Reckless Curves
Drive Me Wild
Bronwen Evans
Contents
Reckless Curves…
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
The End
Excerpt - Purr For Me
About the Author
Also by Bronwen Evans
RECKLESS CURVES
DRIVE ME WILD—Bad Boy Autos
Published By Bronwen Evans March 2020
This book, Reckless Curves, is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.
Copyright © 2019 by
Bronwen Evans
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people.
Copy Editor: Leigh Kaye
Cover: Les
Reckless Curves…
From USA Today Bestselling Author, Bronwen Evans, comes her latest sexy contemporary romance! A secret baby, best friend’s little sister romance set in Bad Boy Autos.
Thomas (Tom) Lorde’s morning couldn’t get any worse. One call changes everything. Apparently he’s a dad. He should be on the phone to his lawyer. He wouldn’t put it past a woman—any woman—to lie to get at his hard earned money. His mother trapped his father into marriage and then left them both for deeper pockets. But when the news is delivered from between the sweet lips of Kendra Black, his best friend’s out of bounds little sister, and his one major ‘fucking’ mistake, he knows he’s screwed and that she’s not lying.
Kendra Black knew contacting Tom would be a mistake. Three years ago, he’d made it very clear he had no feelings for her. He slept with her and then flew to Europe without a backward glance. However, he left more than a broken heart behind. He might not want her, but now that’s he’s back in California, her son, their son, Connor (Con) Black, deserves to know his father. What she hadn’t expected was Tom’s old-fashioned lap of honor. He wants to marry her. Why couldn’t he simply be a weekend dad like her father? She can’t deny the physical attraction is still there. He might be okay with a marriage based on hot, raw, animalistic sex and only sex, but she wants more. She deserves a man who loves her and she refuses to wave the checked flag until he gives her his heart.
This book is for those who have overcome.
Overcome their past mistakes.
Their upbringing.
Or anything that causes us to struggle and improve ourselves every single day.
We live and learn.
And of course LOVE.
Prologue
Los Angeles, Four Years Ago
Kendra slowly eased off the pedal as she sped down Hollywood Boulevard, least she speed her way into a ticket. She wanted nothing to kill her buzz today.
She was driving like her brother Marcus Black drove on the race circuit. Speed kills you idiot. She laughed out loud. She was on a natural high from her successful meeting this afternoon and she knew it. Finally, she understood why her brother craved speeding around a race-track—the adrenalin. The feeling was addictive.
Even with the negativity from her parents, she’d gone ahead and auditioned as a backup singer for James Tan, the latest boy singing sensation’s California tour.
Her father was pushing her to go to law school mainly because her brother had walked away from university to become a formula one racing car driver. There had to be at least one lawyer in the family, and as the only other child, she drew the short straw. Law bored her silly. And life was too short to be bored. She should know.
She relived the audition in her head and a shiver of joy raced through her. No one had believed she could do it. But she hadn’t spent most of her teenage years combating and beating cancer without learning that in life you had to fight to reach your dreams.
She had much bigger plans than going to university and sitting in an office for the rest of her life. Music had always been the love of her life—well—the second love of her life. Unfortunately, the first love of her life, Thomas (Tom) Lorde spent most of his time pretending she didn’t exist.
Tom was her brother’s best friend and head mechanic on the racing circuit which meant he spent most of the year in Europe, with Marcus, racing. It was almost as if Tom relished his job just because it took him far away from her.
When he was here, they flirted all the time but, damn it, he would not cross that brotherly, best friend line. Yet!
The light up ahead was turning green, so she didn’t even slow down as she drove to Porter’s bar, where she was meeting Stella to celebrate her audition. Her best friend was more excited than her at her signing and was already lining up for an introduction to James.
She pushed down the fear churning in her stomach at having to tell her father, but what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him. Maybe he didn’t have to know. She could still go to University and sing. Music isn’t a career. Only 1% make a living... She pushed away the darkness of her father’s disapproval ringing in her head. She had one year to prove that she could make music a career, just like Marcus had done with driving. Perhaps then, her father wouldn’t shout the roof off when she told him she was dropping out to sing full time.
For some reason, her father was much tougher on her than he’d been on Marcus. Tougher on her for two reasons, probably because there were no other children after her. And he’d watched her beat cancer and now seemed to think he had to watch her every minute of the day. Worse still, her father had visions of her carrying on in the family law firm as if she’d beaten cancer just to fulfill this role.
She reached across the passenger seat and patted her bright pink Alexander McQueen The Story tote bag with her fake ID safe inside. Tonight, of all nights, nothing would stop her getting into Porters, the hippest club on the boulevard. She had plans for this evening. Special plans. It was her day and she would make it her night too.
Marcus and his racing buddies would be drinking at the club, and there was one person in particular she’d set her sights on. Hell, it was her birthday after all—twenty today. She glanced in the rearview mirror and smiled. She’d just signed her first paying music contract and tonight she could do anything, and what she wanted to do was Thomas Lorde.
Her body shivered. It must really be her night she laughed, as she found a park near to the bar, and when she flashed her ID at the bouncer, he simply waved her through. If only everything in life was this easy. She of all people knew how tough life could be. She’d spent years battling leukemia and had been given the all clear four years ago. Pride saw her straighten and walk tall. She wasn’t a quitter; she was a fighter, and as she stared
across the bar at Thomas, Tom to his friends, that fighting spirit rose to engulf her.
He’ll be mine tonight.
As Kendra made her way toward her friend, she noticed guys glancing her way with appreciative looks on their faces, fantastic for her confidence. Except there was only one guy she wanted glancing at her with such a look on his face. She mentally willed him to turn around, her eyes spearing him, and wow she was on fire, because he looked over his shoulder and watched her every move as she drew near.
For once, his eyes didn’t look away. Her outfit was working its magic. His eyes flared with heat as he took in her skimpy pink halter top resting just above her ‘fit like a glove’ white Capri jeans, showing off her Californian tan. Her pink stilettos made her legs look as if they went on forever, and she wore her long black hair loose. It had taken her almost a year to grow her hair back after her chemo, and she hadn’t cut it since.
“You work it girl,” Stella said when Kendra reached their table just behind where Marcus and Tom stood at the bar. She hadn’t taken her eyes from Tom, and he certainly hadn’t taken his eyes off her either.
This was the night… she could feel it in her bones.
Giddy with excitement, she took a seat facing Tom and lifted a shot Stella had waiting for her. “Here’s to your first music contract,” Stella exclaimed, clanking their glasses together as they downed their shots quickly.
The hit of alcohol didn’t stir her as much as Tom’s sexy grin.
For once Tom wasn’t hanging off Marcus’s every word. His mouth hung open watching her as if he wanted to eat her all up. Fine with me.
Tom’s smoky gray eyes held her hostage. He was drop-the fuck-dead gorgeous with scruffy, shoulder length surfer blond hair framing a GQ model face. He had that hint of danger about him, as if life hadn’t been easy. Yet his clothes screamed money. He was tall and had powerful arms. She briefly closed her eyes, remembering the huge eagle tattoo on his chest. Having a swimming pool at your home did have some advantages. She’d seen just about every inch of his perfect body.
Stella leaned over and whispered, “You did it, girl. You’ve got Tom’s attention. How about I ensure Marcus’s attention is elsewhere?”
“Did I ever tell you how much I love you,” Kendra said to her friend as she picked up another shot and drank it. And still Tom was watching.
She didn’t really even notice Stella leave the table to distract Marcus, but Tom must have, because he sauntered toward where she sat as if he knew she loved looking at him.
“You look different tonight,” he said as he took the chair Stella had vacated.
“I’m celebrating.” At his raised eyebrow she added, “Today I signed to be a backup singer for James Tan.”
His grin widened. “Way to go. I knew you could do anything you set your mind to.”
She wanted to hug him just for those words. At sixteen, when she’d been declared in remission, he’d been the one to tell her. That you shouldn’t let anyone stop you from reaching for your dreams. He’d never treated her as the sickly, weak, fragile girl most people saw when they looked at her.
He signaled for the waitress. “A bottle of your finest champagne.”
She couldn’t help herself. “Aren’t you scared Marcus might see us talking?”
“Even he won’t mind me helping you celebrate such a milestone. Besides, he looks as if his mind is elsewhere.”
She tore her gaze from Tom and looked at her handsome brother. Yip, Stella was working her magic. Her best friend could make guys beg for just a smile, and it appeared Marcus was no different.
“I’m waiting for Marcus to see you are here and wonder how you got into the bar.” Her face heated. “I suspect with you looking like that the bouncer didn’t really look at the ID very closely,” Tom added with a naughty grin on his lips.
“Are you going to tell on me?”
He leaned closer. “I’d be stupid to do that. I’d rather ask for a reward for not ruining your evening.”
This time it was her turn for her lips to form a naughty grin. “Reward?”
Tom winked. “A kiss should seal these lips.”
They’d flirted like this hundreds of times before. Tonight, she would not back down. “For the kiss I want to give you, you most definitely want your lips unsealed.”
Tom threw a glance over his shoulder. She followed his gaze and saw Marcus was no longer standing there. Nor was Stella.
“I like how you think,” and he took her chin between his fingers and slowly lowered his lips to hers.
OMG, he’s finally going to kiss me. She held her breath.
When his lips touched Kendra’s, her whole body caught fire. She moved closer, lifting her hand into his hair, bringing them closer so their chests touched. He deepened the kiss, slowly parting her lips, before driving his tongue into her mouth, sweeping and swirling his tongue with hers. She’d never experienced a kiss like it. She’d dreamed of kisses from Tom… reality blew her imaginings out of the water. His kiss was filled with such passion, if she’d been standing her legs wouldn’t have held her up. She put her whole self into returning fire with fire, showing him what was in her heart.
When they parted, she knew one kiss would never be enough.
“Be mine for tonight. Only tonight, that’s all I have,” he breathed in her ear.
She couldn’t talk, speechless with victory. She merely nodded.
“Let’s get out of here,” and with her hand swallowed by his very large one, they left the bar.
This was her night.
This was their night.
Chapter One
Los Angeles, four years later….
“Yo, Tom! Catherine’s working late and told me to tell you you’ve got company in reception, dude.”
Tom pushed himself out from under the car he was replacing the muffler on and stood. No client would come to the auto shop this late. Bad Boy Autos clientele were too wealthy to hang around what was essentially a chop shop, be it a high-end chrome and glass garage on Sunset Boulevard filled with Maserati’s, Ferrari’s, and Porsche's’. Tom loved customizing the dream machines as he called them and was thankful their rich clients were prepared to pay handsomely for their services.
“Did Catherine say who it was, Zip?” Catherine Beckett was the office manager, accountant, and the gorgeous face of the company. She was also a partner in the firm. She handled the money. She had a brain like Einstein, but she also dazzled the clients with legs that appeared to never end. Cat had a body that could rival any in a Playboy spread, and a face that had men looking at her rather than their cars.
Zip Chang, the mechanic they’d hired last month, just grinned. “She’s hot, I’ll tell you that, but then every woman who turns up here looking for you is hot. You have a type when it comes to women, smokin’ hot. Envy, man.”
He shook his head at Zip’s words. Shoot him. He liked hot women, what man didn’t, but he never led them on. Never promised more than he could give. But when they were with him, he treated them like princesses.
He hoped it wasn’t Trina, or was her name Katrina, from the other night. While he loved women, a lot of women, he didn’t do love—one on one. Ever. Life had shown him that love meant loss. Relationships between men and women were doomed to fail, and the fallout wasn’t worth the risk.
“Just tell me who she is.”
Zip laughed harder. “You’ll see. Just go see her and I’ll finish up.”
“Taylor wants another 1000 horsepower under his bonnet so we need two more mufflers on the right. Thanks, Zip.”
Tom wiped his hands on a rag and headed towards the plush reception area of Bad Boy Autos. Dealing in high-end cars didn’t feel like a job, but one side of the job he hated was the glitz and glamor that went with the clientele they procured. Men and women who spent more on a car than some people spent on their houses. Maserati, Porsche, and Mercedes. With his lowly background, he’d never been comfortable around money, even though he now had plenty of his own.
For over five years he’d been the number one mechanic on the formula one racing circuit and he’d earned plenty. A share of the drivers prize money and a salary that was seven digits, coupled with a great investment advisor, meant he never had to worry about money again. Six months ago he’d invested in Bad Boy Autos with his best friend Marcus Black, the formula one race car driver who’s back was so badly injured in a crash eighteen months ago that he could no longer drive professionally.
Catherine waved at him through the glass partition and pointed to the luxury reception area. She often worked late in the office to keep on top of the invoicing. They’d offered to get her some help, but she preferred to keep control of everything. Control freak, he supposed. But they’d be lost without her.
He hoped whoever this woman was, she would be a pleasant diversion from the crap day he’d had. His dad had come through the surgery and was doing well so far. Tom had stayed at the hospital a lot longer than he’d intended since his brother Sam had guilted him into hanging around until Vincent had returned to the recovery room. He was still angry with Sam. Tom didn’t owe his father anything. Not after the upbringing he’d had.
He knew coming back to LA was a risk. The European circuit meant he didn’t have to see his father or revisit his childhood. He’d been back barely a month before his past came calling. His father needed a new liver. No surprises there. He’d drunk himself to the point of death, also the excuse he now used as to why he’d been so shitty to his kids.
Reckless Curves: Bad Boy Autos (Drive Me Wild Book 1) Page 1