Poison Me Sweetly (Long Beach Series Book 1)

by Dani Matthews

  I squat down so that I am closer to her eye level. “You wanna know what my favorite dish is?” I ask, keeping my tone cheerful. She looks up at me, eyes curious now. “I love the cheeseburgers. They are killer. Especially with all the dressings. I like mine with bacon, though. And the fries. They aren't those scrawny little fries that go limp when you pick them up. We do the wedges. Can't beat potato wedges. When I'm in the mood and can twist Ralph's arm in the kitchen, I make him make me a huge chocolate milkshake to go with it since it's not on our menu. He makes a mean milkshake, no one does it better than him. I swear, I eat this meal three times a week since I'm a lousy cook, and I never tire of it,” I tell her as I wink.

  Micaela's eyes brighten slightly, and she looks at Caleb hesitantly, as if asking if she can order what I'd just suggested.

  “Sold,” Caleb says easily as he hands me the menus. “We'll take two orders of burgers and fries. And the milkshakes if you can twist Ralph's arm,” he says with a crooked grin.

  I take the menus and smile. “Done. Anything to drink while you wait?”

  Caleb looks at Micaela, who shakes her head no. “We're good,” he says.

  “Your meal should be out shortly,” I tell them before I move off to the next booth where a gentleman is signaling for a refill.

  Ralph shoots me a dirty look when I put in the order for milkshakes but doesn't say a word. I have him wrapped around my little finger. And I wasn't kidding when I said he makes a really good milkshake. I've tried to make them myself but failed miserably. Ralph's my go-to guy when I'm in the mood for one. I busy myself for the next fifteen minutes, making sure everyone seated in my section is comfortable and has everything they need. The few times I pass Caleb and Micaela, I see that they seem to be caught up in a serious conversation, their voices too low for me to catch. As I work, I wonder what their story is. Caleb seems more like a playboy than anything. The fact that he's sitting here in the early evening with a young girl has me slightly bewildered. Shouldn't he be getting ready for a date or something?

  When their order is up, I carry out a tray, then carefully unload their meal on the table before setting the large milkshakes in front of them.

  Caleb looks impressed, his eyes lifting to mine with a slightly roguish gleam in them. “Looks like I owe you one.”

  The sexual innuendo in his tone isn't lost on me, and I shoot him a look. “You have nothing that I want or need,” I say lightly. I turn my attention to Micaela, deliberately dismissing him. “I put bacon on the side in case you want to try it.”

  She smiles up at me, and when her lips curve upwards, I can see that she's going be quite the heart breaker when she's older. “Thanks,” she says almost shyly.

  The answering smile I give her is genuine. “You're welcome. If you guys need anything, let me know.”

  “Thanks, Zoey,” Caleb says a smile.

  I give him a brief smile back before I walk away from their table as fast as politeness will allow. The last thing I need is to get involved with that womanizer. Not that I'm worried about my heart, that's been shattered. It no longer functions properly where emotions are concerned. I'm more concerned over how good the sex would be, and that I'd become addicted to it. It's bad enough I mess around with Jeremy more than I should. I don't need to develop something along those lines with Caleb. I have a feeling that he doesn't understand the concept of boundaries, and that just won't work for me.

  ~*~

  I'm working at Grendel's again on Friday, when I get a text message from Ace inviting me to hang with him and his friends at some bar where a band is playing that night. I quickly confirm that I'm coming, and that I'll be there around nine before I dive back into waiting tables. The place is packed, and Lonnie almost has me agreeing to work another hour before I stand firm and tell her I have plans.

  I need to go out tonight. The tension from earlier this week is weighing heavily on me, and I just need to let loose, have some alcohol, and just let the tension disappear. This is a sick cycle that I go through, one that's becoming shorter and shorter as the weeks slide by. Now is the time to forget it all, and take a much needed break from the desolation that haunts my every step.

  By the time I reach my apartment after my shift, I'm running behind, and I quickly hurry inside to the shower. I can hear music coming from the apartment next door. I'm betting everyone is already there, anxious to leave and get the night started. Instead, they’re stuck over there waiting on me. My shower is quick, and I dry myself off before walking naked to my bedroom. I pull open my top dresser drawer and dig through my lingerie. Not much interests me now days, but I've still managed to keep up on my lingerie obsession. The only new items that enter my apartment are either lingerie or clothes. I could care less about any other materialistic stuff.

  I decide on a fire engine red lace bra that enhances my already ample cleavage. The matching panties are cheekies—little lace shorts that ride up my butt cheeks in the back. After I wiggle into them, I walk back to the bathroom to work on my hair. When my phone chimes, I hurry to my room to grab it. I scan the text. What's the hold up?

  Ace is always so impatient. I quickly text back, I'll be over in five. What bar? Even as it chimes, notifying me of a new text, I set the phone down and grab the blow dryer so that I can get ready. Once my hair is dry and my curling iron is warming, I read it. Playground. It's a popular college bar located downtown. My eyebrows furrow. I'm in the mood to dress up tonight, but the bar is more casual than upscale. I shrug it off. I'll wear what I want, and if I stand out in the crowd, all the more better.

  I’m quick with the curling iron, and then after two minutes of deliberation in front of my closet, I pull out a casual, but skin tight, red mini dress. It's Friday night, and I plan on being naughty. And no, I don't mean with Caleb. I'm staying away from that one.

  Once I pull on the black and red wedges that make my legs look even longer than they already are, I grab my fake ID, cash, and my apartment key before slipping them in my bra. There. All set. I leave the apartment and walk down the hall to Ace and Jeremy's.

  I walk right in, and Ace looks up while the others lounge around and keep talking. His eyebrows lift as his gray eyes scan me from head to toe. He walks over with a knowing glint in his eye. “On the prowl tonight, are we?”

  “What else am I going to do on a Friday night? Can I ride with you?” I ask as I adjust the short hem of the dress that clings to my toned thighs. All that running has made my legs firm and sleek. No jiggles on this girl, unless you count my breasts. But those are meant to jiggle when they are full C's.

  “Yeah,” Ace says in reply to my question before he turns to the group. “Hey, let's pack it in.”

  Everyone makes their way to the door, and I smile in greeting at Bev and Jeremy. AJ's not with tonight, I see. Disappointment sweeps through me. I'm not real close to the others. In fact, most of them grate on my nerves. Ace, Jeremy, AJ, and Bev are my favorites. My eyes happen to land on Caleb, and I see his blue eyes are focused on my breasts with unabashed longing. Ah, looks like Caleb's a breast man. I can't help but smirk inwardly at the realization. Tonight's going to be a long night for that one. I don't mind doing a little teasin’, but I certainly won't be screwing him tonight.

  Since he's so busy 'eye-fucking' my rack, I let my eyes roam over him. He's wearing jeans that fit in all the right places. His shirt tonight is dark with a few buttons going down the front center. The first three are unbuttoned, giving me a glimpse of his tanned skin at the base of his throat. There's a part of me that longs to toy with those buttons. I want to open them up and bare that deliciously hard chest so that my lips can trail down it.

  Damn him.

  I spin around before he can notice my own little bout of 'eye-fucking' and walk out of the apartment with Ace and the others. I can feel his eyes on me, but I ignore him as we take the elevator down, then exit out the back door to the parking lot.

  Jeremy slings a friendly arm around my shoulder and hugs me close. “Well, aren'
t you a sight for sore eyes,” he says as his eyes roam over my breasts, which are barely contained by my dress.

  I glance up at him, smiling coyly as I lean in to say, “The shows even better underneath.”

  He sucks in an audible breath, eyes darkening as they drag up from my cleavage to meet my gaze. “It gonna be like that tonight?”

  “Maybe.”

  His eyes search mine for a second longer as we pause near Ace's gray Hummer. “Just let me know when you figure it out, Zo.”

  The look in his eye has me almost faltering. What am I doing? I've always known Jeremy is game for some screwing, and he always waits for me to make the first move. But I'm not even sure if I want to be with him tonight, and here I am tempting him? It's wrong.

  “Yo, shoot the shit later. Let's get going,” Ace calls to us as he slides into the driver's seat of the Hummer. I blink, my eyes moving away from Jeremy's to see that Ace is now leaning over the passenger seat, pushing the door open for me impatiently.

  Jeremy nods at me before he turns to walk in the direction of his own vehicle.

  I climb in and realize I'm going to be flashing a lot of thigh tonight. I tug the fabric down slightly before shutting the door.

  Ace starts the Hummer up, glancing briefly at my thighs before shaking his head as he backs out of the parking space. “Who's that dress really for tonight? Jeremy or Caleb?” he asks bluntly as he pulls out onto Clark Avenue.

  I scowl. “What makes you think it's for Caleb?”

  “Z, you can practically cut the sexual tension with a knife when you're in the same room.”

  “I don't screw every attractive guy I come across.”

  “Yeah, you do,” he says as he reaches out and turns on the radio, keeping the volume low.

  “I do not,” I say indignantly. I like sex, but that doesn't make me a slut. I prefer promiscuous.

  “A word of warning,” he says as he glances at me from across the shadowy interior of the Hummer. “Don't be pitting Caleb and Jeremy against each other when it comes to your bed,” he says gruffly.

  I'm struck speechless as I stare at him, because Ace has never been one to comment about my sex life. He's never approached me about what I've been doing with Jeremy. He always looks the other way, making it clear what I do is none of his business.

  “Where the hell did that come from?” I ask.

  Ace doesn't look at me as he keeps his eyes focused on the traffic before him. “Jeremy and I are tight. And Caleb's getting there. He's a good guy, and we all like him.”

  “What does that have to do with me?”

  “Z, you can't fuck them both. You and I, that shit didn't work, and we get that. It was pretty easy to sweep under the rug. But you're still screwing Jeremy on and off, and Caleb's too new to know how to deal with you. Shit could get real ugly if things start getting complicated.”

  “I would have to care in order for it to get complicating, Ace.”

  “It might be that easy for you, but it may not be for them,” he points out.

  Alarm starts to rise within my chest, and I stare at Ace worriedly. “Has Jeremy said something?” I demand.

  Ace looks at me sharply, noting the panic on my face. He curses and reaches out, grabbing my knee firmly to try to calm me down. “No. No, Z. He's never said anything about what you guys do. I'm just saying that we're a tight group. You really think it's okay to be screwing more than one of us? You really want to test those waters?”

  I'm aware of his warm hand just above my knee, but it doesn't send my heart into overdrive like it would have if it were Jeremy or Caleb. Ace and I had our thing a long time ago, and we are so beyond not compatible that it's laughable now.

  I sigh, adjusting the seatbelt over my chest where it's digging into my left breast. “I have no intention of getting involved with Caleb.”

  “Does he know that?” Ace asks as his hand leaves my knee to grip the steering wheel again.

  “I've made it clear.”

  “And Jeremy?”

  I look at him quizzically. “Why now are you asking about us? We've been messing around for almost a year, and you've never said a word about it.”

  He's silent for a moment before he seems to choose his words carefully. “You guys get into too much of a routine, and you're asking for trouble.”

  My brows furrow as I think over his comment. Then, my thoughts shift to Jeremy's expression when I'd teased him. His reaction had been instantaneous, he was ready to go if I was. No questions asked. He'd probably avoid hooking up with some random woman tonight if he thinks I might be in his bed later. My teeth sink into my bottom lip. The sex has always been really good between us. I let him get away with more than I allow the other casual screws. That's because I trust him.

  Aw shit.

  I see where Ace is going with this conversation. If Jeremy and I continue as we are, things will eventually go deeper. It's inevitable. He'll start to care too much, or I'll get to the point where nobody else is appealing, because it's Jeremy's hands I want on my body.

  “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as the back of my head drops back against the headrest.

  Ace is silent, not questioning me about where my head is at. The rest of the drive to Playground is silent. Neither of us speak again until Ace cuts the engine and looks at me. “Let's just keep this little conversation between us.”

  “Talking about it once was bad enough,” I say as I open my car door, then cautiously try to climb out without having the hem of my mini dress ride up to my waist. Charlie happens to be walking past, and he comes over and simply settles his hands on my waist, lifting me down easily. “Thanks, Charlie,” I say with a grateful smile.

  He flashes me one of his smiles before running a hand through his unruly short brown hair. I can't resist standing up on tip-toe to ruffle it again. Charlie's more tolerable than Dillon and Jake. He's more reserved, and I swear there isn't a cocky bone in his body.

  I don't bother looking around for either Caleb or Jeremy. Instead, I walk beside Charlie and Ace as we make our way towards the large building. The bouncer at the door barely even glances at our IDs as he waves us on inside.

  As we enter the bar, my mind is distracted as we hit the bar for drinks first before finding a place to stand. All the booths and tables have been taken, so now it's standing room only. I sip my drink absently, my mind unable to move on from the conversation I'd had with Ace on the way here. I've never considered Jeremy's feelings before. He knows the drill. He knows where I stand with him and with men in general. But that doesn't necessarily mean he agrees with it.

  The frown is impossible to hold back as I stand with the group along the outskirts of the room. The dance floor has been cleared on the opposite side of the bar, and the band's equipment is set up and ready to go. Music plays over the speakers overhead as people mill around, laughing and drinking as they wait for the night's entertainment.

  Warm hands slide around my waist, and I'm gently pulled back against a familiar chest. Tingles run up my spine, and I know I should pull away from Jeremy. It's not fair to tease him when I no longer have any intention of leaving with him. And yet I can't pull away, my body relaxes against the hard muscles behind me because he's so familiar. My body has always fit against his perfectly. Jeremy's hands leave my waist to settle on my shoulders before they begin to lightly massage my tense muscles.

  How the hell am I supposed to pull away when he's doing that to me? My head drops back against his shoulder as a sigh of pleasure escapes me.

  Jeremy's cheek rests against mine as he says lowly in my ear, “I can see all the way down your cleavage.”

  My breath hitches, and I slowly straighten, not saying anything as I finish off my drink. I've opened a can of worms tonight. What had I been thinking earlier? I know exactly what I'd been thinking. There's a void in my chest where my heart used to be, and I want to use Jeremy tonight so I can forget. Forget the hurt, the pain, the guilt...

  Suddenly, I need to get away from him. />
  Without a word to anyone, I deliberately move out of Jeremy's arms and walk off into the crowd. The music dies down, and I hear the band being introduced. A second later hard rock fills the room as I make my way to the bar. Most of the crowd around it has dispersed, and when the bartender looks at me expectantly, I order a shot of tequila.

  While I wait, my eyes can't resist flickering back to where our small group stands along the wall. They are all focused on the band except for Jeremy. Instead of being focused on why we are here, his eyes are on mine.

  I instinctively look away.

  Somewhere inside me, I know I've hurt him with my rejection. I'm acknowledging that Ace is right, I can't be with Jeremy anymore. It was happening too much, and if Jeremy starts to care more than he should...

  I'm such an ass.

  The bartender sets my tequila in front of me, and I toss a bill on the counter and down it almost desperately. I feel lost tonight.

  Lost and alone.

  Something has changed within me, but I can't quite put my finger on what.

  “Hey, Zoey.”

  I look up to see Stephan standing near me with a beer in hand. “Hey,” I greet over the loud music.

  His green eyes flicker over my body, taking in the curves I have on full display tonight. A grin slides over his lips. “You alone?”

  “Yeah.”

  He nods toward the front of the room. “We have a table up front. Want to join us?”

  “Sure.” It would beat going back to the others. I'm being a total bitch by avoiding Jeremy, but I can't help it. I don't want to deal with him.

  Stephan slips an arm around me, and I allow him to lead me through the crowd. Everyone's enjoying the band, and at this close range, the music almost hurts my ears. As we reach the table, I see that Stephan is here with two other guys and one woman. Only one seat is available and he sits down, immediately slipping his arms around me and pulling me down on his lap. He handles me with a familiarity that grates on my nerves. We'd had a one-nighter two months ago. I can't help but inwardly grimace. Maybe Ace is right, and I’m a slut after all.