Isaac: My flight lands tomorrow at ten in the morning. Thank you for asking me to be your date to the wedding.
I smile. He’s so well mannered and the complete opposite of Zach.
I lay my head back against the seat. After last weekend, I don’t look forward to seeing him again. It’s hard enough knowing we have to walk down the aisle without killing each other at the wedding. Why did Noel have to pick him as the best man?
Aubrey: See you then.
Coming down the escalator to baggage claim, I immediately spot Zach standing with his little sign waiting for me again.
Great. This is going to be another fun weekend.
Why am I not surprised to see him? I’m beginning to think he’s getting some sick thrill by torturing me. And why would Lanie allow it? I know she’s busy, but couldn’t she send one of the twins instead?
Zack tugs his ball cap low on his forehead and a places a pair of dark sunglasses over the bill. I hate the fact that even though I’m pissed at him for hurting me, I still think he looks good in his jeans and form-fitting black t-shirt.
Zach grabs my bag from my hand and says, “It’s good to see you.”
I stare at him with narrowed eyes. “Don’t!” I snap at him. “After last weekend I’m over you.”
A pained look overtakes his face as I turn on my heel to head for the exit.
I only make it one step before he grabs my wrist and stops me in my tracks. “Look, I was a jackass last weekend. You don’t deserve to be treated that way. I’m sorry.”
His eyes seem sincere, but his apology doesn’t make me feel any better or make me forget what he’s done. “I will accept your apology so we can get through this weekend, but it still doesn’t change anything between us. You sleep with other women and shove it in my face to hurt me on purpose.”
He takes his sunglasses off and rests them over top of his hat and leans into my face. “So, what if I have? You’re fucking your boss! Don’t you think that hurts me?”
I try to yank my arm free, because all I want to do is smack his face. The harder I yank the tighter his grip gets. “Let go of me!”
Zach shakes his head. “What is this? You get to hate me all you want, but when I mention you’re doing the exact same thing you get pissed!”
“It’s not the same thing,” I huff, knowing that simple kisses are as far as I’ve been with Isaac.
He pulls me into him and forces me to look him in the eye. “Are you fucking him?”
I want to hurt him, like he hurt me so I refuse to give him a straight answer. “That’s none of your business.”
“It is my business! Now tell me!” One last jerk and my arm’s free. I rub my wrist as I stay silent and gaze up at his face. His eyes never leave mine. It’s almost as if he’s studying me while his jaw works under his skin, trying to get the truth out of me. “Are you sleeping with him?”
I fold my arms. There’s no way I’m going to make this easy on him. “You left me, remember! Why aren’t you happy about this? It’s what you wanted.”
He drops my bag and grabs me by the shoulders. “Because you’re mine! Can’t you see that? I still want you and I know you want me too.”
I gasp and my mouth drops open. Why would he say this to me now? Is it because I’m dating Isaac and he can’t have me now? Well, too bad. I’m not going to let him play around with my heart anymore. “You told me to move on, so that’s what I did. Get over it!”
He shakes his head. “I don’t believe you! You still want me. I can see it in your eyes. People don’t just walk away from a connection like the one we have. I’m going to make you admit that to yourself by the end of this weekend.”
Before I have a chance to reply, he crushes his lips to mine. I melt into him, forgetting what we were even fighting about to begin with as I focus on is him. Both legs beneath me wobble and I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him close.
Damn my stupid body for reacting to him like this.
He pulls back and smirks. “See. Don’t forget I know what turns you on and how you like it a little rough. You’re going to want me to do more than kiss you. I promise you that.”
My lips tingle as he bends down and picks up the bag and starts toward the exit. What the hell just happened here? I’m never going to figure this man out.
****
Sitting at the Mexican restaurant next to Zach reminds me of the first night we spent together when I met up with them in Dallas. The waiter drops off some chips and salsa at the table while a Spanish song plays overhead.
I shake my head as I my mind drifts back to how I felt him up that first night we were together. It was at the table just like this while I sat across from my best friend in nearly the same circumstance.
My cell buzzes and I look at the screen.
Riff: Feel like being naughty again during dinner?
My head whips in his direction and Zach grins and winks at me. Damn it. How did you know exactly what I was thinking? Well, I got news for him—fat chance of that happening again.
Aubrey: You’re an asshole.
He chuckles as he reads my text.
Riff: Maybe so, but I’m one that you still have feelings for.
I shake my head.
Riff: Yes you do. You know you miss me being inside you. Admit it so we can stop playing these stupid games and be together.
I squirm in my seat as I read his words. He knows talking dirty to me gets to me. He’s seen how I react to it when we had sex, but I can’t let it affect me now. I refuse to let him have any sort of power over me.
I huff and toss my phone back into my purse unwilling to play along with his game. My heart is not a plaything. I don’t want it crushed yet again by him when he decides he doesn’t want it anymore. I’m tired of being treated like that. I want a man that really wants me and means it. I’m not settling for anything less than that anymore.
Chapter 22
AUBREY
I bite my thumbnail as I wait for Isaac to get off the plane. Images of how awkward this weekend is going to be with Riff and Isaac in the same room flip through my head. I hope Riff keeps his cool and doesn’t do something crazy like I know he’s capable of when he gets angry. Poor Isaac wouldn’t stand a chance against his rage.
Isaac comes into view carrying a small, black bag and a suit bag in the same hand. He’s dressed casually in khakis and a blue polo shirt with his hair styled in its traditional fashion. He pushes his black-framed glasses up his nose and gives me a small wave.
He wraps his free arm around my shoulders and pulls me into him. “I’ve missed you.”
I squeeze him back and pat his back. “It’s good to see you. Did you have a good flight?”
“It was fine,” he answers as I take him by the hand and lead him towards the exit.
Things between us still feel forced and unnatural. It takes a lot of work to keep a conversation rolling between us, but I’m not ready to give up on making this relationship work.
We walk to the short term parking section of the lot and he follows me to Lanie’s car.
“A rental?” he questions.
I unlock the doors. “It’s Lanie’s. She let me borrow it to come pick you up.”
“Ah,” is all he replies.
We ride in silence on the highway. Like I said, conversation doesn’t come easy between us, which is odd because we work together. There should be a million things to talk about between us.
Tired of the silence, I crank up the radio. The beat of a pop tune plays through the speakers filling the cab with a little noise as we drive to Lanie’s house.
“What exactly are the plans for the night?” Isaac asks as he turns the radio back down.
“We’re decorating the dock and tent for the wedding tomorrow. Then we have a rehearsal dinner at some Italian place.”
He nods. “It’s odd to have a wedding on a Sunday, don’t you think?”
I shrug. “Not really. What’s it matter what day they get married on?”
/> “It doesn’t, I guess. I would think that most people would stick with a traditional Saturday wedding.”
I twist my lips as I evaluate his tone that seems a little snippy and judgmental. “Lanie and Noel are anything but traditional, so why should their wedding be?”
“Touche,” he replies.
Every inch of the driveway is full of delivery people when I pull in, forcing me into the side yard. Through the windshield I watch Zach direct a man with a bunch of flowers down towards the dock where the actual ceremony will take place. He glances over at the car and catches me staring at him and grins. It’s not just any grin either. It’s the one where he practically devours me with his eyes and makes things a little uncomfortable considering I’m dating another man.
I open the door and hop out of the car. He’s not going to give up even though Isaac is here. He really does have some nerve.
Isaac steps out of the car and opens the back door to retrieve his things. “It’s beautiful out here. Where did you say we are again?”
“Cedar Creek Lake. Lanie grew up here. Noel’s family actually lives right next door, so we are all staying here for the night.”
He rests his hands on the top of the car and stares at me. “Are you sure everyone’s okay with me staying here?” His eyes flick in Zach’s direction. “No one’s pissed are they?”
I shake my head, knowing full well that Zach doesn’t like him being here, but Isaac doesn’t need to know that. “You’re fine.”
On our way into the house, Zach steps directly in our path. “What’s up lovebirds? Did you have a good flight, Ken—” I cut him with a stare and he quickly corrects himself. “Isaac.”
I roll my eyes and try to sidestep him. “Don’t pay any attention to him,” I tell Isaac as I grab his arm.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be that way. I’m trying to be nice,” Zach says as he moves out of my way.
“You’re an asshole,” I call over my shoulder as I lead Isaac into the house.
Once we’re out of earshot, Isaac says, “Are you sure it’s over between the two of you?”
I shake my head. “So over. He’s the biggest man-whore in the band. I can never be with someone like him long term.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side. “Good because I don’t want to get my heart crushed if you haven’t truly moved on.”
I tense at his words. That’s a feeling I know all too well and I hate the idea of having someone’s heart teetering in my own hands. I don’t want to hurt him.
****
The Italian restaurant Lanie picked for her rehearsal dinner is loud with the hustle and bustle of the busy wait staff working their way around keeping dinner guests happy. The white table linens and candles add an elegant touch to the room. Noel rented out the entire restaurant so the band could celebrate in private.
Trip sulks in his chair, bummed by the prospect of not having any random chicks around until Noel’s older cousin in her forties starts giving him the old fuck-eye.
“Dude, she so wants me. I’m going to Cougar land tonight,” Trip tells Zach who is sitting between us. “That chick wants my nuts. Look at how she licks her lips when I look over.”
Riff and I both glance over at the next table and watch the busty, bleach-blond do exactly what Trip said the moment he looks over. Zach and I both laugh at the same time.
“Did you see that!” Trip exclaims. “I’m hitting that tonight!”
“Have fun with that, bro,” Zach says.
“Maybe she has a daughter or something and we can get them to take us back to their place,” Trip says.
Zach shakes his head. “Better rope Tyke into your plans, because I don’t get down like that anymore.” His gaze shifts to me. “I’ve got something much better in mind.”
I swallow hard and try to calm my nerves under his heated stare.
“I don’t think I was supposed to bring this present to the rehearsal dinner,” Isaac says breaking my attention away from Zach’s intense stare. Isaac stuffs the box he carried in with him between his feet.
“I’m being nosey, but what did you get them?” I ask.
“A crystal vase. I know it’s not much and they probably don’t need anything, but I figured it’s the thought, right?”
I lean over and kiss his lips, trying to ignore the fact that Zach’s right beside me. “It’s very sweet.”
“Rolls,” Riff says while practically shoving the breadbasket in my face.
I shove it away with my hand. “I’m fine. Thanks.”
He sits the basket back on the table. “I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss out since you seemed pretty busy and all.”
I fight the overwhelming urge to reach over and smack him in the face and then scream, “What do you want from me?”
When I can’t take looking at Zach a second longer, I slide my chair back and stand without warning.
Isaac peers up at me concerned. “You all right?”
“I’m fine. Just need to use the ladies’ room.”
I storm off in the direction of the restroom and shove the door open. I throw my purse down on the counter and lean against it as I fight back the crazy, mixed-up emotions I feel inside. One minute he likes me…the next he doesn’t. His psycho mood swings are giving me whiplash.
I stare at myself in the mirror, wondering what happened to the levelheaded girl I was a short time ago. Feeling this way is the very thing I wanted to protect myself from, and yet here I stand, miserable that the man I really want didn’t want me back. When I offered him my heart, he crushed it in the palm of his hand like it meant nothing to him. I refuse to let him do it to me again.
I sigh. Why couldn’t he tell me he loved me back when I told him in the bar? Why now when I’m trying to move on and give Isaac a chance. He’s making me feel like the villain in this situation.
The lock on the door clicks behind me and I see Zach step into view through the mirror. “What are you doing in here? You aren’t done torturing me yet?”
He shoves his hands into his jean pockets and nods. “I deserve that. I’m sorry for how I’ve been acting. It’s childish and I really don’t have a good excuse other than seeing you with him is driving me bat shit crazy.”
I turn to face him. “How do you think I felt when you said you were with those two women and then pulled the girl into your lap at the bar? Do you think this is easy for me? I’m trying to move on like you told me to do, but I can’t with you always making things so difficult for me!”
He takes a couple steps and wraps his fingers around my upper arms. “I’m sorry, all right. I’d take it all back if I could. I don’t mean to hurt you, Kitten. I fucking love you and I don’t know how to handle it.”
Shock registers on his face as he realizes what he’s said to me. He rubs his face and takes a deep breath before looking me square in the eye. “I love you.”
“You love me?” I whisper. “Why did you wait until now to tell me?”
He bites his lower lip. “I thought I was doing you a favor by pushing you away. As much as I hate to admit it, a guy like Isaac would be a much better choice than a piece of shit like me. I wish I could give you every part of me, but I’m so fucking broken that I’m not sure where to start.”
I place my hand over his heart. “Start by giving me this. All I ever ask is that you love me back just as much as I love you.”
“What if I can’t? I don’t know how to love someone.”
Tears fill my eyes and when I blink the warm, salty liquid flows down my cheeks. “You can. You already have. You love your mom and Hailey. I see it every time you talk about them, what they meant to you. I want you to let me in. I love being with you. I love the way you make me feel. I do want to be with you, but I’m afraid you’ll crush my heart.”
“I swear I’ll never hurt you again. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving how much I love you if you let me.” He cups my cheeks in his hands. “I love you, Aubrey. I think I have from the moment
you first turned me down.”
I smile at him and wrap my arms around him. It’s crazy and us together makes absolutely zero sense, but I can’t fight the feelings I have for him. “I love you, too.”
I close my eyes and focus on how good he makes me feel. It would absolutely crush me at this point if this doesn’t work out again, but I can’t worry about that, because right now I know he’s being sincere.
He kisses me like he’s never kissed me before. It’s like he needs me to breath. He grabs my hips and hoists me up on the counter. “Thank god you picked a dress to wear tonight. This would be a lot harder in if not.”
He reaches up my skirt and yanks my underwear down before sliding them the rest of the way off my body. There’s no time wasted as he circles my clit with the tip of his finger in a forceful rhythm. I bite my lip and throw my head back as I moan from the sheer pleasure of his touch. I’ve missed being with him so much.
Within a minute my eyes roll back and my entire body shakes as I come hard against his hand.
I gasp as I come down from the high. All the time we’ve spent learning each other’s bodies comes in handy during a quickie like this.
Zach unzips his pants and shoves them along with his boxers down to his thighs before he grabs the base of his shaft and guides it into me. A long moans flies from his mouth as it pushes his cock all the way in.
“Oh, god,” I cry as softly as I can while he plunges into me.
We hold each other’s gaze and I chew on my bottom lip. Zach leans over and nips my ear, grazing his teeth along my skin. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I breathe.
He grips my hips harder as he drives into me desperate to find his release. Small beads of sweat form on his brow as he works his way deeper inside me. I can’t peel my eyes away from his face as he rocks into me again and again in a steady rhythm.
Long strands of my ponytail come loose and cascade around my shoulders. I can only imagine what a mess my hair must be after this.
He wraps his arms around me and I arch my back against his hands. To make him come faster I clench my muscles around his cock and hold them as tight as I can.