Perfectly Imperfect Mine (Garrison Brothers Book 1)

by Amelia Shea

  “Ethan talk to you?” Stone asked, resting his forearms on the roof of her car.

  “Yes.” She quivered.

  “Ya understand now?” he prompted.

  She nodded.

  “Okay, good.” He looked off into the parking lot. He made no attempt to leave. He was unsure how to approach her. He was done pushing her away and scaring her. But this was new territory for him.

  “So why are you leaving early? Your shift ends at five.” He turned back to Sadie. She shifted her head slightly and her eyes squinted. She seemed confused. Of course, she was, she had no idea that he knew her schedule. Stone chuckled to himself. She probably thought their encounters were coincidence but there was nothing coincidental about it, he knew her shifts. He would adjust his schedule just to make sure he went into the diner when she was working, just to see her. She had no clue how agitated he’d get on her days off, not being able to see her.

  Her voice cracked when she began to speak. “Bernie needed me to come in early. I started at seven so I get to leave at two.” They stared at each other in silence. He knew from the look in her eyes she was ready to leave. She wanted to be away from him before he hurt her again.

  “Well, I should let you get back to your date and I need to get to mine.” She unlocked her door and gripped the handle.

  She had a date? What the fuck? Stone’s body went rigid. A possessive urge ran through his body, something he’d never felt for anyone but her. He had spent the last three weeks fighting everything inside him to stay away from her. Yet, every day she crept into his mind and he couldn’t stay away. That face, those eyes, and that warm sweet smile. He had told himself over and over that it would never work, their lives were too different. He couldn’t bring her into his world, she’d never understand. She didn’t belong with him. Stone grinded his teeth together and balled up his fists. None of that mattered anymore because he was done fighting himself. Sadie was his. There was no fucking way another guy was getting Sadie. She was his. Stone saw red and stalked over to her.

  He had her back pinned to her car, his body hovering over her within seconds.

  “Who the hell makes a date at two in the morning?”

  She braced her hands on his chest to push at him but he didn’t budge. She pushed harder but he still didn’t move. She finally hit his chest and grunted.

  “God, you are such an asshole. The only date I have is with food, a glass of wine, and a movie. You, on the other hand, do have a date. So why don’t you go feed Blondie so you don’t miss out on dessert!” She mocked.

  “Blondie? You mean Krista?” he asked in an amused tone. Her eyes grew even angrier and Stone had to hold back a smirk. His Sadie got feisty when she was jealous. He liked it.

  She ignored his question and pushed at him again. He still wouldn’t budge.

  “Please, I have to go.” Lowering her eyes to the pavement, she sighed. Her feistiness was gone and her tone was sad. He didn’t want that.

  He leaned in closer, brought his mouth to her ear and whispered, “I like the sound of your date better than mine. Why don’t you invite me?” His lips grazed her ear and his breath spread over her neck. His body pressed into hers. He was hard just from being so close to her. Her hands slid down to his waist as his chest crushed into hers. Her fingers curled into his shirt under his jacket. The cold air whipped around them but his body heated like it was on fire. She pulled him into her, no longer trying to push him away. His heart pumped fast. He wanted her. She did something to him and he needed her, needed to be inside her. They were both breathing hard. The way she affected him was like nothing he’d ever felt before. He rubbed his erection against her and she bit her bottom lip as she moaned. He leaned in closer; she felt so good against him.

  “Sweet girl, you feel how hard I am for you?” Stone groaned in her ear as he continued grinding against her.

  “I’m sure Blondie can take care of that for you,” she whispered.

  She had no clue but he was going to make himself clear. “No, Sadie, this is all from you. Your voice.” He leaned close to her ear. “Your smile and those eyes. That’s the only thing that’s going to do for me.”

  She froze and her voice cracked. “You don’t even know what color my eyes are.”

  He chuckled letting his lips caress over her lobe. “Soft brown, almost hazel. The only set I see when I close my eyes.”

  She curled her hands deeper into the edge of his jacket. She was still resistant but he was breaking her down. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

  “Why are you doing this? Why are you teasing me?”

  His hands gripped her face and brought it closer to his. “I’m not teasing you. Ask me,” he whispered back, their lips inches apart. Ask me, he silently begged.

  She shook her head. She didn’t trust him. He would change that, he thought. He leaned in closer to her lips and he stroked the seam of her mouth with his tongue. She moaned and swayed into him. She wanted this kiss. He pulled back still holding her face. Her eyes were hazy, her face soft and eager. He was breaking her down, she wanted this as much as him, she just had to say the words. His heart beat faster, needing those words.

  “Ask me, Sadie,” he whispered in a soft voice kissing her lips slowly.

  She opened her mouth but déjà vu struck again when a deep voice interrupted them.

  “Stone, we got to go, man.” He looked over to see T and Bogs standing at the corner. Their faces both looked solemn. They must have gotten the call. Shit! He pulled back slightly from Sadie but didn’t release her.

  “Give me five,” he called out to the guys, but T was shaking his head even before he finished. He didn’t want to just leave her.

  “No, man, we got to go now. Right now.” T was calm, unnervingly calm.

  He pushed back and walked over to them. He didn’t say a word to her or even spare her a glance. He would figure out exactly what was going on and then talk to Sadie. They walked further into the parking lot and huddled together.

  “What’s up?” Stone asked.

  “Your dick?” Bogs replied.

  “Are you seriously doing this right now, asshole?” Stone glared at Bogs.

  Bogs shrugged and T rolled his eyes. “We got the call from Trent. He wants to meet up in an hour.” They all stood in silence. This was why they were in Cedar Bluff, this was the job. Still, Stone wished for better timing. He was going to have to delay his time with Sadie. Fuck! He turned back to her but she was already in her car. She hadn’t left yet. He watched her, trying to figure out what to say when he saw her eyes dart to the side. Krista and Jill were heading his way. He looked back to find her no longer looking at him and her car moving.

  She pulled out from behind the diner into the lot and passed them. She didn’t look over. When she got to the end of the lot she glanced in the rearview mirror. He watched as she pulled out onto the road. He would deal with the job now, get everything squared away. It had to be his top priority. But when it was done, he only had one focus. He stared at the road until the faint taillights disappeared. She didn’t know it but Sadie was his, and next time there would be no interruptions.

  Chapter Seven

  Sadie had managed to dodge Stone a few times since that night in the parking lot. The first time she asked Melinda to cover her table which she gladly did. The second time she faked sick and told Bernie she was feeling nauseous and waited in the break room for over an hour until they left. She knew she was being a coward.

  He had come in last night with his buddies and the two girls again. She saw them walk in but this time Krista was hanging on T. The redhead was staying close to Bogs, and Stone was the last one to walk in. He stopped at the door and she watched him scan the entire diner before walking over to his table. She was in the kitchen peeking out the service window. He wouldn’t be able to see her unless he walked behind the counter. She leaned forward to see their table. He sat at the end with Bogs next to him and T across. He continued to glance around. He stopped when Kr
ista, who was sitting next to T, reached out and grabbed his hand. He yanked it away and said something to her that had her recoiling in her seat. She couldn’t hear him but from the look on his face it wasn’t nice.

  She turned away and walked toward the swinging doors but Pearl stopped her.

  “Go,” she said.

  “What?” Sadie replied. “I can’t leave you alone.”

  “Yes, you can. Tracey will be in soon, I can handle it.” She shooed her back.

  She turned to argue with her. “Bernie will freak if he finds out.” He would be livid to find out Pearl was here by herself. For obvious reasons, she was his favorite.

  “Let me handle Bern. I owe you, remember?” She paused and Sadie stared back. Yeah, she remembered.

  “Now go and leave through the back,” she said as she walked through the door to the floor. She headed to the back and did what she was told. She had another successful escape from Stone. But she knew eventually he’d catch up with her.

  *

  Sadie loved food but hated food shopping. She tried to stay on a budget and cut coupons to save money. She learned early on how to budget. While they always had food in the house, there wasn’t much. Her mom didn’t buy name brands. They never had treats unless she craved them. Even then, her mom ate most of them. By the time she was ten, she was in charge of picking up the groceries. That was not an easy task. She was given fifty dollars every two weeks for food. Somehow, she made it work.

  She grabbed her cart as she walked into Henry’s Market. She stopped for apples and bananas—cheap and healthy. She also picked up lettuce and cucumbers. She’d learned to make salad a meal. As she passed by the meat counter, her stomach growled. The man behind the counter smiled. He must have heard it. She smiled back and quickly maneuvered her cart down the next aisle and abruptly stopped.

  There was a guy bent at the knees looking intently at cereals. Stone, who had made it his mission to make her want him and then walk away. He managed to make humiliating her a new sport.

  But now she was ten feet away and had no one to cover her or any place to hide. Her life was an endless amount of curveballs. Backing up her cart and turning around would cause too much noise. She could try to slide by him without notice. She walked slowly toward him, keeping her head down. A few more steps and she’d pass him. Unfortunately, luck was not on her side. He grabbed a box and turned around. Now they were directly facing each other. She pushed her cart forward. She’d just ignore him. But he stepped in her path and she stopped. She looked up at his beautiful amused face. She scowled back at him. She refused to fall for his bullshit again.

  “Hey, babe,” he said easily. Someone shoot me now. Or better yet, shoot him.

  “Can you please move?”

  “You’re not even going to say hi?” He was doing that hot guy smirk thing again. She had never been a violent person. However, the cocky look she was getting from him made her want to slap him.

  “Hi,” she replied in a monotone voice. “Can you please move?”

  “Sure, I can move. But I like my view from right here so I think I’ll stay.” He looked at her chest and his eyes scanned further down. He was checking her out. His eyes rose back up her body and hesitated on her breasts again before making it up to her face. Now he had a huge smile on his face.

  “Have you been avoiding me, Sadie?” He taunted her as he leaned into her.

  She immediately stepped back. “Please move,” she gritted out through clenched teeth.

  He ignored her. He raised his finger to his head and tapped. “Ever since that night in the parking lot, I can’t seem to get you alone, Sadie. Why is that?” he asked in a calm voice.

  She glared at him. “Move!”

  His smirk turned into a grin and he edged closer to her. “I think you’re afraid to be alone with me, Sadie. Is that it? Afraid I’ll get you panting and moaning, get your panties soaked, and have to leave you hanging again?” His voice lowered and he seductively inquired, “Tell me something, are you wet now, babe?”

  “Move!”

  “Make me!” he goaded.

  “You are the biggest asshole I have ever met!” Her voice was loud and irate while her body burned with hatred.

  He started to laugh. “Babe…”

  Before he could finish, a beautiful brunette came up from behind him and said cheerfully, “Ha…I got the last one. Victory!”

  She raised a box of something over her head as if it were the Hope Diamond. She was smiling at Stone before turning her gaze to Sadie. Damn. She’d never had a thing for girls but Sadie was secure enough to admit that this girl was beautiful. She had high cheekbones with a pert nose and full lips. Her eyes were an ocean blue surrounded by long thick lashes. Her hair looked like she did hair care commercials. Thick wavy brown hair hung past her waist. She looked like a brunette Barbie. Of course, he was with this girl.

  Sadie was trying to subdue her jealousy. She needed to try harder.

  Her eyes snapped to the Brunette Barbie when she said, “Who’s this?” She smiled between Stone and Sadie.

  His eyes were on Sadie’s, watching her. He remained silent as if he didn’t hear her.

  “Stone?” She pulled on his elbow to get his attention, which was solely on Sadie at the moment. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?” she asked warily.

  He leaned down to her ear and whispered something Sadie couldn’t hear. Her eyes darted to Sadie and she gave a soft smile. Looking back at Stone she giggled as a genuine smile spread across his face.

  Her heart raced and she could feel the heat on her face. She could just imagine how he described who she was. “Just some trashy slut that keeps throwing herself at me.” He probably told the girl what a pathetic idiot she was. Now they were laughing at her. She had become their inside joke. Her anger built again. She refused to stand there and be the butt of joke for Stone and one of his many bitches.

  She blurted out the only thing she thought might wipe the smiles off their faces. “I’m his side piece!”

  Their heads both whipped around to her, shock written all over their faces. Brunette Barbie’s eyes went wide and she could tell she was speechless. He was equally speechless but his eyes were not only shocked, they were furious. Sadie had an internal “Go Me” moment knowing that he might not be getting any tonight. Nothing ruined a lover’s romantic dinner like meeting the “side piece” at the grocery store.

  She couldn’t help but smile. It was time for payback, asshole.

  She looked over to the girl and shrugged. “Oh, you didn’t know? Hmmm…don’t worry, sweetheart, no love here, just some good old fashion fucking. A man like Stone needs more than one of us to keep him sated. As Stone says, ‘Men need variety. Like snowflakes, no two pussies are the same.’ But you must be special, he never cooked me dinner.”

  She took a deep breath and watched as her eyes went even wider and her brows arched higher. The girl looked utterly stunned. She almost felt bad. Almost.

  “Well I have to run but you two enjoy the rest of your night.”

  She ripped past them only to have Stone grab her arm before her getaway. His hand gripped her wrist so tight it felt like it might break. Fear spiked in her chest. He was livid.

  However, there wasn’t much he could do in front of his girl and a store filled with people. Sadie peered down at her wrist and smirked. She looked directly into his enraged eyes. “Baby, I know you like it rough but I didn’t think public was your thing.”

  Brunette Barbie gasped and his hold tightened. Her confidence wavered and she realized she might have taken it a little too far with that comment. He released her wrist. She had been pulling back against him. When he let her go, she started to tumble and landed on her knees. Ouch! Brunette Barbie took a few steps but Stone stepped in front of her. When she looked up, his face was blank but he was reaching toward her.

  She swatted at his hand. The last thing she needed was any help from him. It was bad enough she’d already made a complete ass out of herself
.

  “Sadie,” he growled offering his hand.

  “Go away, I don’t want your help.”

  “Fuck.” He turned around, grabbed the girl’s hand, and pulled her in the opposite direction. Neither of them looked back.

  She slowly got to her feet and thankfully she was the only one in the aisle. Fortunately, there wasn’t anyone there to bear witness to her mortification, which she created herself. She should have just kept her mouth shut. She could have just grabbed her cart and bypassed them when Barbie showed up. She would have had a great way out with Barbie as a distraction. Instead Sadie chose to be brazen and this was where it got her. She was now a self-proclaimed slut to a man she barely knew.

  Grabbing her cart, she continued getting what was left on her list. She didn’t run into them again. She considered ditching her cart and running out, but what was the point? She was already humiliated and a girl had to eat. She did the self-check-out and headed to her car. She stopped three cars down from hers as a big gray shiny truck began to reverse. It backed up slowly and as the windows came into sight, she saw familiar green eyes blazing into hers. The truck never stopped as it backed out and his eyes never left hers. She broke eye contact when his front end cleared her path. She did a walk-run to her car, opened the trunk, threw her bags in and slammed it down. She wanted to just leave the cart by her car. But it was a pet peeve of hers, people who didn’t return their carts. Sadie swung her cart around to see the silver truck in the middle of the parking lot.

  He knew she had to pass him. She took a deep breath and started to walk across when a horn blasted from her right. She whipped her head and gasped in shock. A minivan was inches from hitting her. Shit! She wasn’t even paying attention. She could have been flattened by a family of five. The driver was throwing up his hands yelling but she couldn’t hear him. She did hear car doors and feet pounding on the pavement.