Gage

  Summer made a tiny, sweet sound and then turned onto her back, still fast asleep. The heater had to work hard to reach the back rooms, and we’d pulled the covers up over our naked bodies against the chill. I propped up on an elbow and stared down at her for a few seconds before pulling back the blanket. Her round, white breasts rose and fell with each breath. She’s sleeping soundly, I reminded myself, but I couldn’t stop.

  My mouth covered one of her breasts and my tongue circled around the nipple. It tightened under my caress. She startled slightly. Still half asleep, she stretched her arms up above her head letting me know that she wanted me to continue. My mouth couldn’t get enough of her. I tasted the creamy softness of each breast, and the smooth channel of skin between them. She arched her back to lift her nipples toward my hungry mouth. I teased the nipple lightly between my teeth, and she mewled with appreciation.

  As I continued to caress her breasts with my mouth, my hand made a path over her flat belly to the neatly waxed pussy below. I slid my finger through the moist folds, stopping to massage her clit gently before pushing my fingers inside of her. A half-cry came from her lips as her legs fell open in an invitation for me to explore more.

  “Gage,” she said breathlessly, and while the barely audible word nearly got swallowed by the darkness of the room, I’d heard it well enough. And hearing my name from those lips while she was stretched out naked and vulnerable in front of me made me crazed with need. My cock grew harder as she rocked against my fingers. My wrist pressed against her clit as she closed her thighs tightly around my hand. She cried out into the brisk, lightless room as she came in hot, fluid waves.

  She relaxed with a satisfied sigh. I was still propped up on my elbow staring down at her. Her lids looked heavy as her long lashes fluttered shut.

  “I’m sorry I woke you. I just had to touch you.”

  She turned toward me. “You can wake me like that anytime you’d like, but what about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Do you have another condom?”

  “That’s all right. You’re tired.”

  She rolled off the bed and picked up my jeans. I sat up slowly and took them from her. I plucked a condom from my wallet and dropped the pants to the floor. I lowered my feet over the side of the bed to put on the condom and the second I finished, Summer came across my lap. Her long legs straddled me. She leaned down and kissed my mouth. Then she pulled her lips away and pressed my face against her naked breasts as she slid down over my cock. She released a throaty groan as she impaled herself lower and lower over my erection.

  “God, when does it end,” she whispered.

  My fingers grabbed her ass, and I moved her hips back and forth.

  “This time,” she whispered into the darkness, “you don’t need to wait.” Her sweet breath tickled my ear as she spoke. “This one’s for you. I’m yours, Gage. Whatever you like, I’ll do it.” Her submissive suggestion sent me over the edge, and I held her roughly over me as she rose and fell over my cock, causing an intense sensation with each movement of her tight pussy.

  She wrapped her arms loosely around my head. I buried my face into her plump breasts and pulled her down over me again and again until I hit the edge of no return. One final thrust and I came deep inside of her.

  She collapsed against me. I folded her small body in my arms and scooted back to the pillows. She crawled under the covers quickly and I followed. She shivered, and I wrapped my arms around her.

  “Hmm,” she sighed. “Suddenly, that Montana winter doesn’t sound too bad.”

  chapter 24

  Summer

  I would have much preferred to stay in bed with Gage all morning. Being tucked in his arms was just about the best thing I’d ever experienced in my life. It seemed I could face any crap life had to offer if I always had those arms to come home to. And the sex. I was still reeling from it. I’d expected a man like Gage to be skilled, but never had I expected him to be so caring, so unselfish. Or maybe Logan had set my standards so low, I hadn’t realized what truly mind-blowing sex could be like.

  I pulled into the lot. I was the first one to arrive. With my stitched hand, I was about as useful as a one armed clock. Another hurdle would be concentrating on work after my night with Gage.

  I reached the door and took a deep breath before putting in the key. Running this place seemed so overwhelming at times that I wasn’t sure I wanted it. It had never been my aspiration to run a business. I wanted to be a singer. But somehow that dream had been tainted by the reality of what that kind of life entailed. I was sure Tately wouldn’t be the only wolf encounter in the music business, but if I hadn’t come home from that horrid experience to an even worse one at home, I would probably have stayed in California. The Raven’s Nest could have been sold, and I could have paid off my undeserving mom. And I wouldn’t be completely hated by everyone.

  Rita’s car pulled into the lot. She smiled at me through the windshield. She was one of my reasons to stick this out. I’d found good friends in Montana. No one was just using me to get what they wanted here. The more I thought about the people I’d been close to in California, the more it seemed I was just a singing dollar sign to them. Kristina, Maxwell, even Daisy were counting on me to make a go of this place, and that was what I was going to do. I would be singing with the band tonight, but I’d made it clear that once their singer returned, she would take over. I had no intention of taking her job. As much as I enjoyed singing in these small venues, something I much preferred over big ones, I just didn’t have the time to run the restaurant and perform on stage too.

  Rita greeted me with a hug. “How are you feeling, sweetie? How’s the hand?”

  “I’m feeling great, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to wait tables or serve food. I hate to put so much burden on you and Kristina.”

  She waved off my concern. “Don’t be silly. Besides, once you’re up on that stage, everyone will be so focused on you, they’ll hardly have time to order drinks or food.”

  We walked inside. Everything sparkled. There was no evidence of the horrid previous day. “They did such a great job cleaning up. The best people in the world work right here in the Raven’s Nest.”

  Rita put her arm around my shoulder, and we walked to the office. “Hey, if this place goes under, it’s bad for all of us. We’re just as invested, and besides—” She stopped and we faced each other. “We’re all rooting for you, Summer.”

  I hugged her again. “After I’m done ordering supplies, I’m going to check out the employment website. We need at least one more cook and a waitress. I know Maxwell thinks he can handle it all with just Hector,” I said, lifting my injured hand, “but shit happens, and we need to have backup people.”

  “I agree,” she said. “I’m going to go gather the list of things we need for the bar. By the way—” There was a glint in her eye. “Kristina mentioned that there was a little get together at Gage’s last night. I know she’s kind of sweet on Gage’s motorcycle friend, Jericho. Boy, he’s something, isn’t he?”

  “He’s pretty close to spectacular. A bit of a rogue though. I hope Kristina doesn’t get too serious. I know she’s had a hard time of it.”

  “He lives in Nevada where his motorcycle club is based, so I think she knows that nothing will come of it. Something tells me she’s just hungry for a little male attention.” She winked. “If you know what I mean. Which brings me to another subject. Kristina mentioned that Gage gave you a ride home.”

  “He did.”

  She stared at me for a second. “Holy shit, you and Gage?”

  “Me and Gage, what?”

  “That starry eyed look, that’s what.”

  I smiled and went into the office.

  “There’s too much to do this morning, but eventually, I’m going to expect details and lots of them.” She popped her head back into the office as I sat at the desk.

  “Just tell me one thing and then I’ll stopping bugging you…for now.”

&nb
sp; I spun around in the chair and faced her.

  “Is he—”

  “Big everywhere?” I finished for her. I didn’t need to say a word.

  “Holy damn cannoli,” she muttered as she walked away.

  ***

  After a successful morning of lining up several interviews for Monday, the one day that the restaurant was supposed to be closed, we had a semi-busy lunch hour. Only a few customers had grumbled about us closing unexpectedly on a Saturday night, but otherwise, it hadn’t hurt business. But during the lull between lunch and dinner, my grandfather’s tax accountant came to talk to me about dull depressing stuff like taxes, including a probable inheritance tax, profit and loss and mostly how much gross I needed to clear each month to stay afloat. It felt like he’d opened his briefcase and a giant black hole had popped out and sucked me in. In the end, I’d mentioned to him the lawsuit my mother was bringing against me. He suggested that it might be in my best interest to find a partner who could buy out half of the restaurant. I told him I would think about it.

  With the weight of the doom and gloom tax meeting on my shoulders, I’d raced home to change into a flirty dress and a pair of cowboy boots I’d bought for some shows near San Francisco. It was an outfit I called my funky meets country look. It seemed perfect for the half rock, half country style of the Rambling Rustlers. After seeing how much profit we needed each month, I hoped the band would bring in a huge crowd with heavy pockets.

  “Cute dress,” Kristina said as I walked into the restaurant. I came around the counter and she got a closer look at me. “But that frown sort of clashes with it. What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing a million dollars can’t fix.” I picked up a glass and poured myself some tea. I thought briefly about the seven figure contract I’d turned down because of the repellant requirement for the money, and wondered if it wouldn’t have been just as easy to have held my nose and jumped into bed with the creep. That notion lasted for all of five seconds, especially after the glorious night I’d just spent with Gage.

  Kristina was still waiting for an explanation, and I had no reason to keep it from her. “My grandfather’s tax accountant suggested I sell half of the business to a partner to give the restaurant a more solid ground financially. Hopefully then I could give my leech of a mother some money.”

  “Well, Gage was saving up to buy the place,” she suggested enthusiastically. “By the way, how did the drive home go? I stayed another few hours, and I don’t recall seeing Gage come back.”

  I sipped my tea more to hide my blush than to avoid answering.

  Kristina smiled. “I’ve known Gage a long time. He’s a great guy, and I’ve seen a lot of girls lose their heads over him. But this time it seems he’s the one losing his head. Of course, he’s a hard man to read.”

  “That’s for damn sure.” I finished the tea. “I’ve got some calls to make and paperwork to finish before the band arrives.” People were starting to flow into the restaurant for the dinner hour. “Let’s hope for a bustling night of food, drinks—”

  “And generous tips,” Kristina added.

  “Are the guys coming?” I asked her nonchalantly, as if it didn’t matter one way or the other. Which, of course, it did.

  “I know Jericho and Seth had planned to pull out the dirt bikes and do some racing. Hopefully they both come out of it in one piece. But Jericho did mention something about coming here tonight to watch you sing.”

  I nodded. “So…” I smiled at her. “Jericho?”

  “Yes, Jericho. He’s stunning to look at, he’s quite good in the making out department and he rides a Harley.” She stopped. “He’s kind of like a hot fudge sundae, delicious and tempting and bad for you.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing you know that now.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Another group of people walked inside. “Looks like it’s show time. If I don’t see you before you go on stage, break a leg.”

  I felt a tsunami of guilt for not being able to help wait tables. I hoped that tomorrow’s interviews turned up a good candidate, but at the same time, taking on a new employee meant more overhead. Overhead was a perfect word for the way I was feeling.

  The office walls vibrated with the rumble of voices, the clinkering of glasses and the metal tang of pots and pans being moved. The delicious smells of bacon, grilled onions and toasted bread wafted into the room, and I realized that I hadn’t eaten since early morning.

  As I stepped out of the office, something had caught Rita’s attention along with just about every other female head in the place. The focus was on the door. Seth, Gage and Jericho strolled casually across the floor pretending not to notice the attention they were getting, but Seth’s cocky smile assured me they were well aware that every female heart in the place was beating just a little bit faster, including mine. But mine was accompanied by an annoying tremble in my hands and a slight sensation of jelly knees. Seth and Jericho were a sight, but Gage was the one who had my entire attention. I walked up next to Rita. We watched their journey across the room. Daisy led them to a booth with her butt wiggling just a touch more than would be considered appropriate for a restaurant hostess.

  “If that isn’t proof that God wants women to be happy then I don’t know what is,” Rita said.

  I laughed. “I’m going to get a bite to eat in the kitchen. The band texted that they’re two minutes away. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly tonight. And let’s hope people buy a lot of burgers and beers.”

  Maxwell had made a grilled cheese and then the customer had changed her mind. It was still hot, and it tasted extra good on a nearly empty stomach. The band was setting up, and I needed to freshen up before I joined them. I had to admit that singing on that pretend stage was the definite highlight of my work day.

  I grabbed my toothbrush, comb and lipstick and squeezed through the crowd that’d gathered in the bar area. I cleared the press of bodies and stepped into the dining room. Gage looked up from his beer.

  “Breathe, Summer,” I whispered to myself. “He’s just a man.” Just a man, what a ridiculous way to describe Gage Barringer. How had I managed to lose myself to this guy so fast? Aside from the fact that he was ruggedly handsome and highly skilled in the bedroom and had a genuinely cool personality. When I thought about it, those reasons were more than enough.

  “Hey, guys,” I said with a slight waver in my voice. I hadn’t seen Gage since this morning when he’d reluctantly dragged himself from my bed to tend to chores on his ranch. Seeing him now, after our long erotic night together, made me a little nervous and shy. And it wasn’t helping that he stared unflinchingly up at me with that intense blue gaze.

  “I was just telling Jericho what an awesome singer you are,” Seth said.

  “Thanks.”

  Gage moved his long legs beneath the table, and his boot tapped mine. He motioned me to the side of the table. I stepped around to the side he was sitting on. He leaned back and stared at the dress and boots. He hadn’t said a word, but there was plenty of conversation in his eyes and it was all dirty.

  I held out my arms. “Do you like it?” I spun around once. The flouncy short skirt of the dress twirled with me, exposing a little more thigh than I’d planned for.

  I stopped and smiled down at him.

  Jericho lifted his hands. “Two thumbs up, baby.”

  I nodded my thanks to him and turned back to Gage.

  “What do you think?” he said quietly. He peered up at me with a dark, almost hard expression. I wasn’t completely sure what was going on his head, and the last thing I could do before going on to sing was try and figure it out. He had no reason to be mad. Maybe he was already done with me. That seemed to be the reputation he’d built for himself.

  I smiled weakly at all of them and rushed into the restroom. I wasn’t going to let it upset me. I was a fool to think that somehow I was going to be treated differently than all the other girls he’d seduced. I was being too naive when it cam
e to guys, and I had to stop.

  Pushing the whole scene from my head, I freshened up. I’d feel better once I got on stage behind a microphone. The world was always a better place when I could get lost in the music. I purposely ignored Gage’s table and fled back through the crowd. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out.

  “You should have given fair warning about the dress.” Gage had texted.

  “Didn’t know I had to O.K. my wardrobe with you.” I typed back. I looked past the heads to the table. Jericho and Seth were talking to two girls. Gage was watching me. Then he moved his fingers over his keypad.

  “You don’t.”

  I didn’t know how to respond. Again, I peered through the mass of people milling about the bar area.

  Another text came through. “I’ve been hard all fucking day thinking about you and then you walk out in that damn dress and those boots.”

  “Was that good or bad?” Thinking about him thinking about me caused a rush of heat between my legs.

  “I might look calm, but I’m about ready to rip this fucking table out of the floor.”

  “So that’s good?” I smiled as I texted, especially knowing that he was watching my every move. My pussy was aching for him. “Or maybe that’s bad.” I texted. My fingers flew over the keypad. “Now I have to go on stage, and all I can think about is you between my legs.” I pushed send and waited for his reaction.