wait until later to see what’s in the bag, you’ve got to wait to see what’s in the trailer,” he teased, giving me a wink.
I was too curious to wait.
“Okay, I’ll show you what’s in the bag,” I offered.
“Too late. I’m beginning to like the idea of waiting to see it on you.”
I harrumphed.
“I’m reconsidering putting it on for you at all right now.”
He smirked and gloated, “No, you aren’t.”
He was right. I wasn’t. I wasn’t going to admit that to him, though.
“Can I at least have a hint?”
Stone thought for a moment and just when I thought he was going to give it to me, he denied me, “Nope. I’ve got to wait until tonight; you can tough it out for an hour and a half.”
I rolled my eyes at him, audibly let out my frustration, and stomped off toward the passenger’s side door of the truck. I heard Stone laughing as he followed behind me. After helping me in the truck, he rounded the front of it, got in, and turned to me.
I was still pouting.
Stone’s hand came up and wrapped around the back of my neck. He pulled me toward him and pressed his lips to mine. I suddenly forgot why I was pouting and kissed him back. It was hard, wet, and deep.
When Stone pulled his mouth from mine, he asked, “You over being grouchy now?”
“Almost,” I admitted on a whisper.
A blindingly white, beautiful smile spread across his face.
I was over being grouchy.
I was not going to tell him that, either.
He gently squeezed the back of my neck, turned in his seat to look out the windshield, and mumbled, “Good to know that works.”
“What?” I asked.
He shook his head while grinning and snickered, “Nothing.”
An hour and a half later, Stone was turning the truck on to a long, narrow road. We hadn’t even really started my birthday and I was already having the best day ever. Stone and I spent the entire ride laughing and joking with each other. I spent so much time laughing, my stomach was beginning to hurt. On top of that, I received multiple calls and texts from my parents, Deacon, and my friends wishing me a happy birthday.
Stone continued down the road to a gate. I had no idea where we were, but it seemed like the middle of nowhere. Once we were at the gate, which was closed, I looked out my window to see an older man walking out of a little white building toward us.
“Where are we?” I asked, turning back to Stone.
He just looked at me and smiled.
The man made it to the gate, opened it up, and waved to Stone. Stone waved back and pulled through the open gate. He continued to drive to a big, empty parking lot. The only thing I saw was that there were bleachers. When I looked to see what the bleachers were facing, I realized we were at a race track.
Stone parked, turned off the truck, and ordered, “Stay put. I’m going to open up the trailer and then I’ll come around to get you.”
I nodded my acknowledgement of his request.
He exited the truck and I spent what felt like the next five hours waiting for him to come open my door. When he materialized at my door and opened it, I was thankful he was quick on his feet because I practically fell out. Stone caught me before I crashed to the ground and put me upright again. He held on to me with his arms wrapped around my waist.
“Ready to start celebrating your birthday?” he asked.
“I thought the celebration started when you came to pick me up this morning and kissed me,” I answered, honestly.
I felt Stone’s arms tighten around me before he whispered, “Yeah, angel, it did.”
My eyes were glued to his and if it weren’t for the fact that he began to shift and walk us toward the trailer, I would have stayed like that all day.
Stone stopped next to the side door on the trailer and opened the latch.
“Want to see what’s inside?” he asked.
I nodded, biting my lip.
He opened the door, I looked inside, and my jaw dropped.
Literally, it was on the floor.
I slowly turned to look at Stone and then back into the trailer to look at the beautiful sight in front of me. When I looked back to Stone, I could see his eyes were dancing.
“You have a GT3?” I asked.
Shock was the only thing that accurately described my feelings at that moment.
Stone’s head jerked back a bit and he countered, “Good eye. Figured you’d know it was a Porsche, but didn’t realize you knew your cars so well.”
“Handsome, I don’t. But, it’s a Porsche 911 GT3. How could you not know what this is?” I asked, surprised that he’d think anyone wouldn’t know what this was.
I missed my baby from back home in California. Sure, I only had a Boxster, but it didn’t matter. I loved it all the same.
“You okay?” Stone asked, noticing my mood had shifted to melancholy.
I brought my eyes to his and nodded. Then, I turned back to look at the car a moment before I whispered, “Holy crap, it’s so beautiful.”
“Monroe,” Stone bit out.
“Yeah?” I called, not taking my gaze off the beauty that was before me.
“Angel, you keep drooling over my car like that and I won’t be held responsible for what I do next. Didn’t think you could possibly do anything else to be any sexier and yet, here we are. You keep it up, though, I’
m unfortunately going to have to do something about it and that’ll delay taking you out for a ride in it.”
“You’re going to take me for a ride?” I gasped, my eyes cutting to him.
“Well, I didn’t bring you here just to open up the trailer and show it to you,” he began. “After I take you around the track a couple times and you get the lay of the land, it’s your turn to get behind the wheel.”
“What?!” I shrieked. “Are you serious?”
“Why would I joke about something like this on your birthday, Monroe?”
I took two steps to close the distance between us, brought my hands up to his chest, and made a request, “Can I kiss you right now?”
“Baby, you don’t ever have to ask if you can do that with me. I’m never going to say no to you.”
Baby.
That was only the third time I heard that.
I liked it. A lot.
I pressed up on my toes as my hands slid up Stone’s chest, over his shoulders, and around his neck. He wrapped an arm around my waist as my lips just barely touched his. The second he pulled me against his body I felt him, firm between us. I smiled against his lips, feeling delighted that I did that to him, before I gave my mouth to him.
He took it.
Devouring me.
Tasting me.
I loved every single second of it.
Somehow, we managed to separate our mouths. We were both breathing heavily, staring at each other.
“You going to take me for a ride or what?” I asked, trying to regain some sense of control.
“Absolutely,” he answered.
There was a hint of teasing in his tone and I had a feeling he wasn’t simply referring to the ride in the Porsche on the race track.
Stone pulled the car out of the trailer, got out, tossed me a helmet, and then we got strapped in. He drove through the lot toward the track. Just before he pulled out onto the track, he turned to me and asked, “Ready?”
Even though he couldn’t see my mouth, I smiled big and answered, “Yes.”
As soon as I answered, Stone gave me another great birthday present. He revved the engine and took off. It was spectacular. The sound of the engine as Stone kept his foot on the throttle going down each straightaway was enough to make my heart race. He took the corners with ease and even though I knew my Porsche would have never performed as well as Stone’s, I wished I would have had the opportunity to do this with it. Stone took me around the track several times and I watched closely to what he did at each turn or straightaway. If I was going to have the chance to do this in one of the most badass cars around, you better believe I was going to make the most of it.
