by Dena Blake
Drew smiled and brushed her lips against Sam’s. “Take your time.”
She needed a minute to figure out just what to say to the woman she’d locked in a bathroom stall. Now the same women had caught her getting it on in her parents’ house with her sister. I knew this was a mistake. I should’ve never agreed to come. If she had any brains at all, she’d hightail it out the back door and catch a cab back to the hotel.
* * *
Drew watched Sam’s hips swing as she walked the perimeter of the room. Sam glanced back over her shoulder and gave Drew an alluring stare that made her whole body heat. This woman was doing all the right things. She was everything Drew ever wanted and still her prime suspect.
Roaming hands, seeking mouth, thrusting thigh. She’d been so ready to come upstairs when Liza stepped into the room. Sam had blushed like a schoolgirl, which made Drew want her even more. How could a woman be so amazingly sexy yet seem so pure and innocent?
“Is that your newest?” Liza asked.
Drew turned and gave her sister a light kiss on the cheek. “Sorry I didn’t introduce you earlier.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You were otherwise engaged.” She peeked around her. “Where is the little tart?”
“Liza.” Drew narrowed her eyes. “Be nice to this one, please.”
Liza studied her face. “Okay. If you insist.”
Drew saw Sam emerging from behind a small group of people. “Here she is, now,” she said as she slipped her arm around Sam’s waist, moving her in tight against her. Sam gave her a soft smile and her stomach dipped.
Liza’s gaze swept quickly down to her shoes and back up again before offering her hand. “Nice to see you…standing up.”
Sam shifted uneasily, and there was that blush again. “I think you two have met before, at the sponsor party.” Sam slipped her hand up the back of Drew’s suit coat and gave her a pinch that made Drew jump.
Liza pulled her eyebrows together and darted her gaze back to Sam. “I don’t think so.”
“That’s right. I forgot.” She pressed a finger to her lips and chuckled. “You didn’t actually meet. Sam’s the one who locked you in the bathroom.”
Liza’s powder-blue eyes grew dark. “You did that?” her voice rose.
“I’m so sorry. If I had known you were Drew’s sister, I would have never—”
Liza laughed abruptly and her smile returned. “A woman with fortitude. I like that.” She looped her arm with Sam’s. “Come on. Let’s you and I have a drink. We can get to know each other a little better.”
Drew pulled her brows together. “Don’t tell her all my secrets.”
“Drew, sweetheart, you know me better than that. I’ll only divulge enough to keep her interested. It might frighten her a tad, but I promise I’ll leave her begging for more.” Liza gave Drew a wink and shuffled Sam off toward the bar.
* * *
Without turning on the light, Sam closed the door to her room and leaned back against it. Meeting Drew’s family had turned out to be quite an adventure. Her sister had chatted her up for at least an hour with wild stories of Drew’s youth before Drew had pulled her away to dance. Although they never did make it back upstairs to finish what they’d started, she’d had a wonderful time.
She would’ve let Drew stay the night, if she’d asked, but Sam had told her she had an early day tomorrow, and she didn’t press. Had she finally found someone who cared as much about her needs and responsibilities as their own?
“Have a nice time?” The voice was low and flat.
She jumped at the sound. “Brad?”
Her hand searched the wall until she caught the light switch and flipped it up. As her eyes adjusted to the brightness, she saw him sitting in the chair holding a near-empty bottle of scotch.
“How long have you been here?”
“Long enough to see you throw yourself at your girlfriend.” He slapped the bottle to the table.
She tossed her clutch on the bed. “Why do you care? You’ve had your share of women.”
“In the public eye, you’re still my fiancée.” He stood up and blocked her path.
She brushed past him toward the bathroom. “We both know how loosely we use that term. It certainly doesn’t give you the right to spy on me.”
“What right does it give me?” He yanked her back and pushed her up against the wall. “The right to have you anytime I want?” He forced his mouth onto hers.
The stench of alcohol permeated her nostrils, and the foul taste of his mouth made her stomach lurch.
She tried to wedge her arms between them. “Brad, stop. I don’t want this.”
“Since when? You never complained before.” He tried to kiss her again, and his beard scraped her skin, making it burn with pain.
“Stop!” She squirmed out of his grip. “Don’t you want more than this?”
“This is all I ever wanted from you.”
She slapped him hard across the face. If he wanted to hurt her, he’d certainly done it now.
His eyes darkened, and he came after her again.
She threw her hand up in front of her. “Don’t you dare.”
“Whatcha gonna do? Go running back to Daddy?” He slurred his words. “Don’t you think he knows about all the women I’ve been with?” He picked up the bottle and sucked down what was left of the scotch. “What makes you think he’s going to care about a bruise here and there?” He tossed the empty bottle onto the bed. “The old man needs me. He’s not going to cut me loose just because of his precious little girl. Who else is going to drive that car for him?”
“I will.”
“That’s a laugh. You’re a great mechanic, Sam, and I hear you’re pretty good at driving go-carts too. But you and I both know you could never compete on the big track.”
“I knew that was you.”
“Just keeping an eye on the goods, sweetheart.”
“Did you throw that rock onto the track?”
“What if I did?”
“You hurt that little girl.”
“Wasn’t trying to.” She didn’t budge when he moved closer and lifted the pendant from her chest. “Something new?” He ripped it from her neck and threw it to the floor.
She slapped her hand to the back of her neck to squelch the stinging pain. “Damn it, Brad.” She crossed the room to the sink and dampened a washcloth. She stared at the cold, dark silhouette reflecting in the mirror and cursed herself. She hated the woman she became when she was with him. ““I’m not trying to hurt you, but I want more. I need a connection with someone.” Placing the cold rag on her neck, she winced and turned back to face him. “Maybe actually get married someday, even have a family.” Her voice faltered. “You and I both know that’s never going to happen with us.”
“You think you can have that with her?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know.” And she didn’t, but she wanted to find out.
“So you’re going to kick me to the curb.”
“Brad.” Her voice softened, filling with emptiness. “If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have had any other women.” Kneading her forehead with her fingertips, she paced the room. “I’ve already put up with a lot more than I should’ve. I’m tired of being humiliated.”
“Come on now.” He stepped in front of her and brushed the hair from her face. “Don’t you think I know every time you feel a little neglected you cross that fine fidelity line you’ve drawn? I’m not the only one breaking the rules here.”
A short wave of shock flashed through her. She didn’t think he’d ever taken the time to notice anything she did. “That’s not true. I may have straddled it, but I’ve never crossed it when we were officially together.”
“You always come back.” He turned to the door. “When things don’t work out with Thompson, you know where I’ll be,” he said as he went out the door.
Sam dropped the washcloth on the basin and stared at her reflection. The pendant. She spun around and fell to her knees, ra
king her fingers across the carpet until she found it. The clasp was broken. She fell back against the side of the bed and pressed it to her chest. She had crossed the line. Not intentionally, but she definitely had. She’d let Drew do intimate things to her, and she wanted her to do them again.
Chapter Sixteen
When Drew pulled into her usual spot next to the garage, she saw Jade rushing over.
“What’d ya do to the little princess last night? She’s in an awful mood this morning.”
“Really?” Drew shrugged and hopped out of her Jeep. “I took her to a party?”
“That political thing your parents hosted?”
She nodded.
“What the fuck, Drew?” Jade grabbed her arm.
Drew turned her head slowly, fixing her gaze on Jade’s hand. She let go, and Drew continued on her way. “You took her home? To meet your folks?” Jade sprinted alongside her.
“Rich-kid driver. That’s my cover, remember?”
“You’re way too involved.”
“I’ll get the job done.” Drew spotted Sam at the snack shack buying a bottle of orange juice and found it impossible not to stop and watch her.
“Damn it, Drew.” Jade shook her head. “You’d better make sure nobody gets hurt.”
Without a word, Drew headed toward the snack shack to see Sam.
“Drew!” Jade shouted. “Are you listening to me?”
“Gotcha.” She threw up a hand and gave her a wave.
“Hey, Slick. How’s it lookin’ this morning?”
Stifling a cough, Sam leaned her head back and stared up at the gray clouds looming above.
“It’s lookin’ like rain.”
“Where’s Goldilocks?” Drew had consistently called Brad the first derogatory nickname that came to mind from the first day they met.
“He should be here in a little while,” Sam said without need of clarification.
“You want some breakfast with that juice?”
“No thanks. I need to get back to work.” Not giving Drew a second glance, or a first for that matter, Sam headed off toward the garage.
“I’m going to get some food. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Take your time,” she said without turning back.
Sam was unusually distant today. Maybe the rain was putting her in a foul mood. Nonstop with no end in sight didn’t make for a productive day.
She seemed preoccupied with the car, but Drew sensed something else was bothering her. Maybe last night was too much. The party, her family, the bedroom. Drew smiled. No. That wasn’t it. She’d been too willing, too wanting, too wet. Something else was wrong, maybe something that didn’t concern her at all. Giving Sam a little space was probably best for both of them. Sooner or later it would pass, or most likely, she’d blow and let her have it.
Brad came into the garage, and Drew could see he was the problem. At the sound of his voice, Sam tensed immediately. The obvious wall between them was becoming thicker. He advanced and she retreated. It was clear Brad knew something was going on between her and Drew, and he didn’t like it.
He was showering her with kindness. That’s why she always goes back to him. He sees her begin to stray and smothers her with attention, yanking her back into his grasp just until the competition is gone. Or in the recent case—dead. The selfish bastard liked keeping Sam on a leash.
Observing the interaction between them, Drew didn’t know if guilt, want, or passion kept her going back. She turned to the bench, examining the various engine parts. Could Brad be involved in the accidents? She picked up a piston and pulled open a tool drawer. If Drew wanted to sabotage the car, she could do it, and Brad could too. She heard the metal door clang shut and turned. She and Sam were alone again.
“Where’s he going?”
Sam glanced up from the engine. “He won’t drive in this weather.” She grabbed the top of the hood and slammed it closed. “We can’t afford to lose another day because of this damn rain.”
“I’ll take it out,” Drew said without hesitation.
“Are you serious?” Sam’s lips tipped up into the first smile she’d seen all day.
“I’m game.” Drew was surprised at how grateful she was. Sam did something to her, something new, something fresh. Whatever it was, she didn’t quite understand, and she didn’t want it to stop.
Sam slid through the window, positioning herself on top of the fire extinguisher, where the passenger seat would normally be.
“You can’t go out there with me.”
“Nobody else will be on the track in this weather. Just take me for a short run. No one will know.”
“You don’t even have a seat, let alone safety restraints.”
“I’ll be all right. You won’t be driving that fast.”
Drew slid in and fastened the harness.
“Put your helmet on.” Sam handed it to her. “You have to at least appear normal. If we get caught, we’re out. And remember. Don’t take the speed up too high. I don’t want to blow anything. Oh, and watch the corners. They’ll be slick.”
Drew smiled at her constant attempt to remain in control.
As they raced around the track, the rain slapped like bullets against the windshield
“Did you hear that?” Sam asked.
“What?”
“I thought I heard a slight hiss when you down-shifted.”
“I can’t hear a damn thing over this rain.”
* * *
Sam stuck her head out into the downpour. The rain was cold and hard as it pelted her face, but the smell of a heated track splashed with a gush of nature’s juice was incredible. “Take the speed up a little, then down-shift again around the next corner.”
“What the hell are you doing? Are you crazy?”
She glanced back to see Drew giving her ass a double-take and smiled. Driving with this kind of view could get a woman killed.
“Get back in here.” Drew curled her fingers beneath the waistband of Sam’s jeans and tugged.
Sam closed her eyes and let the warmth of Drew’s touch subdue the cold rain before swiping her hand across the small of her back. She thought for sure she’d find a flaming match, but nothing was there except the lingering heat left from Drew’s fingers. Shaking it off, she slid back into the car. “Sounds like a compression leak. Take us in.”
As soon as Drew stopped the car, Sam was out, pulling the hood open. She adjusted a few wires and then stood back with her hands on her hips, staring at the engine.
“I don’t get it. I just replaced these pistons.”
“Maybe you have a defective batch.”
“Or I’ve got bigger problems.”
“What now?”
“I’ll have to pop the head and find the bad one.” She wrapped a towel around her shoulders, then gathered up her thick curls and squeezed the excess water out onto it. “You might want to find something else to do. This could take a while.”
“I’ll stay if you don’t mind,” Drew said, ignoring the brush-off.
“Suit yourself.” She tossed the towel onto a stool and started to work under the hood.
“Don’t you think you should change out of that wet shirt?” Drew said, creeping up behind her and taking her by the shoulders.
Sam stopped cold, and goose bumps popped up in all kinds of places. There’s that damn flame again. Put it out! Quick! The heat of Drew’s breath on her neck made Sam shiver, and her body spiked with desire.
“Please,” Sam begged, melting back into her. This was absolute torture. “I can’t play this game with you today. I have to get this car running.”
“Is that the only reason?” She nudged Sam around to face her.
Taking Drew’s face in her hands, Sam gave her a long, slow, tender kiss and then slid her cheek against Drew’s. “That’s all I can give you right now.” It took everything she had to prevent what seemed to be the most natural thing in the world, fusing with the woman who seemed to anticipate her every need. If she continued
staring into those sweet brown eyes, she’d be hypnotized, and her mind would be jumbled again. She wouldn’t be able to work at all.
“You’d better get changed.” Drew let her arms fall to her sides. “I’ve got an extra shirt in the office.” She moved to get it, and Sam put up a hand.
“You stay there. I’ll be right back.” Drew would try to distract her again, and she couldn’t afford that. Not today. She had way too much work to do.
“It’s hanging on the back of the door.”
Pushing the door open slightly, she began to unbutton her drenched flannel shirt and reached around for Drew’s dry one. She jumped when she heard the squeak of the wooden chair roll back from behind the desk.
“Paddy.” She slapped her hand to chest and sank back against the wall. “You scared me.”
“I can see that.” He leaned back and threw a leg up onto the corner of the desk. “Tell me, darlin’, how’d you come to get so wet on the top of ya and nothing on the bottom?”
“I went out on a test drive with Drew.”
“Did you say you went out with her?”
She nodded, waiting for him to blast her.
“Anyone see you?”
“Nope.”
“Umm.” He raised his eyebrows. “So, you’ve relented and actually decided to work with her?”
“Brad wouldn’t take it out.”
Paddy’s brows drew together. “Well, I’ll be havin’ a chat with the boy about that.” He got up, closed the office door, and nudged her into the bathroom. “Get yourself changed, and then you and I can have a little talk.”
When Sam came out of the bathroom, Paddy was behind his desk digging through the papers scattered across it. Her father’s filing system never failed to amaze her. His desk was always a mess, but he always seemed to know where everything was.
He glanced up momentarily. “How’s the car running?”
“Honestly?” She pulled the desk drawer open and took out the packet of antihistamines she’d been dosing herself with for the past few days. “I think I’ve got a compression leak. It shouldn’t take long, maybe a few hours.”
