Playin' Dirty (Beautifully Dirty #6)

by Paige Steele

  “I know, Gramps, I know.” My hand rests on his shoulder as I stand behind him.

  Maddie wraps her arms around my waist, holding me upright. Thank God for that because my knees are weak. I’m not sure how I’m even standing right now.

  There is silence in the room as we all pray and stare down at the special woman we lost. She was both his best friend and love of his life. Their story started over sixty years ago, on the day she walked into his world, and ends today on the day we lay her to rest.

  “She’ll always be with us, Gramps.”

  “That she will, Son. She looks good, huh?”

  “Yep, just as beautiful as ever. She really never aged, I don’t think. She looks like she did the day I walked into your home.”

  “Our home, Son, you were a part of us the minute you stepped inside. She fell in love the moment she laid eyes on you. I remember that night, she said lying in bed, ‘Dear, I think we finally found our son. He’s such a sweet boy.’ Her heart grew bigger because of you.”

  “Mine did as well. I’m going to miss her so much.”

  “I as well, Son.”

  We stand together for a few minutes, before walking over and watching the video the funeral home had put together of the pictures we dropped off. They did such a good job with them. Once we finish taking in the memories, we start looking at all the flowers that are spread across the entire room. Each display is different than the next, but the most stunning one of all is the one that Grandpa made sure was made and spread across her casket. It is brightly colored with every color of carnation ever made, plus a few other flowers to make it stand out even more.

  The rest of the day is spent hugging people I may have met once or twice; all the way to those I’ve known for most of my life and everyone in between. I’m grateful for each and every one of them, and I make sure they know it, too.

  Maddie has been a wonderful support for me throughout the entire day. As we stand now in our kitchen with my grandparent’s friends, their extended family, and our own friends, I look around and see love. Just love.

  “I think today went well, huh, Babe?”

  “It did. It’s good to see Grampa smiling,” I say, watching him talk to his friends over in the corner of the room.

  “Agreed. It’s going to be hard for him from here on out. He needs to stay busy, hopefully his friends will be there for him.”

  “I think they will be and since he already belongs to the bridge club and the country club, he’ll probably find himself busier than before.” I truly believed that, too. He and Gramma had so many lunch dates and appointments to attend to, that just stopping in to say “Hi” became impossible.

  Most everyone calls it a night, including Grandpa, who got a ride home with his neighbors. Leaving Maddie, Kenna, Ansley, and Josie, along with Cooper, Ryan, Adam, Cole, Trey, and myself. Little Ryder has been a good distraction for all of the ladies today. I’m glad they all have stayed around. We are just kicking it back and having a few drinks. Several shots of Fireball are lined up on the counter, ten to be exact. We all stand in a circle as I hand them out.

  “You all are more than friends to me, you are family. Thank you for being here. I love you all.”

  All glasses were clicked together in the center as there are shouts of agreement from each and every one of them.

  “Now let’s drink the night away.” The guys and I know we have racing that will begin in the next two weeks, but tonight is our night to enjoy ourselves.

  The girls are sitting around the hot tub, dangling their feet while sipping on wine. I hear a lot of giggles coming from over there, and I can pick out Maddie’s above everyone else’s. I look over just as her head is thrown backwards, followed by a belly laugh. I watch her from afar, the outside light makes her face glow even more.

  The guys and I take up all the chairs around the tables on the back patio. There is a ton of shit talk going on, regarding the upcoming outdoor season.

  “I call bullshit!” Ryan shouts over to Cooper, which gains him a round of laughter.

  I don’t even know what they are arguing about to be honest. I’m just taking in the sight before me. After the day I’ve had, I just want to live in the moment, and this moment right here is one I won’t soon forget.

  Once taxis are called and everyone is home safe, Maddie and I are left with the entire mess of the house.

  “This will all wait until morning. Let’s go to bed. It’s been a long day,” I say, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind her.

  “Agreed.” She kisses the side of my face as I lean in to her.

  Climbing into bed tonight is one of want and need. I don’t think I’ve slept well in days. I must have passed out by the time Maddie came out of the bathroom, because I don’t even remember her coming out.

  As I wake the next morning, I hear the moving around of dishes and the smell of food cooking. Groaning, I hold my head from the headache that has also formed. Looking over, I see two Tylenol and a glass of water. I take them both and walk in the bathroom. A shower is needed and hopefully it’ll help me feel human again.

  “There’s Sleeping Beauty.” Maddie giggles at me as I walk in the kitchen.

  “Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the meds. I think they are kicking in, thank God,” I say, reaching for a piece of bacon. Food helps everything, right?

  She carries the rest of the plate over to the table then continues to load the dishwasher. Looking around, I see the rest of the house is already picked up.

  “Cupcake, you didn’t need to do this all by yourself,” I say, waving my hands toward the clean counters. “You should have woke me so I could help.”

  “No biggie, you’ve been tossing and turning for the last three nights, so you needed the rest.”

  “You’re the best, you know that?”

  “Sure, babe.” She giggles over at me.

  “I’m serious. And thank you. I don’t think I say that enough to you. The two of us are always playin’ around, but I’m being serious when I say I’m so grateful to have you in my life.”

  “I feel the same way, Babe.” She walks over to me and sits across my lap. “I’m the lucky one, to not only have you as my boyfriend but as my best friend, too. I love you.”

  “You are truly beautiful, Cupcake. I love you, too.” I lean forward locking our lips together.

  JESSE

  Where have the last four months gone? We just finished up the Motocross season. I finished in second, it’s not where I wanted to be, but it’s where I was, so it is what it is. That same fucker from the Supercross season was able to beat me out of first. Luckily, I won’t have to deal with him this year as I’m moving up to the 450 class. He’ll stay back for at least another year before joining me once again.

  Things here at the house have been great. Maddie and I have gotten in a routine of working out together and showering after, which has turned out to be my favorite time of the day. Her playfulness is still going strong as well as our bets. The entire Motocross season consisted of a bet for every race. She lost most of them, so I totally enjoyed collecting my winnings.

  As for my grandpa, he’s on the go all the time. He has been golfing more and even joined another bridge club, but he’s found his love for the casino. It makes me laugh when he tells me that he’s off with friends to gamble the day away. I’m glad he’s keeping himself busy, I worry less now that I see he’s gotten past the days of sadness, though I’m sure he still has his moments. I know I do. But overall, he’s doing pretty well.

  Now we are home getting ready for Ryan and Kenna’s engagement party. Well, I should say they will be engaged by the end of the night. Ryan is surprising her at the restaurant tonight, you know the old put the ring in the champagne glass. Yeah, that’s what Ryan’s doing.

  “Let’s hope she doesn’t swallow it,” Maddie yells from the closet, where she went to grab her dress.

  “Let’s hope she does,” I chuckle back.

  “You’re an ass. You know what I mean,�
� she comes out of the closet saying.

  I just laugh again because it’s funny. Shaking her head, she shimmies into her pale pink dress, pulling it up until it’s perfectly in place.

  Turning around she asks, “Zip me up?”

  “I’d rather not, thanks.”

  “Jesse Anderson, get your ass over here and zip my dress,” she says, moving her hair to the side.

  “Can we be late?” I place several tiny kisses to her bare back.

  “No, we can NOT, now zip it up, Mister.”

  “But I don’t want to.” I give her my best whiney voice.

  “Ryan will kill us. He’s already nervous, and if we show up late, he’s liable to shoot us.”

  “He would, huh?” I laugh.

  “Yes, he wants it all to go smoothly, which means we have a half-hour to get there. Now get movin’.”

  I suppose I probably should get dressed myself. I slip on my khakis then my shoes, lastly I throw a dark blue shirt over my head. Maddie has already headed downstairs so I make my way to her. Grabbing our coats, we walk out the door.

  The night goes off without a hitch. Ryan asks, she says yes, and no, she didn’t swallow the ring. The girls are already making wedding plans, while I’m already making plans of my own. I will one day soon ask that beautiful lady, standing across the room from me, that very question.

  We all dance the night away, celebrating the commitment of forever made by two of our friends. A bunch of us are standing around talking, when Kenna asks where Josie is. I look around and chuckle when I see her and Adam in the room attached, going at it like a couple of teenagers. Bringing everyone’s attention to them, I can’t help myself when I laugh and say, “It looks like someone’s…Gettin’ Dirty.”

  What’s coming around the corner next…Josie and Adam’s story.

  Here’s a sneak peak of Gettin’ Dirty.

  Prologue

  The minute Josie walks in, she catches my eye. If I’m being honest, she always does. Everything else in the room tends to fade away when she enters. I don’t get it actually, this hasn’t happened before. I watch her as she makes her way around the room, talking to everyone. She seems to be avoiding me, hugging one body after another, yet she hasn’t made her way to me.

  I stand drinking my beer as she finally brings her sweet innocent body over in my direction. I excuse myself away from others so when she presents her green eyes in front of me; it’s just her and me.

  “Hey there,” comes out of her mouth.

  “You look gorgeous tonight, Josie.”

  “Thanks, you look pretty hot yourself there, stud,” she says with a flirty smile.

  Before she has a chance to hug me, I pull her body into mine. Her eyes widen but she doesn’t reject my gesture. Holding her close, she smells like a sweet flower that I can’t seem to stop inhaling. She rests her head against my chest and I wonder if she can feel my heartbeat through my shirt. It’s beating faster than ever before.

  She pulls back just enough to look up at my face. Our eyes lock together until mine travel down to her lips and back up again. There is an immediate pull to want to kiss her. I struggle to keep my composure as her tongue peeks out and swipes against her bottom lip.

  All my calmness is completely gone. I take her hand and lead us to a smaller room, just a bit out of eyesight. I can’t help myself as I spin her until she’s up against the wall. Without asking, I slide my hands through the sides of her hair and kiss her. It’s not just any kiss, it’s a mouthwatering, heat rising, panty-dropping kiss. And she’s melts against me once again.

  As I step back, her eyes are still closed. My thumb swipes across her bottom lip as her eyes remain sealed.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t help myself,” I whisper to her.

  “Hmm, hmm.” Is all that comes out of her mouth.

  I walk away before she has a chance to look at me. I continue until I reach Ryan and Kenna, I shake his hand and hug her, wishing two of our friends’ congratulations on their engagement. Without looking back, I open the door and make my way to my truck.

  Taking in a deep breath before I even put the key in the ignition is necessary. Josie is a beautiful young lady and that’s exactly what the problem is…she’s young, too young for me. She hasn’t even turned twenty-one yet, and I’m having dirtier thoughts than I’ve ever had about anyone.

  Pulling out of the parking lot, I drive until I arrive at my house. Dropping my keys on the stand next to the front door, I make my way to the kitchen. Pulling out a glass and the bottle of Jack, I pour a double shot. Feeling the burn of this will hopefully mask the ache of what I just did.

  Taking out my laptop, I shoot my manager an email, telling her I need out of my contract for Supercross. I give the excuse that I need to worry about my training and racing, not playing around every weekend at a dirt bike track. I’m sure I’m being an asshole, but I need to get away from someone that might make me do the one thing I swear would never happen…fall in love. The attraction to her is strong, so strong that it pulls me to her every single time she’s in a room.

  I need to concentrate on me and the only love I want to have right now which is…BMX racing. I want the championship more than ever, the hunger has been building up in my body, and this year is going to be my year. I can’t have any distractions and Josie is definitely a huge distraction. So right now I’ll do me, I’ll worry about my needs, and I’ll have fun all while doing it.

  Thanks to everyone that has helped me out with the book. From Pink Ink Designs that did a stunning job on my cover, Karen Hrdlicka that puts her special touch to all my words while she edits, Juliana Cabrera who formatted it, making the inside just as incredible as the outside, to my book friends that help me out. And of course to my family, for the understanding of my late night writing sessions. I couldn’t have done any of this without you all. And to Adam Bouska and Steven Brewis, the two of you together made an incredible picture for me to use as my cover, thank you so much.

  To the reader of this book, thank you for continuing to believe in me and my stories. There is so much more to come.

  I am a loving wife and a mother of two teenage boys. I enjoys crafting and love reading a good book every chance I get. During the day I work at a medical office and at night I spend my time with my family, then when everyone heads to bed, I write. On the weekends you can often find my family at a dirt track. When I’m not watching my boys race, I’m collecting ideas for my Beautifully Dirty Series.

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