42 Hours (Time for Love 3)

My throat tightened at her words. I closed my eyes while I tried to compose myself.

“I think you were always the person I was meant to be with, Gaby. I just needed to see what life was like without you, to truly appreciate what life is like with you,” I said when I had my emotions in check.

“It’s always been you,” she replied, reaching up to brush her lips softly against mine.

I kissed her back, then deepened the kiss, eager to show her the depth of my feelings. Gaby met my passion with her own, pushing me into the door and slanting her head to gain better access as her tongue swept through my mouth. Her sweet smell swirled around, taunting me, and I tangled my fingers in her silky hair and held on.

She moaned against my mouth, and I was about to step away from the door and lift her onto the sink, when a knock pounded loudly at my back, startling us both.

“Scott, if you’re done pawing at your girl, it’s time to wash up and eat.” At the sound of Rose’s voice I pushed off the door and looked down at Gaby, who was giggling behind her hand.

I smiled down at the picture she made, then cleared my throat and answered, “Yes, ma’am,” which only caused Gaby to giggle louder.

“Shhh,” I said with a smile.

“Too late,” Gaby replied saucily. “We’re busted.”

I chuckled at her, then opened the door. As we tip-toed down the hall, hand in hand, her taste still on my lips, I knew with certainty that I’d finally met my perfect match.

Please keep reading for an excerpt of book 4 in the Time for Love series, 15 Minutes.

Chapter 1 – Brock

“I’ll be right back,” I yelled to my brothers as I went out into the bar to grab a beer.

My brother’s, Brady, Brendan, and I, were playing at the bar tonight, and were scheduled to go on in another fifteen minutes, but I really needed a beer. It had been a long week at work. Our band, Whiskey Heat, was just for fun… my real job was running my painting business, and it took a lot out of me.

I’d started out painting houses for my parents’ friends, which they’d booked out of pity after my parents died, and I’d grown it into a successful business. I was proud of the fact that I’d built something that would not only support me, but my brothers as well. It wasn’t easy and although I loved playing these gigs with my brothers, I was pretty fucking tired by the end of the week.

“Fat Tire,” I said to the bartender. Beer was free on the nights we were playing, shit, it was even free on the nights we weren’t. Fast Eddie, the owner, was also a customer. I’d painted his bar, inside and out within the last year, so I always drank for free.

I was enjoying the cool relief of the beer sliding down my throat, enjoying the calm before the storm, when a soft hand on my bicep made me turn.

“Hey,” Gaby said as I turned, all smiles and sunshine. That’s what she’d always reminded me of… sunshine. We’d dated for a while a few months ago, but it had ended when I walked in on her kissing Scott, her current boyfriend. I’d been pissed initially, but now that some time had passed, I realized I hadn’t been in love with her. Plus, they were obviously happy, to the point of moving in together, so I figured we were all better off.

I wasn’t holding any grudges.

“Hey, sweet girl,” I gave her a smile. “You guys here for the show?”

“Yup,” Gaby turned and pointed over to where her group was seated. My buddies, TJ and Cal, along with Cal’s wife Shelly, and TJ’s fiancé Sasha, were all in a tall table by the dance floor.

“Scottnot here?” I asked when I didn’t see him.

“He’s working late, but he’ll be here before your set’s over.”

“Sounds good, I’ll see you after.”

She bounded off back to her friends and I finished my beer. As I placed the empty bottle on the counter, I cocked it towards the bartender, indicating I’d like another. I’d take it up on stage with me to sip on throughout our set. I always worked up a sweat when we performed.

I was waiting for my beer, when the hint of something spicy and expensive wafted towards me. I turned my head to see the back of a woman. She wasn’t dressed for a night at the bar. At least not a bar like this one. Even from behind she looked like she belonged in a country club. Her skirt was long enough to be demure, but the way it hugged her ass, clued me in to the fact that the ass was magnificent, no matter what the package. Her blouse was tucked in the skirt, and she wore stockings with her high heels. Definitely not jiving with the jeans and t-shirts most of the other patrons were wearing.

I let myself fantasize that the stocking led to garters underneath that fancy skirt, as her perfume did crazy things to my senses. I felt my dick harden as my fantasies got away from me, then the bartender interrupted by saying, “Here’s your beer, Brock,” and I saw her stiffen before she turned to look at me.

Her hair was dark brown, and fell past her shoulders, straight and silky. Her face was striking. It could have been beautiful, if she’d ever fucking smile… Instead, it always looked pinched and unhappy.

“Hello, Brock,” Victoria said dryly. Her eyebrow rose as if she thought I was standing next to her on purpose.

Snooty Bitch.