CHAPTER 4
Maverick
Every muscle in my body clenches to the point of pain. My fists open and close at the sound of her name. It can’t be. I push the button again, “I’ll be right out.”
My eyes scan the body of the car and the anger that was rising inside me turns to rage. There are rust spots, dings, scratches, and more dents than a beer can at a redneck wedding. I slowly raise my eyes to the driver and scowl. Her beauty may have an effect on some men, but it does nothing for me.
“Hey Mav! Where should I park?” Jessica asks with a wave.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I growl through clenched teeth.
“I figured I had to come to you since you never come home anymore. I miss you.” Saccharin words said with such ease, it’s as if she actually believes them. Home? Tennessee hasn’t been home for me in years and this woman is the reason why.
I trudge closer to the car taking in what used to be a beautiful piece of machinery. She destroyed it. Treated it with zero respect, just like everything and everyone else in her life.
“You need to turn your ass around and head back to wherever you came from, right now.”
“I can’t! I don’t have enough money to go anywhere else.” She pouts out her bottom lip as if that will make me feel bad for her.
“Are you telling me you drove all the way here from Tennessee with no money at all?”
She shrugs. “I had enough for gas and food to get here.”
I shake my head and run my fingers through my hair. This is all I fucking need. I glance across the lot and point. “Park over there by the Tahoe.”
I turn to the clubhouse and just as I thought, a crowd is gathering outside the door.
Nothing happens around here without a goddamn audience.
Ace is standing near the front with Kaya right next to him with her arms crossed.
I don’t approach Jessica as she exits the vehicle.
I wait in the center of the lot about twenty feet from where she parks. My stance matching Kaya’s.
The door creaks when she throws it open and my nostrils flare.
Black boots step out onto the gravel, leading up to skin-tight blue jeans that might as well be painted on her skinny body.
She’s tall for a woman, probably close to 5’9, with a decent rack.
That rack is looking larger than normal with the black, lacey, corset top she’s wearing.
I hear whistles from the guys behind me. I roll my eyes.
What catches my attention is none of that. No. It’s the black eye on her right side that I couldn’t see from outside the vehicle. As she gets closer, I also notice tiny scratches on her forehead and a bruise on her arm, the unmistakable imprint from someone grabbing her.
I clasp her face and turn it roughly toward me, so I can see the marks more clearly. “Who the hell did that?”
She pulls away from me. “Trent! That’s why I came. I have to get away from him, Maverick. I didn’t know what else to do!”
My eyes narrow at her and I step into her space. The way I moved toward her must have appeared to Ace like I was going to attack, because the next thing I know, he is standing beside me. “Son, what’s going on?”
I let out a huff as I stare Jessica down. “My friend,” I say the word with venom, “is going to need a place to stay for a few days.”
“Days? Where am I supposed to get enough cash to make it back in a few days?” Jessica whines.
“Girl, I will hand you the money myself to get you the hell out of here. All you need to worry about is getting enough rest so you can make the trip.”
I turn my back to her and head in Kaya’s direction. “And you’re not taking my fucking car!”
“It’s my goddamn car!” Jessica hollers.
I turn around so fast she jumps back. “It’s my fucking car! I still have the title and the bill of sale to prove it.”
Jessica’s cheeks redden, but she scoffs like a petulant child, and rolls her eyes to top it off.
I need distance. I need to get far away from her before I do something I said I never would.
I do not hit women. I do not hit women. I say those words over and over in my head as I walk back toward the clubhouse, leaving Ace standing with her.
Lexi walks past me like I knew she would. That woman makes it her business to know everything going on around here. I wish I gave a shit that I’m pawning Jessica off on them, but I just don’t. I need to get away from her. My eyes connect with Kaya’s and hers are filled with fury.
She puts both of her hands up as I open my mouth to speak. “I don’t know what the hell all of that is, but I want no part of it.”
I close my eyes and take in a deep breath. “Let me explain.”
She shakes her head. “Nothing to explain, Maverick. You have drama and I don’t do drama. Have fun with all that.” She tries to move around me but I grab her wrist.
She stops, looks down at my hand and then to my face.
I let go as I take in the wetness pooling in her beautiful brown eyes.
She pulls her hand away and goes inside.
I follow her. The rest of the nosy pricks look back and forth between Jessica, Ace, and Lexi to me and Kaya, like they are unsure of which scene will be more exciting to watch.
Kaya storms into the kitchen with me on her heels. “Will you fucking listen to me!” I can feel myself winding up. I’m about to snap and I don’t want to do that to her.
Sophia and Nora are the only ones in the room. They are putting foil on the food; I’m guessing in an attempt to keep it warm since everybody bailed on dinner. Both of their heads snap up when Kaya and I enter.
“No! I’m leaving. You obviously have enough to deal with for tonight, you don’t need me here clouding things up for you.”
“Jesus Christ woman, you’re not clouding a damn thing. If anything, you make things clearer.” I have no idea if what I’m saying even makes any sense, but I can’t have her walking out of here like this.
She cocks a brow and puts a hand on her hip. “Who is she?”
“Jessica Taylor,” I pause, unsure of how much I want to say in front of the other two women.
“Glad we cleared that up.” Kaya says, rolling her eyes.
“Can we talk in my room?”
“Absolutely fucking not,” Kaya snaps back.
Heat crawls up my neck. This woman is infuriating. I close my eyes and take a breath. “Somewhere alone then?”
“We don’t talk Mav. It’s not what we do. You barely ever talk to me, now all of a sudden when some chick shows up with your car, you want to talk? Forget it.” She bends down and quickly hugs Sophia. “I’ll call you later.”
Sophia shifts her gaze from me to Kaya. “Why don’t you at least stay for dinner?”
Kaya shakes her head and starts moving to the door. “It’s fine. I’ll just grab something at home.”
I turn to grab Kaya but she slithers out of my reach and out the door. I follow her through the common room and back out into the parking lot where Lexi and Ace are still talking to Jessica. I catch up to Kaya and grab her elbow, turning her toward me. “Will you stop!”
She turns out of my grasp and folds her arms across her chest. I can’t help but notice how sexy she is when she’s pissed. I cock my head to the side. “Will you please let me explain?”
She can say she doesn’t care all she wants, but the tears ready to fall tell a completely different story. “You have nothing to explain. We’re not together. I’ve made that more than clear.” She gives me a tilted head shrug and walks to her car.
I follow behind her, not willing to give up. She pulls the driver’s door open and I slam it shut. She faces me and with both hands, shoves me in the chest. “Will you just let me fucking leave!”
“Not until you listen to me.” I growl.
Kaya leans her back against her door. “Fine. Talk.”
“She’s a girl from back home in Tennessee I haven’t seen in years. I stay in touch with her because she was my little sister’s best friend.”
“Was?” Kaya asks.
“My sister died sixteen years ago.”
Silence.
Her eyes meet mine and I watch the fire in them die. “So, you’re close?”
I shake my head. “We were, years ago. She caused me some problems as she got older so I distanced myself.”
“So, why is she here now?” Kaya asks as she eyes Jessica.
“I don’t know yet. Come back inside?”
Her focus returns to me. “No. I really just want to go. I have some stuff to do for work, and you have enough of your own shit to deal with.”
I rub my hand down my face. I know dealing with Jessica may turn out to be explosive.
It may be better if Kaya doesn’t see it.
Jessica is a loose cannon and I need to get to the bottom of her bullshit.
I nod and take a step closer, pressing my body against hers, pinning her to her car.
Her breath hitches as I lean down and place a kiss on her lips, not hard, but not soft either.
I bring my finger up and brush it down her cheek. “Answer when I call.” I whisper.
Her eyes close as if she’s taking in the moment. I step back and watch as she slowly opens her eyes and lets out a breath. I really don’t want her to go. I mean shit, it’s been almost a week since the last time I laid eyes on her. But the sooner I deal with Jessica the sooner I can see Kaya again.