Down & Dirty

by Cheryl Dougls

  “Denver isn’t that far away,” I reasoned. I’d played for two other pro teams before I finally landed near my hometown. Other teams offered more money, but I knew I wanted to finish out my career playing for the team I’d cheered on as a kid. “We could see each other all the time.”

  “Whoa!” She shook her head. “You’re getting way ahead of yourself. You and me… that’s not a thing.”

  Maybe not yet, but it would be. I could hang around here for the next month if I had to. And make it my full-time mission to win her over. Now that would be time well-spent. “So, here’s the deal,” I said, deciding honesty was the best policy. “I want you.”

  “Yeah, you made that pretty clear last night.” She worked away at her omelet, alternating between bites of toast and the egg concoction.

  “I’m not talking about the sex. Though I think it’s pretty obvious we’re still compatible in that regard.” Compatible was an understatement. Combustible was more accurate. “I’m talking about more and you know it.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah.” I curled my hand around her neck, massaging her tense muscles gently. “I want you to be mine, baby.” I wanted a hell of a lot more than that. Marriage. Babies. The whole nine. But I had to start slow and work my way up to that kind of a claim.

  “I’m no one’s possession, Landon. So get that idea out of your head right now.”

  “Fine, I want you to be my girlfriend, okay?” I hated that word. It sounded so high school. My woman. Better. My fiancée. Better still. My wife. Yeah, that’s what I wanted. For this gorgeous woman to be my wife.

  “You walk back into my life one day,” she said, looking at me out of the corner of her eye. “And the next you’re announcing you want me to be your girlfriend? You know that’s messed up, right?”

  She’d be right, if we didn’t have so much history. I could tell her I wanted to date her, get to know her again, which I did, but what was the point beating around the bush when I knew what I wanted? Her. “Call it what you want. I’m always gonna be honest with you, Liv.”

  “Not always,” she said, trying to appear unaffected as she polished off her toast. “You weren’t honest with me about why you were breaking up with me.”

  I knew we would circle back to that eventually. “You still don’t believe me, do you?”

  “Does it really matter?” she asked, shrugging.

  “Yeah, it matters to me.” I jumped up, grabbing her hand and hauling her off the stool.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, trying to dig her heels in.

  I was 6’2, 230, with a full foot and over a hundred pounds on her. If I wanted to take her somewhere, she was going. But instead of trying to force her, I hauled her against my chest instead. “There are two other people who can corroborate my claim.”

  Her jaw dropped as she planted her hands on my chest. “You’re not talking about my parents, are you?”

  I’d been kind of afraid of her parents back in high school. Her old man was a doctor, her mom served on the board of every community project in town, while I came from a single parent household. My mom worked in the cafeteria at the local high school, ‘til my ship came in and I set her up in a sweet waterfront condo in Florida. With a Mercedes. And a cleaning lady. One of the biggest perks of my contract was being able to treat my mother like the queen she was.

  “Your parents thought I wasn’t good enough for you,” I said, while my hands coasted up and down her bare arms. “They thought I was a loser who’d never make anything of myself.” I knew I didn’t have to prove anything to them, but I couldn’t deny it would feel damn good to pull into their drive in my quarter of a million dollar ride.

  “They were obviously wrong,” she said, her eyes softening. “I knew they were, even back then. I told them all the time, Landon. You were going all the way. I knew you’d get that pro contract.” She smiled and my heart cracked wide open. “You were too stubborn and tenacious not to.”

  “I loved that you believed in me,” I said, linking my hands behind her neck. “You were the only one who did. Even my mother and brother thought I was crazy for dreaming so big. My mama just wanted me to use my talent on the field to get a good education. She never imagined it could amount to more than that.”

  “How is your mom?” she asked, curling her hands around my wrists.

  Olivia had always been so sweet to my mama. Whenever she’d see her at school, she’d always greet her with a warm hug and stop to chat. She wasn’t embarrassed by the hair net or the stained uniform. She saw my mama’s big heart. Just like I did.

  “She’s great.” I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Retired now, obviously. Living the good life in Florida.”

  “Yeah, I heard you’d bought a place for her. That was sweet.”

  “How could I not look after her? She was my rock.” My old man split when I was three and it had always been just the three of us.

  “And your brother’s a cop now.” She tipped her head back and looped her thumbs through my belt loops. “I still see him around town now and again. And, of course we’re Facebook friends.”

  “He got promoted to detective a couple of months ago.” I was so proud of my little brother, putting his life on the line every day to save people who may or may not deserve it.

  “Really?” Her eyes lit up. “That’s great. I must have missed the big announcement on my feed.”

  “You know him, he’s pretty humble. I doubt he wanted to make a big deal of it.” It felt so good talking to her like an old friend again. God, I’d missed this. This connection. This mutual respect and appreciation for where we’d come from and the people who helped make us. No one else in my life knew my family the way she did and talking to her about them seemed to chink away at a little more of her armor.

  “I’m not surprised. He always was the one trying to rein you in.” She laughed. “All the trouble you’d get in to,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m surprised you didn’t land that fine ass in jail.”

  “You think I have a fine ass?” I teased, leaning in to nuzzle her neck. “Tell me more.”

  “Uh no.” She pushed against my chest, but she was still smiling. “Your ego is big enough already.”

  “Okay then,” I said, linking my hand through hers. “Let’s pay that visit to your folks.”

  She grimaced, pulling back on my hand. “Let’s not and say we did.”

  “Sounds like you don’t want to see them.” I hesitated. “Or is it that you don’t want them to see you with me?”

  “I’m not sixteen anymore. I’m not afraid they’ll ground me if I’m dating a boy they don’t approve of.”

  Even back then I’d been impressed with the way Olivia stood up to her parents. She hadn’t let the fact that they didn’t support our relationship stand in the way. She loved me in spite of them and I knew that hadn’t been easy for her.

  “I just don’t want to waste the day holed up in my parents’ house re-hashing the past.”

  “Does that mean you believe me when I tell you the real reason I broke up with you?”

  “It means,” she said, carefully. “That I’m reserving judgement. The way I see it I’ve wasted too many years hating my high school boyfriend for dumping me.” Her grin was a little naughty when she said, “I think I’d rather invest my time more wisely. Like maybe learning what the man that boy has grown into has to offer.”

  I couldn’t believe the caffeine was the sole cause of her attitude change. When I’d woken her up she’d been snarky, calling me names and calling me out. But now she seemed softer, sweeter, like maybe she really would be willing to give me a chance.

  “Okay,” I said, kissing her hand. “You tell me what you want to do today. Anything you want.”

  “Anything I want, huh?” She walked over to her front door and peered out the side window. “I wondered if you’d brought her along.”

  I came up behind her, settling my hands on her hips. “You knew about my princess
?” I knew a lot of guys had sexy names for their hot guys, but Princess worked for me. Because honestly, what else could you call a sleek black Ferrari 488 GTB? She was automotive royalty. Simple as that.

  “Your brother had a picture of himself behind the wheel on his Facebook page a few months ago. He’d said it was yours.”

  “You still drive stick like a champ?”

  Her chuckle was husky as she tipped her head back on my shoulder. “You were in that hotel room last night. You tell me.”

  I growled, pulling her ass back against my growing erection. Around this woman I couldn’t keep the damn thing down. She turned me inside out every time she opened her mouth. I pulled the keys out of my pocket and dropped them in her hand. “All yours, baby.”

  Her eyes were wide with excitement when she turned to face me. “You’re not serious.”

  Didn’t she know by now that I’d give her anything she wanted? When we were kids we used to talk about all the incredible things we’d experience with money and freedom. Travel around the world. Build a home with breathtaking mountain views. A hunting cabin in the woods. Camping trips with our kids. For her, Fashion Week in Paris. And the hot car. That was always my dream… with her sprawled across the hood wearing nothing but my wedding ring.

  I had the house. I had the car. I had the cabin. I’d travelled extensively. But none of it meant anything without her beside me.

  “I’m not kidding,” I said softly, dropping a kiss on her lips. “I used to promise I’d make all your dreams come true, remember? I can do that now. All you have to do is say the word.”

  “Slow down,” she said, taking a step back. “We’re talking about a ride around the block, not shacking up together.”

  “You ever lived with anyone?” I asked, torn between wanting to know about her life and being jealous that she’d lived so much of it without me. “Besides your sister, I mean?”

  “Like a man? Uh, no.”

  “Why not?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Why does it matter?”

  “I’ve never lived with anyone either,” I said, avoiding her question. “Wanna know why?”

  “No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

  “There was only one woman I’ve ever wanted to share a home with.” I brushed the back of my fingers over her soft cheek. “You.”

  My teammates would call me pussy-whipped and they’d be right. This girl had me right where she’d always wanted me: at her mercy. She could make me the happiest man alive or break me. All the power was in her hands.

  “You say all the right things,” she said, sighing. “But then you always did, Slick.”

  Her trust wouldn’t come easily, nor did I expect it to. But thankfully I had time on my side. I didn’t intend to go back to Denver without a promise she’d come visit me. Often.

  “You think I’m feeding you a line?” I asked, backing her up against the door. I braced a hand on either side of her head as I swept my tongue inside her mouth without warning. “This is as real as it gets, baby.”

  “Sure does feel real,” she said, rocking her hips, pressing my erection into her lower abdomen.

  “We could skip the ride,” I suggested, kissing her neck. “Stay here instead.”

  “Mm, as tempting as that sounds…” She tipped her head back, giving me full access. “I wanna go for a ride.”

  “You can ride all you want, gorgeous.” I grabbed her hips, showing her what I wanted her to ride. “Take a ride on me then I’ll let you take the car for a spin.”

  “You ever get busy in that car?” she asked, getting a twinkle in her bright blue eyes.

  “And risk staining the leather?” I asked, pretending to be shocked, though the thought of taking her in the driver’s seat meant I’d never be able to drive that car again without thinking of her. “No way!”

  “Bet I could convince you,” she purred, rubbing her cheek across the dusting of stubble on my jaw before her tongue flicked across my earlobe.

  Damn. Every part of my body became an erogenous zone when this girl touched me. “Bet you could convince me of just about anything.” My house? Take it. My cabin? It’s yours. The car? The pink slip is in the glove box. Just don’t make me stop touching you.

  “I love how hot you are for me,” she whispered, reaching for my belt buckle. “And hard. God, you’re so hard.”

  I wanted to take her right there against the door. I didn’t give a shit about the neighbors walking the dog or her sister coming home. I just wanted her. But I couldn’t let this be about sex alone if I wanted her to let me back in to her life.

  “I want you,” I murmured, grabbing her wrists before she could unbutton my jeans. “You have no idea how much, sweetheart. But I want more than just your body. And I can’t prove that to you if we’re horizontal all the time.”

  “Since when do you complain about getting horizontal with me?” she asked, looking miffed. “I thought that’s why you came here this morning. I thought that’s what that breakfast was all about. Because you wanted to work your way back into my bed.”

  “No!” I staggered back. “God, no.” That was the last thing I wanted her to think. I needed to back off, maybe take a cold shower and start letting the right head lead me.

  “Then what do you want?” she asked, crossing her arms.

  Her body language said it all. She was trying to protect herself. From me. She still saw me as a threat and I had to find a way to change that. Like now. “Let’s just go out and spend the day together. Do something fun.”

  “Like what?” she asked, looking wary.

  “Anything you want.” I scrambled to think of something we’d both enjoy. Something that would allow us to remember how it had been when we’d really connected over something other than sex.

  I knew the perfect spot. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Chapter Eight

  Olivia

  Driving Landon’s car was a rush I wouldn’t soon forget, but the sight of the man himself walking out of an old neighborhood haunt with his sunglasses on and his sleeves pushed back to reveal his tanned forearms made my heart race without warning. I expected that reaction during sex. I expected it when I was driving a powerful car. I’d even anticipated it after seeing him for the first time in years. But feeling it now could only mean one thing: I was falling for him again.

  Shit. How’d I let that happen?

  He crawled into the driver’s seat I’d vacated and held up the brown paper bag bearing the deli’s logo. “Got all your old favorites here.”

  It was unnerving to be with a man I didn’t really know anymore, yet knew so well. “I get the feeling you’re trying to seduce me with food.”

  He laughed while a group of teens stopped short of the deli’s door to admire his ride.

  Landon waved at them before peeling out of the parking lot.

  “Does it ever get old?” I asked, settling in. “Being admired like that.”

  “They were admiring the car,” he said, stroking the leather steering wheel. “Not me or my accomplishments.”

  I tipped my head back, watching him shift gears. “But the car wouldn’t be possible without the accomplishments. None of it. Isn’t that why guys like you buy cars like this, to announce to the world that you’ve accomplished something big?”

  “Never thought about it like that,” he admitted, lowering the volume on a classic Bob Seger tune we’d both loved in high school. “It’s a symbol of success, for sure. Long after people have forgotten me and my name, what I did for my team, I’ll still have little mementos of my glory days, like this one.”

  “You ever think about it?” I asked, trying to understand the man he’d become. “What it’ll be like when you have to retire?”

  “Sure, I think about it. I’m not a kid anymore.”

  “So?” I pressed, knowing it was probably none of my business. “What will you do?”

  He pulled into a small clearing with a dirt parking lot that overlooked a man-made lake. We’d a
lways loved this spot, so I wasn’t surprised he’d chosen to take me here.

  He cut the engine and sighed. “What will I do?” he asked, removing his seat belt. “I’ve always loved the game, so maybe I’ll get into coaching or open a facility to train kids.”

  I smiled at the picture he painted. “You still love kids, huh?” He’d always helped out with the kids’ football teams when he was in high school, assisting the coaches any way he could, just because he said he loved seeing the kids fall in love with the sport the way he had.

  “Sure.”

  “Why don’t you have any of your own then?” It suddenly occurred to me I was making a lot of assumptions. While I hadn’t heard about a baby mama in the news, didn’t mean there wasn’t one. And damn if that thought didn’t crush me. “Or do you?”

  “You can seriously ask me that?” He laid his palm flat against his chest. “After everything I’ve said to you about wanting a second chance, you think I’d wait to drop a bombshell like that?”

  “No.” I felt properly chastised, but also relieved there were no babies he hadn’t told me about. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “You didn’t.” He reached for my hand. “I get why you don’t trust me. You have every reason to doubt me, but I swear I’m gonna be straight with you from here on out, Liv.”

  From here on out. Which reminded me of the omission of truth when he broke up with me. “You, uh, want to get out here?” I asked, pointing to one of the huge rocks we’d always sat on when we came here.

  I could tell he wanted to say more, but he reached for his door handle instead. “Yeah.”

  He rounded the front of the car, but I’d already opened my door before he could do the honors. “Still independent, I see,” he said, looking mildly amused as he closed the passenger door.

  “I’ve had to be. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone to rely on to take care of me.” I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself, just stating a fact. Landon promised he’d always be there to take care of me, that he’d never leave me. But he lied. I couldn’t let myself forget that.