by Taryn Quinn
“Doesn’t it just?” They shuffled their way to their door.
I stepped back into the elevator. When I got back to the lower level, I found Lucky in the hallway where I’d left him. A ripping snore filled the room.
I put my hands on my hips. “Awesome.”
What the hell was I going to do with him? There was no way I could get him on my bike like this. I stepped over him and went out the door. “Of course your truck isn’t out here. I don’t even know if there’s a parking lot for the apartments.”
I thought about texting Luna, but she had enough on her plate. I rotated my tense neck. My only option was Lucille. Dammit, I didn’t want his drunk ass in my pristine Caddy.
I turned back around and kicked his boot.
He snorted, sat up for a second, then his chin lolled back onto his chest.
“Perfect.” I slammed out the door and stalked over to the garage. I dug out my key and turned off the alarm before I went through another door to the main garage.
Gage had on his welding helmet and was slowly working a bead of welding rod down a join. It looked like it was the bat template we were using on the rear brake lights. I waited until he was at the end of the join and his torch went out.
“I hate to interrupt.”
Gage flipped up his helmet. His head was sweaty, and flux and metal shavings dusted his apron. “Hey, Tish. Where you been?”
“Family stuff.”
“Dare said your brother’s friend passed. I’m sorry.”
My chest tightened. That wasn’t even half of it. “Yeah. It was not how I wanted to spend a few days away.”
“No shit.” He pulled off his gloves. “You here to work? I was only going to finish this up then get home.”
“It’s fine. I had plans to do just that, but I have another thing to deal with now instead. Can I borrow you for a second?”
He dropped his gloves on the bench. “Yeah. Let me just put this shit away.”
“Thanks.”
I headed over to the back of the garage and flipped off my covering. The smooth gleam of a deep smoky lavender Cadillac El Dorado gave my heart a little jolt.
Lucille was my first rebuild. Every piece had been salvaged and brought back to her former glory. And the parts I couldn’t find, I replicated based on the exact specs. I loved this car more than anything.
And if Lucky threw up on my white leather interior, I’d toss him onto the side of the road and leave him for dead.
I got in and flipped the visor down to find the keys I’d stashed there. Since it was probably easier to put a six-foot-four male into my car with the top down, I hit the hand releases.
Thank God it was a nice day. Besides, if he froze his ass off, it was his problem. That damn man wasn’t ever cold anyway.
“Oh, taking your baby out?”
“Yeah. Part of the favor. Can you open up the bay for me?”
“Yeah, you got it.” Gage jogged to the chains on the door. We’d tried to convince Dare to upgrade to automatic doors, but he was stubborn. It would take a blowtorch to get through the locks, so I couldn’t really fault him.
I maneuvered my car through the empty garage and slowly eased down to the road. I had to go around the block to get to the front of the apartment building. The idiot I was going to collect lived up to his name, and I was able to slide into a space right in front.
Gage was standing in the open bay door. I climbed out of Lucille and waved him over.
“So, about that help.”
He put on a baseball cap against the sun. “What’s up?”
I sighed and aimed for the door to the apartments.
Gage followed me and peered in the doorway. He had to cup his hands around his eyes to see in. “Fuck.”
“Yep.”
“Is he okay?”
“Define okay.”
His light eyed danced. “That looks sauced to me. Or did you knock him out?”
“Tempting. But I would have left him there if I knocked him out.”
“Taking him home? That’s big of you.”
“Yeah, well, his best friend is just as drunk. They decided to take a twelve-pack of micro brew for a test drive.”
Gage laughed. “Yeah, they sneak up on you. Especially if you drink like Lucky does. Some of the guys from the garage play pool with him down at The Spinning Wheel. He usually has quite the tolerance.”
“He helped me out yesterday so looks like I’m returning the favor.”
Gage folded his arms. “Huh.”
“Shut up and help me get him in the backseat.”
“What would you have done if I wasn’t here?”
“He’d have a lot more bruises.” I held the door open. “Now help me get him up.”
Gage and I stood side by side in the small hallway.
“He’s really big.”
“Yep.” I sighed. My lady taco could attest to that on a personal level. “One arm and one arm to start? Maybe we can drag him like we did Dare that one time.”
Gage snorted. “Pretty sure Lucky has a good fifty pounds on my brother.”
“You’re a strapping guy.”
“Yeah, but—”
“I can handle it.”
“If you say so.” He crouched down. “Hey, buddy. How are you feeling?”
Lucky just mumbled something about Ruby aka me. Good grief. All I needed was a drunk Lucky telling all our drama to my business partner.
And yes, Gage was one of my best friends on the planet. I still didn’t want all the crap I’d confessed to Lucky over the last few days to come spilling out of his loose lips.
I stepped over Lucky and gripped under his arm. “All right, we’re gonna get up now.”
“Mmm. No. I’m good.” Lucky nuzzled against me. “Unless you want to get naked. I might need a minute though,” he said with a snicker.
Gage took off his hat and spun it around the back. “Naked?”
“Shut up.”
Gage grinned and went for Lucky’s other arm.
It took us three tries, but we finally were able to haul him upward using the wall and a lot of swearing. Thank God no one else came down the stairs or through the door.
“Holy shit, what does this guy do? Live in the gym?” Gage looped Lucky’s arm around his neck.
I did the same and wrinkled my nose. He needed a shower and a bed. And right now, I didn’t really care which order it happened in. “What do they say? Muscle is heavier than fat?”
Gage grunted. “Jesus.”
We stumbled our way down the single step and almost lost him to the cement sidewalk.
I wrapped my arm around Lucky’s back and gripped his belt. “Would be nice if you helped,” I growled at him.
Suddenly, Lucky stood up straight. “What’s going on? Hey.” His green eyes went all glassy and happy as he peered down at me. “Did you change your mind?”
My chest went tight. Dammit, why did he have to be so adorable? I didn’t do adorable. “Get in the car, Thor.”
“I love when you’re grouchy. Did you know that?” His smile was wide and soft as only a drunken male could be. “Not sure what that sezz about,” he hiccupped, “me.” He shook his head and squinted at Lucille. “Hey, the car.” He swiveled his head so fast Gage had to catch him.
“Okay. I can’t pick you up off the ground, big guy.”
Lucky weaved a bit, but he stood on his own for a second. “Where’s Luna and Caleb? The proposal. Edward!” He lifted his arms up as if he’d scored a goal and almost fell on his face.
I grabbed his arm then gave Gage a look. “Don’t ask.”
“Gotcha.” He put his arms on Lucky’s shoulders and steered him to my car.
Rushing after them, I opened the door and shoved the seat forward. “In we go.”
“Oh, look at that.” Lucky patted my head. “It’s big enough for me.”
“It sure is.”
We twisted him into the backseat. I folded his long-ass tree trunk legs into the back, then
sagged against the side of the car to catch my breath.
“Holy shit.” Gage bent at the waist. “I think I pulled something.”
“Really?”
He grinned and waved me off. “No. Well, maybe a little, but nothing a hot shower won’t cure. Think he needs a cold one.”
“Icy.”
Gage dragged me in for a hug. “He’s a good guy.”
I stiffened. I was beginning to see that, and I didn’t know what to think about it. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, nothing.” Gage peered into the backseat. “Think he’s safe back there?”
“Safe enough to get to his place.” I dragged up my hair into a messy bun. “Speaking of… You wouldn’t know where he lives, would you?”
“As a matter of fact…” He held up a finger and pulled out his phone. “We worked on his truck so we should have him in the computer.” He flicked through some screens and tapped a few things, then my phone buzzed in my pocket. “Texted the address to you.”
I tried not to feel guilty about using his personal information. It was a deep sore spot for me. But in this instance, it was simply to dispatch him to a bed. One that I wouldn’t be in. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” He scratched under the ball cap before pulling it around the right way. “Do you want me to follow you?”
“Nah. If he doesn’t wake up, I’ll just put the top up and let him sleep it off in the car.”
“You’re a cruel woman.”
“Yeah, well, he’s an idiot.”
One I didn’t want to develop feelings for, but I didn’t seem to have much choice in the matter.
Fifteen
Okay, so I wouldn’t leave him in the car. It was supposed to be near freezing tonight. That was even too cold for the human heater.
I shoved the car seat back and nudged Lucky enough that he woke up. Wonderful.
“Ruby. Ruby.” His voice was a singsong tenor crossed with a warbling bird. “Ruby of the finest beauty.”
I shook my head and slowly pulled into traffic. Handily, it was early enough that the sun should keep him from freezing his ass off. I looked at the text Gage sent me. I wasn’t exactly sure where Lucky lived, but that was what the maps app was for.
God bless Apple products. The address had turned into a hyperlink and popped open the app.
I set the phone in the cradle and turned on the radio, hoping it would drown him out. Unfortunately, Lucky was a human jukebox and seemed to know every song.
Didn’t matter the channel I changed it to, he knew them all.
When I got the urge to sing along with him, I stifled it just long enough to pull into his driveway. I was obviously losing my damn mind.
I turned off the car and he slumped in the back, pressing his cheek to the window like a forlorn very large boy. “You took the music away.”
“Time to go to bed.”
“Oh, I like that idea.” He sat up, but he got his big feet tangled and fell back again. “I might need help, Ruby.”
I slipped out of the car and glanced up at the two-story house. It was tidy with the lawn freshly mowed, and two brown bags set on the curb for pickup. The bottom level had a cheery array of fall flowers, pumpkins, and the twisted gourd things. A wreath on the door was obviously handmade with a set of small hands in the mix. The second floor had a wrought iron railing that gleamed in the late day sun. A heavy rocking chair with a sunny yellow pillow was the only decoration there.
Probably Lucky’s part of the house.
Which meant stairs. Yay me.
I glanced back at the car. Lucky was staring at me, those green eyes seeing far too much. I had a feeling most of the beer had worn off. He probably had a metabolism like a steam engine.
I pulled the lever for the seat to flip forward. “Think you can make it up the stairs, Thor?”
He held out his hand to me.
I gave him a flat stare. “You think I can pull you out?”
“You can do anything.”
“You’re literally the worst.” I leaned in to grab his arm, but he hauled me on top of him.
“Oops.”
I planted my hands on his chest and rolled my eyes. Not that sober, evidently. “Very funny.”
His hands slid down to cup my ass. “I wasn’t laughing. Just wanted to feel you on top of me again, Ruby.” He brushed his nose along mine. “I really liked when you rode me this morning.”
“All right. Enough of that.” And I would not focus on the fact that everything below my waist went liquid.
Even drunk, he was potent. Especially now that I knew what he was capable of.
“I always wanted to make out in this car. So rare for them to fit me.”
“Truck bed wasn’t enough for you?”
His eyes lost the glassy drunk gleam. Instead, they became painfully direct. “I’ll never get enough, Tish.”
He rarely said my name. Just when he was disappointed in me, and when he was slipping inside me with that ridiculously adept cock of his. I swallowed hard, my gaze dropping to his full lower lip. The top was a slash that gave his face so much character. From a grin to a snarl, his expressions always made me want to kiss him to shut him up.
Before I could lean in and do just that, a screen door slapped.
My head popped up, and I smiled at the older woman who came outside. “Can I help you? Oh, Lucky.” Her wrinkled hand went to her neck. “Who’s your lady friend?”
Lucky sighed quietly, then he craned his neck so he could see the woman. “Hey, Mrs. Newsome.” He moved his hand up to my waist. “This is my…Ruby.”
As I struggled to get off him, my knee slid a bit too close to the very happy Lucky Jr.
He hissed and lifted me off him. “Well, that’ll ruin the mood.”
Mrs. Newsome’s eyes danced. “Ruby. What a lovely name.”
“Tish.”
The older woman looked at Lucky then back at me. “You don’t know her name, Lucky?”
I pushed my hair out of the way. “He just insists on calling me Ruby. It’s fine.”
“Oh, already at the love names stage? How nice is that? Probably because of that gorgeous red hair of yours.” She patted her short, stone-gray hair. “I had red hair once upon a time. From a bottle though. Yours looks real.”
I slid onto the seat as Lucky finally maneuvered himself in a semi-seated position. It didn’t really work with his size.
“Oh, crap.” His eyes went wide. “Where’s Butch?”
“Why are you asking me? How the hell am I supposed to know?”
He clamped a hand on the back of his neck. “Fuck, I left my dog. I got drunk and left her and she’s probably wandering the streets, crying for Daddy.”
“That’s quite a picture,” Mrs. Newsome offered.
I bent until Lucky looked me in the eye. His eyes were wheeling a bit from panic. “When did you have her last?”
“On the roof. Drinking.”
“The dog?”
“No, me. Us. Though Bess came in the middle, after Caleb.” His rapid breathing slowed to a more manageable level. “My baby is with Bess. She has to be.” He started patting his pockets. “Where’s my phone?”
It took him a minute, but he found it and texted Bess with his clumsy fingers. A moment later, he dropped his head to the back of the seat with a loud exhale. “She has her. She knew we were out of control and took her to her apartment to eat goldfish crackers and watch daytime TV.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “Corrupting a young mind as we speak.”
“It’s not funny. I’m a bad dad. Bad dad,” he repeated sorrowfully enough I almost felt sorry for the oaf. “I’ll make it up to her. I’ll stop drinking and change my ways.”
“Fat chance there,” I muttered.
“I’ve only been a dad for a short time. I’ll fix it.” He reached outside and opened the door, clambering out and nearly landing on the bag of leaves. He missed it and hit the grass on his hip.
I peered over the car do
or. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Just my dignity.” He flipped his hair back.
“So, I can go?”
“No. I need your help upstairs.”
I squinted at him. “You look fine.”
“Upstairs, woman.”
“That’s not how you get help.” I turned to Mrs. Newsome. “Sorry about this. He and his best friend decided day drinking was a good idea today.” I didn’t know how the cop fit in. I probably didn’t want to. “He hasn’t been a pet parent long either.”
“Oh, child. I’ve seen far worse from my Henry. You two go on up. We’ll take out our hearing aids.” She was surprisingly spry as she hurried into the house.
“Hear that? We can be as loud as you want.” Lucky laughed and dropped onto his back. “I’m too fucking old to drink like that.”
I got out of the car and stood over him. “If I help you up, are you going to pull me down there?”
He sighed and flung his arms wide as if he was going to make a snow angel in the very unsnowy grass. “No. You can leave me here. I’ll make it up there eventually.”
I crouched beside him. “C’mon, I’ll make you my hangover specialty—depending on what you have in your fridge.”
He opened one eye. “A bottle of tabasco sauce and eggs?”
“I can make do with that.”
He lifted his hand to a lock of hair that had slipped out of my bun. “Damn, you are beautiful.”
My chest tightened, and my belly did a little flip. Damn him. People didn’t say those kinds of things to me. I wasn’t ugly, but men often found me intimidating.
Not this one, and I couldn’t figure out why.
I sighed. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I vote for keep me.”
“Incorrigible.” I stood and dragged him up. Kind of. He really was a damn redwood. But between us, we somehow managed to get him upright. And when he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, I caught him trying to cop a feel.
Before I could kick his ass about it, he tightened his grip and squashed me against his chest. I pinched his side. “You stink.”
“Sorry about that. I didn’t get to go home before I went over to get Butch.” He rubbed his face with both hands. “I can’t believe I abandoned my dog. What will she be like as a teenager now?”