Ride Her Hard (The Hard Boys 1)

She pressed her lips together. “Were you angry?”

“No. I knew you’d go and find your answers. I hope it made you realize that you’re nothing like her.”

“Look at me, Aunt Betty. I’m thirty years old and I’ve achieved nothing.”

She sighed. “You’re still alive. You’re entering a relationship with a guy who is pretty damn amazing, I’m going to guess. He comes from a good family and I know he will only want what’s best for you. Of course this is going to come with the talk. I will be having a strict talk with this boy.”

“Aunt Betty,” she said, groaning.

“I didn’t get to make many talks when you were growing up, but I think it’s my right and I am going to see it through. That boy will know to keep his hands to himself by the time I’m through with him.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I love you,” she said.

“I love you too. Now, go and wipe your face. I don’t need you crying into the flowers. We’ve got a big order to fill and even if you hate it, I still need your help.” Her aunt kissed her cheek, and Eliza disappeared into the back of the shop.

After closing the bathroom door, she splashed some cold water onto her face. Lifting her head up, she stared at her reflection. Since meeting her mother, one of her biggest fears was turning out like her. Even though she’d worked her ass off through high school, college had been a complete bust. Then moving from job to job, she’d gotten a couple of boyfriends as well. Her life wasn’t exactly pleasing in the city.

Shaking all of the fears from her mind, she ran a brush through her hair, pulling it up into a ponytail before joining her aunt to prepare one of their biggest orders.

“So, was James a gentleman?” Aunt Betty asked.

The feel of his hands gripping her waist as he pounded inside her flashed through her mind, and she smiled. “The perfect one.”

Her aunt would love him because he was the polite man who held doors, made breakfast, but in the bedroom, he became something else. Her body hummed to life.

“Good. He was always a good kid. I know he and his brothers have a reputation, but you can’t let that put you off.”

She chuckled. “I know.”

“Don’t be smart with me, sweetie. You know what I mean. Be careful of the thorns on the roses. They have a serious bite today.”

“Didn’t she want any daisies or something?”

“Nope. Roses and tulips for some reason. I don’t judge what a woman wants on her wedding day. A lot of women dream of their wedding for a lot of years.”

“You know I never did,” Eliza said. “I never had a booklet with dresses or ideas.”

“I know. You rather enjoyed playing happy family instead.”

Eliza paused. “I did.”

“Yep. I got you one of those kitchen things, you know with the stove and oven. Some pretend food. You would spend hours pretending to vacuum, cook a meal. It was a big thing for you. I often felt guilty that you were trying to tell me you wanted a big family, but I wasn’t able to give one to you.”

Eliza had forgotten about that. It seemed so long ago and in a way, it was. A big, happy family. Something she always wanted. There was no point trying to imagine it though.

She worked with the flowers, humming to herself as she did. There was no music to be heard as her aunt liked to work without the interference of the radio, and also, she liked the conversation with the customers.

The doorbell rang and she turned to see it was James, complete with coffee and lunch. “I thought you’d be way too busy to remember lunch and I thought I’d drop by.”

“Wow, you are a man after my own heart,” Aunt Betty said. She got to her feet, taking the offered coffee and food. “I have a phone call to make that is suddenly just happening right now.”

“My aunt doesn’t know tact,” Eliza said, smiling at her aunt’s obvious lies. “This is nice, thank you.”

James put the food and coffee down and grasped her waist, pulling her in tight. “It was an excuse to do this.” He claimed her lips for his own, and Eliza knew there was so much more she could be losing right now.

Her heart being one of them.

Chapter Eight

“I can’t believe you finally caved and are going to take her to an actual bar,” Caleb said, smirking.

“It doesn’t change the fact you’re not sticking around. Remember. This isn’t your place to crash tonight or to hook up with some random woman, got it?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’ve told me a million times already.”

“And I’m going to have to keep telling you as it seems to have escaped your notice that I’m being serious about this.”