by K. L. Jessop
“She was my childminder for a long time before she died.”
He takes another and leans his elbows on the countertop, closing his eyes to enjoy the flavours while he falls into a semi food coma from all the chocolate. He looks different. That scowl he used to wear has faded and his shoulders are stress-free. I’d like to say he looks happy, but I don’t want to tempt fate. “My God. I think I’ve found a new love. Continue baking like this and I’ll find it hard to let you leave.”
I bite my lip, trying to hide my grin. Does that mean he doesn’t want me to go? My heart races at the thought. I take two steps towards him and wipe the chocolate from the corner of his mouth with my thumb.
“You saving this bit for later?” I murmur. He sucks my thumb clean and pulls me to him.
He seems to get hotter by day, which is doing nothing to control the feelings that are vastly building in my heart for him.
His hands travel up under the back of my vest top, moving to my front where his eyes when he realises I’m not wearing a bra. I wrap my arms around his neck, and it’s not until I run my fingers along the back of his suit jacket that realisation kicks in. “What are you doing home, anyway?”
“I’m on my lunch hour.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Andrew, you never take a lunch hour.”
In one swift move, I’m placed on the counter top, bowls and tins are moved aside as he covers me and grins. “I do now.”
***
As soon as I see the tight muscle and tribal tattoo of Lucas, I charge my way through the arrivals lounge and jump into his arms. I’m so happy to have him here safe and ready to start a new life that he deserves to have. He works so hard taking care of and protecting others that he needs to start thinking of himself.
“Hey, beautiful,” he says as my emotions get the better of me and my eyes fill with unshed tears. I squeeze my arms around his neck. “Megan, I would like to leave this airport alive and not in a body bag as a result of asphyxiation.”
I chuckle and release him. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“I’m happy to finally be here.” He puts me down and wipes my tears, giving me the once over before kissing my head. “You look beautiful as ever.”
“You too.”
“I believe you mean hot mess. Never uses your girlish shit and tell a man he looks beautiful.”
I laugh. He looks tired but just as handsome. My brother is built like a brick and would no doubt be every girl’s pin-up poster. His dark hair is a little longer than it’s been previously, but his chiselled jaw is just as prominent.
Loading his bags and cases on the trolley we head out the airport into the early evening sun.
“Have you told Mum and Dad you’re here?”
“I told them my flight is next week. Thought it would give me some breathing space,” he grins.
“Lucas Simmons, you’re evil.”
He gives me the eye. “You’d do the same.”
He has a point. I love my parents dearly, but our mother gets a little carried away with herself and still treats us like toddlers. “So now that you’re here, what’s the first thing on your list?”
“A man’s gotta eat. I want burgers, fries and I want them served by a pretty girl.”
I roll my eyes. “Rock Waves it is then.”
Thankfully, the airport’s delivery service takes Lucas’s luggage to his new place so we don’t have to haul it around with us. We sit by the window in Rock Waves, the beachside diner that overlooks the coast, as surf lovers take the opportunity to ride the waves while the beach is quiet.
“My God. I can’t wait to get in the sea with my board,” Lucas says, mesmerised by the view.
“Not surfed for a while?”
“No. The last job I was on was out in the middle of nowhere; they didn’t even own a pool. I mean who the fuck lives in LA and doesn’t own a pool?” He sounds really put out and I can’t help but chuckle.
The waitress brings our order of burger, fries and diet coke, I shake my head at my brother’s flirtatious behaviour as he checks her out with a wink, causing her cheeks to flush.
“So, what’s new little sis? You found your libido yet?”
I avoid his question. He’s so crude. “Marcus bought a boat; it’s so gorgeous.”
“Yes! He’s finally got a babe-magnet. Man, that’s gonna score me a lot of chicks.”
I roll my eyes. “Do you ever think of anything other than sex with girls?”
“Well I’m not really a cock sucker, so no,” he grins before stuffing a handful of fries into his mouth and then continues to talk. “How’s Ginger Spice?”
“Thinking of calling off the wedding.”
His head shoots up. “Since when? Are things with her and Marcus—”
“Things are fine. She’s had the court date through and it’s knocked her off course a little. She wants everything to be perfect and not have history in the way. So, she’s thinking of postponing.”
“Over my dead body, she is. The girl is getting married as planned.”
“Well, good luck with telling her that. She’s a redhead remember: a stubborn ass that has the tendency to explode when you least expect it.”
Once we are fed and watered we head to Lucas’s new house after stopping off at the late-night supermarket to collect some essentials for the fridge. I’m speechless the moment I get thought the door and become suddenly envious of my brother. “Holy shit, Lucas, this place is like a palace.”
“I know, right. As soon as Marcus emailed me the photo’s I knew it was mine.”
“How many bedrooms?” I ask, running my fingers along the marbled countertop of the kitchen while he stocks the fridge.
“Five. It even has a pool.”
“Shut. Up!” My mouth hits the floor as he stands there laughing at me. “Who do you think you are? The King of Spring Rose?”
“All in good time, little sister.” He winks. “Come on let’s go and explore my new man-pad.”
This place is incredible and makes mine look like a tin shed. Already furnished with the latest styles, everything is big, tall, spacious and has a smell of newness about it, and the inside pool is just the icing on the cake.
“Cheers.” We say in unison as our beer bottles clink: a celebratory drink to his new venture. We’re sitting by the edge of the pool, our legs dangling in the water.
“How’s the new job going?” he questions. “Still enjoying it?”
“I’m loving it. I’ve learnt so much and Marcus is already seeing results with both businesses. Give it a few more weeks to get the word around and I think it will really take off.”
“That’s great. I really pleased for you.” He swigs his beer. “I need to have a chat with Marcus to see if he’s got anything going.”
“Any ideas on what you have in mind?”
He sighs. “No idea, I just want a break from the usual.”
I still find it a little strange Lucas wanting to break away from everything he had in LA, he loved that place as well as his job as a body guard, coming here and working in an office isn’t really his style. I can’t help but wonder if there is more to his move than he’s letting on.
I rest my head on his shoulder and watch the reflection from the water along the walls of the pool room. “I think I’m in love with this place, do you want to swap houses?”
“Fuck no,” he snorts.
“My house is a shit-hole.”
He tenses instantly, and I know I’ve hit a nerve where our uncle is concerned. “You know if I get my hands on Richard—”
“Uncle Richard.” I remind him. “And Mum will kill you, so don’t even go there.”
“He’s not blood related, Megan,” he says sternly.
“He’s still family.”
“That doesn’t mean shit.”
“Whatever, I don’t want to talk about him.”
He nudges me. “You brought it up.”
“No I simply said my house is a shit-hole.” I smile, thank
ful that’s he’s now relaxed. He’s such an alpha male at times.
“You know if your place still isn’t ready and you’ve had enough at Andrew’s you can always stay here.”
The thoughts of leaving Andrew’s unsettles me. I know the time will soon come, but that’s not what bothers me; it’s the thought of not knowing where our relationship will lead.
“No, I’m good. We’ve sorted out our differences and getting on a lot better now.”
He pulls back to give me the eye before a grin takes over. “You’re fucking him, aren’t you?”
I can never lie to Lucas, even if I try. Even without speaking, my cheeks tell him all he needs to know as they burn. “I’ve not told anyone yet.”
Lucas starts to laugh and has a look on his face as though he’s impressed. “It’s about fucking time you two gave into your feelings.”
“It took a while but we got there in the end.” I’m a little surprised he’s picked up on that given the fact he’s hardly here. Suddenly, he’s becomes serious. His body built like a brick as that layer of protection shows. I know what’s coming.
“Andrew’s a good guy, but I swear to God, Megan, if he fucks with you I’ll—”
“Hunt him down and burn off his balls.” I finish his sentence—that same sentence I’ve heard repeatedly since I was eleven years old and puberty started to kick in and the same sentence I know he’ll never back down on.
Chapter Twenty
Megan
“Wine?” Amelia asks as soon she opens her door. We’re having a much-needed date night of alcohol and inappropriate images of men on the internet.
“You know me so well,” I beam, kissing her cheek and heading down the hall. I spot the long chocolate hair of Felicity who’s sitting at the breakfast bar. “Hey, Fliss.”
“Hey! I hope you don’t mind me gate crashing? There’s only so much testosterone and dirty mag talks a woman can take.” I narrow my brow at her, having no clue what she’s on about. “Oh, sorry. Your brother and Jack are—”
I hold my hands up to stop her, knowing where this is leading. “I can imagine. Save your energy for moving your glass to your lips.”
My brother and Jack are like two peas in a pod with their dirty talk.
“Speaking of male hormones, Marcus has been in a foul mood all day,” Amelia says behind me. I halt on pouring the drinks and look at her. Given her history I can’t help but worry.
“Everything alright between you two?”
“Oh, God yeah we’re fine. He’s just got a lot on his mind and this new club that’s opening isn’t helping either. He thinks it’s going to cause a little rivalry with Rubies.”
“Do we know what it is yet?” Felicity asks as I hand over her wine. “Other than that the interior is purple?”
“It’s a strip club,” I reply. Two pairs of eyes widen from across the breakfast bar as they look at me in anticipation.
“How the hell do you know that?” Felicity asks.
“Perks of being an Entertainment Manager.” I grin, lifting my glass to my lips to take a sip. “I had my suspicions and spoke with the Owner the other week to do a little digging. I made up some bullshit about being an erotic dancer alongside my day job and that I’m wanting a location to put together an exclusive package that provides numerous sex toys and private room services. He said that it’s his line of work and with an ass like mine guys will be itching to fill my G-string with cash, and then offered me a job on the spot.”
Amelia chokes on her wine with a horrified expression. “Are you fucking kidding me? You may love sex and music but there’s no way in hell you’re mixing the two.”
“Calm your shit, Ginger. I’m not going to take it, but I got the information we all wanted, didn’t I?”
“Oh, this girl is good,” Felicity adds.
“The girl is lethal.”
I grin at Amelia’s death stare that’s not in any way threatening. “In terms of rivalry, Marcus has nothing to worry about when it comes to Rubies. Not everyone is hooked on watching women tossing their G-strings across the room in the hope that they’ll get a desperate man hard while dancing to ‘I wanna sex you up’—”
“Unless your name is Lucas.”
“True,” I reply to Fliss.
“So, you can tell Marcus to pull the rod from his ass and put a smile back on his face; there’s nothing to worry about.”
Amelia tugs on her lip and sighs. “I don’t think that will put a smile on his face after the mood he’s been in today.”
“I’m sure a flash of your ginger pubes will do it,” Felicity says with a wicked grin.
“Ms Black, to say you lack confidence, you’re really letting yourself go lately,” I add, filling up our glasses.
“She’s clearly spending too much time with us.”
Felicity shakes her head. “I blame Jack. Since I moved in with him he’s leading me astray more than he already was.”
I can imagine. Jack has always had a wild streak in him, he doesn’t show it that often; it’s only every now and again that the wild boy comes out. “Do you like his new bike?”
Fliss answers with an eye roll. “He’s obsessed with that thing. He keeps pestering me to go on a ride with him.”
“I bet he does,” I wink. Everyone can see there’s a connection between them that’s screaming more than ‘let’s just be friends’. Jack is in denial and blows it off is a joke whenever the story is bought up, and Felicity is like a love-sick puppy that’s yet to admit she wants more. So, Amelia and I just tease them about it instead. “Maybe he’s pestering because he wants to take you out and re-enact the scene from Grease Two, where you face him as you cruise along the country side—”
Amelia interjects, in a dramatic sexy voice. “The wind in your hair as you hold onto the soft leather of his jacket.”
“Stop it you two. We’re just friends.” Her cheeks redden but I continue the torment.
“And as the cool rider song plays in your mind over and over, and the wind loosens the scarf from your hair, he pulls over, takes your hand and—”
“Bends you over and fucks you relentlessly!” Amelia blurts. All three of us fall into laughter. Relentless is Jacks middle name, or it could be, because I liked sleeping him just as much as he did me many moons ago.
“Speaking of relentless fucking, I don’t know what’s got into Marcus recently.”
“Andrew’s the same. The man has more energy than a Duracell bunny.” I can tell from the instant silence that they heard every word loud and clear, and the wide eyes and agape mouths only confirm my outburst. Shit. “Um, did I say that out loud?”
“Megan Louise Simmons, you’re sleeping with Andrew?” Amelia freaks, trying to hide the grin.
“No. Maybe. God yes!”
“Oh, my God, this is fucking brilliant,” Felicity chuckles. “I can’t say I know many women that screw the guy they hate.”
“I don’t hate him. Well, not anymore.” I grin.
“Pass me the wine,” Amelia orders Felicity. “So, let me get this straight: you’ve been having sex with Andrew?”
I raise my forefinger. “Correction. I’ve been having lots of sex with Andrew.”
“And you’re just telling me this now because…”
I sense the slight disapproval in her tone and I hate myself for not telling her sooner.
“Because you know how dark and mysterious he is. I just didn’t want to go yelling from the cliff tops, because I really like him. Even with his arsehole tendencies.”
“You like him? Since when?”
I shrug my shoulder. “Since your birthday.”
“I knew it.” Amelia beams, clasping her hands as if I’ve made her day. Meanwhile, Felicity sits forward, her soft voice lowering with an inquisitive tone.
“So, what’s he like?”
“Hot, intense, and utterly thrilling.”
***
I get home late from Amelia’s and have strict orders from Marcus to not let Andrew wig
gle out a date night tomorrow with the boys. As soon as Marcus entered his house, Amelia ran up to him like a little girl at Christmas and told him of Andrew’s and my sexual affairs. He reacted better than I thought, not that I had any worries about his reaction to begin with but that didn’t stop the relief I felt when he knew.
Like usual, I find Andrew sitting alone by the window. The glow from the town shimmers across the ocean water, enlightening the deep cut muscle of his bare chest and shoulders. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on, even with those shadowy eyes of hidden pain.
“Hey,” I say softly letting him know I’m here.
I like the fact he now feels comfortable with sitting like he does, knowing I’m only few feet away. That’s huge progress as he used to spend this time of night in his room.
“Marcus said he wants a date night with you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. He text.”
I straighten, a wave of anxiety rolls my stomach. If he’s texted, I know for certain he will have said something about us. “I’ve told Amelia and Felicity… about us. Please don’t be mad. It’s getting harder to keep it from them.”
“I’m not. It’s fine.”
I can tell from his tone that he’s genuine even if his words are few and far between. I’ve learned to go with the flow with Andrew: if I push him, he retreats, which is the last thing I want, and I believe he doesn’t want that either.
Taking off my heels, I slide my jacket off my arms, walking further into the open living space. I can feel his stare on my skin: it follows my every move.
“Would you like one?” I ask, pouring myself a tequila into a crystal glass. He shakes his head still holding my body with his eyes, and my insides warm with how he has the ability to bring me to life with just his gaze. He looks so lost—fragile—and it hurts that he’s just meters away yet we’re so far apart in other ways. I step forward with the urge to hold him but pause when he speaks.
“I would like it if you took off your dress.” His voice is thick with lust and that electric charge fizzes through me with his words. I finish my drink and take the zip, letting the black fabric brush over my skin, hardening the nipples of my bare breasts as it falls to my ankles.