Chapter Eleven #3
By the time we’ve packed up, darkness has fallen, and it feels like the right time to leave the lake.
We complete the ride back to The Bounty mostly in silence.
Jake parks the truck in the farthest corner of the parking lot so I can see inside the diner windows.
It’s a slow Friday night, one of the waitresses is leaning up against the bar studying her nails.
He kills the engine. I’m still wearing his varsity jacket, so I wriggle out of it. Even the tiniest sound is amplified inside the cab. It’s hard to make out Jake’s expression in the shadows.
‘I’m sorry if I wasted your time,’ I say after a moment.
He looks to me then shakes his head. ‘You haven’t wasted my time. I’m just happy that I got to spend some time alone with you. And I respect your choice. No matter how much I wish that clause in your contract didn’t exist. If it didn’t… I’d be asking you to be my girl right now.’
Something stirs in my chest. If that clause in my contract didn’t exist, I’m pretty sure I’d be saying yes to his offer.
‘I don’t mean to pressure you or anything,’ he continues. ‘I just meant that… I think… I think you’re really something, Serenity. And I can’t get you out of my head.’
His fingers brush up against mine on the leather seat. The sensation causes me to catch my breath. I’m caught up in an overwhelming desire to kiss and be kissed by him.
In the shadows, he holds my gaze. It’s so quiet inside the cab, I can hear us both breathing.
‘Can I kiss you?’ he murmurs.
I can’t say yes. I don’t want to say no. When he leans closer, I don’t move. He lifts one hand, the backs of his fingers brushing my cheek in a feather-light touch.
The seats crunch underneath him as he moves closer still. My heart races. I know I should leave now, before things get complicated, but I’m anchored, caught by his gaze and the way he’s bearing down on me.
I swallow. I want to tell him that this has to be a kiss goodbye, but I’m craving it, now that his mouth is inches from my own. I want his lips on mine.
‘Serenity—’ he whispers, and the ache in his tone obliterates the last of my resistance.
I nod my head and lean into him, just as my lips part.
His fingers slide into my hair at the nape of my neck and in that moment, I’m crying out on the inside for him to lay claim to my mouth.
Finally, when he lowers his head, his lips touch mine and I realize the extent of my denial.
I’ve wanted this. I’ve needed this.
I’ve made out with guys before. In high school, I had jocks yank me into their laps then slam their mouths into mine and call it kissing.
I’ve been on dates with guys who only want to get to third base, mostly bypassing the foreplay.
So much that I think that, until this moment, I don’t think I’ve ever really been kissed.
Jake’s big hands are at my waist, easing me closer. The altered angle deepens our kiss. His tongue tastes mine, and it sets off a spark, underneath my skin bursting into flames.
Heat surges through me. He gathers me up, and his low moan into my mouth tells me he wants this as much as I do.
In the silence, the noises our kissing makes are broadcast around the cab: every slick peak as we break apart, every trembled breath.
His hands are on my thighs. My intimate muscles are taut, and I can feel myself getting wet for him.
The shrill whimper that emerges from the back of my throat brings me to my senses.
It’s the sound of unbridled desire. I don’t remember the last time I made that sound.
Without warning, I pull away from his grasp and go for the passenger door.
I grab my things and step down from the pickup into the cool night air, forgetting to close the door behind me.
I run directly over to my car, parked away from the light from the diner interior.
I fumble for my key and my fingers tremble when I yank open the door.
I hit the gas as soon as I’m able. I practically fly out of there. I glimpse the passenger door of his pickup and it’s still open.
Guilt rinses me for the second time tonight. I shouldn’t have kissed him. I shouldn’t have let him kiss me.
But dang if that wasn’t the best kiss of my entire life.
‘Where the hell you been, Ren?’ Jaxon complains at me as he follows me backstage at Surly’s. ‘I’ve been leaving you messages all afternoon.’
I don’t stop walking. ‘I’m sorry,’ I say, as in the dressing room, two of the other girls voice their objections and cover up at his presence. ‘I’m early, aren’t I?’
Jaxon lowers his voice. ‘Boss is here. We needed extras.’
I pull off my jacket and frown at him. ‘For what?’
‘He’s got guests. Out back.’
I stiffen. It means the games room is in use. Kale is likely hosting a few rounds of Texas Hold ’Em. ‘What guests?’
‘I don’t know names, do I? But he told me to tell you to get your ass back there soon as you arrived. You’re not performing out front tonight.’
I swallow. I remember Brody Conway’s message to me earlier today. I’ll tell the whole of Canyon what you really are, and I know it in my heart. He’s back from honeymoon, and he’s here.
‘Oh, and Ren?’ Jaxon says.
‘What?’
‘Boss says lose the hair tonight. Au naturel. Or whatever it is they say. No wig.’
My stomach performs a somersault. Jaxon leaves and I swiftly change into tonight’s outfit: a red corset trimmed with black lace and matching high-waisted panties.
I pull on my thigh-high patent leather boots and raise both zippers.
I add to my makeup that I was already wearing for my date with Jake.
Then I defy Kale’s orders and pull on a long, straight, mahogany wig and fix it into place.
Behind me, I hear Misty suck air through her teeth. ‘Somebody’s playing with fire tonight,’ she says.
‘I’ll fight my corner if I have to,’ is my response.
‘Sweetheart, why would you try and antagonize him on purpose? You know what he’s like.’
‘It’s this cheerleader thing,’ I sigh. ‘Every time I go out there, I’m scared somebody’s gonna recognize me.’
‘You knew the risk, honey pie.’
She’s not helping. ‘I like being a cheerleader.’
‘Should have thought about that before you sent in your application.’
I whirl around and fix my gaze on her tired eyes. ‘I can’t have dreams now? My life is over until I pay this debt, is that it? Should I have let my Daddy die?’
She raises her brows and goes back to fixing her makeup.
Minutes later, Jaxon opens the door to the back room.
The lights are low, other than a dim light over the poker table.
Four men surround it, smoke from their cigars swirling about their heads.
One of them is Kale McCoy. He has his back to me.
Mila – or Candy Chains – sits closely at his side.
I step forward. The two men sitting to his left and right I don’t recognize.
Talia – otherwise known as Baby Bullets – is in one of their laps, and Kaycee – dancer name, Heaven Scent – has her arms draped around the other’s shoulders.
She’s wearing long pearl necklaces and is sucking on a lollipop.
Only one man sits alone. I don’t need to see his face to know who it is.
I’d recognize those long fingers anywhere.
‘Finally,’ Kale’s voice rings out as he looks back at me. ‘There she is! Where you been Brandy? Come on over, have a seat.’
My heart pitter-patters. There’s already a chair waiting for me at the table.
When Brody Conway’s face comes into view, he meets my gaze.
‘Evening, Brandy,’ he says. ‘We’ve been expecting you, come sit.’
The other girls say nothing. They know their role here is not to make conversation. I make my way around the table and take my seat. Brody Conway’s arm snakes around my waist. With his other hand, he pushes my hair back and places a single kiss at the nape of my neck.
The hand that was around my waist slides back out then slips between my legs, at the apex of my thighs. His little finger teases the lace material of my panties, and I tense.
Kale makes eyes at me. I already know he’s lowkey angry with me. To appease him, I lean into Brody Conway’s body, drape my arms about his shoulders and give him a sweet smile.
I haven’t let myself think about it, but when the men settle back into their poker game, my mind wanders back to my kiss with Jake. Little pleasure bolts go through me. I feel guilty for running, for leaving abruptly in the way that I did.
In my dreams, I get to date Jake Walsh. I get to have him. I get to kiss him again.
But my reality is something very different.
I can’t give in to what he craves. But lord knows, I want to.