by J. L. Leslie
I walk over to her and whisper in her ear, “Told you I was a man of many talents. Now, come dance with me.”
She places her hand in mine and I lead her past her ex and through the crowd. I even give him a smartass smirk on my way by. Sometimes it’s good to be reminded of what you used to have. If I were home, my own brother would be reminding me.
I push thoughts of Amelia and Keegan out of my mind. I came to Hollis to escape. I don’t want to think about them, especially when Jade is in my arms. She’s an easy distraction. A fun change of pace.
“I don’t know this song, but I can hear you,” I say.
“I didn’t mean to sing. I don’t even realize I’m doing it.”
“I like it. I like your voice,” I confess.
I glance around the room and realize nearly everyone is dancing. The taco frenzy has officially died down. My plate is still sitting on the bar.
I notice Brady is staring in our direction despite dancing with his girlfriend. I can see her face nuzzled into his neck, but his focus is on Jade. I wouldn’t be surprised if he interrupted us. Like I said, he’s a prick and that’s a total prick move.
“You want to make your ex jealous?” I ask.
Jade gazes up at me with those endless blues of hers. I don’t give her the opportunity to answer. I lean down and capture her lips. The kiss is meant to piss Brady off. That’s it.
But the second she parts her lips to let me in, it takes on a mind of its own. I need the distraction as much as she does. Jade’s lips are full and soft, gliding over mine with purpose and need. Her hands slide up my shoulders and tighten around my neck.
I dig my fingers into her hips and pull her closer. Her body crushes to mine causing her breasts to push against my chest. Her tongue dances with mine. I want to suck on her bottom lip. I want to kiss her in more places besides these luscious lips. Damn, the way she tastes...
Jade places her hand on my chest, pushing, slowly breaking the kiss. Her lips are tinged red and slightly swollen. She reaches up and touches them with her fingertips.
I wonder if they’re tingling like mine are.
“Um, I need to get back to work,” she mumbles and slowly walks away.
I stand there feeling dazed for a moment, but then snap out of it and sit down at an empty table, trying to decide if I should talk to Jade. I see that Casey is instantly near Jade, probably pressing her for details. I’m annoyed with myself for kissing Jade. I have one friend here, if I can even call her that, and I possibly just ruined it.
Chapter Eleven
Jade
It’s hard to ignore Casey when she rushes over to me. She saw the kiss. Hell, everyone in the bar saw the kiss. I don’t even know what happened, what that was. We were dancing and then he asked if I wanted to make Brady jealous.
“Did I see what I think I saw?” Casey asks. “Because I’m pretty sure I saw Mr. Sex-On-A-Stick kissing you.”
“Another nickname?” I joke, trying to change the subject. She doesn’t fall for it.
“He had some balls kissing you on taco night,” she says. “Could’ve had bad breath, food in his teeth, could’ve burped. Any of that apply?”
I giggle. “No.”
“So, you’re saying he’s a good kisser?”
“You don’t stop, do you?”
She nudges me. “Not until I get details. You’ve kissed one guy since you came to town and we both know how that turned out. He’s being the manwhore I warned you he was. Now, this sexy stranger has barely been in town a week and he’s already laying it on you.”
“He offered to make Brady jealous. It was silly.”
“Are you trying to tell me he offered to kiss you to help you make your ex-boyfriend jealous? That’s it?”
“Yeah. Like I said, it was silly.”
Casey grabs my arm. “It’s not silly if it works. Brady can use a good healthy dose of his own damn medicine.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I’m not a vindictive type of person.”
“Jade, you have been pining after Brady since he got back home. I see the way you look at him and how upset you get every time he walks in here.”
“And you have reminded me that Brady is a player over and over. That I never should’ve gone out with him in the first place. I get it. Won’t make the same mistake again.”
“Maybe I didn’t do my due diligence in warning you away from him. I’ve known Brady a long time. He is a good guy, but not long-term dating material. But if you want him to be that for you, maybe you need to show him what he’s missing. There’s no better way to do that than to show him you’re wanted by someone else.”
“Brady could care less about what I do.”
“You’re shitting me, right? He was fuming at the sight of you just playing pool with Madden. I thought he was going to explode at you kissing him. Brady doesn’t like to be bested, Jade. It’s that simple.”
I shake my head. “I don’t like playing games. You know that isn’t me.”
“Suit yourself. But I think you want Brady back and showing him what he’s missing out on is the only way to do that.”
Casey pats me on the shoulder and goes to clean up one of the tables. It’s nearly closing time and the place is slowly starting to wind down. I wipe down the bar and restock the shelves, avoiding both Madden and Brady.
Hank comes to cash out his tab, so I close him out and wash the dishes, letting Casey handle the group Brady’s with. I hear her bickering with Caleb as she’s gathering their empty beer bottles. They were fine earlier and they’re arguing now, but everything will be peachy between them tomorrow. I’ve seen it happen dozens of times.
“I need to cash out my tab.”
I turn around and see Brady standing at the bar. He rests his hands on the edge, a slightly annoyed look on his handsome face.
“Surprised your sidekick let you out of her sight.” The jab escapes before I can help myself.
“You’re one to talk. Where’d your city boy run off to?”
I jerk my head to where Madden is sitting. “Waiting for my shift to end.”
“You don’t even know that guy, Jade,” Brady accuses.
“Well, apparently, I didn’t know you too well either,” I reply. “I thought you knew how to use a phone.”
“You act like we were engaged or something. We weren’t serious.”
“No, I don’t suppose we were,” I say, blinking back tears. “Here’s your receipt. Have a good night, Brady.”
“Fuck, Jade, what do you want me to say?”
I walk around the bar. “I don’t need you to say anything, Brady.”
I go over to Madden and take his hand. Without question, he stands up and starts leading me to the stairs toward his room. I take one last glance over my shoulder and see Brady slam his hand on the bar before he leaves, Kelly quickly following behind him.
I stop, pulling my hand back and Madden takes a seat on the bottom step, motioning for me to sit beside him.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have used you like that.”
“I offered my services earlier,” he says with a weak smile. “Tell me what happened between the two of you.”
“Short story? We dated most of last year. I thought things were more serious than what he did. He was offered a job in another state and he took it. Haven’t seen or heard from him until he returned a couple of weeks ago. Wants us to be friends.”
“I take it you didn’t know he was leaving town.”
“Nope. Didn’t have a clue.”
“I knew he was an asshole.”
I nudge him. “Your turn, and don’t pretend there isn’t an ex-girlfriend story in there because I know there is.”
“Fine. I’ll give you the short story version as well. I asked my best friend out, she told me she was in love with someone else.”
“Hmm. I am taking it that the someone else she is in love with is someone close to you.”
“Perhaps.”
“He’s probably an
asshole.”
He chuckles at this. “Maybe. It just didn’t turn out the way I expected.”
“So, you ran? Why didn’t you stay and fight for her?” I ask and see his jaw clench. “I’m sorry. It’s not my business.”
“Are you fighting for Brady?”
“I’m not certain that I want to anymore,” I answer honestly.
“Neither am I.”
Chapter Twelve
Madden
I leave Jade sitting on the stairs, and I can’t figure out why I told her about Amelia. Of course, I didn’t tell her everything. She doesn’t know the man she called an asshole is my brother and that had I lost Amelia to anyone other than him, I would be in Dallas fighting for her tooth and nail.
But I can’t do that. He’s my brother and he’s a good man. Making her choose between us would only cause a scandal that my family — my father — would not stand for. I’ve caused enough of one stealing his money and leaving town.
I imagine he’s dodging questions about my whereabouts and passing off my absence as me taking some time off after graduation. Telling everyone I’m not quite ready to start work at Steele Industries yet.
He’s a cocky, arrogant asshole, so he’s certain I’ll return home soon. It isn’t that I don’t miss Dallas. Both of my brothers are there and I’m close with them, always have been. It’s the only home I’ve known. But I can’t go home and watch Amelia marry Keegan. I can’t act like I’m all right with that when I’m not.
I walk into my room and almost immediately miss the noise from the bar. Miss how it drowned out these agonizing thoughts. Maybe not the noise exactly, but I miss...Jade. Her company. How easy it was to talk to her. How quickly she takes my mind off Amelia.
I check my phone, clearing out the missed calls from my family and Amelia. The voicemails are the same, asking me to call or come back home. I almost call Landon back, now that he knows I’m not in Dallas, but decide to call him later.
I start undressing as I walk to the bathroom. I turn the water on and let it run until it’s steaming hot. In my mood, a cold shower would probably suit me better. I’m still shaken by my kiss with Jade.
When I’d first touched my lips to hers, I had it in my mind that I wanted to help her make Brady jealous. He’d been shoving that other woman in her face all night and I could see how upset she was getting. He deserved to be put in his place. That had been my plan, but damn it, her tongue had touched mine and she’d tasted so fucking incredible.
I told myself I was helping a friend. Friend. That word was not on my mind after that. Not while she was in my arms. Not while my mouth was on hers. Her petite, tight body pressed against my own. I didn’t give a damn about her being my friend and certainly wanted to do things to her that a friend wouldn’t do.
But she’s hung up on her ex and I’m in love with Amelia. My brother’s fiancé. But that mouth...
I step under the shower spray and close the curtain. Hot water beats down my chest and rolls down my body. I grab my shampoo and the moment I open the bottle, the scent of apples fills the air. My cock pulses to attention and I groan. Her scent is all around me.
I used to love the scent of strawberries, anything that reminded me of Amelia. But these apples have done me in.
I squirt a generous amount of shampoo into the palm of my hand and start lathering my dark locks. I close my eyes and feel Jade’s lips against mine again. Her soft body in my arms. Her voice in my ear.
I grip the base of my dick and begin to slowly stroke. At first, my mind goes to Amelia. Where it always goes. Her dark, almost jet black hair and brown eyes. She’s touching me. Begging me.
But then she’s gone...
Blonde hair, blue eyes and pouty lips stare back at me. Those lips curve into a smile. I stroke faster. Grip harder.
I brace myself against the shower with my free hand and lose myself in the fantasy of me and Jade. She’s there with me and I’m burying my cock deep inside her. Her legs are wrapped tightly around me and she’s screaming out my name as she comes. I jerk and moan, pouring my release into my hand and then letting it wash down the drain.
Jade Bowen. My friend. My only friend here in Hollis.
The only person who can distract me from my heartache. Is it wrong to use her for that?
Chapter Thirteen
Jade
I lay on the lounge chair beside Casey, the hot Texas sun beaming down on us. We’ve been at Caleb’s house for about an hour and I’m glad I agreed to a girls’ day. His parents are out of town and he and Brady are working, so we have the pool to ourselves.
“I need to put on sunscreen again,” Casey complains. “Be glad you don’t burn easily. This pasty white skin of mine will turn lobster red if I don’t coat it down with sunscreen every twenty minutes. Disadvantage of being a ginger.”
“It was your idea to sunbathe by the pool,” I remind her.
“I don’t mind getting a little burnt. Then, Caleb rubs me down with oil and we–”
“Nope! Don’t need to hear it!” I interrupt before she can give me details. “I guess the two of you have already made up.”
She rolls her eyes. “I just get so frustrated with him when he doesn’t see my side of things. I know Tori was flirting with him last night and he acted like she wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
“I didn’t see him talking to her or anything.”
“He didn’t, but that doesn’t change the fact that she was flirting with him. I swear, he’s hiding something from me. I can feel it. I don’t trust him when it comes to her.”
“Casey, you can’t control what she does. Be happy that he wasn’t flirting back.”
“You’re right. Enough about me. What did you decide about Mr. Hot-As-Hell?”
“You’ve got to stop with the ridiculous nicknames.”
“You going to bang him, or what?”
I laugh. “Why would I do that?”
“Um, duh, you need to get laid. It’s good for your mental health or your body or whatever.”
I shake my head. “He is not staying in Hollis. And if I recall, you giving me that exact same advice about Brady is what got me into this mess in the first place.”
“No, you thinking Brady was more than a simple lay is what got you into this mess in the first place. I told you to have sex, not to expect a relationship. I’m giving you the same advice now.”
“That’s fair. I was the one who expected more.”
“And with this one, if you go into it not expecting a single thing except multiple orgasms, then you can’t go wrong. And I do mean multiple.”
“I thought you said this was to show Brady what he’s missing. Win him back.”
“You think he won’t recognize some other guy is tapping that ass? He will definitely notice and it’s like some sort of challenge to guys. He won’t be able to stand it. It’s a win-win for you.”
“And how would you know this? You’ve only ever dated Caleb.”
“This is true, but I know how super jealous Caleb gets when he even thinks that another guy is making a move on me. He swoops in and snatches me up and we fuck like rabbits. Best sex I’ve ever had.”
“But the two of you thrive on drama. If you weren’t arguing, you wouldn’t know how to behave.”
“Ugh, I know. It’s sort of the dynamic to our relationship. Some days I hate it, but it’s what makes us click.”
“I watched my mom play games with guys so often when I was growing up, and I don’t want to do that. It’s why my dad ran off.”
Casey reaches over and takes my hand. “Jade, your mom did a lot of fucked up things. Making a guy jealous so he grows some balls and settles down with you is not playing the same types of games she played.”
Casey is aware of the games my mom played with the men in her life. My dad grew tired of her games before I was even old enough to know his name. My mom is a master manipulator and had this way of getting whatever she wanted. As I grew older, I realized she was all too willing to have
me play those same games to her benefit. Anything for a fix. The drugs consumed her and our front door was ever revolving with a variety of guys. She would play the poor pitiful me, can’t pay my bills or afford to support my habit, but I’ll share my bed with you if you take care of me game. Then, there was the game where she borrowed money or drugs and couldn’t pay it back so what else can I offer you in return? Yeah, those types of games.
“I don’t know that I even want Brady back. Why should I have to try so hard?”
No sooner than the words are out of my mouth, the gate opens and Caleb walks in with Brady and a few others in tow. The brunette he was with last night is tossed over his shoulder and he runs and jumps into the pool with her.
“I thought they were working,” I say.
“I guess they got off early. I really had no idea they would show up,” Casey answers and then squeals in delight when Caleb comes over and crawls on top of her.
“Hey, Jade,” he says after pressing a kiss to Casey’s lips.
“Hey,” I mumble, suddenly no longer in the mood for sunbathing.
I hide my stares behind my sunglasses, curious as to what this girl has that I don’t. Curious as to why I’m not good enough. No amount of game playing is going to change my insecurities.
Chapter Fourteen
Madden
I park my truck and take a deep breath before getting out. I don’t know that I’m making the right decision, but I’m here now and I won’t chicken out like some pussy. I have never failed in my life. The debacle with Amelia doesn’t count. I can do this.
I know Jack put his name on the line for me. It’s been over a week since I got to Hollis and I’m tired of sitting in my apartment all day. The few hours I spend hanging out with Jade down at the bar aren’t enough to satisfy me. It doesn’t matter that I have plenty of money to live off of. I’m bored. Plain and simple.
So, here I am at King Construction for my first official day of work. Well, official in that I’m getting paid under the table. No actual paperwork is being filed. Jack pulled some strings and got me the job. Told me to be here at six a.m.