Three Years Later
“You’re bat shit Crazy, Mel.” My best friend of over two years is looking at me as if I’ve just grown a second head.
“Not crazy. More like… determined.”
“Determined to catch a disease,” she mumbles under her breath as she shuffles through the outfits I’ve laid out in the small loft. “The waitress uniforms are scandalous enough as it is. And these? You’re bound to catch a VD just by walking into The Pearl with this. They don’t even cover your hoo-haw!”
“That’s the point, genius. How am I supposed to get the job of a dancer if I go in looking like Mother Mary?” I snatch the little black number from her fingers, quickly sliding it over my naked body. “If I want the job of a seductress, I have to look the part of a seductress. Besides, you’re the seasoned veteran here. Had it not been for your connection, I wouldn’t have gotten the interview.”
My friend rolls her eyes. “Trust me, Mel. You don’t want the job of a dancer. Yes, they make more money than I do, but the guys are downright sleazeballs. You’d be much happier serving drinks with me.”
I balance on one leg as I slide on a platform stiletto. “Negative, Ryder. I’m not doing this for the money. Although I appreciate how much you’ve been bringing in and it helping us get a car and all.”
“Okay. I get it. Not about the money. You’re trying to get Maverick to lose his shit when he sees you.” She blows out a long breath as she plops backward onto the bed. “But do you have to go to such extremes? If you get caught using a fake ID to get this job, then you’ll be in deep shit. At least with me, nobody cares enough to raise a stink. But as soon as Maverick finds out, he’s liable to burn the whole place to the ground, and then we’ll both be out of a job.”
“I’m eighteen. If anyone gets in trouble, it’ll be on me. Even so, I doubt Mav would risk putting me behind bars.” My stomach does a somersault as I say this.
It doesn’t matter. My crush is going out of town soon and I’d definitely be willing to risk a little jail time.
The past three years have been an insane roller coaster of confusing emotions, but one thing has remained constant. My need for one particularly stoic man. But despite the hints that I’ve more than liberally sprinkled in front of my brother’s best friend, he’s never taken the bait. Never once showed any interest.
Well, that changes tonight.
Maverick doesn’t react to much, but one thing I can count on is his overprotectiveness. Lucky me. He won’t date me, but he sure as hell doesn’t have a problem being my warden.
Ever since that day at the cliff, Maverick has been a permanent installment in my life. Even helped me find the tiny home I now share with Mila—said he knew the landlord and helped us work out a deal that even I could afford. Sure, Mila makes more since she stopped working at the diner with me, but that’s also why this gig at The Pearl is so perfect. She needs the money and I need a Thelma to my Louise.
“Hey, aren’t you tired of carrying most of the financial weight around here? Just think about it. Me up-leveling to a dancer…” Looking down at my best friend’s disapproving eyes, I give her my best saleswoman spiel. “You, up-leveling to a—”
At this she sits up, her hands frantically waving in front of her. “Oh no. I know where you’re going with this and I’m not going to be a part of it. I can’t dance to save my life. I’d just make a fool of myself, and you know it.”
I cackle. She’s right. Girl has two left feet, bless her heart. “Oh, I would never suggest you be a dancer.” A pillow comes flying at me, but I swat it away. “Hey, I’m not trying to be mean, but you’re right and I totally wasn’t suggesting you be a dancer…. but behind the bar? Totally doable. Doable and a heck of a lot more money than waitressing, so you’ve said.”
Mila throws her head back and lets out a full bellied laugh. “Using a fake ID to waitress versus using it to bartend? Yeah. There’s a huge difference. Money be damned. I’m not going to jail.”
“Okay, so maybe it’s a gamble. But the money is still better, and you do need that.”
Mila slowly nods, her face scrunching up that way it does when she’s in deep thought. “Actually. I think I have a plan.”
“Oh, this is good. You’ve got that look.” I grab the pillow off the ground and sit on the bed next to her, giving her shoulder a small shove. “Spill it.”
“Okay, but no judging.” She raises a brow, and now it’s my turn to hit her with the pillow.
“Girl, you know I never do. Not even that one time you ended up peeing your pants because we didn’t make it up the mountain in time.” I purse my lips, my mind flitting back to before we had our Civic and the bus stop was a good two miles away from our house.
“You swore you wouldn’t talk about that ever again!” Mila swats at me and squeals.
I cackle, palms up. “Okay. Okay. My bad. But seriously, get to spilling.”
Mila bites the corner of her lip before shocking the ever-living-shit out of me. “I’m auctioning off my virginity.”
My mouth must hang open a solid minute before I finally get the wherewithal to form a sentence. “I’m sorry. Come again? You never talk to men. I mean, like, never. And here you are thinking of offering your kitty up on a silver platter? Why?”
“You said it. I need the money.” She shrugs as if this is the most logical thing ever.
“Yeah. So work behind the bar. Sure, it’s a risk, but it’s better than giving your cherry away to some random stranger.” My brows push together as I try to figure out how long she’s been planning this for.
Mila faces me before she’s clamping her hands down on my shoulders. “You know I’d never do anything without hashing and rehashing all of the pros and cons, right? Well, one little night eclipses bartending money tenfold. And bonus, there’s no risk of jail time.” I nod but can’t add much more. I’m still in shock from this bombshell. “Look, I’m sick and tired of having no control over my life. The way I see it, I’m taking life by the balls like you always say. This way, it’s me who’s in charge. I’m going to lose it anyway. Might as well get something useful out of it.”
“Mila. You can’t be serious.” I shake my head and laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “One day, you’re going to meet the love of your life, and that experience you share with him will be worth ten times over whatever some joe schmo will pay.”
My friend scoffs. “We can’t all be as lucky as you, Melissa. It’s not like some Knight in shining armor is going to save me from certain death.”
I roll my eyes, fully getting the dig. “Maverick doesn’t want me, so that doesn’t really count. Besides, this is my last-ditch effort. If this doesn’t work, then I’m moving out of state. There’s no sense in me staying around when you’re leaving for college and that man doesn’t even see me.”
Mila looks me over, her eyebrows wagging. “Oh, he sees you. Just not in the way you want…yet. But as soon as he gets an eyeful of this, he’s going to pounce. I’m sure of it.”
“Yeah. Well, I don’t have your confidence.” I fling myself back onto the bed as a deep sigh leaves my lips. “And I mean it. I’m leaving if this doesn’t work.”
Mila snorts. “Girl, you know I support you in everything you do—even this hair-brained scheme to dance at The Pearl—but you and I both know that as long as that man lives and breathes, your ass is staying right here in Colorado.”
She’s right. It would take something pretty drastic for me to give up on Maverick. Still. I’ll never beg a man for attention. Nope. I’ll just have to make myself hard-as-fuck to ignore.
Hunter, Two months later…
“Bro, when are you coming back?” Matt’s worried voice cuts through the receiver and the hair on the back of my neck stands at attention.
“I’ll be home tomorrow. What’s the problem?”
“Nothing I can put my finger on, but Jack’s acting weird and I just know something’s up.” Matt sighs and I can practically hear his wheels turning.
We may be twins, but we are different in every way possible. Matt is polished, and I’m not. Matt over analyzes everything, and I do not.
“You sure you aren’t making mountains out of molehills again? The last time you thought something was going on it turned out to be nothing more than your cleaning lady having changed the laundry detergent on you.”
“I don’t appreciate your tone, brother. And I’ll have you know that shit makes a difference.” Matt huffs to the sound of papers shuffling in the background. “Listen, I know how much you hate it when my mind plays ‘what if,’ but Austin’s a lovesick fool and Jace just left for Florida—so that leaves me with you.”
“Fine. Lay it on me.”
“Well. You already know shit hasn’t been the same since our parents passed. One thing after another and we still don’t really know what happened.”
Oh, I know what happened. Our family got mixed up with rival cartels long ago, and the fallout of everything is still with us ‘til this day.
“And? I thought we all agreed to leave that up to the men of WRATH securities. Don’t tell me you’ve been digging up shit on your own.”
Silence. Nothing but silence.
“Matt?”
“Yeah. Well, the men of WRATH aren’t moving fast enough so I thought I’d help them along.”
I roll my eyes. They aren’t moving fast enough because I’m paying them not to. But I can’t tell Matt that. I can’t tell any of my brothers, though I suspect Jack knows.
“Alright. So what trouble are you getting into?”
“Get this… I was at the Pearl the other day—hey, did you know Ericson’s little sister is working there now? Anyway—”
Matt keeps talking but all I hear is the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. Did he just say Mel is working at the Pearl? The Pearl. A fucking strip joint.
I leave for three goddamn months, needing to distance myself from the girl that’s sure to ruin me, only to have her turn around and get into trouble the first chance she gets?
Fucking bullshit.
“Bro? Hey, bro? Are you there?” Matt calls to me, but it sounds as if he’s underwater. Or maybe that’s just me, drowning in this rage I have no business feeling.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I just remembered I have something I need to be doing. Can this wait until tomorrow?”
“Um, sure. Just drop by before you head up to the cabin. We can break into the first batch of the season.” Keys click in the background letting me know he’s already moved on and thank God. I don’t have the mental fortitude to go through one of his rabbit holes.
“Alright. See you tomorrow.” I cut the line and quickly dial the town’s Sheriff. With the population of thirty, there isn’t much Spence doesn’t have his finger on.
Two rings and there’s an answer. “Well, I’ll be. It’s Hunter Crown, gracing me with a call. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
I’m rolling my eyes for the second time in an hour. “Don’t act like we never talk, Spence. I just saw you before leaving town.”
He chuckles into the receiver. “I’m just busting your balls, man. Usually I’m the one who has to track you down, see if you’re up for some hunting or fishing. Anyway, what can I do you for?”
“Melissa. Ericson’s little sister.”
“Hmm.” There’s a hint of amusement in his tone and I wonder if he already knows. “What about her?”
“She still working at the diner?” My heart beats overtime waiting on his answer, knowing that whatever he says has the power to sway my mood like a goddamn pendulum.
“No, sir. Can’t say that I’ve seen her at Poppy’s since you left.”
Full. On. Rage.
“And you didn’t think to tell me?!”
“Woah, there, buddy. It ain’t my job to be her babysitter or your damn secretary. You’re the one who took on the job of her guardian, not me, so don’t you go putting that business where it don’t belong.”
He’s right. Of course he’s right. But I can’t help it when it comes to her. Spencer is the only one who knows of my obsession with keeping that girl safe—something I’ve never shared with anyone, not even her brother. Hell, the only reason Spencer knows is because he caught me trailing Mel and her roommate home one night, and it took me two whole months to convince him I wasn’t some sort of sick pervert praying on the girls.
“Okay. My bad.” Clearing my throat, I try to regain some of my composure, but it isn’t easy. Not when all I can think of is Mel being ogled by sleazy men.
Just then, a vision of her tight ass being groped flashes before me, and I swear I feel a blood vessel pop.
“I know the cabin is out of your jurisdiction, but I don’t get in until the morning. Do you mind driving by her place tonight and making sure she’s okay?”
Spence chuckles. “Of course, friend. But you owe me.”
I sigh into the line. “Just tell me which property and it’s yours for a week.”
“Opalaka lake house. I’ve got this girl I want to impress.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Oh, this is good. I’ve never seen you with anyone more than once, and you’re wanting to take a girl up there for a whole week? She must be special.”
“Oh, she’s special alright. Got my tail wagging and head spinning just like you with that Ericson girl.”
At this, my mood sours. “It isn’t like that, Spence. You already know that.”
“No, friend. I don’t. Seems like you’re the only one telling yourself that lie.”
“It isn’t a lie. She’s my friend’s sister and way too young. She isn’t for me.” I run a hand through my hair, tugging at the ends in frustration. “Look, just message me when you know she’s okay.”
“Sure thing, buddy.” Spencer chuckles as he cuts the line and I’m glad to be rid of him. I’ve already got one psychoanalyzer in the family, I don’t need another.
