Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Amelia
I swear to God, if I didn’t have shitty luck, I’d have no luck at all.
I slam the back of my head against the headrest and stare out the windshield.
Smoke puffs out from beneath the hood of my car, and the scent of burning rubber fills my nostrils.
Fearing the thing is about to blow, I turn off the engine, undo my seatbelt in a hurry, and jump out of the car.
Smoke continues to rise from the hood, and that putrid scent of burning rubber is even more intense outside the car.
I won’t pretend like I know what the problem is or how to fix it, but as I stare at the hunk of junk smoking in the middle of Main Street, I gotta wonder if it has something to do with the engine light I’ve been ignoring for the last two months.
Very irresponsible, I know, but I had every intention of bringing it into the shop.
I just never had the time or the extra funds.
That’s also why I’ve been driving around with a donut on the back passenger tire.
Fucking tires are expensive. I don’t even want to think about how much an engine will cost.
The night Shadow and I drove the men back to the ranch, he noticed the check engine light was on and offered to take it to his friend’s shop.
Knowing he would likely pick up the bill for the repairs, I lied and told him I already had a guy—some regular from the bar—who was going to fix it for me at a discounted price.
To save face, I made a bigger mess of things.
Now, I’m going to have to call him and disrupt his night.
He’ll yell and tell me I’m too stubborn for my own good, then he’ll have my car towed, and pay for the repairs.
I’ll have to cancel my table at the farmer’s market this weekend and figure out how I’m going to get myself to work and Dylan to school.
Reaching into my back pocket, I grab my phone. I’m about to pull up my cousin’s contact information when a pair of headlights flash in front of me, temporarily distracting me. I lift my head, squinting against the flashing lights and wave them off.
“Go around me,” I shout to the inconsiderate fool. “Can’t you see I’m stuck?”
Instead of doing as they’re told, the driver of the truck pulls over to the side, parking directly in front of me, but doesn’t turn off the engine or the damn headlights. Now would probably be a good time to reach for that pepper spray I keep in the glove box, but I can’t seem to move my feet.
A broken-down car wasn’t bad enough; let’s add an assault on the side of the road for good measure.
The driver’s door opens, and that’s when I notice the Meadow’s Ranch logo on the side. Of course, it isn’t Wyatt or Grant that steps out of the truck, making it even more clear that I am not God’s favorite person.
Twisting my lips, I gawk at the six-foot three brooding rancher as he slams the door to his truck and saunters over to me, a scowl planted on his face.
“What the hell are you doing out here by yourself at this hour?” Maddox growls.
My car breaking down should’ve been my breaking point, but the tone he takes turns out to be it instead.
I slide my phone into my back pocket and cross my arms under my chest. “Oh, you know, just taking in the sights. There’s something so tranquil about Main Street at this hour.”
“It’s two o’clock in the morning, Amelia,” he fires back, his boots coming to a halt six inches away from mine.
“You can tell time. Impressive.”
His jaw twitches as he glares at me, and his nostrils flare. I shouldn’t find any of it attractive, but I do, and that only makes me angrier.
“That mouth is gonna get you into a world of trouble.”
I roll my eyes. “If you don’t like it, leave. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly having a good night.”
“Yeah, well, that makes two of us. Get in the truck. I’ll take you home.”
“I’m not leaving my car in the middle of Main Street.”
And I’m certainly not getting into his truck.
We both seem out of sorts, and being in a confined space with him is a terrible idea.
Plus, I rather he not know where I live.
He doesn’t need that information, just like there was no reason for me to give him my phone number when he asked for it the other night.
We’re not friends. We’re nothing, and I’d really like it if we could go back to pretending neither of us exists to one another.
“I doubt anyone wants it. You’re a good distance from the curb and not blocking any traffic. You can leave it where it is, and we will have it towed in the morning.”
“We?” I admonish. “There is no we.”
His jaw goes tight, and he shakes his head.
“Look, I know I’m not your favorite person, but you’re being ridiculous right now. It’s fucking late. Just get in the goddamn car and let me take you home.”
I scoff. “That’s cute. Tell me, do you bark orders at all the girls?”
“No.”
“Well, sorry to disappoint, but you picked the wrong girl tonight. I don’t take kindly to men ordering me around.”
He bites the inside of his cheek, his gaze tracking me from head to toe. “That’s not how I remember it.” He takes a step closer and pins me with a heated stare. “I’m not other men, and you liked it just fine when I ordered you around.”
Shocks swarms me for a moment, but I quickly recover. For over a decade we danced around what happened between us, pretending as if that summer never existed.
As if he hadn’t abandoned me, completely altering the trajectory of my life.
But if he wants to take a trip down memory lane, and air out our grievances, then I’m game. I got years of resentment to unleash, and not a single fuck left to give.
“That was a long time ago. We’re not hiding out in the stables of your barn testing out ways you can make me come without actually fucking me.”
His tongue sneaks out of his mouth, tracing his bottom lip. “We could be.”
This time I can’t hide the shock that courses through me and my mouth gapes open.
“You are of legal age now, and I’m not feeling very responsible tonight. We could burn the world down, baby. Just say the word.”
There isn’t a single part of me that believes Maddox will follow through. Before I can stop myself, I take a step closer to him, erasing the little distance between us.
My problems will still be my problems when he walks away.
And he will undoubtedly walk away.
It’s what Maddox does best.
Meeting his gaze, I twist my fingers around the front of his shirt and pull him toward me.
“You’re all talk, cowboy.”
“Why don’t you get in the truck and see if that’s so?”
I laugh, but there’s no humor to it. “What are you going to do? Fuck me on Main Street, where anybody can see?”
His big hands move to my hips, and he squeezes slightly as he holds my gaze. The courage I felt moments ago teeters as the air between us thickens. I don’t remember the last time I felt like this… so out of control.
So damn needy.
“Look around, sweetheart. Ain’t nobody in sight but you and me.”
I hum thoughtfully, my fingers flexing around the thin fabric of his shirt.
“That checks, then. I’ve always been your dirty little secret.”
It’s a truth I never allowed myself to speak, one that stings.
Swallowing thickly, I cock my head to the side.
Maybe this isn’t a cruel twist of fate or God doing his worst. Perhaps the stars aligned for me to change the past and make this moment mine.
If that’s the case, I shouldn’t squander the opportunity.
My gaze flits to his lips then back to his eyes. “We should change that. Tonight, you can be my dirty little secret, and tomorrow I can pretend like you don’t exist.”
My God. I bet that would feel powerful. To use him and leave him like he did me. A little karma if you will.
“If that’s how you want to play it.”
He’s being too agreeable. Too nonchalant. I wait for those pesky warning bells to sound, but all I hear is the sound of my thrumming pulse. I think we both need this moment of insanity more than we need our next breaths.
Without giving it a second thought, I release his shirt and turn on my heel. I make my way to my car and pull open the driver’s door, plucking my key fob from the center console, as well as my purse. When I have my belongings, I slam the door shut and hit the lock button on the key fob.
I turn my head and my eyes lock with Maddox’s. Wordlessly, he rounds the front of his truck and opens the passenger door for me, crossing one boot in front of the other as he leans against it.
I want to hate him for so many reasons, but mainly I just want to hate him for looking so good. I mean the man looks like he belongs on the set of Yellowstone.
Move over Rip. There’s a new cowboy in town.
“I don’t bite, Amelia. Not unless you beg.”
Squaring my shoulders, I saunter toward him, silently reminding myself to breathe with every step I take. I pause next to him and meet his stare. I don’t remember his eyes being so dark.
“I don’t beg,” my voice slightly unsteady.
He flashes me a grin, and I swear to Christ, my knees almost buckle at the sight. I don’t remember his smile being so devastatingly beautiful either.
“You will tonight.”
I don’t respond because he’s probably right, and I’m oddly okay with that. I slide into the passenger seat and toss my purse onto the floor in front of my feet. Twisting around, I reach for the seatbelt, but Maddox closes his hand over mine.
“Let’s not pretend you’ll be needing that.” Intertwining his fingers with mine, he lowers my hand to the waistband of my jeans. “Your efforts would be more useful in taking these off.”
Then he releases my hand and lifts both of his to frame my face. Inching closer, his nose brushes mine.
“Gonna kiss you now, Amelia, and once I do, I’m gonna own this pretty little mouth.” His thumb trails over my lower lip. “I still think about the first time I fucked it. You looked so beautiful in the stables, on your knees and naked as the day you were born, with your mouth full of cock.”
“I’m not sucking your dick tonight.”
He smiles devilishly.