Chapter 1
Georgie
“Let’s give lover boy something to be jealous about, shall we?” Caesar whispers in my ear as his arms come around me and starts messing with the bottles of liquor I have placed out in front of me on the bar.
“What do you mean?” I’m a little uneasy from his close proximity, but I fight it back. It’s the way I was raised and I need to work through it.
“A very handsome Cage hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off you all night girlfriend. It’s like he’s in the mood for a succulent fruit and you’re the only ripe Georgia Peach in a 100-mile radius. Go get it girl.”
Caesar gives me a little shove in Jayden’s direction and I feel my heart pulsating wildly. Alright, I can do this. Right? How hard can it be? I’ve binge watched every single chick flick I could get my hands on in the last week. I can be strong and independent like Andie Anderson, maybe even flirt a little. Jayden can be my Benjamin Barry, he certainly has the charm for it.
“Hey Jayden, could I interest you in a sex on the beach? Maybe a screaming orgasm?” My face immediately flames red. Did I really just offer up my virginity by way of a drink order?
As I look at him, I realize he hasn’t heard a word I’ve said. He’s just creepily staring at my mouth. Is there something on my face? I scrub at my lips and notice his cheeks look a little flushed. I wonder if he’s coming down with something?
“Pardon Sunshine?” He asks as a smile lights up his gorgeous face.
“Can I get you a refill?” I squeak out.
“Of course.” He winks at me. It’s like the Cage men’s signature move I’ve come to realize. Who would have thought an eye twitch could make my panties wet in two seconds flat? It’s a foreign feeling I’m not entirely sure I’m comfortable with. But, no wonder my sister Ashlyn and her best friend Savannah have it bad for his brothers.
I quickly make my way over and pour Jayden a beer. These things are tricky, you have to get them just right or you get too much foam. When I’m done, the cup is about half and half which is a win in my book. With a smile on my face I walk it back over to Jayden and place it in front of him, strangely proud of myself. It may be the best beer I’ve tapped yet.
His face goes red as he repeatedly looks between me and the beer, trying unsuccessfully to hold in his laughter. “Seriously Sunshine?” All of a sudden, the composure breaks and he bursts out laughing while pointing at his beer. Tears start to sting my eyes when I realize he’s laughing at me. Unable to stand his scrutiny any longer, I exit the bar and head for the kitchen to put as much distance between myself and Jayden as possible.
The cook keeps glancing at me warily as I’m standing off to the side crying my eyes out. Why does it bother me so much what Jayden thinks? He doesn’t know how hard adjusting to life has been. Saying I’ve grown up sheltered is an understatement. I didn’t have a voice or a say in anything about my life. Does he think I chose to be raised into an abusive cult? I’m just the weird cult girl.
I didn’t even know what a dildo was until yesterday when I stumbled upon one. I was going through the garage where I’m living and found a few in a box. I called my sister Ashlyn and asked her what it was as I stared trying to describe it to her. She screamed at me to drop it and then howled with laughter as she told me in no uncertain terms to close the lid and step away from the box. I was petrified they were bombs or something so I ran for the safety of the house. A half hour later a very pregnant Savvy accompanied by my sister exited their car with three boxes of rubber gloves, four tubs of bleach and nose plugs.
“Have you been contaminated?” Ash slowly asks me fighting a smile.
“Um, no.”
“Go inside, we’ll take care of this and then we’ll explain everything.” Is all she said before they turned on their heels and entered the garage.
I nervously paced the length of my new house waiting for something bad to happen. Savvy’s pregnant for crying out loud, if my little discovery required that much bleach surely, I should have been out there instead of her.
Ashlyn’s letting me live in her old house since she isn’t using the place anymore. It’s perfect for me and rent is right in my pay grade. Cheap. They didn’t want rent at all but I refused. I’m working therefore I can pay. I need independence and to know I can make it on my own. I’ve spent my whole life forced into being dependent on others.
They exited the garage with disgust written all over their faces but the problem was dealt with. That’s when I heard the story of Aunt Cheryl and her sex toy shop that she ran before she died, which is now the bar I’m currently in, Monkey Bars. A shiver creeps up my spine just thinking about what I found in that box. It apparently fell through the cracks when they burnt the other ones in a bonfire.
I feel a touch on my shoulder which causes me to yelp.
“It’s just me Georgie. What’s the matter honey?” Caesar says in a hushed voice.
“It’s stupid.” I whisper wiping the tears away with the back of my hand.
“No, it’s not. But if it’s worth anything, I don’t think that Neanderthal meant anything by it. I’ll work his side of the bar until he leaves too.”
“No.”
“No?” Caesar questions.
“No. I won’t avoid him. I’m so sick of everyone tiptoeing around me. Do you even know what I’ve been through? I’m not this person. I’m not a fragile porcelain doll that everyone has to walk on eggshells around. That’s over. I will not let what I was raised into dictate my life anymore. I’m so tired of being scared all the time. We only have one life, I’m going to start living it. Nobody’s going to make me question myself ever again.” I square my shoulders with a new resolve.
“Preach it girl.”
“Starting with Jayden. Who the heck does he think he is, waltzing into my territory and laughing at me. He’s gonna get a check with reality real soon, mark my words Caesar. These are the last tears I will ever cry over Jayden Cage.”
“I’ll mark these words in my calendar Georgia Peach, but right now we need to get back to the bar that’s currently running itself.”
“I lied, I’m not strong. I can’t do this.” Leaning back, I shrink into the wall.
“You can and you will.”
Caesar grabs my arm and pulls me through the kitchen out to the bar. I’m avoiding Jayden like the plague, looking at anything and everything but him. As I’m passing a margarita to a customer, I hear a few cat calls.
“You’re insecure, don’t know what for,
You’re turning heads when you walk through the door.”
What the…? I turn around and see Jayden making his way towards me singing a song I’ve never heard before. Did I mention he’s on top of the bar? Why does he have to be such a jerk one second and completely sweet the next?
I hold my hand over my mouth to hide my smile back. Hey, I’m a girl. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t be flattered just a tiny bit if a man was singing to you? Especially a man like Jayden Cage.
In the blink of an eye he drops to his knees and grabs my hands in his own. As he stares into my eyes, he shocks me when he opens his mouth.
“Georgie, will you please put me out of my misery and go on a date with me?” He gives me a sexy smirk.
I’m quiet for a moment unsure of what I should do. It’s a quick moment when I realize he would be safe. I know, I’m calling Jayden Cage safe. But most people get to live and learn from their mistakes. My whole life I’ve been told what to do, what to say, how to dress. I need to find out who I am before I can even think of getting involved with someone. I’m 20 years old and I’ve never been kissed! Crap, I’m the real-life Josie Grossie!
I stare at Jayden. God he’s gorgeous. His tight black polo does little to conceal the muscle he’s packing underneath. He’s not as big as Josh and Zander, but they’re professional MMA fighters. It’s what they do. For a third-grade teacher, he’s definitely not the norm.
There’s more to him than meets the eye. Everyone writes him off but I see it in his eyes. His big blue eyes that are doing all sorts of things to me as they stare intently at my own. They may be his best feature. All the Cage men got that gene and they know how to work them. With how much he talks about sex and women I know he’s out of my league. He doesn’t want some inexperienced woman. And to be honest, I’m not sure I can handle him. Yet. Growing up the way I did you learn to read people. Maybe someday I’ll get to figure him out. But that day isn’t today.
I realize I haven’t answered him yet so with my sweetest smile I decide to get him back for my embarrassment over beer-gate. I look around and sure enough, everyone is staring at this little spectacle.
“No fucking way.” I pull my hands out of his and walk away. That cuss word feels foreign leaving my mouth and it takes all my resolve not to cringe. At least it got my point across.
Caesar makes eye contact and gives me a massive smile before holding his hand up. I give him a high five and start serving drinks again. When I gain the courage, I look back towards Jayden who isn’t at the bar anymore. Peering around the room my eyes track him next to the exit with a sly grin on his face as he stares at me. What’s going on in that head of his?
He shoots me a wink then exits the building. I’m a little disappointed he didn’t try harder, but it’s for the best. It’s time to figure out who Georgie is. It’s time to make some mistakes and live for the first time in my life.