by Lacey Wolfe
My gaze darted around the room and then I spotted him. Immediately, he glanced up.
“Paisley, I’ve been waiting for you.” He stood and came over.
“You have?” Had he been serious at the party about me knowing where to find him?
“What do you want?” He motioned toward the chalk board. “It’s on me.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Please. It’s part of the perks of my parents owning this place. Probably the only one.”
He had a point. “An iced hazelnut coffee.”
He grinned, showing me a glimmer of his teeth. His smile made me melt. “Coming right up.”
I watched as he told the barista what I wanted. She got busy preparing the drink and Gabe sauntered back over to me, looking deliciously sexy, once again.
“Do you live here in town?” he asked.
I didn’t want to tell this guy I was home with my parents. I wanted to look like a cool college kid. “Soon. I’m going to check out my place after I get coffee.”
“Oh yeah?” He raised an eyebrow. “Maybe you’ll take me up on that walk.”
My mouth opened, but nothing came out. Go somewhere with him?
“You’re cute when you’re flustered.” He winked and went to the register to get my drink. He handed it to me and headed for the door. “Come on,” he called over his shoulder
“Uh.” Did I want him to know where I was going to live?
“We could ride my motorcycle over.”
I was positive my eyes were wide open. Ride on that hot hunk of metal. Could I?
“On second thought, let’s just walk. When you’re ready, I’ll take you for a ride. Besides, you’ve got the drink.” He opened the door and stepped out, not giving me any other choice but to follow him.
Taking a deep breath, I followed. As I joined him outside in the sweltering heat, I knew for sure I wouldn’t be having Evan meet me there.
“Which way?” he asked.
“That way.” I pointed.
As we walked, I half expected him to offer his hand, arm, something, but instead, we simply strolled along together. I took a moment to check him out again. He wore a yellow polo shirt with khaki shorts. I could see the tattoos around his biceps. They were typical guy markings—tribal, or something like that. I don’t know much about them, but man, they were hot on such a clean cut guy. I wondered if he had ink hidden anywhere else.
Was that what attracted me to Gabe so much? The fact he was a walking contradiction?
“Which way now?”
I hadn’t realized we’d stopped. “My new place is right there.”
My apartment was above a clothing shop. An older place, but right by campus. All I had to do was step out in the morning and walk across the street. The more I thought about, the more excited I got about being on my own and being responsible for myself.
Gabe let me go up the stairwell first, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was checking out my ass in my small, white shorts. At the door, I dug my keys out, my hands shaking the whole time. After I finally calmed my nerves enough, I inserted the key into the lock. The door was tight and needed an extra shove to get it open. But once it did, it swung open, practically making me fall into the place. Thank goodness it was spacious. I needed room to breath after being in such close quarters with Gabe.
“Nice place.” He walked around the open area.
Nice? I found it old and dated. I’d begged my parents for a newer place, but they insisted on this one—which was more expensive. This place still had some wood paneling for heaven’s sake.
“It’s livable, I suppose.”
“Your mommy and daddy paying for it?”
I was taken back by his comment. Something in the tone of his voice I disliked. “I have a job, but yes, they are taking care of it as long as my grades are good.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“What about you? I assume your mommy and daddy let you work at the coffee shop.”
He snickered. “Wrong.”
It dawned on me now. I knew nothing about him, but I was alone with him. I’d shown him my apartment, and didn’t know his age or what he did for a living. Was he in school, too? Was he a serial killer? They always said they were attractive men who lured the women with their charm.
I moved across the room away from him. He leaned against the wall, staring at me like he always did. His eyes were dark and a shiver ran through me.
“I don’t know anything about you,” I blurted out.
“Do you want to know me?”
All I could do was nod because I did. And why the hell did I? Getting mixed up with a guy right now wasn’t the smart thing to do. Classes started soon, and I needed to focus. But everything in me screamed it wanted Gabe. Why?
“I want to know you, too.” He came toward me and I stepped back. Gabe smirked. “What’s the matter?”
My heart pumped so hard I could hear the beating in my ears. “We should go.”
“You had a reason to come here.” He was close now. Only inches were between us. Was he going to kiss me? And if he tried, would I let him?
Our gazes were locked on one another, and it was then I noticed he had the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. I think I wanted to kiss him. Get it out of my system. I blinked. This wasn’t me.
My cell phone blasted music from my pocket, breaking our staring contest. I’d never been so thankful for the interruption. Pulling it out, I saw it was Evan. “Hey.”
“You in town yet?”
“Yup. Got here a bit ago.” Gabe stood with his back to me and looked out the window.
“Thought you were going to call me?”
“I was. I got side-tracked.” Which wasn’t a lie.
“Where you at? Want to eat still?”
“Sure. Yeah.” I rubbed my temple. “Let me finish up at my place, and I’ll call you.”
“Why don’t I just come over?”
“No!” Oh yeah, way to sound like nothing’s going on.
“Pais, you okay?”
I sighed. I couldn’t tell him Gabe was here. He’d flip out. “I’m almost done. I’ll meet you at that Italian place we like. Sound good?”
“See ya soon.”
The call was disconnected. Gabe turned back around and cocked an eyebrow. “Boyfriend?”
I grunted. Evan wasn’t my boyfriend. Though he sure as hell was acting like one lately. Or was he? Perhaps I just felt guilty I’d withheld information from him.
“I take it you’re meeting someone for dinner?”
“Yes. A friend.” My hands clasped in front of me, my fingers nervously toying with one another.
“I’d hoped to take you out before I had to work tonight.”
He worked nights—minus the night of the party. Finally, I knew something about him. “Maybe another time.”
He raked a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t want to play games. Just tell me now if you want me to go away.”
“I don’t.” Or at least I didn’t think I did.
“Then can we go out on a real date soon?”
My head answered for me, because words simply wouldn’t form. This incredibly sexy guy I knew nothing about wanted to go out with me.
“Friday seems so far away.” He was close to me again. When did that happen? He lightly brushed my hair from the side of my face. I loved when he did that. “Tomorrow?”
“I have to work.” If you ask, I’ll call in sick.
“Nothing’s ever easy with you.” He grinned, and I couldn’t help but smile as well. “When are you free?”
God, I wished I hadn’t agreed to go meet Evan. I wanted to stand here all day with Gabe. Feelings went off inside me I’d never really felt. Good ones, and I liked it.
“Are you going to answer me?” He laughed a little.
Yikes, how long had I been staring at him like a love struck school girl? “I’m free tomorrow morning.”
“We can do breakfast, but I might not be t
he best company. I’m not much of a morning person.”
I sucked in my bottom lip, but before I could speak, his palm caressed my cheek.
“You’re so cute. Breakfast it is.” He dropped his hand back to his side. I missed the feel of him.
“Why don’t you meet me here…with your bike?”
He smirked and pointed a finger at me. “You’re trouble. Let’s go. I believe you have someone you’re meeting for dinner.”
I was trouble? Me? Wasn’t he the one everyone told me was trouble?
* * *
So far, dinner was going well with Evan. He’d yet to ask me why I’d acted so odd on the phone. He was busy talking about Pete this and Pete that. Apparently, I was the only one who thought the guy was scum. Part of me was worried about Evan and what road he might go down if he continued to hang out with the guy, but then the other part of me knew Evan and the way he was raised. Surely he had enough sense to make choices on his own.
Evan was beginning to party a lot and loved to remind me that he was young and supposed to be. This was his time in life. He was free, and in a few years he’d have to grow up.
“Have you set a date to move in?” he asked as he took a sip from his Coke.
With the thought of possibly dating Gabe, I was ready to rent a U-Haul now. “I’m leaning toward soon.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Why? It’s not like we’ll be neighbors anymore. We won’t have windows facing each other to talk.”
He wiped his mouth with the white napkin. “I miss you.”
“I do believe you keep saying this is your time. Maybe you need to cut the cord from me,” I joked.
“I don’t want to.” He stared hard at me.
Should I be freaked out? No, this was Evan. He’d never shown any interest in me before. Maybe he just felt the need to have someone he’d known his whole life close. I could understand that.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to see what he knew about Gabe before I got in too deep with him. “So why is that Gabe guy so bad?”
“You want to talk about him?” He was irritated.
“I might run into him again.” Like tomorrow morning when we had breakfast together.
“Apparently, he likes innocent girls.”
Had I heard him right? “He what?”
Evan cleared his throat. “You know, girls who are still intact.”
Was Evan talking about virgins? “How can he tell if a girl is ‘intact’ or not?”
Evan shrugged. “Pete says he’s got an eye for them. Guess they were both interested in a girl at the same time or something. Gabe won. Supposedly, he likes to be the girl’s first, then leaves after making her feel like she’s his everything. He went out with Pete’s sister, Kelly, too.”
“I don’t know…”
“I’ve seen the way he looked at you. Stay away from him. You deserve to lose it to someone who loves you.” Evan set his fork down a little too hard.
What was going on with him? “Can we talk about something else?”
I never should’ve brought up Gabe, but it was hard. He was all I could think about, and I hadn’t even known him that long.
“Where’d you go?” Mom asked as I collected my things up from the coffee shop after returning from Paisley’s.
“Out. A friend’s moving in, so I went to see her new place with her.”
“A girl, huh?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I gotta get to work. We’ll catch up soon.” Or not.
Sure, I hung out here a lot, but my parents weren’t here often. They let other people do all the work while they hopped beds with other people.
Putting on my backpack, I walked out of the coffee shop without saying ‘bye. The scent of someone smoking assaulted me. Damn, I wanted a cigarette, but I’d quit, even though I had to constantly remind myself. It didn’t help much. I wanted to feel the smoke entering my lungs and let it out in slow, long breaths.
Damn it. Climbing on my motorcycle, I fired it up, and rode toward work. It was just outside the downtown area of Athens, off a back road.
As I sat in the traffic, waiting on the light, I realized I was right outside Paisley’s apartment. What was it about the blonde beauty that had captured my attention and held on tight? From the moment I saw her in the darkened coffee shop, I’d wanted her. She’d stood there, staring at the menu with one knee bent, moving it back and forth while she studied the coffee selection, as though she’d be tested on it later. Then she looked at me and my world stopped.
I needed to know everything about Paisley, but she wasn’t going to make it easy. I liked a good challenge, maybe a bit too much. But Paisley was one I wanted to win. I wasn’t giving up.
Finally, the light changed and I was on my way. I zipped down the side streets, loving the feeling of the breeze. I pulled up behind the tattoo shop. Another night of work, but at least in the morning, I’d get to see Paisley. And because I was anxious to see her, tonight would drag.
“‘Sup,” a co-worker said as I entered. “We’ve got several appointments already. It’s gonna be a busy evening.”
Good. I needed the distraction.
* * *
The next morning, I waited out front of Paisley’s apartment. I half expected her to come down from the building, so when she walked up behind me, I jumped. My eyes about popped out of my head. She was dressed to…to taunt my fantasies. God, could her denim shorts get any shorter?
“Good morning,” I said.
“Where’s your bike?” She glanced around.
She’d been serious? “At the coffee shop. You really wanted to ride on it?”
She chewed her bottom lip. Damn, it drove me crazy when she did that. “Yeah.”
“Have you ever been on a motorcycle?” She seemed too sweet and innocent.
“Uh, yeah. Of course.”
Reaching out, I rubbed her cheek. I had to touch her. “It’s okay if you haven’t, Pais. I wouldn’t mind being the one to give you your first ride.”
She cleared her throat. “It won’t be my first time.”
I shrugged. “Okay, let’s go get my bike.”
We walked toward the coffee shop, the morning cooler than usual. Paisley took me by surprise when she wrapped a hand around my bicep. This wasn’t what I was expecting. She’d been so shy the last few times, what had gotten in to her? Not that I was complaining. Her hand on me felt right.
When we got to my bike, she released me. I turned and looked at her. “You sure about this?”
I could see the slight hesitation on her face. “Of course.”
I wasn’t quite sure why she was insistent about riding on my bike, but I wasn’t about to pass up the chance to have her hold me tight.
I opened the back compartment and pulled out my extra helmet then handed it to her. After she strapped it on, I noticed the slack around her chin. Reaching out, I tugged on the straps. She stared at me the whole time. Her lips parted. I wanted to kiss her so bad. Taste her to see if she was as sweet as she appeared.
“The helmet looks good on you.” I winked.
She put a hand on her hip, popping it to the side. “You think?”
Laughing, I put my own helmet on. “I’ve never seen a sexier girl.” I climbed on my bike, kicked back the kickstand. “Hop on.”
My gaze stayed on her lower half as she lifted a leg over the seat. Oh yeah, her shorts were short enough I got a slight peak at her white panties.
“Now what?” she asked.
“Hold on.” Her arms wrapped around me as I started the bike. I revved my engine for the hell of it. Maybe it would impress her, or it wouldn’t. Either way, I loved hearing this baby purr.
As I stared down the street, her grip around my waist almost took the air out of my lungs. A glance in the side mirror showed me her panicked expression. As I suspected, this was her first time.
“You okay?” I yelled.
She nodded.
We were only going over to the Waffle House, which wasn’t f
ar. I’d love to hit the open road with her on the back of my bike. She seemed to fit perfectly. I could only imagine how good her tanned legs looked gripping the sides of the bike.
We pulled into the parking lot, and after I shut the bike off, she finally let go of her death grip. Stabilizing the bike, I held my hand back for her to grip as she climbed off. I set the kickstand and as I swung my leg over the bike I came face to face with her and had the urge to kiss her again. Would she let me?
“How was it?” I unhooked my helmet.
“Great. Just like any other ride.” She stared up at the sky as she unclasped her helmet.
As she handed it to me, I decided to let it go. She had her reasons, I suppose, for not wanting to admit she’d never been on a bike before. Who was I to judge?
Inside, we found an empty booth in the back corner. We slid in opposite sides as a waitress hurried over to wipe the table off and grab the tip someone else had left.
“Can I get ya’ll something to drink?” she asked, gripping the dirty rag.
“Coffee,” I said.
“Same.” Paisley paused. “And an OJ.”
“Coming right up.” She spun around and headed back to the kitchen, hopefully to wash her hands before getting our drinks.
I already knew what I wanted, so I studied Paisley as she stared at the menu. After a few minutes, the waitress returned with our drinks and we both ordered.
“How was work?” She sipped the OJ through the straw.
“Boring.” Though one guy had an outline done for a cool tattoo. I couldn’t wait to see how it turned out.
“What do you do?”
I grinned. “I’m a tattoo artist.”
Her eyes got wide. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“I didn’t peg you as a tattoo artist.”
No one ever did. “How come?”
She squinted her eyes. “Aren’t they usually bald with long goatees?”
I burst out laughing. “You’re so cute, you know that?”
Her cheeks turned a light shade of red.
Twirling a creamer between my fingers, I said, “It’s okay. I like not being what you’d expect.”