Claimed By Him: (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

by Alexis Winter

  I’m handed two drinks and his eyes move down to look at them. “You here with someone?”

  “No. I just ran into someone.”

  “It wouldn’t be that someone who’s over there drooling right now, would it?” So he did notice me.

  I laugh. “Well, you declined my offer this afternoon. He didn’t,” I reply.

  He turns and looks at Justin sitting in the corner, eyes on us. “You can do better.”

  I turn to face him. My chest presses against his arm and he tenses.

  “Changing your mind?”

  “About what?” His attention is right back on the TV. It’s almost like he’s refusing to give in and look at me.

  “About my offer. I’m usually not this forward, Ethan, but I think we could be pretty amazing.”

  “You’re my little sister’s best friend’s kid sister. Does that not scream ‘wrong’ to you?” His jaw is flexing when his eyes finally lock on mine, and they’re clouded and squinting with anger.

  “Sometimes being bad feels pretty good, Ethan,” I whisper before turning and walking away.

  I quickly glance over my shoulder at him, and find him watching me, eyes filled with something he’ll never show me. But I can wait. It’s all a matter of time. He’s avoiding me now, but soon, he’ll go out of his way to find me, to talk to me, to touch me. And my heart beats with excitement just waiting for that day.

  Justin and I sit back and have several drinks while talking about what we’ve each been up to over the past couple years. We dance and laugh—genuinely having a good time—but I can’t stop thinking about Ethan. And my eyes seem to have a mind of their own. Even though I’m having a good time with Justin, they won’t leave Ethan for very long.

  Ethan seems comfortable sitting alone, drinking his beer, and watching TV. He never glances around or talks to anyone. He’s a loner and seems okay with that. I’d never be able to do that. Anytime I go anywhere alone, I always feel like people are watching me or judging me. He’s comfortable in his own skin—so unlike me. I’m always concerned about what people may be thinking about me. Can Ethan see that in me? Does he know how insecure I really am? Is that a turn-off for him?

  Ugh, I feel like I’m going crazy. Why doesn’t he like me?

  When he stands and heads down the hallway for the restroom, I jump up abruptly, causing Justin to look at me with confusion.

  “I’m going to use the ladies’ room,” I mumble, not bothering to tear my eyes away from the hallway Ethan just walked down.

  Once at the end, I lean against the wall and wait for him to come out. My vision is blurry and my skin feels hot and sticky. It’s now very obvious that I’ve had way too much to drink and I’m probably about to make an ass out of myself. The second I decide to save myself the humiliation, the door opens and he steps out, stopping suddenly when he finds me.

  “Aria?” he asks, confused as to why I’m standing here.

  Two seconds ago, I had decided not to do this, but now that I’m looking at him, the words slip out. “Why don’t you like me, Ethan?” I ask, unable to control myself as I stand up straight in front of him.

  “What?”

  “Why don’t you like me? I’ve never had to hit on a man this many times to get him to notice me. What’s the deal? Am I too ugly or something?” I feel my eyes tear up, but I’m not sure if it’s my insecurities bleeding out, or just the embarrassment I’m sure to feel for this later.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he asks, anger drenching his words, and it shocks me. I was expecting sympathy, not hostility.

  “You’re nothing but a spoiled little girl who’s way too used to getting anything and everything you want. You’re so used to people groveling at your feet for time and attention, and it’s driving you crazy that I’m not doing that, isn’t it?” His brows are pinched together and his jaw is flexed in anger.

  I open my mouth, but no words come out. I’m shocked to say the least.

  “Well, guess what, Aria? I don’t want you. You’re a spoiled brat. So stop with the flirtatious smiles, batting your long, dark lashes, and sticking out your chest, hoping I’ll notice. Because I notice. But it’s not doing what you think it’s doing. All it does is scream ‘Look at me!’ and it’s pathetic.” He turns to walk away, but then pauses and looks me up and down. “And have a little respect for yourself. Dressing like that,” he motions toward my body, “and getting drunk every night with random men is asking for trouble. Grow up and act like an adult.”

  Without another word, he pushes himself down the hallway, leaving me alone.

  I groan as I roll over, forcing myself to keep my eyes closed, because I know if I open them, the morning sun will blind me and make my head hurt even worse. I place the bend in my arm across my eyes as memories from last night come flooding back—especially all the mean things Ethan said. It angers me, yet at the same time, makes me happy. I mean, how dare he say those things to me? But maybe, just maybe, he said the things he did because, deep down, he really cares about me.

  I know he was probably thinking that if he pissed me off, I’d leave him alone. Truth is, it’s done the opposite. I’ve never had any guy in my life tell me to respect myself. If anything, they’ve wanted me to wear less, not more. Ethan’s the kind of guy I need. And he’s right. I need to grow up, stop partying with any man I can catch, and wear something that’s a little more appropriate—though still sexy!

  I think I owe Ethan an apology. I came off as clingy and insecure, and I barely even know the guy.

  I push myself from bed and trudge to the shower without opening my eyes. Once inside the windowless bathroom, I turn on the small light above the shower. It’s bright enough to allow me to see what I’m doing, but dim enough that it doesn’t kill my head. Opening the medicine cabinet, I quickly take two Tylenol and strip down for a shower.

  The pain medication has kicked in by the time I’m stepping out of the shower, so walking into my bright bedroom doesn’t make me wither in pain. Taking Ethan’s words into consideration, I pull on a pair of jeans and my green work t-shirt—the one I haven’t cut to show more skin. I style my hair in loose curls that frame my face, and add a touch of makeup—not a lot—just enough to highlight my big blue eyes and high cheekbones.

  I make a cup of coffee before heading out for work, on time for once. When I pull into the parking lot, Ethan’s truck is already there.

  Ha, he’s one of those always early types of people. I step out of my car and he steps out of his truck at the exact same time. We walk side by side to the door, but neither of us says anything. I unlock the door and let us both in. Immediately, I go to the register to start it up for the day, and he heads to the coffee pot like he did yesterday. Still, neither of us says anything.

  Once my name tag is pinned to my shirt and the register is open, I look up to find him done with the coffee. He’s just walking around the showroom floor, looking over the smaller tractors we have inside.

  I cross my arms over my chest and walk up to him. He stops, does what looks like a mental run-through, and looks at me. When his dark eyes meet mine, nerves pump through my body, but I push myself forward.

  “I’m sorry, Ethan,” I blurt out. “You were completely right about everything you said last night. I am used to getting my way, and I guess I am a little spoiled. And you were also right about my needing to respect myself.”

  He clears his throat. “I didn’t mean to blurt all that out, Aria.” With his words, my eyes jump up to look at him. “I was drunk and annoyed. You’re a beautiful girl, Aria. I don’t know how your dad feels about you dressing the way you do or hooking up with all those random guys, but I think you’re worth more than that. If you don’t respect yourself, no man will either. And all you’ll get is a dog who only wants you as arm candy rather than his equal.”

  I’m shocked and the words escape my mouth before I can stop them. “You think I’m beautiful?”

  He lets out a silent laugh. “I’m not surprised that’s al
l you heard.” He nods his head once, eyes wide like he really wants me to believe his words. “Yes, you’re beautiful, and very talented from what I hear. Don’t sell yourself short. Know your worth, Aria.”

  The bell above the door rings and I’m so dumbfounded that I’m lost in my own thoughts. Ethan walks away, leaving me alone with my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

  Chapter 4

  Ethan

  I can’t believe myself. I tell her to cover up—that she’ll only catch worthless, horny men if she continues acting the way she does—and here I am, one of those men who wants nothing more from her than a quick, random, dirty fuck. I’d love to haul her ass into that employee restroom and bend her over the counter where I can sink into her and make her call me “daddy.” But I guess that’s why I’m saying these things to her. I know what’s out there because I am one of them: a worthless asshole who will only take from her. But on the other hand, less temptation may be a way to ease the pain she causes me. If I no longer have to worry about her perky tits bubbling over the top of her shirt, and if her long, sexy legs are covered, then I’ll have an easier time working here. I won’t screw this up by fucking my boss’ youngest daughter in his own place of work.

  Yeah, I did the right thing. For the both of us.

  It’s a good thing I don’t get paid for how many tractors I sell, because then I’d rarely get paid. I find myself doing more errand-boy work than actually selling anything. I help Mr. Lawrence unload the truck, then I put everything away. I clean up the parking lot and wash the equipment that sits outside like a car lot, and I help out in the garage when I can—not that I can do much, since I’m not certified to work on tractors. I know nothing about them other than the fact that they’re used on farms. Growing up in this country town, you’d think I’d know something, but nope—nothing.

  I made sure to study the brochure that Mr. Lawrence gave me the day before. I read it over and over, and even gave myself a pop quiz. I still haven’t sold a tractor without help, but it turns out, Aria and I are a pretty good team when it comes to sales. She draws them in with her beauty and charm, and when the customer starts asking questions she can’t answer, I step in and give them the information they need to make an informed decision. To my surprise, Aria even agrees to split the commission with me instead of taking it all for herself.

  “Seriously, you don’t have to do that, Aria. You’re the one who made the sale.”

  “But I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t stepped in and helped me out. I insist. You did part of the work, so you should get part of the commission,” she argues.

  Mr. Lawrence steps out from his office. “Damn it, Ethan. Take the offer. When she’s right, she’s right, and there’s no changing her mind. My little girl knows what she wants.” Without another word, he steps back into his office.

  I look at her, and she’s smiling—blue eyes practically glowing. It feels like a double meaning to me. I know Mr. Lawrence didn’t mean it in any other way, but she’s made it very clear that she wants me, and I have a feeling she won’t give up until she gets what she wants.

  As I’m walking to my truck, my phone rings. I pull it from my pocket and answer it. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Ethan. Mark can’t make it in for his shift tonight. Can you come in and do patrols?” my boss, Ben, asks.

  “Yeah, sure. I’m just getting off, so I’ll swing by the house to change, then I’ll be in.”

  “Thanks, man.” The phone beeps, indicating the line went dead.

  I hop into the truck and drive straight home to put on my uniform, stopping by my mom’s to check in.

  “Hey, Mom,” I say, stepping into her kitchen to find her standing over the stove.

  “Hi, honey. You’re just in time for dinner.” She picks up a plate and sets it in the middle of the table. The smell of pot roast overwhelms my senses and makes my mouth water.

  “I wish I could. You know how much I love your pot roast, but I got called in for a night shift.” I open her fridge and grab a bottle of water to take with me.

  “Didn’t you work at the dealership today?” She grabs a fork out of the drawer and sits at the table.

  “Yep, from ten this morning until five. Now I have to head to the station and pull an all-nighter.”

  “You’re working too hard, Ethan. You’re going to burn yourself out.” Wrinkles surround her eyes when she squints at me.

  “What else can I do, Mom? I can’t make it with one part-time job. And even if I could manage, I don’t want to. There are things I want in life. I want to remodel my cabin and make it my home. That’s not cheap.” I lean in and press a kiss to the top of her head before leaving for work for the second time today.

  As I’m heading for my truck, Amy pulls into the lot. I toss my things inside and wait. She parks the car and walks up to me.

  “Going to work?”

  I nod. “Yep, story of my life. What are you doing?”

  She shrugs. “Just wasting time. Tyler has been at an auction all day. He’s buying some livestock for the ranch. Hey, how’s the new job?” She pushes her dark hair away from her face.

  “Good. Different, but good.”

  “Aria driving you crazy?” She grins.

  I laugh and wave my hand through the air. “She was, but I think we’ve come to an understanding.” A bright light catches my eye and draws my attention to her hand. My eyes land on a big rock. “What the fuck, Amy?” I grab her hand and pull it closer to my face to see.

  She smiles wide. “Yep, congratulations are in order.”

  “I see that.” I drop her hand and pull her in for a hug. “Congrats,” I whisper while I still have her against me.

  “Thanks.” She pulls away. “Now I have to break the news to Mom.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be happy. When did he propose?”

  “Last night.” She smiles and her eyes glaze over as she looks at the ring on her finger. “He made us a picnic dinner then took me out to the barn. He had hundreds of little candles lit all over the place. We sat on a blanket in the center of the barn floor—surrounded by wine, flowers, and dessert. And then, he asked me to marry him after going on and on about how lucky he was to find me, how beautiful I am, and how he can’t wait to start a family.” She lets out a happy sigh. “It was a movie-quality proposal.” She laughs, and I join in.

  “Sounds like it. Who knew Tyler was a romantic? He gets points for presentation, that’s for sure.”

  She points her index finger at me. “That he does. Now I’m going to go tell Mom. You’d better be careful tonight. You have to give me away, and I need you in one piece.”

  I laugh. “I’ll be fine, little sister.”

  I’ve been sitting on the side of this highway for what feels like hours now. It’s dark, and there isn’t much traffic. But with it being Friday night, I know that the only people out are the ones who are either coming from or going to work, or the ones who have spent their evening partying.

  I have a hot cup of coffee and a bag of Fritos in the passenger seat to keep me awake and give me something to do. I’ve never been one to snack out of boredom, but it’s easy to see why so many officers are overweight. These long, lonely nights do them in. Can’t do anything but sit and watch the world move around you.

  I finish off the last of my coffee and am about to head to a gas station to grab another when a car goes whizzing by me. Immediately, I turn on the siren and chase after it. It doesn’t take them long to pull over, but the second I step out of the car, my nerves skyrocket. It’s this moment that always scares me. I’m not a little guy, and I’ve been in more fights and around more guns than most people, but when you’re approaching a car, you never know what you could be walking up on. It could be a little old lady who didn’t realize how fast she was going, or it could be a drunk college kid, or in the worst-case scenario, it could be someone who has nothing to lose—someone who will pull a gun and shoot me just to get out of a speeding ticket.

  I tap on the window and the
man behind the wheel rolls it down as the smell of alcohol drifts out. He doesn’t look at me at first.

  “License, registration, and proof of insurance, please,” I request.

  He digs around in his wallet and glove box and hands everything over. When he looks at me, I see his glassy, bloodshot eyes. It’s obvious he’s drunk. I look at the woman in the passenger seat. She’s hiding her face beneath her long, dark curls.

  “Have you been drinking tonight, Mr. Wilde?” I ask, shining my flashlight in his face.

  He squints against the bright light. “We were just at a party. I only had a couple, and that was hours ago.”

  I pull the breathalyzer off my belt. “Would you mind blowing in this for me?”

  “Oh, come on, man. Just write me a speeding ticket and let me go.”

  “If you refuse to blow, you’ll be arrested and held until a warrant is granted for a blood test. Drinking and driving is a serious offense, sir. You’re not only putting your life in danger, but also this young lady’s, and everyone else on the road, including me.” I shove it in his direction.

  He rolls his eyes, but finally gives in and blows.

  When the machine beeps, the numbers say exactly what I thought: he’s beyond drunk.

  “Do you know the legal limit, sir?”

  He shrugs.

  “Point-zero-eight. Do you know what your level is?” I try not to smile, but let’s be honest, I love busting people for breaking the law. I feel I’m doing my small part to keep people safe. “Point-one-two.” I fasten the breathalyzer back on my belt. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m going to have to arrest you.”

  “What?” he yells.

  “Step out of the car slowly, sir, and put your hands behind your head.”

  With a loud puff, he steps out and places his hands on the back of his head. I quickly grab them and lower them behind his back, one at a time, and place the cuffs around his wrists.

  “Is there anything on your body? Drugs, weapons, anything that could poke me?” I ask before patting him down.