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“I need a ride.”
I stood at the screen door with my hands on my hips and a scowl on my lips.
“Uh, you don’t look so happy about needing a ride,” Cue Ball chuckled.
“That’s because where I want to go is not fun.” I pushed through the door and dropped into the rocking chair.
Cue Ball had been on the porch enjoying the peace and quiet of the country. It was a different world out here without the hustle and bustle of town. Granted, Mt. Pleasant wasn’t some big city, but it was still busy. “Where is it that you want to go?” Cue Ball asked.
“The grocery store. We’re running low on food,” I sighed. “And then I need to swing by the temp agency and see if there are any jobs available.” I like to grocery shop, but going to the temp agency was not going to be fun. I knew I was going to find a job, but it was probably going to be one I didn’t want. I liked working at the gym.
“I’m good with the grocery store, but you’re not going to the temp agency.”
“And why not?” I asked. It had been eight days since the explosion, and I was feeling much better. Each day I got stronger, and I was getting restless. I needed something to do with my time other than sitting around waiting for Rocky to get off school.
“Because you’re still healing, and you already have a job. How are you going to work two jobs?”
I looked around. “Uh, what job?” Last I knew, I wasn’t getting paid, and my monthly bills were on the horizon. My savings could cover the bills this time, but after that, I was broke with a capital b.
“The club,” Cue Ball replied simply.
“What about the club?” Not this again.
Cue Ball sighed heavily. “For the twentieth time, Olive, you work for the club. Whether it be at the gym or the clubhouse, you work for the club.”
I rolled my eyes and propped my hands on my hips. “I haven’t done a lick since the explosion, Cue. I don’t have a job.” I motioned to the driveway. “I need to go find one.” I pointed my finger at him. “And you also have to take me to the bank so I can pay you for my phone. You keep putting it off, and I am on the brink of learning how to drive your bike just to get to the bank.”
“You’re not learning how to drive my bike,” he growled.
“Then take me to the bank before I YouTube how to hot wire that thing.” I was sure I could figure out how to start it; it was keeping it upright that I would struggle with. I had ridden a bicycle for years, and even though it was said you never forget how to ride a bike, I think I very well had.
“That a threat?” he laughed.
“A promise,” I smiled. “A very real promise.” Cue Ball told me I wasn’t a prisoner in my own home, but it was starting to feel like it. “Can we please go?”
Cue Ball grunted and stood. “We can go anywhere you want, except for the temp agency and the bank.”
I threw my hands up in the air and stormed down the porch. “How ridiculous! I want to pay you for my phone, and get a job and you won’t let me. Are you a caveman or a biker?” I shouted.
Cue Ball’s thundering footsteps followed me, but I picked up my pace. I jogged down the driveway and then headed in the direction of town.
“Olive!” Cue Ball shouted. “Where the hell are you going?”
I glanced over my shoulder as I continued to jog. Cue Ball had stopped at the bottom of the driveway and watched me with his hands on his hips. “I’m going to town, and I’m going where I want!”
“You’re going to get hit by a car!” he shouted.
“I’ve been blown up! I think I can survive being hit by a car.” I turned back to face where I was jogging. I was at least wearing my tennis shoes, and I had my wallet in my back pocket. I was very well going to be exhausted after the five-mile jog into town, but at least I was doing what I wanted.
My victory of being on the way to town to do what I want was short-lived when the roar of Cue Ball’s bike grew close behind me.
If I kept moving, he couldn’t stop me.
He rode closely behind me for a few seconds before he roared around me and stopped in the middle of the road. He killed the engine and hopped off his bike.
“You’re in the middle of the road,” I scolded.
Cue Ball stood at the ready and watched me closely.
I could get around him. He was all muscle and bulky, while I was, well, I wasn’t svelte and agile, but I felt my odds of beating Cue Ball in a foot race were good.
I jumped to the right, but then quickly dodged to the left.
Cue Ball didn’t go right at all. He moved left as soon as I did, and took a huge, hulking step toward me.
“No,” I yelped when I realized the man may not be as quick as me, but his long arm and legs were an advantage I didn’t consider. “That’s not fair,” I screeched.
His arms wrapped around me, and I slammed into his chest. “Oof,” he grunted. “You could have put the brakes on, doll.”
“Brakes don’t stop a freight train,” I grumbled. They actually did, but I was beyond flustered to make sense. “And they need jobs.” Jesus. I might be able to get to the temp agency, but god knew if they would actually make sense if I started talking like the Rain Man.
“What in the hell are you babbling about?” he growled.
“I need a purpose, Cue Ball!” I struggled against his hold, but he didn’t budge.
“You have a purpose,” he countered. “You have a job, and you’re Rocky’s mom. What the hell else do you want?”
I stopped trying to break free and tipped my head back to look at him.
Cue Ball was close. Very close. So close that a shiver rocked through my body, and I became very aware of his body pressed against mine. “What?” I whispered. I blinked rapidly and tried to gather my wits. “What did you ask me?”
“Do you have a fever or something, doll? You’re acting crazy.”
“You’re the one who parked his bike in the middle of the road and tried to tackle me,” I countered. Thankfully, I lived on a road that saw barely any traffic and his bike should be safe. “Let me go.”
He shook his head. “Not until I know you’re not going to make a run for it.”
“I won’t run,” I lied.
A smirk spread across his lips, and I found a new appreciation for his handsome smile this close up.
The second I saw him, I knew he was gorgeous, but up close, he was breathtaking.
“Bullshit,” he growled.
I blinked rapidly and replayed the last thing I said. “I can’t focus when you’re...”
“When I’m what?” he asked.
“When you’re you.”
He chuckled low, and his arms loosened around me, but he kept me close. “I can say the same thing about you, doll.”
I watched his lips move as he spoke, and I wondered how his beard would feel against my skin. I licked my lips and fought the urge to pet his beard.
“Olive,” he whispered.
“Hmm?”
“Doll, you gotta stop looking at me like that.”
I ripped my eyes off his lips and stared into his eyes. “Like what?” I mumbled.
“Like you want to jump me right here in the middle of the road.”
I shook my head slightly. “I was wondering what your kiss would feel like.”
His eyes drifted close for a second and opened with passion burning in them. “Olive.” My name on his lips was my favorite thing to hear. “I’m going to kiss you if you don’t tell me to stop right now.”
Kiss? Me?
The word no was nowhere near the tip of my tongue. There was only one word I wanted to say. “Please,” I whispered.
“God damn,” he growled.
My heart raced as he leaned in, and his warm breath brushed against my skin. His eyes locked with mine, and the world faded away.
His lips finally met mine, and his soft beard brushed against my chin. His kiss was soft and tender, almost as if he was afraid to hurt me. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pushed up to him.
His touch made my whole body tingle, and shivers coursed through me. My fingers tangled in his hair, not wanting to let him go.
His lips were soft and lush and moved effortlessly against mine. His taste was intoxicating, and I knew I could easily become addicted to it.
To him.
He pulled back, his lips leaving mine, and he reached up to trace the curve of my cheek. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that?”
“Eight days?” I whispered. “Because that’s how long I’ve thought about kissing you.” The cat was out of the bag, so there was no point in trying to deny that I wanted that kiss. I wanted that and so much more.
“Yeah, about that long,” he chuckled.
I brushed my fingers over my lips. “Are we going to do that again?”
“I fucking hope so,” he whispered.
Another shiver ran through my body and instinctively leaned into him. “Right now?” I asked.
I didn’t need to say anything more.
His lips slammed down on mine, and he cupped my face with his hands. My arms wrapped around his waist, and I sunk into the desire I had been trying to fight.
I lost track of time as his lips moved over mine, and our hands roamed over each other. Our bodies were pressed together, and it felt like I was swimming in a pool of want and desire.
“Olive,” he gasped when he finally pulled back.
My eyes drifted open, and our breathing was ragged. Our eyes locked, and I knew this was just the beginning.
A loud car horn sounded behind me, and I jumped into Cue Ball’s arms. “Oh my god,” I laughed.
I turned in his arms and was surprised to see a white car and two motorcycles.
“Fucking hell,” Cue Ball grunted.
“Uh, do you know them?” I asked. The two men on the motorcycles shook their heads, and the woman behind the wheel of the car honked her horny happily.
“Yeah, doll.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek and threaded his fingers through mine. “I guess it’s time to meet Sloane, Aero, and Compass.”
*
