Chapter 1
Chapter One
GYPSY
Sitting at the wooden picnic table beneath a large tree, I lifted my glass of iced tea and took a sip. The cool drink and nice shade offered a reprieve from the heat of the bright sunshine beating down.
I was enjoying a rare Saturday off, spending it at my girl Eden’s place with my family, friends, and half the town.
After months of dating, her man Lincoln had finally popped the question, putting a giant diamond on Eden’s finger, and we’d all gathered to help them celebrate at the gorgeous cabin he’d built for her in the foothills of Hope Valley.
After a night at the ritzy restaurant The Groves, Eden had offhandedly mentioned how it was a dream of hers to live in a big cabin in the mountains.
So Lincoln had given her one. The stunning house with its immaculate views was a testament to his love for her.
And I was beyond happy that my friend had a man who’d made it clear he would give her anything and everything she could ever want.
But while I knew in my heart that no one deserved to be treated like a queen more than Eden, I couldn’t help but feel a small pang of envy knowing I’d probably never inspire that kind of devotion in a man.
As if I’d conjured her by thought, Eden appeared at my side and plunked a pitcher of margaritas onto the table before tucking in on the bench beside me.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I need a drink.
” She proceeded to pour five margaritas, one for herself, our friends Temperance, Nona, Rory, and one for me.
Pushing my tea aside, I grabbed the margarita glass, ready for something stronger.
Nona gave her a pitying look. “This is a good thing, doll. Try not to stress about it.”
Eden was one of the kindest, sweetest women I’d ever met, but for years she’d kept herself so closed off from the world that being the center of attention was a struggle for her. Having all these people here for an engagement party in her and Lincoln’s honor had to be hard.
She sucked back a big gulp of her margarita before pulling in a long, calming breath. “Yeah, I know. And I’m happy, believe me.” Her eyes were drawn to the big rock glinting on her ring finger. “I’m so happy.”
“Then that’s all you need to think about,” I said, reaching over to place my hand on top of hers. “When the crowd gets to be too much, you come find us like you are now, and we’ll talk you down.”
Her big, expressive eyes were full of panic as she asked, “And on the wedding day?”
“That’s why you have us, babe,” Rory stated seriously. “And champagne. Us and champagne.”
“We’ll totally get you through it,” Temperance added. “That’s what we’re here for.”
That seemed to work like a charm. The clouds in her gaze finally lifted, and her shoulders loosened. The conversation after that was a lot less tense, and I was enjoying the time spent relaxing with my girls when my skin suddenly began to tingle with awareness.
I’d been so wrapped up in our conversation that I hadn’t noticed the Jeep Cherokee parking next to the other cars, or the gorgeous man with dangerously sexy hazel eyes climbing from the driver seat and heading in our direction.
“Well, hot damn!” Nona let out a laugh, catching sight of Marco at the same time I had. “Looks like a certain Latin hottie’s just arrived, and as usual, he’s already spotted our girl.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” I muttered behind my margarita glass, hoping and praying Marco hadn’t heard her. “You realize you’re making something out of nothing, right?”
“I don’t know, Gypsy.” Rory giggled. “That look on his face right now’s saying a whole lot more than nothing.”
My eyes moved of their own accord, going straight back to Marco.
The man didn’t just walk, he prowled. His movements were so commanding and fluid.
He was in complete and total control of his body in a way I’d never seen from another man, and that control was what took his already incredible looks to a totally different stratosphere.
Marco’s inky black hair shined beneath the sunlight, and my fingers itched with the desire to touch it and find out if it felt as soft as it looked.
Several days’ worth of dark stubble lined a square jaw and distinct cheekbones.
His chiseled features and the deep caramel color of his skin only made the pale color of his eyes that much more stunning.
The vintage Harley t-shirt he was wearing stretched across broad shoulders and a wide, strong chest. His jeans were faded around the crotch from excess wash and wear, drawing my attention to the unmistakable bulge beneath the denim.
The material hugged him to perfection, showing off thick, powerful thighs and a tapered waist.
The whole package was enough to make my knees quake, but when our gazes connected and one corner of his full lips tilted upward in a smirk, my body reacted. My nipples grew hard beneath my bra, and a rush of arousal dampened my panties, causing me to squirm on the bench.
“Ladies,” he said in a husky voice that was as rich as a fine dark chocolate or the smoothest whiskey.
“Hey, Marco.” Eden tipped her head back. “Thanks so much for coming.”
He bent at the waist, lowering to press a kiss against her cheek. “You kidding? Wouldn’t miss it, darlin’. Just sorry I’m late.”
“Don’t even worry about it. I’m just glad you’re here.”
“Happy for you, sweetheart,” he told her, smiling genuinely. “Lincoln’s one lucky son of a bitch.”
Every inch of my body prickled with awareness, and I was fighting a hard battle to keep from staring at the man only a couple feet away. Every time I was in his presence, I became very aware that I was a woman.
A woman who hadn’t had sex in an embarrassingly long time.
She let out a giggle, showing that even she wasn’t immune to all that was Marco Castillo.
“You’re too sweet.” From the corner of my eye, I caught Eden turn her focus on me as she not-so-subtly stated, “The men in town are being snatched up left and right. Only a matter of time before it’s your turn, Marco. ”
Oh, sweet merciful Christ.
Sucking back the last of my margarita, I put the glass down with a heavy thunk and shot to my feet. “Excuse me for a sec. I need to… pee.”
I couldn’t believe I’d just said that. But then again, Marco had a way of making me forget how to act, or hell, even remember my own name. I was constantly doing or saying stupid shit in his presence.
Not giving my friends a chance to make fun of me, I scrambled over the bench and started as fast as I could toward the house. It wasn’t until I was closed in the half bath nestled beneath the stairs that I was able to take a full breath.
“Good lord, Gypsy,” I scolded my reflection in the mirror. “Will you get your shit together and act like a normal, sane human being?”
I turned the tap for the cold water all the way up and held my wrists underneath, closing my eyes and breathing slowly to calm my frazzled nerves. After a couple of minutes, I finally started to feel normal once again, and decided it was time to stop hiding and rejoin the party.
I should have known I wasn’t going to get off scot-free with friends like mine. When I pulled the bathroom door open, Rory was standing on the other side, her face a mask of concern with a hint of curiosity. “Hey, honey. You okay?”
“Yeah.” I gave her a smile that felt somewhat plastic. “All good.”
Her eyes narrowed speculatively. “You sure? ’Cause you kind of ran away from us like your ass was on fire. That have anything to do with your crazy attraction to a certain hazel-eyed Adonis?”
“Drop it, Ror,” I warned, then started back through the house with her close on my tail.
“No way in hell, Gypsy,” my friend continued to argue. “I see the way you look at him. It’s so obvious to everyone that you two dig each other. I don’t understand why you won’t just go for it.”
Her exasperated tone pulled me up short. “A woman like me doesn’t land a man like that,” I said in a dead-calm voice, even while my heart beat rapidly against my breastbone.
Rory’s face pinched in displeasure as she planted her hands on her hips. “You know, you keep saying that, and it’s really starting to piss me off. You talk like there’s something wrong with you when the truth is there’s nothing wrong! You’re incredible and kind and loyal—”
“And a stripper who lives in a run-down trailer in a shitty part of town.”
“That’s not your fault,” she snapped. “You’re doing the best you can. I don’t understand why you keep holding circumstances beyond your control against yourself.”
I loved Rory—I loved all my friends—but they didn’t understand. I’d given them just enough of myself to make sure our relationships stayed intact. But I wasn’t the woman they thought I was. I’d made mistakes—huge mistakes—for no reason but pure selfishness.
I’d spent the last few years trying my hardest to be a different person than I was back then, but there was no erasing the past.
“Rory, I appreciate everything you’re saying, but just let this one go. Please.”
Her expression remained obstinate for a few beats, and I held my breath, waiting for her reply.
Finally, she relented on a grumble. “Fine. Just so long as you know I’m not happy about it.”
My shoulders sagged in relief. “I accept that,” I replied with a small grin. “You love me, so you’ll get over it.”
“You know, you’re a real pain in the ass when you’re right.”
Letting out a low chuckle, I hooked my arm through Rory’s and started toward the front door.
Now that I’d dodged that bullet, I was ready to push all the unpleasantness to the back of my mind and enjoy the rest of the beautiful day, surrounded by the people I loved, before the dark clouds of reality returned.
Marco
A flash of movement caught my eye, and I turned away from the conversation I was in the middle of to watch Gypsy come waltzing out of the cabin, arm in arm with her friend Rory.