Chapter 5
TYSON
She looks so peaceful snuggled into my feathery comforter; her strawberry blonde hair sprawled across the pillow and part of her face. I have been standing here for much longer than I would even like to admit to myself.
I have an insatiable need to know her. When I woke up this morning I contacted my guy to begin looking into her past and family. One can never be too careful nowadays. With my family’s amount of money and position in society, you never know when a girl wants to be with you or the privilege I come with.
The sound of my laptop email dings, informing me that I have a new message. I take another look, trying to engrave how she looks in this moment into my mind, before I force myself to go back into the other room.
It’s an email from my guy. He works fast and efficiently. That’s why I keep him on payroll. He is also very good at covering up scandal before it breaks out.
The email is full of information on a Texas gambling ring, her family’s ranch out in Three Rivers, and a newspaper article showing a girl in her cowgirl boots and prom dress stomping away from a truck. This must have been what she was referring to when she discussed her famous moment. I can’t help but chuckle at the picture. Good to know she’s stubborn with everyone, not just me.
Hearing some movement from my room, I close my laptop and head back to my spot at the door. As I watch her sleep, I know what I have to do. I am an asshole. One day she will forgive me and realize I did it for us.
I see her eyes begin to flutter open, and then she sits up, confusion taking over her features. “Good morning.” I lean against the doorframe, trying to look collected when I am anything but.
My large T-shirt hangs off one of her bare shoulders, her hard nipples pointing through the thin fabric. In this moment, I wish I hadn’t placed my shirt over top of her. I would have loved to see those perky tits bounce up at me. The thought has my dick jumping to life.
Looking down, she sees my shirt and her eyes dart to mine. “Why am I in your shirt?” she demands.
She looks so fucking sexy right now it physically hurts. I shift to stand upright, in hopes to casually adjust myself before my pants strangle my erection.
“I figured you didn’t want to sleep in your puke-covered clothes.” I shrug like it is nothing.
Her hands swing up to cover her eyes and she falls back into my bed.
Two of her fingers widen, allowing part of her beautiful blue eyes to shine through as she turns her head toward me.
“Please don’t say I threw up on you, too?”
I can’t help but laugh. She seems genuine and naturally down-to-earth. The calm before the storm, I remind myself.
“No, Country.” I can’t help the smile as I begin the start of the banter.
Sitting up, she flips her long wild hair over to one shoulder, exposing her shoulder to me again. It’s at that moment I can tell she notices she is only wearing my shirt.
“Why am I not wearing panties?” she demands, looking worried and concerned.
“Don’t worry, we didn’t do anything last night.” My dick has been reminding me all night. “You refused to wear my clothes up until you got sick on your bra and panties, too.”
“Oh God.” She moans in embarrassment.
I clear my throat, trying to stifle a laugh at how adorable she is right now.
“Don’t worry, you can make it up to me this weekend at a dinner I need to go to.” I walk toward her and give her a kiss on the forehead. That was easier than I thought. Maybe I don’t have to be that asshole. “You want a cup of coffee?”
“I’m not going to dinner with you.”
Why must she be so difficult?
I press my lips together, trying to hide my harsh tone. “Yes, you are. Sugar, cream, or both?” I keep my face void of any expression.
“What part of no don’t you understand?” She stands up and my shirt grazes her thighs, leaving way too much to my active imagination. I want to dig my fingers into those legs as she bucks on top of my cock.
“Listen, Country, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
“Stop calling me ‘Country!’” she yells, flustered. Her hands go up into the air, raising that damn T-shirt of mine. It is almost high enough that I can see that pink pussy of hers. Believe it or not, I didn’t even take a peek of it last night when changing her. I was a true, noble gentleman. But now, I’m kicking my ass for that. What I wouldn’t give to have the luxury of worshiping her body right now.
“Are you listening to me?” Her voice brings my attention back to her; her hands are on her hips and her lips are pressed hard together. Her thick, full lips. The same ones that stole my damn potato. I force myself to stop there before I start to imagine her doing bad things to me with those lips.
“Lady’s choice.” I throw her words back at her. “Easy or hard way.”
“I don’t have time for this.” She begins moving toward the door, which I am blocking. “I have a headache and need a shower.”
She stops in front of me, waiting for me to move. I don’t budge.
“Just remember, this was your choice.” I give her three seconds to change her mind.
“Come here.” I lead her toward my computer as she stomps behind me.
“Want to be famous a second time?” I am about to open up my pictures of her hugging my porcelain god in my bathroom, when she was fully clothed, and all of the information I have on her family. But my hand seems to freeze just as I reach the computer. I look back at her, and she is pissed. I can’t blackmail her just to get my way. I just can’t do it.
I’m not about to let her go, but I will not allow myself to stoop this low. She is not another Andrea in my world. She is nothing like them.
Detouring, I go and grab a longer jacket for her to cover herself up with. No one gets to see what’s underneath the jacket but me. “I’ll pick you up at four on Friday.”
Standing by the door, the jacket is extended in my hand. “My driver is ready and waiting for you. He will drive you home.” I can’t help my straight, rigid stance. Her eyes lock with mine, and I can feel my insides wanting to cave.
She huffs, giving me a what-the-fuck look before stomping toward me, grabbing the jacket, and wrapping it around herself. She gives me a look as if to ask if her wearing the jacket is better now, the anger simmering through her cannot be missed.
“Much better.” I tease myself by placing a light kiss on her head.
I open the door just as I see my father’s hand in the air, ready to knock at my door. He clears his throat, and instead covers his mouth with his hand, looking awkward standing unannounced at my door.
In a gesture of defeat, I tilt my head back. What horrible luck. When I look down I see Jewels’s stormy eyes widen before she gives me her signature eye roll. I should pull her into me to introduce her to my father but I’m too shocked. Believe it or not I have never had my father walk in on me when I was with a girl, and definitely not one that looked like she was doing the walk of shame. But damn those legs, I want them wrapped around me.
Oh shit. She briskly walks away, never turning her head to look back at me. “Jewels, four pm!” I yell at her before she lifts up her hand to flip me the bird. Yeah, I probably deserve that. Standing, staring at her backside, my dad, William, pushes against my shoulder as he slides into the entrance.
This girl is fucking with my head. I pour myself two fingers of whiskey before I head over to the window to check out the view.
“Tyson,” he scolds, referring to me drinking in the morning.
I turn around to see my father. He has a look of determination plastered on his face.
“Can you please tell me what is going on?” I grit it out, trying to remain civil. It’s not his fault I’m in a shitty mood now.
He eyes me for a second, taking in what I am saying.
“I need your help with Peter Flint.” Immediately, my ears perk up upon hearing my youngest brother’s biological father’s name.
“What about? He’s going to be in jail for a few more years.” I flop down on the couch, waiting for the important stuff to be dropped on me so I can begin to bury myself into whatever I need to do. This will be a good distraction until I figure out what the hell I am going to do with Jewels. I shake my head, realizing how low I was willing to go for a date with her. Fuck. All I have to do is call up any of the girls I have taken out before and they would jump at the chance.
“He seems to be missing from under my watch.” I look up to see if I am hearing this right. I know what that means. He was never in jail; it must have been some fabrication of a lie he created with the help of the brotherhood.
My brothers and I are all members of this elite society because of the generosity of our father. He paid for our one-time membership. When this society was created a hundred years ago it was a way to help each other succeed in life. Each of us are like stepping stones in helping each other thrive. We all use the society to get where we want. If anyone ever needs help one just asks for a favor. It is as simple as that. The only catch is that you cannot turn down a request for help. No matter how high the stakes might be. If outsiders knew what we were doing I’m sure they would claim that the brotherhood ambition is over the top. It just seems like good business practice to me, with a flare of excitement.
“I suspect he may be back in Three Rivers.”
The town name Three Rivers stays on repeat in my head. Jewels is from there. It could give me a good reason to check her out right from the source. Fuck, what am I thinking? I’m going to stalk the poor girl’s past? The thought stays tempting in my mind.
“I’ll do it, but I’m bringing Jewels as a date on Friday.”
His look is blank, as if he is trying to connect the dots, then realization hits him. His eyebrows furrow. “No,” he says flatly.
I stand, trying to make my father see I am his equal. Everyone seems to see my leadership ability but him.
“You know the rules,” he tells me.
Since when have I ever listened to rules?