SPRING-BREAK MADNESS
BELLA
A fter Addi and Patrick’s wedding, I was feeling all kinds of emotions. Romance was in the air, and even though it was so much fun spending time with the family—including Sarina, who I now adored—I wanted to be alone with my man.
My. Man.
It was still surreal to think that the guy I’d been dreaming about forever was actually mine. Matthew O’Grady was my boyfriend. Crazy. I wished I could go back in time and tell that heartbroken teenager that, one day, he’d be obsessed with her. There was no way she’d believe it.
“I’m ready to leave.” I leaned up on my tiptoes to whisper into Matthew’s ear.
He whipped his head around to face me, and without argument, he reached for my hand. “Let’s go then.”
We said our goodbyes and headed into the night air. Matthew opened the door for me and helped me inside his oversize truck. I swore that I needed a ladder half the time to get up in my seat.
“Our place or your place?” he asked as soon as we were both buckled in.
We rarely spent any time in my apartment, but I thought I’d change things up.
“The apartment,” I said, and he shot me a look as if he could read my mind.
“All right. Your place it is.”
He put the truck in drive and took off. We got there in what felt like record time. Once we were inside, I wondered why on earth I’d told him to bring us here in the first place. It was nowhere near as nice as his house was, and the privacy was definitely lacking with all the shared walls. We could currently hear the television from next door blaring on one side and the sound of a blender roaring on the other.
“Regretting your choice?” he teased as he took a step toward me.
I threw my purse on the counter and immediately kicked off my shoes as my hair fell in front of my face. Reaching for it, I twirled it into a knot behind my head, knowing it most likely wouldn’t hold.
“A little,” I admitted, but he only laughed.
“Doesn’t matter where we are, babe, as long as we’re together,” he said, and even though I wanted to tell him that was cheesy, a part of me knew he meant it.
Matthew had been working a lot at the resort. There were nights that he was at work later than I was, which was definitely a change for us. I was used to being the one who came home after dark, not him.
“I do kind of miss you hanging out at the bar.” I grinned, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth.
“I knew you would.”
So cocky.
“You being there grew on me, I guess. Now, it’s just weird when I don’t see you at all.” All my words were coming out like complaints, but I didn’t mean them to. “But I’m proud of you.”
“How proud?” He took another step.
I had no idea how to answer that question because what the heck was the grading scale on proudness?
“Um…” I stumbled as he reached for my body and pulled me close.
“I love you, Bells. I’m so in love with you.”
“Oh,” I stuttered, my heart feeling like it was going to pound straight out of my chest at any second and run for its life. “The wedding made you mushy.”
His cocky grinned dimmed for only a second before returning. “You don’t love me?”
“Of course I do.” I swatted his chest.
“Then, say it,” he pushed, his blue eyes boring into mine with what looked like desperation of sorts.
“I love you, Matthew. I always have.”
He released a breath. Maybe from relief.
“Never leave me.”
It was a simple request that sounded more like a plea than anything else. My man was scarred. That happened when you lost your mother. It changed things deep inside of you. Made tomorrow feel less certain. That kind of loss reminded you that your loved ones could be taken away from you in a split second without your say or approval.
“I won’t,” I promised as I cupped his scruffy cheek with my palm and ran my other hand through his brown hair. “You neither.”
“Never.”
He leaned down and took my mouth with his, his tongue snaking its way inside, and my body melted into his hands. He cupped my ass, encouraging me to jump, and I did, wrapping my legs around his middle as he walked us toward my bedroom, our mouths fused together the entire time.
When his legs hit the side of my bed, he dropped me on top of it as carefully as he could, but my body still bounced.
“The wedding did make me mushy, as you said. All I want to do is make love to you long and slow. I won’t be going fast, babe. I plan on taking my time.”
His hand moved to the buttons on his dress shirt as he undid them one at a time before getting rid of it, his glorious chest and shoulders on full display.
“That doesn’t sound horrible.”
I loved everything that we’d done so far in the bedroom. Being with Matthew had been beyond my wildest dreams. There were times we laughed so hard that we cried. And he gave me orgasms that made my body shake for what felt like minutes before I finally came back down—they were that intense. The man was a skilled lover, and for some reason, it no longer made me feel insecure or lacking in any way. Matthew had reassured me numerous times that lovemaking was something he’d never done with anyone else before. I was his first. And I planned on being his last.
Matthew and I had settled into our newest routine over the last couple of weeks. We texted throughout the day, and once I got off work, we planned our evening together. It usually included me going to my place, grabbing some of my stuff, and heading over to his house to spend the night, where he’d ask me to move in with him… again . He was always asking. And I was always telling him no and reminding him of our compromise, which he claimed he’d forgotten about.
“How’s work?” I asked him one night as we lay in bed together after he ravished my body to the point of exhaustion.
“I like it,” he said with a grin. “There’s a lot to learn, and my dad has years of experience under his belt, so it’s a bit overwhelming. But I think I’ll get the hang of it. Eventually.”
“It suits you.” I scooted closer to him and draped an arm across his stomach.
“You think? More than hockey?” His voice shook a little. Or I might have imagined it.
“You are a hockey player through and through, but this is a nice next step. Running your family’s resort?” I asked it like a question. “Being the face of it. The man that everyone comes to, including the guests. You’re one of the most outgoing and charming people I’ve ever known. This job was made for you.”
“Damn, Bells, if I didn’t know any better, I might think you like me.” His fingers were in my hair, running through it and pulling at the long strands.
I put my fingers up and held them about an inch apart. “Just a little,” I said.
He spun us over so quickly that I was on my back as he hovered above me before I could let out another sound. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to my lips.
“If I wasn’t so drained, I’d punish you for that.”
“Oh, yeah?” My hands wrapped around his lower back, and I dug my nails into his skin. He seemed to like it when I wasn’t entirely gentle.
“Normally, your little claws of death would get me going, babe. But I don’t have it in me,” he said before planting a soft kiss on my cheek.
“Then, you’d better roll over so you don’t crush me when you pass out.” I pushed at his shoulders, and he pretended like I had the strength to move him when we both knew that wasn’t even remotely true.
He moved around to get comfortable before he grabbed me and tugged my entire body against him. Matthew liked it when I lay on his chest, but I always had to put a pillow between his body and my head; otherwise, it killed my neck.
“Has the bar been busy?” he asked through a yawn.
“Oh, yeah. Spring break is officially here,” I answered.
Tourist season had begun, and Sugar Mountain temporarily became a different kind of place as the weather heated up. It was crazy to think how comfortable and safe our small town felt when it wasn’t filled to the brim with strangers. Typically, you couldn’t walk down the street without seeing someone you knew. But during spring break, there were definitely more foreign faces than there were familiar ones.
Vacation time brought in all types of people—from families to frat boys. Sugar Mountain wasn’t a party town, but it could turn into one a few times a year. It made my job a hell of a lot harder. I wasn’t only a bartender, but I doubled as a babysitter to grown men as well. If I didn’t cut some of them off, they’d drink themselves into a coma or drive drunk, and I refused to have that on my conscience. I’d taken more car keys and called more cabs than I cared to count. Which meant dealing with bad attitudes and pissed-off drunks. Trying to reason with folks who were not in the frame of mind to be reasoned with was never a good time.
“Same. The resort is at capacity.” His words came out in almost a mumble, and within seconds, he was lightly snoring.
The way Matthew could be awake one second and asleep the next always astounded me. When I’d texted Anna about it one time, she’d sent me a laughing-face emoji and said it was a guy thing and that I should get used to it.
Even though I didn’t spend my nights alone anymore, I still missed my best friend. She’d only been back for a handful of months before she was gone again. And I knew that she wouldn’t be moving back here anytime soon, if ever. There were some people who were meant to stay in their small towns, and some who weren’t. I wasn’t just meant to stay here in Sugar Mountain; I wanted to be here.
The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed and a note on the pillow. Matthew had gotten up early and headed to the resort to try to beat his dad there. He’d been trying to get to work before his dad for the last week or so and failed every time. I was sure that Grant O’Grady knew exactly what his youngest son was up to and he wasn’t going to let him win. Men were competitive. The O’Grady men were no different.
I stretched my body, took a shower, and headed out to my apartment to get ready for work, snagging the note he’d left to bring with me. I might have started a little Matthew box, which included receipts and any mementos of our time together. There wasn’t a lot in it yet, but every relationship started somewhere.
My bar was currently packed with a group of guys around my age. They’d driven up from the city on a whim at the last minute, and they couldn’t stop talking about the party they were throwing later. I made each of them an old-fashioned. Half downed theirs in one gulp, and the others sipped on them.
“How are you guys enjoying the town?” I asked, trying to be friendly, but not flirty. It was hard at times because you never knew how a guy would take your words, let alone your body language.
“It’s cool. Do all the chicks look like you here?” a guy with a goatee asked.
I could tell it was the only facial hair he could grow. There wasn’t an ounce of scruff anywhere else on his face.
“I’m not sure how to answer that.” I laughed as I reached for the empty glasses and put them in the sink.
“Come to our rental later,” another guy with bright red hair said.
I flashed him a frown. “Wish I could, but I have plans,” I said, regretting my words instantly. The wish I could part was a bad thing to say.
“Ditch your plans.” Goatee Guy reached for my hand as I leaned on top of the bar, but I pulled away and started washing the glasses.
“My boyfriend would not like that.”
There. Now, they knew I had a boyfriend, and they’d back off. Hopefully.
“Bring him too,” one of the other guys added before finishing off the rest of his drink.
“Uh, no.” Goatee Guy spoke roughly. “Definitely do not bring him. I’ll take another, by the way,” he said before chugging and commanding the rest of his buddies to do the same.
“Another round,” they cheered.
“You got it,” I said before taking their used glasses away and turning around to make new drinks.
After this round, I’d start paying closer attention to their behavior and make sure I didn’t need to take any car keys away.
I finished the drinks and handed them out one at a time. “If you guys want to meet other tourists, you might want to head over to Sugar Saloon.”
“Where’s that at?”
I pointed, as if they could see the building if they turned around. “Out the doors, make a left, and it’s basically around back. You can’t miss it. Great place. Historical. It’s where everyone hangs out.”
“How good are their drinks?” Goatee Guy asked as he took a sip. “’Cause these are fucking good.”
“You’ll be in good hands,” I encouraged.
His dark eyes flashed to my stomach, where my skin was exposed. “Doubt that.”
“Trust me, the saloon will be more your vibe.”
“I think you’re my vibe,” Goatee Guy added.
The redhead threw an arm around him. “Okay, buddy, she said she has a boyfriend. You can back off now.”
He was trying to defuse the situation, but Goatee Guy shoved him off.
Note to self: Redhead is the reasonable one in the group.
I gave him a small smile and mouthed, Thanks .
I was actually happy when they paid their tab and headed out, asking for directions to the saloon one more time. When I glanced at the wad of cash they’d left behind, I was pleasantly surprised. Usually, the younger guys didn’t tip very well, if at all. This was a nice change of pace. I tossed the extra bills inside a margarita glass next to the register.
The rest of my shift was uneventful. We were packed, but that was to be expected. Most of the tourists didn’t hang around too long after they ate, as the restaurant really didn’t give off that kind of atmosphere. They would grab a drink or two at most. It was so different than the saloon, but it was definitely a difference that I appreciated.
“I think I broke Butch,” Addi said as soon as the last customer left. She locked the front door and pulled down the shade before walking over to the bar.
“Don’t lean on that.” I stopped her before she could rest her arms on the bar top. It was sticky and needed to be cleaned.
“Thank you for that,” she said, making a face.
“Now, what were you saying? You broke the smoker?” I had no idea if she was being serious or not, but no smoker equaled no food.
“Not really. I just feel like I’m running him ragged. I forgot how insane it gets here when the tourists come to town.”
Addi had lived in Manhattan for a few years. And even though she’d told me all about the crowds there, she hadn’t been making barbeque or anything that required hours of cooking on top of days of marinating.
“It does get pretty intense around here,” I agreed.
“Take any keys today?” She laughed as she asked the question that had kind of become our joke in the past week or so.
“Surprisingly, no.”
“That’s good. So, listen”—she propped her hip out and readjusted her ponytail as she shot me a look—“you need to hire someone else. You can’t be the only bartender. We’re going to be too busy, and you’ll need days off.”
My last boss had never uttered those words to me before, but I shouldn’t have been so shocked to hear them coming out of Addi’s mouth.
“I know. I could use the help.”
“Have anyone in mind?”
I tapped the side of my head as I thumbed through my mental contact list. “There might be someone. And I don’t mean to sound sexist, but it might be helpful to have a guy behind the bar.”
“For safety reasons or…” she asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. I mean, it sounds kind of stupid, but when there’s a man around, the patrons don’t typically get as grabby or mouthy toward me.”
“It’s not stupid. It’s logical. Who are you thinking about?”
“Ben. He worked at the saloon with me. I’m not even sure if he’s still there or not. I heard things went downhill pretty fast after I left, but I don’t know how true that is,” I explained.
“Reach out. Get him in. Hire him tonight.”
I laughed. Addi made everything so easy. I was used to planning my conversations with my old boss, Barry, for days. He was so combative and resistant. Everything had been a challenge. Even when it made him more money, he fought me on it. The man hated change. And sometimes, I’d thought he hated me as well.
“I’ll give him a call either tonight or tomorrow,” I said.
She smiled. “Sounds good. I’m going to go tell Butch how much I love him and what a good job he’s doing.”
“You know he’s not real, right? It’s just a machine, not your—”
“Hush!” Addi interrupted me and threw up a hand. “He’s the second love of my life. I’m nothing without him.”
“I won’t tell your husband you said that,” I teased, emphasizing the word husband , and I saw Addi’s cheeks instantly blush.
“He knows. I have Butch, and he has Jasper. It’s fair.”
“You two are weird now that you’re married.”
“I know! It’s so fun!” She didn’t even argue as she walked away, giggling before disappearing out of view.
I fired off a text to Matthew, letting him know that I had about an hour left at the restaurant and then I’d stop at home to grab a few things before heading over. He responded the way he had been lately.
Bring all your things. Just move in.
LOL. See you in a bit.
I love you.
Love you too.
After cleaning and prepping the bar for the next day, I tossed all of my dirty towels into the washing machine in the back room.
“I’m heading out,” I shouted.
Addi’s voice filtered through the air from somewhere inside. “See you tomorrow. Call Ben.”
“I will. Bye!”
I took one last look around and locked the patio door behind me. Who knew how long Addi would stay here before finally leaving? As I walked to my car, I could hear loud music and singing coming from Sugar Saloon. That was how you knew the tourists were in town. It sounded like a festival.
Driving to my complex with the windows down, I let the evening air in. It wasn’t necessarily warm at this time, but it wasn’t cold anymore either. My hair blew all around, blocking my vision a little, and I knew I’d pay for that when I got home.
Nothing a little detangler and combing won’t fix , I muttered to myself.
Parking in my designated spot, I grabbed my purse and walked absentmindedly up the stairs toward my door. Music was playing from one of the apartments, and it only grew louder as I neared my place.
“Someone must be having a party,” I said out loud to myself.
Goatee Guy from the bar was suddenly in my line of sight, stopping me from moving any further.
Did he follow me here? No, he’d left way before my shift ended.
I glanced behind me nervously, afraid that I might be boxed in by the rest of his buddies, but no one else was around.
“Oh, wow. It’s my lucky night.” Goatee Guy slurred his words and took another step toward me.
My front door was right next to where he was standing, and I did not want him to know where I lived. My mind raced as I flipped through ways to handle the situation. I wanted to be nice to the guy, but not too nice. I knew that there was a fine line between not leading a man on and also not pissing him off. It was the potential for making him mad that worried me the most.
An angry man could be a dangerous one.
It was just a fact of life.
“You’re so tiny.”
He took another step, and instead of turning around and bolting, I froze.
I usually had a can of mace in my purse, but it was expired, and I’d thrown it out before replacing it. But I would have been too shocked to search for it anyway. My brain couldn’t process what was happening.
There must have been a third option when it came to the whole fight-or-flight response because I wasn’t inclined to do either of those two things. I was terrified that if I tried to run, he’d chase me. There was no way I could outrun him. What would happen once he caught me? Things could get really bad, really fast.
I swallowed hard when he spoke again, his words coming out slowly. “I bet you suck good cock. Look at that perfect little mouth.”
Chills raced down my spine as tears filled my eyes.
“Where are your friends?” I had no idea where that question had come from or why, but when I saw his eyes narrow, I wondered for a second if I’d made a mistake in choosing to talk at all.
“Back there.” He nodded behind him, but didn’t take his eyes off me. “You want to suck them off instead? No fucking way. I saw you first. I told them earlier that you were mine.”
“I told you that I have a boyfriend.” My voice shook, and I hoped he couldn’t hear it. My weakness would probably only turn him on more.
“I don’t see him anywhere.”
“He’s on his way,” I lied.
Goatee Guy just laughed. “Sure he is.”
He took another step and reached for my head. Before I knew what was happening, he had a chunk of my hair fisted tight in his hand. I couldn’t even move. Trying to turn my head or put distance between us sent out shock waves of pain through my neck.
He pulled me down by my hair. If I didn’t move with him, he was going to rip it out.
“Get on your knees.”
I did as he’d demanded. I had no choice. The pain was unbearable, but the fear was overwhelming. Tears sprang from my eyes and started spilling down my cheeks.
“Please let me go,” I managed to get out between shaky breaths.
He tugged his shorts down, and his hard penis was inches from my face. I ground my teeth together and clenched my jaw as hard as I could.
“Be a good little bitch and suck my dick.”
I refused to open my mouth, even as he pressed the tip against my lips and tried to force himself inside. His grip on my hair tightened, and I could barely even move. He pulled it hard, and I went to yell, which was exactly what he wanted—my mouth to open.
“What the fuck are you doing?” someone shouted.
A sliver of relief shot through me as soon as he let go of my hair and I could move my head freely again.
I pushed up from my knees and stood, but Goatee Guy grabbed me by the arm in a vise grip and held me in place.
“Nothing, asshole,” Goatee Guy shouted back.
It was the redheaded guy. The logical one from earlier.
“Let her go.” His voice sounded menacing.
“No way. We were just about to have a little fun, weren’t we, sweetheart?”
Redhead was in his face in an instant, prying his hands off of my body. “Get the fuck inside.” He shoved him hard. “Get him,” he screamed toward the rest of their group.
The guys pulled Goatee Guy away, basically kicking and screaming. He wanted to finish what he’d started.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Redhead was asking me questions, but I was still too shocked.
I tried to steady my breathing, but nothing worked.
“Leave me alone,” I said.
I didn’t trust this guy. I didn’t even know him.
“Uh… yeah. Of course. I’m really sorry. He’s super drunk,” he explained as he hustled away, as if being super drunk gave Goatee Guy some kind of pass in a situation like this.
They probably thought it did.
I stumbled quickly to my front door and dead-bolted it behind me, making sure the windows were locked before I pulled the blinds closed tight. Then, I collapsed on the couch, my whole body shaking. When I reached for my phone, I pulled up Matthew’s phone number and pressed Call.