Rough Ride: A Small Town Bad Boy Romance

Yeah, sounds like he was in action, all right. Getting some action is more like it.

But I don’t care. At least, I shouldn’t. But fuck if it doesn’t eat me up inside just seeing him sitting there in that booth now, giving me fuck-me eyes and licking those lips of his I once loved so much.

Damn it, I think. This isn’t going to end well.

I place three mugs on a tray and pour coffee into them. I’m behind the counter, an employees-only area, so I don’t expect him to be there when I make to turn around. I gasp when his hands press into the counter on either side of me, blocking me in. “What the fuck are—”

“Put the tray down, and don’t turn around.” Jace’s hot breath caresses my ear as he whispers into it, and I feel liquid heat instantly pool within my core at the delicious sensation. I do as he says, something in his voice stopping me from arguing.

“You shouldn’t be back here,” I advise him weakly. My heart is beating so fucking hard I can barely hear my own voice over it.

“There are a lot of things I shouldn’t be,” he whispers. I can feel his mouth against my ear, and my knees are buckling in response to it. “For starters, I shouldn’t be over there, feeling like I’m a million miles away from you, Izzy.”

“You...I’m not…” I can’t get the words out. Jace’s fingertips are now tracing painstakingly slow circles on the back of my hand, the one that’s pressed against the countertop to steady me. I’m about ready to combust when he drags his teeth against my earlobe, pressing himself into me to hold me upright.

“When do you get off?”

When only a squeak of sound emits from my throat, a suggestive chuckle sounds against my ear. “Work, Izzy. When do you get off work?”

“S-soon,” I stammer. “Twenty minutes.”

“Meet me in the ladies’ bathroom in twenty-one.”

Chapter Two

Jace

I must admit, watching Izzy fumble her way through the remaining minutes of her shift is comical, even if it shouldn’t be. But, it only proves one thing.

Not a damn thing’s changed between her and I.

Izzy still loves me, even if I broke her heart by taking so fucking long to come back to her. It didn’t do my heart any fucking favors to find out she’d moved on and was dating Chad Easton within a month of me leaving, either, if I’m being honest. But, I get it. I left her here. Served me right to find out she was with someone else.

Part of me really thought she’d wait for me. But seeing as it only took her a goddamn month to sweep me under the rug, she didn’t exactly give me a reason to come back before now.

That said, I also saw the way she trembled and heard the way her breath caught in her throat when I pushed myself against her back and nipped at her ear. I’d say she didn’t do a very good job of ridding herself of me.

Izzy still wants me, just as fucking bad as I want her.

I won’t make the same mistake twice.

I push my empty coffee cup away from me, sending a curt nod toward Blake and Rodney. “I’ll pay for ‘em, boys. Now, go on. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Blake’s eyes narrow. “You got something up your sleeve, man?”

“None of your damn business,” I reply. It takes every fucking ounce of decency I have not to grin like the fucking Cheshire cat.

“You’re going to try to wrangle Isabelle,” Rodney chimes in. “Good fucking luck, dude. She hates your guts, it’s safe to say.”

“I said I’ll catch up with you later,” I repeat a bit more sternly.

Both Blake and Rodney exchange a quick glance, but they slide out of the booth.

“Like I said,” Rodney mutters, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Good fucking luck.”

I watch them leave, knowing how far Rodney’s assessment is from the truth. Not only does luck have nothing to do with it, but I also know damn well I don’t have to wrangle Izzy into anything. She can pretend to hate me all she wants, but I’ve already got her, even if she doesn’t know it yet.

Ten minutes ago, Isabelle’s shift ended. Which means she’s nine minutes late.