Rush: I’m sorry about Woods. 3 page

Two days later after our talk on the beach, I stepped into the kitchen after eating my peanut butter sandwich and was greeted by yet another half naked female. Her hair was a mess but even in it’s unbrushed state she was attractive. I hated girls like that.

The girl turned to look at me. Her surprised expression quickly switched to annoyed. She batted both of her brown eyes and then placed a hand on her hip. “Did you just come out of the pantry?”

“Yes. Did you just come out of Rush’s bed?” I replied. It was out of my mouth before I could stop myself. Rush had already informed me that his sex life was not my business. I needed to shut up.

The girl raised both her perfectly plucked eyebrows and then an amused grin crossed her lips. “No. Not that I wouldn’t get in his bed if he’d let me but don’t tell Grant that.” She waved a hand as if to shoo away a fly. “Never mind. He probably already knows.”

I was confused. “So, you just got out of Grant’s bed?” I asked realizing that once again this was not my business. But Grant didn’t live here so I was curious.

The girl ran her hand through her messy mop of brown curls and sighed. “Yep. Or at least his old bed.”

“His old bed?” I repeated.

Movement in the doorway caught my attention and my eyes locked with Rush’s. He was watching me with a smirk on his lips. Great. He’d heard me prying. I wanted to look away and pretend like I hadn’t just asked the girl if she’d been in his bed. The knowing gleam in his eyes told me it was no use.

“Please don’t let me stop you, Blaire. Continue to give Grant’s guest the third degree. I’m sure he won’t mind,” Rush drawled. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe as if he was getting comfortable.

I ducked my head and walked over to the garbage to dust the bread crumbs from my fingers while I gathered my thoughts. I did not want to continue this conversation while Rush listened. It made me seem all too interested in him. Something he did not want.

“Good morning, Rush, thanks for letting us crash here last night. Grant had drank entirely too much to drive all the way back to his place,” the girl said.

Oh. So that’s the story. Crap. Why had I let my curiosity get the best of me?

“Grant knows he has a room when he wants it,” Rush replied. I could see him shove off from the doorframe and walk over to the counter from the corner of my eye. His attention was on me. Why couldn’t he let this go? I would leave quietly.

“Well, uh, I guess I’ll run back upstairs then,” the girl’s voice sounded unsure. Rush didn’t respond and I didn’t look back at either of them. The girl took that as her cue to leave and I waited until I heard her footsteps on the stairs before glancing over at Rush.

“Curiosity killed the kitty, sweet Blaire,” Rush whispered as he walked closer to me. “Did you think I’d had another sleep over? Hmmm? Trying to decide if she had been in my bed all night?”

I swallowed hard but didn’t say anything.

“Who I sleep with isn’t your business. Haven’t we gone over this before?”

I managed to nod. If he would just let me go I’d never speak to another girl that showed up in his house.

Rush reached out and wound a lock of my hair around his finger. “You don’t want to know me. You may think you do but you don’t. I promise.”

If he wasn’t so dang gorgeous and right under my nose then it would be easier to believe this. But the more he pushed me away the more intrigued I became.

“You aren’t what I expected. I wish you were. It’d be so much easier,” he said in a low voice then dropped my hair then turned and walked away. When the door leading to the back porch closed I let out the breath I’d been holding.

What did he mean? What had he expected?

That night when I got home from work, Rush wasn’t there.

I opened my eyes and turned to look at the small alarm clock on the nightstand. It was after nine in the morning. I had really slept in. Stretching, I reached up and turned on the light. I’d showered last night so I was clean. I had made over one thousand dollars this week. I decided I could start looking at apartments today. This time next week I should be able to get a place of my own.

I ran my hands through my hair and tried to tame it before getting up. I was going to go lay on the beach for a little while this morning. I hadn’t done that yet. Today I would enjoy the ocean and sunshine.

I pulled my suitcase out from under my bed and searched inside for my white and pink bikini. It was the only one I owned. To be honest, it had been used very little. The white lace pattern and pink piping looked good with my coloring.

Pulling it on I decided it was skimpier than I remembered. Or my body had changed since the last time I had worn it. I pulled a tank top out of the suitcase to slip it on over the bikini and grabbed my sunblock. I had bought it after my first day of work. Sunblock was a must for my job.

I turned my light off and stepped into the pantry and then into the kitchen. “Holy hell. Who is that?” a younger guy asked startling me as I stepped into the light. I glanced from the stranger sitting at the bar gawking at me to the fridge where Grant stood smiling.

“You come walking out of that room dressed like that every morning?” Grant asked.

I hadn’t expected anyone to be in here. “Um, no. Normally I’m dressed for work,” I replied as a low whistle came from the younger boy at the bar. He couldn’t be any older than sixteen.

“Ignore the hormone ridden idiot at the bar. That’s Will. His mother and Georgianna are sisters. So in some screwed up roundabout way he is my younger cousin. He showed up here last night after running away again for the hundredth damn time and Rush called me to come get him and take his crazy ass home.”

Rush. Why did the sound of his name make my heart race? Because he was unfairly perfect. That was why. I shook my head to clear my Rush thoughts. “It’s nice to meet you, Will. I’m Blaire. Rush has taken pity on me until I can get my own place.”

“Hey, you can come home with me. I won’t make you sleep under the stairs,” Will offered.

I couldn’t help but smile. This kind of innocent flirting I understood.

“Thank you but I don’t think your mother will appreciate that. I’m fine under the stairs. The bed is comfortable and I don’t have to sleep with my gun.”

Grant chuckled and Will’s eyes went wide. “You’ve gotta gun?” Will asked in an awed voice.

“Now, you’ve gone and done it. I better get him out of here before he falls anymore in love,” Grant replied, taking the cup he’d just filled up with coffee. He headed for the door saying, “Come on Will before I go wake up Rush and you have to deal with his ornery ass.”

Will glanced at Grant then back at me as if he were torn. It was cute.

“Now, Will,” Grant said in a more demanding tone.

“Hey, Grant,” I called before he got to the door.

He turned back to look at me, “Yeah?”

“Thanks for the gas. I’m paying you back as soon as I get my check.”

Grant shook his head, “No, you’re not. I’ll be insulted. But you’re welcome.” He winked then shot Will a warning glare before leaving the kitchen.

I waved goodbye to Will. I’d deal with how to pay Grant back without insulting him later. There had to be a way. Right now, I had another plan. I made my way to the doors leading outside. It was time to enjoy my first real day on the beach.

I stretched out on the towel I’d borrowed from the bathroom. I’d have to wash it tonight. It was the only one I had to dry off with and now I was getting it covered in sand. It was so worth it.

The beach was quiet. We weren’t near other houses so this stretch of the beach was empty. Feeling brave, I pulled the tank top off and tucked it under my head. Then I closed my eyes and let the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore lull me back to sleep.

“Please tell me you have sunblock on,” a deep voice washed over me and I leaned toward it. The clean masculine scent was yummy. I needed to get closer.

Opening my eyes, I blinked at the bright sun and covered my eyes to see Rush sitting down beside me. His eyes were studying me. Any warmth or humor in his voice I might have imagined was missing.

“You are wearing sunblock, aren’t you?”

I managed to nod and then pulled myself up to a sitting position.

“Good. I’d hate to see that smooth creamy skin turn pink.”

He thought my skin was smooth and creamy. It sounded like a compliment but I wasn’t sure saying thank you was appropriate.

“I, uh, put some on before I came out here.”

He continued to stare at me. I fought the urge to reach for my shirt and slip it on over my bikini. I didn’t have the kind of body on the girls I’d seen him with. I didn’t like feeling as if he were comparing me.

“You not working today?” he finally asked.

I shook my head. “It’s my day off.”

“How’s the job going?”

He was being nice, kind of. At least he wasn’t avoiding me. As silly as it seemed, I wanted his attention. There was this draw I had to him that I couldn’t explain. The more he kept his distance the more I wanted to get closer. He tilted his head and cocked an eyebrow like he was waiting on me to say something.

Oh wait. He’d asked me a question. Dang those silver eyes of his. It was hard to concentrate. “Uh, what?” I asked feeling my face heat up.

He chuckled, “How is the job going?” he asked slowly.

I had to stop making an idiot out of myself around him. I straightened my shoulders, “It’s going good. I like it.”

Rush smirked and glanced out over the water, “I bet you do.”

I paused and thought about that comment then asked, “What is that supposed to mean?”

Rush let his gaze trail down my body then back up. I was regretting not putting my tank top back on. “You know what you look like, Blaire. Not to mention that damn sweet smile of yours. The male golfers are paying you well.”

He was right about the tips. He was also making me breathe funny looking at me like that. I wanted him to like what he saw but then I was also terrified of the outcome. What if he did change his mind about keeping his distance? Could I keep up?

We sat in silence for awhile as he stared straight ahead. I could tell he was thinking about something. His jaw was clenched tight and there was a frown line creasing his forehead. I thought back to what all I’d said. I couldn’t think of anything that would upset him.

“How long ago did your mom pass away?” he asked turning his gaze back to me.

I didn’t want to talk about my mom. Not to him. But ignoring his question was rude. “Thirty-six days ago.”

His jaw worked as if he was angry about something and his frown line got deeper. “Did your dad know she was sick?”

Another question I didn’t want to answer. “Yes. He knew. I also called him the day she passed away. He didn’t answer. I left a message.” The fact he never returned my call hurt too bad to admit.

“Do you hate him?” Rush asked.

I wanted to hate him. He had only caused pain in my life since the day my sister had died. But it was hard. He was the only family I had. “Sometimes,” I replied honestly.

Rush nodded and reached over and hooked his pinky through mine. He didn’t say anything but at that moment he didn’t have to. That one small connection said enough. Maybe I didn’t know Rush well but he was getting under my skin.

“I’m having a party tonight. It’s Nan, my sister’s birthday. I always give her a party. It may not be your scene but you’re invited to attend if you want to.”

His sister? He had a sister? I thought he was an only child. Wasn’t Nan the girl who had been so rude the night I’d arrived?

“You have a sister?”

Rush shrugged, “Yeah.”

Why had Grant said he was an only child? I waited for him to explain but he didn’t elaborate. So I decided to ask.

“Grant said you were an only child.”

Rush tensed. Then shook his head as he finger left mine and turned to look out at the water. “Grant really has no business telling you my business. No matter how damn bad he wants in your panties.” Rush stood up and didn’t look back at me as he turned and headed back to the house.

Something about Nan was off limits. I had no idea what it was but it was definitely off limits. I shouldn’t have been so nosy. I stood up and headed out to the water. It was hot and I needed something to get my mind off Rush. Every time I let my guard down a little around him he reminded me why I needed to keep it firmly in place. The guy was strange. Sexy, gorgeous and delicious but strange.

I sat on my bed listening to the laughter and music in the house. I’d changed my mind about attending this party all day. The last time I had decided to go I’d put on the only nice dress I still owned. It was a red dress that hugged my chest and hips then hung in a short baby doll cut around my mid-thigh. I’d bought this dress when Cain had invited me to Senior Prom. Then he’d been nominated for prom king and Grace Anne Henry had been nominated prom queen. She’d wanted to go to the prom with him and he’d called and asked me if it would be okay if he went with her instead. Everyone had said they would win and he thought it would be cool if they were there together. I’d agreed with him and hung my dress back in my closet. That night I’d rented two movies and made brownies. Mom and I had watched romantic comedies and eaten brownies until we were stuffed. It was one of the last times I remember her not being so sick from chemo that she could actually eat treats like brownies.

Tonight I had pulled the dress out of my bag. It wasn’t expensive by these people’s standards. It was actually pretty simple. The red material was soft chiffon. I glanced down at my mom’s silver heels that I’d kept. They had been the ones she’d worn the day of her wedding. I had always loved them. She never wore them again but they were kept in a box wrapped up tightly.

I risked a big chance of going out there and being humiliated. I didn’t fit in with them. I’d never fit in at my high school either. My life was just one big awkward moment. I needed to learn to fit in. To walk away from the awkward girl who was left out in high school because she had bigger issues.

Standing up, I ran my hands over my dress to get out any wrinkles from sitting there thinking over the wisdom of joining the party. I would walk out there. Maybe get a drink and see if anyone spoke to me. If it was a complete disaster, I could always run back in here, put on my pajamas and curl up in bed. This was a good small step for me.

Opening the pantry door, I stepped into the kitchen very grateful that no one was in there. Walking out of the pantry would be slightly hard to explain. I could hear Grant’s voice laughing loudly and talking to someone in the living room. He would talk to me. I could ease into this with Grant. Taking a deep breath, I walked out of the kitchen and down the hall into the foyer. White roses and silver ribbons were everywhere. It reminded me of a wedding instead of a birthday party. The front door opened startling me. I stopped and watched as familiar dark smoky eyes met mine. My face felt warm as Woods’ eyes took a long slow appraisal of me.

“Blaire,” he said when his eyes finally made their way back to my face. “I didn’t think it was possible for you to get any sexier. I was wrong.”

“Hell, yeah girl. You clean up real nice.” The guy with curly blond hair and blue eyes smiled at me. I couldn’t remember his name. Had he even told me?

“Thank you,” I managed to croak out. I was being awkward again. This was my chance to fit in. I needed to work on that.

“I didn’t know Rush had started golfing again. Or are you here with someone else?” Confused it took me a moment to understand Woods meaning. When I realized that he thought I was here with someone who I had met at work I grinned. That wasn’t the case at all.

“I’m not here with anyone. Rush is um… well Rush’s mother is married to my father.” There that explained it.

Woods’ slow easy grin got bigger as he walked toward me. “Is that so? He is making his stepsister work at the country club? Tsk tsk. The boy has no manners. If I had a sister that looked like you I’d keep her locked up… all the time,” He paused and reached up to brush his thumb across my cheek. “I’d stay with you of course. Wouldn’t want you to be lonely.”

He was definitely flirting. Heavily. I was way out of my league with this one. He was too experienced. I needed some space.

“Those legs of yours should come with a warning. Impossible not to touch,” his voice lowered a notch and I glanced over his shoulder to see that blondie had left us.

“Are you… are you friends with Rush or uh, Nannette?” I asked remembering the name Grant had used to introduce us the first night.

Woods shrugged, “Nan and I have a complicated friendship. Rush and I have known each other our entire lives.” Woods hand slid behind my back. “I’m betting like hell Nan isn’t a fan of yours, though.”

I wasn’t sure. We hadn’t really had any contact since that first night. “We don’t really know each other.”

Woods frowned, “Really? That’s odd.”

“Woods! You’re here,” a female squealed as she entered the room. He turned his head to see a red headed girl with long thick curls and a curvy body barely covered with black satin. This would be his distraction. I started to step away and go back toward the kitchen. My moment of bravery was now gone.

Woods hand clamped down on my hip, firmly holding me in place. “Laney,” was all that Woods said in response. Her big brown eyes shifted from him to me. I watched helplessly as she took in his hand settled on my hip. This was not what I wanted. I needed to fit in.

“Who is she?” the girl snapped her eyes now glaring at me.

“This is Blaire. Rush’s new sister,” Woods replied in a bored tone.

The girl’s eyes narrowed and then she laughed. “No, she isn’t. She’s wearing a cheap ass dress and even cheaper shoes. This girl, whoever she says she is, is lying to you. But then you were always weak when it came to a pretty face, weren’t you, Woods?”

I really should have stayed in my room.

Chapter Seven

“Why don’t you go back to the party and find some stupid male to sharpen your claws on, Laney?”

Woods moved toward the door where the majority of the party was going on with his hand still firmly on my hip forcing me to go with him.

“I think I should just go to my room. I shouldn’t have come out here tonight,” I said, trying to stop our entrance into the party. I didn’t need to walk in there with Woods. Something told me it was a bad idea.

“Why don’t you show me to your room? I’d like to escape too.”

I shook my head. “Not enough room for both of us.”

Woods laughed and bent his head to say something in my ear as my eyes locked with Rush’s silver gaze. He was watching me closely. He didn’t look happy. Had his invite today been out of courtesy and not truly intended? Had I misunderstood?

“I need to leave. I don’t think Rush wants me here.” I turned to look up at Woods and stepped out of his embrace.

“Nonsense. I’m sure he is entirely too busy to worry about what you’re doing. Besides, why wouldn’t he want you at his other sister’s party?”

There was that sister thing again. Why had Grant told me that Rush had no siblings? Nan was obviously his sister.

“I, uh, well, he doesn’t actually claim me as family. I’m just the unwanted relative of his mother’s new husband. I’m actually just here for a couple more weeks until I can move out on my own. I’m not a wanted resident in this house.” I forced a smile, hoping Woods would get the picture and let me go.

“There is nothing about you that is unwanted. Even Rush isn’t that damn blind,” Woods said closing in on me again as I backed away.

“Come here, Blaire.” Rush’s demanding tone came from behind me as a large hand slipped around my arm and pulled me back against him. “I didn’t expect you to come tonight.” The warning in his tone told me I had misunderstood his invite. He hadn’t truly meant it.

“I’m sorry. I thought you said I could come,” I whispered embarrassed that Woods was hearing this. And others were watching it. The one time I decide to be brave and step out of my shell and this happens.

“I hadn’t expected you to show up dressed like that,” he replied with a deadly calm. His eyes were still directed at Woods. What was so wrong with my clothes? My mom had sacrificed for me to have this dress and I’d never gotten to wear it. Sixty dollars was a lot of money for us when she’d bought it. I was sick of this stupid bunch of spoiled brats acting like I was dressed in something repulsive. I loved this dress. I loved these shoes. My parents had been happy and in love once. These shoes were a part of that. Damn them all to hell.

I jerked free of Rush and headed back to the kitchen. If he didn’t want me in here for his friends to laugh at then he should have said so. Instead, he’d made me feel like a fool.

“What is your fucking problem, man?” Woods asked angrily. I didn’t look back. I hoped they got in a fight. I hoped Woods busted Rush’s obnoxiously perfect nose. I doubted it because although Rush was one of them he looked rougher around the edges.

“Blaire, wait,” Grant called out and I wanted to ignore him but right now he was the closest thing I had to a friend here. I slowed down when I reached the hallway away from all the onlookers and let Grant catch up to me.

“That wasn’t what you think in there,” Grant said, coming up behind me. I wanted to laugh. He was very blinded where his brother was concerned.

“Doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t have come. I should have known he hadn’t meant that invitation. I wish he’d just told me to stay in my room like he wanted me to. I don’t understand word games,” I snapped and stalked into the kitchen and straight to the pantry.

“He has issues. I’ll give him that but he was protecting you in his weird screwed up way,” Grant said as my hand met the cold brass handle on the pantry door.

“Keep believing the best in him, Grant. That’s what good brothers do,” I replied and jerked the door open and closed it behind me. After a few deep breaths to ease the ache in my chest I went into my room and sank down onto the bed.

Parties were not my thing. That was the second one I’d ever been to and the first one hadn’t been much better. Actually it was probably worse. I’d gone to surprise Cain and I’d been the one surprised. He’d been in Jamie Kirkman’s bedroom with her naked breast in his mouth. They hadn’t been having sex but they were definitely working their way up to it. I’d closed the door quietly behind me and left through the back door. Some people saw me and knew what I’d walked into. Cain had shown up at my house an hour later begging me to forgive him and crying while on his knees.

I’d loved him since I was thirteen years old and he’d given me my first kiss. I couldn’t hate him. I just let him go. That was the end of our relationship. I eased his conscience and we had remained friends. Sometimes he had broken down and told me he loved me and wanted me back but for the most part he had a different girl in the back of his mustang every weekend. I was just a childhood memory.

Tonight no one had betrayed me. I’d just been humiliated. Reaching down I slipped off my mother’s shoes and placed them safely back in the box she’d always kept them in. Then I put them back into my suitcase. I shouldn’t have worn those tonight. The next time I wore her shoes would be special. It would be for someone special.

The same went for this dress. When I put it back on I would wear it for someone who loved me and thought I was beautiful. The price tag on my dress wouldn’t matter. I reached up to unzip it when the door opened and the small doorway was filled with Rush. A very angry Rush.

He didn’t say anything and I let my hands fall back to my side. I wouldn’t be taking my dress off just yet. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He was too much for this small room. I had to back up and sit down on the bed so that he could fit without us touching.

“How do you know Woods?” he snarled.

Confused, I stared up at him and wondered why he didn’t like me knowing Woods. Weren’t they friends? Was that it? He didn’t want me around his friends. “His dad owns the country club. He golfs. I serve him drinks.”

“Why did you wear that?” he asked in a cold hard voice.

That was the last straw. I stood back up then inched higher on my tiptoes so that I was in his face. “Because my mother bought it for me to wear. I was stood up and never got the chance. Tonight you invited me and I wanted to fit in. So I wore the nicest thing I had. I’m sorry that it wasn’t quite nice enough. You know what though? I don’t give a shit. You and your uppity spoiled friends all need to get over yourselves.”

I pushed his chest with my finger and glared at him daring him to say one more word about my dress.

Rush opened his mouth then closed his eyes tightly and shook his head. “Fuck!” he growled. Then his eyes flew open and his hands were suddenly in my hair and his mouth was on mine. I didn’t know how to react. His lips were soft but demanding as he licked and bit my bottom lip. Then he pulled my top lip into his mouth and sucked gently. “I’ve been wanting to taste this sweet plump lip since you walked into my living room,” he murmured before slipping his tongue into my mouth as I gasped at his words. He tasted like mint and something rich. My knees went weak and I reached up to grab his shoulders to hold myself steady. Then his tongue caressed mine as if asking me to join him. I took a small swipe of his mouth and then bit down gently on his lower lip. A small groan came from his throat and the next thing I knew I was being lowered onto the small bed behind me.

Rush’s body came over mine and the hardness that I knew was his erection pressed between my legs. My eyes rolled back in my head and I heard a helpless moan come from my lips.

“Sweet, too sweet,” Rush whispered against my lips before tearing his mouth away and jumping back off of me. His eyes zeroed in on my dress. I realized it was now up around my waist and my panties were showing. “Mother fucking shit,” he cursed then slammed a hand against the wall before jerking the door open and exiting like he was being chased.

The wall shook from the force he put into closing it. I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My heart was racing and there was a familiar ache between my legs. I’d been turned on before watching sex on television before but never this intensely. I was so close. He hadn’t wanted to like it but he had. I’d felt that but then I’d also seen him having sex with some girl. In addition, I knew last night he’d had sex with another girl and then sent her packing. Getting Rush hard wasn’t a large feat. I hadn’t actually accomplished anything. He was just mad because it had been me that had turned him on.

It hurt. Knowing he disliked me so much that he didn’t want to think I was attractive. The throb between my legs slowly faded as reality set in. Rush hadn’t wanted to touch me. He had been furious because he had. Even turned on he had been able to walk away from me. I had a feeling I was in a minority. Most girls that wanted him got him. Me he couldn’t bring himself to mess with. I was the poor white trash he was stuck with until I got enough money to move out.

I rolled over and curled up into a ball. Maybe I wouldn’t be wearing this dress again. It now held even more sad memories. It was time I packed it away for good. Tonight though, I’d sleep in it. This would be my farewell to a dream. The one where I was enough for some guy to want.

Chapter Eight

The house was once again a wreck when I woke up the next morning. This time I left the mess and hurried to work. I didn’t want to be late. I needed this job now more than anything else. My dad had yet to call to check on me and I was pretty sure Rush hadn’t spoken with his mother or my father because he hadn’t mentioned it. I didn’t want to ask him because I didn’t want his anger at my father to be directed at me.

There was already a good chance that Rush would be asking me to leave when I got back to his house today. He hadn’t seemed real happy with me when he’d stormed out of my room last night. And I’d kissed him back and sucked on his lip. Oh God what had I been thinking? I hadn’t been thinking. That was the problem. Rush had smelled too good and tasted too good. I hadn’t been able to control myself. Now, there was a good chance I would find my bags on the porch when I got home. At least, I had money to stay in a motel.

Dressed in my shorts and polo I made my way up the office steps to the front door. I needed to clock in and get a key to the beverage cart.

Darla was already inside. I was beginning to think she lived here. She was here when I left and when I arrived every day. Her small whirlwind personality was scary though. You almost wanted to salute her when she barked orders at you. She was frowning up at a girl I hadn’t seen before. She was pointing her finger and almost yelling.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 333