by LeAnn Ashers
The bell rings, letting me know he has left, and Jacqueline runs into my office. She gives me a shit-eating grin. “You are so fucked,” she says while shaking her head.
“Don’t I know it? He might not want me. He might not come back.”
She rolls her eyes and looks at me like she is ready to murder me on the spot. “Honey, that man almost fell on his ass as he stared at you. He will be back. You gave that man a challenge, and he will win.” She laughs again and walks out of the room to shut everything down for the night.
What did I get myself into?
2
Amelia
The Next Day
“See you tomorrow, Jacqueline!” I yell to her as she walks to her car on the other side of the lot. I bring my purse up higher on my shoulder and turn around the side of the building where I have my car parked.
No way.
The guy who picked up Duke is standing next to my car with a bike parked directly beside it. I swallow and muster all of my confidence; this man puts anyone to shame since he is so hot. Forget Brantley Gilbert; this man beats him ten times over.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask once I am a few feet away from him.
He takes a step closer to me, his head cocked to the side slightly, as he gives me a smirk. “I have come to take you out on that date.”
I couldn’t stop the smile if I tried. “Well, I guess you are out of luck then, I am heading home to relax.” I shrug and unlock my car.
“Doll, the more you resist the harder I try.”
I shiver at the sound of his voice. It’s deep and gravelly. After I set my purse on the passenger seat, I stare back at him. “Keep on trying then.”
He folds his arms across his chest, and his eyes move down my body and then back up. “Doll, it’s a dangerous thing challenging a man like me.” He leans forward, towering over me, and my breath hitches as I breathe in his scent.
Darn me for being so affected by his presence; he is so gorgeous and my body knows it.
I place my hand on his arm. “Maybe I like dangerous?” I smirk and step back from him, my eyes raking up his body, taking in the view one last time before I get into my car. Nothing else is said between us, but he watches me drive away with a sly-as-fuck smile on his face.
Did I mention I was in trouble?
I arrive home twenty minutes later, the excitement of seeing Lane again wearing off. I remember seeing his name in Duke’s file. I may have to seek out that file to look at his information. No shame in my game here.
I turn off my car and look up at my house. Why me? My cousin is sitting on my front porch waiting for me. I don’t want to deal with him right now—or ever, for that matter.
I love my cousin—don’t get me wrong—but I am just enabling him, and that’s not a good thing. I throw my purse in the trunk and lock my car.
“Amelia, what are you doing?” Jeffery asks, and it takes everything not to bang my head against the trunk of my car. I am so annoyed right now.
Let’s get this over with. When I reach the porch, he lifts himself out of my rocking chair and steps over to me. “Why did you put your purse in the car?”
Closing my eyes, I tilt my head back because I hate this so much. “Jeffrey, I can’t do it anymore,” I whisper, and I instantly feel the anger radiating off of him.
“What do you mean you can’t?” His voice rises to a high pitch, and I open my eyes. His face is contorted with anger.
I soften my expression so I can defend my decision. “Jeffery, I am not helping you when I keep on giving you money to gamble. I just can’t do it anymore. I love you so much, but I can’t be the reason for you staying on this path.”
He humphs loudly and raises his arms, his face reddening. “How will I eat?” He gives me the look that always makes me give in, but I can’t.
“I will pay your bills and pay for your food, which I will have delivered, until you get on your feet. Jeffrey, it’s time for you to grow up and be on your own.” I wince as I say the last part, but it needed to be said. No more pussyfooting around it.
He glares at me in a way I have never seen before, his nostrils flare, and his hand shakes. He points at my face. “You will fucking give me what I want. You have that fancy degree. This isn’t shit to you and you know it. Give me five grand and I will leave now.”
My lips are dry and my insides are jumping around. “Jeffrey, I work for my money. I will not give you more money to gamble.” I whisper the last part.
He throws his head back and laughs before looking me dead in the eyes. “You fucking will or I am taking it! Where is your purse?” He leans forward so his face is close to mine.
What the fuck did he just do? That does not fly with me. “First off, don’t get in my face like that, and second, my purse is locked up. Now get the fuck off my property.” I point toward the road as I try to rein in my temper, which is a very mighty one that I try to control.
His eyes move to my hand, and then he lunges for my car keys. His shoulder hits me in the chest, slamming me against the side of my house, and he is prying the keys out of my hand.
“Big fucking mistake, Jeffrey,” I tell him calmly and I snap. I place my free hand on the back of his head and push his head down to meet my knee. I hear the sickening crunch as I break his nose.
He jumps away, clutching his nose, and takes a swing at me. I duck. Then I bring my arm up and upper cut him as hard as I can. He falls to the ground, and I stare down at him in disgust.
“I want nothing else to do with you, Jeffrey. You dare touch me like that again and I will chop your balls off.” I unlock my door and stomp inside my house, while muttering cuss words to myself. I have not been in a fight in a long time.
I was in kickboxing for years, and I can handle myself. Jeffrey is living proof of me kicking ass. Dickhead. I grab a bottle of wine off the counter, trudge into the living room, and start chugging the wine straight from the bottle.
What is my life? It’s time for a girl’s night. I take my phone out of my pocket and dial my best friend.
Lane
“I don’t know about you, Dad, but a steak is calling my name,” Tiffany tells me as we follow the waitress through the steakhouse. I laugh under my breath because she is my twin when it comes to food, plus I can only make a few things.
“Here you are.” The waitress lays down the menus on the table.
“Thank you.” I pull out a seat for Tiffany to sit in the middle. She sits down and I scoot her closer to the table, and she grabs a menu.
“Can I get you guys something to drink?” The waitress is looking me up and down.
“A water with lemon, thank you,” Tiffany tells her, and I chuckle under my breath—she acts so grown up sometimes.
“A beer for me.”
Tiffany watches the waitress leave. “Dad, I don’t get girls when they stare at you.”
“It doesn’t matter, Baby Girl.” A piece of hair has fallen from her braid, and I bring it behind her ear. She smiles at me and opens her menu.
“Well, if it isn’t my Tiffany bug,” Dad says as he pops around the corner and plops down in the seat next to her.
“Grandpa!” She leans over and lays her head on his chest. If it were a competition between me and my dad, I would probably lose.
“Hey guys!” Butcher and Shay show up along with their daughter, Tiana. Tiana wiggles to get down, and when Butcher sets her down, she immediately runs to my dad. Who would have fucking thought?
“Now Shaylin, about those bras we talked about,” Tiffany whispers, and I whip my head around to glare at her. The fuck she say? We had this talk a couple of months ago. She is a baby.
My dad laughs and I glare down at Tiffany, who gives me eyes. “Daddy, just a sports bra with flowers on it. I am a woman now.”
Kill me now. I am about to grab this steak knife and gouge out my eardrums. “Shaylin, I am going to fucking kill you.” She bursts out laughing, along with her man. “Laugh it up, Butcher, this will be your k
id in a few years.” That wipes the smirk off his face. I reach for my beer and take a long pull.
Tiffany pulls on my cut and gives me a shit-eating grin. “You know, Dad, I just like to aggravate you.” She laughs.
“Keep it up, Baby Girl, and no dirt bike for a week.”
She stops laughing and gives me a pitiful look. “But, Daddy…” she whispers and hugs my arm.
Fuck me, man. I lean my head back and everyone laughs.
“Welcome to the world of having a daughter, son,” Dad tells me through his laughter and gives Shay a pointed look.
Amelia
“No way!” I whisper to my friend Danielle.
She jumps and leans further over the table. “What?” She looks around the room.
I nod toward Lane, who is sitting at the table across the room. “That’s the guy I was telling you about.” She looks at him and falls back in her seat, while giving me a look of horror.
“I am so ashamed to call you a friend right about now.” She holds her chest and pretends like she is going to cry. “That man is so hot, girl. If you don’t want him, then I will take him.”
My smile drops. “Fuck no, he is mine.”
Danielle isn’t looking at me anymore, but at something behind me. I turn around and see Lane standing there. “Good to know you are claiming me, Doll.”
There go my ovaries at the sound of his voice calling me “Doll.” Why does he keep trying my patience? It won’t be much longer until I give in to him. I’ve got to have a little self-control. You have this, Amelia.
“I was not.” I throw my hair over my shoulder, staring him down. He laughs and moves closer.
Breathe, Amelia, remember to breathe!
He bends down until his mouth is next to my ear, and his breath hits my neck. I shiver down to my toes, and goose bumps break out across my body. “Keep fighting it. It’s just going to make it so much sweeter when you’re all mine.”
I am such a goner, no hope for me. My mouth opens and closes repeatedly, because I don’t know what to say.
“See you tomorrow.” He winks and stalks away.
I slowly spin back around and stare at Danielle, who has half fallen over in her seat and is staring at me in wonder. I raise my hand and let out a deep breath to compose myself. “Girl, I know.”
“You are so fucked and I mean that literally too.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” I laugh and cover my face with my hands.
3
Amelia
True to his word, he is right outside my office the next day once work ends. I stop in the middle of the parking lot and take a moment to stare at him.
What am I doing? Why am I resisting him? Is this not that ideal man I have been waiting for forever?
I grab my leather jacket from the passenger seat, stuff some cash and my ID into my pocket, and lock my purse in the car.
Let’s do this.
I turn around and look at him. He is holding a helmet. I stride over to him, my heart pounding harder with every step. He grins at me, and I blush slightly under his scrutiny.
The old me would have gone with him after the first date, but that was the old me. The new me is tired of being disrespected and made to feel like an object. Do not get me wrong. I don’t care if guys check me out, and I always check them out too—because, hey, I know when someone is hot, and it’s an instinctual thing—but when it comes to the point where my personality does not matter and my body is the main attraction, it bothers me. I want someone to want me for my heart and soul. I love with my whole being, and I want to give that to someone. I am twenty-eight years old, and I crave that more than anything. I want a family, and I want to sleep in someone’s arms tonight. Most of all I want to be wanted like I am their next breath of air.
I am tired of my ass being grabbed when I don’t want it to be. I am tired of being groped when I don’t want it. I am so fucking tired of losers who will disrespect me and let me be disrespected by other people. I hold myself in high esteem, and if someone does not treat me as such, I am done. Therefore, I am single—I know my worth and I won’t accept less.
“You ready, Doll?” he asks once I am standing in front of him.
I let out a deep breath and laugh. “As ready as I will ever be.”
He takes my leather jacket and opens it for me to slip my arms in. Men still do that? I stare at the jacket for a few seconds before turning around and letting him slip it on my arms.
“Here is your helmet.”
I slip it over my head and tighten the straps.
He climbs on his bike, his back flexing and his arm muscles bulging, making his tattooed arms look even better. Dear Baby Jesus, give me strength. He turns to look at me and my stomach flips over; I resist the urge to clutch my midsection.
“Hop on.”
Here we go. I press my right hand on his shoulder blade and lift my leg over the bike, climbing on.
“Put your feet here.” He points to the foot pegs.
“Gotcha.” I put both of my feet on the pegs, and now I feel unsteady. Where do I put my hands? Do I wrap myself around him, or... Lane’s hands wrap around my calves, and I am pulled flush against his back.
I laugh in surprise, and he cocks his head to the side slightly and flashes me a blinding smile. “Wrap your arms around me and hold on.” I do as he says, and I rest my chin on his shoulder.
The bike rushes forward with a loud roar and then we are off. My stomach feels like it’s in my chest, and I get a rush of pure adrenaline. I feel like I am flying. I laugh out loud and he speeds up. I close my eyes and enjoy just letting go.
We pull up to a red light, and cars pull up on either side of us. It’s a weird feeling being surrounded by cars, along with being so open and exposed. My hair is sticking to my neck, and I sit straight up with one hand still braced on Lane and the other smoothing my hair.
“Look at that ass.” The car directly beside us is full of guys, their windows partially down.
“Stupid young fucks.” Lane reaches back and grips me by the ass, pulling me toward him.
“What are you doing?”
He doesn’t say anything, but I pull my jacket down over my ass.
“Yo Baby, want to come with some real men?”
I look at the douche bags and I feel Lane stiffen. Lane turns around in his seat and looks fully at the men, and they immediately shut up. Lane grins, and chills run up my spine. “You disrespect her one more time, and I will make you fucking eat every single word you’ve said about her.” He points at them before turning back around. The light turns green and we are off.
Holy fuck. Did he just stand up for me? What the hell just happened? I am shocked. I stare at the back of his head.
We pull up outside the steakhouse where we saw each other yesterday. He climbs off first and holds out his hand for me to take. Is this man serious right now? Is this an act? I place my hand in his, and he helps me off the bike.
He helps me take off my helmet and sets it in the saddlebag; then I put my jacket with the helmet. I buckle the saddlebag and look at Lane, and I am startled as I notice him staring directly at me.
He continues to stare at me and a good few seconds go by, and his stare doesn’t waver. “What is it?” I gnaw on my bottom lip as I start to get uncomfortable.
“You’re just beautiful, Doll.”
Oh my god. I almost fall to the ground.
“Lane!” I smile widely. “That was so sweet. Thank you.” It literally takes everything in me not to reach forward and hug him.
He winks. “Let’s get you fed.” He motions toward the door of the restaurant. We walk to the entrance, and he opens the door for me.
“Two,” I tell the waitress at the front, and she grabs two menus.
Lane places his hand on the small of my back as we follow her to our booth. I sit in the seat facing the front of the room. “Move over, Doll.” I scoot farther in the seat, and he sits down directly beside me, not in front of me like I expected.
>
I look at him from the corner of my eye, still in a bit of shock. It may seem like nothing to a lot of people, but someone being a gentleman doesn’t happen often, or I’ve just always had shit luck with guys I have dated. I want something genuine, but that has yet to happen. Heck, I have never even had a relationship that has lasted longer than a few months.
I am the person who looks at the little things in life because, in the end, that is what means the most.
I open the menu and stare at it. I always hate first dates. Really, I loathe them. They are awkward as heck. Like is the man supposed to buy the food? Do I buy my own? What is too expensive? I am just an awkward person.
“What made you want to be a vet?”
I break from my thoughts and look at Lane. “I have loved animals for as long as I can remember. When I saw an injured animal, as a child, I would bring it home and nurse it back to health, to my father’s delight.” I shrug and he chuckles.
“My daughter has brought home a few birds with broken wings, a squirrel, and too many dogs.” His eyes light up at the mention of his daughter. There is nothing hotter than a man being a good dad.
“Aww, how old is she?” I grin and scoot a little closer.
Lane
“Aww, how old is she?” Amelia asks.
“She is eight years old, and she is the sassiest little girl in the world, on top of being absolutely beautiful. She also drives me crazy because she is my twin.”
She throws her head back and laughs loudly, her smile blinding. It should be a crime for someone to be that beautiful. This girl has men running into stuff, and the damn waiter ran into a table because he was staring at her so hard.
Amelia gives me a shit-eating grin. “Oh, you are so fucked.”