“Let me explain, before you go all crazy on me.” I jumped up and grabbed her from behind, wrapping my arms around her waist and not letting her go. I could hear her sniffling already and I felt awful, because I wanted nothing more than to pursue what was happening between us. I brushed my lips over her ear, and held her tight against my body.
“Let me go, Conner. You should just leave.”
“I ain’t leavin’ till you hear me out.” I turned her around and backed her up against a wall. She had no place to go and had to listen to my explanation. “This ain’t about you and me, I swear it. Look, somethin’ happened and Randa could lose everything if I don’t help them.”
Her tear filled eyes got wide. “What are you saying? I don’t understand what they have to do with us.”
I pulled away from her and paced around the room, taking my hat off, then running my fingers through my hair to think. “Ty got himself into trouble trying to do the right thing. As of right now, he may or may not have cheated on my sister.”
“What the hell does that mean? He either did or he didn’t. It isn’t that hard to determine.”
I shook my head. “Long story short, he thinks when he went to that Heather girl for help, she drugged him and made it look like they messed around.”
“Is that what he told you? I heard the rumors about Ty. Maybe he really cheated and is just trying to cover his tracks.”
I chuckled. “As much as that sounds like the old Ty. I’ve known him my whole life and I know that he’s different with my sister and Bella. They are his whole life. You should have seen him last night. He was a damn wreck.”
“Okay, so even if he didn’t cheat, I don’t really get your part in all of this.”
I got close to her again and looked her right in the eyes. I knew she was going to be pissed. “I have to protect my family.”
“You lost me.”
“I’m goin’ to try to hook up with the girl and find out what really happened.”
She pushed me out of the way. “You offered to sleep with the same girl for information? Are you fucking insane? That is the stupidest idea I have ever heard.”
I held up my hands. “It’s my sister, Amy. I can’t sit back and watch her lose her family, especially if it’s all bullshit. Not even Ty deserves that. He loves them so much and with the twins coming, it would be terrible. I know you don’t want Miranda raisin’ them three kids without a daddy. Hell, he wanted to confess last night and I wouldn’t let him. I don’t care what I have to do, or who I have to sleep with, I am goin’ to find out what really happened and protect my sister. Now, this life is full of choices and right now I am choosin’ my family. Nobody can know I am doin’ this, especially Ty.”
Amy shocked me by placing her hand over my mouth. “Just stop talking. I appreciate that you came here to tell me all this, but we spent one night together, Conner. You don’t owe me anything and frankly, I have too much of my own shit to deal with than to have something going on with you. I think it’s best if we both just forget that we were ever together and do what we have to do.”
Her words were like a knife stabbing me in the gut. “It’s just that easy to forget?”
“Are you done, because I have things to do.” She shoved me out of the way and started gathering her things up.
“Answer me. You can really forget how I make you feel?”
She turned around and looked me dead in the eye. “You’re just a man, Conner. We had a good time and I needed it. I just hope we can still be cordial since you are the only person that knows about my problems. I wish I didn’t have to count on you for that, but I don’t have a choice if I want it to stay a secret.”
“I’ll be there. You don’t even have to ask me that. I will always be there if you need me. I gotta tell you though, I need a favor and you’re goin’ to get angry about it.”
She rolled her eyes and seemed genuinely annoyed with me. “What now?”
“I need you to set me up with that girl Heather.” I knew she was going to be pissed, but when her hand made contact with my face, I was in shock.
“You’re an asshole. How can you ask me that? Jesus, how could I ever think that sleeping with you was a good idea?”
I wiped away the sting on my cheek. “You’re actin’ like I want to do this. I don’t have a damn choice, if I did, I’d be in a bed with you, instead of standin’ here arguin’.”
She started to slap me again and I caught her hand. I held it tight, so she couldn’t pull away. “I hate you right now!”
I used my hold on her to pull her against my body. “You keep sayin’ that, but I don’t believe you.”
She tried again to get free of me. “Please let me go. I’ll set you up with whoever you want, just leave me alone!”
“I want you, darlin’. I thought you understood that.” I put my forehead against hers and felt her breathing, she was so close to me. “Don’t ask me to choose, because I have to help my sister. I know you love her too. This ain’t about me and you.”
Finally she stopped trying to free herself. Her body relaxed and she kept her head against mine. “I know. I do love her and what’s happening sucks, but why would you even want to do something so insane? The whole town knows Heather is a skank bitch. You’re really going to put yourself in that situation for your family?”
“Yeah, I am, because at the end of the day, all you have is family.”
“I don’t know what that’s like. I haven’t been part of a family for a long time.”
I cupped my hands around her pretty face. “Darlin’, I can’t expect you to ever forgive me, but know that I will be here whenever you need me. If you need to cry, if you need to hide, I am your guy. I promise you can count on me. You don’t have to be strong by yourself. My phone is always on.”
She pulled away and sat down again. “I’ll help you, Conner. Hell, I will even set up a double date for you, but you need to wait until she comes in for a haircut next week to get the ball going. We only talk when she comes in. Also, Miranda is never to know that I helped you do this. She isn’t going to be okay with you seeing someone she hates. Shit, she doesn’t even want you with me, I can’t even imagine what it would be like for her to find out about me helping you date Heather.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Did you just say double date? I can’t be in the same room as your son of a bitch husband, Amy. There ain’t no way and darlin’ you don’t have to worry about me telling Miranda. If I do include you, which I probably have to at some point, I will just say that you helped me hook up with her at the bar or somethin’.”
She pointed at me and started walking toward where I stood. “You listen here, if you want my help, you’re going to do it my way. She isn’t going to agree to date a stranger without some kind of persuasion.”
I grabbed her waist and pulled her into me, even though she wasn’t happy about it. “I think I’m pretty darn good at persuadin’.” I brushed my lips over hers slowly. With my eyes still open, I saw her closing hers. I went in a second time, brushing my tongue over her bottom lip. “I can’t sit at a table with you and not think about being between your legs. I can’t pretend to want another woman, when the one I desire is sittin’ across from me with someone else.”
Her lips moved in sync with mine. “You can’t want me, Conner. We have to stop this.” The words came out of her mouth, but our kissing intensified. Her arms wrapped around me and I picked her up and sat her on the counter.
I reached my hand up her shirt and she leaned back and let me. “Just one last time then.”
She grabbed my shirt and ripped it over my head. “One last time.”
Chapter 14
Amy
My own messed up life was put on the back burner when my closest friend was being viciously sabotaged by one of Ty’s jealous ex’s. That bitch Heather was known around town for being a total whore, but for her to stoop so low as to try and ruin a marriage, well it just really rubbed me the wrong way.
When Con
ner came to me for help, I couldn’t turn him down. I wanted to kill him at first. It shouldn’t have, but it really hurt me when he said we had to stop. He was taking away the one thing that had brought a smile to my face.
Him.
I wanted to hate him, especially when he first told me. I felt rejected and used.
Right away, Conner made it clear what his intentions were, and as much as I wanted to be angry at him, I also felt so much respect that he would put his own life aside for someone he loved. I had to believe that people didn’t always know this side of him.
His determination formed into a doable plan and reluctantly we were on the same page. It also came after two hours of the hottest goodbye sex ever. Conner took me against every station in the salon, before ending up on the floor in the storage room. We had a big ass mess to clean up too when we finally finished.
Still, instead of saying goodbye, I found myself wanting him more than ever.
Rick returned two days later and I told him a lie that Miranda’s brother was coming into town and she wanted me to set him up with one of our clients. Rick had been in such a good mood from it being the end of the job he hated, that he agreed to a double date immediately. Of course, he knew wherever we went, it would involve alcohol.
Maybe Rick and Conner being in the same room wasn’t such a good idea, but I knew he wouldn’t have let me out of the house otherwise, plus, Heather was going to be swooning over Conner and I needed someone there to keep me from going all psycho bitch on her. I wasn’t normally a jealous person, but Conner was another story for me. All gloves were off when it came to the way that man made me feel.
Just as I suspected, when she came in the next week, she was all about meeting a hottie from out of town. I left out the part of where he was from and who his sister was. Conner was so hot that I hardly thought she would even care where he came from.
For an entire week, I managed to keep the peace at home. Work was busy with Miranda not working as much and I was exhausted when I got home at night. I had also saved up a few hundred dollars and hid it at the salon instead of at home.
The big date night came and I think I was more nervous than anyone. Conner was looking at it like it was just some job, but I couldn’t think like him. I knew seeing them together was going to send me over the edge if I let it. Heather was a gorgeous girl and Conner wasn’t going to be disappointed in that department. As Rick and I drove to where we were meeting them, I felt like I was going to puke all over myself. I tried to calm my breathing and control my anxiety, but when I met Conner’s eyes, I lost my balance and got weak in the knees. Rick was still getting out of the car and hadn’t noticed. Conner approached me and offered his hand for me to stand up. He caught my gaze but also noticed Rick approaching my side of the car. “You must be Amy? I’m Conner, Miranda’s brother. Sorry she made you do something like this. My sister is always meddling in my love life, I’m tellin’ ya.”
When Conner extended his hand for Rick, I saw his jaw clenching and half expected him to just pulverize Rick right there in the parking lot. Part of me even wanted him to do it.
Rick looked over at me. “You shouldn’t have worn those heels if you can’t even walk in em woman.” He put his hand on Conner’s shoulder and walked him into the Restaurant. I followed behind them regretting the whole time that I had agreed on this bullshit idea in the first place.
Heather didn’t arrive for a few minutes after we got our seats and I was already feeling uncomfortable. The hostess sat us in one of those semi-circle booths and since I was the smallest, I crawled into the back with Conner and Rick on either side of me. Conner kept his distance and I was glad. Rick was asking him all about Kentucky and working on a ranch. He had no idea that Conner lived here.
I was really hoping that they would get the Kentucky talk out of the way before she started asking questions. I leaned over in Rick’s ear. “Heather doesn’t exactly get along with Miranda, but she thought these two would hit it off so try not to mention they are related. They don’t get along anyway.”
Lies, all lies. I was a professional liar now.
Rick nodded and I knew that Heather was approaching when his mouth dropped open. I couldn’t help but look at Conner, to see his expression, but when I did, he was only looking at one person.
Me.
He threw me a wink, making me blush and quickly looked elsewhere. Heather looked at me before devouring Conner with her eyes. She bit down on her lip as she extended her hand to him. He scooted more toward me so she could scoot in next to him. I reached under my seat and dug my nails into it, trying to control my emotions.
“Well, Amy, you didn’t tell me he was so fine. It’s great to meet you, Conner.” She gave him a seductive smile and we all started looking at our menus. By the time the waitress came to ask our drinks, Heather was already asking him how long he was visiting and if he had many plans while he was here.
I hid behind my menu and felt Rick’s hand on my leg. I almost jumped out my seat at first and even more when he continued to move it up my leg. I think Conner caught what was going on, because he brushed my other leg with his and touched my arm light enough where nobody would notice. I readjusted my body, so Rick would quit it, but he kept doing it.
When the waiter came to take our orders, he finally removed his hand from my thigh. Heather ordered a salad and swooned over Conner like Rick and I weren’t even at the table. Once the waiter walked away, Rick and Conner finished off their first beer and waited to order two more. I could see this becoming a catastrophe real quick.
I think Rick could even tell that Heather was talking too much. He cut into her questioning Conner and started talking about football. Heather checked her phone and rolled her eyes, before saying she was going to use the ladies room. Once she got up and the waiter hadn’t come, Rick suggested walking up to the bar to get the beers instead of waiting. The second he left our table, Conner’s hand was on my leg. He didn’t scoot any closer and neither of us looked at each other as we spoke. “You okay, Blaze?”
“Not really. This was a terrible idea.”
He traced my hand with his before intertwining our fingers together under the table. “If I can get along with your husband for a couple hours, you can deal with this little bitch.”
“She’s already fucking you with her eyes.”
He chuckled again and it pissed me off. “Darlin’ she can do whatever she wants with her eyes, because I’ve been fuckin’ you in my mind ever since you got out of your car.”
I pulled my hand away and slapped his leg. “Don’t do that.”
“What? It’s the truth.”
“Save it Conner, even my husband wants to see her naked. Stop acting like it’s going to be hard for you.” I was so annoyed. Men sucked.
Heather was fast approaching the table and I cleared my throat so Conner would see her and shut up. “She’ll never get what you get from me. You just remember that.”
“Remember what?” Heather asked as she sat back down.
“I was telling her that I was going to owe her big time for setting me up with such a fine ass woman.” Heather blushed and giggled, while I tried to contain my anger. As Rick was approaching with four beers in his hands, I reached down and pinched the hell out of Conner’s leg. He cleared his throat and slapped my hand away before reaching for his beer. “Thanks, man.”
Our food finally came and so did the beers. The drunker Rick got, the more he couldn’t keep his hands off of me and his eyes off of Heather. At one point he was only having a conversation with her. Being the bitch that she was, she absorbed the attention and pretty much threw it in my face with her looks.
Every once in a while Conner would tap my leg, but it didn’t make me feel any better. I wanted to kill her myself and call it a day.
Once the food was cleared, I knew we would be ending the double date from Hell. I asked to be excused from the table to use the ladies room and Conner stood up too. “Do you mind showin’ me where the men’s room i
s?”
I looked down at Rick who was steady talking to Heather. “Well, what are you looking at me for? Show the man where the bathroom is already.”
Once we cleared the room where our table was, Conner grabbed my hand and pulled me into the men’s room. He’d obviously not needed directions to where it was located. Once he secured us in a stall and locked the door he turned around and pressed his lips against mine. “Calm down, Blaze.”
I pushed him away from me. “I can’t calm down. This is all pissing me off.”
“Are you jealous?” he started laughing at me. “You are, aren’t you? You’re afraid she is goin’ to give me a good time and make me forget all about you.”
I pushed him again. “That’s not true! I don’t care what you do. Let me out of here before we get caught.”
“It is true. Why can’t you be honest with yourself?”
“What does it matter?” I gritted my teeth. “We aren’t together, in fact my husband is out there probably trying to get in your date’s pants.”
He reached down and ran his hand between my legs. “Does it bother you more that he wants her, or that you want me just as much?” He licked my bottom lip and waited for me to respond. I closed my eyes, unable to control the fire burning between my legs.
“I hate you.” I met his tongue before it even passed my lips. Our kiss was intense and I grabbed the back of his head and held him into me. He cupped my breasts over my shirt and spun me around so my back was against the stall.
Finally realizing how dangerous this was, I pulled away from our kiss. He wiped his mouth. “Good call.” His hands started pointing down and I saw the problem. He was so hard it was poking out of the front of his jeans. “You better give me a couple minutes to calm down.”
I unlocked the door and started walking away, before I felt him pulling my shirt. With my back against his chest, he kissed my neck one more time. “When you’re thinkin’ about me tonight, touching all over that hot body of yours, I'll be thinkin' about you too." he smacked my ass and sent me on my way.
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