I walk towards the office my cell vibrates and I yank it out of my pocket. I check the caller ID and roll my eyes. “Yes, Dad?”
“Well maybe if you would check in from time to time and let people know where you are, I wouldn’t be checking up on you. Where are you?” my twin brother, Tyke, asks, enough angst in his voice to create the next teen blockbuster.
I slip my sunglasses on and glance around at the mountain scenery. “I’m in Arizona.”
“What the fuck for?”
Having a brother so involved in your life is a pain in the ass sometimes. “Charlie Richardson, our financial investor, called with a killer investment opportunity and I had to jump on it right away. So, that’s what I’m doing … checking shit out.”
Tyke sighs into the phone. “And you didn’t think to call me and let me know. Jesus, man, I’ve been fucking worried about your stupid ass. It isn’t like you to take off for days and not let me know where you are. Why didn’t you call me back? I left you, like, fifteen messages.”
“I don’t have to tell you everything,” I argue.
“I know, but, damn. A little common courtesy would be nice. I thought one of our psycho fans finally lost their mind and had you tied to their bed somewhere like Misery.”
I laugh. “That might not necessarily be a bad thing. The groupies I bang are always smokin’ hot. A few days being someone’s sex slave could be kind of fun.”
“Trip …” My brother is a fucking worrywart. Most of the time he’s too serious for his own good, and it gets on my nerves. “I’m just asking next time you let me know. Anna was worried too.”
You would think Anna, our housekeeper, is my mother the way she frets over Tyke and I. “Yeah, okay. I’m sorry. This all happened so fast, I didn’t even cross my mind to tell you I was leaving. And I know it’s not a very good excuse, but I’ve been really busy from the moment I got here. Calling you slipped my mind. Tell Anna I’m sorry.”
“I will. So, tell me—what’s this business that’s got you so pumped, and how long are you going to be gone?”
“A motocross track, and I’ll be back in a few weeks. I need to stick around here and get a good feel for the place.”
“You know those are money-pits, right?”
I shake my head even though he can’t see me. “Not if the place has the right sponsors and they hold big events. There’s money to be made. Besides, you know how I like off the wall shit. This place is the perfect business for me.”
“But, Trip, this isn’t like buying a personal playground. It’s going to affect other people when you make a bad decision.”
“Are you saying I can’t handle running something like this?”
“No, with help, I’m sure you’ll be fine. What I am saying is that I know you. When you set your sights on something, you don’t stop until you get it—even if it’s not for the best. You aren’t very restrained.”
Shows how much he knows. I want Holly and I’ve showed nothing but restraint since I figured out who she is. I think that proves I can do anything to make this business work. I’ve pushed my own sexual desires to possess her out of the way in order to make this right. “That’s where you’re wrong, Tyke. I know I can do this.”
“How much are you buying the track for?”
I kick at the gravel with my toe. “I’m not buying it, exactly. It’s more like a bail-out loan, then I become a silent partner.”
“That sounds more your speed. Taking on a business is a lot of work.”
“I know that. I’m not a complete idiot. I know I can’t run something entirely by myself.”
“No one ever said you were. I think this is a smart move actually.”
I scratch the back of my neck. “You do?”
“Yeah. This band may not last forever.”
I raise my eyebrows. He’s never said anything like that before. It’s not like him. Tyke loves Black Falcon just as much as I do. “Why would you say that?”
He sighs into the phone. “Forget I said anything. I’m just talking crazy.”
“Am I missing something? Did Noel or Riff say something about the band breaking up?” I can hear the near panic on my own voice.
“No. I’m just saying we’re all starting to go in different directions, is all.”
“We are not. Everyone just needs a break. Once Noel and Riff get their fill of the chicks they’re with, it’ll all be out of their systems and things will get back to normal.”
“I hope so. Haven’t you noticed we hardly see them anymore?”
“Damn, dude, stop being so harsh. Give them time before you doubt them. They’ll bounce back. You’ll see.”
“I hope you’re right, baby brother.”
“Aren’t I always right? And stop calling me that. Who cares that you’re five minutes older. Big fucking whoop.”
Tyke laughs. “Obviously you do.”
“Whatever, man. I’ll call you later.”
“All right. Don’t forget to come up with beats for the new songs we were working on before you took off.”
“Will do,” is all I say before ending the call.
I shove my phone back in my pocket and continue across the gravel lot to the shop. When I step onto the porch I spot Holly through the window and I smile. The thoughts I’ve been having about how fucking fantastic she would look naked were confirmed this morning when I walked in on her in nothing but that tight, little birthday suit. I wonder if she’s thought about me since the other night in the bar. I didn’t leave anything to the imagination this morning when I gave her the full Trip show in the bathroom, so I bet she’s thinking about me now.
My morning was made when I heard that pretty mouth of hers say “cock”. I won’t lie and say that wasn’t fucking hot because it totally was. I can practically picture her on her knees begging to wrap her lips around my cock. My pants fit a little snugger as the image becomes clearer.
What the fuck am I doing? Damn it. Think of something else. I start counting off a beat like I do at our shows and then start humming Ball Busting Bitch as I open the door.
Holly’s gaze whips in my direction. “I’ve heard that song before.”
I instantly stop singing and raise an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? You like it?”
She shakes her head. “Not my kind of music. Besides, it got completely played out.”
I have to stop myself from busting out in a fit of laughter. If she only knew how sick of that song I am myself. Playing it nearly every damn day of my life gets a little old.
Finally, I grin at her and wink. “I know exactly what you mean.”
She quickly looks away and goes back to counting the money for her drawer. Her hair is loose today, falling over her shoulders in waves and her make-up is a little heavier than yesterday, reminding me of when I first spotted her in the nightclub. Even with that stupid gray uniform top—which makes her look more like a mechanic than anything else—she’s hot. There’s no fucking denying it.
She writes down the total when she’s done counting and she puts the pen in her mouth, effectively wrapping her soft lips around it, bringing back the vision of her blowing me. I know the simple gesture she’s doing with the pen isn’t sexual in any way, but try telling my fucking dick that. The motherfucker is twitching in my pants at the very sight of it.
Damn. Down, boy.
Holly glances up and catches me staring at her. “What?”
I pull her hand with the pen away from her mouth. “No distracting the teacher.”
Her eyes flit to the pen. “I don’t get it.”
“Men get distracted when a woman puts things in her mouth, especially when we imagine it’s our dick you’re sucking on,” I answer honestly. “If I’m going teach you how to hook a guy, then you need to know how we think.”
She rolls her eyes. “Not all guys are like that.”
“If it walks with a dick, and thinks with a dick … it’s a guy. Trust me on this. I am one, and I know how we operate. Sex rules us.”
Her lips twitch like she’s ready to laugh at me. “All right fine, oh wise one. Teach me.”
I walk around her, enjoying the free roam she is allowing my appraising eyes. This is going to be fun.
Trip pulls on the tops of my arms from behind me. “Put your shoulders back more when you stand.”
“This feels awkward.”
“It probably does, but men notice tits, and you’ve got an excellent set. Use them to your advantage.” He walks around assessing me. “There’s not much we can do with the uniform since Bill is so stuck on you wearing it, but we can figure out other ways to show off that hot body of yours.”
Surely there’s more to like about me other than that. “Jackson isn’t that shallow.”
Trip raises his eyebrow. “You’re talking about the same guy that left you to go after looser pieces of ass. Trust me, he’s a guy—we’re all shallow. Whatever you guys had before is over. We’re starting from scratch.”
I laugh. “At least you’re honest. It’s sort of refreshing.”
He shrugs his thick shoulders. “There’s no other way to be. Now, let’s work on flirting.”
I grin. “Oh, I can flirt, so we can skip that. I’ve already got that down.”
He fights back a smile. “Really?”
I throw my hands on my hips. “It worked on you at the club didn’t it?”
He steps in front of me and his eyes zero in on my chest. Both of his hands dart to my top button on my gray top and he releases it from its hole before moving on to the next one. “First of all, I was attracted to your banging body in that little black dress. It screamed, “Fuck me,” so that’s not flirting—that’s attention seeking. Believe me, I wasn’t the only one watching you shake your ass. I was just the only one brave enough to try and get with you even though you were there with another man.”
“You thought I was there with Max?” I ask even though it doesn’t surprise me. Max isn’t exactly the stereotypically homosexual male. There’s nothing feminine about him. People make the mistake that we’re an item all the time.
“Yep.”
“And you were what, going to steal me away from my date?”
Trip shrugs. “When I see something I want, I go after it. And that night I wanted you. That is until you let him drag you away from me. I figured it wasn’t worth the scene it would cause to kick his ass.”
I roll my eyes. “How do you know you wouldn’t have been the one on the receiving end of that ass-kicking? Max is a pretty strong dude.”
He gives me a pointed look. “If there’s one thing I know besides that I’m awesome in bed, is that I can fight.”
I sigh. “Okay, so you’re a badass—I get it. What’s the other reason you think I can’t flirt?”
He smiles. “I win the flirting debate because I believe it was me who came on to you first, so you can’t take credit for that.”
My brain attempts to wade through the drunken memories of a couple nights ago. “You may have started the dance, but I believe I’m the one who turned around to take it to that next level, allowing you to kiss me. Therefore I finished it. I get total credit for flirting with you first.”
He undoes the last button on my shirt. “No. Max dragged you away, effectively cutting us both off for the night. And Thank God for that. He deserves a fucking medal for performing a good deed. Can you imagine how awkward all this would be if we’d had crazy sex that night, only to meet up the very next day? That would’ve been a nightmare.”
I flinch. “Am I really that horrible that you would’ve regretted sleeping with me?”
Am I really that big of a bitch that people actually find me repulsive?
Trip tilts his head and slides his index finger under my chin. “You really have no clue how beautiful you are, do you?” When I shake my head, he takes a deep breath and then licks his lips. “Since you are oblivious as to what men see when they look at you I’m going to be blunt. I know myself well enough to know if I would’ve gotten a taste of that sweet little pussy of yours, I would have a full-on addiction. I could never maintain a purely professional relationship with you if that ever happens. I’ve tasted your lips, and that alone has me constantly thinking about you. I can’t even begin to image what being buried deep inside you would do to me.”
My eyes widen. No one has ever spoken to me like that before. It’s so dirty and primal, and … sexy. I ball my hands into tight fists at my side to keep them from reaching out to cling to him, but he’s right. Even if we find each other attractive, we can never act on it. It would ruin everything. His job, my family’s business, not to mention any chance I have of getting Jackson back—that would all be in danger. “You shouldn’t say things like that to people.”
Trip gazes into my eyes. “Why shouldn’t I? It’s the truth. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about that night. What it would’ve been like if Max hadn’t stopped us.”
Heat pools in my belly and all I can think about is tasting his mouth, and how much I want to do it again.
Gah! What in the hell am I thinking? I shouldn’t want that. I can’t want that. I want Jackson, right? He’s the guy I’m supposed to be with. Isn’t the guy you’ve known your entire life the safer bet? Max’s words about Trip being a tasty piece of danger ring in my mind. He is so right. Trip is dangerous, and tasty, and I do need to stay away from him. He makes me want things I shouldn’t with a guy I know isn’t going to be sticking around much longer.
Trip is a heartbreaker. I saw with my own eyes how easily he can move on to someone else. I know I get too attached when it comes to men. It might’ve been different if I never saw him again after a one-night stand, but now I know him, which only further confirms we can never be together.
As I stare into Trip’s eyes, I can see him struggling too. Even through all the outrageous flirting, I can tell he’s been trying to keep his distance and behave.
I take a step back and clear my throat, trying to rid us of the strange, sexual tension in the air. “Okay, what next?”
He shakes his head like he’s coming out of a daze. “Since you know flirting, let’s skip to the biggest flirt of them all. Give me your best fuck-eye.”
My lips pull into a tight line because I’m clueless as what he wants me to do. “My what?”
He folds his arms across his chest. “You know the look that says, “Hey, I wanna fuck your brains out.”
My lips twist and I start to make the most sensual face I can, but I can tell by the laugh he’s holding back that I look more like a dying duck than a sexy woman. “I suck at this. Let’s move on.”
Trip chuckles. “No. If you want a man to notice you, it’s important to nail the come hither look. It gives people the guts to approach if they know they won’t be rejected. Here, like this.”
He tips his head down and then lifts his chin, effectively giving me the smoldering look that the fictional, cartoon character gives in that one movie. I have to admit, it’s pretty damn good. There’s no doubt what that look means. It’s quite impressive he can turn it on so quickly.
“Trip …” I begin to tell him there’s no way I can do that.
“Shut up. I’m eye-fucking you. Don’t break my concentration,” he says without changing his expression.
I shake my head. “Well, not everyone is as good as you at that. We can’t all be sluts.”
The sexy look morphs into a concerned one. “Who said I was a slut?”
I roll my eyes. “Please. I saw how fast you rebounded from me at the club.”
One side of his mouth pulls down. “You caught that, huh?”
“Yeah, I did.”
He leans into me. “Just so you know, she was a lousy lay. I imagine you would’ve been a thousand times more fun.”
“Jeesh, thanks. That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“It would me. I’d be a happy man to know you like to think of me while getting pleasured.”
I shake my head. “You and that mouth.”
“What?” he laughs.
“Well, it’s dangerous. Max was right about you.”
“You and Max talk about me, huh?”
I shrug. “A little.”
“Girl talk?”
He eyes snap in my direction. “What do you mean by that?”
“Come on. It’s not like it’s a huge secret that he’s gay.”
I narrow my eyes. “It is around here. How did you know?”
I quickly think back, and there’s not one moment I can recall where I may have disclosed Max’s secret.
“It was an easy guess. When he acted all put-off when I asked if he was your man, I knew right then he was probably gay. No guy in his right, heterosexual mind would be turned off when thinking about tapping what’s between your legs.”
I know in his twisted brain that was probably a compliment, but his vulgarity won out, making it a feel a little sleazy. “Thanks … I think. Max is my best friend, and I guess if we are pretending to date, you should know that.”
Trip nods. “You’re right. We should really get to know each other to make this feel real. What else can you tell me?”
I bite the inside corner of my lower lip. “There’s not much to know, really.”
“How about sexual history. Couples usually talk about that pretty early on in a relationship. If Jackson says something to me about it, I want to be prepared.”
My stomach squeezes for a brief second like we’ve just hit the first big drop on a roller coaster. I hate the idea of Trip knowing I’ve only slept with one man my entire life, and it just happens to be the one guy I’m trying to win back. I’m sure it’ll give him a good laugh, knowing I’m such a prude. He’ll never let me live it down. But in order for us to make this lie work, I should at least be honest with him. “Only one.”
There’s a look of surprise on his face. “Really? Wow.”
“Why would that surprise you?” I’m a little offended he would believe for a second I’m an easy lay.
“At the club, the way you moved, that said to me you had volumes of experience.”
Whatever. That’s like judging a book from its drunken cover. “Just because a girl dances a certain way doesn’t mean she’s been around a lot.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t be so quick to tramp-stamp a girl, but you have to admit, the way you moved that night wasn’t virginal.”
I fold my arms. “Just because I said I’ve only been with one person doesn’t mean I’m not experienced.”
Trip reaches out and runs his fingers down the bare skin on my arms. “Believe me, sweetness, you’re inexperienced until you’ve been with me. If I fucked you, I’d take you to a whole other level.”
My mouth drifts open and I squeeze my thighs together, trying to relieve the tingle between my legs. The way those naughty words roll off his tongue makes me wonder what other wicked things it can do.
Trip’s gaze holds mine. It’s like he’s waiting for permission to pounce on me. I think I want this. I’ve been thinking more about him today than I have Jackson. All his teasing is driving me crazy.
I open my mouth to drive deeper into the subject of us having some crazy-random sex together, the screen door shuts, jerking me attention away from Trip. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
Jackson Cruze stands in my doorway with his black and white riding gear on and smiles a smile so beautiful it makes me nearly forget the heat I was feeling with Trip only moments ago. I pull my arm away from Trip’s touch and shake my head. “No. Come on in. I’m glad you came.”
“Me too,” Jackson says as I step around the counter and allow his eyes to roam over my body. Remembering Trip’s coaching, I allow my shoulders to fall back and arch my back a bit. It totally works as I catch Jackson’s hungry eyes inspecting my breasts beneath my tank-top. “You look great. There’s something different about you and I can’t get over how amazing you look, Holly.”
Trip clears his throat and then throws his arms around my shoulders in a possessive manner. “You better learn how to get over it really fast. She’s mine now, and I don’t appreciate you staring at her like that.”
I smack Trip’s washboard abs. “Stop it. Jackson and I are just friends. He’s moved on, just like I have.”
Trip’s eyes burn into mine. “I know you have, baby, but I don’t like old friend you used to fuck hanging around you. Don’t want them getting any ideas that they can have a taste of what’s mine now.”
“Trip!” I scold him. “Be nice.”
Trip drops his gaze on me and tilts my chin up before planting a kiss on my lips. I close my eyes and decide not to fight him on this as I relax and allow his tongue entrance into my mouth. Everything going through my mind about how to play this in front of Jackson fades away. Jackson clears his throat now and my eyes snap open as the not so subtle sound reminds me this little show is for an audience of one.
Trip grins when he pulls back. “That’s just a reminder of what you got last night. No playing nice with the douchebag over there. If he tries to touch you, I’ll break his fingers.”
Before Trip even fills me in on the next step in the plan, he heads out the front door. I flinch when the screen door bangs shut behind him. I know he’s playing the role of jealous boyfriend, but damn if that kiss didn’t feel real.
I bite my lip and turn towards Jackson who is studying me, an odd look in his eye. “So that’s who you’re with now, huh? He doesn’t seem like your type, Holl.”
I narrow my eyes. “What do you know about my type?”
Jackson takes a step towards me. “I know some overpowering asshole like that isn’t for you. You’re better suited with a guy like me.”
“What makes you think you’re so much better than Trip? He’s never cheated on me, which is a lot more than I can say for you.”
“I’m beginning to see what I huge mistake that was. I don’t like seeing you with someone else.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Well, that’s just too damn bad. You should’ve thought about that before you decided it was a good idea to sleep with other women behind my back.”
Jackson nods. “You’re right. I was an idiot, but your new boyfriend is never going to give me the chance to make it up to you and earn your love back.”
I tilt my head confused. “You’re only saying those things to me because you’re jealous and don’t like that I’ve found someone else. Besides, Trip doesn’t own me. I can talk to whoever I want, whenever I want.”
“He’s not an idiot, Holl. He can feel the connection between us. He isn’t going to let you be alone with me long. But, I’ll tell you one thing Trip’s got his signals crossed on.”
“What’s that?”
He steps even closer and reaches up and touches my cheek. “What we had was never just fucking.”
My legs grow weak and I fall forward into his waiting arms. It’s nice to have confirmation that I actually still mean something to Jackson, even though he became an asshole and pretended like what we had was nothing.
“Jackson—” Before I have a chance to say anything else, he leans in to kiss me. I push my hand into his chest. This feels too fast—plus, how’s it going to look if I’m supposedly dating Trip. I can’t let Jackson have me again so easy. After what he did to me, he needs to suffer like I did. “Don’t.”
“You can’t be serious about that joker, Holl? Come on. We belong together. You know that. One kiss, for old times’ sake.”
He tries again, only this time I push him back a little harder. “I mean it, Jackson. I’m with Trip.”
He grabs my hips, and tries to pull me into him. I need to get out of here before I let him gain the upper hand—like he always does—and completely ruin everything. If I ever get back together with him, I need to be in charge this time around.
I push him away again. “No, Jackson. It’s not going to be that easy. You hurt me and I don’t trust you anymore.”
Jackson drops his arms to his side. “I deserve that. I’m going to get you back, Holl. I’ll be damned if I let another man take what’s mine.”
I step away from him and lock my gaze with his. “Who is to say he hasn’t taken it already.”
I don’t give Jackson a chance to say another word. I can’t risk standing here and allowing him to call bullshit after the plan to make him suffer is already in motion. I turn and walk away.
Jackson calls my name, but I don’t bother looking back.
I take a deep breath once I’m on the porch, and am thankful for the space. I need to clear my head and wrap my mind around what the hell just happened in there. Shit went from zero to sixty too fucking fast. My hand rubs my forehead. I need to find Trip and find out what I need to do next. Hopefully I didn’t screw things up by pushing him away so harshly.
As soon as my feet hit the gravel in the parking lot, I spot Dad coming out of the garage where we keep extra bikes. He looks worse today. His skin has a sort of grayish tone to it and he moves like he’s about ninety instead of forty-seven.
He needs to see a doctor soon.
His feet shuffle over the gravel and smiles the moment he spots me. “Hey, honey. Trip is in garage gearing up to test our track for the first time. Do you mind going out with him? He’ll need your expertise. I already hooked him up with some gear.”
I nod. “Sure thing. He’s who I’m looking for anyhow.” We pass each other as we head in opposite directions and I turn towards Dad as he goes by. “Jackson Cruze is in the office.”
Dad tilts his head. “You don’t say. What’s he want?”
I shrug. “He asked me last night if he could come by and ride.”
Dad’s eyes narrow with suspicion. “You sure he’s just here for that and not you.”
“Dad,” I say, dragging out his name. “Jackson and I are over.” Panic hits me as I realize my dad is about to walk in there with my ex who now believes I have a new tattooed, sexy boyfriend. “But, he does think I’m sort of dating Trip.”
Dad scratched his head. “Why would he think that?”
“Because Trip and I made Jackson believe we’re a couple.”
His lips twist. “Why would Trip agree to that?”
“We ran into Jackson at the restaurant last night. After I filled Trip in, he came up with a brilliant plan to make Jackson jealous by pretending to date each other.”
He rubs his face. “Honey, I know you’ve been in love with Jackson for a long time, and he hurt you real bad, but this seems like an awfully dangerous way to go about getting his attention. Sometimes things that start out as a game can get very serious and very out of hand quickly when it comes to playing with people’s hearts.”
I take a step towards him and throw my arms around his thin shoulders. “We’ve got it all under control, Dad. Don’t worry. I promise no one will get hurt.”
He sighs into my hair. “I can’t help but worry. You’re my baby. I don’t like to see you upset.”
I hug him tighter. It’s nice to know at least one person in this world loves me.