Caveman: A Single Dad Next Door Romance

by Jo Raven

  Dakota pales. “I understand—”

  “The hell you do. This is all fucked up. I’m fucked up.” I bang my hand on the table, and the fork smashes into the plate. I get up and stumble away.

  “Zane, wait.”

  I stagger into my bedroom. It’s dark, the curtains drawn over the small window. The air smells stale.

  Dakota stands at the door, a hand on the frame. “What’s wrong?”

  Wrong? Nothing’s wrong. If she doesn’t walk away, I’ll throw her on my bed and fuck her senseless. If she does walk away, I’ll trash my room and punch the wall until my fingers break.

  Nothing’s wrong.

  Everything’s wrong.

  I need…something. I need her. Her warmth. Her closeness.

  Two strides and I’m in front of her. She takes a step back, but she isn’t fast enough. I press my body to hers, slide my fingers into her hair and inhale her scent.

  She gulps. “Zane, I just want...”

  “If it’s my ink you want, if this is all a damn game to you, forget it.” She’s here. I’m hard for her, and we’re arguing about the damn tattoo. This is familiar territory, and I relax. “I’m not drawing a dragon on you, and that’s final.”

  “I want the dragon, you know that,” she whispers, and her hands slide up my chest. “But this isn’t a game, and it’s not all I’m here for. Give me a chance, Zane. Everyone deserves a chance.”

  My thoughts are all screwed up. Is she talking about the tattoo, about being my roommate or something else entirely?

  “Dammit, girl.” I tug on her hair, pulling her head back, exposing the pale line of her neck. She’s panting, pressing her body to mine, and it’s driving me crazy. “What am I gonna do with you?”

  “Draw something on me,” she breathes. “Anything.”

  I shake my head, confused. What is she playing at? She says it’s no game, but this sure feels like one.

  Draw on her again. I should tell her no. That I don’t normally draw on people. That I don’t let them come over unannounced and cook me breakfast, screw with my head. That all I wanna do is fuck her.

  My dick twitches, agreeing.

  But I can’t. Because if we fuck, she’ll know just how messed up I am. She’ll run, and I’ll take any damn excuse to make her stay a little bit longer.

  Chapter Six

  Dakota

  “Another drawing?” Tessa stands at the door of the bedroom, in a tight-fitting black dress and high heels, all dressed up for the party she’s throwing Dylan for his birthday. Her blond hair hangs around her face in soft waves. She’s so pretty I gape at her.

  Dylan is an idiot if he doesn’t want her.

  Then again, maybe he likes his women a bit more spunky?

  I twist and glance at my back in the mirror. I’m wearing an off-the-shoulder black T-shirt with the logo of our band, and the drawing Zane made on my upper arm two days ago is still visible. I’ve taken pains not to scrub it when showering, to keep it on me a while longer. It’s a hawk, wings spread, its beak curved toward the inside of my arm. When I hold my arm close to my body, it’s right over my breast, as if it’s about to bite my—

  “Wasn’t it a bird last time, too?”

  It was. He likes drawing birds on me—birds in flight.

  “So what are you going to wear, the skirt or the pants?” Tessa, obviously fed up with my lack of answers, picks up the items from the pile of clothes on my bed. Black stretch pants and a short black skirt with ruffles. “I’d say the skirt.”

  “Why?” I take it from her hands. I’m already wearing ripped black tights. I look tiny next to Tessa and awkward, like a boy. She looks like a supermodel.

  “Boys like seeing your legs. And there will be plenty of boys tonight.”

  “That wasn’t so subtle,” I mutter. “I mean, I get that you’re worried about Zane breaking my heart, but I’m not interested in boys.” Just Zane. “Isn’t he going to be there?”

  “He’s been invited, but he never replied. He’s been like that lately. It’s driving Ash nuts. But I’m sure if someone tells him you’ll be there, he’ll come.”

  I smile in spite of myself. A rush of warmth fills me. “Do you think Zane would like me in a skirt?”

  “Zane likes you in just about anything, girl. He’ll have to be pried off you with tongs if he comes tonight. He’s acting like he’s in heat when he’s around you.”

  I laugh. “He’s cute.” And hot like hell.

  “Yeah… I’m worried.” She sits on top of the pile of clothes. “I told you how Zane is with girls. I mean, are you just friends or…” She wiggles her fingers.

  I think of how he has always watched me, with such heat in his eyes, and how he made me come on his sofa that night after the disaster at the park. I think of how he let me hold him two days ago, how he spoke of his sick sister, how he asked me if this was all a game to me.

  “I don’t know,” I confess. “We aren’t anything. We just hang out together sometimes. I like him.”

  She doesn’t look convinced. “We all like him. He’s an awesome guy. But this business of drawing on you, and the way he looks at you…”

  So she noticed, too. Heat climbs up my neck. “Like what?”

  “Like he wants to lick every inch of your body.”

  Oh God. I clutch the skirt to my middle and sink into the bed beside her. “He’s gorgeous.”

  “One hundred percent,” she agrees. “And normally I’d encourage you to jump his bones and have his babies, but this is Zane we’re talking about.” She sighs. “Truth is, I’m worried about him, too.”

  “Because of his sister being sick?”

  Tessa’s gaze snaps to me. “He told you about that?”

  I shrug. “Why, is it a secret?”

  “Sort of.” Her gaze hardens. “What else has he told you?”

  “Nothing.” I lick my lips, feeling nervous under her scrutiny. “Just that she’s his only family. That she took him in, and looked after him, and now he can’t help her.”

  “Oh God, he told you all that?”

  “Come on, Tessa, it’s not much. I swear that’s all, and it’s so vague.”

  “You don’t understand.” She bites her lip. “You don’t know Zane like I do. You’ve met him only a handful of times.”

  “So?”

  “So Zane doesn’t open up like that to people he doesn’t know well.”

  Yeah, I realized that. “Is that a jab? I’m getting to know him. It takes time.”

  “No, I mean he’s letting his defenses down for you. He’s acting weird.”

  “So what does it mean?”

  “I don’t know. All I know is… This isn’t like him. He’s letting you in. And if you hurt him, that could destroy him.”

  The bar is dim and noisy. It’s also too warm. The music is a mixture of Latin and pop, and I wince inwardly. Not my kind of thing. But the guys are there, drinking and talking, and I let Tessa lead the way.

  Zane isn’t with them. That’s the first thing I notice as we approach their table. Disappointment drapes over me like a leaden blanket. I was really hoping to see him.

  “Hey, Dakota.” Ash drags a chair to the table for me. “What’s up?”

  “Hey.” I like Ash, especially since he got together with Audrey, and I get to meet him often. He’s a cool guy, quiet and intense, although he smiles a lot more now.

  His brother Tyler is there, too, with Erin, and she waves at me. I’ve met their son, the cutest little boy. The way they look at each other makes me shiver. They’re so in love, it’s mind-blowing.

  Rafe comes toward us, carrying beers. He slides one in front of me, and I take it without a comment. I don’t have a fake ID, so I’ll take whatever I’m given—at least as far as drinks are concerned. Tessa’s words of warning echo in my head, but I can’t help looking around, still hoping for a certain boy to appear.

  “Where’s Dylan?” Tessa asks, scanning the bar as well.

  Looks like I’m not the only
one disappointed tonight.

  “Relax, he’s on his way.” Tyler places his cell phone on the table. “Said he had to run an errand first.”

  “He’d better. It’s his birthday we’re celebrating,” Tessa mutters and takes a long swig from her beer.

  Whoa. Looks like I’m the designated driver tonight. Which shouldn’t be a problem, but not seeing Zane here makes me want to get plastered and forget how much I want him. How much I like being with him.

  Tessa is right to be worried about me. Even though she told me how Zane treats girls, I haven’t stopped a second to wonder whether I should keep away from him. Not sure I can.

  “He’s been acting off lately,” Ash says, sipping his beer. “He said something about his dad being back home.”

  “Crap. That’s never good,” Audrey says.

  “Who are you talking about? I ask.

  “Dylan.” Audrey frowns down at her own beer. It’s still full. “Without his mom, he has to take care of his two brothers, and his dad has mental problems, or so we think. Dylan won’t talk about it.”

  “Need to talk about this with Zane,” Ash says, and I turn to look at him, to see if he’s serious.

  Tyler is nodding, too.

  “Zane isn’t exactly in the right state of mind right now to deal with this.” I look at Tessa for support, but she’s staring at something at the back of the bar and doesn’t seem to hear me. The guys give me skeptical looks.

  “Zane’s the strongest of us,” Ash says.

  “But his sister…”

  “She’s been sick for a while now. What you saw, Zane getting shitfaced and vanishing from the world… It happens from time to time.”

  Crap. “So he’s not worse off than usual?”

  They share an uneasy look.

  Rafe shrugs. “Sunday night when he wouldn’t answer the damn door or the phone… That rarely happens. But it has happened before.”

  “And that episode at the park?” I ask.

  “Yeah, what the fuck was that?” Ash whispers. “But even I don’t know half his triggers.”

  I make a mental note to ask Ash about this later. No matter what he says, he seems to know Zane much better than Tessa.

  “We should keep an eye on him anyway.” Tyler tugs Erin onto his lap and wraps his arms around her. “Just in case.”

  “What do you think we’ve been doing, motherfucker?” Rafe raises his beer bottle. “Bottoms up.”

  “Shush, Dylan’s here.” Tessa gets up and waves. “Here!”

  Dylan stands above the crowd. Well over six foot tall, with shoulders like a lumberjack and pale short hair. Very short. As he approaches, I notice he’s lost the purple streaks and is now sporting a crew cut. The light catches on the silver hoop in his lip.

  “What’s going on?” He bumps fists with the boys and bends to kiss the cheeks of the girls. When he reaches Tessa, he smiles and nods.

  God, she’s so in love with him. Her eyes sparkle as she stares back at him, and her hands shake.

  “Happy birthday, Dylan!” Erin and Audrey giggle as they clink their bottles and drink.

  He raises his bottle in response. “Damn. I was hoping you forgot all about it.”

  “As if we’d forget.” Tessa rolls her eyes. “Are you crazy?”

  He’s a handsome guy, and I can see why Tessa has fallen for him. The boys tease him about his new haircut and ask about Zane. It sounds like Dylan dropped by Damage Control on his way here to convince Zane to come.

  Not that I’m interested in this conversation or anything.

  “Pisser said he wasn’t coming.” Dylan winks in my direction. “But when I told him Dakota would be here, he changed his mind.”

  Holy shit. Tessa wasn’t kidding. I realize I’m gaping and shut my mouth.

  Ash laughs and toasts me. Everyone turns to look at me, brows raised.

  My ears are burning. But then where is he? Another scan of the crowd doesn’t reveal any gorgeous, tall, broad-shouldered guys with Mohawks.

  “Next round’s on me,” Dylan says, then turns to talk to a blonde with a body like an hourglass, and I see the light in Tessa’s eyes dim.

  Damn. For all her words of wisdom about avoiding having my heart broken by Zane, she hangs on to someone who doesn’t seem to realize how in love she is with him. And if she won’t follow her own advice, why should I?

  Caution, that little voice in my head pipes up. You’ve been with a crazy guy like Zane before. You know what it did to you. You should know better by now.

  I should, true, but logic is swallowed up in heart-pounding excitement when I finally spot Zane, leaning against the bar, dressed in a black muscle shirt that shows off his tattooed arms.

  My mouth goes dry, and my heart accelerates when he tilts his head to the side and grins, then leans over the bar and says something.

  To a brunette dressed in a tiny top that shows off her cleavage and trim waist. She laughs at his words and reaches over to stroke his cheek.

  My eyes feel hot. There’s a whistling in my ears. He leans toward her, and she laughs again and shakes her head. I can’t look away. It’s like a train wreck.

  Tessa had warned me. I never thought seeing him with another woman would make me feel so crappy. I want to punch that woman in the face. I want to slap him and storm away like a drama queen.

  But I don’t. I feel sick to my stomach. So I just put my beer down quietly, slip out of my chair and head out.

  “Dakota, wait up! Wait!” The voice isn’t Tessa’s. Maybe Audrey’s?

  It doesn’t matter. I can’t stop. My combat boots thump dully on the sidewalk. Wrapping my arms around me, feeling chilled although it’s a warm night, I try to put as much distance between myself and the bar where Zane is flirting with the girl behind the bar.

  Jealous? a snotty little voice in my head asks.

  Shit. I walk faster, breaking into a jog, letting the rhythm of my steps settle my racing heartbeat. My left leg sends a little twinge up my spine. I ignore it.

  That was stupid of me, falling for Zane. Good thing this happened before I fall harder. Before he breaks my heart. It’s only held together by a Band-Aid and a string, and if that goes…

  Why did I think I was ready for this?

  “Dakota!” Audrey sounds breathless. I remember she’s wearing ridiculously high heels, like Tessa, and I slow down. A few months ago she twisted her ankle running like that.

  “What?”

  “Jesus. Wait.” She slows to a stop and bends over, hands on her knees, wheezing. “I saw. I saw you.”

  “Saw me?”

  “Saw you looking at them.”

  I stomp away from her. “Yeah. Tessa warned me. Stay away from Zane, blah, blah, blah. I know, okay? I know. Learned my lesson now. I’ll stay away from him.”

  “No.” She straightens, her red curls wild. “Listen. That girl at the bar. That’s Megan.”

  I blink. “What do I care about her damn name?”

  “She’s just a friend. Of Zane’s. Damn, you run fast.” She wipes a hand over her mouth.

  “They were awfully friendly with each other.”

  “That’s just how they are. I pinky swear. I wouldn’t lie to you.” Audrey glances back, and I see Ash coming our way.

  I need to go before he reaches us. I don’t want to think more about this. “I don’t know, Audrey.”

  “Megan wants Rafe. And Rafe... Well, we don’t know, but Zane is trying to get them to meet.”

  I shake my head. It all sounds too easy, too convenient. “I saw the way she was looking at Zane.”

  “No, Dakota. Wait…”

  She curses as I turn and start running again. How did she look at him? Fondly, my mind supplies, but I wonder about it now as I hang a right and run down another street. Random streets, random thoughts. I didn’t even see his face, his expression. Could they be just friends, he and Megan? Thinking back, I recover vague memories of them talking and laughing together in parties. Are they really just friends?
r />   Audrey would have no reason to lie about this. She hasn’t exactly encouraged my interest in Zane. I remember once we visited him at his apartment, the time I first met him. Asher had been staying with him, and Audrey wanted to talk to him. I remember taking off my blouse to show Zane my ink—and to shock him a little, because he had a mask of steel I wanted to peek behind—and Audrey had gone all scarlet. Afterward, she pretended she didn’t know me. It was so funny.

  Not so funny anymore.

  I turn into another street and slow down again, trying to get my bearings. Problem is, I don’t know this area well, and I didn’t pay much attention when Tessa drove me to the bar, because I figured we’d return to her apartment together.

  What I should do is give Tessa a call, and I reach for my bag—only to realize I don’t have it with me. I must have left it at the bar.

  Brilliant, Dakota. Just brilliant. Absolutely fantastic.

  I puff out a long breath and bury my hands in my hair, tugging a little, hoping to jumpstart my brain. No reason to panic. I’ll just keep walking until I find a familiar landmark, or else another bar where I can borrow a phone and call Tessa.

  Right. No panic. I resume walking, kicking at the trash in my way—a can, a broken plastic cup, a shoe. I shouldn’t have run away. I’m not a quitter. If I was, I wouldn’t be standing here today.

  I wouldn’t be standing at all.

  A car honk sounds from behind me, and I walk faster. The street is deserted, and I don’t have my pepper spray.

  The honk sounds again, and a pick-up truck appears next to me, the window rolling down. I see a familiar Mohawk and a pair of exotic dark eyes.

  “Dakota?” Zane stares at me hard, his truck idling. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” My voice cracks, and I clear my throat. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came looking for you.” His gaze is earnest. Holy crap, he actually came after me.

  I can’t help a smile. “Thanks.”

  “Hop in. I got your purse, too.”

  He leans over and opens the door for me. I climb up and settle into the seat. His truck smells of exhaust, ink and faintly of cigarettes. I slam the door shut, and Zane gazes at me sideways, his big hands on the wheel.