I took her to get her car. And she followed me home. I honestly didn’t know what the hell I was doing other than chasing something that resembled a pulse inside my chest. Rich girl, princess girl, whatever she was, I didn’t see that in Olivia. Maybe I’d come to regret that, but she found a way to twist that rusted key that opened my heart and when that happened, there was no turning back.

When I pulled into the driveway, her car pulled right up next to my truck. I looked over and Olivia looked at me. There was this quick reflection in her eyes that just shook me. Part of me wanted to believe she was nothing but a liar but part of me saw something so real inside her.

So I took a fucking chance because I had nothing to lose. Her old man wanted to come through town and rip it apart? Have at it. There was nothing in town. There was nothing he could do to revive anything. The way I saw things, the town itself would slowly die on its own.

I got out of the truck as she got out of the car.

We met at the front of her car just as it started to rain again. I put my hand out and she took it. We ran to the porch but she kept pulling at me, wanting me to slow down.

“What are you doing?” I finally called out to her as we stood at the bottom of the porch steps.

Olivia broke away from me and put her arms out. She stepped back, smiling.

“I never stood in the rain before.”

“What?” I asked.

“Ever. I never stood in the rain. I never put my head back and tasted it. I never jumped in a puddle of mud.”

She put her head back and started to spin.

The cool rain pelted my head and my neck as I shook my head.

“You going to stay out here all night?” I asked her.

“I just might! Come on, Gavin! Dance in the rain!”

I shook my head again.

She could play the free card all she wanted. She could come to this shithole of a town, drink in our shitty bar, play in the rain, feel like she was one of us… but she was far from that. Tomorrow she’d wake up as the rich girl she was. She could get into the car and drive back to her million dollar lifestyle. And yet I had fell enough to let her into my heart a little and talk about Luke.

I turned and went up the steps and opened the door. I gave a whistle and Jesse slowly trotted through the house and out the front door. He hesitated at the top of the porch but I gave him a little nudge with my boot. He growled and then moved into the yard.

I stood at the top step and watched as Olivia finally hurried forward and up the porch. She was wet but not soaked. There was a small sting of disappointment in me though. If she had been soaked… those clothes would have been hugging her body tighter. She would have needed to get out of those soaking wet clothes too.

“Hey,” she said. Her hand touched my face, her pointer finger running across my jaw. “Thank you for telling me about your brother.”

I only told you a little, darling. Not the entire thing yet.

“If you’re being as honest as you say, then I should thank you.”

“I am, Gavin. I am.”

“So let me ask you something. What your father has planned now, here, with me, that’s probably not the first time. So did you warn people the other times?”

Olivia hung her head.

I caught the smell of whatever expensive shampoo she used. It was a smell so unique I’d never forget it.

“Damn,” I whispered. “So why me?”

Olivia looked up at me again. Her hands then touched my chest. I felt her fingers slightly spread. She was exploring. I didn’t mind. Then she moved to her toes so she could reach my chin.

Her lips grazed my scruff. “I don’t know, Gavin. He’s never done something like this. Going into a town. He’s had other real estate deals but I was never involved. But everything with him is about his wealth and his image. And I’ve been stuck in that world for so many years. I told you, I came here to just get away. And when I look at you and when I’m with you, I feel like I’m away from it all. I feel like I can breathe.”

A small crack of thunder echoed in the distance followed by a slow rumble.

I reached up and touched her cheek. My callused, dirty hand against her soft, sweet cheek. I was a mechanic. She was a princess. It didn’t make sense. It wasn’t going to work, ever.

But at least we had tonight… again.

 

* * *

 

She huddled up at the dining room table with her hands around a coffee mug. I couldn’t remember the last time I had coffee so late. She sat in my chair at the head of the table, which was fine. As much as I couldn’t figure out what was happening, there was a calming sense to it all. So calming.

“So where do Nikki and Ava live?” Olivia asked.

“An apartment about ten minutes from here. There’s only two apartment buildings in town. I’m sure your father would like to triple that, huh?”

“I don’t want to talk about that right now, Gavin.”

“I don’t think I can just forget about it. Because it’s a losing situation either way.”

“How so?”

“I can sell. I probably should. The garage is underwater. You see what I do. So if some rich guy shows up and wants to throw cash at me, how can I not take it? Toss the money into an account, live here, find something else to do. I’m sure I could wrestle your father into paying a lot more than what I should get. If he wants it that bad. Basic economics, darling.”

“That’s sexy when you talk so smart.”

I laughed. “Meaning I’m dumb?”

“No. Gavin. I didn’t…”

“Dirty hands, dirty clothes, I get it,” I said. “But I’m smarter than you think. So is everyone else in this town. So if I get rid of my shit, I get some cash. But I lose everything in this town. Or I stand my ground and live this life of balance. Do I pay the electric bill or do I pay the taxes on the building? You know?”

“You give a lot, Gavin.”

“It’s what I do. Nikki and Ava deserve better. I can’t give what they really want. So I give what they need.”

“What do they want?”

“Luke,” I said.

Olivia swallowed hard and nodded. “Damn.”

“There was a flicker of a moment when I thought maybe me and Nikki could… but there’s no way. She’s a sister to me and always will be. And every time I watch her fall and hurt herself I just feel more empty inside. She can’t help it. What would you do? She shows up at the garage and has no money to pay her rent. Is behind on daycare payments for Ava. Trying to work extra shifts at the diner to keep things going. And I have a bag of cash in the drawer.”

“That cash is to pay your bills for your business,” Olivia said.

“I know. But that cash could ease Nikki’s burdens. Which eases Ava’s. Which lets me keep my promise to my brother. To always take care of him. And I fucked up with him so I won’t fuck up with his family.”

Olivia reached across the table and touched my hand. She squeezed at it. She had a glistening in her eyes.

“You’re a really good person, Gavin. You deserve more. I want to help you.”

I took my hand away. “No. I don’t want anyone’s help, darling. Now tell me about your speech and whatever else is going on.”

I stood up and had to get away from the table for a second. I had to stop talking about Luke. The thing was… I had nobody to talk to Luke about. When I stood there and had to face the news, all eyes were on me. I was the one in front of it all. Not a single person was able to share that burden with me and for me. Until now. And that was a scary situation to be thrown into.

I walked to the backdoor in the kitchen and opened it.

Olivia stood up and took the thick blanket off her shoulders and draped it over the chair.

“I honestly don’t know…”

Jesse came barging into the house. Now that dog had a really nice doghouse, which he always used in the rain. I would never leave him outside to suffer in bad weather. Remember that. And at his age, Jesse would trot around in the rain, go to the bathroom, and then curl up in his doghouse until I let him back inside.

Tonight he had a sudden burst of energy.

As I turned, I saw Olivia step into the kitchen. Jesse was right there. His eyes went wide when he saw Olivia. His tail wagged like he was a puppy. And for the first time in a long time, Jesse jumped at someone. For a second I thought it was to protect the house. Or maybe he was finally losing his damn mind for good. But he barked - a happy bark - as his muddy paws slid along the front of Olivia’s shirt.

“Jesse!” I growled.

Olivia put her hands to the dog’s head and smiled. “It’s okay.”

Jesse barked again, tail going faster. He started to give her his paw, smacking her over and over, so excited.

It had been years since I’d seen him that excited about life.

In a matter of seconds, Olivia had gone from finally being dry from the rain to now being covered in wet mud.

I snapped my fingers. “Jesse, lay down.”

The dog flattened out on the kitchen floor. His tail kept wagging. His big eyes stared up at Olivia.

“I’m sorry, Liv.”

“No. I don’t care. I’ve never seen him active like that.”

“Me neither,” I said. “At least not for years.”

Jesse looked back at me.

Moving in on my woman, huh? Damn dog.

Jesse made a sighing growl and put his head down again.

Oliva crouched and petted his head. “That’s okay, Jesse. It’s just mud. It washes off.” She looked up at me. “Right?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Right.”

When Olivia stood up, I realized just how good Jesse had gotten her. Streaks of mud down the front of her shirt to her pants. I didn’t even want to know how much the outfit cost.

“I can give you a change of clothes,” I said. “Nikki has stuff here. Or one of my shirts. Uh… if you want to get changed. Laundry is in the basement.”

“Sure,” Olivia said.

“If you go upstairs, take a right. First door on your right is a spare bedroom. I’ll put some clothes at the door. Sorry about Jesse.”

“Gavin, seriously, I don’t care. I don’t want you to think of me any different, okay? What you’re seeing is the real me. Right here.”

“Covered in mud?” I asked.

“Life is dirty, Gavin. We both know that.”

Olivia then walked away from me.

I looked down at Jesse. He looked up at me without moving his head. His tail started to wag.

“So that’s all it took to bring you to life, huh? A beautiful woman?”

Jesse let out a bark without opening his mouth.

I nodded.

“Yeah, I know the feeling.” I looked forward at the chair where Olivia had been sitting. “I know the feeling. I feel alive too…”

 

* * *

 

I grabbed an old flannel from the back of my closet. I found a pair of sweatpants too that had ties so Olivia could try and see if they’d fit her. She was going to look really goofy but whatever, right? She’d get her expensive clothes washed and dried and then be back to her normal image.

Or at least she could sleep in the flannel and then raid Nikki’s stuff tomorrow. I was not going to go through the stuff she left behind in the other room. Last thing I needed was to find a picture of Luke or something private of hers.

So I exited my bedroom holding my clothes that were for Olivia’s body.

When I got to the spare bedroom, the door was half open.

I paused and thought about knocking, or just dropping the clothes.

Then I saw her.

She was standing in front of the dresser. I saw the black straps of her bra. Down the small of her back to her…

I turned my head.

No, Gavin, don’t do that. Don’t do it this way.

I swallowed and then lifted my right hand and knocked at the door.

“Hey, Olivia. I brought some-”

“Come in, Gavin,” she said, her voice soft.

I gritted my teeth. “Are you…”

“No,” she quickly said. “Come in. Please.”

I put my right foot into the room first and gently nudged the door open. It gave out a small squeak, just like every old door in the old house.

I had the flannel and pants in my right hand, clutched tight.

Olivia just stood there. Her clothes piled on the floor next to her.

I stopped for a moment and stared at her again.

The way her shoulders were slender, curling around to her arms. The perfect curve of her hips, the way her black panties seemed to match her black bra. The way her panties cupped her ass but not all the way.

I gritted my teeth again. It had been a little while since the last time I… you know.

I turned my head for a second and tossed the clothes to the bed.

My mind told me to talk. To say something. To try and break up the temptation and the silence.

But face it, we weren’t here for that.

Olivia looked back at me. The way her brown hair, still slightly damp, a little messy, sort of hid her face drove me wild. She then smirked, knowing damn well my eyes were taking a long walk up and down her body over and over. So much, so fast, if I had my boots on they would have had holes in the bottoms already.

Not to mention what was happening in my jeans. I was thick, filling up thicker, uncomfortable.

She reached back and grabbed at her bra. With a quick twist of her hands, the strap came undone. Olivia put her hands to her sides and looked forward again.

I stepped forward. I didn’t stop until I was right behind her. Able to reach out and touch her. Of all the places to begin this wild journey that I figured would only end in heartbreak, I touched her shoulders. It was like touching silk. My fingertips then ran down her back as she shivered against my touch. I eased down to where her bra strap had been closed. My hands demanded I touch her waist, feel those beautiful curves, which I did. I then leaned forward and pressed my lips against her right shoulder blade. I nuzzled my nose against her skin, smelling her, something so fucking beautiful it almost made me feel guilty.

Her hands reached back and grabbed for my jeans. Her fingers clutching at the front pockets, pulling. When my body collided with hers, she moved to her toes for a second and let out a purring sigh. She felt how hard I was because of her.

I kissed her again and again, trailing up to her shoulder and over just a little.

She tilted her head to the left, exposing her neck to me.

I growled gently as I kissed my way to her neck. My tongue then flicked against her skin, tasting her. My lips closed together and pulled back with a wet smack.

Olivia then turned her head, facing me.

There were a few seconds when we just stared at each other.

Fuck, the feelings were there. I felt something in my chest that I hadn’t felt in a long damn time.

My hands then moved up and around her body. I felt the swell of her breasts as my hands cupped her. She put her head back and groaned. Fuck. My hands squeezed, feeling her beauty in my hands. Her nipples were erect against my hands, their sweet roughness like my fingertips. I slowly moved my hands to strip her bra from her, watching it fall to the floor.

Olivia kept a firm grip on the pockets of my jeans. She didn’t want to get away. She didn’t want me to stop. And I had no fucking intentions of stopping. In some ways I was still pissed off at her. In other ways, I didn’t give a shit. This was about the moment we had in front of us.

Right outside the window there was a flash of lightning.

Olivia gasped and jumped.

“It’s okay, darling,” I whispered, my breath to her bare neck. My hands were spread wide against her belly, feeling her heavy breathing, keeping her body tight to mine. “I won’t let the storm get you.”

It felt like the right thing to say even if it had more than one meaning.

I took a step and turned Olivia so she was facing the mirror attached to the dresser. I saw her breasts in the reflection. Yeah, that’s where my eyes went. I was a guy after all. And she was fucking gorgeous. Her breasts were slender, not small, not big. Her nipples were tiny and puckered tight, like two very small fingers pointing forward.

I brought my right hand up and moved over her breast. With my middle finger I flicked at her nipple just to see and feel her reaction.

She groaned. She slithered her body against me. My dick was raging inside my jeans, wanting out. Wanting the attention Olivia’s sultry stare was promising.

My left hand then began its descent. Fingertips touching the rough laced edges of the panties. Sliding down inside them. Feeling warmth. Feeling smooth skin. Gritting my teeth for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

Olivia put her head back and turned her head. I kept my stare forward, memorizing every inch of her body in the reflection of the mirror with my eyes and memorizing every inch I was touching with my hands.

The moment my middle finger eased around her soft center, Olivia let out a whimpering sound. Then I felt her lips kiss my neck. My scruffy neck. She kissed it.

I pressed my finger against her clit, gently rubbing right to left.

Her entire body tightened as she bit at me.

I groaned under my breath.

She kept breathing, moaning, kissing and nibbling at me.

My finger moved down some more as I felt her warm entrance. She was as wet as the rain that was still coming down outside. I thrust my finger and she welcomed me. The wild heat and tightness that surrounded my finger as I sank into her. I made a wide circle and eased back out only to repeat the move again.

I loved watching the reflection of it all.

I had her. I fucking had her.

Her right hand moved from the pocket of my jeans right to the middle of my jeans. Her small hand grabbing at the oversized bulge.

“Oh, fuck,” she whispered, her breath hitting my neck.

I curled my lip. I added a second finger to her silk, pressing the two of them into her.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Gavin… take me…”

Her hand squeezed tighter at me. Grabbing, pulling, trying to stroke me over my jeans.

I took my fingers from her beautiful sex. I slid my other hand down from her breast. I eased my hands along her curvy hips, sliding her panties down just enough to expose all of her.

Then in a quick move, I spun her around.

She was then facing me, her hands grabbing at my shoulders.

Then in a fury as wild as thunder and lightning, I took a small step back and grabbed for the bottom of my shirt. I ripped it over my head as her hands grabbed at my jeans. It was as though we were racing against the clock, against the idea that we could think about what we were about to do and regret it.

My shirt hit the floor and I grabbed at Olivia’s hands, tearing them away from my jeans. I spun both of us around then so her back was toward the bed. She kicked her way out of her panties and I dropped my jeans and boxers.

The second her hand touched my hard thickness, I sucked in a breath.

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her away. My other hand then reached around and grabbed at her ass. I pressed forward, forcing her back, until she collapsed down to the bed. My hand, still holding her wrist, pinned that arm down.

I hovered over her, the woman called The Princess. She was beautiful, rich, and could have any man in the world. And yet she stared back at a dirty mechanic like me. Her left leg hooking to the back of my legs.

Biting her bottom lip, nodding.

“Fuck, darling,” I whispered.

“Now,” she purred. “Right now, Gavin.”

I moved down and brushed my lips against hers.

I brought my lower half down to her body. I felt her hand suddenly touch me below my stomach, her nails digging at me.

“Tell me what you want, darling,” I said. I kissed her lips. “Whatever you want… need…”

“I said right now,” she whispered and gently lifted herself to touch me.

I groaned as I thrust forward, sinking in to her.

She let out a cry as a crack of thunder smacked right above my house.

She threw her hands around me, clutching my back. My hands grabbed at her hips, feeling how perfect she was, inside and out.

Our mouths were open, touching, not kissing.

Our eyes were open, staring, realizing…

… something wild was happening for real.