by Brook Greene
He takes my chin between his forefinger and thumb, forcing my face up to his. “I’m gonna have Roman come by and look at your house in the next couple days. Because the fake ass rock outside your front door with the key, babe, has got to fucking go. No more keys under fake rocks right beside your front door. Agreed?” His eyes are intense as he waits for me to agree. “Tessa, give me the words.”
“Okay, I’ll get rid of it and hide it somewhere else,” I appease him.
He shakes his head. “No. No more hidden keys.”
I laugh. “Matthew, you don’t understand how many times I’ve locked myself out of my house.” I try and plead my case for having the key.
“It doesn’t matter. When Roman gets done, all you’ll need is your thumb print to unlock the door.”
I lay my hands on his chest. “Okay, hold on there, big boy.” I push away from him. “Where in the hell do you think I’m gonna get the money for this?” He goes to speak, but I hold up my hand, stopping him. “And don’t say for me not to worry about it.” I narrow my eyes at him.
He sighs, shoving his hand through his still sex messed hair. “Tessa—” he starts, but I stop him again.
“Don’t “Tessa” me, Matthew. Whatever this is between us is new. It’s not in the ‘install a five-thousand-dollar security system in my house’ place right now.” I step back to him, running my finger over his peck and feel it flex under my touch.
He grabs my hand and presses my palm flat against his chest. “I’ll just do it while you’re at work. I know where you keep the key.” His smile is devilish and almost impossible to resist, but I have to.
I roll my eyes. “Please don’t, Matthew. Then I’ll feel obligated to like you.”
He looks almost hurt. “Obligated to like me?”
I sigh, my hand still on his chest. “I like you just fine now, but the last thing I need is a man bulldozing his way through my life right now. Not when I’m just getting it back.”
His brows furrow. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing. It means nothing.” I turn from him, but he still has a hold of my wrist and pulls me back to him.
“What does that mean, Tessa?” He asks again, a bit more forceful this time.
I lower my head but he places his finger under my chin forcing my face back up to his. His brow is furrowed as his intense hazel eyes study mine for some clue of my past. He can look all he wants but over the years I’ve learned to still my features and control the level of emotion in my eyes.
“I didn’t force you to explain your past last night, Matthew, so please don’t press me to talk about mine.”
He studies me with a skeptical eye. “I’ll let it go, for now.”
I try to duck away again, but he doesn’t let me. “And the security system too?” I add, since he isn’t letting me go anytime soon.
His eyes are intense, still searching for something in mine. “For now,” he nods. “But for the love of God, get rid of the damn key under the fake rock.”
I laugh, lightening the mood a little. “Okay, if I have to.”
He leans in, kissing me. “I will protect you, Tessa, I swear, from whatever you’re running from, or what the hell ever is chasing you.” His eyes are narrowed and his features are set. I have no doubt he’s telling the truth. “We’ll talk about this later, but let’s get you to work.” He takes my hand and pulls me towards the front of the house, but stops to pull his shirt over his head before leading me out the door.
I watch him through my rearview as he tails me into town. The whole time I’m worrying I’d let a little too much slip out in the kitchen. He’s the last person I want to know how weak of a woman I’ve been in the past. I want him to get to know the real me, not the one who’s been beaten down.
I’ve been so consumed with Matthew this weekend, I haven’t had time to be nervous about starting a new job. But as I pull under the first light into town, a different kind of butterflies, other than the ones Matthew ignites, begin to flutter through my gut. I look back to see that he’s still with me as I turn down the street, heading for the courthouse.
~~~~~~
Matty
I follow Tessa into town, trying to get Eno on the phone. After three rings he finally picks up.
“Hey, man, what’s up?”
“You got that information I asked for yesterday yet?” I bite off without even greeting him.
“Well, hello to you too, and no, I don’t, but I’m working on it,” he replies.
“Working on it?” I snap, my tone a bit more clipped than it should be.
“Yeah, I’m working on it. It’s been, like, twelve hours, dude. Getting the shit you asked for takes time, you know that.” I can’t get her words from earlier out of my head.
“Are you at the office today?” I ask as I pull into the spot next to where Tessa had parked.
“Yeah, man.”
“I’ll be there in thirty. Gotta go home and shower.” I cut the call before I have to answer a million questions, but prepare myself for them all when I get to the garage.
I drop my phone into the cup holder of the center console and move out of the truck, rushing to Tessa’s door to open it for her, but she beats me to it. “I could’ve gotten that, you know.”
She smiles at me, then leans back in to grab her purse. I take the time to appreciate her fine ass. “I know, Matthew, but you don’t always have to nearly break your neck to do it.”
She stands back up. Catching me, she slaps my chest. “Busted.”
I hold out my arms and she walks into them. I encircle her, holding her tight as I kiss her hair. “I had a wonderful time this weekend,” I whisper against her hair. She sighs a content sound and I smile, knowing she did too. “Look forward to more,” I add.
She leans back, pushing up on her toes to give me a kiss on the lips, then freezes. “What?” I ask her.
“Are we doing that whole PDA thing?”
“I would hope so.” I reach down, taking one of her ass cheeks in my hand and giving it a good squeeze.
“Oh.” She squeaks. “Matthew.” The smallest hint of red beginning to tint her cheeks.
“Just showing you some PDA, babe.” I lean in and steal another kiss. “You better get going. You don’t want to be late on your first day because you’re mauling me in the parking lot.” She steps back and turns for the steps, and I swat her ass one good time, making her jump. She throws a smile over her shoulder at me as she rubs the spot. “See you later?” I ask, but she just waves her hand at me.
I watch her disappear through the doors, then for some reason, I look across the street to see a man leaning against a light pole, staring at me. I nod at him as I round my truck and climb in. Glancing up into my rearview, I see him still standing there, his eyes still on me.
I throw the truck in reverse, keeping my eyes on the man the whole time and make it a point to drive by him, committing his face to memory. He isn’t familiar to me, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him around town or at the bar.
I maintain eye contact with him until I can no longer look out my window at him. When I look in the rearview mirror, he’s gone. The whole situation and encounter has my hackles up.
~~~~~~~
I run through the shower and ride my bike to the garage. Once through the fence, I head straight to Eno in the security office.
I sling open the door to find him at his desk. “Hey, man,” I say, a little more politely than I had talked to him earlier.
“What the hell had your panties in a wad this morning?” he asks, leaning back in his chair, swinging it from side to side.
I take the chair across the desk from him, sighing as I lower my body into the seat. I run my fingers through my hair, still trying to get used to it being shorter than I’ve had it in years. “Something Tessa said this morning about her past, and that she’s just getting her life back.” He falls silent, and when I look up at him, he has a smile on his face.
“This morning, huh?” He has his
elbows rested on the arms of his chair, and steeples his fingers to rest against his chin.
I level my eyes at him, sneering. “Yes, this morning.” He goes to open his mouth and let out what I’m sure is a sarcastic comment, so I hold my hand up, stopping him. “Don’t say a fucking word.”
He clears his throat and pushes his body up in the chair, scooting it up to his desk. “What do you think she meant by that?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t have a fucking clue, man. That’s why I’d like to have that information I asked you for.”
“Like I told you, I’m working on it. I’ve got a call into that girl.” I know exactly who he’s talking about. We had, on more than one occasion, made her the meat in a Matty/Eno sandwich. The chick is a freak. “Anyway, she’s working on it on the side, but I haven’t heard back from her. I’ll give her a call in a little while and let you know if she’s found anything.”
I stand, turning for the door. “Thanks, man.” Then the incident with the stranger on the street comes to mind. “Another thing. There was a man this morning.” I relay the information to him. “He was just standing across the street watching us when I dropped her off at work.”
“Ever seen him before?” He asks me.
“No, but I got a good look at him and would recognize him again if I saw him.” I rest my hand on the door, getting ready to push it open when his question stops me.
“You think he might have something to do with what she said this morning?” He gives me a concerned look.
I shake my head, fighting back the fear that she may be in danger, but she couldn’t have run into a better man if she is. I just wish I knew what, or who, the threat is she’s running from. I can’t get that information fast enough. “I don’t know, but maybe I can get her to open up about it.” I pull the door open. “Later, man,” I say to him over my shoulder.
I leave my bike parked in front of the security office and walk across the lot to the garage, my mind racing with thoughts of Tessa. The woman is a mystery, completely intriguing in every possible way, and she’s quickly making me an addict. Last night with her was amazing, and had she not had to go to work this morning, I’m sure we would still be naked in her bed right now.
This is going to be a long fucking day with thoughts of her naked and under me filling my head and making my cock hard. I adjust myself as I walk through the bay doors to find Dalton bent over the engine of a sweet cherry red ride, and I know exactly who it belongs to. “When did she bring this in?” I ask him, leaning a hip against the fender, crossing my arms over my chest.
He stands, wiping his hands on a cloth he pulled from his back pocket and smiles. “This morning, and she was looking for you. But I thought I would help a brother out and do the oil change for you.” He mimics my pose, giving me a serious look. “Is she going to be a problem with…” he gestures at me, “whatever it is you got going on with Tessa?”
I push off the car. “No, she isn’t,” I say with finality. I’m gonna have to stop whatever angle she’s playing. “She in the clubhouse?” I ask him, already knowing the answer to the question.
“Hey, Matty,” he calls to me as I walk out into the hot sun. It’s only nine thirty in the morning, but the humidity is already hanging thick in the air, making small beads of sweat break out.
I turn to him. “Yeah?”
“Watch out for that one.” He tilts his head. “She’s cooking something.” I hear him laugh. “You want me to call Piper?”
I scoff. “No, I’ve got this. Thanks, Dalton.”
“Welcome.” I wave my hand over my head back at him. One thing I can always count on is that my brothers have my back.
I jerk the door open and the cool air from inside the clubhouse bum-rushes me, chilling the dampness on my skin. I step in and stand in the middle of the silent room, knowing where she is. I head back to my room, slinging open the door to find her laid out naked on my bed. When she sees me, she rises to her knees, dragging her red tipped fingers over her exposed breasts.
“Hey, Matty. I’ve been waiting for you.” Two weeks ago, I would’ve jumped at the chance to get my dick wet. Hell, I had, but not now. Everything is different.
I turn away from her, giving her my back. “Get your clothes on, Aerial, we’re not doing this anymore.” I hear the bed shift behind me, then feel her hands on me. A shudder runs through me and I step away from her.
“I thought we could have a little fun while Dalton works on my car,” she coos, once again trying to touch me, but this time, I take her wrists in my hands and hold them away from me.
“He’s done, and you need to find another place to have your car worked on. Get dressed and get the fuck out of here.”
“Is this because of her?” she snaps bitterly.
“No, this is because of me, and be very careful, Aerial. Get dressed and go home to your husband,” I tell her again. She steps back, giving me a pouty face.
“You’ll get bored with her and you’ll come looking for me again, so why can’t we do this?” She drops to her knees in front of me, taking my belt in her hands. I once again take her wrists in my hands, pulling them away from my belt.
“No, I won’t, not again.” And yes, it has everything to do with Tessa and the person I want to be for her. She has me wanting and needing different things other than mindless sex with women I feel nothing for. She makes me think I can have the real thing again, and I want that with her. The woman kneeling in front of me, I’ve buried my dick in many times, but she’s lost the allure, and the thought of being inside of her turns my stomach. I once again step away from her, fixing my belt.
When I finish, I offer my hand to her. Taking it, she pulls herself up, rubbing her body against mine on the way. I sigh when she finishes and I look down at her. “That’s it.” I take her by the arm, walking her across the room, picking up her clothes as we go. I shove her into the bathroom and toss the clothes to her. “Get fucking dressed and get the hell out.” I slam the door on her stunned face.
Chapter Fourteen
Tessa
The first half of my day was spent filling out paperwork, going over what will be expected of me on a daily basis, and meeting the people I’ll be working with. I was thankful for all the distractions. They’ve kept me from thinking of Matthew too much, but he lingered along the edges of my thoughts though, bringing a smile to my lips.
Finally, noon arrives, and I lean down to take my purse out of the drawer of my desk when a tap on it brings my attention up to the woman standing on the other side. Claire, my new work mate, and the one who occupies the desk right next to me, smiles at me. “Hey, Tessa, we’re heading to Lloyd’s for some lunch. Want to join us?” I dig my phone out to check for any missed calls. My shoulders fall a little when I find there’s nothing from Matthew like I’d hoped.
Looking up at her, I smile. “Um…yeah, that’d be great.”
Me, Claire, Rita (the older lady who runs the office) and Angela head out for lunch. Angela hasn’t necessarily been rude to me, but she hasn’t gone out of her way like the rest of the ladies in the office have to make me feel welcome. And then there’s the way—several times during the day—I caught her staring daggers at me.
When we pass through the doors, I hear Angela gasp, making me stop. I follow her line of sight and sitting at the bottom of the steps is the most mouthwatering thing I’ve ever seen.
Matthew sits on his bike. The longer part of his hair is messy, but sexy. He has a cigarette in one hand, and the other rests on the handlebars. He stands when he sees me and I take him in from his boots, up his long, strong legs, to the black leather vest he’s wearing over the tee stretching across his broad chest.
He smiles when I step to him, but he freezes when Angela walks up beside me. “Hello, Matty Boy,” she coos, making me sick with her desperate tone. I throw a glance over at her, then back to Matthew, and watch as he shifts from one foot to the other, completely uncomfortable with the situation.
I feel the sam
e way, but I see he’s waiting for me to react, so I step to him, threading my arm through his. “Angela, you know my boyfriend, Matthew?” Her eyebrows fly up into her over bleached hair and her mouth forms an O.
“Boyfriend?” Her shock at the news is even more present in her tone.
I feel Matthew pull me into his side and I look to find his hazel eyes fixed on me. And, as always, he makes me feel like I’m the only woman he sees. “Yeah.”
She collects herself. “I’d heard you were seen out with a mystery woman this weekend.” She has her bitch tone on full effect. Clearly, the gossip mills Matthew had warned me about has made their way around this tiny town. Her actions, from earlier, weren’t lost on me. It made me think back to the conversation Matthew and I had had last night. The one where he told me I would run into his conquests. I’d blown it off, never thinking the first day of my new job I would do just that, being slapped in the face with it.
I would be lying if I said the hint of the fact Matthew had been with her like he had me, bothered me more than I would like for it to, but it does. I tuck the feelings away, not wanting to jump to any conclusions until I speak with Matthew.
Rita calls to us. “Ladies, are we doing this or what? I’m starving.” Rita and Claire stand across the parking lot, looking at us in bewilderment.
“Angela, you go on. I’ll catch up,” I tell her, dismissing her from the vicinity of Matthew.
When she finally moves away from us, I turn to Matthew and smile at the pensive look his features are twisted up in. The left side of his lips curves up in a half-smile. I go up on my tiptoes and give his lips a kiss. “I’m not gonna say anything right now,” I whisper against his lips. Because let’s face it, what the hell can I say? He’d warned me it would happen, and if we’re going to continue this, I’m sure it’s going happen again. “But we’ll discuss it later.”
“I think my balls just crawled back up into my body,” he says, brushing his nose against mine. I giggle at his description.