by D. Kelly
Gabe twirls the phone cord around his finger, and it reminds me how Baxter’s mom used to hate that he did that. She would stand and untwirl the cord, lecturing him about it the entire time but always with a smile on her face. Gabe is like her second son. I thought Baxter’s parents had to be the last people on the planet with an old-school corded phone.
“Great. Thanks. She’ll be waiting for you in my room.” Gabe stands and walks back to the dresser. I can’t help but appreciate the way his jeans hug his tight ass. I might even be drooling. When he turns around, he chuckles. “Eyes up here, Sage, but for the record, I’m not opposed if you want to get up close and personal later.”
The teenage angst I’ve carried with me for years floods my emotions. I promised myself never again, not with him. “Nah, I’m good. I know how to look and not touch, unlike some people.”
His shoulders droop with my words, but he recovers quickly. “We’ve got a lot to talk about. Maybe we can catch up before our shift tomorrow.”
“Or maybe never. No need to rehash old shit. I don’t need to like you or understand you to work with you.”
He pauses, almost like he has something else to say but thinks better of it. “All right, I’ll be in the restaurant if you change your mind or get hungry. It’s open twenty-four hours this weekend, so come down anytime you need food.”
There’s a knock at the door just as he’s moving to open it. A pretty redhead smiles up at him. “Aurora, this is Sage. Sage, Aurora. I’ve gotta go before Max has my head.”
She slaps his arm good-naturedly. “He wouldn’t do that; he needs you too much.”
“And he also needs his sleep. You know Max is a bear when he’s tired.”
“True. Go let him off the grill and give him a beer. That way he’ll be relaxed and I can have my way with him. Come on, Sage, I’ll show you to your room.”
Gabe exits first and jogs down the stairs. I watch him the whole way down; his body is fluid, each move precise. If I ran down a flight of stairs, I’d no doubt take a header. Not Gabe. He’s always been confident and sure of himself.
Aurora looks at me with a smile. “You’ve got it bad, don’t you?”
“Uh … no, not even close. Gabe is probably my least favorite person on the planet.”
“Really?” Her jaw drops as she opens the door next to Gabe’s—Room 519.
“Really, but more important than my dislike of Gabe, what is with the rooms here? No offense but you do realize 13 and 519 are nowhere close together on a scale of numbers, right?”
Aurora’s answering giggle is sweet and almost lyrical as she nods. “Yeah, it was something my parents did. It meant something to them, and I wanted to keep the motel as true to them as I could after they passed away.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” God, I feel like such a bitch.
“It’s okay. Having Max here with me now makes it a lot easier. Anyway, this is our renovated room. I know it’s not much, but it’s better than orange, brown, and red.”
I look around at the updated room. It’s pretty standard, just not as dated at the room next door. The queen-size bed sits in the middle of the room. The linens are still hotelish, but at least they’re not motel-hell hotelish. There are a couple of scenic paintings on the far wall, and tucked into the corner by the well-used dresser is a mini fridge with a microwave sitting on top. The room looks to be the same size as Gabe’s with the identical table and chair next to the window. “It’s great. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to Baxter? I know Gabe was looking forward to hanging out with him.”
She seems sweet and sort of reminds me of Holly. “Baxter is on the date of a lifetime.”
“I see. So you got recruited instead.”
“Yes.” I plop down on the bed with a sigh and motion for her to join me. “Today was the beginning of my mini-vacation. Now, instead of binging my favorite show, reading a good book, and getting drunk on fine wine, I’m stuck here with Gabe.”
“Well, I’ve only known Gabe a few weeks while he’s been helping us out, but maybe you should give him a chance? I don’t know what happened between you guys in the past, if it’s something you can get over or not, but there’s obviously sexual tension between the two of you. I’ve heard bits and pieces about his past while he’s been here. Not much, but enough I don’t think he’s the same guy he was back then.”
I consider her words, but I’m too tired to pay them much serious thought. Teenage loves always sting the most, and Gabe was the first and last guy I ever let into my heart. It would be nice if we could at least be civil for Baxter’s sake.
“I’ll think about it. Right now I just want to curl up with a book and fall asleep reading.”
“I hear you. Do you need a book? I’m a romance junkie I have tons of them if you want to borrow something.” Aurora’s eyes light up when she talks about books, just like Holly’s.
“Actually, I’m reading The O Factor, by Amelia Greyson. I know I’m a bit late to the party, but my job doesn’t give me a lot of downtime. My best friend Holly is a writer, and she’s been raving about this book for ages.”
Aurora bounces on the bed in excitement. “That book is so good. Amelia is the one who went on the Just an Illusion tour with Bastards and Dangerous. Her real-life story is almost as amazing as her fictional one. If you finish before you leave we have to talk about it. Being out here, I never get to talk books unless it’s on social media. Max listens, but he’s more interested about the sex and how to incorporate it into our lives.” She giggles, and I join her. I like her, and I think we could be good friends. Holly would adore her.
“That should be doable.” I stretch as I stand, my body aching from the long drive. “I’m about three-quarters of the way through already. But I need to go to my car and get my overnight bag if I’m going to read. Is there a waitress uniform or anything? I didn’t bring a lot of clothes with me.”
Aurora assesses me with a careful eye. “No uniform, but we look to be about the same size, you’re just a little shorter. I’m sure I’ve got clothes you can borrow if you want to browse my closet. I’ve also got a washer and dryer in my apartment you can use if you need to rewash things. My apartment is right next to the office, you can’t miss it.”
“That would be great, thank you.”
Aurora walks down with me and waves as we part ways. At least I’m not completely alone with Gabe. While I’m thinking of him, I pull out my phone and text Bax.
I’m here. You suck for not giving me a heads up about Gabe. BTW, when did he get even hotter?
Baxter’s reply is immediate.
Baxter: I’m sorry. I needed your help, and I knew you wouldn’t go if it was for him. Don’t even start perving on him again. He broke your heart, remember?
How could I forget? I can appreciate the fine specimen he is. I’m not that weak. I don’t have to fuck him, even if he moves like someone who would be able to make me scream repeatedly.
Baxter: Girl … the two of you have always been fire and ice. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you fall onto his dick.
I bite my bottom lip, contemplating the pleasure that would come from that kind of fall. Not having sex with Gabe has always been one of my biggest regrets and my greatest relief at the same time.
Well, who knows what the weekend will bring. A hate fuck might be just what I need. By the way, he guilted me into working in a restaurant with him for the weekend. You owe me more than you could ever imagine.
I wait for his reply, and a photo comes through. It’s him and his movie star and damn if they don’t look sexy together and really fucking happy.
Baxter: I know I do, but this is worth whatever you deem my punishment to be. Love you, Sage. Don’t forget you’re my attorney, and that picture is privileged information.
Love you too. I’m glad to see you happy. You know I’d never share, even if I weren’t on permanent retainer for you.
CHAPTER THREE
<
br /> GABE
“SO THIS CHICK SHOWED UP out of nowhere, she hates your guts, and you still managed to get her to help you this weekend? You’ve always been smooth, but even I’m impressed with this one.” Max tilts his head back and downs the remainder of his beer.
“Yeah, pretty much. I’m honestly confused as to why Baxter would send her. He’s fought tooth and nail for years to keep us apart. He hasn’t answered my texts either. Maybe he thinks I’m mad, but how could I be? Sage grew up hot as fuck.”
Sage was beautiful when we were kids. She was a couple of years younger than me, and even back then our chemistry was ignitable. I recognized her immediately when she knocked on my door. Her beauty is still evident, but now she’s filled with womanly curves in all the right places.
“Well, my friend, you’ve got two days to make her adore you once again. If anyone can do it, it’s you. You should tell her why you blew her off back then. It could go a long way to bridging the gap.”
I wipe down the counter and toss some dishes in the bin to be washed. There’s only one reason I bailed on Sage back in the day, and that was her mom. Being threatened with statutory rape charges was enough to make me break Sage’s heart.
“I’ll feel her out and see how it goes.”
“Hey, hot stuff, how about you come refill this old lady’s coffee?”
I’ve been here a few weeks now, and Agnes has been here every day. Once she found out we were opening twenty-four hours for the weekend, she was all over it. As I refill her coffee, my eyes meet hers, and she winks at me. She’s a dirty bird.
“How are you doing tonight, Agnes?”
“I’d be better if you’d take me in the back room and make me feel twenty again.”
I try like hell not to laugh, but when Max starts busting up, it’s no use. “Agnes, he’s got a lady friend here with him this weekend,” Max says after he’s composed himself.
“Well, hell … a little competition never scared me. Where is she?”
I pat her hand with mine before putting the coffee away. “Sorry, beautiful, I never mix business with pleasure. Maybe Fletcher is around here somewhere; he might be willing to help you out.” Fletcher is Aurora’s handyman and a bit of a loner.
Agnes howls with laughter, slapping her hand against the countertop. “I might be old, but I’m not stupid. Fletcher is a few watts short of a bulb and a bit creepy to boot. I’ll stick with my magic wand instead.”
“Agnes,” I flash her the smile she seems to love so much, “I’m going to miss you when I leave, girl. You are too much.”
“Well, give me your number before you go, hot stuff. I’ll keep you entertained. I could even learn how to do that sexting stuff for you … as long as you do it for me too.”
Max tosses his beer bottle into the trash. “And on that note, I’m off to bed. Call if you need anything.”
We wave to Max, and I give Agnes my full attention. “Rule number one for sexting: never do it. Now, as much as I know you love seeing my handsome face, you must be hungry. What can I get you to eat tonight?”
She pushes the menu aside with her wrinkled hand and grins. I’m not sure how old she is, but I’d say somewhere between mid-sixties and early eighties. “I’m going to be bad tonight. Give me the banana pancakes with chocolate chips.”
“Will do. Give me a holler if anyone comes in, will you? I’m flying solo for the night.”
Agnes waggles her eyebrows at me. “Sure, I’ll be your wing woman, but I want extra chocolate chips for that.”
With a parting wink, I call out over my shoulder, “You got it.”
As I ladle the batter onto the sizzling-hot griddle, I think about Sage. I’ve never been one to get stuck on women—I could always take ‘em or leave ‘em—but there’s something about her that has always lingered in the back of my mind.
Maybe it was just the immense guilt I felt over what happened, or maybe it’s because our falling out severely affected my relationship with my cousin. Whatever it was, I feel like this is my chance to make things right. I need to tell her why I never showed up the night we were supposed to have sex. It would have been her first time. Instead, I had to hear about it from Baxter a few months later when he blamed me for her rebounding and fucking some dude in the back of his car.
My phone rings and I hit the speakerphone button as I flip Agnes’s pancakes. “Yeah?”
“Nice greeting. Some things never change, do they?” Baxter is snarky as ever.
“Sorry, I’m working. What happened? I was looking forward to having a weekend to hang out with you. Why did you send Sage? Is everything okay?”
Baxter laughs at someone in the background before answering me. “I didn’t have a choice. I was on a date, and it turned into a weekend getaway. Besides, it’s about time the two of you talk. I miss you in my life, and Sage deserves answers. So do I, but I can wait until next week. How long are you going to stay with me anyway?”
After scooping the pancakes onto the plate, I sprinkle some bananas on top and drizzle them with chocolate sauce and top them off with a dusting of powdered sugar.
“I’m not sure. I was thinking about sticking around for a while. I can work from anywhere, but maybe I’ll find a place of my own if I like it in Woodland Hills.”
“Seriously? That would be awesome. I have an extra room you can rent from me. I could use a little extra money, and I’d love to have you there. But if you’re going to get all weird if you walk in on me sucking a dick or getting fucked, you need to find something else.”
With Agnes’s plate in one hand and my phone in the other, I leave the kitchen to deliver her food. Before I can answer Bax, Agnes hollers with laughter, “Honey, I don’t know who you are that my hottie is talking to, but if you don’t mind an old lady watching, I’ll be your new roommate.”
Baxter banters back with her immediately, not one bit shy. “Sweetie, I don’t mind a little voyeurism as long as you pay your rent and don’t steal my lube.”
“I like him,” she says to me as she cuts into her pancakes. “Do you play on his team? Is that why you don’t want to get with all this?”
Baxter laughs, and I shake my head. “No, he’s my cousin, and I don’t play on his team. But I don’t care if he rounds the bases every night. As long as I have a place to lay my head, we’ll be good.”
“Sounds good, Gabe. I can’t wait to see you. Sage will give you hell, but you’re gonna have to deal with it if you want a ride back to my place. See you soon!”
“Later, Bax.”
After hanging up with Baxter, the pace picks up in the restaurant. I’m about to call Max and Aurora for backup when Sage strolls in. She scans the place and her eyes widen with the realization I’m all alone in this jungle.
“I thought you were tired.” I reach for an apron and pass it to her.
“I am, but I can’t sleep. Figured I’d come down for a snack. You weren’t kidding when you said you’d need help. This place looks like any diner in L.A. when the clubs close.”
She ties the apron tightly around her waist, and it hugs her hips and accentuates her breasts. My dick twitches as the scent of her apple shampoo invades my senses.
“Where do you want me to start?”
I point to the far side of the restaurant. “Start in that corner and work your way over. I’ve mostly focused on the counter. I’ll get the food going. If you have any questions, just ask.”
“So you’re the hottie trying to steal my man? I guess I can see why he likes you better. You’re tight and curvy in all the places I’m loose and saggy these days. Name’s Agnes, and you are?”
Agnes holds her hand out to Sage and Sage shakes it with a smile. “I’m Sage, and if your man is Gabe, he’s all yours. I’ve traveled his direction before and, between you and me, he’s not worthy of either of us.”
Sage sashays off, and Agnes reaches for the coffee pot, refilling her cup. “I like that one. She’s sassy. You better fix whatever you broke on her.”
�
��We’ll see,” I mutter as I move into the kitchen and start working on orders. Sage and I spend the next few hours in a constant rush of customers and orders. If only Aurora could keep this kind of foot traffic here once the construction on the highway is completed. I know a few months ago a tech blogger or something got them on the map by posting pictures of Aurora’s amazing food. It’s why she expanded the restaurant hours, but this is the first time she’s had the restaurant open after ten P.M., and I wonder if she would see this kind of business if she hired someone to work this late all the time. I should run the idea by Max.
By five in the morning, it’s just the two of us again. Agnes is long gone. She and Sage seem to have become fast friends, and there were promises of chatting again tonight. Sage comes up to the counter and practically collapses on my shoulder. The feeling of her against my body amps up my sex drive.
“I’m so tired. I haven’t worked this hard since I was waiting tables in college. Who knew The Last Resort Motel would be the it place for food?”
“Have a seat, I’ll make you something to eat and then you can go to bed. Banana pancakes okay?”
“Oh my God, yes, that sounds amazing. With those chocolate chips too. Agnes was raving about them all night.”
I watch her from the grill as she pulls her coffee mug to her mouth. She closes her eyes with a blissed-out expression on her face. It’s incredibly sensual and makes it easy to imagine how she’d look as she comes on my cock.
As I finish making her pancakes, Max sits next to her. “You want some pancakes, Max?” His eyes meet mine briefly as I set Sage’s plate in front of her.
“Those look incredible. I’ll have what she’s having. You must be Sage,” he says, turning his attention to her as I head back to the kitchen. “I’m Max, Aurora’s boyfriend and Gabe’s friend. Try not to hold that against me though.”
“Nice to meet you,” she replies as she takes a bite. When she moans her delight, my cock twitches. It’s been far too long since I’ve had sex, and Sage isn’t helping with her blissful expressions and her seductive food noises. Damn.
