Deliciously Damaged (Reckless Bastards MC 3)

Maybe I should invite Evie to go with me. After I fucked her again, that is. We could shower, go out for some breakfast at some little rest stop cafe along the way, and spend the day out in the sun together by the lake—and spend the night together, picking up where we left off last night, when we had both succumbed to sleep, our bodies entirely spent.

It could work. It could even be fun.

Evie was a firecracker. She had me laughing my ass off the entire night in the bar, and she had turned out to also be an insatiable lover. The combination was completely addicting.

What the fuck, Brighton. I scolded myself. Why don’t you just climb in and spoon her while you’re at it.

I shook my head and got dressed. Once upon a time, I had been the sleep in on weekends, snuggle in bed, and breakfast for two kind of guy. But that was a long time ago.

Jessie’s pissed off tirade against me echoed back and my gut cinched with a sharp pain. I disgusted myself.

I finished buttoning my shirt and slid into my polished black loafers that had cost more than most people made in a week.

I was a douche.

I stood in the doorway of Evie’s room, turning over the lake house idea again. Mentally trying it on. The problem was that inviting a girl to my lake house opened another box of problems and complications. There would be expectations…

A drunken night of fun was one thing. A weekend together, acting like a couple on vacation? Well, that would send an entirely different message. Evie seemed like a good person. I didn’t want to hurt her. It would be better for both of us if I just disappeared. She would get me out of her system quickly, probably trash talk me to her friends over some drinks, and then move on to some other guy who could—hopefully—give her what she actually deserved.

A real ma

n, not a shadow of one.

My mind made up, I pulled the tangled sheet up to cover her body so she wouldn’t get cold from the morning breeze wafting in through the open window. I ran my hand down her soft curves and over her hip, and then left.

Evie’s apartment was in a prime downtown location and I decided to walk the streets for awhile to clear my head. There were no other people out and about at this hour. The city didn’t wake up till nine or ten on a Saturday morning. The only businesses open were a few cafes and coffee shops. I followed my nose to one that smelled like heaven. I wasn’t as familiar with the area as I was with the shops closer to Brighton Enterprises, but my nose could usually lead me to the best coffee shop on the block.

I looked at the windows as I passed by, searching for the origin of the smell, when something—or rather, someone-caught my eye.

My body screeched to a halt in front of the window.

The coffee shop was empty, except for her.

She was gorgeous.

She was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved, black T-shirt with a deep V-neck that showed off a hint of cleavage. Her tits were amazing. She filled out the shirt just right, and as she buzzed around the cafe. She had a short apron tied around her waist, and it was obvious that she was hurrying to get the shop ready for the day. I wondered if she was the owner or just the unlucky girl who drew the short stick and had to work the early morning weekend shift.

I studied her as she bustled around, not noticing me watching her from the corner of the window. She was fairly short. I could already tell that I would tower over her. The idea sent a hot rush of lust through me.

Damn, Brighton, you really are turning into a pig, I chided myself. Haven’t even washed off the scent of one conquest before planning another one.

I told myself to walk away, to keep going, and leave this beautiful creature out of my tangled web.

But my legs remained still, anchored to the cement beneath my shoes.

She popped up on her tiptoes to reach something on a shelf of merchandise and a hint of her stomach peeked out between her shirt and the waist of her low rise jeans.

Fuck.

My mouth went dry as I watched her. She looked so innocent. Completely oblivious to the monster standing outside mentally fucking her.

As if she suddenly heard something, her eyes darted up from the table she had been wiping down, and her eyes locked on mine. They were wide and had a slight edge of panic. I couldn’t help but think she looked like a graceful deer that had been discovered in the wild, and was cautiously assessing the situation.

Only then did my legs find the power to move. I managed to break the eye contact and walk down the street. I reached the end of the block and then circled back, like an idiot. There seemed to be a magnetic force pulling at me, beckoning me towards the double doors of the cafe, but I resisted and turned back around. I hurried down the street, hoping to outpace my desire.

My heart was racing and I knew it had nothing to do with the sudden increase to my steps.

Something about that girl had me going. It was like nothing I’d ever felt before.