by Ashley Kay
My footsteps light, I stop by my office to leave my things and walk down to Greyson’s. Pushing the door open, he’s seated at his desk, hands behind his head.
“Like what you saw? I didn’t take you for a voyeur?” I say before taking a seat on the couch.
He wrinkles his nose. “No offense, P, but I would rather cut out my own eyes than watch you and Savy do whatever it is you’re doing. I just hope she knows what she’s getting herself into.”
I sit up straight. “What does that even mean? We talked about this. I won’t hurt her.”
He leans forward, picking at a nail. “What do you think I mean? You have a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ mentality, at least that’s what I heard about you since you refused to talk to me yourself.”
Rage fills my belly. I thought he and I had come to some sort of truce, but that’s clearly not the case here.
“So that’s how you view me? Some playboy that will just dip my dick into any willing female and then skip out like it’s a family brunch after a night of binge drinking?” I stand up and plant myself in front of his floor-to-ceiling windows. While the sunrise should have pacified me, I’m completely clouded by my brother’s perception of me.
“Dude, don’t deny that’s who you turned into over the years. I mean, you can do whatever you want, but with Savy, I draw the line. I know we already talked about this earlier, but I didn’t want to say all that in front of Theo. I’m just trying to protect my friend.”
“You don’t think I can? Or that I will? Jesus, Greyson, I’m not a monster. You know nothing of my life the last seven years, but you automatically default to what you might read in tabloids about the Lee brother in Manhattan up to no good.” Shaking my head, I shove my hands in my pockets, rocking back on my heels.
I eye him in the reflection from the window and watch as he pushes up on his hands, now hovering over his desk, fingers splayed out. “Do you blame me? It wasn’t uncommon to see an article about you with a new woman on your arm every weekend. And now that you’re fucking one of my good friends, I’m supposed to just ignore that? I swear to god, you hurt her, I will kill you.”
Spinning around, I stalk to his desk. Placing both my hands palms down across from his, I get in his face. “Are you jealous? Is it because you want her for yourself?”
Eyes widening, he sits back down in his chair. “No, no, it’s not that. At all. It’s just … you’re leaving and going back to Manhattan next year and I don’t want to see her hurt again by some guy she falls for. And she will fall for you, she probably already has. Savy is one of the good ones, and if there’s any chance you feel nothing for her, then you need to just back off.”
The anger that coils low in my belly dissipates to a shallow hum. I understand his protectiveness over her because I feel the same desire to shield her, even though she’s proven she can take care of herself. I will not compete with him. He can be her friend, but I’m the one who wants to protect her heart. I can’t help my reputation back in New York. I was in a dark place and now I’m finally reverting to what feels like the real me. The one with a heart, not a vapid black hole.
“Don’t worry, I have her back as well. But tell me this, Grey, are you protecting her, or just yourself, by keeping her in the dark about the demons from your past?”
18
SAVANNAH
Back at the training yard, Evelyn is waiting for me.
“Why, Savannah, you look different today.”
Smiling, I hand her a practice bow and arrows with my face averted. “What do you mean? I believe I’m wearing what I wore the last time we trained.” I can’t face her, she’ll see the ridiculous smile that’s been super-glued to my face. Finally, I turn, carving out what I hope is a neutral expression.
She examines me—her wrinkles more prominent, a quirk to her thin mouth. She taps her fingers to her cheek before snapping them. “I know what it is!”
Startled, I drop an arrow. Reaching down to pick it up I reply, “What is it, Evelyn, stop keeping me in suspense.” I can’t help the laughter from escaping.
“You’ve met someone.”
My eyes widen. She has a wicked gleam in hers.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” I again try to hide my face from her prying eyes.
“Don’t you hide from me, missy. You can’t fake a glow like that on your face.” Ahh hell. I should’ve known I couldn’t keep anything from Evelyn. She’s a bloodhound. She can sniff out a lie faster than a rat can sniff out fresh cheese.
Twisting to look at her, I just beam. “There may be someone that I’ve been hanging around with.” Hanging … banging, same difference.
“Pish posh, you have been doing more than just hanging around, Savannah Martin. Is he good?” her eyebrows wiggle like she has caterpillars on her face, and my jaw gapes. I’m not about to go into any more details about Preston with this old bat, no matter how entertaining it is to watch her meddle in someone’s life. I don’t have time to say anything else before the man of the hour walks up to us.
“Is who good and good at what?”
His deep, husky voice makes my insides gooey. When I spin around, Preston is standing off to the side, arms crossed, a slightly amused expression on his face that only stresses that infamous dimple. Feeling my ears pink, I’m thankful my hair is down, but it doesn’t stop my face from flushing tomato red.
“No one and nothing, we weren’t talking about anyone.” Grabbing my bow, I hurry away to an empty lane, waiting for Evelyn to dutifully follow.
Preston’s laugh is low, and I can feel it in my belly. Damn him for being so sexy. Looking behind me, I’m glad I did. He’s wearing low-slung jeans, boots that aren’t laced all the way up, and a sinfully tight black long-sleeved shirt rolled up, showcasing his muscular forearms.
Even though I saw him this morning, it still has the same impression, like I’m seeing him for the first time. Evelyn notices as well and has her hand on his arm, chatting away about who knows what. Being caught talking about him and what we have been doing—and often—was not on my to-do list today.
“Evelyn! We have to practice!” Exasperated, I hold my arms up and flop them back down to my sides. Both of them come walking towards me and I inwardly groan.
“Montana, Evelyn here has been telling me how great a teacher you are. I told her you were a master of your craft.” The suggestiveness of his tone makes me glare at him in mock annoyance. I want to smack him and kiss him at the same time. The devilish smirk that deepens his heart-breaking dimple will undo me.
“Glad you’re getting to know my clients, but if you will excuse us, we have work to do.”
“That’s fair. Meet me afterwards? My place?” His brilliant blue eyes are sinfully wicked, like a little boy staring in the window of a candy shop with a million bucks in his pocket.
“Yep. I’ll see you in a bit.” Turning away, I hand Evelyn her bow. She takes it as I point a finger in her direction and give her my “best not mess with me” face. “Don’t even say it.”
She just fans herself dramatically, giving me a wink.
That night, Preston declared it Employee Appreciation Day and showed me just how appreciative he really is for my profound dedication and service to my clients as SoS.
“I’m a freaking schoolgirl fawning over her biggest crush. Don’t you think at my age I should be a little more mature about it?” I chew on my nail while on the phone with Lynn, stealing a few minutes of downtime in between clients. The last several weeks with Preston have been fan-freaking-tastic, but my brain keeps reminding me that good things run its course and I should prepare for the rug to be pulled out from under me. Depressing, but my life has done nothing but teach me that.
“Maturity? What’s that? Did you or did you not just knock boots with the sexiest bachelor in Montana? I give you full rights to fangirl all over him, if that’s what you want. I’m so happy to hear your vagina still works and hasn’t closed up shop for eternity. Not that I can say the same for
myself, but we aren’t talking about me.”
I snicker at her sarcasm.
“Tell me this, babe, how’s he treating you otherwise? A man can be great in the sack and an asshole outside of it. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d kick his ass for you, but only after you did it yourself.”
The moody man from a few months ago is nothing like the man I see every day, but I still find myself second-guessing everything.
“It’s good, too good. Almost like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop or for something to come up that changes things.”
“Is he still pulling the no-relationship card bullshit?”
Glancing at my watch, I sigh. My time is almost up. “No, honestly, he’s attentive and sweet, and if he doesn’t want a relationship, he sure isn’t acting like it.” My only worry is what will happen at the end of the year, but I’ve forced myself to live in the moment. One cannot possibly predict the future, especially so early in a relationship.
“Look, I gotta go, but I can’t wait to see you in a week for the barn dance! Pack your country-ish dress.”
She gags into the phone. “Country? Bleck. I left Montana in the dust babe, but for you, I’ll do my best.”
Laughing, I end the call. My face never loses its smile throughout the day, even when the vending machine refuses to spit out my candy. That’s because my prince charming heard the insults directed at said machine and using one very strong forearm, banged on the plexiglass twice, forcing the candy to drop. Then, he said for compensation; he had to test for taste quality, so we ended up making out in the nearest custodian closet. Explaining to my next client why my lips were various shades of purple and blue was embarrassing, but didn’t dull my excitement.
Preston and I have settled into a routine of date nights: movies, dinners at Mae’s, and epic finales in one of our beds. For a man who claims he doesn’t do relationships, he plays the boyfriend role very well. I don’t know why I haven’t broached the relationship topic. I think I’m afraid of the answer, that we’re just having fun and that’s it. But I don’t think that’s it at all. My gut says he’s in as deep as I am. My hopeful heart wishes on a shooting star that I’m right.
Giddy, I check myself out in the mirror. Preston, in charge of planning our date tonight, only told me to dress comfy and for the outdoors. I’m wearing a pair of leggings under a long flowy button-down shirt with some kitten heel boots. I’ll take my hiking boots in case we take a walk, but I wanted to be cute.
I fluff out my tawny hair, the golden highlights shimmering from days spent in the sun, and it hangs down my back in soft waves. I offset it with a small flower bobby pin. I’m used to wearing mostly athletic wear, but tonight, I feel pretty.
The sound of a knock at the door spikes my adrenaline, and I take a deep breath. Tonight does not differ from any other night, but I’m nervous.
“Come in!” I yell as I finish my make-up. Splash of blush across my cheeks, a swipe of mascara on my eyelashes, and a spritz of perfume. Footfalls echo across my floor, and I smell his crisp, citrusy scent before I see him. God, he smells so freaking good. I’m tempted to forgo the date and tug him into my bed instead.
Eyeing him through my mirror, he’s leaning against my door frame, arms crossed, with one ankle over the other. He’s wearing my favorite: flannel over a t-shirt that stretches tight across his chest, sleeves rolled up—of course—and dark denim jeans. He can pull off the attire of any city any day. In reality, he can pull off all his clothing and I’d never complain.
His thumb brushes back and forth across his bottom lip and his bright blue eyes squint with laughter and a flash of irritation. “You really need to keep your door locked. Especially when you look like this.”
Pushing off the frame, he comes over, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, kissing my neck, causing shivers to run up my spine.
Staring at me through the mirror, he whispers into my collarbone. “We better leave now. I’m seconds away from folding you over this chair and fucking you from behind while you watch yourself come.” A wicked smile crosses his face, and my chest flushes a bright pink hue.
Eyes wide, I swallow audibly. Dirty talking Preston is seriously hot.
I immediately remember one night last week, when he fulfilled a fantasy of mine—office sex. We snuck into the building after hours and he bent me right over that burgundy couch, forcing me to watch myself in the windows, the reflection from the moon the perfect amount of light to witness our writhing bodies.
I place my cool palms on my face to dial back the recent memory as he smirks. He straightens and pulls me up along with him, dragging me into his chest. We’re one breath away from our lips connecting when he side-steps, leaving me hanging.
Bastard.
“We gotta go or we’ll be late.” He taps his Timex and holds out a hand for mine. Snubbing him as he did me, I walk around him, only to have him slap my ass and chuckle when I screech and rub my sore cheeks.
I grab my purse and a light jacket from the closet. “Care to tell me what we’re going to be late for?”
“No, it’s a surprise.” He holds out his arm, and this time I take it.
Together, we walk to the parking lot, and I scrunch up my nose when we stop in front of Shelby’s truck. The bed has a tarp over it so I can’t see inside the back, but it’s the inside I’m worried about. Shelby may be a philosopher, but he’s also a major slob.
“Why are we taking Shelby’s truck? We can just take my car, I’ll even let you drive.”
His eyes light up, glowing orbs in the waning light, but he shakes his head. “Tempting, sweet cheeks, but no can do tonight. Next time though.” He points the key in my direction before reaching around me to unlock the door and open it.
I’m pleased when I look inside. It’s clean and smells like air freshener. Ok, this I can do.
Sliding in, I swing my legs around and Preston surprises me by buckling my seat belt. I’m not used to being so spoiled. Brody’s version of spoiling was leaving three-week-old food in the fridge.
The music is low and soft—the windows rolled down and the spring air brings in scents of fresh pine with hints of impending rain.
He holds my hand the whole way, his thumb running circles around mine, and every so often he’d bring my hand to his lips, pressing sweet kisses along my fingers. My inner romantic just sighs and I want to pinch myself to make sure this is real. How a broody man that showed up kicking and screaming could turn into such the fairy-tale prince, has me swooning all the way into next week.
I gasp when the large sign for Gunner’s Drive-In comes into view. Spinning toward Preston, I say, “I haven’t been here in years! How did you hear about this place?”
Concentrating on finding a spot, Preston speaks to the window, puffs of condensation creeping along the glass with every word. “Shelby. He mentioned it once when we were talking, and I asked him about it. Thought you might like to come. Plus, I’ve never been to a drive-thru movie.” He shrugs as he pulls into a parking spot. “I’m not even sure how it works.”
Giggling, I lean over and roll down his window, fully aware of his breath on my face, tickling my ear. Turning slightly, I peck his cheek. “You’re cute, you know that?” I grab the speaker, pull it into the car, and attach it to the window. “Easy peasy. Now we watch the movie.”
He growls, pulling me back halfway into his lap. Grabbing my face, he speaks into my lips, “I’m not sure I’m going to get through a movie with you looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” I bat my eyelashes flirtatiously. I know exactly how I looked at him.
Shaking his head, he rubs his nose up and down mine before capturing my lips. I curse the small space we’re occupying. Gripping my hair, he kisses me harder, which only makes me clench my thighs tighter together. Breaking from him first, I palm my hands on his chest and push back.
“We’re gonna fog these windows up fast if we keep this up.” My voice raspy.
“I’m game if you are.” He wiggle
s his eyebrows and I crack up.
“Plenty of time for that, cowboy.” Looking around, I narrow my eyes. “You better not have forgotten the most important thing for a drive-in date.”
Shoulders hitched, Preston feigns innocence. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”
I scowl, but it’s short-lived. Reaching his long arm back behind his seat, he produces a bag, tossing it in my lap. Spilling out are all my favorite snacks: fruity candies, chocolate, and popcorn already popped in a bag, along with some water bottles.
“You’re so lucky. I was about to call it a night based on the shortage of snacks.”
Plucking out a bag of mini chocolates, he opens one, pops it in his mouth, and shoots the wrapper at my face. “Never doubt my abilities to remember food, Montana.”
A handful of popcorn disappears into my mouth as I peek through the front window. “What movie are they playing tonight?”
“Only the greatest nineties movie ever: Free Willy.”
Throwing my head back against the headrest, I raise my hands and fist-pump the ceiling. “Yes! I haven’t seen that in years.”
The movie finally starts and for the next two hours, we pig out on junk food and steal frequent, hungry glances at each other. I’m falling and I’m falling hard.
“Now, what are we doing?” After the movie, I figure we’d head back home and hang out there, but Preston has more tricks up his sleeve.
His pearly whites are the only thing I see in the dark. “You can’t handle surprises, can you?”
Plopping back in the seat, I hug the seatbelt. “I can … it’s just been a while since anyone’s surprised me, and the last one wasn’t a good surprise.”
He grabs one of my hands, squeezing it tight. “I promise this one will be good.”
The breeze from the night air flows in, ruffling my hair, and the cricket songs and frog symphonies ride in on the wind. “I bet you don’t hear this in New York.”