Impulsive

by Jeana E. Mann

  “You really messed her up, Elijah. I doubt she wants to see you.” Luke felt too hung over to be subtle. Blunt worked best with Elijah anyway. “Or have you forgotten the way you dumped her off your tour bus at a rest park in Idaho?”

  “Oh, yeah. Well, there is that,” Elijah said.

  Thump. Thump. Thump.

  “Would you stop?” Luke snatched the ball in midair and tossed it into the bedroom. “You’re like a little kid.”

  “Excuse me,” Elijah said, raising his pierced eyebrow. “Someone sure is pissy.”

  “Don’t you have a hangover?” Luke asked, clutching his head between his hands. “How can you not?”

  “Dude, I drink more whiskey than that before breakfast,” Elijah replied. “You’re losing your edge.”

  As the contents of his stomach roiled, Luke drew in a deep breath and tried to think of anything but food. Or Tasha. Seeing her last night had only made him miss her more. A dozen times, he’d caught her watching him, and each time had launched his heart into his throat. She’d been polite but distant, like they were strangers instead of friends.

  “I’m not losing my edge,” Luke muttered. “I have two jobs, responsibilities, obligations. It doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for drinking.”

  Elijah snorted. “Like I don’t have those things too? I’ve got three hundred people on my payroll and an entire record label breathing down my neck every second of every day. Hell, they choose my clothes, the color of my hair, my girlfriends…” He flopped onto his stomach and heaved a heavy sigh. “I’m sure someone in an office somewhere is freaking out right now because I’m not where I should be.”

  “They choose your girlfriends? Seriously?” Luke forgot his upset stomach long enough to give Elijah a second glance. From his perspective, the guy had everything he could ever ask for.

  “Hell, yeah. All those paparazzi pictures were arranged. My agent calls her agent. They set a time for us to meet. Someone leaks the location, and voila.” Two silver bands connected by a skull encircled his thumb. It winked menacingly in the sunlight when he snapped his fingers to emphasize his point.

  “What about the model?”

  “Which one?”

  “You know which one,” Luke said. “The lingerie chick who’s on all the TV commercials.”

  “Oh yeah, that one.” A devilish smile illuminated Elijah’s face. “Publicity stunt.”

  “Oh.” Luke slumped back into his chair. “Bummer.”

  “But I still shagged her in the limo on the way home,” he added. “Sweet girl. Has a stutter though. I bet you didn’t know that.”

  Luke shook his head. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. Nothing you do should ever surprise me.”

  “I liked it,” Elijah said. “The stutter, I mean. Made her interesting. Most of those girls are the same. Can’t hold a conversation about anything but themselves.” Luke’s attention returned to his distressed gastro-intestinal system while Elijah continued. “I went out with an actress once. What’s her name? You know the one, red hair, long legs, starred in the zombie movie? Anyway, we went to dinner and a club afterward. We did it in the VIP room. She stayed on her phone the whole time.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Luke burst into laughter then grabbed his gut with a groan.

  “It’s true,” Elijah said, eyes wide with sincerity. “I thought about sending her a text message in the middle of fucking her to see how she was doing.”

  “Dude, that is messed up,” Luke said. “Gives ‘phoning it in’ a whole new meaning.”

  “All in the day of a rock star,” Elijah replied. He turned onto his side, facing Luke, and propped his head on an elbow. “What about you and Tattoo Girl?”

  “There is no me and Tattoo Girl.”

  “I like her,” Elijah said. “She’s interesting. I think I’m going to have her bang out a few tats for me before I leave.” His blue eyes studied Luke, waiting for a reaction.

  “She’s talented,” Luke replied, keeping his tone unaffected while his chest tightened with jealousy. He bit his lip to keep from saying more than he meant to. Tasha’s rejection still stung, and he didn’t want to discuss it with Elijah. The guy had the most beautiful women in the world falling all over him. He’d never understand what Luke was going through. “Why’d you kiss her?” he asked, unable to hold back the question tormenting. “You knew I was coming up there.”

  “I thought you didn’t care.” Elijah’s eyes gleamed with interest, and Luke knew he’d made a mistake by bringing it up.

  “I don’t,” Luke replied.

  “You love her.” Elijah shoved him with a bare foot, using the same tone he’d had when they were twelve and Luke had had a crush on the girl across the street. “You want to marry her and have tattooed babies with her.”

  “Shut up,” Luke said. He scrubbed a hand over his face. The whiskers on his cheeks bristled on his palm. He needed a shave in the worst way.

  “Maybe I’ll fall in love with her too,” Elijah said after a beat. “The three of us can get married. We can move to Utah and have big love.”

  “You don’t love anyone but yourself, dick,” Luke replied. The undertone of loneliness in Elijah’s glib remarks reminded him how vulnerable the guy was beneath all of his cocky bravado.

  They fell into silence for a few minutes. The air between them relaxed, the way it had been when they were kids, before college, before Caroline and the mess they’d made of their friendship. Back then, their biggest problems had been finding an adult to buy booze for them, or gathering up teams for an impromptu basketball game at the city park.

  “I’m bored,” Elijah said, jumping to his feet. He paced the small living room and ran a hand through his crazy hair. “Let’s go somewhere. Do something.”

  “Can’t you sit still for even a minute?” Luke tossed a pillow at him and scowled.

  “No.” He tossed the pillow back to Luke. “Get up. Let’s get something to eat. I’m starving, and all you have is cereal.”

  “Fine.” Sitting on the couch all day, ruminating over Tasha and Felony, would only make him feel worse. He gathered his strength and sat up.

  “Mind if I use your shower first?” Elijah asked and sniffed his armpit. “Maybe borrow some clothes?”

  “No problem. I’m going to run down to the corner and get a coffee and aspirin. You want anything?” Luke asked.

  “No. I’m good.” Elijah stretched his long frame like a lazy cat. “I did offer, by the way.”

  “Offer what?” Luke asked, one hand on the door to leave.

  “To give Jack the money, or a loan. Whichever. And he turned me down flat. Stubborn ass.” Elijah rubbed a long-fingered hand over his bare belly before turning toward the bathroom. “I just wanted you to know.”

  “Thanks, man. I appreciate it,” Luke said, and meant it.

  Whatever flaws Elijah had, stinginess wasn’t one of them. He’d been more than generous with his money. When Luke’s mom had had open-heart surgery, Elijah had stepped in and paid the medical bills, supplied an in-home nurse, and made sure she wanted for nothing. He’d settled Luke’s student loans with his first big signing bonus and refused to accept repayment. It was what friends did for each other, he’d said, but Luke knew it was more than that.

  After a sleepless night, Tasha took a ride on her motorcycle to clear her head. Nothing made her feel better than the hum of pavement beneath her tires or the wind in her hair. Two wheels were the best way to navigate a big city. She wandered about town aimlessly for an hour or two but returned feeling unsettled.

  Seeing Luke at Felony had been more difficult than she’d anticipated. Every time he brushed against her or their eyes met, adrenalin shot through her veins and sent her blood pressure skyward. Every time she turned around, he was watching her with question and hurt on his beautiful face. He’d been sweet and nice, as always, but the distance between them reminded her how close they’d been and how far apart they were now.

  This thing—this miserable, achin
g thing—between them seemed pointless and silly. If she could only talk to him, maybe she could explain her reasons for ending the sex. After all, it was no reason for their friendship to end. She needed him more than she’d been willing to admit.

  Twenty minutes later, she stood at the threshold of his apartment and knocked on the door before her courage gave out. While she waited for him to answer the door, panic set in. She hadn’t taken the time to rehearse a speech or consider that Sherry might be there. In typical fashion, she’d acted on impulse. Her palms began to sweat and her hands shook. This was a bad idea.

  The door opened. She took a step back in surprise. Elijah greeted her wearing only a towel slung loosely around his hips and a wicked grin. The muscles of his tanned, lean torso rippled with each movement. His gaze swept over her, head to toe, before settling on her face. In all the turmoil over Luke, she’d forgotten about him.

  “Well, hello, Tattoo Girl. Fancy meeting you here.” His voice slid over the words the same way his eyes slid over her body.

  “Hi.” His appearance left her stumbling for words. Their visit to his hotel suite, the kiss, and Luke’s appearance raced through her thoughts. “Is Luke here?”

  “He’s in the shower.” His eyes drifted toward the bathroom then back to her, like he was stowing a secret in there. “You want to come in and wait?”

  The tremors in her hands picked up speed. A flash of Luke and Elijah talking in the hall at Felony danced in her memory. She bit her bottom lip, mind reeling. Luke said they had a history. Until now, she hadn’t fully comprehended the implications in his confession. Arriving unannounced had been a bad idea. Besides, what was she going to say to Luke? I miss you. Be my friend. Even in her head, it sounded lame.

  Elijah raised an eyebrow, waiting.

  “No. I’ll catch him another time.” She felt too raw and frazzled to withstand five minutes in the same room with Elijah Crowe. “Just tell him I stopped by. Would you?”

  Luke didn’t call or text. She waited by the phone for the rest of the day, pretending not to care and dying with every passing minute. When night came without word, a disappointment heavier than any she’d known weighted her down.

  Chapter 20

  Tasha sat in the back of the tattoo studio and stared at the computer with dead, dull eyes. A week had passed with excruciating slowness. Deep down, she’d known from the minute she’d met Luke he’d be her undoing. He’d done the impossible and wormed his way into her heart. Then, in typical male fashion, he’d broken it just as quickly. She wanted to be pissed at him but could only blame herself for being a total idiot.

  “Gretzky. Elijah motherfucking Crowe is here.” Gary’s shadow fell across the desk, a delighted smile curving his mouth.

  Before she could reply, Elijah strode into the room like he owned it. He wore black Ray-Bans and a pair of ripped jeans. A cocky grin lit his face. He grabbed a drafting chair, straddled it then rolled across the floor like a kid, shooting from one side of the room to the other. He stopped with a spin and raised his eyebrows.

  “Hey, hey, Tattoo Girl.” He jerked his chin in greeting but didn’t remove his sunglasses. “I’ve come to take you to lunch.”

  “Oh, no,” she said, shaking her head. “No. No. No.”

  “Yes, yes, yes,” he replied, clearly delighted with the game. “I’ve already paid for the rest of your day. You’re coming with me.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m kind of pissed at you.” She returned her gaze to the design on the screen.

  “Really?” He pulled off his sunglasses and studied her with somber eyes. “Why’s that?”

  “Because I think you’re playing with me.”

  He seemed to mull that over for a second before he spoke. “And you don’t like it?”

  “No.” She turned to face him, looking him straight in the eyes. “Go find someone else to play with.”

  He replaced his shades, but she could feel him watching her with those unnerving eyes.

  “Tasha,” Gary said, shocked. He lowered his tone, even though Elijah could hear him. “Think about who you’re talking to. You ink this guy and you’ll hit a whole new level in the business. You could open your own place.”

  “I don’t care if he’s the fucking King of Siam,” she said. “I don’t need that kind of shit.”

  Gary sucked in a horrified breath.

  “I don’t think Siam is an actual place anymore,” Elijah said.

  “He’s already paid for your day. Cash. And you don’t have any appointments,” Gary said.

  “No, I’m sure of it,” Elijah continued. “It’s Thailand now. I was there a few months ago.”

  “Seriously?” She frowned at Elijah. His smile widened to show perfect, even teeth. “You can’t do that.”

  “Oh, but you’re wrong. I can and I did.” They stared at each other. “I get you’re pissed at me. I can respect that. Give me a chance to make it up to you.” With a forefinger, he lowered the shades on his nose, enough for his baby blues to peek over the top. “Come on. Loosen up. Live a little.” His dimples deepened. “You know you want to.”

  ***

  “Hold up.” Tasha stopped on the sidewalk and grabbed Elijah’s arm. “This is your car?” She arched an eyebrow at him before taking a second look at the long, low-slung hunk of gleaming machinery parked in the fire lane in front of the studio. Of course, he’d parked illegally. She expected nothing less. “Are you kidding me?”

  “You don’t like it?” He cocked his head to the side in an expression of bewilderment.

  “It’s a little over the top, don’t you think?” A car like that probably cost more than she would earn in a lifetime.

  “Not necessarily.” The rakish grin returned to his face. He bent to open the door for her and ushered her into the buttery-soft leather seat. Her gaze followed his strides as he crossed in front of the car to the other side and slid into the seat beside her. “It’s a hybrid. The perfect combination of luxury and environmental responsibility. I thought you’d be impressed.”

  He pushed a button on the dash. The digital gauges lit up.

  She waited for the growl of the engine, but her ears heard only the quiet whir of the electric motor. The delighted smirk on his face as the car glided from the curb made her want to smile, but she bit the inside of her cheek to hold it back. “And why would you think that?”

  His gaze flickered to hers before returning to the street. Pedestrians paused on the sidewalk to point and snap pictures when they stopped for a red traffic light. “I’ve been checking up on you,” he said. “It’s amazing what a little cash and an autograph can buy a person these days.” His confession sent a shiver through her. She didn’t understand his interest in her beyond her talents as a tattoo artist.

  With his attention trained on the road ahead, she took advantage of the opportunity to admire the swirls of ink along his neck, disappearing into the collar of his T-shirt. A tiny diamond winked from his earlobe. Twin silver hoops adorned his right eyebrow. The muscles of his throat worked when he swallowed. Every one of her senses hummed with awareness at his proximity. He was a package of bad-boy deliciousness rolled in a yummy rock-and-roll, hard-candy shell. Too bad he was such a pain in the ass.

  “I thought we’d try out this place near the river. Gabriel’s, I think it’s called. Have you heard of it?” His gaze flitted from the street to her face and back again. “Or we can go somewhere else, if you want.”

  “No, it sounds perfect.” In fact, she’d suggested the place to Luke on several occasions, but he’d never seemed interested. Thoughts of Luke brought an uncomfortable pain in her chest. She pushed them aside, unwilling to sully her day with their unresolved issues. “I hear they have really great seafood.”

  “Yeah? The concierge at the hotel suggested it. I’m usually vegetarian, but sometimes I just need to eat. Know what I mean?” Another glance in her direction revealed a boyish smile on his lips.

  “That I do,” she replied.

&n
bsp; They made idle chitchat on the short drive to the restaurant. Elijah asked questions about the tattoo studio, how she got her start, what her goals were. He maneuvered the conversation around her, keeping the conversation light and impersonal. Sitting in the car with him, it was easy to forget who he was.

  The restaurant occupied an old building on the edge of downtown and overlooked the lake. They took a table in the corner of the outside deck with a nice view of the water and the city street. The late afternoon sun sparkled on the lake, augmented by the sound of waves lapping the shore below them. Aside from the staff, there were only a few other patrons scattered inside the dining area. They gave curious glances to the tattooed pair but seemed otherwise unconcerned.

  The waiter, a skinny kid with zits and a bad haircut, handed them menus. Elijah kept his baseball cap pulled low over his forehead. His black sunglasses reflected the sun. Aside from the distinctive ink and air of celebrity, he might have been any other guy. He ordered a pitcher of water with lemons to drink and asked for a few minutes to look over the menu.

  “Water with lemon?” she asked with an arched eyebrow. “I figured you start drinking at sunup.”

  “Sometimes I drink around the clock,” he replied, eyes trained on the menu. The sadness in his voice caught her off guard. “And I don’t usually go to bed until daylight. So this is really like breakfast for me.”

  “Why am I here?” Tasha asked once the waiter left. “Are you bored? Lonely?”

  He answered her questions in rapid succession. “Because I feel like we got off on the wrong foot. Yes. And yes.” With his sunglasses on, she couldn’t read him at all. She frowned. He pulled off the shades and studied her with eyes so brilliant it was like looking into the sun. “I hate being alone.”

  Laughter burst out of her before she could stop it. “You’ve got an entourage the size of my high school. I’ve never seen you alone for more than a few minutes.”

  He didn’t smile or respond. Instead, he donned his sunglasses again and kicked back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. “I think I’m going to hang out around here for awhile,” he said. “I’ve got a few months before the next leg of the tour.”