The Key West Anthology (7 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Quinn

Waking up late again was not what I needed. The last few days had been a blur. I was one of those people that set my alarm clock to go off at three designated times so I couldn’t ignore them all. I mean, I could, but the damn little buzzer would just keep reminding me that I had no choice about getting up.

I had to stop doing that.

I rolled from bed and took the quickest shower in my life.

Rushing from the house, my hair still damp, I hopped on one foot toward my car. Damn shoes.

After dropping my keys to the pavement for the third time, I placed my hand on my hip and looked up at the clear blue sky. Counting to ten, I took a deep breath and came to the conclusion that I needed to just slow down. I was honestly getting nowhere with this rush routine. It was only making me run farther behind.

Backing out from the driveway, I had this strong feeling that I was being watched. I looked up toward the house, thinking maybe it was my mother, only to find no signs of any movement. I brushed it off and continued on to work, still feeling uneasy.

After stopping for gas on the way, I pulled into the space designated for employees at Jett’s and spent the next few minutes prepping. Yes, each day I had to prepare to face that beautiful man. He was a force that hit me straight in the gut every time I was near him. Hell, sometimes all I had to do was close my eyes and think of him and I was a hot mess. The guy had the ability to make me needy without even trying.

I walked toward the front entrance, then stopped to look back over my shoulder, that strange feeling sweeping over me once more. For the last week I’ve had this weird feeling of being watched and followed. I had an eerie feeling about it. Hell, maybe it was all in my head, but I couldn’t shake it.

Rushing in through the front door, I looked back over my shoulder one last time, just to be sure. A set of strong arms encircled me as I collided with what resembled a brick wall.

“Hey, are you okay?” a deep, soothing voice asked.

I looked up into the worried eyes of Jett and was momentarily transfixed by them, the manly scent he exuded, and the ripples of his chest beneath my fingers.

I nodded like some lovesick fool. My head was filled with thoughts I shouldn’t be having at that moment.

“Well, you don’t appear okay,” he stated. He now looked back over my shoulder and pulled me in a little closer. I won’t lie; I felt safe with his arms around me.

“Really, Jett, I’m fine. I just thought someone was following me.” I felt him tense with my words. “I’m sure it was nothing.”

“You go ahead and get ready for your shift. I’m just gonna take a walk.” He didn’t wait for me to answer. Instead, he nudged me aside and went outside.

My entire shift at Jett’s was the perfect distraction. Out of all the places I had ever worked, this one was by far the best. It felt like a little family. Even Jude had finally warmed up to me. He was still a mystery but not an intimidating one any longer.

I was in the employee break room gathering my things to leave when Jett strolled in.

“Do you have to work tonight?” he asked.

Our gazes connected, and a jolt of heat pooled low in my stomach. I knew what I was missing with him. I knew what it felt like to be touched and tasted by this man. That only made it more difficult to walk away daily. The fight was only getting harder and harder to resist.

“I work from seven until one. Why?” I kept my eyes locked on his.

“I don’t want you walking around that late at night alone,” he stated.

“Jett, I’m fine. I’m sure there—”

“I’m not taking any chances, Quinn. I’ll take you to and from work.” It wasn’t a question, more of a demand.

“Oh, so you’re planning on becoming my chauffeur, my bodyguard?” I taunted.

“I’ll be those things and much more if you would just stop being so damn stubborn.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Glare all you want, baby, you know you’re the one holding back.”

I decided it was best I change the subject, and quickly. The heated look in his eyes was telling me I would get nowhere. “I can drive myself to and from work. Why the sudden protectiveness? What brought this on?”

He said nothing, only stared back at me.

I grabbed my bag and walked toward the door. Jett stepped in front of me and tilted my chin upward by placing his finger just under my jaw.

“I know you can take care of yourself, Quinn, but you’re not. I don’t like the idea of your feeling uncomfortable. You thought someone was following you. That doesn’t sit well with me. Whether I was able to confirm that, it doesn’t matter.” He paused for just a moment. “Face it, accept it. Follow you, drive you, tie you to the seat next to me, I really don’t give a shit which, I will be making sure you’re safe.” I was positive I was panting. I could hear the
whoosh
sounds in my ears. Oh, even my ears felt warm. I wanted to kick him in the shins for affecting me the way he did. It was honestly unfair.

I instinctively licked my lips, and his gaze fell in the direction of my tongue.

The sound of the break room door startled us both. He stepped away, and Callie stood there looking back at the both of us, unsure.

“Um, I’m sorry. I was just looking for you. There is a guest at table twelve who has requested to talk to you.” Her gaze continued to shift between the two of us. “I can hold him off for a few minutes,” she assured him.

“I’ll be right there, Cal.” They shared an unspoken dialogue for a few seconds longer before she stepped out, closing the door behind her.

I knew the two of them were close, but sometimes that closeness made me a little uneasy. Yeah, okay, it made me jealous. I had no one to blame for it but myself, though. I mean, he was offering himself up right and left, yet I still refused to bite…again.

The hunger in me was just smoldering, though. The need to have him touch me was overtaking my brain, and I was on the edge of caving. But when I do cave, it may be dangerous for the both of us.

“Will you please wait for me?” he asked, just above a whisper.

“It really isn’t necessary,” I started to argue.

He pressed his thumb down over my lips, stopping my words. “It is for me. Just give me five minutes.”

I stood silently as he walked away without looking back. My heart raced and my throat felt tight as I swallowed past its thickness. When I was sure he wasn’t about to turn around, I slipped out of the break room and went out through the back exit just off the kitchen.

Chapter Fifteen

Jett

I hold on tightly to the piece of scrap paper in my hand. Callie had scribbled down Quinn’s home address in a rush. I guess it didn’t help that I was barking at her to hurry the hell up. Thankfully she knew not to take offense to my shitty mood. I was pissed that Quinn had snuck out of the restaurant the moment I turned my back. She thought she had outsmarted me, but she had another thing coming. I wasn’t going to just sit back and let that happen.

As I turned the corner onto Summer Drive, my stomach hit rock bottom. I already knew by the address that her house was in the more rundown area of Palm Beach, but I hadn’t expected this.

The houses were small and dilapidated. I scanned the area with caution until my gaze landed on the little white house on the right with her car in the driveway. I shut my car off, crawled out, and made my way to the front door. Before I could knock, it opened and Quinn came rushing out.

“Mom, I don’t have time for this. I’m late already.” Quinn’s startled look at seeing me on her front porch almost made me laugh. Instead, I narrowed my eyes at her as she took another step in my direction.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

I let my gaze rake over her appearance. Long tan legs spilling from a pair of tight and skimpy black shorts. A small flicker of light reflecting off her belly ring, peeking out below the hem of her tight tank top.
Spencer’s
embroidered across her breast in red letters had me grinding my teeth in aggravation.

She flinched when I trailed the tip of my finger over her exposed waistline. “I told you to wait for me.”

“Yeah, and I told you that I was fine,” she stated in return, her tone stubborn and forceful.

“Fight it, Quinn, I really don’t care anymore.” I slipped my hand around her waist and pulled her flush against me. “I see the way you react to me, to my touch. I know you’re curious about where this could go with us. You don’t have to say it out loud, your body already does. Let me just make one thing clear—I don’t give up easily.”

The rise and fall of her chest against mine told me I was right. Her body molded against mine and our eyes locked. “I will get what I want. I’ll make you see it. For now, though, I’ll settle for being your chauffeur.” I stepped to the side and swatted her on the bottom, causing her to yelp in surprise. “Get your ass in my car.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, and I stared back with equal determination. “We can stand here for as long as you want. Just understand this. I’m parked behind you, and the only way I’m moving is if your sweet little body is strapped in the passenger seat.”

“Controlling asshole,” she growled as she shoved my shoulder and stormed off toward the driveway.

I chuckled as I remembered the words Kade had spoken a couple days ago.
Be all domineering and commanding. Chicks dig that shit.
I shook my head as I walked toward my car, not missing the fact that a pissed-off-looking brunette was glaring at me from the other side of the windshield.

The drive to Spencer’s was silent, and the moment I parked she wasted no time. She slammed my door and stomped off toward the entrance, leaving me grinning at the determined sway of her hips. She had no idea that she was only making me want her more. After dialing my phone, I lifted it to my ear and waited for Kade to answer.

“What’s up, creeper?” he chuckled at his lame attempt at a joke

“I’m hanging at Spencer’s until Quinn gets off work. Get your ass over here.”

“You stalking the chick at her second job now too? Dude, you do know people get arrested for that kind of stuff.” I could hear the humor in his words.

“Just get over here, dick.” I hung up before the joker could come back with anything else.

Between my strong desire to be near her and the need to protect her, my head was spinning. I didn’t like the fact that someone may have been following her earlier. Quinn being alone at night was no longer an option. Hell, her being alone during the day wasn’t something I liked much more. Whether she wanted me to or not, she had no choice, I would be chauffeuring her around.

Chapter Sixteen

Quinn

I walked into work tonight with determination, set on the fact that I would have Jett melting at my feet by closing. I was going to get his ass so worked up that he’d have no idea which way was up, but now I was stewing at the sight before me.

What the hell was I thinking? I was in a gentlemen’s club. Surrounded by gorgeous women who flock to all the men. Jett and his friend Kade were getting entirely too much attention, and my stomach was in knots. I did everything possible to pretend I couldn’t care less, but it was useless.

He looked up, and it was too late to look away. A cocky, knowing grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. I knew I had been caught. He said something to Kade before excusing himself from the table surrounded by girls, a few of them protesting to his fleeing back.

I set my vision securely on his every move. With each step he took, my body became more alert. I had fought daily against my attraction to him. I told myself that my crazy life didn’t have room for him. In reality, I was just embarrassed by my life. But right now I didn’t care anymore. I was so tired of denying myself and wanting something so bad, yet continuing to push it away. It had been that way my entire life.

He stepped past me, and I closed my eyes tightly when he slipped his arm around me from behind. His body was flush against mine, his breath against my neck, causing chills to rake through me.

“What’s wrong, Quinn? You look like something’s on your mind,” he whispered against my ear, his lips skimming over the dip just beneath. I allowed by body to rest back against his, heat pooling in me from the touch of his hand against my bare stomach. My skin was feverish from the thoughts racing through my mind—thoughts I shouldn’t be allowing myself to have but had no hope of conquering.

“You want me too, don’t you, baby?” Maybe it was the atmosphere, or the simple fact that his fingers were slowly teasing my skin. I couldn’t think straight, beyond the need I had for this man. I could only nod as an answer to his question.

The moment his lips skimmed along my neck over my already sensitive skin, I whimpered. He trailed the tip of his tongue along the arch. Everything around me became a void. The only things I was well aware of were Jett and the way my body felt against his. “Stop fighting it. You already know we’re good together. Give me the chance to show you that was just the beginning. I want more, Quinn. I need more than just one night with you.”

I could feel his arousal against my backside, only making the heat within me grow even more. He was dangerous. Having him near only caused my inhibitions to falter. I had no hope of refusing what my body wanted so badly. I was tired of giving up those things I truly wanted. I had let go of all possible chances of happiness for myself because I was afraid.

He turned my body to face his, and my hands came to rest against his chest. I looked up. Jett’s eyes were so full of heat, a pure lustful stare.

“Come home with me tonight?” he whispered.

“You really have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. My life is a mess. You don’t want that.”

He leaned in a little closer and pressed his lips to mine in a gentle kiss. “I’m not afraid of your baggage. We all have some. I don’t scare easily.” He nipped at my lip before sucking lightly. “Stop pushing me away.” His lips connected with mine once again, only this time with much more intensity.

Any thoughts of refusing him were long gone. I no longer had any hope of walking away. I lost the fight, and I was relieved to finally let my guard down. It may be a mistake and I may be setting myself up for pure destruction, but the ride would without a doubt be oh so sweet.