I shake my head and Benny nods his and holds the bottle to my lips. “It’ll loosen you up.”
It’ll have me puking before the night’s over is what it’ll do. But I take the drink and cross my fingers I won’t make a fool out of myself.
Drinking the hard stuff has never agreed with me. So when Ashley comes up to me and hands me a beer, I take it. Grateful to have something to sip on that’s a lot weaker than the liquor.
She shouts into my ear because the music is so loud she has to, “I like your earrings.” She moves her long blonde hair back behind her ear to show me she has a matching set. “Rod and Blaze got swindled by the same old woman today.”
I laugh and know I’m going to miss this woman when they leave to go back to their normal lives. Whatever that is.
It occurs to me that it’s been two weeks and I haven’t gotten to know anything about any of his friends. I really am antisocial.
Benny goes into Blaze mode around his fellow bikers and it’s always kind of odd to me. The cigarettes get lit up and if a joint is passed around he does partake.
He knows better than to even try to push that on me. I don’t smoke at all. Never have and never will.
Some hard song comes on and it has the whole bar full of people revving up their already loud noise. Benny turns back to me and pulls me into his arms, lifting my feet off the floor as he swings me around a little to the music.
I guess to most this would be amazing fun. But all I can think about is how loud it all is, how crowded the place is, and how the hell we’d get out if a fire broke out in here.
Yeah, I know I’m a weirdo.
Once the song ends, he places my feet on the floor and proceeds to drag me behind him through the crowd and the next thing I know we’re in a ring of his friends again and they’re all yelling in each other’s ears about shit I can’t hear and wouldn’t understand if I could.
I feel like a foreigner in my own home town. It’s kind of awful.
I feel a tug on my arm and find Phoenix and Ashley. Phoenix shouts, “We’re going on a bathroom run, wanna come?”
Anything sounds better than this. I nod and tug at Benny’s hand and shout into his ear when he leans back, “I’m going to the bathroom with Ashley and Phoenix. I’ll be back. Be good.”
He laughs and pulls me in front of him and gives me a quick kiss. “I will.”
As I walk away, he lands a sharp slap on my ass and gives me a wink to which I wink back. He makes my heart melt with just one look. I’m so smitten.
The women’s restroom isn’t much of a reprieve from the loudness but it is a little less deafening than in the main area. I lean against the wall as we wait in the line.
“So you guys are heading out in the morning. I have to admit I’m going to miss you two.” I nod as some woman wearing a ripped up shirt walks past me and seems kind of pissed.
But who wouldn’t if someone ripped their shirt nearly off.
Ashely laughs as she sees my face as I look the woman over as she leaves. “Rough crowd out there.”
I nod. “I’d say so.”
Phoenix pulls out a pack of cigarettes and Ashley waves her off when she offers and so do I. She gets one for herself and lights it up. I try hard not to cough and act like a baby about the smoke.
“We’re going to miss you too, Angel. You’re a real trip. Your humor will be missed,” Phoenix tells me. “But we’ll see you in Vegas for our wedding next week, right?”
“Your wedding?” I ask as I have no idea what she’s talking about.
Ashley looks a little surprised as she asks, “Blaze didn’t tell you?”
“No.” I look at Phoenix. “You and Paco are tying the knot then?”
She nods. “Yeah. Blaze is paying for us to stay there for the whole week. I really can’t imagine why he hasn’t told you. He said he was coming.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Maybe he’s not taking me.” Anger starts to flow through me that he’d not invite me to the thing.
Ashely laughs. “I’m sure he’s taking you, Angel. The guy goes nowhere without you after all.”
“He must’ve forgotten you weren’t there that day we told everyone, and he said he’d be there. That’s most likely it. Just mention it and see what he says about it,” Phoenix suggests.
The urge to bite my nails is awful. Why didn’t he tell me? Is he really planning on going without me?
The line moves and I can see we’re finally next in line to get to use the handful of toilets. I tap my foot and both women look down at it. Ashley looks up at me. “Are you mad?”
“Nope.” I cross my arms in front of me. “Just really have to pee.”
So what if it’s a lie?
After I get into the stall, I try hard to calm back down. I don’t know why I’m letting this go all over me but it is.
Quickly, I take care of the business I came in here for and find the other two washing their hands and I do the same. In the mirror, I see my cheeks are flushed and I really need to try to calm down.
The loud noise and heat with the crowd does little to help as I follow them out and back to Benny. I’m taller than either of them so I can see over their heads as we get closer to where we left our men and I see a tall, heavyset, blonde woman pulling on Benny’s arm.
I suppose trying to get him to dance with her. I stop as he pulls out his pack of cigarettes and lets her take one from the pack then he lights it for her. She blows the smoke off to one side then leans in to say something else to him.
I barely notice Ashley and Phoenix looking back at me as I move faster to tell the woman to get away from my man. They part so I can get by them and I yank the skanky chick’s arm as soon as I can reach her.
She looks me up and down with a half-smile on her red lips. “What?”
“He’s taken. Get lost,” I shout in her ear.
She looks back at me just as Benny turns around and his eyes get really big as she says, “Look, Bitch, he ain’t got no ring on his finger so he’s up for grabs.”
I look back to see Ashely and Phoenix with their jaws dropped and make a fist with my right hand and turn back to the dumb ass and smack her so fucking hard her head snaps back.
Her cigarette flies through the air and her ass drops like a rock. Ashley and Phoenix move to either side of me and pull me along as Ashley shouts, “Time to move our party elsewhere, guys.”
The whole pack of Benny’s friends just moves a good ways over, leaving the fat chick lying on the floor. Benny takes my hand and pulls me away until he finds some place a little less loud.
“Why’d you do that, Baby?” he asks as he takes my right hand and looks over my red knuckles.
“A couple of reasons. First, she was touching my man. Second she used the word bitch and I don’t appreciate that.”
He kisses my knuckles and then me. “You’re something else, Rocky. One punch and she was out.”
“Why didn’t you tell her to fuck off instead of giving her a fucking cigarette and a light?” I ask as I narrow my eyes at him.
“She’d been bugging me and wouldn’t let up. I gave it to her thinking she’d go away,” he says, and he looks sincere.
“You give a bitch a cigarette and a light in this place, she’ll think you want her. Do you want her, Blaze?” I stare him down.
“What the fuck? No, Angel. What the fuck’s wrong with you?” He looks genuinely confused.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Phoenix and Paco’s Vegas wedding you’re going to in a week?” I cross my arms in front of me and tap my foot.
His eyebrows go way up. “That? That’s what has you so fired up? Fuck, Baby. I forgot. With all we’ve been doing, I really just forgot. Why would that make you so mad?”
“Were you planning on taking me with you? Or just leaving and telling me nothing?”
He shakes his head. “I’m not him, Angel. I’m not Gage. I’m not leaving you.”
The fact he knows what’s-his-ass’s name has me puzzled because I ne
ver say it. “Who told you his name?”
Suddenly he looks worried. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy. It doesn’t really matter, anyway. Come on, Baby. This is silly…”
I cock my head to one side. “What’s so silly about me being mad that you’ve discussed my private business with someone in this town. Who was it?”
He shakes his head again. “No, now, I made a promise and I’m going to keep it. And you need to stop being crazy.”
I try to walk away but he catches my arm so I turn back and say, “Fine. But when we get home, I’m going to use the belt to get it out of you. I don’t like people talking about my personal shit. Not ever!”
His grip on my arms tightens. “What did you say to me? You’re going to use the belt on me? To get something out of me? Fuck that shit!”
“You’re hurting my arm,” I say as I look at the way he’s holding it so tight.
“And apparently you think you’re going to try to hurt me later. So.” He glares at me and I glare right back.
“Tell me who it was, Blaze.”
“Don’t you fucking call me Blaze! You and I need to go somewhere a little more private, Angel.” He tugs me along with him and takes me outside and around the side of the building where he pushes me up against the wall.
“Stop!” I shout at him.
His hand goes over my mouth, making me be quiet. “Listen to me, young lady, you will never lay a hand on me in anger. Nor I, you. The belt, the whip, and our hands are not to be used in anger. Got me?”
I nod and he moves his hand from my mouth. “Blaze…”
“Why are you calling me that?” He takes me by the shoulders.
“Because that’s who you’re being right now. I don’t think you forgot to tell me about going to Vegas.” I look him in the eyes as he darts them back and forth.
“I did forget. I asked you to go to New York with me, for God’s sakes. Why on Earth would I take you there and not to Vegas, Baby? You’re freaking out for no reason.” He lets me go but pulls me into a hug and holds me tight. “What’s really wrong, Baby?”
“I don’t know,” I confess. “This can’t last. It’s all too good to be true. And I know that no matter how hard you try, your family is going to fight this.”
He lets me go and takes a step back. “Angel, I’ll fight them over you.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” I say and the tears start falling. “You should just do what’s expected of you. Be with a woman in your league. You’re so far out of mine, it’s not funny.”
“Don’t talk like that. You’re a brilliant woman and you’re on the cusp of your own greatness. Have a little faith in yourself and know you will become someone who’s amazing.” He looks over my shoulder and I hear footsteps moving over the gravel in quick steps. “Who’s this mother fucker and why does he look like that?”
I turn around and nearly fall down. “Gage!”
To be continued…
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Maelstrőm
An Alpha Billionaire Romance Boxed Set
Books 1 & 2 `
By Michelle Love
Maelstrőm
Since Yesterday
An Alpha Billionaire Romance Boxed Set
Part One:
By Michelle Love
Young coffee-house owner Sarah Bailey has finally got over the mysterious disappearance of her husband two years previously and is looking forward to her new life as a single woman. She doesn’t count on meeting Isaac Quinn, billionaire tech magnet, who sets out to seduce the beautiful Sarah. Unable to resist the incredible connection between them, they soon begin a passionate and sensual relationship that soon becomes headline news in the gossip columns.
Their happiness is marred when Sarah attracts a jealous stalker who sends her threats and Isaac begins to wonder if his fame and status has put the woman he is falling in love in terrible, terrible danger….
Since Yesterday
If she hadn’t been thinking about the letter, Sarah Bailey wouldn’t have started so violently when Molly shouted her name across the busy coffee house. Sarah felt her balance slip away from her. She landed hard on her backside and laughed, embarrassed. She felt hands slide under her arms and lift her to her feet. She turned to her savior and her stomach flipped. Her rescuer was tall, broad, his dark hair cropped close to his head. He was dressed casually in jeans and tee but she could tell they were artfully distressed to look vintage. Expensive, exclusive. Sarah couldn’t help but stare into his dark green eyes, which were crinkled at the corners in a crooked smile which softened the perfectly sculpted face. His smile widened as he took her in, and as she wobbled, his big hands moved to her shoulders to steady her. He was so tall, she had to tilt her head right back to gaze at him and suddenly she felt vulnerable, tiny in his presence.
‘You okay, sweetheart?’
Oh god, his voice. Chocolate and sex. Damn. His hands on her felt so good. Get a grip, Sarah shook herself and smiled at him.
‘Thank you.’
His smile widened. ‘It was absolutely my pleasure, beautiful.’
Sarah flushed at the compliment and stammered through another thanks before scooping her bag up from the floor. Molly met her at the counter.
‘Sorry, honey.’ Molly grinned, her green eyes amused.
Sarah hugged her friend. ‘Not your fault. Just me being clumsy.’
‘How are you?’
Sarah held up her left hand and Molly’s eyes widened.
‘You’ve taken your wedding ring off.’
‘I decided today is the day I move on. Dan is either dead or he left me. Either way, I know he’s not coming back.’ Sarah took a deep breath and smiled. ‘New day, new life. He’s been gone two years on Saturday. It’s time, is all.’
Molly hugged her. ‘I’m glad.’ She went to serve a customer and Sarah went into the backroom. She pulled the envelope out of her bag. Sarah Bailey. It was the same handwriting as the others and she guessed it would contain the same repulsive, spite-filled messages as the last few. Her stomach clenched with fear, her skin breaking out in a sweat. She wanted to share the letter with Molly, ask her best friend’s advice. She closed her eyes and swallowed thinking of the vile threats and words of the last letters. This one would be no different. Her entire body started to tremble. No. Not now, please. She shoved the letter into the pocket of her jeans and went to work.
At twenty-eight, Sarah Bailey had known most people on the island since she was a child and living in the now-closed children’s home down on Dogwood Street. When the Jewell family had moved next door the two kids, Molly and Finn, had claimed Sarah as their own. They were drawn to the shy young part-Asian girl, her dark hair tumbling to the middle of her back, the almond eyes so dark and big, fringed with thick lashes. Her beauty was offset by her tomboyish nature – never out of her flared blue jeans and beloved sneakers, knees and elbows forever grazed from running and climbing. It was a childhood spent climbing trees, swimming, camping out in the county park.
Unable to stay away from the island, after college and newly married to Daniel Bailey, Sarah had rebuilt the derelict movie house into the Varsity coffee house, mostly with just an instruction manual, and the help of Dan, Molly and Finn. The locals watched in admiration – their local girl come good - and when the coffee house finally opened, it became the heart of Main Street. Grizzled fishermen would sit at the counter and order throat-strippingly strong coffee, next to the tourists who enjoy their tea from the most delicate of china. When Dan had disappeared, so shocking, so unexpected, they had rallied around her, not letting her fall apart, not letting her feel the desperate guilt that consumed her when she was alone. She thought about moving away but this place, this little haven of an island an hour away from Seattle, was the only place she’d ever felt like she belonged.
The day was sultry with humidity. From the coffee shop window, ferries could be seen pulling i
nto the small dock. The Varsity was full, humming with the music of conversation, crockery and Sarah didn’t have a chance to tell Molly about the letter.
Late afternoon and the rush eased. Sarah opened the till to change some notes. Molly was at the counter flirting with one of their customers. Sarah pulled out the cash tin. She heard a low soft voice across the restaurant and her stomach flipped. She glanced up. Her savior from earlier was chatting with some of the regulars, leaning back in his chair, relaxed, his long denim-clad legs stretched out in front of him.
‘George makes an incredible chocolate mud pie that I practically drool over.’
‘Huh?’ Sarah looked at Molly in confusion and her friend grinned.
‘I’m just saying.’ She nodded at the guy who was now walking towards them. ‘That’s how you were looking at that demi-God just then.’
The demi-God came to the counter. Sarah flushed and scowled at Molly.
‘I was not and shut up. Go wash a cup or something,’ she hissed at Molly then turned her burning face to greet him. ‘Hey.’
‘Hey yourself, beautiful.’
She flushed again. God, she was divine…Isaac Quinn studied the scarlet blush that colored her cheeks, the dark, lovely eyes. He’d seen her name tag earlier…Sarah. It suited her, soft, feminine.
‘What can I get you?’ Her voice was gruff and the sound of it made his groin tighten.
‘Now let me see.’ He picked up a menu and studied it. Slowly, deliberately he moved his hand so it was next to hers, almost touching. He could feel the heat of her skin, smell her perfume, fresh air, and clean laundry.
‘Okay, you ready?’
‘I’m ready.’ She waved her notepad and smiled.
‘You sure?’
‘Sure.’
Isaac grinned ‘Fine purveyor of all things drinkable…‘I would very much like to partake of a fine cocktail called ‘A Tea Garden’.’
Sarah laughed and he saw her eyes start to dance, enjoying the joke.
The Shameless Billionaire Series: Billionaire Romance Box Set (An Alpha-Male, Billionaire, Bad Boy, Bad Girl, Romance) Page 92