Slide Down on Me (5 page)

Oh. Fuck.

Travis came before he even realized he was ready. She seized up and moaned low in her throat, and then her body jerked against his. She didn’t stop rubbing herself on his cock and she never took her gaze from him.

Travis, on the other hand, kept looking between her fingers toying with her nipple to her eyes. He was still coming when she captured his lips and whimpered into his mouth.

“You’re definitely hotter than summer, baby.”

“I don’t think it’s just me.” She slid off his lap and held her hand out. “We made a mess on you.”

Travis looked down. “That we did.”

“How about a shower, then we can clean your jeans?”

“Would love one. I’ll clean up out here and meet you under the water.”

“Are you staying the night?”

Travis was caught by the question she’d casually tossed over her shoulder before disappearing into the bathroom. He hadn’t thought one way or the other about spending the night in her bed. He would take her to work the next few mornings and bring her home, but sleeping with her?

Could he? Would he?

He sure as hell wanted to. Able to touch her whenever he wanted, roll her over and make love to her whenever the urge struck him? Oh yeah, he wanted to stay, but should he? Would it be fair to her?

He waited until he heard the shower turn on to begin tidying the kitchen. He’d deal with her question if she asked it again because right then, in that moment, he just didn’t know what answer to give.

* * * * *

Thursday Morning

“Did you sleep here last night?”

Travis looked up from where he sat on the edge of the worn leather sofa in his office. “For the few hours I actually slept, yeah.”

“Why?”

“Was working.” Technically that was true. At least once he got back to the garage.

“I called you,” Miles stated with a hint of accusation. Travis chose to ignore it. He was tired, hadn’t slept but a few winks here and there and been up the rest of the night working on Bella’s car. He’d called a yard down in Knoxville yesterday afternoon about a transmission. He had hers out of the car and the replacement would be in that afternoon. The fuel injection system simply needed a flush and by the time the transmission arrived, he should have everything he needed to finish the job.

And as exhausted and worn-out as he was, he wasn’t in the mood to deal with an inquisition. About the only thing he wanted to exert energy over was a shower and Bella, with her nonstop sexual appetite focused on him.

“Busy,” was all he said, hoping to avoid the conversation and resulting confrontation.

“Busy, huh? Saw you leave town yesterday afternoon with Bella Drake in your truck.”

“Yeah.”

“Well?”

God, he hated the third degree and having to explain himself. He’d told Bella he could handle any shit that came his way as a result of being seen with her and he’d meant it. He’d just hoped he didn’t have to handle it from Miles so soon. “Well what?”

“What was she doing in your truck?”

“What business is it of yours?” The brothers glared at each other. Miles was the only person besides Travis’ father who could make the vein in his temple throb. No one else had been able to get close enough to push his buttons the way they could. “Shit, Miles. I drove her home, all right?” Travis tossed out.

“What the hell, Trav? She’s bad news. That whole family is. What’s left of ’em, anyway.”

“She’s not her brother.” Travis had said as much to Bella yesterday. Guilt by association was all it was and yet people wanted to make it out as more.

“Doesn’t make her any less guilty.”

“I don’t have time for this, Miles. I’ve got a full garage today and a couple of new jobs coming in.” A change of topic was necessary. They didn’t need to get into an argument over a woman they would never see eye-to-eye on.

“You’ve always got a full garage, Trav. C’mon. And I’ve always got work to do too. We help each other, but we don’t usually keep secrets.”

Travis sighed wearily. Miles was right. They didn’t keep secrets. He didn’t want to keep this one either, but for the time being, it was better this way. “Let’s drop it, all right?”

“No, I’m not going to drop it. Are you fuckin’ her? Is that why you’re acting like this?”

“Now that’s
really
none of your damn business.” He stood, stretched and grabbed the coveralls hanging on a nail behind the door.

Travis stifled a yawn and slipped into the tiny office bathroom. He’d been wearing the same clothes since yesterday and didn’t really want to sweat in them all day under his coveralls. Back in the office, he sat to put his work boots on again. It felt as though he’d just taken them off.

“Dammit. I knew her moving back here would be a bad idea. You’ve had a hard-on for her since the day her daddy brought in that Mercedes years ago. You got a look at that pretty face and those curves and lost your mind.”

“You’re full of shit.”

“In most things, yes, but on this I’m right.”

“Just lay off it.”

“Trav—”

“Miles!” His brother’s name cracked like a whip through the air and he glared. “It’s none of your business. Let it go.”

“It
is
my business.” Miles was undeterred. “
You’re
my business, and I’m not going to let it go. Goddammit! Her family screwed ours over. They screwed a lot of people over. You’re sleepin’ with the enemy, Trav.”

“Jesus, Miles.” He raked a hand through his hair in frustration. “This isn’t a television drama. She’s not the enemy.” And sleeping hadn’t been what they were doing either. Miles didn’t need confirmation of that though.

“As close as.”

“Do you hear yourself? What is your deal? I understand being pissed that money was lost, but you’re going a little overboard, aren’t you?”

“
My
deal? You’re pretty damn defensive, bro.”

“You’re the one who came in with accusations. Bella needed help. I offered. What I do with or without her after that isn’t any of your goddamn concern.”

“She’s not worth this,” Miles stated.

“Not worth what? You being an asshole? Look, she’s been through enough.
She
didn’t do anything to you or me or anyone else in this busybody town. She had her shit pulled out from under her too and she’s just trying to live her life.”

“You’ve got it bad.”

Travis’ patience had worn thin and the quiet, even thread in his voice betrayed it. “Either leave or get to work.”

Miles stared at him, anger suffusing his cheeks with red. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

When Travis didn’t respond, his brother finally turned away with a grumble.

“So?” Miles queried several minutes later, after grabbing his own pair of coveralls and silently donning them. “Are we gonna work or are you gonna sit there all day?”

Travis would have liked to sit there all day, but knew he couldn’t. He’d stayed at Bella’s until she fell asleep. Jesus, it was some of the hottest sex he’d ever had, but he honestly hadn’t thought beyond getting inside her that first time.

When she’d opened the door to him this morning, the disappointment in her eyes made him feel uncharacteristically warm and fuzzy inside. It also made him feel even more like an ass because he’d left without telling her he was doing so.

Travis strode out to the garage and popped the hood on the Jeep Wagoneer he’d been servicing the previous day and got to work. There weren’t too many things wrong with it. The owners wanted it tuned up—new belts, fluid flushes, the fuel system cleaned. It had been sitting in a garage for more than a decade, only taken out for an occasional spin around the block to keep it running, but she was due for a grand adventure and cross-country trek. Travis would make sure she ran beautifully.

The constant work, the classic seventies rock from his iPod pumping through his earbuds kept his mind occupied, until a kick in the shin brought him out of his bubble several hours later. “What the hell?” he grouched. He looked at Miles, who was shifting from foot to foot and looking decidedly uncomfortable “What’s wrong with you now? More bitching?”

Miles moved to the side.

Bella.

She had a couple of white paper sacks in her hands along with a drink tray that held three cups, and Travis realized immediately that Miles wasn’t the only one who seemed uncomfortable.

Travis smiled. “Bells. What are you doing here?”

“I thought… I mean, I…” She held up the takeout bags. “I brought lunch. I called a little while ago and—”

“You called?” He slanted an accusatory look at his brother. “Why didn’t you come get me?”

Miles shrugged and red flooded his cheeks.

“I’ll deal with you later,” Travis promised.

“No, don’t be upset at him. I only called to ask if you were around. He said yes.”

Travis nudged Miles, who took a bag from her along with the drinks. “Don’t be upset with him? Did you hear that, Miles? She doesn’t want me to be upset with you.”

“Shut up, Trav. I heard her.”

Bella looked from brother to brother. “Maybe I should go. This seems like it was a bad idea.” Uncertainty lurked in her eyes and Travis wanted to kick himself.

“No, Bells. It was a great idea. C’mon.” He urged her to precede him and they followed Miles into the office. “I’m starving. Someone,” he leaned close and whispered, “used up a lot of my energy last night.”

Chapter Four

“How’d you know I like my burger this way?” Miles asked after unwrapping one. “Or that I like Dr. Pepper?” He pointed to the Styrofoam cup with his name written on it.

“I told Mr. Duggans at the diner that I was bringing lunch over here but wasn’t sure what the two of you like.”

“And he told you? He had to mortgage that place after what your brother did.”

“No. He just made the food. He also made a point of reminding me about Artie and what happened. I apologized. It was all I could do.”

Travis spoke up. “Glad he didn’t give you any more trouble than that.”

Bella blushed and glanced away for a second, then back again, composed once more. “I think it helped that Mrs. Cleary was with me. One look at her and he turned into a pussycat.”

To both Bella and Travis’ surprise, Miles laughed at that. “I bet that was a sight to see.”

“I think he has a crush on her.”

Miles choked on his drink. “Oh God, no. I don’t need that visual.”

Travis shivered in disgust. Mr. Duggan was well over six feet and three hundred pounds if he was an ounce, but it was more the size of his hands that freaked most people out. He had small, dainty hands that didn’t belong on a man of his shape and stature. To imagine those hands and that man and a formidable, albeit beautiful woman such as Mrs. Cleary? “No one needs that visual.”

Bella laughed. “I think it’s sweet.”

Miles coughed. “Not if she has a crush on him too. It’s just gross.”

“No. She’s still in love with her husband. She’ll never remarry.”

“He’s been dead for what?” Travis tried to remember. “Twenty years?”

“Love like that is rare,” Bella said. Her voice was soft and Travis turned his head. She was picking a French fry apart and looking down at her lap. Something about her in that moment tugged at something deep down inside him. He’d never thought about love, falling in it, being a victim of it.

He’d seen too many people hurt by and in the name of love. He wasn’t a cynic. His parents had loved each other. He loved his family, but romantic love for himself? He’d just never been interested.

But with Bella sitting next to him, a ray of sunshine in the dingy, gray surroundings, he could see how love like that might be a good thing.

For the next little while, the three of them sat in Travis’ garage office and ate in silence. Miles was perched on the edge of the rickety metal desk. Travis caught his brother staring at Bella every so often, a curious look on his face. There wasn’t a trace of anger, but Miles’ posture was stiff. He didn’t look ready to bolt though. It was as if he was trying to figure her out. He wanted to wish Miles good luck on that because Travis wasn’t sure
he’d
be able to figure her out himself, no matter how many days or nights he spent in the pleasure of her company and enjoying the decadence of her body.

She looked different to him today too. She looked less drawn, less stressed. The blue of her eyes seemed brighter and she’d worn her hair down.

“So, ummm… How’ve you been, Miles?”

Travis’ gaze flicked from Bella to Miles. His brother looked like a deer in headlights and Travis wondered if he should jump in to change the subject. He decided against it. He had a feeling Bella could handle herself with Miles.

“I suppose all right. Considering.” His voice was hard, but all Bella did was nod.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? You’re
sorry
?”

“Yes.”

“And you think that makes it okay? That you’re sorry? Do you know what I’d like to do to your brother?”

Bella nodded again. “Beat the shit out of him?”

Miles deflated somewhat. “Well, uh…”

“You’re not the only one who feels that way,” she assured him. “Even I wish I could. He’d grind me into dust because he’s so much bigger and I fight like a girl, but I’d like to take a swing at him too. I’ll be living with what he did forever.”

“It’s not your place to apologize for him, Bells.”

“I know. But someone has to because Artie won’t. I can’t give you or Miles your money back. I can’t give
anyone
their money back. All I have is an apology to offer. I feel as bad about it as anyone. You were able to keep your business though, right?” She was addressing Miles again. “Didn’t you take over your father’s business? Thought I’d heard that several years ago.”

“Yes. I was able to keep hold of the business. I’ve had to spread it out, travel farther sometimes for the work, hire myself out as a contractor on big jobs down in Knoxville from time to time, but yeah, the business is still in the family.”

“You ever do any painting?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Miles replied, confusion evident in his tone.