by R B Hilliard
I threw her a scowl. I may not want Dillon, but I knew that if Piper got her claws in him she would just eat him up and spit him out. That’s the last thing he needed, especially after Dana.
We watched him saunter to the end of the bar to fill a tray for Polly. “I thought you said you were done with guys?” I reminded her. “Remember….the reason you came back to Charlotte and all? The thing you refuse to talk to me about?”
Dillon laughed at something Polly said and started back toward us. “Oh shut it! You’re just pissed at Max and taking it out on the world,” Piper hissed.
“Am not.”
Dillon shot me a look of concern. “Did he fuck up already? I knew it was going to happen, but damn I gave him at least a month.”
Forcing myself not to roll my eyes at them both, I slapped my hands on the bar. “I sure could use a shot. I feel like getting drunk tonight!”
Looking over at Piper, Dillon raised both eyebrows. “Demanding isn’t she?”
She shot him one of her ear splitting grins. “She always has been.”
Directing his sexy smile back my way, his voice deepened. “Makes me wonder if she’s like this…everywhere?”
Now, thoroughly embarrassed, I started searching the room for signs of Joss.
“Well, okay then,” he sighed, realizing that I wasn’t going to bite. “Shots it is!” He pulled down three different bottles and, with a shake here and a shake there, voila. “Drink up!” he said, slamming a shot down in front of me while gently handing Piper hers.
We clinked our glasses together and Piper shouted, “Here’s to getting rid of Lying A-Holes!”
Before I could tell Dillon that his shot tasted like vomit, Piper flew off of her stool. “Harry!” she shouted, and threw her arms around him.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Polly watching them and she didn’t look happy.
Hmmm, looks like Harry might be getting to Polly after all.
I was so busy focusing on Polly that I failed to see who Harry had walked in with. That is until I heard a familiar “Hey Ellie.”
Garrett.
“Well, well, well, look who the cat dragged in? It’s Garrett the protector. I figured that you’d be long gone now that your job is over or did Max send you here tonight?” I knew that I was being harsh but I was hurt and mad and needed an outlet.
His eyes widened and his nose flared. “Max said you were angry, but I figured that you would have realized by now that I was just keeping you safe and gotten past it.”
Not liking how this conversation was going, I decided no more playing around. “I don’t like being lied to, Garrett. I thought you were my friend.”
“First of all, I had a job to do, Ellie. After that I could play it any way I wanted and that’s exactly what I did. Being your friend wasn’t a lie. In fact, I’m still your friend.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why aren’t you back in Kentucky?”
“I’m expanding my business to Charlotte, so I’m scouting locations.”
Before he could say anything else, we were interrupted by the obnoxiously loud squeal of the amplifier.
Handing me a full beer, Piper said, “Harry says this guy is great. Let’s find a closer spot so we can dance!”
From the way she was bouncing around, it was obvious that she was feeling no pain. I wrinkled my brow at her. “How many pain killers did you take tonight Piper?” She stuck her tongue out at me and giggled.
Great.
We found a high table four rows back and left of center stage. It was perfect for holding our drinks and we had enough room to dance around it. We cheered with the crowd as the main attraction walked out onto the dark stage. He was carrying a bar stool and had a guitar strapped around his front, but that’s all I could see. Suddenly Kurt’s voice boomed through the speakers. “I’m sorry to say that Ben had a last minute family emergency tonight and can’t be here.” The whole crowd started booing. “Hey, hey now, none of that,” he continued. So, I asked a friend of mine for a huge favor and here he is now. Give it up for Dragonfly’s own Dillon Whitaker!”
My eyes shot to the now lit stage and there sat Dillon.
How did I not know this?
Glancing over at Piper, the surprise that I was feeling was mirrored in her eyes. “Holy shit Ellie, you didn’t tell me that he was a musician!” she squeaked.
I didn’t know.
Dillon’s deep voice cut into my moment of wonder. “Hi, in case you don’t know, I’m Dillon Whitaker. I help Kurt manage this place and, every now and then, if you catch me on a good night, I might be willing to play a few tunes for you.”
“Oh….My,” Piper panted in my ear. I had to agree.
“Anyway,” he continued, “sorry that Ben couldn’t be here tonight because he’s really good. I’ll try not to disappoint.”
Piper and I looked at each other and sighed. He really was quite dreamy. He started strumming his guitar and it took me a second to recognize the song. When he began singing Hey There Delilah by the Plain White T’s, the crowd went nuts. I had to admit, Dillon’s version was pretty damn impressive.
We were dancing to his mind blowing rendition of Blister in the Sun when I spotted Dana and Jennifer down in front of the stage.
Figures.
“After what happened, I’m shocked that ho bitch has the nerve to show her face around here,” Piper snarled.
Not really excited about getting in another altercation, I was contemplating going home when Harry and Garrett showed up toting a bucket of beer. I had barely taken a sip when Dillon broke into his amazing version of Lola. I couldn’t decide which was more comical, Harry who danced like he was on a pogo stick or Garrett who was doubled over in hysterics laughing at him. We were all gearing up to get ‘down on our knees’ when I felt Piper’s body jerk as if she’d been slapped.
“Hey!” I yelled, grabbing her arm, “you okay?”
“I’ve got to go,” she clipped. Her eyes looked haunted and her face pale.
I wondered when the pain killers and booze would catch up with her. I guess I had my answer.
“Give me your keys, Ellie. I have to get out of here, now.” The panicked look in her eyes instantly sobered me.
“Okay. We’ll go,” I assured her.
“No, you stay and have fun.”
She was starting to scare me. “Honey, if you are going to be sick I will come home and take care of you. I don’t mind.”
“That’s not it. I’m fine, really. I just need some air and have stayed way longer than I planned. Please give me the keys,” she begged.
“I’m heading home, Piper. I’ll drop you off at Ellie’s,” Garrett offered.
“Thanks Garrett, that would be great,” she said, relief written all over her face. Then, turning to me, she pulled me into a tight hug, whispered, “See you at home” and bolted for the front door.
What the hell just happened here?
After Piper’s hasty departure Harry and I resumed drinking and dancing. The more alcohol I consumed, the funnier he got. I was laughing at him swaying to Dillon’s hot as hell version of Matchbox Twenty’s 3 AM, when I felt hands on my hips and large body flush against my back. Startled, I turned my head to see who it was when a familiar sexy voice started singing in my ear.
Double crap! Max is back and I am totally unprepared.
Before I could turn around and give him a piece of my mind, I spotted Gage and the boys heading our way.
“Shania!” Zippo shouted, and stepped up to hug me. Max’s body stiffened and, thank goodness, Zippo noticed because he carefully patted my arm instead.
I glanced back at Max and mouthed, “Be nice.”
He wound his fingers through my hair and lowered his lips to my ear. “Don’t know these guys and, even if I did, I wouldn’t want them putting their hands on you.” I hated to admit but it kind of made sense and the possessive thing was a huge turn on, so I just nodded my head. I felt his body tense again.
What now?
/> Walking toward us was Gage. His eyes were on me and he was sporting his sexy-as-hell smile. Max was less than impressed. The vindictive side of me that did not like being lied to cheered Gage on. “Hey, babe. Long time no see,” he said. I inwardly smiled when Max let out a growl of disapproval.
Seriously thinking I want to be a biker chick about… right… now….
I grinned. “Hey Gage. How was the rally?”
Max snorted and I tried to scowl at him, but he had me in a vice lock and I couldn’t turn around. Testing his hold, I tried to wiggle free, but it only caused him to tighten his grip. “Ellison,” he warned in his don’t-mess-with-me voice. I sighed and relaxed back into him.
Gage, who had been watching our struggle, answered. “The rally was good.”
Ignoring Max’s Neanderthal-assed antics, I asked, “When did you get back?”
“I’ve been sitting at the bar for a little over half an hour. The brown haired waitress with the big rack said that you and your friend Piper were somewhere over here.” The music had stopped, so I assumed that Dillon was taking a break.
Probably off somewhere getting an earful from Dana.
Harry, who was standing next to Zippo cleared his throat. When everyone stopped and looked at him he said, “Hi, I’m Harry Greenfield.”
“Oh, I’m sorry!” I exclaimed, embarrassed that I hadn’t introduced everyone. “Harry and Max, meet Gage, Zippo, Rider, Ax, Sledge and Buck. Guys, this is Max and Harry.”
After they all shook hands Max’s voice rumbled behind me. “Hey man, you got a cousin named Skeeter?”
“I thought you looked familiar,” Gage grinned, “except I swear that Skeeter called you Jack?” I tensed when he said this and he squeezed my hips.
“It’s a long story. Call me Max.”
Gage nodded. “Been keeping busy since Texas?”
Texas?
“Somethin’ like that,” Max said.
Ax chimed in. “Hey, I remember you now, you were there with that bl..”
“Nolen,” Max cut him off. “I was with my manager, Nolen.”
Gage and Ax cut their eyes at each other.
Did I just miss something?
I tilted my head and asked, “Who is Skeeter?” And when were you in Texas?”
“Skeeter works for me at my garage in Texas,” Max said. “Nolen and I drove down there four or five months ago to check things out and Skeeter took us over to a…party and introduced us to Gage and some other people.”
“Hey, Shania, where’d you get the t-shirt?” Sledge interrupted.
“Her name is Ellison.” Max informed.
“Yeah, but she looks exactly like a blonde Shania Twain,” Zippo explained, “except with better eyes and…”
Max froze and growled, “Don’t even think about finishing that sentence.”
“T- shirt?” I asked, getting back to the original question.
Sledge nodded at the shirt I had on. “Yeah, do you know Dooley?” I watched him cut his eyes to Gage and Max’s hand twitched on my stomach.
“Oh,” I laughed, looking down at the shirt. “I forgot I had this on. Piper let me borrow it. Isn’t it cool? I asked her what Dooley’s was and where she got it but she didn’t remember.”
“Gage, isn’t that…?” Ryder interrupted.
“Nope,” Gage clipped, shaking his head.”
I was totally lost, but could sense that something wasn’t right.
“So…uh, where is this Piper?” Rider asked, looking around.
“Oh,” Harry butted in, “she wasn’t feeling well so Garrett took her home.”
“You two together?” Zippo asked, looking down at Max’s hands on my waist.
“Yes,” Max said.
“Max and I are…old friends,” I explained. I knew that this would make him angry but I just couldn’t resist.
“Babe,” Max said, turning me around to face him. He searched my eyes and I guess didn’t like what he saw because suddenly he was in my face. “What the fuck, Ellison?”
I leaned in to where only he could hear and said, “I know that you lied to me.”
His eyes darkened. “I’m not sure I like the attitude you’re throwing, babe.”
“Really? Well,” I challenged in the same tone, “I don’t really like being lied to, babe. So I guess we’re even.”
The air went tense and I fought the urge to take a step back. Leaning down, he put his mouth to my ear. “I’m thinking we need to head back to your place and clear the air.”
His quiet chilling tone made me want to run. Instead, I stepped out of his arms and glared up at him. “Nope, I’m breathing just fine right…here. In fact, I think it’s probably a good idea if you stay with Joss and Kurt tonight.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew that I had pushed him too far. Instead of waiting for him to reply, I whipped around and started for the dance floor.
Crap!
I was halfway there, when I felt his arm tag my waist. “It was good seeing you guys,” he casually said to Gage and the boys as he pulled me back against him. Then he asked, “You staying in town for a while?”
“Probably,” Gage answered, looking unsure.
“Come by MMG. I’m there every day. We’ll talk,” he said, and pulled me toward the bar.
“Max, what are you doing?” I hissed, trying to jerk away from his grasp. This just made him tighten his grip.
“What does it look like?” he snapped.
“Stop manhandling me!”
Stopping dead in his tracks, he twirled me around like we were dancing and hoisted me bodily up over his shoulder.
Oh. My. God
“Keys!” He shouted at Kurt as we passed by the bar. I heard the jingle of keys and the clink as they landed in Max’s hand.
“Max McLellan, you put me down now!” I growled.
“Not gonna happen.” He growled back.
I heard the key in the door and saw the bottom as it swung open. Max set me down in the middle of the floor. Then he walked back over to the door, kicked it shut and flipped the lock.
I placed my hands on my hips and stood there, determined to give him nothing.
He crossed his arms. Then, placing one ankle over the other, he leaned back against the door and made himself comfortable.
His nonchalance infuriated me. “You lied to me.”
His eyebrow arched and I wanted to rip it off of his face. “Just what is it that I lied to you about, Ellison?”
I threw up my hands. “Seriously? Where were you today, Max?”
“What’s the point in answering if you already know?”
“What I can’t figure out is why you would lie to me?” I dropped my eyes to my feet and fought the tears.
“I didn’t lie to you. I was going to the garage today. I got a call on the way there and had to change plans.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “And… since I’m not your mother or apparently anyone who matters to you, you owe me no explanations. I get it Max, loud and clear.” I was done. I wanted out and away from him. “If that’s all, I think I’ll take off now.”
He let out an explosive sigh. “If that’s all?” I could see the tick of anger in his jaw but I was too far gone to stop.
I stepped forward and leaned in. “I…Am…Done,” I slowly enunciated.
He shot off the wall and before I could blink, was in my face. “Yeah? Tell me Ellison, are you done because I didn’t end up where I said I was going? Are you done because I failed to call home when you felt was the appropriate time? Or are you done because I failed to explain myself to you?”
“No Max,” I shot back, “I am done because the past five years have been one Big Fucking Lie and, when I finally get you back, the first thing you do is Lie to me, again! That’s why I am done!”
He closed his eyes and pained look appeared on his face. “It wasn’t like that, baby.”
“Yeah, well I wouldn’t know what it was like because you don’t feel the need to explain!” I shouted, throwing
my hands up in frustration. He stepped in and defensively I stepped back. “Don’t,” I said, holding out my hand hoping he would stop. I knew that if he touched me, I would give in.
God, I am so weak for this man.
“It wasn’t like that,” he repeated in a half whisper. Then, pushing past my hand, as if it wasn’t there, he pulled me into his body and wrapped himself around me. Placing his lips on the top of my head, he explained. “I got a call this morning while I was driving to the garage. Nolen told me that he was on his way to Tennessee to deal with the manager of the garage, Tim. Tim has been skimming money for months now and Nolen finally figured out how he was doing it. I couldn’t just ignore it, so I grabbed Benny and Kurt and headed to Tennessee.” He tightened his hold. “You called right in the middle of him explaining how he had screwed me over and I handled it poorly. I didn’t even think about how I had spoken to you, until we were heading back to Charlotte and Kurt lit into me. I didn’t call and tell you what was going on because I had nothing to tell. I was mad at Tim and took it out on you. I am sorry but I didn’t lie. I would have told you about it tonight, I promise.”
“I over reacted,” I said into his chest because he still had me in a death grip.
He pulled back just far enough to look me in the eye. “Why did you tell Gage and his boys that we were just friends?”
“Because I was mad and, truly Max, I have no idea what we are. For all I know, you are here setting up MMG Charlotte and then you are heading back to Kentucky to live.”
His eyes narrowed. “I spent five years away from you. Five years where all I could think about was making my way back to you.” He wove his hands through my hair, stopping when he reached my scalp. “You are everything to me, Ellison.” Using just enough pressure, he forced me to look up at him. Then, oh so gently, he touched his mouth to mine. “You are my end game and, when I am with you, wherever it may be, I am finally home.” He kissed me again with more force and I couldn’t hold out any longer.
He is my kryptonite, my weakness, always has been and always will be.
Opening my mouth, I let him in. Tongue against tongue, we ate each other up. He broke away long enough to say, “Wrap your legs around my waist.” Then, placing both hands under my arms, he lifted me up and resumed kissing me while walking us over to Kurt’s desk. Lowering me onto the desk, he stepped between my legs.