Chapter 5
FIVE
CASEY
“What the hell did I do last night?” After slamming some ibuprofen with my Gatorade, I dropped into a chair at the dinette and rubbed my aching forehead. I hadn’t tied one on like that in a long time. Good thing I’d planned for a day off. But maybe I should still hit the gym later.
Eli stood in the kitchen, whipping up a breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast. “You almost ruined your chances with your hot mechanic.” He turned crackling bacon in a frying pan on the stove.
JJ strolled in from the hallway to the bedrooms, rolling a large suitcase, ready to leave for the Cardinals summer training camp in Flagstaff. “What happened now?” With a light smirk, he sank into the chair across from me.
“Your boy here saw his crush at The Thirsty Lion last night and made a fool of himself.” Eli scooped fluffy eggs with a spatula from a pan and set them on a plate, then added cheese on top.
“Casey, what were you thinking? I thought you had game?” JJ grabbed a carton of orange juice, resting on the table between us, and poured it into one of the glasses Eli had set out with it.
I needed coffee and lots of it. “I have game, just not with this guy.” Rising, I entered the kitchen and poured coffee into a mug from the carafe.
“I don’t know what it is about him, but none of my regular flirtations work on him.
” I added creamer to the coffee. No one ever turned me down.
Unless they were straight men, but even then, I’d found a few who were willing.
“Maybe he doesn’t like you?” JJ sipped his juice. “I know it’s hard for you to grasp, but it happens. Look at what happened with me and Myles?”
Leaning my ass against the counter, I blew on my coffee. “He likes me, I can tell.” Sipping my drink, I ambled to my chair and fell in.
Eli plated the bacon and set slices of bread into the toaster. “He likes you. Whenever you have your back turned to him, his eyes are all over you.” With a snicker, he said, “Hell, I half expected him to drool last night.”
“See?” I drank my coffee and my pulse kicked. Yeah, this was what I needed.
“So, what did you do to him exactly?” JJ’s gaze flicked to Eli, bringing plates of food to the table, and then he focused on me.
“He was in the guy’s space and attempted to flatter him. I don’t think he’s the kind of guy who enjoys being told he’s cute.” With a snigger, Eli set the food on the table, next to a stack of plates and silverware.
“Oh, no…did I do that?” The memory slammed through my skull. Yes, yes, I did. “Well, he is.” I lifted my chin and then slid a plate my way as my stomach grumbled. I needed grease and protein.
“What does this mechanic look like, Eli?” JJ placed bacon and eggs on his plate.
“He’s good-looking for sure. He’s got longish dark hair and brown eyes, your typical brooding bad boy type.” Eli threw a few slices of bread onto his plate and grabbed the peanut butter.
“I wonder how many tattoos he has and where…” With a lazy grin, heat burned in my belly. What did he look like with his clothes off? If I rode him from behind, I’d pull on that long hair. My dick plumped in my athletic shorts. Fuck, I don’t need a boner at breakfast.
“Casey, get your mind out of the gutter.” Eli snorted. “He’s got that look, doesn’t he?” Eli pointed his fork at me.
“He sure does.” JJ freed a quick laugh and cut into his eggs. “Casey, if I didn’t know you better, I’d say you’re becoming obsessed with this guy.”
“Who, me?” Lifting my brows, I stared at JJ. I didn’t get obsessed with anyone. That wasn’t me. “Only because he’s avoiding my advances. Once I’ve had him, that’ll be it.” Or will it?
“Are you sure?” Eli poured some juice into a glass. “What if he forces you to date before he lets you have him? What if you, heaven forbid, catch feelings for him?”
“Maybe he already has.” With a sly grin, JJ ate a bite of bacon. “Ryker might be playing a cat-and-mouse game to get you.” He shook his bacon at me. “You might have met your match there, Carter.”
With a mock scoff, I drank some coffee. “No way.” It was merely a challenge, and I loved challenges.
Saturday morning, I was up early, packed with a few footballs and some training equipment and pulled up to the address Wes had given me. I parked in a guest spot at the apartment complex and tapped on my phone, resting in a holder on the dash.
Casey
Hey, I’m here.
The three dots danced on the screen.
Wes
I’m running a little late. Can you come to the apartment? I don’t want you sitting in your car for too long. It’s number 145.
“Oh.” My heart fluttered. Would Ryker be home? He said he wouldn’t be, but I’d gotten here early. I stepped out of the car and made my way across the complex of two-story stucco buildings and the pathway cutting through green lawn under tall trees.
As I stopped at the apartment, Ryker opened the door. “Oh, shit.” Dipping his head, he stepped backward and swung the door wider.
“Good morning to you too, sunshine.” I brushed past him and entered the main room, examining the place. It didn’t look like an apartment two young men would share. The flowered sofa and light woods said secondhand store to me and maybe something an older woman would have picked out. “Nice place.”
“Thanks.” After closing the door, Ryker stuffed his hands into the pockets of his grease-stained jeans. “It was our mother’s. We’re keeping it for when she…” Turning his back to me, he huffed and combed his fingers through his long bangs. “When she returns.”
He didn’t enjoy admitting his mom was in jail. But then, would anyone? I should apologize for my drunken behavior. “Hey, I’m sorry about the other night.” I stepped toward him and touched his arm. He wasn’t mad at me, was he?
He faced me, his gaze darting to mine and shifting away. “Yeah, it’s no big deal. Alcohol makes people say some crazy shit.” He peeked at me through his dark bangs. “I know you didn’t mean it.”
My brows swept up. “I, uh, but I did mean it.” As my lips tugged into a smirk, I said, “Alcohol also makes people tell the truth.” Didn’t he know how hot he was? Damn, it made him even hotter.
“Yeah, right.” A pink hue spread across his cheeks, and he rubbed his nape. “Anyway, I’ve got to go to the shop.”
I wouldn’t let that one go. As I stepped closer to him, I grabbed his hand and said, “I find you attractive, Ryker. Maybe sometime you’ll let me show you how much?” An ache floated across my heart. He seemed vulnerable for once and, damn, it got to me.
His gaze locked on mine, and his jaw fell. “I-I don’t know. Let me think about it.” With a wince, he headed for the door.
Chasing him, I covered his hand with mine as he grabbed the doorknob, my chest pressing to his side. Heat ignited inside me. I nuzzled his ear, his scent surrounding me in coconut and musk, and said, “I’ll be here waiting when you say yes.” Goddamn, if his brother weren’t around—
“Okay, I’m ready,” Wes’s voice filled the apartment.
Ryker’s breath hitched, and he stood still. In the smallest of whispers, he said, “Yes.”
I freed him and took a long step backward. “See you later. Have a great day at work.” Did I hear him right?
He opened the door and glanced behind me at his brother. “Listen to what Casey says, and I’ll see you tonight.” Slamming the door shut, he left.
“Okay, let’s see what we’ve got.” Rubbing my hands together, I faced Wes, dressed in his high school athletic wear and cleats. Perfect. “I brought Gatorade. Do you have any snacks you want to bring?”
He hung his head. “No.”
“Okay, then we’ll hit the store first and pick something up.
I’d have brought some protein bars, but I didn’t know if you’d like the ones I do.
” I had to focus on Wes now. But Ryker had said yes, didn’t he?
How would I get in touch with him later?
Oh, I had a phone number. I could ask Wes to confirm it belonged to his brother.
“Come on, let’s go.” I opened the door and waited for Wes to join me.
Many drills plus countless passes later, we rested at a picnic table under tree cover within the Tempe park. I liked this one because there were a lot of trees, and with the sunshine and hot temps, shade was essential.
Wes tore the package open on a protein bar. “I’m starved.”
“Training will do that to you.” I sipped an orange Gatorade and looked across the expanse of grass, fighting to stay green with the lack of rain. Maybe he’d want to discuss his mother, and I could find out what the hell happened? “Do you mind telling me about the situation with your mom?”
“No, I don’t mind.” He bit into his bar.
“Ryker hates talking about it, but it is what it is.” His attention turned to me.
“Her boyfriend told her a load of shit about being from a rich family. He said they disowned him because he didn’t finish college.
So, he told her he had some shit at his parents’ house, and he wanted it back.
Expensive shit they could sell.” Sipping some Gatorade, he said, “He had her drive them to the house, and he broke into it.” He rolled his eyes.
“He told her his parents were on vacation.”
I watched him, the nonchalant way he spoke about this. It had to have affected him, right? But maybe kids were just more resilient?
“But of course, they weren’t his parents, and they weren’t on vacation. A woman was home, and he shot her while trying to steal her jewelry. I guess he worked with a security crew on the house, which is how he broke in so easily.” He pulled the wrapper down on his bar.
I blinked. Holy shit. “What happened to the woman he shot?”