Hard to Break

by Bella Jewel

  “From what I hear, it’s you that had this marvelous idea.”

  She is giving me a mischievous little grin. She loves the guys being in bikinis. I can’t say I blame her, I’d come down just to see that.

  “Well, I might have been behind it.”

  She laughs and places a hand on my shoulder, her expression going more serious. “How is Rob, love?”

  My heart clenches, but I keep my smile. “He’s doing okay.”

  “It’s been a while since I’ve seen him at the garage, I was meaning to ask but I’ve been somewhat busy lately. That’s no excuse, though.”

  “My dad’s fine, Joanne.”

  “We’ll do everything we can to help you save this wonderful garage, you have a lot of people supporting you.”

  I smile and nod. “Thank you.”

  Our conversation is interrupted by the sudden screeching. I look around Joanne to see a group, a rather large group, of females screaming and jumping up and down. I look over to what has caught their attention, and my mouth drops open. Tazen Watts is walking over to the car wash, looking like he’s just dropped from heaven.

  Clearly everyone here knows exactly who Tazen is, because the entire car wash has come to a screeching halt. My eyes scan the mass of people, and they all hold a different expression. Some have their mouths dropped open, others are wide eyed and shocked, some are screaming with joy and others are just standing there, confused.

  I watch with a burning rage building in my chest as Tazen’s eyes fall on me and a smile spreads across his face. A cocky smile. The arrogant ass. He strides towards me, and I can’t help my eyes as they travel over his body. He’s wearing a pair of jeans and a tight black tee that is showing serious biceps. He’s got a cap on that’s twisted backwards and a pair of shades over his eyes. He looks casual, but a total bad ass.

  “Hello, angel,” he practically purrs when he reaches me.

  “Why the hell are you here, Tazen?” I mutter, noticing that Joanne is scurrying away to my left. Thanks, Jo!

  “Heard you were tryin’ to make money, thought I’d come down and check it out.”

  God, he makes me want to punch him in the nuts.

  “To gloat, you mean?”

  He crosses his arms and his muscles flex and bunch beneath his skin. “No, angel, I’m just interested to see what you’ve got.”

  “What I’ve got, buddy,” I spit, stepping closer, “is a whole lot more than you could even begin to imagine.”

  I can’t see his eyes behind those shades, but I know, I just know, they’re running over my body because a slow, sexy smile spreads across his lips and he mutters, “Fuck yeah, you do.”

  Ugh.

  My cheeks burn and I cross my arms to stop myself swinging at him, which is what I really want to do.

  “There are a thousand other garages in the area,” I whisper with fury. “Go and find another one.”

  “There are, you’re right,” he says, stepping closer. “But yours is in the perfect location.”

  I want to stomp my foot with rage. He is purposely here just to get under my skin. For whatever reason, he’s decided that taunting me is the highlight of his no doubt action-packed life.

  “Don’t you have better things to do, being a world-famous ass … I mean custom car builder?”

  His grin gets so big those dimples pop out. God, he’s so beautiful it burns my eyes.

  Jerk. No one should be that … pretty.

  “She’s heard of me, I’m flattered. And for your information, angel, I do have better things to do. Plenty of better things, but you have a location I want. What more could a man ask for than to be doing what he loves, in a garage in the perfect location?”

  “The problem with your perfect little plan,” I snap, “is that you’re taking away my garage, my passion for working with cars and stealing what I love.”

  His brows shoot up. “Sweetie, do you really think you can do a better job here than a famous custom car builder who has worked with cars his entire life?”

  I lean in close, so I’m up on my tiptoes and in his face. “Hell yeah, I can, sweetie.”

  I just hope I’m right.

  He snorts. “Well, that makes me feel a whole lot better about trying to take this garage. You’re clearly not in a stable place within your mind.”

  I lift my hands and place them on his chest, giving him a shove but he’s too quick. He catches my wrists and jerks me forward so I lose my balance and fall towards him. I gasp as he leans down, so close our lips are only millimeters apart. “It’s time for you to give it up, little angel. I will get this garage, and I will do it justice. Consider it me doing you a favor. I’ll give you a good price; you can pick your life up and get out of debt. Won’t that be nice?”

  “What will be nice, jackass,” I snarl, “will be when I save this garage and you have to take your shiny, expensive ass to torture some other poor person.”

  He lets my wrists go and steps back. “We’ll see.”

  He turns and looks towards the guys, who are busily scrubbing cars. “It’s so nice to see men who don’t mind doing what they’re told. Good job, Quinn. I’m sure they all feel exceptionally manly with their nuts in your pocketbook.”

  Pig.

  He turns and saunters towards the exit, but there is no way he is getting out after insulting my guys. I grab the nearest hose and aim it towards Tazen. I charge towards him as he turns around, hands going out in front of him. I spray him right in the face and he lets out a gurgled bellow as the water spurts into his face at full force.

  With a grin, I stalk closer.

  “Oops, sorry, Tazen. Whenever you’re around I seem to have the worst habit of spilling water on you.”

  He barely lets me finish my sentence before he lunges at me, wrapping his arms around my waist. We slip and go down with a thump, him falling over me. Pain shoots through my back and I cry out in agony as I squirm to get out from beneath him. His hands find the hose in mine and he shoves it out, before forcing my hands above my head.

  “That was un-fucking-cool,” he barks.

  “And so was insulting my guys,” I spit back.

  “You’re the one dressing them in bikinis. Why don’t you cut their dicks off while you’re at it?”

  “You’re such a jerk.” I squirm trying to get out of his grip.

  He leans down close, until our lips are nearly touching. “And you fucking love it.”

  “Get off me.”

  He presses his body into mine and I bite my lip to stop myself from gasping at the feel of his hard flesh pressing against mine. He feels fucking incredible.

  “I’ll get off you when I’m good and ready.”

  “You’re the worst person I’ve ever met,” I snap.

  “Well.” He grinds his hips against mine. “And there are plenty of girls who would be envious of you right now.”

  God.

  “You’re disgusting. Why don’t you go and lay one of them down?”

  He grins. “Because none of them are as feisty as you. I like the challenge.”

  “And I’d like to get off the damned ground.”

  “Shit, dude, get off her.”

  This comes from Jace who’s approaching us with an angry gleam in his eyes. I’m grateful because a moment later Tazen pushes off me. “No harm done,” Tazen says. “We just took a little spill.” The bastard then proceeds to lean down and capture me under my arms, raising me to my feet. When I’m steady, I jerk backwards. He smirks at me, then gives me a long, sexy stare. “We’ll see each other again soon, angel. As always…” He leans in close. “It was a pleasure.”

  I grit my teeth and turn away.

  Damned Tazen Watts. He’s getting the better of me.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I say to Dad as I pace the room Friday after work.

  “Quinnie, it’ll be fine. I told you I’m getting better and I’m going to fix things. You’re not even leaving the state. You can ca
ll in, if you’re so worried.”

  I bite my lip, mulling this over. After a heck load of work, the guys have managed to free up my weekend so I can go to the race with Jace and spend a few nights away from everything. We managed to make just over three thousand dollars at the car wash, but it isn’t nearly enough to pay off what we owe. But it’s a start, and everything helps.

  The problem with going away is the fact that I’m leaving Dad alone and I’m not all too comfortable about that. I’m worried he’ll get drunk and hurt himself, or choke on his own vomit.

  “I’ve told Lenny to check on you each night.”

  My dad frowns. “I’m not a fucking kid.”

  No, then maybe you shouldn’t act like it.

  I shake those angry thoughts from my head. I hate when they pop up because they make me feel guilty.

  “Please, Dad, if you care about fixing things, then let him come around.”

  He stares at me, then mutters, “Fine.”

  “Okay.”

  A knock at the door interrupts our conversation. I rush over, flinging it open to see Jace standing, ready to go. “Hey there.”

  “Hey, honey,” he grins.

  I step out of the way and let him in.

  “How’s it goin’, Robbo?” Jace says as he follows me down the hall I’m currently charging down.

  “Hello, Jace.”

  When I reach my room, I fling the door open and step inside. I’ve been so busy worrying about leaving Dad and organizing things to make sure he at least eats, that I haven’t been able to pack. I drag out a suitcase and start tossing clothes in.

  “Whoa there, woman,” Jace says, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me away from the suitcase.

  “Come on, Jace. This won’t take long.”

  “No, it won’t because you’re packing clothes that accentuate your … masculine side.”

  I glare at him and to prove his point, he reaches in and pulls out an old, grease-stained pair of jeans.

  “There is no way you’re wearing this shit.”

  I bite my bottom lip.

  “Where are your good clothes?”

  I cross my arms. “You’re being mean now, there’s nothing wrong with those jeans.”

  “Sure, if you want to be mistaken for a homeless person. Hmm, maybe you can ask people for spare change and raise money for the garage that way.”

  I snort laugh in spite of myself. “What will you have me wear? Because I’m telling you, I don’t do tight … anything.”

  “There’s got to be something good in here,” he mutters, walking to my closet and swinging the door open.

  After five minutes of shuffling, he comes back with an armful of clothes. Most of them I have never worn. I went through a stage of trying to be girly, but it didn’t happen and so the clothes ended up at the back of my closet. Now Jace has managed to find each and every one of them.

  “You are going to look like a female this weekend,” he says, throwing the clothes onto the bed and then emptying my suitcase.

  I watch as he tosses skinny jeans, dresses, bikinis and tank tops in. I scrunch up my nose. “I’m not sure my ass still fits in any of that.”

  He stops, stares at my ass, then snorts. “What ass?”

  “I’m offended by that statement.”

  He laughs. “No you aren’t. Where’s your hair and makeup stuff?”

  I don’t answer.

  He turns back to me. “Quinn?”

  “I don’t, ah, have any. Except my hairbrush, which is already packed.”

  “Jesus, it’s no wonder you haven’t been laid for a long time. You’re probably growing cobwebs down there.”

  “Hey,” I protest. “I do not have cobwebs. Just a little dust is all.”

  “God,” he mutters to himself. “This is going to be a real eye-opener, isn’t it?”

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Give me another one,” I cry, sliding my shot glass across the long wooden counter towards the bartender.

  “And me!”

  I turn to Jace, who is sitting on my left side and smile. He wraps an arm around my shoulder and leans in close. “Told you that letting your hair down would prove to be fun.”

  “I should listen to you more often,” I say, reaching for the shot glass that has just been placed in front of me. I tilt my head back and let the liquid slide down my throat.

  Yes.

  Jace was certainly right, this is proving to be awesome. We arrived at the hotel just after 7 p.m. after stopping at a department store for makeup and hair supplies. I straightened my hair after Jace and the saleswoman insisted that I buy a straightening iron and I must admit¸ my hair looks super amazing after using it. Then we got changed and headed to the hotel bar to get our drink on. The race is tomorrow so tonight is all ours.

  “Let’s dance,” Jace yells over the music that is slowly getting louder. “I need to find some action for the night.”

  Jace tugs me and we both slip off the bar stools and walk onto the small but packed dance floor. We start swaying to the music, hands in the air, smiles on our faces. It feels good to let go. It’s been such a long time since I’ve had the opportunity to be able to think about something else other than the rut I’ve been stuck in my entire life.

  A pair of hands find my hips as I swing to the music and my eyes pop open with shock. I glance quickly to my left to see Jace has already snagged a woman and is dirty dancing in the middle of the dance floor with her, so it isn’t him. I stare down at the fingers curled around my body and hope to hell I’m not about to turn around and see King Kong trying to grope me, because that wouldn’t be cool.

  I turn slowly and gasp loudly when I see it most certainly is not King Kong, but instead a jerky, hot as hell, custom car builder. Tazen Watts has his hands on me, and he looks about as shocked as I do that we’re both in the same place at the same time and worse, he’s got his hands on me. I watch the recognition hit his face and his eyes widen, the chocolate depths filling with a good range of emotions. Then his hands drop and he steps back.

  “Fuck,” he says. “I didn’t expect to see you here!”

  So charming.

  “I’m sure all your dreams have come true, now that I am.”

  He grins. “Yeah, you’re probably right about that. Rocking dress, by the way. Makes your ass look great.”

  God. Such a man.

  “It would seem the good lord dislikes me enough to put me in the same place as you and your cheesy compliments. Next you’re probably going to tell me I look like I fell from heaven,” I mutter, stepping past him.

  “Ouch, angel. Is there any need to be so hostile? I was going to go with public singing to win you over, but you just ruined that chance for yourself.”

  “Unlucky for me,” I scoff, walking to the bar and ordering a drink.

  I take the drink I ordered and swallow it down, and then I turn to him. “Are you going to follow me all night?”

  I step past him before he can answer, and decide I need fresh air. My head is spinning and I need to get out of his space before I throttle him or drown in his charm. I push through the crowd of people and out the front entrance. Then I make my way quickly towards a large tree just off the sidewalk. I reach it and press my back to it, taking a deep breath.

  “Do you always run so fast from attractive males?”

  Well, I guess he’s not done with me just yet.

  “I didn’t see any, so that question is not even worth an answer.”

  “Ouch, for someone so little you really know how to pull out the insults.”

  I glare over at him, screwing my face up. If he doesn’t get the hint, he’s blind. “Why are you following me? Don’t you have someone else to torture?”

  He grins at me and I want to hit him in the face. “No one could possibly be as entertaining as you,” he leans in close, “angel.”

  “Do I look like an angel to you?” I mutter. “Honestly?”

  He drags his eyes away from mine and slowly runs them
down my body, over my dress, down my legs and then says in a husky whisper, “Fuck yeah, you do.”

  Jesus.

  “Listen, Tazen, it was nice chatting but I’m done here.”

  I turn and walk back towards the bar. It’s quiet out tonight, with only a few people wandering about on the streets. My head spins and I take hold of a nearby pole, leaning against it and pressing my forehead to the cool metal. I really have had too much to drink. The warm summer air tickles my face and I steady myself, enjoying the way it feels against my skin.

  “You look good with your hair down.”

  I sigh and open my eyes. Tazen can’t take a hint.

  “What do you want from me, Tazen? You’re acting like a bad smell that just refuses to leave.”

  He laughs, deep and husky, and then I feel his body press up against my back. I gasp and go to step forward, only to realize there is a pole in front of me and there is no forward. My skin breaks out into a thousand tingles and I’m trying to suppress the shudder threatening to rise. I hate how good it feels to have him leaning against my back.

  “You’ve caught my attention, little angel. I’m curious.”

  He whispers this into my ear and I have to close my eyes, because all I can think about is how amazing his perfect lips would feel against my skin.

  “I don’t want to be the center of anyone’s attention,” I rasp. “Especially not yours.”

  “Funny,” he says, running a finger over my shoulder. “I think you want it more than you’re willing to admit. How long has it been since you’ve had a man want you, Quinn?”

  God, the way he says my name.

  “I don’t want you to want me. What I want is for you to leave me and my garage alone.”

  “Your garage, perhaps, but you don’t really want me to leave you alone. Not when you know how fucking amazing I could make you feel.”

  “Please,” I whimper.

  “Please what, angel?”

  “Please just go. I don’t have time for you, or your games.”

  He steps closer, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling my body more firmly against him. I can feel every inch of his hard, muscled flesh against my back and it’s taking everything inside of me to pretend that it doesn’t affect me. He lowers his head and his lips graze my neck.