by Vicki Green
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Vicki Green Copyright 2015©
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form with authorization of the Author Vicki Green©
Editor: Kathy Krick @K2 Editing:
https://www.facebook.com/K2Editing
Published by Entertwine Publishing:
https://www.facebook.com/Entertwinepub?ref=br_tf
Cover Design by Cover to Cover Designs:
https://www.facebook.com/CoverToCoverDesigns
Cover model featuring Caylan Hughes:
https://www.facebook.com/caylanhughes1?fref=ts
Photography of Caylan by Golden Czermak – Furiousfotog:
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*Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18+.
Falling For Love (Beyond Love Series #2)
Love can be deceiving
Love can be unkind
Love comes when you least expect it
If you’re lucky, Love will find you
Caylan Dorn drives himself hard to make something out of his life. He holds multiple jobs; construction worker, fitness trainer and model. He’s already been on two book covers and has been asked to attend a book signing with the author. A month before the signing, he decides to move to the town where it will be held to begin a new life and has no trouble finding jobs in what he excels. The signing is located in a plush hotel, but little does he realize what awaits for him there.
Irish Hadley has worked at ‘Pops Bar’ most of her young life and loves her extended family there. However, she’s tired of constantly being hit on by all the guys. She wants something more so she accepts a full time job at a large tech company, while continuing to help out at the bar on weekends. She’s been instructed to attend a convention at one of the ritzy hotels nearby but dreads being around all the mayhem. She soon finds there’s another event being held there and her curiosity is piqued.
What else will she find there? A hot and sexy redhead that won’t take no for an answer.
Chapter One
Caylan
“I know, Mom. Tell Dad I miss him too. I know. I’ll be home as soon as I can but in the meantime, I’ll call and email when I can. Ha! Okay. Love you too.”
I hang up, placing my phone on the counter, and go back to making my dinner of grilled chicken on my small indoor grill, salad, and broccoli. I felt bad that I hadn’t called home much after everything that happened with Brock and Taren. They were so worried. I’m fortunate I came from a loving family, with a good childhood. I looked at Brock and Taren’s lives growing up and all they went through and it stirred so many emotions in me. They’d been through so much. Now they’re together finally and are having a baby. It’s funny to think about what all happened to get them here, what painstaking madness they had to go through. They still thank me, almost daily, but I keep telling them they don’t have to. I’m just glad I was there for them. Kane hasn’t let me forget it either. I feel like I’m part of their family now, well, except for Taren’s best friend, Irish. That woman. She infuriates me. Stirs up feelings I’ve never had. Damn her! Why can’t she be like all other women? Why can’t I have a coherent thought when I’m around her? Oh, I’m smooth on the outside but inside, I’m a fucking nervous wreck. Never had anyone make me feel like that. Ever.
I walk into the bathroom and start the water for my shower then remove my clothes. Turning around and looking at my reflection in the mirror, my mind goes back to last night at Brock and Taren’s house.
After walking into the kitchen and seeing Irish sitting there, holding up her bottled beer to her luscious lips and staring at me, I about came undone. Just a look, one look, and my cock was already pressing against my jeans. “Hey, Doll. Fancy meeting you here,” was all I could manage to choke out. She hates it when I call her “Doll” so I’m using it to my advantage. We stare into each other’s eyes for what seems like a long time. The silence in the room not uncomfortable. Finally, she lowers the bottle and sets it on the counter in front of her, both hands grasping around it tightly. She rolls her eyes at me, and I watch her throat constrict as she swallows deeply, telling me what effect I’m having on her. Good.
“The name’s not Doll,” I hear her whisper. She looks at Taren, acting like I’m invisible. “When’s dinner? I’m starved! Oh! I didn’t get to see the house much last night.” She hops off her stool, swaying a bit, walking around and taking Taren’s hand. “Show me around.” I watch them walk to the back of the room to the staircase in the small alcove. She slyly looks over her shoulder at me not meeting my eyes, and they vanish.
“Well, that went well,” I say into the room. I feel a clap of a hand on my back and focus in on Brock. He chuckles and walks to the fridge, getting us both a beer. The whole time I’m thinking — what can I do to win her trust?
I shake my head out of my thoughts and climb in the shower. I have no idea how long the water’s been running. Good thing the apartment complex pays that bill. I need to get a move on and get over to the construction site.
Between swinging a hammer, lifting heavy stacks of boards, and working out, my body’s never been more fit. As I work through the day, enjoying the hard labor and joking with my new friends, lunch comes and we’re sitting down on a scaffold eating. Again I find myself lost in my thoughts.
“If you have good foot work, that’s half the battle.” I hit the punching bag again and notice she looks down at my feet. “Don’t jump around but move keeping low to the ground.” I hit the bag, twice. “Don’t punch the bag. Snap. A good snap.” I hit it a few more times, moving around it slowly, staying bent, low. “Good flow.” I notice she continues to watch, aimlessly hitting her bag. “Don’t continually do hard shots. Instead do a constant flow and punches, snapping the bag then you can put in a few hard shots here and there.” She stops and holds her bag. Her eyes zoned into watching me. I move with grace and ease. I do some snapping punches, continuing low and around the bag, then a few hard shots. “It’s all about power and speed.” She’s definitely making my cock strain as she watches me, and it’s not helping me keep my concentration on what I’m doing. “Irish?”
Her eyes snap to mine. I can feel the heat of her embarrassment. “Yeah. That’s pretty good.” I clamp my mouth tight trying not to laugh. I love catching her staring at me, wanting me. “Good to know.” She starts taking her gloves off and walks past me to the shelves. I see her struggling to get the heavy gloves off so I walk over quickly and begin to help her. “Here. Let me.” She freezes but I can see the heaving of her chest. She didn’t work out that much so I’m enjoying knowing I’ve done that to her. It’s killing me, and I’m wanting her that much more. I’ve never had to try so hard to get a woman and I have to admit, I’m loving it. Then again, there’s something about her. Something different, unique.
“Penny for your thoughts? Or a beer?” Brock’s voice shakes me from my thoughts. I turn and look at him.
“Ha. Nothing you’d wanna know.” I give him a smile, hoping it will placate him. He frowns, his eyes turning sad.
“Thought we’d gotten to be better friends than that.” He’s right. We have. Thing is, I’ve not really had any friends in my life until now. Growing up, I had some but that was so long ago. Since I’ve gotten older, I’ve moved around so much, letting life take me wherever there were opportunities. Not really sure what you’re supposed to do with a “friend” exactly. Now I’m em
barrassed, something I’m not used to. “Hey.” His voice alerts me to my thoughts again. “Sure are a deep thinker.” He winks, making me a little more relaxed.
I look down, clasping my hands in-between my legs, and clear my throat. I look back up at him to see he’s smiling. Such a great guy. I’m blessed that he’s my friend. “Just thinking about how lucky I am.” I don’t know when I became all emotional and girly. Weird.
“You mean how lucky we are to have you as a friend,” he says around a bite of his sandwich. I chuckle a bit but then become serious.
“No, man. I mean. I’ve never really had friends before. I’m the lucky one.” He has no idea. After my young life, we moved around a lot. Dad had a hard time finding a good job that paid enough so he’d just move us to the next place, would get another job and stay with it for a short time to get more money saved up. We did that for five years I imagine. Never had time to make any “real” friends.
He swallows and takes a drink of his bottled water, replacing the cap. “What? A good looking guy like you?”
Water spews from my mouth as I take a huge gulp of my own. “Ha! Yeah, well. Never had much time to make any friends. Too much movin’ around, ya know? Besides, didn’t know you, Taren, or Kane at that time.” I give him a wink as his brows raise.
He laughs. “Or Irish. Let’s not forget about her.” My brows lower in frustration. Friends? Yeah, I’m not so sure about that. “What? She’s your friend too.” I look up at him and then back down at my hands fisted in front of me. “Oh, my God!” My eyes snap back to his. “You want more than friendship with her. Don’t you?” My heart quickens with his accusation and I look around to make sure no one heard him. “Shit! I feel for ya, buddy. She’s a hard one to crack, that’s for sure.” He bends in low, closer as his eyes shift around then back to me. “She’s had it kinda rough, man. Secretly, she’s wanted Kane for a long time but hated his whorish ways and he just didn’t look at her in that way anyway. Most guys only want her for her sexy body, nothing else, so she shy’s away from all men.” He sits back up and takes another bite of his sandwich. “I wish you good luck. Not sure she’ll ever give in to any guy, especially you. For some reason, she really has taken an unhealthy amount of dislike to you. What did you do, anyway?”
What did I do? That question pitches in my head. Now confusion sets in. What did I do? “Shit, I dunno. I haven’t really done anything except maybe tease her a bunch. Guess I kind of like bantering back and forth with her. She’s pretty snarky.”
He swallows and bumps his arm up against mine. “You like her.” I know what I’d like to do to her. He leans to the other side and just looks at me. “Wow! You really like her. I thought Taren was just wishful thinking.” My eyes go wide. Shit! He laughs. Laughs? I don’t think this is very funny. “Don’t worry. Taren won’t say anything. She loves you both and thinks you two would be great for each other.” My heart calms down. Maybe with them on my side…. “Come on. Better eat up. Lunch is almost over. How about a beer after work at Pops?”
Pops Bar. Irish working. I finally take the first bite of my sandwich and smile as I look over at him. “Sounds great.” I swallow my mouthful and take another bite. My day just got better.
Irish
Lord, that man infuriates me. Why? Yeah, why? Oh, yeah. Because – because. Humph! Well, he’s too damn good lookin’ for his own good. That dark red hair, the same color scruff on his face and strong jaw. Those hazel green eyes. His beefy muscles like — everywhere. Those abs? Ugh! And those huge shoulders. My hands grasping them as he brings me to…. Dammit! Now I have to go change my panties. Again!
I’ve been working at Pops Bar since I was old enough to be able to. Not once – not once has any guy made me do a double take, made my heart speed up, made me want to…. Ugh! Okay, so I had a major crush on Kane, Brock’s brother and my friend, since we were young. What I couldn’t take was his womanizing ways and finally realized that he’s never gonna change. It’s who he is. Someday I think he will though, when he meets the right woman and I guess it isn’t me. He thinks of me as a sister so who can change with that in your head? Well, I could have but then again, I had a crush on him. Then Caylan came along. Okay, so he has a fantastic body and looks to die for but he’s also a really nice guy. I’m so not used to that. I have so many guys that hit on me on a daily and nightly basis that I can’t see straight. I know they only want me for my body and not really for me and who I am inside. Then again, over the years I’ve built up such a wall that no one really sees the real me anymore but it’s safer that way. To them, I’m just another pretty face and fit body. I’m so hoping the tech convention this weekend is full of logical brains and not sex brains or I might scream.
I park my truck in my usual place behind the bar, pulling down my half shirt as far as it can go as I get out. I push the keys into the pocket of my tight jean shorts and start walking to the front door. The parking lot is full for a Monday night but really anymore, it’s full pretty much every night. After everything happened with Taren and Brock, and the heroism of Caylan and Kane, the bar has been busting at the seams. Great for business and tips for me but it’s been running my feet off behind the bar. Then again, since Mimi joined as a cook for Pop, business had already picked up. I don’t allow myself the luxury of eating much of her food. I need to try to maintain my figure and would have to work out twice as often to get that luscious food off my body.
I have to push and shove my way through the door to get to the bar counter. People patting my back and arms and friendly shouts of “Hello’s.” I am a people person, well, kind of, but I’m not in the mood for everyone tonight. Maybe I’m getting ready to start my period. Yeah, probably not. I take a left and walk down the short hallway and into the employee’s room. Opening my locker and gathering my small work apron, I pull it over my head and tie it around my waist. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I feel so off. After applying a tiny amount of lip gloss, I let out a puff of air, blowing wayward strands of hair that escaped from my ponytail out of my face and slam the locker door shut. “Well, let’s hope tonight goes fast,” I murmur to myself.
It ends up being a long night and after only four hours I’m ready to go home. All I can think about is a cold beer, a hot bubble bath and soaking until my skin is pruny. I’ve never been a real girly girl. I was always the one out there with my friends playing ball, getting skinned up, bruised, and sprained ankles. I guess that’s why Kane and Brock always considered me “one of the guys.” But then I’ve had my moments, very few of them but still. I have occasionally dressed up but I am a “tomboy” at heart and always will be. Which reminds me. I must get Taren to go shopping with me to get some nice clothes to take to the convention this weekend. Ugh! Not looking forward to that already.
“Hey, Doll. Can I have a light beer, please?”
The sound of his voice sends chills down my spine. I look up from my position, hunched over the sink below the bar where I’m washing glasses, and see him smiling at me. That cocky smile that melts panties. Dammit! I give him a sneer and finish up rinsing off the glass in my hand. Grabbing a rag, I wipe off my hands and turn around, take a beer out of the fridge, twist off the cap, and walk it over until I’m standing right in front of him. I hate that my body just trembled as his eyes scanned over me. Suddenly I feel half naked. “Lookin’ good tonight.” He leans up on the counter, his eyes penetrating mine. “Of course, you always do.” What the fuck? I slam the bottle down before him, suds spilling over the top and running down the sides. He chuckles as he sits back down, putting his hand over mine on the bottle. My heart speeds up with his touch and I tug to free my hand but his grasp tightens. “Now, now. That’s no way to be, Doll. I thought we were friends.” I tug hard again and when he suddenly releases my hand, I almost fall back and I have to gather myself quickly.
Brushing away a long lock of hair from my face, I pull on the hem of my half top in vain. “The name’s still not Doll and no, nowhere along the way did we become friends. I
don’t do “friends” with guys. In fact. I don’t do guys at all so you can save it,” I huff.
I watch as he takes a long drawl of his beer, his Adam’s apple rising and falling with his swallow. I can’t stop myself from staring and self-consciously lick my lower lip. He rests the bottle on the counter, his hands around it. Giving me that cocky grin, he leans up on the counter. “Ah, so you’re a lesbian? Good to know.” My eyes widen while my brows raise but then just as quickly my face falters into anger. “I was kinda starting to really go for you but if you swing the other way I’ll back off. Oh! I may know a few women you’d like. Want me to hook you up?”
Now, I’m seeing red! I lean up close to the counter. He stays close, and I bring my face but a breath away from his. I stare into his eyes, my palms sweaty against the wood on the counter. “I’m not a lesbian but if I was, I’d be the best they ever had.” His eyes widen as we continue to stare. Finally, I push off the counter, trying to retain my coolness but all the while I’m shaking inside from being so close to him. I walk down along the counter to a customer as I hear him chuckle, his voice carrying all the way to my core. “Touché,” escapes his lips as I reach my destination, but I could hear it clear enough.
“What do you want?” I growl at the man before me. His eyes blink as if I’d slapped him and he sputters out his order. This night is gonna be so much longer than I’d ever thought.
He left, finally, after a couple of beers. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drink more than two. After cleaning up, I walk to the front door, locking it behind me. Pop normally has Brock or me lock up. Since Brock wasn’t here tonight, it’s my turn. Come to think of it, he hasn’t been here in several nights but that’s fine by me. Work keeps me busy, making time go faster and giving me some extra cash. Tips were very good tonight. Of course, Caylan left me a twenty dollar tip to his two beers. Hey, I’ll take it. I’m not proud. By the time I’m walking to my truck, I can’t wait to take a bath to get the bar smell off me as well as the dankness from the heat of the night. I pull on my hair tie, causing the length of my hair to cascade around me. When I round the corner I stop still. Leaning against the side of my truck is Caylan, ankles crossed in front of him, arms crossed over his beefy chest, and wearing that fucking cocky grin. I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. God, what he does to me. I can’t let him get even a glimmer of that or I’ll be done for. I’m sure that’s exactly what he wants. I raise my head up high and walk with somewhat confidence. When I get close, a breeze blows giving me a big dose of his unique smell. Shit, that’s not helping at all. Quickly, I dig my keys out of my shorts pocket and push a key into the lock. It doesn’t turn. In fact, it doesn’t fit. Well, crap! I look down and fumble with my keys, finding the right one and cram it into the lock. Smooth move. As soon as I get the door open, I stumble back when I feel the heat of his body behind me, his large hand on top of the door.