Spark (Boosted Hearts Book 4)

by Sherilee Gray

  Dex finally pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. He was breathing heavily. “Fuck,” he said.

  Hattie’s thoughts exactly.

  “Screw it, let’s stay here,” he growled out at the same time as his tummy rumbled so loud there was no hiding it.

  She bit her lip to hold back her laugh, but it escaped when she got a good look at Dex’s expression. Kind of annoyed, kind of embarrassed.

  Shaking her head, she took his hand and led him to the door. “Let’s get you fed. You’ll be no good to me if you swoon from starvation.”

  “Don’t swoon, sweetness. I’m a man.”

  “Okay, faint.”

  “Don’t do that either.”

  “Collapse?” She was giggling, and the sexy grin on Dex’s face was irresistible.

  “Nope. A man passes the fuck out.”

  “Well, if you pass out, I’ll have to go home, and Bob and I will be forced to have fun without you.”

  Dex paused at the bottom of the stairs and, God, he looked devastated. “Bob? What the fuck, Hattie? You’re seeing someone else?”

  Hattie’s eyes widened and she quickly shook her head. “No. B-O-B. My battery-operated boyfriend.” When Dex just frowned harder, she said, “My vibrator.”

  He sucked in a sharp breath. “Jesus, for a minute there I thought…” He shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out the keys to his truck. After a couple of slow breaths his gaze slid back to her. “Vibrator, huh?”

  Was he blushing? He was. He totally was. Or maybe the idea of her using it while she was on her own made him hot under the collar?

  “I have a couple.” She didn’t comment on his reaction to the thought of her seeing someone else, or how horrified she was at the thought of him thinking she’d do that. They were casual. No one had said the word exclusive. She’d already told him she didn’t want serious, and right then she didn’t want to look too closely into the way they’d both reacted to the idea of Hattie dating another man, so she added, “Maybe next time you can stay at my place and I’ll introduce you to Bob?”

  He tugged her in close and kissed her again. “Yeah, fuck, I’d like that.”

  A short time later, they pulled up outside Abella’s. Hattie grinned to herself when Dex rushed around to open her door and all but dragged her into the place.

  Dex asked what she wanted, and Hattie hung back while he went up to order their takeout since they didn’t do deliveries. He was talking to the guy there for a couple of minutes, then came back to her.

  “They have a table available if we want it. Someone canceled,” he said, unable to hide how happy this made him. “They have these breadsticks when you eat in.” He licked his lips like he could already taste them. “They’re really fucking good.”

  How could she say no to him? His excitement was insanely adorable. Also, he looked like he was about to start eating the furniture. “Okay. Sure.”

  He grinned, and her breath got stuck in her throat.

  He took her hand and hustled her through the restaurant, following a server to their table. They took their seats, ordered drinks, and Hattie sat back as Dex made short work of the famous breadsticks. She had one as well, and he was right—they were ridiculously good.

  “How did you find out about this place?”

  “Hugh, Joe, and Adam, all of them, they come here a lot. Joe wouldn’t stop going on about it, so I came and checked it out.”

  Their drinks arrived and they ordered their meals. For a minute, Hattie thought Dex had ordered for her as well, considering all the dishes he rattled off, until he looked up at her expectantly, waiting for her to do the same. She had no idea how excited Dex could get over food. It was oddly endearing.

  “So how are you liking your new job?” she asked him when they were on their own again.

  He leaned forward, resting his solid forearms on the table. “Good. Different. But good.”

  “Have you always liked working on cars?”

  He took a sip of his beer. “Yeah. Before my dad fucked off, we used to do that stuff together. My first job was in a garage, a good one. Learned a lot more. Always thought I’d come back to it one day.”

  “And working with family? How’s that going?”

  His expression was a mix between exasperation and humor. It looked very good on him, the way his lips curled up a little on each side. “Hugh’s a little like me, I guess, which makes things easy. Adam is straight up, no fucking around. The guy’s preoccupied with Lucy and the baby they’ve got coming. And Joe…” He scrunched up his face. “Fucked if I know.”

  Hattie laughed. “He’s different.”

  Dex chuckled, and she loved it. Loved anytime she could get Dex to laugh or smile. It warmed her somehow, made her heart beat a little faster, sent zaps of pleasure through her belly.

  Dex took a sip of his beer and sobered. “They’re good people. I didn’t know what to expect, but yeah, I like ’em. All of them.”

  Before she knew what she was doing, she curled her hand over his and squeezed. His own family was crappy, like hers, and she was so happy he’d found this one. She was happy they’d made space for her as well. “I’m so glad.”

  His gaze lifted, locked on hers. “They’re not the only people I met when I moved here that I like.”

  “No?”

  “No,” he said in his deep, rough voice.

  “I’ve met a few people I really like as well,” she said, finding it hard to breathe with her pulse racing like it was.

  The giant broody man across from her kept her locked in his sights, and she couldn’t look away. Didn’t want to.

  “How about you? The new job? Working with Shay?” he asked.

  She leaned forward as well. The restaurant was dimly lit, cozy, and she couldn’t help but try to get closer to Dex. When she was with him, she always wanted to get closer. “I love it.” The smile that curled her lips was involuntary. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”

  Dex’s Adam’s apple slid up and down his thick neck. “Yeah?”

  She shook her head. “I went through law school and started at the family firm straight after. It was what was expected, what had been expected my whole life. I guess I never thought of arguing or fighting for what I wanted.” She toyed with her napkin. “Suttons don’t do that, fight against each other like that. A united front is expected at all times.” Her belly tightened at the sympathy in Dex’s eyes. “I hated it,” she whispered. “I hated every moment of that life. I felt like I was…God, like I was drowning, dying slowly.”

  “Sweetness.” Dex looked pained, sad for her.

  She shook her head and smiled. It felt shaky. “I finally did what I needed to. And it will hurt like hell if my family cuts me off because I chose happiness over duty, but I won’t go back to that. Not ever. And I’ll prove them wrong.”

  It was then she realized she was still holding Dex’s hand, that she’d been toying with his thick, rough-skinned fingers the whole time she talked. But he was so easy to talk to, to open up to. She started to let go, but he turned his hand palm up and curled his fingers around hers, holding on.

  “You don’t know how fucking glad I am to hear that, Hattie.”

  The food arrived and they were forced to let go of each other.

  As Hattie ate her own meal, she couldn’t help but watch Dex work his way through the food he’d ordered. It was as enjoyable as she thought it would be.

  “So, your brother’s wedding—are you going?”

  His fork paused halfway to his mouth and his gaze lifted to her. He dipped his chin.

  Hattie could have kicked herself for bringing up such a painful subject when they were having such a good time. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”

  “Nah, it’s all good. I’m fine.” He shrugged his big shoulders and dipped his gaze. “Probably more than I should be.”

  Why did that make her feel so relieved? “Still, the actual wedding—surely they don’t expect you to go?” Why was
she pushing this? What did it matter to her if he went to the wedding, where he’d see his ex-girlfriend and possibly have a whole lot of feelings resurface that he thought were buried?

  “I’m over it, Hattie. Honestly, Chloe and I had been drifting apart long before she ditched me. It was only a matter of time before it ended between us. And I think not going would say more than just sucking it up and sitting through it. Zane’s my brother, and despite being a fucking dick most of the time, I’d like us to get through this shit and move on. I don’t want it hanging over our heads whenever we see each other, and going will help get us there.”

  “That’s very big of you,” she said, not sure if she could do the same thing.

  He took a sip of his beer and glanced up at her. “Be a whole lot better if I had someone to come with me.”

  She stilled when he aimed his brown eyes at her, all hopeful and gorgeous.

  “What do you say?” he said.

  “You really want me to come with you?”

  He nodded.

  “Are you trying to guilt me into it?” she said, amused when he attempted a downcast expression. He was actually pulling it off.

  “I wouldn’t mind the company.”

  Did people who weren’t actually dating, who were casual, go to weddings together? But the thought of him going on his own and having to sit through that with everyone looking at him, thinking he was hurt, or angry, or in pain, while he watched his ex marry someone else—his brother—wasn’t something she could tolerate.

  “As a friend?” she said.

  He grinned. “Sure. Friends who fuck.”

  Her face heated.

  The grin got even wider. “So you will? You’ll come with me?”

  “I’ll come with you,” she said, wondering if she’d lost her mind, but at the same time kind of looking forward to spending more time with Dex. Spending time with him was kind of becoming the highlight of her day, which was saying a lot when she loved her job so much that she couldn’t wait to get there every morning.

  When Dex finally finished his meal, he paid and took her hand, leading her toward the door.

  “Enjoy the rest of your date,” the server called as they passed by.

  Hattie tensed, and Dex’s hand tightened around hers, like he was worried she’d try and pull free and run. She glanced back at the table they’d just been sitting at and the other couples seated around the room and bit her lip.

  God, they’d just had a date, hadn’t they?

  “Don’t freak out. Tonight is whatever the fuck we say it is,” Dex said.

  Hattie relaxed instantly. Maybe it was a date? Maybe it wasn’t. But she realized, whatever it was, she’d loved every moment of it.

  Chapter 9

  “What’s with the cheesy-assed look on your face?” Joe asked Dex across the table in the breakroom.

  Adam, who was usually on Hugh and Dex’s side when the nut across from him got going, chuckled. “Yes, I wonder,” he said and grinned.

  “Fucking hell,” Dex muttered.

  Joe took a sip of his coffee. “Look, brother, don’t sweat it. I’m all for this new you. Seriously. It’s cute. You’ve got this dreamy, kinda sappy look going on. It totally suits you.”

  Dex scowled. “Sappy?”

  “You know the look?” Joe said to Adam. “Remember when Hugh first met Shay? Christ, it was pitiful.” He turned back to Dex and grinned. “You look like that.”

  Hugh grumbled something while he poured himself a coffee at the counter behind Joe.

  Adam shook his head. “I remember you having a similar expression when you met Darcey.”

  “Bullshit. I’m too fucking manly for sappy.”

  “You were gone on her as soon as you laid eyes on her,” Hugh said. “You were fucking useless until she said she’d have you.”

  Adam barked out a laugh.

  “And you,” Hugh said to Adam, taking a seat at the table with them, “were the fucking worst.”

  “Yeah,” Joe said and glanced at Dex. “Because our sister doesn’t have the impeccable taste Hugh and I have, we’re stuck with Adam here, lowering the tone of the whole family…but what can you do, right?”

  Adam slugged Joe in the arm.

  Like pretty much all their breaks, the time was spent giving each other shit. So far, he’d only been dragged into it a couple of times. Looked like his reprieve as the new guy—member of the family?—was over. A strange feeling washed through him, something unfamiliar. But shit…yeah, he kind of liked it.

  It had been a long time since he’d felt truly happy, and these fucking idiots were part of the reason he did.

  Not the main reason, though. The main reason was the beautiful woman he’d had a meal with the night before, talking, sharing, then coming home to his apartment and fucking each other’s brains out.

  “Not at the table, dude,” Joe said, clicking his fingers in front of Dex’s face, snapping him out of his thoughts of Hattie and the way she’d ridden him last night until he’d lost it, flipped her onto her back and taken over.

  “What?” he choked out.

  “You’re thinking about fucking.”

  Dex’s brows shot up.

  Joe lifted a hand. “Don’t even try and deny it. I have a sixth sense about this stuff. It’s my animal magnetism. I was born with an excess of it, and the reason I became the irresistible, handsome devil you see before you. You can’t hide shit from me. You had Hattie in your bed last night, right?”

  Dex stared at his cousin across the table and had no idea how to reply. That happened to him a lot around Joe.

  “Ignore him. He’s full of shit,” Adam said. “We saw her leave when you came down this morning.”

  Dex shrugged. He had nothing to hide.

  “You locking that down?” Joe said. “’Cause as much as I like you, she could do better.” Joe quickly lifted his hand again when Dex opened his mouth to tell him to fuck off. “All our women could have done better, which is why we locked them down as soon as we could. Colton men may have shit luck in a lot of fucking areas of their lives, but not when it comes to finding a woman. There we excel.”

  “I’m not a Colton man,” Adam said.

  “Exactly,” Joe said. “And unfortunately, it’s the opposite for Colton women. They attract dickwads.” Joe shook his head. “Which is how we got you. You need to keep up.” He rolled his eyes at Dex. “He’s a little slow, but we still love him.”

  Dex ignored most of that and crossed his arms. “We’re keeping things casual for now.” Though that felt wrong to Dex, so fucking wrong. He didn’t want casual. He didn’t want occasional. He wanted it all. Which was nuts since he’d only known her such a short time, but that was how it was. And there was nothing he could do to change it.

  He didn’t want to change it.

  “You think there’s more between you two, then don’t fuck around,” Hugh said. “We all had some serious shit to overcome to be with our women, and it sucked. But if you know, you know.” Hugh stood. “Right, let’s get back to work.”

  Dex followed them out and got back under the hood of the Toyota he’d been working on, but his mind was still on Hattie and what Hugh had said.

  He knew.

  He just had to be patient and wait for Hattie to know as well.

  They’d spent every night the rest of the week together. Dex was leaving town the next day. The wedding was in two days and he was going a day early so he’d have time to get a few loose ends tied up that he hadn’t been able to before he’d moved.

  Hattie was following him a day later.

  It was extreme, but the idea of being without her for even one night was like someone had carved space out in his chest. He felt hollow.

  He was at her place, sitting on the edge of Hattie’s bed, when the door to her bathroom opened and she walked out. The boot he’d just taken off slipped from his fingers and thumped against the floor at the sight of her.

  She laughed at his no doubt slack-jawed expression and di
d a cute little pose.

  Dex wasn’t laughing. No, he was pretty sure he was drooling. She had on this little scrap of a thing, and he could see right through it. It finished at the tops of her thighs, just covering her pussy and that luscious ass. Christ, he wanted to fuck her in that. Right the fuck now.

  “On the bed, sweetness.”

  Color rose in her cheeks and Dex growled, because he loved when she blushed like that.

  “Well, aren’t you impatient?” She walked toward him, her hips swaying, and he desperately wanted to grab them, plant her in the middle of the bed, and slide inside her.

  As soon as she was within grabbing distance, he did just that. He curled his fingers around her hips, lifted her off the floor, and laid her in the middle of the bed. He came up over her, hovering above, and took in her gorgeous face, those lips he couldn’t get enough of kissing, and those beautiful big blue eyes he loved having on him.

  “Always impatient when it comes to you, Hattie. When I’m not with you, I’m waiting until I can be, and when it’s time to leave, I’m wishing the hours away until I can see you again.”

  Her lips parted and she blinked up at him. No, Dex wasn’t much for talking, especially not when it came to feelings. But with this woman, he couldn’t help it. He also couldn’t stop thinking about what Hugh said. But he didn’t want to make a mistake with Hattie.

  And she’d said she wanted to slow things down, but that was a week ago. Before they’d spent every night together, talking and laughing and fucking.

  Before he’d told her things he’d never told anyone else and she’d done the same. And before she’d agreed to go to the wedding with him. Maybe that didn’t seem like a lot of time, but time didn’t seem to mean anything when it came to her. He didn’t need more of it to analyze the way he felt. He knew. He already knew.

  He tugged open her nightstand drawer, where he’d tossed some condoms a few nights ago, and shoved his hand in. His fingers touched something long and hard and rubbery.

  A cock. Her vibrator.

  He pulled it out, getting a better look at it, and an image of Hattie using it on herself filled his head.