Chapter 3
Present Day…
Crash propped his back against the bar, watching his newly married friend dance with his beautiful bride. Bruce ‘Hulk’ Steel gave new meaning to having two left feet, but nothing could wipe the smile off the man’s face.
Hulk gazed at Caroline as if she hung the moon, and she smiled with the same lovesick grin. They were perfect for each other, but it was difficult not to feel a twinge of jealousy.
“Lucky bastard,” Crash muttered under his breath.
“Another one down.” Gage ‘Smash’ Hodder stepped next to the bar.
“They’re falling fast,” Crash remarked.
“The number of single residents in Hopedale seems to be dwindling fast,” Smash said, motioning for the bartender.
After ordering a beer, Smash turned back to watch the crowd moving around the large venue. Most were like family to Crash, but Smash wasn’t wrong. It seemed every year, someone was getting married or having a baby.
“Yeah, it must be wonderful to be that happy.” Crash sighed.
As the words left his lips, she walked by, and Crash’s heart thudded the way it always did when he saw her. Allyson was the only woman to bring him to his knees with a simple smile. It would be great if it weren’t for the fact that she made it clear they could only ever have a platonic friendship.
At first, he thought it was his job as a security specialist with NES. The government contracted the accredited company for all the security needed for diplomats, politicians, or protection for private citizens. Over the last several years, some jobs were more dangerous than expected, and he had a bullet scar to prove it. Of course, that was the day he met Allyson; she had been the one to tend to his wound.
Crash met her when her sister needed protection after Bethany witnessed a murder. It was personal for his boss because the women were family friends. Keith ‘Rusty’ O’Connor didn’t hesitate to assign Bethany security.
Crash spent several weeks in Allyson’s company, and they discovered they had a lot in common. After Bethany’s ordeal, he continued spending much of his free time with her. They talked about what he’d gone through after he left the military and why he rarely drank.
There was one thing he kept to himself but had planned to tell her if their relationship became romantic. He thought they might head in that direction until one night, about a year after they met, he leaned in to kiss her goodnight after they spent the day together. Allyson practically threw him out of the house once she made it clear they were only friends.
The next day, she called to apologize for overreacting but told him she couldn’t have a romantic relationship with him. She enjoyed spending time together, but he’d be disappointed if he wanted more than friendship. He remained in the friend zone with the only woman he could see a future with.
As if she heard his thoughts, her eyes found his. Allyson stopped when he reached back to place his empty water glass on the bar without breaking their gaze. She was stunning in a gold dress that hung below her knees and dipped low enough to give a hint of cleavage. It was the sexiest damn thing he’d ever seen.
Allyson’s smile slipped a little as he stalked toward her, and she tipped her head back to gaze up when he stepped in front of her. The twinkle lights around the hall looked flickered in her blue eyes. Her chestnut hair hung loosely over one shoulder, and her lips glistened with some gloss he would give his right arm to taste. She was so gorgeous it took his breath away.
“Well, don’t you look handsome,” Allyson shouted over the music.
“Thanks.” Crash smiled. “You look… breathtaking.”
“Thank you, Brent,” Allyson folded her hands in front of her.
“Would you like to dance?” Crash asked.
The band slowed the tempo of the music, and he held out his hand with hopes she would accept his request. When she glanced back over her shoulder, he expected her to decline, but when she turned back, she timidly placed her hand on his, and he escorted her to the dance floor.
Crash’s heart thudded as her hand rested on his shoulder. One of his hands slipped around her waist and lay flat against the small of her back. The open back of her dress made it easy for him to touch her silky skin, and he bit back with a groan.
“Bruce looks happy.” Allyson nodded toward the newlyweds.
“Can’t say I blame him. Caroline’s an amazing lady, and those boys of hers love him.” Crash kept his eyes on Allyson. “Love wins.”
Caroline had two sons from a previous relationship who worshiped the ground Hulk walked on. The large man became a complete marshmallow when it came to those kids and would do anything for them and his new bride.
“Yeah, love wins,” Allyson said, but sadness clouded her eyes.
“Won’t be long before they pop out a few kids. I know Hulk loves those boys, but Caroline wants more. I think he would give her the moon if he could.” Crash chuckled.
“It’s nice they can have that kind of relationship.” Allyson’s eyes glistened as if she were holding back tears.
“Hey, what’s with that face? It’s a wedding. Happy thoughts.” Crash crouched so he could look into her eyes when she dropped her gaze to the floor.
Crash stopped their dance and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He guided her outside onto the club’s patio. When the door closed behind them, he turned and placed his hands gently on her shoulders.
“Ally, what’s wrong?” Crash asked.
Allyson shook her head and stepped back. She moved to the railing that encircled the deck of The Rock, a dance club on the main strip in Hopedale. Hulk rented the reception location because it was the only place large enough for the number of guests. Practically the whole town attended to see the happy couple start their life together.
“Sweetheart, talk to me,” Crash turned her around and used his knuckles to lift her chin so he could see her face.
“I’m fine. Weddings… they just… too many memories.” Allyson shrugged.
Crash pulled her into his arms, and she rested her cheek against his chest. He pressed his lips against her forehead as he embraced her. It was hard to think of friendship when the simple act of holding her made his heart pound.
“I’m sorry. I’m ruining this for you. You should go find your date and enjoy yourself.” Allyson pulled back and smoothed her hands across the lapels of his suit.
“I didn’t bring a date, Ally.” Crash placed his hands over hers.
“Oh,” Allyson whispered.
“There’s only one woman I wanted to be my date, but that’s not possible,” Crash said.
“No, it isn’t.” Allyson sighed.
“Still not going to tell me why?” Crunch touched her cheek.
Allyson tipped her head back, and her gaze met his. In his heart, he knew she was it for him, but she was reluctant. He didn’t know why. When her gaze dropped to his mouth, her tongue flicked out and licked her lower lip.
“Ally,” Crash whispered as he lowered his head.
“Brent.” Allyson breathed his name.
Crash swallowed as he brushed a kiss lightly against the corner of her mouth. She gasped as her eyes met his but didn’t pull away. When she fisted the lapels of his tuxedo and tugged him closer, his mouth crashed against hers, and he slipped his hands around the back of her neck.
He’d dreamed of kissing her for eight years, but it was much better than he’d imagined. The scent of her jasmine perfume and the taste of champagne on her lips was intoxicating. As his mouth moved with hers, she pressed against his body and ran her tongue across his lower lip.
Allyson threaded her fingers through his hair as their mouths moved together in a desperate, passionate kiss. She moaned into his mouth, and his dick pressed against the zipper of his trousers, hard as steel. He knew she could feel what the kiss was doing to him, what she was doing.
“Oops.” A voice squeaked.
Allyson abruptly ended the kiss, and Crash glanced over the top of her head. He bit back a curse when he saw the older woman a few feet away smiling.
“I’m right again,” Cora Nightengale singsonged as she linked into her husband’s arm.
“You’re always right, my dear.” Brian smiled as they made their way toward the parking lot.
Keith’s aunt was a lovely person, and Brent adored her. Several years earlier, she told Crash to ask Allyson out. She reminded him every time he was in her company that he was wasting precious time.
Crash wanted to pursue a relationship with Allyson, but it never got close until tonight. Maybe they’d reached a point where she realized there was something between them. Not that he didn’t value their friendship because he did. He could tell her anything, well, almost anything, but there was still one thing he kept to himself because only the woman he married would find out about it.
“Shit,” Ally muttered under her breath.
Allyson stepped back and wrapped her arms around herself. Their moment had clearly ended, so Crash allowed her the space, but he knew being simply friends wouldn’t work for him. He wanted a life with her and was about to say that when she spoke.
“That shouldn’t have happened.” Allyson shook her head.
“Why?” Crash stepped closer, but she lifted her hand to stop him.
“We can’t… I can’t… It won’t work… I got to go,” Allyson stammered.
She spun around before he could stop her and ran back into the club. Crash folded his hands and rested them on his head as he faced the parking lot.
“Fuck,” Crash growled through his teeth.
He had no idea why things wouldn’t work between them, but he wanted to know. He’d do anything for her; if it took some convincing, he’d make her see they belonged together. He was about to stomp inside and demand an answer, but something caught his attention in the corner of the parking lot.
He ran down the steps to the lot. Cora and her husband drove away several minutes earlier, which meant someone else was there, and if they were staying in the shadows, they were up to something.
He crouched down to look under some of the vehicles, but it was dark, and even if someone were there, it wouldn’t be easy to see them. Crash made a note to talk to the club’s owner about putting extra lighting in the area. Since Roman Young was also married to Keith’s cousin, Isabelle, NES monitored their security.
He was about to pull out his phone to use the flashlight when two headlights blinded him. He barely had enough time to dive out of the way when the tires screeched, and a car sped out of the lot, leaving him on the asphalt, covered in dust.
“What the fuck?” Crash shouted.
He jumped to his feet but only saw the red taillights disappearing around the corner, headed toward the highway leading out of Hopedale. Even if he were next to his vehicle, he’d never catch them once they hit the highway. He would ask Smash to check the security cameras for safety; someone could be staking out the club.
“Crazy fucking people,” Crash muttered under his breath as he brushed himself off.
He felt sick in the pit of his stomach as he returned to the wedding. With a last glance over the parking lot, he turned and headed back inside. That car was there for something, but what?