Thrill Ride

by Breezie Bennett

  “Oh yes, you, too, dear.” He chuckles and shakes his head slowly as Melody bounces to the door, looking at her as if he’s never seen anything quite so wild and confusing and fascinating. There’s really no other way to look at Melody.

  “I’m gonna wait in the car.” She swings the front door open and wags a finger at me. “You two can have a minute.”

  I roll my eyes. “Melody, we don’t need a—”

  “See ya in a sec!” The door slams shut.

  I draw in a deep breath and look at my dad. My tired, sad, perfectly healthy, and infuriatingly stubborn dad.

  A smile creeps across his face, and his brows lift skyward.

  “What?” I narrow my eyes.

  “She…” He points a wrinkly finger toward the door. “She’s something.”

  “Yeah.” I grab my car keys. “A pain in my ass is what she is.”

  He smirks and blows out a breath. “You think I don’t know what’s going on here. I may be old and weird and messed up, but I’m not stupid.”

  “You’re not messed up.” Well, kind of. “And nothing’s going on. She’s nuts. Not to mention, she’s leaving on a boat, remember?” I tap the side of my head.

  “I think she’s the girl for you.”

  I groan. “Is that why you went along with all her weird peace and love and yoga stuff? Because you think I should date her?”

  “I didn’t say date,” he mumbles.

  “Sleep with her?” I draw back in surprise and frown at him. “That’s”—actually all I think about—“not happening.”

  “No, you degenerate.” He crosses his arms and leans back. “I think you should marry her.”

  Shock and disbelief slam my head, and I laugh loudly at the insanity of that comment. “All right, so now you’re officially losing it.” I wave sarcastically and walk toward the door, flinging it open. “I’ll be back on Friday. Don’t get any crazier, please.”

  As I step out into the warm air, I hear him call after me. “She’s special, Dylan. A wonderful person.”

  I shake my head and shut the door.

  Special. Yeah, well, I guess I can’t deny that. She’s more than unique, that’s for damn sure. But she’s also entirely wrong for me, and my dad has known her for exactly an hour and a half. Christ.

  “You forgot to unlock it, jerkface.” Melody skips through the parking lot in her pink and black leggings and a sweatshirt that says Unbreakable.

  The sun seems to add to her already unnaturally bright glow, and her hair looks almost lavender. Every curve of her athletic body is soft and sweet, and her eyes are like fireworks.

  My dad may be wrong about her being the right girl for me, but he’s not wrong about her being wonderful. In a weird and obnoxious way.

  “Sorry,” I mutter, trying and failing to take my eyes off of her and stop wondering how she gets more perfect every time I look at her. How she walked into my dad’s condo and made more progress with him in an hour than I have in six months.

  “Oh, it’s fine!” She stops right in front of me, her long ponytail swinging behind her, her chest rising and falling with endless energy. “I’ve been enjoying the sunshine and—”

  I kiss her. It’s soft and delicate and only for a second. It’s not a sex kiss, either. I don’t know what kind of kiss it is, but every single neuron in my brain lit on fire when I saw her in the parking lot, and I had to kiss her.

  She kisses me back, melting into me. Her lips taste like strawberries and warmth, and I don’t understand how someone can be so bright and sweet.

  “What was that for?” She draws back an inch, her eyes wider than those of a deer in headlights and her cheeks pink.

  I shake off the waves of sparks and inexplicable attraction and give Melody a half smile. “That was a thank-you.”

  She pauses for a beat, gazing at me with ocean eyes and parted lips.

  After a second, her mouth is on mine. Softly at first, then charged with passion. I don’t even try to fight the magnetic heat between us, kissing her back and sliding my hands down the slopes of her sides.

  She runs a hand through my hair, and I slip my tongue into her mouth. The world is shifting and melting, and I can’t feel anything but her.

  I lift her up and gently set her on the hood of my car, quickly glancing around to make sure the parking lot is still empty, but also not really giving a shit.

  Her legs wrap around me, and I rock into her, making the wheels of the car shift back.

  She draws back slowly, lust and desire and wildness glimmering in her expression. She giggles and presses her chest into me. “That was ‘you’re welcome.’”

  I shake my head and laugh, helping her down off the hood. “I’m gonna be late to the gym.”

  We get into the car, and I glance over at Melody.

  “What?” She narrows her eyes playfully.

  I turn back to the road and try to figure out why the hell I can’t stop smiling.

  Thirteen

  Melody

  My lips are burning, and my stomach is flooded with butterflies. I feel shaky and jittery, and my head is buzzing.

  I attempt to steady myself with a deep breath as Dylan drives us back to his condo. The air in the car is filled with a quiet tension, and it seems to be charged with electricity. Chemistry, attraction, sex…they’re human things. They’re normal. And with Dylan Rivera, they’re getting harder and harder to deny.

  “He’s wonderful,” I say softly, knowing I can’t detour our minds from that kiss, but trying to anyway.

  Dylan clears his throat and keeps his gaze fixed on the road. “He used to be. Now he’s just…”

  “Troubled,” I interject.

  “I was gonna say pathetic.”

  I toy with the elastic on my leggings and look out the window. “I really think I can help him, Dylan. Actually, would you mind if I visit him again before I leave?”

  “By yourself?”

  “Well, yeah. I feel like he really connected with me, and maybe I can help him work through his hesitations and his pain. Maybe I could get somewhere, even just a little progress. The grocery store or a coffee shop…”

  Dylan scoffs and shakes his head. “Fat chance. He might have humored you by lying on the floor and opening the blinds, but that man isn’t stepping outside, and he’s sure as hell not gonna sit in the stadium.”

  I purse my lips and glance sideways at Dylan. His sharp jaw looks tight, and his eyes swim like they’re holding a million thoughts and emotions.

  I can barely stand how much I want to kiss that jawline and those perfect lips. Everything in me is on fire for him. His golden heart and quiet humility and that damn crooked smile.

  But it’s just physical. He’s just hot. Not only is he hot, I’ve had a night with him. So it’s only natural that I want him again.

  I swallow hard and force myself to look away. It’s just attraction. Nothing, nothing, nothing more.

  “Melody.” He says my name slowly, tasting every letter and making me ache for him even more, if that’s possible.

  “Yes?” I draw out the word.

  “I just don’t get it. I mean, seriously. I know you feel like you owe me for giving you a place to stay, but it’s not a big deal. It’s super short-term, and I still feel like the whole flood situation wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t…”

  Tension and heat spiral through the car as we both get slammed with flashes of exactly what we were doing that night. That blessed freaking night.

  “I just”—have a burning need to make you happy, to fix what hurts you, to see you smile—“want to help. If you’d rather I didn’t, then forget the whole thing.”

  After a long pause, Dylan sighs. “No, you can try to help him if you want. No promises that he’s gonna change, though, so keep those hopes way down low.” He shoots me a wink, which clearly underscores the fact that we both know I don’t keep hopes way down low. Ever.

  I smile brightly and have to stop myself from throwing my arms around his s
olid, broad shoulders. “Awesome!”

  “So, what did you two even talk about? Besides lifting up bad spirits and breathing out or whatever.”

  I laugh and hug my knees to my chest, curling against the car door. “Well, we talked about you a bit.”

  “That can’t be good.”

  “No, I actually think it’s really good. He’s struggling with the feeling that he’s losing you.”

  Dylan bites his lip and grips the steering wheel. “He’s not gonna lose me.”

  “Yeah, well…I’m not sure he knows that.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Hmm…” Just that you believe in the idea of the one. And that you’ve been waiting for her your whole life. Oh, and that your dad is dead-set on it being me. “Nope. Just normal stuff.”

  I smile and lean against the window, holding tight to the sweet secret about Dylan, letting it squeeze and tug and warm my heart.

  He’s not so gruff after all.

  He pulls into his condo complex, and I find myself silently wishing this car ride would never end.

  “Wanna come to the bar tonight after my workout? A bunch of the guys are going.”

  I give an exaggerated gasp and feign surprise. “Me? You want to hang out with crazy, annoying, weird little me?”

  Dylan smirks and rolls his eyes, putting the car in park and turning to meet my gaze. “I just think you could use some social interaction with people who aren’t hippie yoga teachers or my messed-up father.”

  I narrow my eyes and inch closer to his painfully handsome face, so close I can smell mint and shampoo and…sex.

  A smile slips across my mouth as I let myself imagine what could possibly follow a night out with my unfairly and dangerously hot roommate.

  Fourteen

  Dylan

  “How’s this?” Melody dances—literally dances—out of her room and down the hall, wearing an adorably sexy green polka dot dress.

  Her light pink waves fall softly on her slender shoulders as she spins around, and her giggle is contagious and musical.

  I don’t even try to hide my smile, or the slow and detailed tour my eyes take up and down her magnificent body. “It’s perfect. It’s very…you.”

  “I’m so happy I get to come out with you guys!” She skips past me and into the kitchen, pulling a carton of blueberries out of the fridge and popping one into her mouth. “Look at me, hanging out with big football celebrities,” she teases.

  I narrow my eyes and walk over to her, snagging a blueberry for myself. “I thought you hated the NFL, Miss Anti-Establishment.”

  She swallows and shrugs. “Well, I’ve shifted my opinion. Slightly.” She points a neon-pink polished finger at me. “Only because of the purple-sock thing. I thought that was pretty cool.”

  I snag my keys off the hook by the door, unable to take my eyes off of her. “It is pretty cool. And you’ve met some of the guys before. Through your cousin and at the Christmas party.”

  She puts the container of berries back in the fridge and arches a brow at me. “I don’t remember much from the Christmas party except…”

  The most undeniable and bizarre chemistry anyone has ever experienced. “Right.” I flick my brows up and swing the door open.

  On the way to the Atlantic, Melody chats and laughs and muses about how gorgeous the weather is and what the “vibe” of the bar is going to be like. I should want her to shut up, but as I drive down the highway into downtown, I realize that I could listen to her bubbly enthusiasm and ridiculous ideas forever. I kind of want to.

  “Holy shitballs. This is it?” Melody’s sparkling eyes stare up at the skyscraper as we pull into the parking lot.

  I chuckle. “Just the rooftop. The rest are bougie-ass apartments or something.”

  Her jaw stays wide open as she steps out of my car, squinting to make out the string lights and umbrellas on the roof.

  I walk around the car and wrap an arm around her, holding her tight against me as we walk in. I blame my need to be close to her on my horniness and nothing more.

  Melody holds me back, and as we step into the elevator, I feel a warm, fuzzy airiness in my chest. I glance at her, and the feeling swells more.

  Horniness. That is all.

  “Did I say thank you for bringing me here?” She looks up at me with a smile bright enough to light up all of South Florida.

  “Only about a thousand times,” I say dryly.

  Her chest shakes with a quiet laugh, and the elevator doors slide open at the rooftop level.

  “Wow.” She turns to me quickly, her silky hair whipping around in what seems like slow motion. The soft breeze lifts it around her striking face, and the skyline reflects in her eyes with a million little sparkles. Or maybe that’s just how her eyes always look.

  “It’s a nice place.” I guide Melody toward the balcony table where the team usually chills whenever we come out here.

  Sure enough, the table is crowded with massive football players and beautiful women. I spot Leo and Chase elbowing each other and sloppily chugging pint glasses of beer, and Elliot and Jessica are showing anyone who will watch a video of their son, Asher, doing something cute or funny or that proves he’s a prodigy.

  “Baby Dylan!” Chase stands up and smacks my arm.

  “Still almost your age, bro,” I say through a laugh.

  He notices Melody, and his face lights up. “Shit! Melody, hey!” He gives her a long embrace and leans back, his eyes glinting with that Chase Kennedy charm. “Does Whit know you’re here? She didn’t say anything to me.”

  “Actually, I decided to come super last-minute, so I thought I might surprise her.” Melody lifts up on her toes and searches the rooftop for her cousin. “Where is she?”

  “Getting a drink.” Chase nods toward the bar.

  With that, Melody is off, rushing to jump at Whitney and give her a way-too-aggressive hug.

  I turn back to Chase and shake my head.

  He leans against a column and sips his beer, arching a brow at me and crossing his arms knowingly.

  “What, jackass?” I grab the beer from him and take a swig.

  “You and Mel,” he says slowly, looking across the roof, where Melody’s infectious personality is just as visible as her shiny pink hair. “That’s definitely a fat shocker.”

  “We’re not together,” I say, noticing how bad the statement tastes on my tongue.

  Chase narrows his eyes and studies me closely, without saying a word.

  “All right, weirdo.” I shove him aside. “I’m going to the table.”

  “Bro, wait.” Chase grabs my arm and leans close to my ear. “We’ll get to the you-piping-Melody issue later. There’s something you gotta be real clear on before you go over there.”

  “Not piping Melody.”

  Yet?

  He scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Yeah, and I’m not the best quarterback in the league,” he says sarcastically. “Come on, man.”

  “You’re not the best quarterback in the league.”

  “Not important.” He grabs the collar of my shirt and turns my head so I’m facing the table where everyone’s laughing and talking and drinking. “Look.”

  I examine the table, every face familiar and part of the typical group that crowds this section of the bar. Except… My eyes land on a massive, rock-solid dude with boulders for arms and a steel gaze. “Holy shit,” I say under my breath. “Is that—”

  “Andre Smoke,” Chase whispers through gritted teeth. “He a major trade prospect for next season. But his agent flew him down here to get cozy with the South Florida lifestyle, if you know what I mean. They’re trying to wow his balls off with all the glitz of SoFlo.”

  “I didn’t even know he was a legit prospect.” I glance back at Smoke—the only name he ever goes by—and shake my head slowly and laugh. “He’s an absolute beast on defense.”

  “Best in the league, by a long-ass shot,” Chase adds, slamming the rest of his beer. “Eight interceptions last season. N
ot to mention he only allowed two catches on his man-to-man guarding.”

  “That’s hype as fuck. We’re playoff shoo-ins next year with him on the D line.” I peek back at the bar, where Melody is whispering something in Whitney’s ear. What is she saying? Is it about me? Why is she giggling so much?

  “Let’s go.” Chase pats my bicep and pulls me over to the table. “This is Dylan Rivera, Riders kicker,” he says to Smoke as we walk up to everyone. “He played soccer in high school, so feel free to give him a decent amount of shit for that.”

  I jab Chase and shake Smoke’s hand. “What’s up, man?”

  The enormous and admittedly intimidating cornerback stands and gives me a bro-hug. His smile is probably the widest and brightest I’ve ever seen, and his booming voice matches his appearance pretty perfectly.

  “Hey, man, don’t sweat it. I fuck with soccer.”

  I laugh heartily and slide onto a barstool, looking back across the roof at Melody. Jesus Christ, why do I keep checking on her? She’s with her cousin talking about God knows what.

  I shake off the nagging thoughts and order a drink, turning to Smoke and trying to focus my attention on our potential new teammate. “So, how you liking South Florida, man?”

  He raises his brows and looks around approvingly, his deep-brown eyes weirdly comforting for a dude of his size. “I gotta say, this is the life. They’ve been pushing this trade on me for a while now. I wasn’t sure at first. I thought I was a Cleveland man through and through, but shit, man.” He grins and smacks my arm jokingly. “There are a lot of…reasons for me to come here. Y’all have quite a vibe.”

  I swallow the sudden jump in my chest that follows hearing the word vibe, thinking of what Melody would say. How she could describe the vibe and the energy and the way her eyes would explode with fireworks while she did it.

  Leo sets a glass down and juts his chin. “It’s the place, man. We’re pretty damn stoked about this trade. None of us saw it coming after your potential contract figures from the Browns were released. You’re really thinking about turning that down?”