Loving a Bad Boy (Bad Boys Western Romance Book 4)

by Susan Arden

  “We’re out of here. Gonna go back to the hotel for a little while. See you tonight.” Ivy’s face glowed as she swiped a coat of lip-gloss on.

  Wiping her hands, Sommer nodded as she stowed the rag. “At the Diamond, absolutely.”

  She and Ivy hugged. A she stepped awkwardly back, it felt as if the muscle fibers in her body stiffened into unyielding bands. Not the usual fatigue. The place seemed to grow still as Ivy and Vince walked to the front door, waving and trading a last razz with Drew. With the snick of the lock and trill from the chime on the door still echoing in the air, she couldn’t ignore the guy in front of her.

  “Looks like it’s just you and me.” He braced his hands on the top of the glass counter in back of him as if any second he’d launch forward, a trajectory waiting to lock on to her path.

  Now or never. “Don’t think for a second, that I’m interested in you.”

  “Why? Cause I fucked your friend?” His eyes glimmered as he stepped closer. “Didn’t mean a thing.”

  “No. I’m just not into you,” she replied impassively, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing how rattled she felt by being alone with him.

  “Don’t have a problem with that. I’m only here for a tattoo, so let’s focus on an inking.” He peeled off his T-shirt, his muscles rippling like some unwelcomed marauder. He was toying with her. Regardless of what he professed, his body language didn’t match his words, and it made her feel jittery like prey on the run.

  “Just what were you looking to have done?” she asked, picking up her pad. “Did you bring a design?”

  “I was thinking about getting inked here.” He pointed to his right hip bone. He’d undone his zipper and his jeans hung low off his hips. “Hope you can freehand me. You’ve got talent.”

  Averting her eyes, she choked out, “That’s a hard place to get a tattoo if you’re going to be on stage and wearing jeans. It’ll get rubbed off.”

  “Mmm. I like the sound of that,” he said in a gravelly voice. “And to set you straight, it’s not opposite day. But there is a rumor about the chicks from Texas.”

  She stared back at him. “I’m not interested.”

  “Sure you are. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here. To set you straight, no means yes. And yes means—”

  “You’re full of it! Zip your jeans and put on your shirt—”

  “Shit, Sommer. You’re so high-strung. Okay. Fine. Higher then. Say here,” he whispered, grazing his fingers upward over his abs and his jeans slipped lower.

  The front door chimed and Jen burst through. “What the hell?” she demanded, her narrowed eyes bouncing between her and Drew.

  Sommer looked over to him, then she backed up and went to move, giving these two room to settle whatever it was they had going on. “You probably want to speak privately,” she said to her friend.

  “Are you into him?” Jen demanded, bracketing her hands on her hips.

  What the heck was Jen talking about? Was Drew into guys? This was about to get ugly, and she didn’t need to hear the specifics of who and what exactly Drew was into.

  “Why don’t you two take this to the back room? In case a customer comes in,” Sommer suggested.

  Jen stepped in front of her. “What do you mean ‘you two’? I’m talking to you, Sommer Kincaid.”

  “Excuse me?” Dazed, she rapidly replayed what Jen had just spouted. Oh no, Jen couldn’t be more wrong. “I’m not into him!”

  “Seriously, I’m not blind or stupid.”

  She could see hurt and anger in Jen’s eyes and she didn’t blame her. “I promise, you’re way off base.”

  “Am I? First last night, you hung on his every word. Then Drew dropped me back at the Diamond to get my car and said he’d meet me at the diner to get breakfast before we came over here for his inking. Only he didn’t show. I was driving by and saw his car out front. So what the fuck?”

  “Ladies, this is so not cool. Why don’t we take this back to the hotel. Get comfortable. Smoke some weed and see where this leads.”

  “Did she blow you or something?” Jen demanded, her chin quivering. “Is that why you’re here? Just tell me.”

  Sommer’s ribs pinched and she felt helpless to convince her friend this was a huge ass mistake. “Drew, tell her nothing happened!” She peered at him expecting he’d say something to assuage Jen’s feelings. Silence. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. “Dude, this isn’t funny.”

  “Sommer.” Her name came out like a gravelly rumble. “I’m not laughing.”

  Drew didn’t bother to hide the bulge inside his jeans, but instead ran the heel of his palm over his crotch and she hissed, “Jesus Christ!”

  Shit! Rachel was right. As if electrocuted she got his number. In his world, this is what he got off on. Stirring up shit. Havoc was like a head rush to guys like him.

  “Well, Drew?” It was Jen who broke the silence. “You gonna man up and own this, or stand there and jerk off?”

  “C’mon Jen, don’t be mad. I just stopped by to see Vince’s tattoo and I lost track of time. Babe, it’s all good. I’ve got enough to go around. You ought to know that.”

  “Now what?” Jen asked him, fluttering her lashes, apparently mesmerized by the moron.

  In the midst of this asshole’s bullshit, Jen wasn’t going to listen to reason. Without a bucket of ice water on hand, Sommer grabbed her friend’s arm. “Snap out of it, Jen. We need to talk. That way.” Sommer pulled but Jen didn’t follow.

  Snapping her arm out of Sommer’s grasp, she hollered, “Let go!”

  She spun around and faced her friend. “Either you come with me and talk. Or both you and Prince Charming can hit the road and figure out where you two went wrong.”

  Sommer spun on her heel, heading for the back room. She heard Drew directing Jen. “Better go see what’s up.”

  With her heartbeat clattering in her ears, and the music on, she couldn’t hear anything else they said. Shit, this was all-all-all too familiar. The clip-clop of Jen’s heels right behind her assured her, this wasn’t going to be a simple talk. Easily it could spin out of control which is exactly what Drew wanted.

  Once inside the storage area, she faced her friend. “Did you get hit over the head? I’m not into Drew. I tried to tell him, I’m not going to ink him, but he won’t listen.”

  “Funny, was that before or after he removed his shirt and unzipped his jeans? ‘Cause in my mind, a guy doesn’t start to get undressed unless he’s been invited. I’m not stupid, Somm. What is it? You got the hottest stud in town, and now you want to change it up?” Jen slammed her with an accusatory stare.

  “That’s not it.” She channeled her frustration away from a scorching rant at this obvious mistake but Jen was too enamored to see. “You don’t understand. This is just like what happened with Haden. Don’t you remember what that was like?”

  “Stop, Sommer. Don’t try and play mind games with me.” Jen semi-hollered. “Make-up sex not good enough?”

  Instead of a glimmer of recognition, she watched as Jen’s eyes hardened. Faced with being accused of trying to lead that idiot on, her temper flared. “How would I know? I haven’t ever had any!”

  “What? You’re not serious,” Jen stammered, her face flushed and her eyes wide.

  “Oh, but I am. It’s just not something I felt like sharing—until now. It’s the truth, just like it’s the truth that I’m not into Drew. And on the first of never am I going to jump in bed with him”

  Jen stared mutely for a moment until she shook her head. “You can’t still be a virgin. All this time. With Rory McLemore. That’s not possible! I can’t believe you’re trying to say—”

  Already a hundred times sorry she’d admitted her zero experience factoid, she lowered her voice, seething from her feet up from a ton of anger and humiliation.

  To her utmost annoyance, she felt herself blush as she defended herself for the last time. “For your information, I�
��m not lying. And I feel like you’re losing it. Same as when Hayden lived here. You’re just as paranoid and just as obsessed. I can’t deal with it. Not again.”

  Instead of feeling an iota better, she felt like shit. Hollowed by putting ‘it’ all out there. All wrong. Her mom’s shrink said to confront issues with ‘I’ statements. Not beat around the bush. And she’d failed. So much for tough love. It sucked.

  Jen lashed out, “If you’re a virgin, then I’m the Queen of England! You’re turning the tables and shifting blame.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way.” She wasn’t equipped to deal with her mom’s emotional baggage and Jen’s ability to go around the bend every time some rocker gave her the time of day. If Jen wanted to sacrifice their friendship, then so be it.

  “Tsk-tsk, your majesty.” Drew’s half-hooded eyes narrowed at Jen. “Doesn’t look like you took care of business like I asked.”

  Jen whirled around and both she and Sommer sharply gasped. “What are you saying?” Jen stammered.

  “I don’t need another groupie. You said you were willing to do whatever I asked. Well, I asked and you bombed. Consider our little arrangement done.” Drew quirked his brow, before looking away from Jen and raking his eyes down the front of her body. “And you. There aren’t enough words in the world to describe my thoughts on doing you.”

  “You think she’s going to be different?” Jen stepped in front of him. “Drew, I didn’t know. Give me another chance.”

  “There aren’t do-overs. One shot, Jen. That’s how I roll.”

  “So, you were blowin’ smoke since last night. Weren’t you?”

  Drew shook his head, making his dark hair rise and fall. “I played it straight. You were the one that didn’t take it serious.”

  Jen reacted as if she’d been struck. “It’s a good thing your dick is huge, otherwise, you’d never get laid.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Don’t let that scare you, Sommer. Babe, I’ll make your first time mind-blowing. What will it take to get you to say yes? It can just be you and me. Say the word Sommer. Since last night, I knew I needed to get a taste of you. Untouched pussy, I’m ready to bust a nut thinking about it.”

  She slammed her eyes closed. Harder to do with Drew standing there, devouring her. Not saying a word to dispel this misunderstanding and disregarding Jen like she was nothing to him. What a prick!

  To make this shitstorm ten times worse, the buzzer on the rear door chimed and Rory entered. Their gazes snapped together and he nodded. “Got a minute, I tried to call.”

  When she didn’t respond, he shifted his focus from her to around the shop, stopping at Jen, then over to Drew. Rory’s expression morphed from open to shuttered. He frowned, his face darkening by the time his attention recaptured hers.

  Backing away from Jen and Drew, she said, “I was going to call you. But things got a little complicated.” That’s a stretch.

  “Took a chance and came over.” He had the doorknob still in his hand, seeming to absorb the explosive emotional tension brewing. Instead of entering, Rory propped open the door, his expression unreadable.

  “Better come back. She’s busy trying to get laid since you obviously can’t deal with her.” Jen blew past Rory and grabbed for the door. She glanced back at Sommer, her mouth twisted into a hardened line. “Bitch,” she spat, and then pointed to Drew. “And you. Don’t call me. Ever.”

  After Jen stormed out, Drew casually regarded her as he picked up his T-shirt off the chair. With a shrug, he said, “Sorry, babe. Chicks get jealous and it sucks. Guess you were right about this not working today. Catch you later tonight, or sooner. Look me up by way of Hellhound. We’ve got a website. IM me if you want to get together and party. I’ll clear my agenda if you need help with your situation. Today. Tomorrow. Night or day.”

  “Drew, cut the crap and just get out.” She glared at him, unable to squelch the irritation swelling in her chest. If she didn’t honestly believe that he would’ve enjoyed it, she’d slap the smirk off his smug face.

  Rory’s blue eyes silently searched her face. As if he’d gotten the answer he was seeking, he crossed to step directly in front of Drew’s path out the door. “From this point on, stay clear of Sommer. Or I’ll help you.”

  “Dude, this isn’t between you and me,” Drew replied with a glittery grin.

  “It is if you’re messing with Sommer.” Rory turned to her. “Did he touch you?”

  Of the two, Rory was taller. They both had the same type of bulk, but day in and day out, he worked with his body, honing it into a rock-hard wall. Drew had mouth, but Rory had the firepower. Fueled by his brooding temper, he put his words into action as in hammering an opponent. Unlike last night, Rory wasn’t in ass-kicking mode. And wouldn’t be if she could get Drew to exit the place.

  Dialing down her anger, she joined Rory. Refusing to act on her desire to right this blatant wrong, she notched her chin, coolly setting her expression and tone. “No. He tried to make Jen jealous, but it went sour. Drew, stop playing games. You’re only out to stir up shit. You get off on the drama. This might be a small town, but we’ve got our own town idiot.”

  Drew laughed like this whole situation was epically entertaining. “Sommer, we both know this had nothing to do with Jen.”

  “You heard Sommer, time to hit the road.” Rory moved, standing toe-to-toe, forcing Drew to tilt up his face to maintain eye contact. Partially blocking her view, the tactic was primal. Subtle it was still male intimidation and with Rory’s knife on his belt, she had to think fast.

  “Alert: this isn’t the old west,” Drew shot back. “The women I’m interested in aren’t attached to anyone. I have one rule and haven’t swerved from it yet. This girl falls under the same category as the one who just left. Unless you’re telling me I’m wrong.”

  Rory didn’t miss a beat, acting like Drew’s words rolled if not bounced off him. “That some lyric to a song? Better not be the best you got, or you’re in trouble.”

  Within the last three seconds, the tension hiked way up. Shit, what could she do? Rory might appear as if he was totally under control, but the rigid way he held himself in check was telltale for one wrong move, and he’d flatten Drew same as he’d done to Lonny last night. Only unlike a parking lot brawl, this was Rachel’s business and a fistfight with oodles of glass—windows, the door, and the cases lining the wall—meant someone would get hurt. And that somebody wasn’t going to be Rory.

  “Enough!” Anger choked her as she wedged in between Rory and Drew, hopefully stopping a proverbial pissing match from escalating further. With her pulse racing, she pointed to the door. “Get out. This isn’t a debate, Drew. Or I’m calling the cops.”

  “Cops? Shit, Sommer, I’ll go.” As if he’d gotten one over on her, Drew smirked, walking past them and slipping on his sunglasses. At the door, he flashed her a wide grin. “Like I said, Sommer. Contact me and I’ll hook up with you. Just name the place.”

  Chapter 13

  “What the hell is going on?” Rory asked when they were alone. Gently, he pulled Sommer by her slender arms until their faces were inches apart. “That asshole didn’t do anything to hurt you, did he?”

  He had little patience for dickwads on the make for Sommer’s attention. He’d had years to learn that she didn’t play games, and he trusted her…except now the ante had been upped in his book, after having tasted her last night.

  His heart kicked like a motherfucker against his ribs. All he could think about was how to get her naked and wrapped around him. Any fool who tried to come between him and her was asking for a trouncing. He fully intended on finding that moronic rocker and teaching him what it meant to stay the hell away from Sommer.

  “No. He’s an idiot!” she semi-exploded, then just as quickly, reeled in her emotions by pressing her lips together.

  “An idiot who knows about our history.” Rory tightened his hold on her arms, and a tense silence enveloped the ro
om. His eyes flicked down to her neck to a vein pulsing just under her incredible skin. She was his. All fucking his. If he could hammer Drew into the ground, he’d go and find him. Level a building for how bent out of shape he felt. Hell, if he’d leave Sommer to trail that prick. “Did you share with Drew that you and I haven’t—”

  “It came out.” Sommer stopped him midsentence, this time looking defeated. “I was defending myself. Jen thought I was coming on to him. Which I wasn’t! What a mess.” She faced him with her eyes wide, staring up at him, and licking her pink-marshmallow-soft lips.

  As angry as he was at seeing that shithead musician here with his shirt off, he couldn’t help soften at seeing her confusion. When it came to Sommer’s pain, she unlocked a primal protective side in his nature, and if she wasn’t in danger, it was easier to shift gears like now and seek to comfort her.

  “I came over to see if you had some time,” he said in a hoarse voice, hungry to get rid of this shadow that lay between them. “We gotta talk. You up for that?”

  “Is this about the property you now own?” she whispered, reaching for him. He could feel his melting anger transform into something equally hot.

  Something he’d previously been able to manage—if only to keep on lockdown. Staring in her hypnotizing golden gaze, he was unsure of everything, except that he craved this woman.

  “It is.” He pulled her to him, pivoting her a half a revolution until her back was against the wall. Threading his fingers, he slipped his hand under her hair at her neck and drew her close. Staring down into her eyes, he kissed her petal perfect lips, sucking on the bottom. He moved his hands down her body, and this time he ghosted his fingers along the edge of her T-shirt that fit snug across her body, straining to contain her tits.

  No way to resist her out of control curves, and he captured her breasts. Round and supple in his palms, and lit his sharp craving for skin on skin. A hotwire charge that ignited his hunger to get naked and balls deep inside her. So on edge, he strummed his thumbs across her pierced tips, barely touching her nipples.