Blow Read online

  “Alright, let’s go.”

  Sophie smiled, clapped, then strode out the door. Minutes later, we were in her bright yellow Mercedes, speeding down the road. Sophie chatted the entire time about things I couldn’t even comprehend—I was only half paying attention. My mind kept wondering to Hunter and how I was going to be face-to-face with him for the first time in days.

  I had no reason to be nervous. I knew exactly what was going to happen. Knew he’d ignore me as always. But the closer we got to the club, the more I felt like I was going to be sick.

  Twenty minutes later, Sophie parked in front of the brightly lit dance club. Music thumped from inside. It was a Saturday night, so the place was hopping and a long line of people waited to get in. I followed Sophie as she bypassed the line and walked straight up to the bouncer who was holding a clipboard. The man’s appreciative gaze lingered on Sophie as he immediately unclipped the red velvet rope.

  “Ms. Stedman, it’s always a pleasure.”

  As she passed the man, she ran her hand along his jaw. “Likewise, Craig. Looking good by the way.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.” A goofy smile came over the gruff man’s face.

  I went to follow her in, but the ape’s gaze shot over to me and his goofy smile immediately turned into a fierce scowl. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  ‘Home,’ was what I wanted to say, but Sophie said, “She’s with me. She’s good.”

  “Oh. Okay. Go on in, miss.” He seemed perplexed by my association with Sophie and I couldn’t help but mutter “ass” as I stepped into the roped off area.

  Sophie hooked her arm over mine, seemingly oblivious that I’d just been humiliated by the gorilla because I didn’t look rich enough. She pulled me along like a mother tugging her uncooperative daughter.

  “We’re going to have so much fun. I want you to dance, and dance, and dance.”

  I just wanted to make it through the night with my dignity intact.

  Sophie tugged me through the club doors. As soon as we stepped inside, people moved out of her way and men stopped in mid-sentence to watch her walk by. If she noticed it, she didn’t acknowledge it, just kept walking with an air of importance only the immensely wealthy and attractive knew how to do.

  It didn’t take me long to realize exactly where she was heading. Sophie wasn’t one to play coy games. Tonight would be no different. She was on a mission and she was going straight for her target. My mouth went dry the closer we edged to Hunter.

  He was standing not twenty feet away, holding a beer as he talked to two guys. I recognized them as Brendan Holtz and Trevor Dust, teammates from his high school football team. He had a smile fixed in place, but there was something off about the way he was holding himself, like he was forcing himself to stand there and not bolt.

  I slowed my steps, causing Sophie to also slow.

  “Eliza! What the hell? Come on.”

  Hunter’s head snapped in our direction then his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. I had no idea which one of us had caused that reaction, or if it was both of us being here at the same time that had made him look so aggravated. Maybe he was angry because his game was about to ruined.

  Then his eyes latched onto mine. There was no denying that blatant hunger still burned in his gaze. My nipples instantly pebbled, and lust flared hot low in my stomach. As Sophie strode right up to him and tugged him into a hug, his eyes stayed locked on mine over her shoulders. The hug lasted all of two seconds before he pulled back then stepped away from her. And still his gaze never left mine.

  Insides burning with desire, I desperately wanted to know what was going on his head. I had no idea what to make of his reaction. Though I saw the hunger, he also didn’t seem too pleased to see me either. Everything about him was hard and unyielding.

  Finally he released me from his unwavering stare and turned to Sophie. Tension still resided in his jaw, but a charming smile replaced it rather quickly.

  So I received an intense scowl. Sophie received a smile. Got it.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight,” he said to her.

  Sophie pursed her lips, her brows furrowing. Most likely because she wasn’t used to someone not gushing about how gorgeous she was. “We wanted to get out of the house tonight.”

  “We?” he asked.

  So we were playing the ‘we don’t know each other’ game again. Fine. Whatever. At least now I’d be formally introduced to the ass and there wasn’t a reason to pretend he didn’t know me anymore.

  Sophie gestured to me. “That’s Eliza.”

  His attention returned to mine. “Eliza. Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

  I was so surprised by the outright compliment, in front of Sophie no less, that my mouth popped open.

  Sophie’s head snapped in my direction. A scowl briefly flashed across her features as she surveyed me. I got the impression she was seeing me through new eyes, and she didn’t like what she saw. That impression was confirmed when she hooked her arm through Hunter’s and tugged him away from me.

  “Come on, Hunter, buy me a drink.”

  “It’s a guy’s night, Sophie. I already told you that.” He disentangled himself from her grip, but his two friends immediately stepped up and made excuses why it was totally okay for him to go off with his ex.

  Jerks.

  “See, they don’t care,” Sophie purred, pressing into him.

  I wanted to rip her away from him, make a public claim on him, but there was no point. Hunter wanted to keep me in the closet, especially to the woman standing by his side.

  “I’m thirsty,” Sophie pouted. Then she turned sex kitten. “Buy me a drink, lover.”

  His gaze flicked over to mine before shooting away. In that moment, I swore I saw indecision, hesitation.

  Or perhaps it was just wishful thinking on my part.

  Hunter shrugged. “Lead the way.”

  Laughing, Sophie dragged him off, leaving me standing there with Hunter’s two friends.

  “Those two are going to hook up,” one of the guys said, nudging his friend with his elbow.

  “Can you blame him? Fucking look at her. The man would be a fool not to hit that again.”

  Feeling disgusted, I moved away from the boys and made my way to a wall, needing to get out of the crush of people. It looked like I was on my own tonight.

  I watched Hunter and Sophie standing next to the bar. Sophie was talking a mile a minute about God only knew what, and Hunter nodded occasionally as his gaze traveled around the room. Was it possible he was looking for me?

  Did it matter if he was? No, it didn’t. He’d chosen Sophie, had left me standing there to go off with her. I would not be second best. Not to her. Not to anyone.

  The bartender gave them their drink order and they rejoined his friends. Sophie kept herself pressed close to Hunter’s side. He wasn’t moving away, but at the same time he still seemed distracted as he scanned the crowd.

  I was not going to stand here and analyze every move Hunter made tonight.

  I wasn’t.

  What I needed to do was have a drink. I weaved through the crowd until I reached the bar then hopped up on an empty stool, intent on staying there for a while to drown my sorrows.

  The beefed up bartender smiled at me. “What can I get you?”

  “Tequila Sunrise please.”

  Nodding, he went to work mixing the orange juice, grenadine and tequila. After he was done, he set the glass in front of me. “$6.50, darling.”

  I went to hand over my debit card to start a tab, but a masculine hand flipped a gold card in front of me. “It’s on me, gorgeous.”

  Startled, I glanced over. Deep brown eyes met mine. He sported a friendly, warm smile on his boyish face. His blonde hair was shaggy, but deliberately styled that way. Definitely good looking. A little too preppy for my taste, but considering the way the night was going, I wasn’t going to be picky.

  “Thank you.” I gave him a coy smile as I lifted my drink
and took a sip from the tiny red straw. His gaze lowered to my lips then back up.

  I enjoyed the public display of interest. It was a very nice change from what I had been getting.

  “You’re very welcome. Now tell me, what’s a beautiful woman like yourself doing standing by yourself in a corner?”

  I quirked my brow, turning on the stool so I faced him fully, oddly flattered that I hadn’t been a spur of the moment flirt, that he’d actually seen me before I’d come to the bar. I waved my hand toward the area that I last saw Sophie at. “My friend has her eyes on someone. I’m letting her do her thing.”

  “Well, lucky me, I get you all to myself.” He slid his arm across the wood bar behind my shoulder, bringing his body closer to mine.

  I willed myself to feel something, anything, but other than feeling flattered, nothing else responded. Damn it. Well, maybe I needed to work a little harder.

  I moved in a little closer too. “I might be the lucky one.”

  “I’m David, by the way.”

  “Eliza. It’s very nice to meet you David.”

  Another smile spread his lips and his fingers skated over the skin of my bare upper arm. No goosebumps, no tingles, nothing.

  He nodded at me. “How about you finish that drink and I take you for a spin on the dance floor?”

  I’d told myself I was going to dance with as many men as possible tonight, might as well start now. I took one long sip of my drink, placed it on the bar, then pushed it aside. “I’m ready for that dance.”

  I held out my hand and he took it in his, helping me down off the stool. As he led me onto the dance floor, I refused to even glance in Hunter’s direction. This man was showering me with his attention and deserved all of mine in return.

  David found a spot that wasn’t completely crammed tight then spun around. Swaying my hips to the beat of the hip-hop tune, I turned my back toward him and backed up until I was pressed against his chest. Eager hands grabbed my hips, yanking my ass back against his gyrating pelvis. Then they were sliding up over my stomach to just below my breasts.

  I wasn’t too thrilled with him being overly hands, so I turned to face him without missing a beat. He danced forward, his arms going around my waist and tugging me flat against his chest. One hand slid down a little too far for my comfort.

  Just as I was about to jerk his hands back up, he was jerked away from me and all I had a view of was a broad back. The muscular cords of his forearms and biceps flexed and released as Hunter opened and shut his fist repeatedly.

  I didn’t even see his face and he looked like the Hulk on speed.

  “Back the fuck off her,” was all he said, and excited shivers ran through my body.

  “Get lost, dickhead. We were dancing.” David went to walk around Hunter, but Hunter moved right back in his way.

  “Last warning, fucker. Walk away.” The deadly warning in his voice was unmistakable as he went perfectly still, like a predator readying to pounce.

  Starting to worry where this was headed, I stepped around Hunter to intervene, but when I looked up into his face, my mind went blank at the rage pinching his face. His jaw was clenched so tight, I swore I could hear teeth grinding.

  I glanced at David, whose complexion had whitened a shade. Finally, he held up his hands. “She’s all yours.”

  Then he turned and disappeared into the gyrating bodies surrounding us. I watched him leave, trying to figure out exactly how I felt about what had just happened. There was so much shit going on inside me right this minute, I couldn’t make heads or tails out of any of it.

  Hunter Rhodes had just scared off a man interested in me. That was exciting. The fact that he had no problem letting Sophie hang all over him in front of me was hypocritical and infuriating. I went with the fury.

  I spun around, popping both fists on top of my hips. “What the hell was that?”

  Unaffected by my obvious anger, he leaned down until his face was right in front of mine. “You don’t get to play with other men, Eliza.”

  Oh. Hell. No. We were so not doing this ‘you’re mine only when he felt like it’ crap. He was either with me, or he wasn’t.

  “I’ll play with whoever I want,” I taunted.

  “The hell you will. That’s my pussy, remember?” He said low, huskily, so only I could hear over the thumping music. My clit started to ache, and I hated the betrayal of my body.

  “My pussy stopped being yours the moment you walked out of my apartment.”

  His lips pressed tight together as that muscle twitched in his cheek. We glared at each other, neither backing down. I was proud of going against my baser needs and standing up to him, even though even cell in my body knew I was lying.

  My pussy was his. Probably always would be if my lack of response to other men was any indication. And that made me angrier.

  “Is everything okay over here?” Sophie rushed up and asked breathlessly.

  I ended the battle of wills by glancing at her, hoping my actions came as a dismissal to Hunter. I wanted him to feel some of what I’d felt since he’d came back to this town. “Everything’s fine.”

  “Why are the two of you fighting?”

  I returned my gaze to Hunter, who had straightened to his full height, and our eyes locked. “Ask him.”

  The unspoken challenge hung in the air, as did Sophie’s silence. I could feel her looking between us. I didn’t care. The ball was now in Hunter’s court.

  “Well?” she demanded.

  “It’s none of your business, Sophie,” Hunter said between clenched teeth.

  I shook my head, my shoulders deflating. I had no more fight in me when it came to him and the truth. I was never going to truly grasp why he was so adamant about keeping our relationship secret, especially from Sophie.

  “The hell it isn’t.” Sophie wedged between us, so I was no longer directly in front of Hunter, but she was. “Hunter what’s going on? I’ve never seen you this angry. It’s scaring me, baby. Calm down.”

  Hunter glared down at her. “If it scares you, go away.”

  Sophie’s eyes widened as she pressed her hand to her mouth. Then she spun and disappeared into the crowd. I figured this was her first taste of the actual Hunter who’d come back from war. This was the one I always seemed to get unless he was doing crazy things to my body.

  “You didn’t have to be so ugly,” I reprimanded, giving him a disapproving scowl. Meanwhile, my emotions were a mix of discomfort at the thought of Sophie’s wounded pride, but also elation—because Hunter had been willing to show his interest in me publicly for the first time ever.

  His expression was disbelieving as he shook his head. “Come on. I’m taking you home.” He latched on to my upper arm and pulled me toward the entrance.

  Irritated with him telling me what to do, I yanked away from him. “I can get my own self home, thank you.”

  “Would you stop being stubborn for five fucking minutes?” He thrust a hand through his hair, then bent down into my face again. “I just want to get you home safe. For God’s sakes, just let me.”

  Again we glared at each other. This man confused me so badly, made me feel so many conflicting emotions, I felt like I was going crazy from it. I was exhausted.

  “Fine.” Pursing my lips, I crossed my arms over my chest and nodded toward the exit. “Lead the way.”

  Amusement suddenly quirked up one corner of his mouth. It wasn’t the charming smile he gave to everyone else, it was new and I had a feeling it was especially for me. A smile that said, ‘God you’re the most infuriating woman I’ve ever melt, but damn it I like it.’

  “You’re such a pain in the ass,” he said, voice was soft and laced with humor, confirming my thoughts. I wanted to kick him for it.

  Not a minute ago he was all hulked out, and now he was Mr. Happy Go Lucky. The speed of the change was dizzying. But he’d gotten his way, hadn’t he? I was getting in his truck.

  I followed him to his black Ford Ranger. I begrudgingly admitted to
myself that it was a mighty fine truck. It fit him. And it was much better than the beamer he’d driven back in high school.

  He opened my door and I climbed in without so much as glancing at him. His responding chuckle only grated on my nerves more.

  For ten minutes, we rode the road not saying a word to each other. The silence was deafening and uncomfortable for me. For him, he seemed completely relaxed and at peace.

  I stared out the window and watched the lights of the town fade as we entered the stretch of highway that was always deserted this time of night. The cab of his truck darkened as the trees lining the road thickened.

  Being this close to Hunter was pure torture. Everything about this man played havoc with my self-restraint. The woodsy cologne that he wore smelled amazing and familiar. I loved that smell. It was distinctly him. It reminded me that he was in reality a man who preferred to work outside. A man’s man, and not the stuffed suit he was trying to force himself into becoming.

  “What have you been doing that last few days?” he finally asked.

  “Working.” I knew I was being stubborn, but I couldn’t help myself. One, I was still angry, and two, I couldn’t let my defenses down by participating in idle chitchat. That would only lead to him coming into my apartment and us doing exactly what I said we couldn’t do anymore.

  A long frustrated sigh came from his side of the cab. Well, at least he wasn’t amused at my anger anymore. I took a little satisfaction in that.

  He drove for a few more minutes, then veered off onto a dirt road. I knew immediately where he was going.

  Old Man Fred’s fishing pond.

  “What are you doing?” I couldn’t keep the irritation out of my question. Mostly because I didn’t need to be alone with this man in the dark in a place that no one came to after nine.

  The ass also didn’t answer my question. Just kept driving, doing what he did second best, ignoring me. I crossed my arms tighter across my chest.

  He parked his truck under one of the large pine trees. The headlights bounced off the murky water of the fishing pond. Then he cut the engine and everything went dark. I heard movement from his side of the cab, but I kept my attention directed out the window.