Chapter Seventeen
Rusty tightened her ponytail, pulled down her mask to stop the dust from getting in her nose and mouth, and cranked up the stereo. Choosing a coarse sandpaper, she started smoothing out the now dry body filler on the door panel she’d repaired the day before. It needed to go to the painters in the morning, and she also had a car booked in after lunch. With Alex busy on another car and Piper stuck in the office showing their new part-time office manager the ropes, they were a man down.
She’d planned to have lunch with Reid, but with how frantic it was here today, she’d just sent him a text to cancel. He’d texted back that he’d bring something to her.
That had made her stupidly happy. She’d seen him that morning, but already she missed him. She was turning into one of those girls. What self-respecting, independent woman missed their man after only a few hours apart? Humiliating. If Piper ever found out, she’d never hear the end of it.
But there was nothing she could do about it. She was addicted to the man, and the more she learned, the more time she spent with him, the more frequent she needed a Reid fix. “Jesus.”
She groaned and forced her thoughts back to her work. She couldn’t spend all morning like some sad, loved-up teenager waiting for her boyfriend to show up. Shaking it off, she directed her thoughts to the job at hand, she tuned everything out around her and started sanding.
But then the memory of a very different kind of job swam through her mind, a far more pleasant one, one that was accompanied by Reid’s low moans, his long fingers buried in her hair…
Okay, it wasn’t working, especially not with the delicious way her body ached. She still felt him between her thighs, remembered the way he’d moved inside her that morning, after she’d had him in her mouth. The intense way he’d stared into her eyes. The way his voice grew rough, almost harsh, as he’d whispered his dirty commands.
But her favorite part—the deep, guttural sound he’d made as he’d come, as if he couldn’t believe it was happening, as if nothing had ever felt as good. No one had ever felt as good. The man had quickly learned what she liked, shown her what she needed, and took immense pleasure in giving it to her.
She’d spent every night except Wednesday, when he’d had to work late, in his bed. Working through her list of firsts. Jesus, the man knew how to fuck. And that mouth, not only did he know how to use it, the filthy shit that came out of it—God, she loved it.
Things were moving fast, but she didn’t have any intention of slowing it down. She couldn’t get enough of him, the taste of his skin, the sound of his voice, the way he touched her, the way he groaned her name when she took him into her mouth. She smiled to herself. The way he called her Foxy, sometimes serious, sometimes with amusement shining in his eyes.
She was a goner. She’d fallen hard for the man and there was nothing she could do about it, nothing but ride it out and hope like hell she didn’t crash into a barrier at a hundred miles an hour and explode into a fiery wreck. Maybe that was on the overly dramatic side, but she got the feeling losing Reid wouldn’t be easy to come back from.
And definitely not something she wanted to be thinking about.
Running her hands over the door panel, she changed to a finer grade sandpaper to finish it off, and continued to work, dust coating her arms and clothes. She was just finishing up when the music suddenly dropped in volume. Turning toward the door, she saw her brother standing there, another suit with him. Deke offered her a grin. “Rusty.”
Brushing her hands on her shorts, she pulled off her mask and grinned back. “What are you doing away from your desk? I thought you were chained to that thing?”
He just shook his head at her, then motioned to the dude standing beside him. He was familiar, and just as recognition hit, her brother confirmed it. “You remember Brian Jamison, right?”
Rusty had to struggle to keep her jaw clamped shut and not let it fall open. She hadn’t talked to this asshole since her prom night. The last thing this douche bag had said to her, well screamed really, was “call off that crazy bitch.” Alex had been chasing him with a chair, swinging wildly, trying to get in a second shot. It was like saying his name out loud the other night to Reid had somehow summoned the piece of shit. He’d slithered out from whatever hole he’d been in and had come to darken her door. Rusty crossed her arms. “Yep, I remember.”
Deacon gave her a funny look, brows lifting at her icy tone. “Well, he might have some business to bring your way. He has a car that I’m sure you’d love to get your hands on.”
Brian smiled at her, fucking smiled, like they were old pals. “Hey, Rusty. Good to see you again.” His piggy little eyes moved over her body, hovering at her breasts, before landing on her mouth. He licked his lips. “I’ve thought of you a lot over the years.”
She took her time, looking him up and down as well, making sure he knew she’d found nothing to impress her. “Yeah?”
He flushed, shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, often.”
The years had not been kind. His suit didn’t hide the belly he’d gotten sitting at a desk. Obviously working out hadn’t been much of a priority. Fucking weasel. “Can’t say I’ve thought of you at all,” she replied, smiling broadly.
His grin tightened, like she’d pissed him off. Was this guy for real?
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He ran a hand through his prematurely thinning hair. “Deacon tells me West’s is the place to bring my car. No one does it better.”
Crossing her arms, she shook her head. “Sorry, can’t fit you in, Bri.”
Deke narrowed his eyes at her, but the sound of Alex’s purple Viper tearing into the parking lot out front, back from picking up a part she needed, distracted him. He cleared his throat. “I’ll let you two talk business. I’ll just be out here.” Then he strode out to see his fiancée.
Brian the worm took a step closer. “It’s been a long time.”
“Not long enough.” She pointed to the door. “Turn around and get gone, asshole. I can’t believe you had the nerve to come here.”
“Come on, Rust. It’s been a long time, water under the bridge. I made a mistake.” He threw up his hands. “Sorry, okay?”
“Sorry? Are you shitting me?” She shook her head. “Get the hell out of here before I sic Alex onto you.”
He didn’t get the message and moved even closer, right into her personal space. “I’ve regretted what happened that night all these years. I can admit I messed up. But I want the opportunity to apologize properly.”
This guy was nuts if he thought anything he could say would make up for what he’d done. “And how do you think you’re gonna do that?”
He gave her another once-over and rubbed his hand across his mouth. She actually shuddered. “Let me take you out. Show you a good time.”
“I seem to remember your idea of a good time was thirty seconds of heavy breathing and grunting, then whooping it up with your friends and exchanging money. I’ll pass, thanks.”
His jaw tightened, and he grabbed her arm. “I’m trying to apologize here. Why are you being such a bitch?”
She looked down at where he held her arm. “Take your hand off me.”
Instead of letting go, he held on tighter. “Look, if things go the way I want, I’ll be working for your brother soon. I don’t want anything to mess that up. If you open your mouth, you’ll screw up my chances. Why don’t you stop being difficult and accept my apology?”
“I said let go.”
“Jesus, Rusty, you’re still as hot as you were back then, more so. Let me take you out. Show you how sorry I am. Show you you’re not the only one that’s gotten better with age. What do you say?”
“I say, let me the fuck go. Now.”
The sound of boots on the concrete floor came from the door, and Rusty glanced over Brian’s shoulder in time to see Reid walk in, face murderous, fists clenched at his sides. The brown bags in one hand, that she guessed were lunch, fell to the floor with a dull thud. He’d heard every word, she could see it in the set of his shoulders and the murderous gleam in his now impossibly dark eyes.
Brian twisted to see who she was looking at, but still held onto her, no intention of letting her go till he got what he wanted. “We’re just about finished talking business here. Why don’t you wait outside? She won’t be long.” He dismissed Reid, turning back to her.
Rusty stood frozen, gaze locked on Reid.
“Take your hands off my woman, and maybe I’ll let you walk out of here.”
Brian stiffened. “Your woman?” A smirk lifted the stupid bastard’s lips, and still he didn’t let go. “She didn’t mention you. Sorry, bro.”
She knew the guy had shit for brains, but the moron obviously had a death wish as well. She didn’t know if he thought his association with Deke would save his ass, or if he was just that stupid.
Reid said no more, grabbed Brian by the shirt, hauled him back, and slammed him against the wall. The tools hanging beside them clattered and a couple dropped to the floor. “You didn’t take your hands off her.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Brian gasped, feet all but dangling above the ground. “Rusty and I have a history. We were close once. I just wanted to catch up.”
“Reid. Let him go.” She grabbed his arm. “He’s not worth it.”
Reid didn’t look at her, rage rolling off him, every vein and tendon bulging in his neck and forearms. “He touched you. No one touches you, especially not this piece of shit.”
Brian turned a blotchy, ugly shade of red. “What did she tell you?”
“Everything,” Reid gritted out.
“Did she say she didn’t want it? Because I can tell you now, she was gagging for it.”
Reid yanked him forward and slammed him against the wall, cutting off the crap pouring from his mouth. Then his fist drew back and plowed into the shorter man’s jaw.
“Reid! Jesus. Stop.” Rusty tried to grab at him, but strong hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her away.
“What the hell’s going on?” Deacon said, pulling her further back.
Brian tried to take a swing, but Reid easily dodged it and slammed his fist into his jaw. Brian went down hard, but Reid didn’t stop. He straddled the guy and continued to hit him. Deacon let her go and jumped in, dragging Reid off, or trying to.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She also couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. Now Deacon and Reid were wrestling on the ground as Reid kept trying to get at Brian. The man in question had dragged himself out of the way, leaning against the wall, holding his nose, while blood pissed out all over his expensive suit. One of his eyes was already swelling shut, and his lip was split.
Rusty got in beside Reid and her brother. “Reid, you need to calm down. Now.”
His head twisted toward her, gaze black with rage, breath puffing in and out of his lungs. He shrugged off Deacon, but her brother stayed close, ready to stop him again if need be. Reid looked down at Brian cowering on the ground, then at her. She couldn’t read the expression on his face, but it wasn’t good.
She grabbed his arm. “Reid…”
He shrugged her off as well. “I need to leave.”
Deacon stepped forward. “Yeah, you sure the fuck do.”
Rusty spun to face her brother. “Mind your own damn business, Deke.”
Her brother ignored her. “I don’t want you seeing my sister anymore. Just stay the hell away from her,” he said, jaw tight.
“Deacon!” She stepped in front of him and tried to talk to Reid. “Ignore him. Come on. Let’s go to my place and talk.”
Deke tried to shove her behind him again. “He’s got an anger problem. Shit, if I hadn’t been here…”
Alex sneered down at Brian, who was watching the drama unfold. “He more than deserved what he got.”
Deacon stared at his fiancée. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Rusty ignored them as Alex started telling her brother the whole nasty story. Instead she focused on Reid, and the stricken look on his face. “Reid, please.”
He shook his head. “I have to go.” Then he strode from the workshop and out the door. She ran after him, but he was already in his car, firing up the engine by the time she got to him.
He backed up without looking at her—even when she called his name—and drove off without a backward glance.