Chapter 2
~ Troy ~
“It’s good to see you, man,” Markus told me, pulling me into a hug. When I came back home yesterday, I didn’t think I would be on my way over to my best friend’s house today, but I couldn’t wait to stop in and see Markus.
And to see what the rugrat has been up to.
In all the calls and messages, Markus hasn’t given a lot of information about his sister. Not that I was sure why, but I never pushed to know. I was only ever curious.
The one and only thing I ever heard was that she was dating some asshole that left town after a few months.
It didn’t mean anything to me, of course.
I mean, I remembered Anelise as an annoying girl who always made dates hard and intruded on her brother’s times.
She would constantly follow us and get underfoot.
She was also lanky, had glasses, and the last I remembered, braces.
She had bright freckles that traced over her cheeks and nose, and they only got worse when she was in the sun for long periods of time.
“It’s good to be home. I forgot how much I missed it.” We walked into the house, sitting down at the table.
“What something?”
“I’ll take a water.”
“Sure thing.” He got up, right at the same time that a little girl came tumbling into the room, her foot catching the leg of a table. Her wails came instantly, and Markus flew out of the kitchen.
I was dumbfounded because never once, in any of our talks, did Markus say he had a kid. And she was a little knock out, though she did get the freckles like her aunt had.
“Uncle Marfus, I hurted my toe.”
“Come here munchkin, let me see.” He picked her up and brought her to the table.
“Uncle?” I questioned.
“Yeah, MaryBeth is Anelise’s daughter.”
“That lanky kid grew up to have a daughter?”
Markus laughed as he rubbed MaryBeth’s toe, who was still sniffling.
“She’s not so lanky. Here, say hi to Troy, MaryBeth, while I get you some juice.”
The little girl looked over at me, and I held my arms out. I didn’t have a lot of experience with kids, but I knew I could make them laugh.
She finally came over, and I started tickling her, causing her to giggle. Markus sat down, about ready to hand her the juice when Anelise appeared in the doorway, her gaze hot on me with her daughter.
My eyes slowly trailed up the skin-tight, jean-clad legs, the black tank top with the thin straps, and up over the cleanest, freshest, prettiest, freckled face.
Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail and images of my hand wrapped around it while her mouth was devouring my cock flashed through my mind.
That was not good. And better yet, where the hell did that come from?
Just because the annoying, skinny girl turned into some sexy vixen did not mean I needed to think of sexy moments with her. I didn’t need to think of spreading her wide and pumping into her fast and hard.
Stop it, Troy.
“Well, look who decided to return home. Welcome back, Troy.”
“Thanks, Anelise. It’s nice to be back.”
“I’m sure your mama was glad to have her baby boy back home. She’s done a lot of whining with you being gone so long.”
“Yes, she was. So, this little one is yours?”
“She is. What happened?”
“She came running into the room and caught the leg of the table.”
“MaryBeth, what have I told you about running, young lady,” Anelise scolded, hands on her hips, a firm look in her eyes.
And damn it all to hell, I wanted to see that fire blazing from her screaming my name.
Fucking stop, Troy. She’s your best friend’s sister; he’ll have your balls.
“Sorry, mamas.”
“Is it bleeding? Did you break it? Should I feed it to Rainbow?”
The little girl in my lap giggled again but she shook her black hair that was just like her mom’s.
“Well, okay. Let’s get your juice and you can watch some cartoons. I’m sure Uncle Markus and Troy need to go see the horses.”
Right, I was here to see my best friend, talk shop, learn some more about the horses. Not sit here and gawk and fantasize about his kid sister.
They left to go into the living room while I followed Markus out to the barn, my head still in a jumble.
“She’s grown up,” I told Markus, who only nodded.
“Her ex, the douche, skipped town when he found she was pregnant. I never wanted to murder someone before, but I came close. She begged me not to, said she’d raise her, and we all helped. But if I ever see him again, or if anyone hurts her, I’ll make sure they never walk again.”
Markus has always been loyal to his family; I always loved that about him. But it seemed like in the time I’ve been gone; he’s gotten much more vocal about anyone hurting his little sister. Which, after this, I guess was a damn good thing.
I pulled up to the local bar, the only place with decent music and cold beer. I could have stayed at home but didn’t need to hear my mom going on and on over pointless things. And after being with Markus for the afternoon, going over some of things he’d need help with, I needed a break.
So, finally being of age to step into Joe’s for a drink, I thought going there would be better.
Have some beers, take a moment to breathe, hell, maybe even find some random chick to screw.
Granted, I knew better than that because here, there was no random one. Everyone knew everyone. The pleasure and curses of small towns.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Joe said, nodding his head to me as I sat down on a bar stool.
“I know, I know. Been getting it for a few days now.”
“It’s about time you came home. The circuit is hard on the body.”
“It sure is.”
“So, finally in here to actually buy a beer?”
I grinned at him as the memories came back of raising hell with Markus and a few other buddies in school. “Yes, sir.”
“Coming right up, Troy.”
I nodded my thanks and then turned to take in the scene. There were quite a few crowded tables, some people on the dance floor, and a crowded pool table, with none other than Anelise in the middle of the crowd. Once my beer was on the counter, I made my way over, checking in the scene.
“Last round boys,” she said, lining up the final ball and sinking it in without a problem. “Pay up,” she told them, her hand out of the pile of cash they were putting in.
“You’ve gotten good,” I told her, setting my bottle down on the table.
“Practice. I had to learn to beat Markus.”
“I think you can. Think you can beat me?”
“No problem, Troy. Shall we bet on it?”
“Sure,” I told her, grabbing a cue stick. “Name the terms?”
“First one to get all their balls in, wins. If I win, you get to do the dishes for a day.”
“Damn, you all got a full house with the staff. But I’ll take it. And if I win,” I told her, sliding over to her and whispering in her ear, “I get to kiss you.”
I could hear the sharp intake of her breath, glad to hear that I seemed to work her up like she was working me.
Twenty minutes later, I hit my last solid ball into the side pocket, grinning at her clenched jaw. She was good, I had to give her that, but I still played pool while on the road, so I hadn’t lost my skills.
“Sorry, Anelise.”
Her glare turned on me, and I laughed. She could try to look tough. And maybe to her little girl, or some ranch hands, she would be. But to me, it just set my blood boiling.
“Pay up time.”
“You were serious,” she whispered.
I could only nod. Because somehow, I managed to keep a level head while playing but all I could think about was her lips on mine.
I captured her cheeks, shifted her head, and slanted my lips over hers, feeling the shock straight down to my toes. Her hands clutched onto the sides of my shirt, and damn it, I wanted more than just this slow, sweet kiss.
I wanted my tongue mixing with hers with her body flushed against mine.
But for here, for now, this would have to do.
Because this simple kiss rocked my world in ways I never could have imagined.