by Brooke Page
I shrugged my shoulders. “My mom hasn’t called me since I talked to her at your house.”
His head cocked to the side, understanding filling in his eyes, but he didn’t comprehend why I was upset.
“I’m used to not talking to my mother for weeks.”
He took a long swig of his drink and licked his lips. “So, please enlighten me as to why you’re so upset. You’re giving me the ‘fuck off’ vibe.”
I closed my own eyes, taking another drink. Sucking in a deep breath, I found my courage. “Where have you been this past week?”
“Working, like always.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Really? You haven’t been spending time with anyone else?”
Now his brows were furrowed. “Besides people involved with work? No. Who else would I spend time with? You said yourself I was a loner.”
“A loner who goes fishing with groups of men,” I challenged.
A frown marred his lips. “I told you I rarely go. What’s really bothering you? I know I’m not good at texting you. Is that the issue?”
I straightened my shoulders and crossed my arms. “Who’s Abby?”
Chapter Sixteen
Vance
Fuck. How did she find out about Abby?
“She’s a work associate.” I had prepared for this, running through stories and lies to keep me from losing my cover. Although another woman in the picture might help send Lauren packing and out of town during the sting, I didn’t want her to think it was because I was actually involved with another woman. Cheating wasn’t something I was okay with.
Her eyes narrowed. “Work associate? She seems awfully giggly when she talks to you. And more specifically, how you’re so sweet.”
Now my face scrunched together in confusion. When the hell did she see us together? “Baby, you’re going to have to give me a little more information, because I’m confused.”
“I heard her on the phone with you. She was shopping at the same time as Marcy and me. She purred your name as much as the damn bartender. Pair that with the look on her face…”
Oh. I cracked a smile. She was jealous, and unlike what I had felt toward the outrageous emotion, it was insanely attractive on her. She cared about me enough to be bothered by other women making eyes at me.
Squatting down and setting my beer down in the sand, I rose to find her waist with both my hands. “You’re cute.”
Taking two steps back, she swatted at my forearms, setting her own drink down next to mine, her delicate hands finding her hips. “Vance, I’m serious.”
“She’s a work associate. I’m meeting with her on Friday to go over a new line of women’s bathing suits. They’re supposed to be neoprene and better for you skin, or some shit like that. She’s a buyer.”
She eyed me skeptically, uncertainty clear on her face. I felt terrible for lying to her, but I wasn’t being truthful for the reasons she thought. I’d never pick another woman over her, it’d kill me.
After we stared each other down, a tear fell from her cheek, her hands covering her face while her shoulders trembled.
“Lauren, don’t cry.” I wanted to go to her, to wrap her in my arms and tuck her away, take her from this terrible hell hole and disappear, but she made it clear earlier she didn’t want to be touched.
She sniffed, her cries muffled by her hands. “You’re so back and forth. When we’re together, you and I, it’s like you can’t get enough of me, but when we’re apart, I wonder if you think about me at all.”
Only if she knew, and one day, if I was able to, I’d tell her every last detail about why I was the way I was. “I think about you all of the time. I have a company to run, and I can’t spend all day on the phone. I don’t want to come across as some stalker.”
A snort emerged from behind her hand, and I scowled.
She fidgeted with her dress. “Sorry, Marcy has been describing Colt as a stalker. She thinks he’s following her and watching her when they aren’t together.”
I laughed, but my eyes found my feet. She wasn’t wrong, he was only lurking when I couldn’t. I was the real stalker. Colt had a lot to learn about being discreet. I was a pro, and Lauren had no idea I was the one outside of YaYa’s house every night. Marcy must have thought Colt was me. There was a reason I took his car or the beater instead of my truck.
“Colt really likes her, but I don’t think he’s stalking her.”
She sniffed again, taking a step closer to me. “I don’t think so either, but he did leave to go to the store moments after we did, although he pretended he was staying back at the shop. Why not tell us he wanted to come? Why not meet us inside instead of hanging back in the parking lot? I wouldn’t have told him no.”
“Maybe he knew Marcy wouldn’t want him to come?”
She shrugged, her eyes finding the sand.
Sighing, she went back to the original subject. “So Abby is really only a work associate?”
I nodded, my eyes wide with sincerity. “You, my lovely Lauren, are the only one who holds a place here.” I tapped to my forehead, although I should have palmed my chest.
She smiled, a genuine lift of her lips for the first time all night, and my stress evaporated. She bought my terrible lies, and we’d be okay for a little while longer, and I was ensured to have at least one more night to breathe every last inch of her in, memorizing the way she smelled and felt.
Bravely, I reached for both of her hands, and she squeezed them. “I care about you,” I whispered. “You make everything better.”
Standing on her tip toes, she let go of my hands and wrapped them around my neck. “I like being with you too, Vance. A little too much.”
I tilted my head and found her lips, planting tender kisses against her mouth. I captured her body with mine, and I never wanted to let her go.
My chin rested against her temple. “Do you want to go back to my place? Or were you looking forward to dancing and drinking?”
She nuzzled against my neck. “I’m not much of a bar person, and I don’t usually drink.”
I smiled. “I know. So, off to my house?”
Pulling back so we could look at each other, she began to nod, but then her mouth turned into a frown.
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you care if I ask Marcy and Colt to come hang out with us?”
I wanted to say no, but I understood. “Whatever your heart desires.”
Her lip twisted upward. She wanted the same as me, alone time in my bed, but cared about her friend. She was such a good person. “Thanks. Let’s go find them.”
We grabbed our drinks from the sand and trudged through it until we were to the stairs. Slipping on our sandals, we went in search for them. The bar was more crowded now, the reggae music blended with customer’s laughing and talking.
“Maybe they’re out by the band?” Lauren continued to skim the crowd, then a frown marred her beautiful face. Following her line of sight, I laughed under my breath.
“Just when I think she’s gained some modesty,” Lauren grumbled.
I shook my head, but humor was written all over my face by my grin. “I should say the same for Colt.”
Both Marcy and Colt were down the hallway toward the bathrooms, Marcy’s back arched against the wall, one leg hiked over Colt’s hip. His was underneath her shorts, holding her in place. They weren’t making out, at least not yet.
“So much for being annoyed with him,” Lauren muttered.
I snuck my arm around her waist. “Come on, let’s go somewhere quieter. I’ll text Colt to call if he needs us to come get them.”
“I don’t think Marcy will mind, either.”
Guiding her back by the bar, we set our drinks down then found the steps, weaving through the mass of people standing in the sand to watch and dance as the live band played. The security guard, one of my father’s men, gave me a wink when we walked by.
“Enjoy your evening, Vancy and friend.”
I gave him a nod, keeping Lauren cl
ose to my side. I didn’t trust any of the fuckers who worked for Marcus. He looked at Lauren like she was one of Marcus’s worms, and he needed to know she was off limits.
Lauren, being the kind-hearted person she was, waved goodbye to him. She needed to not be so sweet all the time. It was going to bite her in the ass, some creep would take advantage of her. A fucker who was sicker than I was.
My throat tightened at the thought.
“Who was that man?” she questioned once our feet hit the pavement of the parking lot. “How do you know him?”
“Who?” I asked, buying time although I already knew.
“The bouncer.”
“I know him from being around The Shore.”
I walked to the passenger side door, opening it for her then came to the driver’s side.
“For someone who calls themselves an introvert, you sure know a lot of people.”
Starting the car, I shrugged. “My dad knows a lot of people, not me.”
With her seatbelt buckled, I hit the gas.
“How many businesses does he own?”
“A lot.”
“Surf shops?”
I shook my head. “He owns half of the strip. Tourist shops and all.”
“It must be weird, having everyone know who you are. I don’t think anyone besides Marcy’s family and social workers from my school days know who I am.”
I furrowed my brows. “That can’t be true.”
She rested her head on the seat. “Maybe a few of the regulars at Marcy’s family arcade, but that’s it. I keep pretty quiet.”
I laced our fingers together. “People may not know your name, but I can guarantee they know who you are.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
Bringing her knuckles to my lips, I kissed each one. “Your face is too beautiful for someone to forget.” She flushed and fidgeted in her seat. “Amongst other assets you have.”
“You’re just being nice.”
Letting go of her hand, I searched for her knee, finding the smooth skin of her long legs. “I’m saying it because it’s true. You’re sexy as hell, Lauren, and perfectly capable. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. Scumbags like the security guard back there check you out all the time. It’s nerve-wracking for me.”
Her timid smile turned into a frown. “He wasn’t checking me out.”
She was so innocent. “Sweetheart, eyes are always on you.”
Crossing her legs to stop my hand from gliding up her thigh, she countered, “Oh, and women don’t check you out all of the time? Flirt with you? There isn’t a waitress or bartender at The Shore who hasn’t batted their eyelashes at you or leaned forward so their boobs were hanging out of their tank tops trying to get your attention.”
“Yes, and it’s pathetic. When women throw themselves at me, it’s not a turn on at all.”
“I’m sure there have been times you’ve accepted their advancements,” she goaded.
I bobbed my head back and forth. “There may have been a few times where I was edgy and needed a quick sex fix, doesn’t mean I do it all of the time, and currently, only one woman has held my attention.”
Her lip twitched. “I’ll never understand guys.”
“Understand what?”
“Why you think sex fixes everything.”
I glanced between her and the road. “Not what I meant, but it does help to distract the mind and stimulate.”
She arched a brow. “Stimulate?”
I squeezed her knee. “The brain, new ideas, what’s important in life.”
She laughed. “Do tell what sex has informed you as being important.”
My heart thudded against my ribs. Before I had sex with Lauren, I had fallen hard for her and found hope I could survive on more than fumes of hatred and sorrow. She brought me to life.
My hand skidded up her thigh and under her dress. “You.”
Instead of her cheeks turning the usual pink or her breath hitching, she curled away from me, an expression I wasn’t expecting, especially after I confessed in a round-about way she gave meaning to my life.
“Important friend, right?” she murmured, her gaze fixated on the surroundings outside of the car window.
I hesitated. “Yes…?”
Her shoulders fell, along with her spirit. I was at a loss for words. What did I say?
***
We were quiet until I parked behind my truck at the carport of my house. “Hey, what’s going on inside that head of yours?”
She chewed on her lip and fumbled with her seatbelt. Once it released, her gaze found mine and she whispered, “Is what I am to you? A friend?”
Her eyes were moist, and I felt terrible. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
She forced a smile, tugging her hand free from mine and stepping out of the car. I followed, shutting off the engine.
“Lauren, what did I say?”
Coming to a halt on the front porch, she turned, fury brewing in her eyes. I stopped in my tracks, unsure what was happening. Lauren had never thrown so much disgust and anger into a look as she had now. Her arms were crossed, her brows angled low over her long eyelashes. She was sexy and scary at the same time.
“Come on, don’t you want to fuck your friend?”
I scowled. “You know it’s not like that.”
“Then why do you introduce me as your friend? You wrap your arms around me as if you own me. That’s an entirely different relationship.”
I ground my teeth. By not letting the population of The Shore know I had more than an infatuation with her, she was safe. If I paraded around telling them she gave my life meaning, they’d find a way to destroy her, but she couldn’t know why I kept the agonizing distance I did.
“You know you mean more to me than a friend.”
Her brows rose along with her tone. “Do I? Because you never tell me, Vance!”
I raced up the stairs, and she flinched, taking steps back until she was stopped by the door. Both my palms found the door on either side of her head, eyes blazing while I looked at her.
I gritted my teeth. “I told you I’m not good at talking about my feelings or whatever.” She smelled so fucking good. I wanted to kiss and suck on all of her exposed skin, and currently, she had a lot of it. When her arms came uncrossed, her dress slid down, giving an opening down the front of her dress. I could see the curves of her breasts, and I wanted to bury myself in them.
Skimming my nose along her jaw and to her ear, I murmured. “There isn’t a moment that goes by when I don’t think about you.”
Her breath hitched, and both her fists found my shirt.
“I can’t do anything without being distracted by the mere thought of you.” My erection was pressed against her belly now. “See what you do to me? All. The. Fucking. Time.”
Letting go of my shirt, her arms curled around my waist and her head tilted upward. She was so sad, tears filling her eyes, her lip trembling. “Then why don’t you come to me? Why not call me? Or ask me to stop by? I understand you have a lot to do, but going so many days without talking or touching, tells me otherwise.”
“I’ll be better,” I murmured, holding her head with my hands, kissing her salty tears from her cheeks until I found her lips, kissing them tenderly. She was so sweet, so perfect. If only I could tell her the truth without ruining everything I had worked hard to keep and destroy.
She groaned, her hands finding my hair and kissing me back, her once timid tongue plunging into my mouth without fear. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I motioned to pick her up, but she fought against me, keeping her feet planted firmly on the ground. Her tongue slipped back into her mouth, both her hands finding my face and holding it in place, so I couldn’t kiss her again.
Her damp eyes searched mine, fear and uncertainty filling them. “I love you, Vance.”
My jaw clenched to keep it from dropping. “You what?”
Her lip trembled. “I love you, so much it hurts, and I’ve tried to
stop, I’ve tried so damn hard to keep my heart from doing backflips every time I think about you, but I can’t help it. All I want is to be with you, all the time. I love you--“
I cut her off with my mouth, devouring hers. She melted in my arms, and I scooped her up, carrying her through the threshold, ignoring the pain in my side from Percy’s foot. Both her hands clasped around my neck, her lips hurried against mine. The need inside of me to own every inch of her was overpowering, and if I didn’t connect with her now I’d lose my mind. She loved me.
It was an acceptance I didn’t know my heart longed for. To be loved and cherished by another person in this world. One who understood my fucked up mind, who didn’t judge my short temper and critical thinking toward life. Lauren made all of my negatives evaporate into peace.
Finding my room, I gently set her on her feet, tugging on her white dress. She looked gorgeous in it, but I needed to touch her silky skin, feel her perfect body pressed against mine.
Her hair tousled when the fabric crossed over her head, brushing down her bare breasts. They plumped together when she lifted her hands to my t-shirt, clawing at it until it was over my head and tossed on the floor next to her feet.
Her eyes widened when she found my pecs, her palms slowing into a caress, but soon they furrowed, and she gasped. “Vance, what happened to your side?”
Her fingers tickled down my skin, and I winced. She’d found the healing bruise from my introduction to the Sanctuary where the Cage was. Thankfully, it looked better than it did a few days ago.
“Same encounter with the rock coral,” I joked, cupping her chin and diving in for another kiss.
She kissed me back chastely, pulling away to examine my wound further. “Did you go to the doctor? That bruise is huge.”
I shook my head. “It looks worse than how it feels.”
Her scowl remained, her delicate touch continuing to trace the outside of the swollen purple and yellow mark. “You sure it was from coral?”
“Yes, I did hit it with my face, too.”
She studied my expression, touching the fading bruise with two fingers. “You should rest.”