by Amber Heart
“My sister’s coming into town.”
Eli only pried his eyes off of the car because his friend’s tone changed so much. All of the excitement had faded out, leaving him sounding tired and tense. Shane’s expression had changed as well. He was looking down at the car, but he was frowning slightly now. He didn’t look angry though; he looked worried.
He’d known that Shane had a sister, but they’d never really talked about her other than in passing. Maybe they didn’t get along and that was why his friend was so stressed out. Or maybe there was more to it. Eli decided to pry just a little, knowing that Shane would duck out of any questions he really didn’t want to answer.
“How long will she be in town?”
“I don’t really know,” Shane said, rubbing his chin and then fiddling with the cuff of his button up shirt.
He always dressed nicely for a guy who spent a hell of a lot of time under a hood. He said it made him look more professional. And furthermore, if he didn’t dress nicely, people assumed that he was still in high school. Eli thought that he had a point there.
He’d assumed that Shane was a college freshman when they’d met three years ago. It had damn near shocked him to find out that the guy had been running his own garage for 10 years and that he had a bachelor's degree and had just celebrated his 30th birthday.
Eli had never had that problem. If he kept a straight face while doing it, he’d been able to buy beer at the age of 17. He thought that it was partly his height and his build. Most seventeen year old kids weren’t 6’5 and 200 pounds of solid muscle. Of course, looking older wasn’t as much fun now that he was staring down the barrel of 33, but there wasn’t much he could do about that.
“Indefinitely, I guess.”
That could sure as hell explain the tension. If anyone in Eli’s family had tried to descend on him without a clear exit strategy he’d probably laugh himself sick and then buy an extra lock for his front door. Then again, he had a feeling that Shane’s family might be a bit more normal than his.
“Where’s she coming in from?”
“California,” Shane answered. “Santa Monica.”
“What’s bringing her all the way back to Kansas?” Eli asked.
“She broke up with her boyfriend. They’ve been together since they were in high school. They both went out there for college and liked it so much that they stayed. At least until now.” Shane gave a small shrug. “I don’t know how it all shakes out, but she’s leaving and he’s staying.”
Eli leaned against the car, waiting. He knew that Shane had more to say, but he also knew that he’d have to take his time to say it.
“She doesn’t have a job out here yet,” Shane said finally, still frowning slightly. “So that’s why she’s gonna stay with me till she gets back up on her feet. She can’t afford rent anywhere after she had to ship all her stuff back.”
“And you’re not a big fan of the idea of her hanging around?”
“No, it’s not that. I mean, she’s my sister and I love her. It’s just...” Shane flung his hands out. “We haven’t lived together for a long damn time. And she hasn’t been back to North Carolina since she was eighteen. I guess I don’t know what to expect here.”
“How old is she now?”
“Twenty six.”
That was a long damn time. Eli raised an eyebrow determined to lighten his friend’s mood. “Are you sure that you’ll recognize her after all that time? How are you gonna pick her out of the crowd at the airport?”
Shane laughed. “She says she’ll get a cab from there to my place. I’m just gonna assume that the chick outside the door tonight is her.”
“It’d have to be,” Eli said. “No other woman in her right mind would be knocking on your door.”
“That’s it,” Shane said, pointing at Eli. “You’re off the project.”
“Yeah right. Listen, if you’ve got a while till the plane comes in and you’re really not going to let me get at this baby tonight, why don’t you come and have a beer with me?” Eli asked. “Might help you take your mind off of things.”
“Nah, not tonight. I’ve still got a bunch of housework to do if I want to keep my sister from running straight back to California. You have fun though.” Shane rapped his knuckles on the hood of the car and grinned as he turned to walk out. “Remember to keep it to two drinks, buddy.”
Chapter 2
Eli took a long drink of his second beer and held back a smile. If someone had tried to tell him to cut off before he even had a buzz three years ago, he’d have either laughed himself sick at their expense or they would have had to pick up their teeth. Now though, he was already planning to head home once this one was done.
He liked this bar. It got a good crowd most of the time, but it was also pretty quiet most nights and the owners didn’t take any shit. The first sign that a person was going to be trouble, that person found themselves outside. No ifs, ands, or buts allowed. Eli had seen his share of bar brawls, both as a spectator and as part of the fight and he was pretty sure that he could go the rest of his life without seeing another.
There were a few groups and couples hanging around, but for the most part they kept to themselves. He idly watched two women set up a game of pool and begin to play. He made a mental note never to take a bet against the blonde. She wiped the table with her opponent who sighed heavily and bought the next round. Eli grinned at her and she grinned back, but she didn’t walk over. A minute or two later, a tall guy put his arm around her and pulled her back against him, leaning down to speak into her ear, making her laugh.
Eli gave a good natured internal shrug and turned back to his beer since it didn’t look like he was gonna get lucky tonight. Once it was gone, he’d hit the road with no hard feelings.
Now that he thought about it, it really had been a while since he’d taken someone home with him. He sipped and thought it over, figuring out how he felt about it. In the end, he decided that it didn’t really bother him. He was pretty far from desperate and the quiet could be nice.
He glanced around when the door swung open, sort of hoping that Shane had changed his mind and decided to come out for a beer after all. He was in the mood for a game of pool himself after watching the blonde play so well.
It wasn’t Shane. Eli found that he didn’t give a damn. The woman who’d just walked in glanced around for a second and then headed straight for the barstool next to him. Under the low lights, he couldn’t tell much about her other than that her hair was long and it hung down her back in loose curls, nearly brushing her ass. And speaking of her ass...he had to drag his eyes off of it because her tan suede skirt made it look almost too good.
When she dropped onto the stool next to him, he glanced down at her. She was wearing a plain long sleeved black shirt that bared her shoulders and cupped her small, high breasts. When she met his eyes and he saw that she had green eyes to go with that red hair and pale skin. All in all, she was the best looking woman he’d seen in a long damn time. She smiled and held out her hand. He took it, returning her smile.
“Hi. I’m Riley,” she said.
“Eli,” he answered.
“It’s nice to meet you, Eli.” She glanced around and then leaned forward, tucking her hair behind her ear when it swept forward. “Do you come here a lot?”
“I’ll put it like this,” Eli said. “They know my first name, but not my last. That’s how I like to keep it.”
Riley laughed. “That sounds like a great rule of thumb. So tell me, what’s the best drink here?”
She’d asked as if it was top secret information, so Eli beckoned her even closer, speaking into her ear. He couldn’t help but notice how good she smelled. It was a clean, cool smell, like water.
“Whiskey sour.”
She flagged the bartender down and ordered it. Then she pointed at his beer and raised her eyebrows.
“So if the whiskey sour is the best thing here, why are you wasting your time drinking that?”
Eli shru
gged. “Variety is the spice of life.”
“I suppose that’s true. What else do you like variety in?”
He glanced down at her to find that she was leaning toward him again, running her index finger over her full lower lip. It was a more blunt approach than he was used to since he’d left his home town, but he appreciated it.
“Most things,” he said honestly.
“Then why are you sitting here in this little town in the ass end of nowhere?” Riley asked. “The only variety here is the fast food selection.”
Eli laughed. She had a point about the town, but he loved the same Kansas town. “I came here for a job. I wasn’t looking for much more than a paycheck back then.”
She took a sip of the whiskey and nodded in surprise. “This is good.”
“I know my liquor.”
“It certainly seems like you do.”
“You know what else I know?”
She shook her head, her eyes sparkling. “What?”
“That I want to challenge you to a game of pool.”
“What are we going to bet?” Riley asked with a smile.
“I won’t ask you to bet,” Eli replied. “It wouldn’t be fair when I know I’m going to win.”
“Oh really?” she pushed herself off the stool and put her hands on her hips. “Now it’s on. We’re betting. If I win, you buy me my next drink.”
“And if I win?” he asked, standing as well.
“I’ll buy you your next one,” Riley offered.
“Sorry, this is my last one,” Eli informed her. “You’ll have to come up with something else.”
Riley tapped her chin with her index finger. “Hmm. Well, what would you like?”
He made sure she felt the glance he gave her. “I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
Her breath caught, but she raised her chin confidently. “I’m sure you will.”
Eli allowed her to precede him to the table, mostly for the pleasure of watching her walk. That skirt was amazing from every angle and the body inside it was making it hard for him to think straight. He knew that there was no way in hell he was gonna lose this game.
Riley leaned against the table and watched him rack. “Are you going first?” she asked.
“Unless you want the honors,” he replied.
“No, no,” she said casually. “I might as well let you get at least one shot in.”
Eli grinned at her and grabbed a pool cue. Then he broke smoothly and watched as the 9 and the 13 sank in.
“Looks like I’m high ball,” he said walking around the table to line up his next shot.
By the time he stepped back from the table there was only one high ball left. Riley flagged down the bartender and asked for another whiskey sour before she took the cue.
“Not worried, are you?” Eli asked, leaning against the opposite side of the table and watching her line up a shot. From where he stood her chances of making it were iffy.
“Not even a little,” she said and hit the cue ball.
It was pure luck, but she sank the 2. She moved around the table for her next shot, nudging him out of the way and bending over the table. He would have been lying if he’d said that it didn’t make his knees a little weak. She missed her next shot and took the drink that the bartender held out to her.
Eli eyed the table. He could probably win the game right now. She’d left him in a great place. But then he wouldn’t get to see her bend over like that again. On the other hand, if he dragged it out he wouldn’t get to take his prize.
She was running her finger around the rim of her drink, watching him with a smile. She was smart enough to know how this was going to go down and he didn’t sense any worry from her. Eli sank the remaining ball and glanced up at her. She was biting that full lower lip now.
“Eight ball, side pocket.”
She put her drink down on the small table beside her and tilted her chin to look up at him when he stepped close. “Well?” Riley asked. “What would you like for your prize?”
He reached out and cupped her face in his hand. “You.”
A wicked smiled tugged at her lips. “Just how much of me would you like, Eli?”
“As much as I can have,” he answered with total honesty. “But I’d take a kiss to start with.”
She leaned up without hesitation and pressed her lips to his. He caught the back of her neck and tilted his head, fitting her to him easily. Eli caught that full lower lip between his teeth and her hands went tight on his shoulders. He teased at her tongue with his, tasting the sharp whiskey and the sweetness of her. When he pulled back to look at her, he was pleased to find her eyes heavy with pleasure and her lips still parted.
“Is that all?” she asked, her voice slightly husky now.
“It doesn’t have to be,” Eli answered. “But that’s up to you.”
“I’d like to go home with you,” she said, her hands tightening on his shirt as she pulled him back down for another kiss.
When they finally broke apart, Eli said, “I can’t resist a woman that knows what she wants. Let’s go.”
Outside in the parking lot, he expected her to head for a car, but she stuck close to him instead.
“I took a cab here,” Riley said. “And I’m really hoping that one of these bikes is yours.”
Eli put his arm around her shoulders, steering her over to a black and chrome Indian Scout parked near the edge of the lot. “This one,” he said and watched her scan it.
“It’s nice,” she said. “Why do you have two helmets? Do you bring a lot of women back with you?”
She didn’t make it sound like a bad thing. Eli shrugged. “Not a lot, but I won’t say it never happens. And an extra helmet is just always a good idea.” He picked up the spare and held it out to her. “Ready to go?”
Riley looked from him to the bike and back. For a second there was a flash of something in her eyes. Not quite doubt and not quite fear, but something close. Eli tilted her chin up so that she met his eyes.
“If you’re not,” he said simply. “You can just say so.”
A smile crossed her face. “And you’d be nice about it too, wouldn’t you?” she asked.
“I’m not gonna lie and say I’d be thrilled to see you walk away tonight,” Eli answered honestly. “But if you’re not comfortable with taking things this far, this fast, I’m not gonna be a jerk about it.”
“Kiss me again,” she said.
He was happy to oblige, leaning down, burying his fingers in her hair and pulling her close. This time he made sure to keep the kiss light and teasing. He nibbled at her lower lip as he dragged his fingers down the back of her neck and around to the front of her throat and then down, tracing her exposed collarbone.
She shivered under his touch, her body arching to him. Eli couldn’t hold back a slight groan as her breasts brushed against his chest. Even through their clothes, he liked the way she felt against him.
“Well?” he asked, drawing back when her hands tightened on his shoulders.
“Well?” Riley repeated. “Why aren’t we on the motorcycle again?”
“Because I was taking the time to be a gentleman,” Eli informed her. She smiled and he ran his thumb down her soft cheek. “That’s the last time it’ll happen tonight,” he said, his voice low.
“Good,” she answered. “I’m so tired of guys who say that they’re a gentleman.”
****
Eli and Riley barely got into the house before they were kissing again. She yanked at his jacket and he let it drop to the floor as he kicked his boots off. Then he wrapped his arms around her and picked her up, pressing her back against the door and letting her wrap her legs around him.
She arched up, drawing his attention once more to her firm breasts. He boosted her up a bit and kissed the swell of them, just above the neckline of her shirt. When her head fell back against the door, he dragged his tongue over her skin, making her catch her breath.
Holding her up with one arm, he caught the bott
om of her shirt and tugged it up. She shrugged it off, letting it fall to the floor beside his jacket. Her bra was nothing more than a few scraps of lace and seeing her in it made him go hard in one swift pulse. He tugged one of the cups down and sucked her nipple into his mouth, flicking his tongue over it quickly.
Her hips worked as she arched against him and he felt her nails dig into his shoulders even through his tee shirt. It sent a spike of pleasure racing through his whole body and he nipped lightly at her skin in thanks.
“Oh, God,” she gasped. “That feels so good.”