Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Rhett
I had every intention of quitting the bar build-out today and not charging Mary London a dime for the work I’d already done.
I wouldn’t let my family reputation stain her new business endeavor.
She’s already climbing a steep hill of outdated expectations and risking her pristine reputation.
I wouldn’t add my shady history to her bright future.
Then she walked in, bringing sunshine and perfume and a smile so sweet it made my molars ache. Add in the tears and I was sunk.
I couldn’t say no.
Instead, I doubled down on the stupid just for a scrap of her time.
A brief moment when I could pretend that all is well between us.
We’re just two adults, enjoying each other like anybody else would do.
We’re not a Price and a Winthrop on the back of my Harley.
On this bad boy we can outride her father and my reputation, put wind in her hair and a smile on her face.
I can turn her bad day around, I’m sure of it.
Mary London swings a leg over the bike and snuggles up against the back of me.
I have to grit my teeth to keep from moaning out loud at the feel of her, the knowledge that she trusts me enough to put her life in my hands.
I hand over the helmet I keep for Rylan, though he refuses to ride with me anymore, saying he’s too old to be on the back.
She clicks it into place, not one fuss about it ruining her hair.
The grin she gives me holds a hint of mischief that looks better than all the makeup in the world.
“Put your feet here,” I instruct, reaching down to place her heels exactly where I want them, where they’ll be out of the way and perfectly safe. Goddamn, just seeing her prissy little heels on my motorcycle is enough to have my head buzzing. “And whatever you do, don’t let go.”
Her smile turns naughty and every word I might have tried to utter dries up in the inferno she ignites between us. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I spin back around and hope I remember where I’m going.
It’s been a long time since I drove out to Jasper Lake.
Hopefully the north end is still mostly deserted because I have no intention of sharing Mary London with anyone else.
Her arms snake around my waist, her hands locking together just above my belt buckle.
I can feel her breasts pressing against my back, the heat of her thighs against my hips.
My eyes slide shut for just a second while I collect myself.
You’re giving her a ride to make her day better, jackass, I remind myself.
I tap the shifter and off we go, weaving between our vehicles to make it out onto the main road.
Mary London squeals in my ear as we make the first turn.
Her arms tighten around me, and I’m not sure I’m able to draw a full breath.
The curvy country road that leads out to the lake is one of my favorites.
Tall green trees flick by and the motorcycle hums beneath us.
Eventually, Mary London’s arms relax a bit around me, as if she’s settling into the ride like I’d hoped.
Used to be nothing could settle me better than a long ride in the country.
I wasn’t able to ride as much after my business took off in Atlanta and while raising Rylan.
Just wasn’t time for it with all my responsibilities, but damn, I’ve missed it.
A good fifteen minutes later, I see the turnoff for the north side of the lake.
Not one thing out here has changed since I left Heaven.
I slow way down on the bumpy road out to the dirt parking lot by the water.
I cut the engine and regret it the minute her arms come away from my waist. Kickstand down, I climb off, then hold my hand out to her.
She’s smiling ear to ear, trying and failing to get the helmet off, though she did get her leg swung over.
I push her hands away and do it myself, even going so far as to brush the hair out of her face.
Her cheeks go pink and I’d like to think it’s because of me and not the late summer heat that lingers like a pesky mosquito.
“Umm.” Mary London looks down at her heels and grimaces. “I don’t think I dressed properly for this.”
Shit. I should have thought this through better.
Mary London is dressed for her highfalutin boutique, not a day at the lake.
Crouching down, I take off her heels and set them next to the helmet.
She wiggles her pretty painted toes, and I know what she’s thinking.
She doesn’t want to walk across the dirt to get to the lake either.
Nor should she. I recall there being broken beer bottles at this end of the lake back in my day.
Not exactly safe for bare feet. So I scoop her up in my arms and carry her over to the water’s edge.
“This is full service!” she whoops, kicking her feet and tilting her face toward the golden-hour sunshine.
I don’t want to put her down. I want to carry her around like a queen forever, making sure her feet never touch the ground.
But then she’s cooing and pointing to a large flat rock I know I’ve jumped off of many times in my youth.
I head in that direction and set her on her feet.
My hands don’t want to, but I let her go.
Instead, I pull my shirt over my head, spreading it out on the rock and helping her sit down.
She leans over to roll her pant legs up, the fancy material not fit for dirty rocks or lake water.
Her feet swing in the air, her toes just dipping into the cool water.
She puts her hands behind her and leans back, smile locked in place and face tilted toward the sun like a sunflower seeking its brilliance.
“Gosh, I’ve forgotten how much I love coming out here.”
I sit next to her, wishing I had shorts on. The heat is still oppressive this time of year in the South. I’ll miss it when we’re dealing with snow flurries in January or February, but for now, I can’t wait for a dip in temperature.
“How come you don’t come out here often?”
Mary London shrugs. “Just don’t make time for it, I guess. Too busy building my empire.” She says that last word with a funny accent, downplaying her success.
“Where’d you get your drive? Your mama?” In my limited experience, Southern women tend to want to marry first, then think about career aspirations in terms of a fun little hobby when the kids hit school age. Mary London has clearly taken a different path.
She looks away, gaze skimming over the surface of the lake like she’s soaking it all in in fast gulps instead of savoring it. “Maybe a little of both my parents.” Her smile turns down at the corners.
I nudge her shoulder with mine. “What are you not telling me?”
She rolls her eyes but then she sighs heavily and drops her head to my shoulder. “I just observed my parents’ interaction growing up and knew I didn’t want that. I wanted to have money of my own so I never had to depend on a man who didn’t respect me.”
Fuck. That sucks. “So you worked hard to make sure you had money of your own.”
Mary London doesn’t answer but she starts kicking the water to get a larger and larger splash. “And I was right to do so because all the frogs didn’t turn into handsome princes.”
I scoff like I’m offended.
Mary London lifts her head, lips tugging into a smile. “Barring present company, of course.”
The breeze hits our overheated skin and cools everything down to something tolerable.
It also moved her hair into her face. I reach up and untangle a lock of hair from her long eyelashes and move it behind her ear.
Our arms are pressed together now, our faces just a few inches apart.
I skim my thumb down her cheek, marveling at her perfection.
“I’m sorry every man you dated was such a fuckin’ idiot,” I whisper, gaze dropping to her lips.
She barks out a laugh, moving even closer. “You gonna be an idiot, too, ’Lanta?”
She licks her lips and I about come undone. “I hope not,” I mutter, wondering if in some parallel universe she really would want to date me.
Mary London tilts her head back just slightly, the flutter of the ends of her hair in the breeze tickling my shoulder. “You will be if you don’t kiss me right freaking now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
And then my lips are on hers, just a flutter of two mouths coming together for the first time.
Hesitant at first, then a hint of exploration before the kiss explodes into something feverish.
My tongue’s in her mouth and her moan is already swallowed down my throat.
My fingers fist her thick hair, holding her in place like I think she might take off and run.
Her scent envelops me, every product the woman uses mixing into something that can only be described as ultra feminine.
We pull back on mutual gasps, eyes wide and skin prickling with heat despite the setting sun.
“Your father would kill me right now,” I mutter, gaze taking in the way my hands are ruining her careful curls.
Her pretty blue eyes light with fire. “I’m a grown woman. I do what I want.” Her fingernails bite into my bare shoulders. She leans in and bites my lower lip, her mouth moving against me as she speaks. “And I want more of this, Rhett.”
She kisses me this time, her tongue exploring and then pulling back. Kiss and pull back. Like she’s checking to make sure it’s me she’s kissing. I know what she’s feeling. Adrenaline thrums through my veins, the shock of kissing this perfect woman making this whole experience feel like a dream.
“I’ve discovered I can’t tell you no,” I murmur, meaning every word. My fingers dive into her hair again, wishing I could wind it around my fist without scaring her. “Your wish is my command.”
Her angelic grin turns downright devilish. “Then kiss me again and don’t stop.”