“That blows.”
“It really does.” Aliah feels like her mini-confession has actually brought them a little bit closer. “I know what it’s like to be a teen without a woman in the house. I just want you to know that I’m here to answer any questions you might have. I know you don’t know me. I’m sure this feels super weird. But I want to help you. I know there’s things you can’t tell your dad. I refused to talk about sex with mine.”
“It’s just too weird,” Hannah admits.
“Right?”
Hannah nods and takes a sip from her mug.
“So, you’re having sex I take it.”
Hannah instantly shies away.
That’s a big fat no.
“Hannah,” she says. “If you haven’t, that’s not something to be ashamed of. If you can believe it, I saved myself for the longest time.”
“What happened?”
“You first.”
Hannah huffs, but she can’t deny that it’s a fair trade. “I’ve been seeing this guy for the past couple of months. He’s cool, I guess. He’s a really good athlete and totally hot.”
“So, what’s the problem?” Aliah can see that her whole heart isn’t in it.
“He’s been bugging for sex lately, trying to coax me to do it with him.”
“But you don’t want to?”
“I don’t know. Kind of. I’m really nervous. I guess I’m mostly scared of getting pregnant. I’m not ready to be a mother. And I don’t really have anyone to talk to about it. My friends have big mouths and I refuse to talk to my dad about it.”
Aliah holds her hands up in surrender. “I’m with you there, girlfriend. I get it.”
Hannah laughs anxiously. “I don’t know if he’s the one, you know? He’s a lot more experienced than me, and I’ve always pictured losing my virginity to a virgin. It’s corny, I know. You probably think I’m a total loser.”
“Do you love him?” Aliah asks bluntly.
“No.”
“Then don’t it. I can guarantee you’ll regret it if you do. Can I give you my honest advice?”
“Yeah,” Hannah says, with a smile. She leans over the table, like Aliah has some magical wand that will give her all the answers she’s been waiting to hear.
“You can only lose your virginity once. You’ve saved yourself this long. I’m sure you can hang on a little longer. You’re young. I’d bet love is out there for you, just around the corner.”
Hannah smiles. “You really think so?”
“I do. And anything that needs rushed isn’t right. You should get yourself on birth control first anyways.”
“But I’m not even having sex.”
“It doesn’t hurt to be prepared. You shouldn’t wait until you’re having sex to start birth control. Then it’s too late, wouldn’t you agree? If you’re not comfortable asking your father to go with you, I could take you.” Aliah rushes to insist that she doesn’t have to agree. “I mean, I understand if you don’t want me to.”
“No. I would really appreciate it. Would you?”
“I’m getting off early on Thursday. I can take you then, if you want.”
After exchanging phone numbers, a silence envelopes them. Aliah feels surprisingly content.
“My mom and dad were never in love, you know,” Hannah admits, out of nowhere. “My mom told me so before she died.”
Aliah nods, slightly gleeful to hear the news. “Does your dad know you know this?”
“No. And please don’t tell him.”
Aliah draws a cross over her heart. “I swear.”
Hannah seems to trust her. “Thanks. What do you think I should do about Jared?”
“Is that the jock’s name?”
She nods her head, as her eyes grow wide.
“What’s wrong?” Aliah peers over her shoulder and instantly glances back at Hannah. “Jared?”
“Yeah.”
Jared walks directly up to Hannah. “Hey, baby.”
Hannah stands to her feet and he drops a kiss on her cheek, as he hooks an arm around her waist. “Who’s your hot friend?” He smirks seductively at Aliah, making eye contact. “Maybe she can teach you a few tricks for the bedroom.”
Aliah bites her bottom lip and has to grip onto her seat to stop herself from punching the jerk. To her surprise, Hannah pushes him off of her and her hand makes an amazing connection with his face.
I couldn’t have done better myself! Go, Hannah!
Jared’s friends walk up, after witnessing her assault. At first they appear shocked. Then they start to snicker at him.
“I’m not your baby. And you won’t be on the receiving end of any of those little tricks I’ve learned. Now get out of my face. You’re dimming my light.”
She turns back to Aliah and takes a seat, acting like Jared’s a worthless piece of junk that doesn’t deserve her attention.
“You’re dumping me?” he belts out hysterically. He’s clearly never been dumped before.
Hannah glances over her shoulder, like she can’t be bothered to turn around and face him. “Are you deaf? I’m not interested. Do I really need to repeat it in front of all of your friends?”
Another guy grabs onto his elbow and tugs him toward the counter. “Come on. She’s not worth it.”
Jared yanks his arm away and scowls at Aliah. Aliah flashes him her best take that, asshole, smile.
Hannah takes another drink from her coffee. Aliah can see that she’s shaking, so she takes her hand and pulls it under the table.
“Can I just say that you’re amazing? Good for you.”
“You said it. I’ve saved myself this long. Thank God I didn’t have sex with him. I would have regretted that for the rest of my life.”
“I’m so proud of you. I wanted to knock his block off, but you did a pretty damn good job yourself.”
“Thanks.” She smiles. “It felt pretty good, if I’m being completely honest. Oh, my God. I can’t believe I did that.” She starts to giggle. “Are they gone yet?”
“Nope. They’re all staring over here, as we speak.”
Hannah looks like she wants to curl up and die.
“Here. Take my car. Why don’t you pick up a girlfriend and cruise around for a bit or something?”
Hannah’s mouth drops open. “You’re going to let me drive your car?”
“Go nuts. Actually, no. Take it easy on my baby.”
Aliah smiles and she knows that she is scoring major points with Hannah right now. She doesn’t know why that’s so important to her, but suddenly it is. And it feels good.
“Oh my gosh. You are so cool. Thank you!” Hannah cheers.
Aliah unhooks the key from her keychain and hands it over to her. “Promise you’ll take good care of him?”
“Your car’s a him?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Absolutely not. I love it!”
“You’re in business then. Just please have my car back to your house by ten. Does that sound fair?”
“Fair enough. Thank you again, Aliah. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome,” she answers.
Hannah looks so giddy when she spins around that she almost skips to the front door of the café. Hannah really is a sweet girl. A virgin too. Her father will be happy to hear that, when she gets around to sharing it with him.
Aliah finishes her drink, wondering how she’s going to get home. As her quiet time starts to turn into loneliness, the bell on the front door clanks across the glass. She instantly looks up and locks her gaze on the hunk of muscle entering the place.
Harley Gates is easy on the eyes. Looking at him never gets old. He doesn’t seem to notice her at first. She quickly tears off her glasses, before he can catch her wearing them and buries them in the bottom of her handbag. She glances back up at him, looking a lot like a giddy fool. When his eyes meet hers, an electricity strikes her core, and the longer his eyes rest on her the hotter the fire grows.
“Can I sit?” he asks
, holding the back of the chair as if she might say no.
With a great deal of effort, she manages to remove the smile from her face and waves a hand at the vacant chair. He takes a seat and gazes at her some more.
“You won’t believe who I just met with,” he starts.
“Jillian?” she guesses.
He seems shocked by her sureness. “My Jillian?”
“Please don’t call her that.”
He smiles. “If I was meeting with my assistant that would hardly be remarkable. Why don’t you like her?”
“I don’t know. There’s just something not right with that girl. I can’t put my finger on it. It’s just a feeling. Intuition maybe.” Aliah circles the rim of her mug with an index finger. “I don’t like the way she looks at you. There are unresolved feelings there, I think.”
“You’re seeing things.”
“Whatever you say. But don’t say I never told you.”
“Okay,” he growls. “It was Brandee Hawkins.” He freezes in place when he realizes that he’s never shared the connection with her.
“Ugh. You did not just say that name.”
“I did.” He clears his throat. “And you’re not going to be very happy with me when I tell you why.”
“Then don’t tell me.”
“You’re going to have to face the truth at some point, Aliah. I’ve been trying to tell you this little secret I’ve been keeping from you, but you’re not making it very easy for me to come clean.”
“Out with it then, if it’s that important to you.” She doesn’t even think before she speaks. Is she ready to hear his secrets?
“Brandee Hawkins was my client. I’m a private investigator who goes by the name of David H. Gates. She hired me to look into Mitchell Cavanagh’s personal life. The case is now closed.” He blurts it out, hiding the fact that he’s been hired to nose around her life too.
Is that the only reason they’d ever met? Did he get the evidence he was looking for? Is he still using her to get the goods on Mitchell?
Aliah has so many questions, but she refuses to react to it, unsure how this new information is supposed to make her feel.
“Harley?” she asks, her tone begging him to tell her why he’d lied about his name.
“My middle name.”
She nods unhappily, but nothing can clear the horrid feeling from her gut. “It’s about time you tell me. I was starting to wonder if you would ever come clean.”
“I know we didn’t meet under the most honest circumstances, but it’s my job. It’s what I do. And what I feel for you is real.” He pauses, but not nearly long enough for her to sort out her jumbled thoughts. “I am truly sorry to do this, but we have to stay focused here. Brandee Hawkins,” he repeats.
“What is that girl’s problem? What she needs is to take a chill pill.” Aliah’s not impressed with Harley’s evil ways, but she’s smart enough to know that now is not the time to dwell on it. “She’s constantly gawking at me,” she points out.
Harley smirks and rakes her body with hooded eyes. “That could have something to do with how provocative you dress.”
“I’m wearing a flowered shirt and a pair of shorts. You can hardly call what I’m wearing right now provocative.” She pauses, then gives him a pointed look. “Quit looking at me like that.”
Harley’s gaze warms her to a boiling point in an instant. Even after feeding her a handful of lies, she can’t evade the desire coursing through her body.
“That outfit fits you like a glove. You look incredibly sexy in it. Your breasts look perky and perfect; your skin soft and flawless. Those legs… Should I go on?”
Aliah is now trying to fight off a smile. “I certainly won’t stop you, if you insist.”
Neither of them can remember the importance of the secrets being unveiled only seconds earlier. Harley reaches out and runs a finger over her naked shoulder. When he growls, it sends her nerves firing off like firecrackers.
“You’re a beautiful girl, Aliah. People are going to stare at you no matter what you wear. Like those boys over there,” he says, nodding toward the fixated teenagers.
She acts unaware of the attention, skipping the part where one of them just got bitch slapped by his daughter. “I’m used to a little attention. But it’s felt different lately. Catching people looking at you is one thing. It’s another thing entirely when they’re hiding in the bushes waiting to jump you for God knows what reason.”
“I can protect you.”
“Can you? Are you going to walk me to my lobby at work every morning and tuck me into bed every night?”
“If you’ll let me,” he answers.
He looks completely serious. The thought has her head spinning. She can see herself enjoying that for some reason. She hates the idea of relying on anyone at all. Why now, all of a sudden, is she okay with depending on this man? Especially after he’s lied to her on more than one occasion.
“I was only teasing. I can handle myself,” she says, even if she wants him to handle her.
“If you change your mind, I’m always a phone call away.”
His proposition has her changing her mind already. She nods her head, smiling.
“There is one request I have to make though,” he adds.
“What’s that?” Aliah polishes off her second cup of coffee. It’s no wonder she’s so jittery tonight.
“Don’t go anywhere without your own transportation.”
“Oh.” She feels like he’s got her pinned under his thumb. “I can explain.” Even she can see how dumb a move it was abandoning herself at the café in the circumstances.
“You offered my daughter your car?”
She turns her head down and smirks. “You noticed.”
“You do realize she’s only been licensed to drive on her own for a few months now.”
“I trust she’ll be extra careful. If I were her, I know I wouldn’t choose now as a good time to fuck up.”
“Shit happens, Aliah, and Hannah is not you. Remember that.”
“Shit certainly does happen, but let’s just say that the benefits outweighed the potential loss at the time. You might not see it now, but you’ll thank me later.”
A look of disbelief covers his face like a mask. “I know how much you love that car. That must have been some discussion the two of you had.”
“We understand each other.”
“I hope for your sake you’re right.”
“I am. And I can see how much she respects you. Even if she acts out from time to time, she’s only a girl and she loves you.”
He nods his head, suddenly very curious to hear about their discussion. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on, or do I have to threaten it out of you?”
“That depends on the question, and the punishment.”
“You tell me what she told you and I promise not to be gentle.”
His words have her pussy twitching, but she won’t admit that to him. “Ooh. So tempting.” Her words are dripping with sarcasm, but she really is intrigued. “Unfortunately, I made a promise to your daughter, and I’m going to have to keep it.”
“You aren’t going to tell me anything, are you?”
“Oh, I’ll tell you something. I’ll give you everything you need to know. The rest isn’t really for a father’s ears anyway.”
“Why don’t you get talking and let me be the judge of that?”
“Okay. You asked for it. But don’t shoot the messenger.”
“If you don’t spit it out right now, I might be tempted.” He bends his elbow and settles his hand over his hip where she knows he parks a gun.
She looks over her shoulders as if someone might be listening in on them, her face turning more serious. “You’re sure you don’t want to go to a more private place to discuss this?”
His voice turns low and seductive, ignoring her concern. “That doesn’t sound like such a bad idea. What time did you say Hannah is due home?”
“I didn’t tell you that.
”
“Oh, right. I had a little chat with her out in the parking lot just before I arrived. She said a time.”
“Ten o’clock,” Aliah tells him, certain of it. “Why?”
He checks his phone and glances toward the front door of the café. “That gives us two hours all to ourselves. My house is guaranteed to be empty. I guarantee you, Hannah won’t be home more than a minute early. That is unless you’d rather stay and talk about my shortcomings.”
She does not want to talk anymore. “You’re sure you want to take me there?”
“I’m sure.” He stands from his seat and clasps onto her hand. “You can tell me the important points from your conversation with my daughter on our way to my bike.”
Aliah delivers him a sly smile, as she slinks past him and pulls her hand free from his. The look exchanged between them doesn’t go unnoticed by their teenaged spectators.
Harley is surprised by the gawking. “Who is that?”
“Jared,” Aliah says, without turning to look at him.
He has no choice but to follow after her. “Again, I ask, who is that?”
She waits until they cross the road, making sure there’s some distance between him and the boy before sharing the truth with him. “That, my dear, was your daughter’s ex-boyfriend.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Still lying naked in his bed, covered by a thin sheet of silk, Aliah turns her eyes on him. He wants to have her again. He knows there has to be more than sex between them, but he can’t get enough of it. He needs more – wants more.
“You should get dressed. Hannah’s going to be home any minute now. We shouldn’t be locked up in here when she shows up.”
Aliah slides out from under his sheets. “Impressionable youth. I get it.”
Once they’re both fully dressed, they head to the front room, staring at each other like sex-crazed teenagers. He wonders if she wants more too.
“Aliah,” he asks, his gaze sliding over her body. Look at the girl, wearing those little high-waisted shorts. She has her legs on display, just begging him to spread them and devour her again. “We’re going for a ride.”
She doesn’t ask questions when he drops a helmet over her hair, and she climbs onto the bike first, leaving room for him to get on behind her. He slips the key in the ignition, revs his bike to life and speeds off, his engine roaring between her firm, youthful thighs.
Twisted Desire (The Twisted Series) Page 14
