Chapter 17
i’m a sucker for the whole damsel-in-distress thing
DOMINIC
September
“Think my car will be ready by Thursday?” Clay, the goalie for the California Thunders, asks. “I have a game Friday, and the team is headed to Vegas first thing Saturday.”
Shit. Considering I agreed to go to this stupid pink party tonight and hadn’t planned on spending my weekend at work, I doubt it’s possible I can have it wrapped up before then.
I blow out a breath and scan the shop. On the other side of the bay, a curvaceous blonde, who Clay introduced as Layla, stands beside the tool bench, holding a little girl in her arms, murmuring quietly.
I don’t know who they are to Clay, but considering the glances he’s been throwing their way, they’re important to him.
“Don’t think I can turn it around that quickly, but I can drive it to Santa Clara on Friday,” I finally suggest.
Before he can answer, the bell above the shop door rings, and my attention drifts that way.
My heart trips over itself. Mia steps inside, surveying the space. She’s in a short floral dress and a black leather jacket, a little purse draped over her shoulder.
Muscles tense and eyes glued to her, I cross my arms over my chest. It’s been three days since I saw her tattoo and realized she was the mystery girl from the Halloween party.
And she’s given me nothing but stone-cold silence since.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
She goes rigid and zeroes in on me. “I’m here to see Allan.”
I lift my chin. “In the office.”
Without another word, she storms to the office door.
She’s so fucking gorgeous. It’s virtually impossible not to think about her—especially at night.
The things she does in my dreams… Fuck, I couldn’t even look at Matt this morning when he told me about the lasagna she made for dinner.
If he had any idea I think about his sister the way I do, he’d never talk to me again.
“I don’t think he knows you’re coming,” I tell her, because I’m an asshole. “Next time, call first.”
Without looking my way, she flips me off.
Clay snorts beside me, his expression one of amusement.
“Sorry about that,” I say as Mia steps into the office and closes the door behind her.
“Don’t worry.” His lips twitch. “It was highly entertaining.”
Layla and the little girl have moved on from looking at tools and wandered closer.
“That’s Mia,” I say. “She’s my best friend’s little sister.” I swallow thickly and look away. “And my stepsister.”
Layla snorts. “A sibling’s love is priceless, isn’t it?”
I wince at that word. Sibling. I’ll never think of Mia as my sister, especially after what happened.
“We’ve never really gotten along.” I clear my throat. “Sorry. It’s a very long story, and you’re not here to listen to it.” I clap my hands and turn to Clay. “So, is it all right if I drive your car to Santa Clara when I’m finished?”
“Sure. As long as it’s not a problem for you.”
I wave a dismissive hand. “Not at all. This way, I can drive our loaner back. I’ll call before I leave to make sure you’re in town.”
Once Clay’s filled me in on what he wants us to do with his G-Wagon, he and Layla say goodbye. As I’m walking them out, my dad’s office door opens, and Mia storms out.
“Dammit,” she mumbles, rummaging for something in her purse. “Where’s my damn phone?” When she finds it, she checks the screen and curses. “Shit. Of course I’m late.”
I don’t know what demon possesses me to do it, but I call out to her, “Do you need a ride?”
She halts in her tracks and turns my way. The heat behind her glare makes my heart thump harder. When she’s around, all I want to do is look at her, and it’s so fucking wrong.
“Not from you.” Chin lifted, she skirts around Layla and her daughter. Her expression softens for an instant when she waves at the little girl with a smile, and then she’s gone.
Beside me, Clay clears his throat, ripping me out of my trance.
“See you, man.” He holds out his hand to me, barely holding back a smirk.
Pushing thoughts of Mia out of my head, I shake it. “Bye. And sorry again.”
“It’s totally fine,” Layla chimes in from the open door. “It was nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Once they leave, I stride for Dad’s office. “Need anything from me before I head out?”
“Nope. Enjoy the weekend.” Dad smiles, wrinkles bracketing his mouth. “You did great today.”
I stuff my hands into the pockets of my coveralls. “Are you talking about Clay?”
“Yeah, I heard most of your conversation. You were professional and very knowledgeable.” He tilts his head. “He seems like a down-to-earth guy.”
“I don’t think Ethan would give him the time of day if he was a spoiled snob.”
“True.” Dad nods. “I talked to Brody today. He’s still in Spain.”
“Sounds like he loves Valencia,” I say, though at this moment, I couldn’t care less about what my uncle is up to. “Why was Mia here?”
“She’s staying the night with her friends and needed to borrow a car.
Monica said no, so I told her to stop in and get the keys to one of our loaners.
I gave her a little cash too, but don’t tell Monica.
She’s worried Mia is saving money to spend next summer in Italy.
” Dad pinches the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know why she always picks on the kid.
I’ve tried to talk to her about it so many times, but she doesn’t want to listen to me. ”
Anger simmers in my veins. Monica is a brat, always has been, so it doesn’t surprise me that she can’t deal with her daughter being better off without her.
“That sucks.” I take a step back, keeping my thoughts to myself. Voicing them won’t get me anywhere. “I better go. We’re going out tonight, and if I don’t get home soon, Matt will give me shit.”
“Looks like Monica and I will have the house to ourselves.” He grins at me. “Have fun.”
Nodding, I head to the exit, dreading the night ahead.
The EDM is loud, the beat reverberating through my body.
The dance floor is packed, just like the bar.
The whole place is pink. I’m the lone dark spot.
I don’t have a single pink piece of clothing in my closet, but luckily, Ray is working tonight.
He didn’t even blink when I walked in wearing a black hoodie with pink writing.
“Wanna grab a beer?” Miles has to shout to be heard, even though he’s sitting beside me.
He’s got a curvaceous brunette perched on his lap.
Her friend, a blonde with a pink-streaked pixie cut, sits beside Matt, engrossed in conversation with him.
The third girl came over thinking she’d get to know me better, but I made it clear right away that wasn’t going to happen.
So, for the last thirty minutes, she’s had her nose buried in her phone.
She’s pretty, and she has a nice ass, but between the Mia bullshit and trying to dodge Remi’s calls and texts, I can’t even look at other girls.
“Yeah. Stay here. I’ll grab one for you too,” I say.
He nods. “Thanks, man.”
I stand and push up the sleeves of my hoodie. “Anybody else want a drink?”
The girl on Miles’ lap shakes her head, and Matt and the blonde barely look at me.
With a shrug, I make my way to the bar, pushing through the throng of people. Aaron, a bartender and a guy I went to high school with, notices me and lifts his chin. While I wait, I turn, prop my hip against the bar, and scan the place.
The music vibrates through me, making it impossible not to nod along.
Despite my initial refusal to come out tonight, I’m having a decent time—probably because Remi is out of town.
I can relax knowing she won’t show up and ruin my night.
I’ve already had to carry her drunk ass out of this place once this week.
She was so wasted, I didn’t feel comfortable dropping her off at home alone, so after she spent an hour throwing up in the bathroom, I tucked her into my bed and then crashed on the floor.
“Sorry, not interested.”
The familiar voice makes me snap up straight. Without turning, I eavesdrop on the conversation, certain I’m wrong.
She can’t be here, right? Dad said she’s staying with friends. Besides, she’s eighteen. She’s not even allowed in here.
“C’mon, sweetheart. Just one drink.”
“She said no,” says another familiar voice, confirming I’m wrong. She is here. So is Chiara.
Carefully, I turn around. Fuck me. So much for a chill night. Mia and Chiara stand a couple of feet down the bar with two guys who are crowding in too close. I clench my jaw, my hackles rising when one of them leans into Mia.
I move slowly, my steps controlled, willing myself not to lash out.
“Or she’s just playing hard to get,” the asshole closest to Mia says. “Aren’t you, sweetheart?”
Fucker.
I stop behind him and tap his shoulder. When he turns, I take a step back. The guy has to be in his mid-thirties. Short black hair, neat mustache, buttoned-up pink shirt. Typical white-collar dude, cocky but also drunk.
“What do you want?” he slurs.
“She said no.” I step closer, making sure to pull my shoulders back.
“And who the hell are you?” He gets in my face, trying to intimidate me, but he’s several inches shorter and too wobbly to be even a tiny bit formidable.
“Someone who’s telling you you’re done here. The girls aren’t interested.”
He snickers. “She accepted the drink I bought her. She is interested.”
Teeth gritted, I home in on Mia. Fuck, I want to bend her over my lap and spank her. What the hell was she thinking?
I step forward, closing the remaining distance. The guy’s carefully curated smirk falters for a second, but I catch it. Putting on a brave face is one thing, but actually standing your ground is much more challenging. Fortunately, I excel at that.
“Let me explain something, since there seems to be a misunderstanding.” My voice is low but stern. “Accepting a drink is not an invitation. There’s no contract involved. She doesn’t owe you anything.”
He scoffs. “Are you fucking serious?”
His friend grabs his arm, but the mustached man brushes his hand away.