by Louise, Tia
In another shot, Drew’s lying on her stomach on a towel, and my arm is over her lower back. My face is right on her cute little round ass, and it looks like my teeth are against her skin. Yeah, I’d bite that ass.
In another, we’re sitting side by side, and Drew’s looking up at me. So much love is in my girl’s eyes. She’s so beautiful. It cements my resolve. I don’t want to grow old and forget these things. I want to learn to forgive myself. I want to forgive Danny.
I don’t know why Leslie took these photos or what she was planning to do with them, but I’m glad she gave them to me. I guess I understand now how everybody knew we were a couple. We didn’t do a very good job hiding it.
I’ll just go on and admit it, the other reason I’m ready to head back south is to show up those assholes who always treated me like dirt. It kicks ass that my family is so fucking rich. I’m not going to lie about it. I’m also not going to be a dick. I’m just going to take care of business.
I don’t have to put up with bullies or their bullshit anymore, and I’m ready to own who I am and who I love.
When I turned on my phone before I left the house, it wouldn’t stop buzzing with texts from Drew for what felt like two whole minutes. I sat down on the marble floor of my enormous foyer and read them all, laughing at the words, imagining her pretty face saying them.
Some twisted my guts. Several made me rub the pain away from my stomach. I never want to make Drew sad. I change my mind about calling her. I want it to be a surprise. I got the message loud and clear. Come home…
I’m driving all day.
It’s exactly what I intend to do.
Chapter 33
Drew
“Where have I been hiding?” I shout in Ruby’s ear as we make our way through The Red Cat.
The place is ancient, with red shag carpet, a jukebox that plays real records, and lava lamps in the corners. The bar is carpeted as well, and it’s packed solid.
“I told you this place was making a comeback!” She shouts in my ear so loud it tickles.
I stick my finger there and mouth an Ow! to her. She only laughs. I follow her closer to the bar, doing my best to avoid the overt stares of a few male patrons I don’t recognize.
“Ruby Roo!” A loud voice hollers over the crowd.
Ruby spins around frowning. “Dammit to hell! I hate when he does that Scooby-Doo shit.” Dagwood Magee slides up beside us, pushing into the bodies to lean on the bar. “And Drew too!”
“Oh my God.” I start to laugh.
Ruby is not smiling. “What the hell are you doing here? And stop yelling that in public. You’re fucking with my hustle.”
“Hey, Dag!” I’m glad to see a familiar face. Correction, a familiar face on a great big guy. “Is Dotty here with you?”
“Nah, I just stopped by after work. She’s waiting for me at home.”
Ruby and I exchange a glance. “Uh, Einstein, you do realize it’s after ten, right?”
“What?” He lifts his hand off the bar. “Oh, fuck! I’d better give her a call.”
“Let me call her!” I hop up and down on my toes, not really wanting him to leave. “I’ll see if she’ll come meet us.”
“She’s going to be so mad at me.” Dag looks at the whiskey. “I was planning my fantasy football team… time goes by so fast.”
“You’re lucky I’m not Dotty. I’d kick your butt.” Ruby waves at an ancient bartender. He looks as old as the place. “Two tequila sunrises.”
“Tequila.” I think about my calendar and my mental math this morning, but it’s too late to stop her.
Ruby puts the plastic cup in my hand, and I lean into her ear. “How is it possible I don’t know everyone in here?”
“Word gets out.” She shouts back. “Cheap drinks mixed strong. It draws folks from all over the place.”
“Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra blasts from the jukebox. I start to sway my hips, wondering how I’m going to get rid of this tequila, when she leans forward, her black eyes huge. “Who is that?”
I start to turn, and she grabs my shoulder, stopping me. “Don’t look! He’ll know we’re talking about him.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing?” The song ends with a flourish of brass instruments, and we can actually hear each other for a minute. “You could try meeting someone the old-fashioned way. In a bar.”
“The old-fashioned way, according to my mom, is in church.” She leans back and makes a disgusted face. “Not doing that either.”
I sneak a glance over my shoulder, and I catch a glimpse of… sexy single dad! “That’s Remington Key! Remember when I tried to introduce you after church that day? This is a good sign! You met him at church and in a bar!”
“You never introduced me to him. I’d have remembered.” She turns and excited black eyes meet mine. “I’m going to investigate.”
“Go for it.” I’m wondering where Lillie is tonight when a wash of whiskey breath hits my nose so hard, I’m sure I’m contact drunk. If that’s a thing.
“Hey, sexy. I’ve never seen you around here.”
“Sorry.” I try to step back, only to bump into a person behind me. “I don’t come here very often.”
“I’d remember if you did.” The guy isn’t bad looking. He’s just really drunk and not Gray. “You live around here?”
“I actually need to make a call.” I hold up my phone. “So I’ll have to take a rain check… Um…”
“Name’s Blaire. And I’ll take that rain check.” He swipes my phone out of my hand, and my heart freezes. “Let’s see here. Oops. I need your pretty face to unlock it.”
The music starts up again, loud as ever. This time it’s Dean Martin singing about how you’re nobody til somebody loves you.
“Give me my phone.” My voice is lost in the trumpets, and I’m wondering where Ruby went.
I look around, over my shoulder, and see she’s at the bar still talking to Remi.
The guy grabs my wrist while I’m not looking and lifts it to the screen. “Do thumbs still work on these?”
I try to jerk my arm away, but the person behind me rams into me, shoving me forward into Blaire’s arms.
“Hey, baby.” He slides his hand around my lower back, his whiskey breath way too close to my nose. “This is more like it.”
“Let me go!” I yell louder.
“You don’t have to go so soon.” His hands slide down, over my ass, and my heart beats frantically in my chest.
I think I might puke, until a low, rich voice cuts through the noise. It cuts through everything, the fear, the panic, the disgust.
“She said to let her go.” It’s Gray, standing right in the guy’s face, staring him down.
“Gray…” It comes out as a little squeal.
My fear turns instantly to happiness. I’m blinking so hard, I can’t take my eyes off him, even though he’s leaning dangerously close to Whiskey Blaire, who’s still clutching my arm.
“Who the fuck are you?” Blaire steps to Gray, and my happiness gets a little panicky.
“Please just let me go.” It’s like I’m caught in the middle of some ridiculous face-off where this idiot thinks he’s tougher than my sexy, six-foot-two war vet.
I try jerking my arm again, but this guy has a grip.
“Hey! Look who’s back!” Dag’s loud voice rings from across the bar, and I hope this means Blaire’s going to get a clue.
I’m wrong.
“Last warning, buddy.” Gray speaks through clenched teeth. The muscle in Gray’s jaw moves, and his nostrils flare. “Let her go.”
“What the hell’s going on here?” Dag slaps a hand roughly on Blaire’s shoulder. “You hassling my man Gray’s lady?”
Finally, the guy relents. His grip on my wrist loosens, and I snatch my hand away. “May I have my phone back, please?”
Gray hasn’t backed down. His eyes are still locked on Blaire, who slowly hands my phone with a dramatic flair. He’s so stupid, I take it and shake my head. Dag’s hand slides
off his shoulder, and I’m ready to rush into Gray’s arms.
“What? No thank you?” Blaire shouts at me, and that’s it.
Gray grabs him by the jaw, lifting him off his feet and ramming his back against the wall so hard the photos bounce. “You’d better get the fuck out of here before I throw you out.”
The guy claws at Gray’s hand on his neck, his eyes squeezed shut. “Put me down, man.” His voice is a strangled plea.
“You’re going to leave here and never come back.” Protective fury ripples off Gray in waves.
I want to try and stop him before he kills the guy, but I don’t want to get in the way.
“Gray, man…” Dag, like me, is holding out his arms and trying to diffuse the situation.
“Okay, break it up!” The ancient bartender Mose comes from around the end of the bar, a Louisville slugger in his hand. “Let him go, Rambo, before I have to do something I don’t want to.”
Gray still doesn’t move. He blinks a few times, then another second ticks past.
“Come on, Gray. Let him go.” Dag carefully puts his hand on Gray’s shoulder. “He’s done here.”
Another second ticks by, and I see his fingers relax. He releases the guy all at once, and Blaire falls in a heap on the floor.
“That’s it now pay your bill and hit the road, Jack.” Mose stands over the guy, tapping the bat against his palm.
Gray takes a step back, and I see he’s breathing hard. His eyes are still trained on the crumpled heap on the floor, but I’m ready for him to look at me.
“Holy shit, mini-orgasm!” Ruby is beside me fanning her face. “Gray is a total badass!”
Finally, the guy starts to move. He slowly rises to his feet, and Mose takes him by the arm, leading him to the other side of the bar to settle his bill.
Gray turns to me, and everything seems to fade away. The music gets quieter, the people disappear. It’s like we’re in a special tunnel, just Gray and me. Our eyes meet, and his are so stormy and intense, so focused.
I remember how focused he can be, and the space between my thighs heats.
As if waking from a trance, a smile lifts his cheeks. A dimple appears, and my stomach squeezes so hard. I clasp my hands together, bringing them to my lips, and we slowly start to move, closing the space between us.
“Are you okay?” The low vibration of his voice does funny things to my insides.
“I’m much better now.” I lift my hand, placing my palm on the top of his chest. “You came back.”
“I couldn’t stay away.” He puts a hand on my waist, drawing me closer to him. “I made a promise.”
“You said you couldn’t keep it.” My other hand is on his chest now.
He puts both hands on my waist. “I decided I didn’t want to be a man who doesn’t keep his promises.”
A surge of self-preservation rises out of nowhere. “I’m not sure I can keep doing this. I can’t count on you being here for me, then you ghost me again.”
His brow furrows, and he pulls me closer to his chest. “What are you saying? You want me to leave?”
“It depends on what you plan to do.”
Our eyes lock, and heat races to my core. “I plan to take you back to my place and spend the night in your arms. Is that okay with you?”
“Then what?” It’s a breathless whisper.
He leans closer, his lips grazing the shell of my ear as he speaks, sending chills skittering down my arms. “Then I have a lot to tell you. Then we’ll do whatever you decide.”
He lifts his head to find my eyes, and when they meet, I can’t stop a smile. “I’m ready to go anywhere with you.”
“Let’s start at the house first.”
Chapter 34
Gray
Being in Drew’s arms again is better than finding out I have more money than God. It’s better than winning the fucking life lottery…
It’s like drawing a long breath after a deep dive. I hold her body against mine, and she smells like heaven. She feels like forever. My body relaxes, the tension leaves my muscles…
It’s the same feelings I’ve always had in her arms.
After dealing with that asshole at The Red Cat—I swear to Christ, I was ready to finish that guy—I had to get out of that place.
Drew seemed to understand. She put her hand in mine, and we walked the short distance to the garage. I took the lead, walking her into the cottage and closing the door before turning and pulling her to me.
“Drew-baby.” I speak the words against the skin of her neck.
She shivers, lifting her arms around me. “You have some explaining to do.”
“I have so much to tell you.” My lips trace a line up into her hair, to her temple. “You are so sexy in this little outfit. That skirt makes me crazy.”
“Does it?” She steps back, putting a finger in her mouth. “What if I did this?”
She turns her back and I watch as she lifts the front. It only takes a moment for her to slide the thin strings of her thong panties down her long legs. When she gets to her ankles, she bends all the way over, flashing her pussy at me, and I nearly come in my pants.
“Holy shit, Drew.” I step back, sitting on the edge of the coffee table. “You’re killing me.”
“Am I?” She turns around making big eyes. “I’m just getting comfortable.”
Her hands go behind her back, and she lifts that crop-top. I watch in awe as she slowly removes her lacy bra, leaving her breasts to bounce as she walks over and straddles my lap.
“What do you have to tell me?”
With a groan, I slide my hands under her shirt, cupping her breasts with my palms, rolling her tight nipples between my fingers. “I’m never leaving you again.”
She starts to laugh. “Are you just saying that because I let you touch my boobs.”
“Yes,” I answer fast, and she pulls back as if she’ll run away. I only laugh and pull her closer. “Touching your beautiful body is a bonus. It’s the icing on the cake.”
She relaxes, cupping my face in her hands and leaning forward to kiss me. Our mouths open, and our tongues curl together, searching, exploring, reuniting.
My dick is an iron rod in my jeans, and my hands slide up her back, pulling her closer. She tugs at the hem of my shirt, and I take a moment to whip it over my head. I pull her shirt over her head, and our bodies slide together her breasts bouncing along the ridges of my chest.
Our mouths reunite, and I stand, lifting her in one fluid movement to carry her to the bed. Tossing her back, I push her thighs apart and bring my face to her beautiful pussy.
“Gray!” She sighs, her hips rocking as I trace my tongue along the path that makes her come.
I find the tight little bud at the top and circle it, sucking gently, before tracing my tongue down and fucking her with it. She moans, and I return to her clit, teasing and tasting, loving her moans, the way she pulls my hair, until I feel her legs begin to quiver.
“Oh… oh…” The sound in her voice tells me she’s right on the edge, and I stand, shoving my jeans down, not even hesitating before I drive my cock balls deep into her throbbing core.
We both cry out. Her hips buck wildly against my cock. “Yes… yes!” I feel her gripping and coming, and I close my eyes, thrusting hard and fast, chasing my own release.
It’s been so long since we were together, it doesn’t take much. I’m holding her body, closing my eyes as the orgasm rockets through my pelvis, pulsing into her. I groan so deeply it makes me cough.
She’s in my arms, and I grip her tightly, wanting to make good on my promise. Never wanting to let her go. Her arms are around me just as tight as we drift down from the clouds.
I lift up, onto my elbow so I can gaze at her beautiful face. Her eyes reflect the same love back at me.
My expression changes, briefly. “I’m sorry about your dad.” I need to say it so she’ll know I’m not holding a grudge.
Her brow furrows, and she shakes her head. “The things he s
aid to you…”
“He was all messed up. He’s been all messed up a long time.”
“I found something I need to show you. I have a couple things to show you, actually.” Her frown melts, and a sly grin is on her lips. “I only have one with me.”
It makes me insanely curious. “What is it?
She struggles to get up, and I reluctantly let her. She hops off the bed, making a pit stop in the bathroom to clean up. Lying on the bed, I put my hands behind my head. I haven’t been careful at all with her, and I confess, part of me dreams of seeing Drew Harris pregnant with my baby.
I can see her cute and round, wearing one of those little dresses she likes, her long blonde hair down her back. Damn, I want that so much.
“You sure are smiling.” She hops on the bed, and I push up to sitting, putting my hand on top of hers and lifting it to my lips.
“Just thinking about the future.”
She digs in her purse then freezes, lifting her gaze to mine. “Funny. That’s related to what I have to show you.”
I look down at her purse then up at her. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“You have always been my hero, Grayson Cole. From the time I was a little girl, when you saved me. You dried my tears. You looked out for me.”
Warmth moves through my stomach remembering the times she’s describing. I remember her as a little girl, innocent and playful. She was always a cute little kid.
Then one day, she became a sexy, beautiful woman.
“I only did what you asked me to.” Reaching out, I smooth her long hair away from her cheek. “I could never say no to you.”
“I’m going to ask you to do one more thing.” I’m confused as I watch her pull what looks like a round piece of cardboard out of her bag. “Keep your promise.”
She hands it to me, and I slowly turn it over, the memories of that night so long ago coming at me in a rush.
“I can’t believe you still have this.” My voice is a whisper as I read my old signature.
I remember it well. It’s a promise I made to her with all my heart the day before we left for the desert.
When I come back, I’m going to marry you. I promise, I will make you mine.