Ruthless (An Enemies To Lovers Novel Book 4)

by Michelle Horst

  “Rhett volunteers,” Jaxson says behind me.

  “For the love of everything bedazzled!” I swat him and only then remember my nails. “OMG! My nails.”

  “Did you break one?” Della asks sympathetically.

  “No, not yet. I’m praying I won’t ruin my nails today.”

  She places her arm around my waist. “You need to take a break.” Then she looks at the tablecloths scattered at my red heels. “I thought you wanted purple ones.”

  “Exactly!” I shriek. “Make this chunk of hunk understand.”

  “They are purple,” Jaxson says.

  “Yeah,” Marcus agrees. “They are definitely purple.”

  “Guys,” my angel-girl snaps. “Those are lilac. Pick it all up and get it out of here. Rhett, go get the right color. This time take that sample you left on the table by the entrance with you.”

  “My angel-girl,” I cry as I hug her to me. “You’re just in time to save my sanity. There’s so much nervous juju around me. I’m going to break something. I just know it.”

  Leigh walks up to us, and in her no-nonsense way that even gets me to stop playing Bedazzled Jewels, she snaps at the guys, “Get to work. The launch is in three hours. If I catch any of you just standing around, I’ll start telling you in detail what a beautiful sound it is to hear a ribcage being cracked open.”

  “That’s me,” Carter says, and he stops right in his tracks where he was walking towards us, turns his sexy ass around, and walks back to where Mia and Logan are busy talking to the catering staff.

  The guys all scatter in different directions.

  “Mia,” Della calls, waving Mia over to us. “We have a girl emergency.”

  They usher me to the bar where Willow pours me something to drink.

  “I’m gonna be all wrinkly after tonight. I swear my chunk of hunks are taking light years off me.”

  ∞∞∞

  I stare mournfully at the nail I just bit off.

  “Miss Sebastian, it’s time,” Marcus says as he grabs my hand. “Why are you hiding up here?”

  “All the negative juju was enough to deflate my boobs. And we both know how much my twin peaks cost you.”

  Marcus turns to me as he grabs my shoulders.

  “I need you. Willow is going to have a panic attack if you don’t calm down. This is an important night for her. You have five minutes to get downstairs so you can open the show.”

  I lift my chin and take a deep breath. “You’re right. I might have lost a nail, but the show must go on.”

  It’s impossible to run in the tight skirt I’m wearing, but it’s one of my angel-girl’s creations, so I triple towards the elevator.

  “Fuck this,” Marcus growls behind me.

  I shriek as he plucks me right off my red heels, and stomps towards the elevators with me in his arms.

  “My hero,” I sigh as I flutter my lashes at him.

  “Remember that next time you want to strangle my ass.”

  “Your sexy ass,” I correct him as I wrap my arms around his neck. My eyes zero in on a mark on his neck. “Darling, is that a hickey?” I wiggle my eyebrows at him. “Did you bow-chika-wow-wow before you got here?”

  “Yes it’s a hickey, and yes, you bet your bedazzled ass I stuck my wand in her chamber of secrets.”

  I slap his chest. “You’re a naughty chunk of hunk, but I couldn’t be prouder of you if you were my very own chunk of hunk.”

  When we’re in the elevator, he places me back on my red heels.

  “Are you ready?” Marcus asks.

  “I’m ready,” I say, and as the doors open, Jaxson shoves the microphone in my hand. I smile brightly as I climb the stairs to the stage. “Let the show begin,” I call out to everyone standing around. “Welcome to Summer Forever’s first fashion show.”

  I blow a kiss to my chunk of hunk and my angel-girl.

  Tears threaten, and I quickly wave a hand in front of my eyes. “Thank the mother of fashion for permanent makeup,” I laugh. “Tonight is in memory of Summer Reed. Taken too early but remembered forever. All the proceeds will be used to start the Summer Forever’s foundation for children born with heart defects.”

  I hold my hand out to my angel-girl. “I present to you Willow Brooks.”

  As Willow takes over, I do my best to get off the stage without falling on my ass. Marcus takes my hand and helps me down. He pulls me around the back of the stage and wraps me up in a tight hug.

  “You were amazing,” he says, his voice rough with emotion.

  I pull a little back and cradle his face in my hands.

  “You’re welcome, Darling.” I press a kiss to his cheek, and when I pull back, I whisper, “Don’t tell the others, but I love you most. Since I held your hand in your darkest hour, your sexy ass planted itself right in the middle of my heart.”

  “And here I thought you loved me most,” Rhett suddenly says.

  I swing around with my hand over my racing heart.

  “I haven’t washed your ding-dong yet. When we get to that part of this relationship, I will reconsider.” I hook my arm through his. “But for now you can get me a drink.”

  I glance over my shoulder as I walk away with Rhett, and I see Marcus staring up at Willow with so much love.

  I look back at Rhett and send up a silent prayer that my last chunk of hunk will find his own happiness next.

  “Don’t tell the others,” I whisper to him, “but I love you most. After all, you did pay for my vajajay.”

  Rhett winks at me before he presses a kiss to my cheek.

  The End

  Find out what happens in Rhett and Evie’s story Shameless ~ coming soon.

  Read on for an excerpt from the first book in Michelle’s exciting Enemies to Lovers series: HEARTLESS, Book 1

  Prologue

  DELLA

  Life is made up of a series of lies.

  Love? It’s a fairytale some person made up, so they didn’t have to face the cold, hard fact that we are all alone. You come into this world alone, and you leave it alone. Loneliness, it’s the one the thing we fear most. It means you’re forgotten, you’ve been rejected, or you’re overlooked.

  Little girls are told fairy tales of how a prince will come along to sweep them up into their loving arms. From a young age, they are taught that their purpose is to belong. They have to have a family, a husband, children – without this, they are failures.

  Little boys are told stories of firemen, policemen, the brave souls who will overcome any evil. They are taught that their purpose is to be the man of the house, to protect, to provide – if they’re not able to do this, they aren’t men.

  They’re all lies that most people believe. We create such unnecessary pain for ourselves. You feel like a failure because no one loves you. You only exist if there’s someone who sees you. Your life only has worth if you’re living for someone else.

  That restlessness you feel? It’s your soul crying out to be set free from all the deceit you’ve been forced to believe.

  Once in a while, someone will break free from the norm society has created. I want to be one of those people. I want to be different. I want to break every damn rule society has ever made for us.

  It will mean that I’m alive and not just another sheep wandering aimlessly through life.

  Chapter 1

  DELLA

  “Don’t look now, but they just walked in,” the redhead whispers excitedly as I start to clear the table.

  Rameses, the bar slash diner where I’ve worked since my first year of college, is always crawling with students.

  I place the empty plates on top of each other as her blonde friend looks over her shoulder.

  “Fuck, he’s so hot. I’d give anything to be screwed by Rhett.”

  At first, I used to get embarrassed when I heard people talk like that, but after being at college for almost three years, there’s very little that shocks me now.

  There’s not much in the way of dating where I’m fro
m. Hell, I had to go to Polk County High School because Saluda only has an elementary school. Besides the random adventurer traveling through and the summer wave of tourists, the meager population of around seven hundred didn’t cater much for dating material.

  I glance in the direction of the door and watch as a group of guys walk in. I don’t know them that well. I’ve heard rumors about them, that they’re known as the Screw Crew. Every girl wants to be screwed by them, and every guy wants to be one of them. It’s really stupid.

  They take a seat in my section, and the one with black hair grins at the blonde sitting at the table I’m busy clearing. He bites his bottom lip and winks at her. Damn, even I have to admit that’s hot. I might not date, but just like any warm-blooded girl, I appreciate a hot guy when I see one.

  The blonde shrieks excitedly and jumps up. “By tomorrow, my name will be on Rhett’s screwed list.”

  The redhead throws some money on the table and follows her friend over to where the guys are. The blonde slides onto the guy’s lap, immediately kissing him as if there’s no tomorrow. The university should have making out as a sport. I swear half the students would qualify for the Olympics.

  People don’t behave like that back home. Sue, the owner of the Mom ʼn Pop diner I used to work at, would be chasing them out the door. After Mom passed Sue took us in. It’s because of Sue that I’m able to study for my degree in Graphic Design. Without her generosity, Jamie and I would’ve been living on the streets. I had been working at her diner for about three months when Mom passed away after her long struggle with cancer. Sue let me borrow money so I could lay Mom to rest. She also took us in. She’s old and hard as nails, but she’s also the only one who cared about us.

  I was ten when Dad died. It was an accident that took him from us. He was out hiking when he tripped over a root and plunged down Big Bradley Falls. After Dad passed, things got bad. Mom was pregnant with Jamie and had to take all kinds of odd jobs to keep the pot going. I was sixteen when Mom passed. Poor Jamie was only six and didn’t understand the finality of death. For months she asked where Mom was and when she would come back. Even though we lost our parents early in life, things weren’t all bad. Being poor didn’t matter as much. I’ve never been scared of doing an honest day’s job. I just want more for Jamie. I want to give her the world, and that won’t happen as long as we’re stuck in that town. Even though Saluda is only three and a half hours away, it feels like I might as well be from another planet. The people back at Saluda are set in their ways. That’s not me. I crave more from life than the monotonous existence that small town has to offer. I want to experience everything life has to offer. I want to be independent. I want to travel. I want to live.

  I place the glasses on the tray before taking the dirty dishes back to the kitchen. I studied my backside off to earn this free ride at UNC. The tips I make just about cover the rent. It’s not like I need much, anyway. I’m here to study so I can get my degree.

  Only six months left and I’ll be finished. Then I’ll be able to find a good job. I’ll go back to Saluda to get Jamie, and we’ll leave that town for good. That’s my three-step plan. I don’t have time for anything else, let alone fooling around. Not that I’m Miss America with a line of guys going around the block, waiting to date her. Hell no, the opposite sex hardly notices me, which is perfectly fine by me. Besides, guys are all horny idiots. I’ve heard one of my roommates, Willow, once say, “Dicks rule, brains drool.”

  I share an apartment with three hot girls, like sizzling off the charts hot. Leigh, Willow, and Evie just have to pout, and the guys are all puddles of drool at their feet. They make it easy for me to go by unnoticed, which is a blessing. I might share an apartment with the girls, but we hardly know each other. I’m too busy to hang out with any of them. Come to think of it, sometimes an entire will week will pass by without me seeing Willow or Leigh. Evie is the only one I see every other day.

  I walk back out and head over to the table the guys are seated at, noticing that more people have joined them. As I get to the table, I spot Evie. She’s glaring at the blonde that’s busy devouring one of the guy’s faces.

  “Are you ready to order?” I ask in general.

  Evie tears her eyes away from the couple. When she spots me, a pretty smile pulls at her lips. I wish I had her hair. Because of the natural curl in her ginger hair, she can just wash and go, leaving to air dry. I, on the other hand, have to blow dry my thick brown hair, or it will look like something made a nest in it.

  “Hey, sweets. Get me my usual, please,” she says. I quickly write down her order of six chicken nuggets. She’s addicted to the chicken nuggets we serve here.

  “You know her?” One of the guys asks Evie while looking at me. He’s got dirty blonde hair with a five-o-clock shadow dusted over a strong jaw. He looks like he could be trouble.

  “Yeah, Della’s one of my roomies.” She points at the two blonde guys she’s sitting between and starts to introduce the guys to me. “These two are Jaxson and Marcus.” Then she tips her chin at another guy that’s busy on his phone. “That’s Logan. Jaxson and Logan are twins.” She wags her eyebrows playfully. “Double the trouble.”

  Seeing as they’re friends of Evie, I smile at them. It doesn’t really matter that she’s introducing me to her friends, it’s not like I’ll remember them tomorrow.

  She glares at the black haired guy again. “That’s Rhett,” she practically spits his name out.

  Hell, something must’ve gone bad between them.

  Rhett shoves the blonde from his lap and licks his lips as his dark brown eyes wander over the length of me.

  “Why haven’t we met you before?” he asks. “I’ve been at the apartment quite a few times, but I’ve never seen you there. Trust me, I would remember a face like yours.”

  I ignore his flirting and answer, “I’m either studying or here at work. I hardly see my roommates.”

  “I bet you taste sweet,” he says, winking at me.

  Now I see why Evie doesn’t like him. I can’t blame her at all. I scowl down at him before looking over the table again.

  “Anyone want something from the kitchen? We’re closing in twenty.”

  “I’d take one of you,” Rhett tries again.

  “You’re wasting your time,” Evie snaps, irritated.

  When he looks at Evie the smile drops from his face. Seconds tick by in silence before he looks back at me. “Are you a carpet muncher?”

  “A what?” I frown at him, not in the mood for games. I’m tired, and I still have an assignment I need to finish before I can even think of sleeping.

  “Are you into pussies?”

  What a jerk.

  Probably thinks he’s God’s gift to women.

  I take a deep breath, so I don’t give him a piece of my mind. I need this job more than I need the satisfaction of telling him to go to hell.

  “I’ll have a Dr Pepper, a cheeseburger, and fries,” Jaxson suddenly says. It sets off the others, and I quickly write down all the orders. I give Jaxson a grateful smile before taking the order to the kitchen.

  When I’m done handing the order over to the kitchen, I head out front to clear more tables. While I’m busy clearing the table next to the one Evie and her friends are seated at, Marcus says, “I bet you a hundred you can’t get her to spread her legs.”

  “I’m a master at getting girls to spread them wide for me. Spreader bars should’ve been named after me,” Rhett jokes, while he pulls the blonde closer to his side. “Isn’t that right, babe?”

  She nods all dreamily actually falling for his shit.

  I shake my head, figuring Rhett already has that hundred in his pocket. The blonde will hump his leg right here if he says the word.

  I go get their orders, and as I place Rhett’s plate in front of him, he takes hold of my wrist. He tries to pull me closer, but I resist, yanking my hand free from his.

  “Come on, babe. You’re so damn cold. I’m sure I can find a way to warm you up.�
��

  Ignore him, Della. He’s just an arrogant jerk.

  Ignoring my own warning, I place my hands on the table and lean forward until I’m right in his face. I smile sweetly and bite my bottom lip, just like he did earlier. I watch with satisfaction as his eyes lock on my lips.

  “Oh, baby,” I groan seductively. A cocky smirk pulls around his lips. He’s arrogant enough to actually believe that he stands a chance with me. What an idiot. “You think just because you’re hot every girl wants to be with you. The day I let you touch me is the day hell freezes over. There’s no way I’m letting your rotten, STD infested dick near me. ”

  I blow him a kiss and walk away, feeling pleased with myself for putting him in his place.

  “Make that two hundred dollars. Like I said, there’s no way she’s spreading it for you,” Marcus says as he starts to laugh.

  The words register and I stop dead in my tracks. Slowly, I turn around as my blood starts to boil. I only realize my mistake when a huge smile spreads over Rhett’s face. I just fell for their stupid game. The bet is about me.

  “Double that,” Rhett says as he locks eyes with me. “Four hundred dollars.”

  Marcus and some of the other guys at the table laugh again. “You’re on. Damn, I’m going to enjoy taking your money.”

  “How stupid are you?” I ask all the guys in general. I seriously doubt they have any kind of brain activity between all of them. “You’re making a bet in front of me. Do you really think I’m going to let any of you idiots near me?” I’m angry and offended that they would make a bet about who can screw me first, let alone do it in front of me.

  Rhett gets up and walks over to me. I glare at him, wishing I could castrate him with just a look.

  He lifts his hand to my face, and I slap it away. “You’re seriously a piece of work,” I snap, wanting to do him some bodily harm.

  “What’s going on here?” a deep voice interrupts my thoughts of punching Rhett right in the face.