The Tangled Series Complete Digital Boxed Set (Bad Boy Rock Star, Millionaire, and MMA Fighter Bundle) (66 page)

Chapter Eight

I hung up and went to the restroom facility to try and clean myself up a little, but it was locked. 

“Nice,” I mumbled, slinging my purse over my shoulder. I walked around the building to a picnic table and sat down. Then I took out a compact mirror and cringed at my reflection. My makeup was smeared and my eyes were red-rimmed from crying. Sighing, I tried to rub as much of the dark makeup off of my face before Trevor arrived and saw how awful I looked.

Trevor.

Although his street name Raptor was cool, I really liked his real name, Trevor. Plus, he seemed like a decent enough guy. When I’d told him about Jason, he sounded like he wanted to throttle the guy. It actually made me feel good. That and the fact that he was willing to drive out here to pick me up at such a ridiculous hour. I just hoped it wasn’t for sex. I wasn’t sure what I’d do if he took me back to his place and demanded I put out, to repay him. Like Jason. It was obvious Jason had wanted me to give him a blow-job. The idea started my stomach rolling all over again. Pushing away any more thoughts of that asshole, I shoved my mirror back into my purse and zipped it back up. Then I laid my head down on my arms. Fortunately, the fresh air and throwing up all over Jason had made my tummy feel better, but I was still so tired. So tired that I eventually nodded off again.

I woke up hearing the sound of a motorcycle in the distance. Wiping the drool from my lips, I grabbed my purse, hurried over to the parking lot, and stood under a light. When I saw Trevor driving toward me on his Harley, I felt such a sense of relief that I almost started crying again.

He stopped next to me and put his kickstand down, leaving the bike running. As he got off, I noticed that he wore only faded blue jeans and a black leather jacket without a shirt. His long hair was loose and windblown. In fact, he almost looked like he’d just gotten out of bed, but, truthfully, I’d never seen anyone look so good. At that moment, he was my knight-in-shining-armor and my stomach was all butterflies.

“You okay, darlin’?” he asked, studying my face.

I tried keeping a stiff upper lip, but it was hard. My emotions were all over the place. I was jittery, scared of what had happened with Jason, and yet so happy to see Trevor, that my legs felt like they were going to give out. “Yeah. I’m better. Now that you’re here and can give me a lift.”

He looked around and then back at me. “He just dumped you off here? In the middle of nowhere?”

I nodded and then felt my lip quivering.

Trevor’s eyes softened. He opened up his arms and stepped toward me. “It’s okay, Adriana. You’re safe, now.”

“Thanks,” I squeaked, as his arms wrapped around me. I closed my eyes, surprised at how much comfort a stranger could offer. But, he was big and strong and I could tell by the look in his eyes that his concern was genuine. It made me trust him that much more.

After a few seconds, he released me and then walked back over to his bike. He opened up one of the saddlebags and pulled out another leather jacket.

“Here,” he said, holding it out. “It’s chilly out here. You’re going to need it for the ride.”

“Thanks,” I replied, grabbing the black jacket. I put it on and zipped it up. “Is this yours?”

He smiled. “Yeah.”

“It’s nice,” I said, running my hand over the soft leather. It looked expensive and new, almost like it had never been worn before. It also didn’t look like something a biker would wear. It was much more… formal.

“My grandmother bought it for me a couple years ago for Christmas. She said I needed to have something classier to wear when I went out on dates,” he said and then chuckled. 

“Well, she has very good taste.”

“She does.” His smiled turned grim. “She’s also one of the few people I know in my family who actually gives a shit.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s okay. I wasn’t asking for sympathy. I guess I was thinking out loud, again. I do that a lot.”

“No problem. I do that, too.”

He pushed his hair behind his ears. “So, where do you live, darlin’?”

I bit my lower lip, thinking about how loud his Harley was. It would more than likely wake up every one of the blue-hairs in the neighborhood, and there were plenty. My mom would never let me hear the end of it. Plus, she didn’t like bikers. They scared her. Going home suddenly didn’t seem like such a great idea.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know if I should go home right now,” I said. “It’s late and my mom will wake up. I don’t want to have to explain…”

He looked surprised. “You live with your mom?”

I raised my chin. “Yeah. I’m in college. It’s easier and more affordable.”

He chuckled. “You don’t have to explain anything to me, Kitten. I’m not judging you. College is expensive.”

I relaxed. “You can say that again. So, um, maybe you could drive me back to Krystal’s?”

“That’s probably not going to work. I just spoke to Tank. Krystal’s at his house.”

I sighed. “Really?”

“Yep. She got a lift back to his place from some girl named Tiffany. Tank said Krystal had been under the impression that you were getting a ride home. I’m pretty sure she’s passed out now with all of the shit she had to drink.”

“It was supposed to have been me who was going to give her a ride home. But,” I frowned, “I got sick and Jason was supposed to take me home.

Trevor’s eyes hardened. “Obviously, that wasn’t the fucker’s only intent.”

“Apparently not. I guess I can’t go back Krystal’s house then.”

“No sweat. You can stay at my place,” he said. “In the guestroom, of course,” he said, when I gave him a doubtful look.

“Are you sure?” I answered, not knowing if that was a good idea. But, he did say “guest” room.

“Of course I’m sure,” he said. He got on his bike and kicked up the kickstand. “Let’s go.”

I walked over and stood next to him, feeling nervous.

“Hop on,” he said, nodding toward the seat behind him.

“To be honest, I’ve never been on one of these before.”

“Don’t worry, you’re going to love it.”

I smiled weakly. “Okay.”

“Just get on behind me. Wait a second,” he said, pointing to my purse. “Put this around your neck and shoulder. Then zip up the jacket.”

I did what he said and then slid my leg over the seat, straddling the bike.

“Put your feet there,” he said, pointing down to the footrests.

“Okay. How’s your foot, by the way?”

“It’s a little tender, but nothing to worry about.”

“Good.”

“I almost forgot, put this on,” he said, handing me a black helmet. “Just in case.”

I slipped it on and buckled it.

He grabbed one of my hands and put it around his waist. “Hold onto me tightly now. With both hands. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t want you to lose me, either,” I replied dryly, putting both hands around him.

“If it’s more comfortable, you can slide your hands under my jacket. You might get a better grip.”

“Okay,” I replied, not seeing why it would make that much of a difference.

When my hands touched his bare skin, he stiffened up. “Damn, you’ve got cold hands, Kitten.”  

“Sorry,” I said, enjoying how warm his skin was, not to mention how sexy his abs felt under my palms. I scooted forward until we were as close as could be and then laid my cheek against the back of his leather jacket.

He patted my knee. “Let’s get you home.”

Chapter Nine

When Adriana’s hands touched my waist, it started a fire in my lower belly and made my zipper unbearably tight. I kept my cool, however. The last thing I needed was for her to realize that I wanted to bang the fuck out of her myself, after she’d almost been raped.

“Damn, you’ve got cold hands, Kitten,” I said, gritting my teeth as her fingers slid over my skin.

“Sorry,” she said, snuggling up against me.

Releasing my breath, I patted her leg in reassurance. I wanted her to know that she was safe with me. I wasn’t like that fuck-head, Jason. The one who was going to get his ass handed to him when I found the prick. “Let’s get you home.”

“Okay,” she said, gripping my waist even more tightly as we began to roll.

I pulled out of the parking lot, relishing the fact that the roads were empty and I had a beautiful woman on the back of my bike. The only thing that could make it better would be the feel of her hand sliding further south. I brushed the lewd thoughts away and tilted my face up toward the wind, hoping it would cool me the fuck down. Here, I’d just gotten my dick sucked an hour ago and my mind was still in the gutter. But, there was something so fresh and sexy about Adriana. Something that intrigued me so much that I was out rescuing her ass at two-thirty in the morning. This was surprising, even for me. Especially after my experience with Brandy. 

“You okay?” I hollered over the rumble of the engine as we turned onto the highway and began to pick up speed.

Laughing, she raised her thumb.

I smiled.

The roads were clear on the trip back to my house, but I stayed the speed limit, even taking a longer route, just so the trip would last longer. Having her on the back of my bike and holding onto me like she was felt pretty fucking good.

“I want one,” said Adriana, when I pulled up to my garage, fifteen minutes later.

I smiled at her over my shoulder. “A motorcycle?”

“Yes. Oh, my God, that was
so
amazing. I can’t believe I’ve never been on one of these before.”

I turned off the engine. “It’s even more amazing during the day. Especially when you’re touring across the countryside with the sun in your face, your back against the wind, and the stereo cranked. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

“It sounds like a lot of fun. Do you take many road-trips?”

I ran my hands through my hair, wishing I would have worn it back in a ponytail. “Not enough.”

“Huh.” She looked around my garage. “Wow, is that your Chevelle?”

“Yeah. You into muscle cars?”

“I always thought they were cool. What year is it?”

“It’s a ’67 S.S.”

“It’s sexy,” she said, walking over to it.

“I just had it repainted,” I said, following her.

“What color was it before?”

“It was the same color. Black.”

She leaned down and looked into the window. “It’s beautiful. Do you take it out much?”

“Sometimes. It’s fall now, though, so I probably won’t take it out any more this year,” I replied.

“I don’t blame you,” she said turning around. When she noticed how close we were, she slid sideways and moved around me. “Thanks for letting me stay at your place. The fresh air felt great, but I’m so tired. I can’t wait to sleep.”

“I bet. Do you have to work later?” I asked, not even sure if she had a job. All I knew was that she was in college.

She nodded. “Yeah. At six-thirty. In the evening, thank God.”

“Where do you work?”

“I work part-time at Dazzle.”

“The jewelry store?”

Adriana nodded. “My mom owns it. Normally I don’t work Saturday nights, but I promised I’d help her with inventory after the shop closes”

“Huh. I’ve been there, before. Nice stuff. A little pricey, but nice.”

“You pay for quality,” she replied. “My mother prides herself on buying only the best diamonds and gems. She travels all over for them.”

“Interesting. Does she make her own jewelry, too?”

“Yes. She’s been teaching me now, too.”

“Really? That must be interesting.”

She shrugged. “It’s okay. I don’t have the same passion that she does. Or creativity. Anyway, what about you? Where do you work?”

“You mean when I’m not working for Slammer?”

“Yeah.”

“I do a little carpentry on the side.”

She looked surprised. “Like, as in fixing up houses and stuff?”

“Yeah,” I said, as we stepped outside the garage and began heading toward the house. “Or whatever else needs fixing.”

She stopped abruptly. “Um, it looks like you have company and… they might need some fixing of their own.”

I looked to see what she was staring at and my blood began to boil. Brandy was standing on my porch, holding a tissue and glaring at us.

“What are you doing here?” I asked sharply.

Her face fell and she began to cry.

“Fuck,” I mumbled when I noticed the bruise on her cheek.

“Danny hit me,” she said, raising her chin. “If you didn’t notice.”

I stepped onto the porch. “Yeah, well, what the fuck do you want me to do about it?”

Adriana, who was behind me, gasped at my indifference.

Brandy looked at her. “Who the hell is this?”  

“Never mind,” I snapped. “It’s none of your business. Now, get in your car and go home.”

“Trevor, I
can’t
go home,” she cried, looking at me like I was an idiot. “He kicked me out. I need a fucking place to stay.”

Grinding my teeth, I unlocked the front door and turned to Adriana. “I have some shit to take care of,” I said, trying to soften my voice. “Go inside and make yourself at home.”

“Uh, I can call a cab,” she said, looking a little uncomfortable.

I gave her a reassuring smile. “No cab. Everything is cool, okay? I’ll be in shortly. ”

She nodded.

“Oh, and hey… if you’d like to take a shower, there are towels in the linen closet. Feel free to use whatever you want.”

Brandy wrinkled her nose and smirked. “She should. She smells like puke.”

I turned to her. “Brandy,” I warned, glaring at her. “Shut the fuck up.”

“I’ll be inside,” said Adriana, walking past me. From the look on her face, she was as embarrassed as all hell.

“Who the fuck is she
really,
Trevor?” said Brandy, after Adriana shut the door.

“Like I said, it’s none of your goddamn business,” I said and pointed toward the street where her car was parked. “Now, take your problems somewhere else. They don’t belong here.”

Her lip quivered and her eyes filled with tears. “Why are you such an asshole? Don’t you care about me at all?”

I stared at her in disbelief. “I stopped caring the moment I found out you were fucking around on me with your boss, who I assume is now your
EX
boss. You’re lucky I didn’t beat the fuck out of you when I found out, because you’d have had more than a bruise on your cheek.”

She tilted her head and smiled. “Right. That’s not you.”

“Maybe it should be,” I threatened, never wanting to hit a woman as much as I did at that moment.

She saw through it. “You’re a good man, Trevor. You’d never hit a woman. We both know that.”

I smiled cruelly. “Is that right? Just like I thought I knew you?”

Brandy’s face fell. She tried reaching for me. “Trevor, baby, I’m so sorry –”

I pushed her away. “Don’t you give me that ‘I’m sorry’ shit and don’t you dare fucking test me,” I spat. “Now, if you don’t get off of my property, I’ll call the police and let them do it.”

Her eyes widened. “
You
call
the police. That’s hilarious.”

“Does it look like I’m doing stand-up now?” I whispered angrily, noticing that one of my neighbors’ porches was now lit up. 

Brandy let out a ragged sigh. “Okay, fine. But, do you even care why he hit me?”

“Nope.”

She ignored me. “I told him I wanted to get back with you.”

Grunting, I opened the door. “That’s priceless.”

She lurched forward, grabbing onto my leather jacket. “Please, Trevor, forgive me,” she begged, staring up into my eyes. “I made a mistake, baby. I realize that. It was the biggest mistake of my life, but I know that somehow… we can both get past it.”

I removed her hands from my collar and shoved her away. “It’s too late, Brandy, don’t you get it?”

“But I made a mistake,” she sobbed. “I should have never cheated on you. I know that. Can’t you just forgive me?”

I hated seeing a woman cry, especially one I’d once cared so much about. But my pride was still wounded and there was no way I’d be able to ever trust Brandy again. Not after the shit she’d pulled. “Seems to me you didn’t learn your lesson after balling your boss.”

She looked confused. “What do you mean?”

“You cheated on me and then you cheated on Danny,
with
me. Well, guess what? Now, neither of us want anything to do with your lying ass,” I said, slamming the door in her face.