My heart fluttered, remembering the way those tight football pants hugged his backside. He had a great ass. Besides a smoking hot body, he was a devoted family guy. He’d doted on his younger siblings and respected his parents. He wasn’t defiant like me. Then again, he had nothing to rebel against. His parents showed up at every school function. They cheered at every single one of his football games. My parents were too busy with social events to even attend parent-teacher conferences. My grandfather had been the one who supported me and encouraged my dreams.
Now, I had nobody. The only other person who knew about my drawings and art was Blake. My gaze focused on two men standing shirtless with their backs to the street. Both had muscular builds and dark hair. I recognized Blake instantly. A shiver raced through me.
I exhaled and adjusted my glasses. Instead of looking at the road, my eyes remained fixed on broad shoulders and a tapered waist as I pressed the gas pedal with more force than required.
A second later, the crunch of metal pierced my ears. The seatbelt cinched against my torso and my head flew back as the airbag deployed. The car had collided with the vehicle stopped at the stop sign. I’d accidentally rammed my car into the back of someone’s bumper.
“Shit!”
The airbag deflated along with my hopes of escaping town unnoticed. My hands trembled as I shifted the damaged car into park. I glanced out the windshield at the crumpled front end and swore some more. The string of curse words wouldn’t change what happened or the fact I needed to deal with this mess. I unbuckled and climbed out of the car.
The mid-day, summer sunshine beat down on me. In my peripheral, I noticed two sexy mechanics turn towards the commotion on the street. Even with the distance, their muscles and fit bodies caught my attention. My cheeks heated.
“Damn,” I mumbled.
Fanning my face, I looked ahead and pretended I hadn’t seen them. With any luck, they wouldn’t come over. This was not how I envisioned our reunion. Not that I’d fantasized about it thousands of times or anything.
The man whose truck I’d hit raced towards his back bumper, waving his hands in the air. “Are you an idiot?” he screamed as he bent to inspect the damage.
After the confrontation with my parents, I wasn’t ready for another. Not that I had a choice. I inched towards the angry stranger. “I’m sorry. Please, lower your voice. You don’t need to scream.”
“Yeah, I do! You think because you drive an expensive car you get to punt my truck out of the way if it’s not moving fast enough. Listen, little girl, you messed with the wrong guy.”
Little girl? Was this asshat for real? It was an accident, but he acted like I was out to get him. It wasn’t personal. His reaction left me wondering if this man had several screws loose.
“Excuse me—”
“Who taught you to drive?” He stood, towering over me. His breath was a foul mixture of coffee and halitosis. “Never mind, you probably don’t have a license, but insurance or not, you’ll pay.”
“Calm down. You’re making a scene.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” he seethed. A splash of spittle landed on my arm. His salt and pepper hair covered his eyes as he pointed his finger at me. “You’re going to pay for this.”
He seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place him. Judging by his ripped jeans and filthy plaid shirt, he wasn’t someone my parents would associate with. They were the epitome of snobs. Unless this man had millions hidden under his baseball cap, they wouldn’t give him the time of day.
A horn blared behind us, making me jump. Lakeside wasn’t a big town, but Main Street had a constant flow of traffic. Not only had I hit someone, I was blocking the road. Any hope of not drawing the attention of Blake and Owen were dashed when the horn sounded again. I peered over my shoulder and waved to the angry motorist to move around us.
“It was an accident.” I crouched between the vehicles. “Your truck seems fine.”
A small scratch and dent scarred the back of his truck. My car was in much worse shape. I buried my face in my hands, wishing the earth would open and swallow me whole. With an unknown liquid leaking onto the concrete, I had no idea how I would make it to the city before the stores closed.
“You don’t know shit. My truck will need repairs and my neck is sore. I probably have whiplash. I want your license, contact information and proof of insurance,” he ordered.
Tension settled on my shoulders, knotting the muscles. I exhaled a long breath, trying to remain calm. He should have moved long ago. It was a stop sign not a red light. The accident was my fault, but he didn’t need to be a royal douchebag about it.
“The insurance will cover the damages. I’m in a rush, so let’s make this quick.” I had places to be and people to avoid.
“If you hadn’t been in a rush, none of this would have happened.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “You rich kids are all the same. Heading out to your cottage on the lake, speeding through town with no regard for your elders.”
“Your prejudice is enlightening. I wasn’t speeding. Rich or not shouldn’t change any—”
“Listen bitch, you keep your opinions to yourself.”
“Whoa. There’s no need for name calling.” A voice I hadn’t heard in years sent an instant jolt of recognition to my heart. “Is everything all right, miss?”
My hands shook as I swiveled towards him and nearly fell over. Blake stood far closer than I expected. I was eye level with his crotch. Strong, muscular thighs and chiseled abs filled my vision. It had been eight years since I’d last seen him.
As I stood, my eyes roamed the length of him. His coveralls were lowered, leaving his tanned torso exposed. Rows of muscles lined every inch. His body was a bronzed burly work of art. He looked amazing. Rugged. Dark hair covered his strong jaw and a scar I had kissed and licked countless times. My breath hitched when our eyes met. The mesmerizing aqua blue set butterflies loose in my belly.
“Hi,” I said, wiping my sweaty palms on my skirt. “Everything is fine.”
His eyebrows raised as he stared at me. “Never thought I’d see your pretty face again.”
Despite my better judgement, I beamed at the compliment. “Hi,” I repeated like a pathetic schoolgirl.
“Gemma Newbury, you haven’t changed a bit. Big hazel eyes and even bigger glasses. Are you hurt?”
My pride was wounded, but I was otherwise unharmed. If I hadn’t been checking him out, there wouldn’t have been an accident. A blush heated and crept over my cheeks.
“No injuries. I’m okay. Thanks for asking.”
He looked at the car and then back at me. “Look more than okay to me. Can’t say the same for your wheels.” His eyes locked with mine. “It’s been a helluva a long time. Haven’t seen you since you left for boarding school and never came back. I heard you went to some fancy ivy league college.”
My body tensed at the mention of boarding school. After my parents discovered my secret relationship with Blake, they had banished me overseas. Their ultimatum left me no option. They claimed it was best for my future. I disagreed, but my years abroad weren’t all bad. My education was top notch. I’d learned lots about life and art, but I had missed my grandfather and his house nestled along the water’s edge. Leaving hadn’t been my choice.
“I imagine you know why I’m here.”
He nodded. “Your grandfather’s funeral. Didn’t think you’d come.” He rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged his shoulders.
I straightened my posture, but still only came up to his chest. “He was my family. I couldn’t not be here for him.”
“Right. While Henry and I disagreed on most things, he was a good man.”
“The best,” I added. “The shock hasn’t worn off yet. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
My family had owned and operated the Quarry until my grandfather retired. My parents took over and closed the doors a few years past. Another decision we disagreed on. My parents never cared about the town. They prefe
rred to hobnob with the elite cabin owners at the Lodge. They had a massive beef against Blake’s parents and half the property owners in town because of a land development deal that fell through due to not enough council votes. The feud started when we were teenagers and showed no signs of stopping.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
I hadn’t fully accepted that he was gone. Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not in front of my ex. An uneasy moment of silence followed as we stared at each other.
“I have someplace to be,” I chirped.
“You’re not leaving until we settle things,” the stranger yelled.
“Dwight, you need to relax. If you want a professional opinion, I’ll give you one,” Owen said, dropping to his knees to look at the two vehicles.
The cousins resembled one another, but Owen was taller and leaner. He’d also been more of a troublemaker in school. A thrill seeker with no regard for consequences. I’d always considered him reckless.
I rounded the car and grabbed the insurance paperwork from the glove compartment. While Blake and Owen assessed the damages, I exchanged information with Dwight. He rambled about nonsense. I watched Blake run his big hands over my Jaguar’s once pristine black paint, recalling those hands on my body. His eyes met mine. Memories flooded my brain, making it impossible to concentrate on anything but him.
Owen cleared his throat, drawing my attention. He shook his head from side to side before standing. “The truck has minimal damage, and I honestly can’t say the dent or scratches were caused from this incident.”
“I’ll get a second opinion. Maybe your uncle has better eyes.”
“Whatever it costs, I’ll pay. Do whatever you need to get it fixed,” I stated. “It’s my fault and I’m sorry. We… I don’t have time for second opinions. I really need to get to the city.” I needed to get the hell away from Blake and those piercing blue eyes before I got myself into more trouble.
“Don’t get into accidents if you don’t got the time to deal with them,” Dwight said.
Blake moved next to me and folded his massive arms over his chest. He exuded raw power. “Dwight, I’d suggest you head back to the farm before your mouth gets away from you.”
“She doesn’t need you to defend her.”
He didn’t move from my side. “I’m saying move along and have a nice day.”
Dwight marched towards to his truck, got behind the wheel and extended his middle finger out the window. “See you around.”
I glanced at my watch; thankful it hadn’t taken too much time. “I should go too.”
“Hate to break it to you, but this car won’t make it.” His broad smile seemed anything but remorseful.
“What?”
“It’s not safe. You won’t be driving to the city any time soon.”
My heart thundered in my chest. Blake turned to face me and smiled even bigger. His perfect, straight white teeth and striking good looks made my knees weak. I leaned against the car for support. After all these years, the attraction still sizzled. Not that it mattered. He belonged to someone else.
“I need to go. A minor fender bender couldn’t possibly cause that much damage.”
“Don’t trust me, Gemma?”
The seductive way he uttered my name caused a shiver to trail down my spine. I chewed my lip, unsure how to answer. He placed his hand on my shoulder, forcing my breaths to be even more labored. The heat from his touch spread like wildfire to every recess of my body.
“It can be fixed,” he continued. “It’s not beyond repair, but it won’t make it to the city in this condition.”
My glasses slid down my nose as I inhaled sharply. The sun was too hot against my skin. I was burning up. Avoiding eye contact, I surveyed the damage. “Any chance you could recommend a towing company and a place in the city I could get this fixed?”
“Our shop not good enough for you? I know your folks would never set foot inside, but…” He shrugged his big shoulders.
“I’m not them. Your shop is more than good enough. I assumed you wouldn’t have time.” I assumed he wouldn’t want to be anywhere near me.
Owen chuckled. “Good seeing ya, Gemma. Don’t be a stranger.” He waved and left me alone with Blake.
“You know what they say about assumptions.” Blake scratched his beard as his eyes wandered my body like a slow seductive caress. “Do you want my help or not?”
“I do. Thank you,” I added. “Do you offer courtesy cars?”
He tilted his head towards the half-empty lot. “No, we don’t. Pull your car in and we’ll get to it. Probably take a few days since we’ll have to order parts.”
“Blake, I wouldn’t ordinarily ask for help from someone who hates me, but I’m in a bit of a rough spot. I need a favor?” I placed my palms together, pleading for his help.
He gripped my chin, tilting my face and forcing my gaze to his. We stood so close I had to crane my neck to meet his eyes. The aquamarine swirls held me hostage. I chewed my lip, debating the best way to approach this situation. His brows furrowed. He pushed my dark-rimmed glasses back into place.
“I don’t hate you. What’s the favor?”
My heart clung to his words like a lifeline. I cleared my throat. “A car… I need to borrow a car. I promise I’ll bring it back before sunset.”
“No offense, but I’m not sure I’d trust you with one of my cars.” He released my chin. The sinew and muscles of his forearms flexed as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Fair enough. Can you take me to the city?”
He smirked. “You’re asking me instead of your folks. You guys fighting?”
Our conversation had ended with raised voices. If I walked back and told them about the accident, I’d get another lecture. I couldn’t return yet.
“Please. I… I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.” My voice quivered with more vulnerability than I cared to show. “Name your price?”
“It’s not a good idea.”
It was a horrible idea. Spending time with Blake would be torture. Especially with him looking even better than he did in high school.
“I know. But I need to get to the city. Please.”
Crickets chirped and two cars drove by while I waited. Our eyes locked. I couldn’t look away. He had every reason to say no. Chauffeuring me around for hours probably wasn’t high on his to do list. I’m not even sure why I asked. I wiped the sweat from my brow and licked my suddenly dry lips.
His nostrils flared as he gazed at my mouth. “How long are you in town for?”
“A week. Give or take,” I answered while knotting my fingers. “I suppose however long it takes to finalize the estate. For whatever reason, he named me the executor of his will.”
My grandfather had switched things around years ago but hadn’t informed me or my parents. Another reason my mother was on edge and taking it out on me. The control freak had no control.
“Makes sense to me. The old man trusted you more than anyone. Plus, you were always good with numbers. What did you study in school?”
I giggled. “Accounting.”
He rubbed his chin and his eyes widened. “Well, that changes things.”
“Why?”
“Because maybe we can help each other. Our bookkeeper retired a few months back and I need someone to fix the mess I’ve made. Finding anyone certified around here is impossible. So, I guess you’re in luck.”
“Or I could pay you? That’s the easiest since I’m not sure how much free time I’ll have.”
“I won’t take your money. We’ve never shied away from the hard way before.” His sly smile gave me the impression he wasn’t joking. “It will be like old times. I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine.”
“If I agree, then you’ll take me?”
“Sure.”
One word erased my frown. I squealed and flung myself against him. I wrapped my arms around Blake and smiled.
&nb
sp; Chapter Three
Blake
Her words had taken me aback. The girl had left me in the dust and never looked back after her family tried to ruin my life. But I could never hate her. After the truck drove away, I’d expected her to keep a wide birth. Ignore me like she’d done after she fled town; like she was too good for me; which was true.
Gemma’s soft curves smashed against me unexpectedly. The hug caught me off guard, pushing me back a step. The woman stood only an inch over five feet, but her impact stole the air from my lungs.
Fuck. She felt good in my arms.
I couldn’t recall the last time a woman took my breath away. No one affected me like Gemma. I smiled as her big breasts mashed against my stomach, her arms wrapped around my waist and her lavender scent struck me hard. It was subtle, feminine and inviting. Familiar. I breathed her in deeply.
Before I moved an inch, she peeled her body from mine and looked down. Her pale skin pinked as she chewed her lip. She had a quiet confidence I found attractive. Only, she hid her beauty behind glasses far too big for her face and an outfit a decade too old for her.
“We should get a move on,” she said and turned towards her car. Her heels clapped against the concrete, adding distance between us. “The stores close in two hours. If all goes smoothly, we’ll be back before sundown.”
“Sundown,” I repeated.
My day was full. I didn’t have time to take her anywhere; let alone back and forth to the city. This favor would set me back big time.
“Is that a problem?” She glanced at me over her shoulder.
Her black hair was knotted in a braid with wisps blowing in the breeze. An image of her thick mane, flowing in the wind and her arms hugging me tight while she rode on the back of my motorcycle made me smile wider. I hadn’t enjoyed a long ride in a while. Too damn long in fact. Work, chores and everything else could wait. Her return might do both of us some good.
Rough Spark: Big Flirt Series Book Two Page 2