Looks like Trouble to Me (Bad Boys Need Love, Too #1) Page 2

  His cock continued to harden and beg like a whimpering dog, diverting his attention from Zoé. Fuck. He yanked his hand free and placed both palms on the table. “I don’t want another drink, Billy.” He looked up to say something to Zoé but she’d already disappeared. “How do you know Zoé?”

  “I don’t know that I actually know her. She seems familiar. Probably on the back burner.”

  “One of your back burner babes?” Jace said, his jaw tightening.

  “Probably. I don’t know.”

  “I’m not going to be a back burner babe, am I?” Jasmine asked hotly. “This is the real deal, right?”

  Billy ignored her, flipping his highlighted hair away from his icy blue eyes. “Maybe we bought parts from her for the yacht at work.”

  “Oooh, you boys own a yacht?” Simone cooed. She placed her hand on Jace’s thigh again, her fingers dancing along his erection.

  His breathing quickened. So tempting. He glanced across the bar toward Zoé, removed Simone’s hand and put it in her lap once more. She smelled of too much perfume, a touch of weed, and not enough reality. “I don’t. Billy does. I work on them when not on assignment.”

  “I do, too,” Billy said defensively. “I work on yachts.”

  “Whatever,” Jace wiped his hand over his face. “You sound like a fucking two year old, dipshit. You don’t have to work. I do.”

  Billy scowled and turned his head. “Where’s that damn waitress with our drinks?”

  “What kind of assignment?” Simone asked.

  “Photography. I’m a nature photographer. Nat Geo and some of the others give me a call time to time.”

  “Seriously?” Simone’s tone changed like she’d just scored some bank, big time.

  “After we leave,” Billy said, moving the conversation along, “I suggest we head for my pop’s place. He’s got a high rise apartment overlooking the water. It’s stocked for playtime, guaranteed.”

  “You and your fucking father,” Jace said, shaking his head. “You’re a couple of man-whores.”

  “You should talk,” Billy said.

  “Sounds divine,” Simone slurred.

  “I don’t think so,” Jace said. “I have responsibilities.” He blinked, trying to remember what they were. A beautiful face floated through his fuzzed out brain. Right. He sighed.

  “Come on, let go a little,” Simone said. “You look like you could use some fun. I know I could.”

  “Yeah, come on, Jacie-poo,” cooed Jasmine.

  Jace stared at her, his forehead creased. Jacie-poo?

  For the next several minutes, Jace sat awkwardly at the table, searching for Zoé. Come on, baby, eyes over here. Billy, Simone and Jasmine were talking but he wasn’t clocking it at all. Look at me. She glanced his way and his cock twitched as he made his intention clear with his gaze. And, the launch sequence is initiated, he thought smugly. Locked and loaded.

  Several minutes later, Zoé stalked over with their drinks, interrupting them. “Here you go, Mr. O’Reilly.” She slid his beer in front of him. “Sir,” she said curtly, setting down Jace’s rum and Coke with a thwack, shoving it in his direction.

  He caught it before it collided with the salt shaker, wishing he would have taken her up on the cab offer - as long as she got in it with him. It had been so long all he’d need was a few blocks worth of cab time.

  “Ladies,” she said, following suit with their drinks.

  Jace tried to make eye contact with her without success. Shit. His lower mind was about to have a tantrum.

  She whirled and stomped away.

  Jace watched Billy’s face smolder, predatory, eyeing Zoé.

  The bastard ran his tongue between his lips, eyes locked on her.

  “You can be such a douche-bag,” Jace said.

  Billy laughed.

  “Let’s drink these and get out of here,” Billy said.

  “I said, no thanks,” Jace repeated.

  “Come on,” the females insisted again.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket. He fished it free, looked at the screen, his eyes widening, a giant sigh leaving his lungs. “And here’s my answer - again.” He held it up for all to see. The word Emergency glared from the device. He turned it back toward him, reading the next message. She’s hysterical. I’m dying. Help!

  He shoved it back in his shirt before guiding Simone out of the booth so he could escape. He flipped a few bills on the table, scanning the bar for Zoé, hoping to at least apologize for his dipshit friend. Not able to find her, he quickly raced toward the exit to get to his bike - a Deus Grievous Angel motorcycle with a little customization of his own - his pride and $24k joy, bought after a particularly lucrative photography assignment.

  He bolted from the bar, raced across the street in the misty, chilly air to his ride.

  “Hope everything’s okay,” Jasmine said, lifting her hand to wave goodbye. “I’ll take a rain check, lover,” Simone called from the doorway of Chica Ríos as he strapped on his helmet. “I’d love to go riding with you sometime!”

  “Not gonna happen,” he muttered. He lifted his head to catch Zoé staring at him through the front window, wiping down a table. She’s another matter altogether. She’s the kind of gal I’d love to take for a good, long ride. His brain whirled with schemes, wondering how he could bed her, hoping he could follow through with his wickedly lusty plans and keep her separate from his life.

  No woman in her right mind would touch him if she knew how cursed he was. Lately, hellfire followed him like a junkie seeking the next fix. How am I ever going to get laid?

  Chapter 2

  Love.

  Zoé hustled to the bar.

  Is it too much to ask to find a guy to love me and not just get in my pants?

  She took a long, lingering glance at the booth in the front. Jace Savage. The first name slides right into the last. Slides like…like I haven’t had sex in a while. I need love, not sex. She reined in her attention until her gaze skipped back to Jace’s table like her eyes were iron and he was a magnet. Good, solid, caring, sweaty, mind-blowing - wait a minute, am I thinking about love or lust? Zoé shook her head. Not going there. Not since Billy broke my heart two months ago. Must focus on my education. She bit her lip, her eyes skidding back to Jace’s table. Oh, no, he’s looking at me.

  “Zoé? Can you take this drink order to table two?”

  Zoé looked up, surprised. “What? Oh, sure, Sharon, table two.”

  “Yeah, we’ve been slammed tonight. Pre-season football game at the stadium. All these kids, barely drinking age,” the older woman said, grimacing. “And they never leave a tip.” She brushed her hair out of her eyes, started to zip away, then paused. “You all right? Things okay with your dad?”

  “Yeah, I suppose. He’s a tough guy so he’ll heal.” Her attention wandered to Jace’s table. He’s talking. Okay. Not interested. Jumped back to Sharon.

  “What happened?”

  “All I know is he was guiding a group of teens down the Skykomish. You know what a yahoo my dad can be. He was probably showing off. They found a capsized raft. He rescued some swimmers or something.”

  “Your dad’s a hero, then.”

  “That’s my dad,” Zoé said. “Always the hero.”

  Sharon looked nervously around the room. “We’ve got to get these orders out. Finish the story later, will you, love?”

  “Sure thing.” Zoé hefted the tray into the air and hustled through the crowd. She didn’t have much to add. Her dad had been his usual closed-mouth self. It often took a sledgehammer to get him to deal with anything emotional. Men.

  She avoided the table Jace sat at but her eyes kept being drawn in his direction. Like now. Shit. He’s looking at me. Look away! If he was with Billy, he was no doubt far more trouble than she’d envisioned.

  She lifted her eyes in his direction again. Wham! His gaze slammed into her with such force she nearly tripped. The guy must be horny. Not going to get with me, you’re not. Such a shame. He seem
ed different than the quiet, introspective types she usually dated. Guys who seemed nice at first but ended up being boring or just plain weird in the long run. Like Brian. Brian and I had polite sex. ‘Was that okay with you?’ ‘Yes, Brian, you were wonderful!’ She rolled her eyes, remembering. Or, sweaty, pimply Kevin. She shuddered at the memory, ashamed at the thought of being with such a smelly, oily faced guy.

  And then she’d gone for Billy “Asshole” O’Reilly. Her stomach clenched as she thought of him. What a jackass. He’d been a smooth talker. Talked himself right into my bedroom. I thought we might’ve had something. Now he can’t remember my name?

  No, if “wild and uncontrollable” Jace Savage was with him, stay the hell away. It probably wouldn’t go anywhere, anyway, even if he did want to go out with me. Like that would happen. Now he’s with Blondie and her fake tits.

  She dropped the drinks off, took two more orders and sped back to the bartender.

  Her work buddy Devon mixed a steady stream of drinks behind the bar, chatting with customers, keeping it light, friendly, yet orderly. “Hey, Zo,” he said when he’d made his way to her. “Busy tonight, huh?”

  “I’ll say. Bad night to pull in late.” She leaned across the bar, rubbing her temples, finally feeling the fatigue of the day. Getting a call that her dad was in the emergency room and having to drop everything to pick him up was stressful. Seeing Billy only added to the stress.

  “Your dad okay?”

  “He’ll live.”

  “Why’d you have to pick him up? Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”

  Zoé scowled. “It’s what I do. I’m the responsible one. He expects me to be there so I am.”

  He picked up her order. “Let me get your drinks started.” He nodded toward Billy. “Aren’t you dating that guy?”

  “Dated. Past tense.”

  “Oh. Things didn’t work out the way you wanted?” He retrieved a bottle of top shelf rum, dispensed Coke over the ice in the two glasses and poured in a measure of the alcohol. As he filled the cocktail shaker with the ingredients for the dirty martini, he said, “You’re a catch, Zo. He’s no doubt the loser.”

  She glanced at Jace who now seemed to have laser beams for eyes, trained in her direction. She smiled ever so slightly and turned away. “Thanks, Devon. And yes to the loser part. Would you believe he didn’t even remember my name?”

  “Ouch.” Devon made a gesture like plunging a knife into his heart. “Total dickhead. Want me to spike his drink?”

  “What you got?” Zoé smiled. “Anything lethal?” She laughed. “Actually, I’ll take a pass. Don’t need a prison record. Have to finish school first.”

  “How’s that going?”

  “Pretty good. It’s exciting, actually. I have one semester to finish, then I’ll be certified. More like certifiable. School, work, more school, more work - it’s been rough. I have no life.” Not since Billy and I…

  “Landscaping, right?”

  “More like Holistic Landscape Design--permaculture. I’d love to work in Costa Rica. They are quite forward thinking when it comes to biodiversity.”

  “Oh, that’s cool,” Devon said. “One sec,” he said to a customer, holding up his finger.

  Sharon bustled up to the bar, slid her order to Devon and said, “Chop, chop, Zoé. No time for chit chat.”

  “Got it, boss.” She lifted the tray of drinks and stiffly walked over to Jace’s table. He’s staring at me. Staring at me! She practically threw the drinks at them. Then, like a spaced-out zombie, she called Jace “sir.” Sir! Can you believe that? What a dummy! She beat a fast exit from their table, bee-lining it for the women’s room. There, she pulled a couple paper towels from the dispenser, swiping her eyes. It had been a tough day. She tossed the paper towels into the trash, noticing the used condom lying on top. “Ew. Probably Billy’s.” He’d seduced her in a women’s room once, too. Shit-bag asshole. Good luck to the next girl.

  She made herself look presentable, and exited the bathroom. Where’d Jace go? Probably to screw Blondie, she thought sourly. So why’s she hanging out the door? She grabbed a damp cleaning cloth off the back bar, heading to bus tables. She spied a helmeted guy out the window, getting on his motorcycle across the street. Is it Jace? Her heart pumped a little faster as whoever it was turned to look at her. She’d probably never see him again. She didn’t know whether she should be feeling “good riddance” or “another missed opportunity.”

  “I’d think twice before you pitch your panties for him, Zelda.”

  She jerked from her thoughts. “What?”

  Billy O’Reilly stood next to her, his horrid aftershave assaulting her nostrils. It had taken weeks to get the stench of him out of her clothes.

  “Him. He’s someone to watch out for.”

  “Who says I want to pitch my panties for anyone? I have an education to pursue. And, the name’s Zoé, not Zelda, asshole.”

  “Whatever. I’m warning you, that’s all.”

  “If it comes from your lips, save it. You’re hardly a reliable witness.”

  Billy laughed and sauntered toward the men’s room.

  Her eyes narrowed as she watched his retreating back. What did I see in that guy?

  He glanced at her as his hand reached for the men’s room door.

  She glared at his smirking face before quickly turning away. What did he mean? Still…she turned to face the window and watched Jace pull out into the street on his motorcycle, wistfully. Where will I find someone to love me back and be with me through thick and thin? It’s sure not going to be Jace Savage. That boy is sex on wheels.

  Chapter 3

  Jace let himself in through the garage door, setting his black and red helmet inside the doorframe, dropping his leather gloves in the cushioned polystyrene liner, hanging his leather jacket on a wooden hook to the right. He quickly untied his motorcycle boots, kicking them off, and padded with sock-clad feet into the kitchen to the tune of a squalling child. “Come here, baby girl,” he said to the pint-sized screamer.

  “I’ve tried everything to get her to stop crying, Jace,” his teenage neighbor Lila said. Lila held tight to Marni’s writhing, squirming body, bouncing her on her slim hip. A cloth diaper rested on her shoulder, covered with remnants of food.

  “Sorry it took me so long to get here. I caught the ferry in Edmonds but there was a wreck on 101. How long’s she been at it?” Jace asked, grabbing the one and a half year old and swinging her in the air.

  Marni cried even louder. She smacked Jace with her tiny hands.

  He jerked his head away, quickly snagged her flailing fingers and kissed them, desperate to calm her.

  “Well, she started in before I sent you the text. So, I’d say about a couple hours or more.” She slumped into a yellow-vinyl, padded kitchen chair.

  “Non-stop?” Jace asked, eyes wide. He cradled his arms under the child and tried rocking her in wide, sweeping arcs.

  “Not all the time, no. Sometimes she’d quit. I’d try to put her down and she’d start up again. I thought I’d die with so much screaming.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know she’d be so freaked. I’ll pay you extra.” Jace balanced Marni on his left hip, fished in his pocket for some cash, pulled out a couple twenties and handed them to Lila. “Sorry, that’s all I’ve got. I’ll get the rest to you tomorrow.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Thanks.”

  He sidled over to the stainless steel sink and lifted the faucet handle. He rinsed his hand, rubbed it along a bar of soap, rinsed it once more, dabbed it on a blue checked kitchen towel and stuck his pinky finger into Marni’s mouth.

  She sucked vigorously, hiccupping and whimpering.

  This is not the kind of sucking I would have preferred. “You feed her?”

  “Yeah, I gave her a bottle, a mashed boiled egg, and some of that baby food you left on the counter.”

  “Uh, diaper?” This was one of the things he really didn’t like doing.

  “Yeah, I did it right b
efore you got here. I know how much you hate to change diapers.”

  “I’m learning. Hand me a damp paper towel. Her face is a mess.”

  Lila got to her feet, tore off a paper towel, held it under the faucet, squeezed it and handed it to Jace.

  Jace withdrew his finger from her soft pink mouth to swab her snotty, tear-stained face.

  Marni started her howls again, pushing away the paper towel.

  “No, no, no, no!” she screamed.

  “Yes, yes, yes, yes,” Jace replied, still dabbing. Fuck. “Her mama call?” He crumpled and dropped the snotty towel onto the granite counter and gave her his pinky to suck again.

  “Nope, no-one called but you.”

  Jace sighed. His twin sister was probably hanging at the park somewhere, or the football field, or any one of a number of hangouts she and her friends use to get high.

  “Too bad for your sis. Drugs are bad news,” Lila said. “That would be so scary to find my sister unconscious.”

  “Tell me about it,” Jace said. “I never want to experience that again.”

  “The brother of a friend’s strung out on drugs, too. She’s part of the hookup culture,” she added conversationally, as if the two were connected.

  Marni pushed away his finger and started up with the screams again.

  He swung her gently back and forth, finally making a dent in her mood. Come on, baby girl, stop with the waterworks. “Oh, yeah? What’s that, exactly?” Jace wasn’t really paying attention or else he wouldn’t have asked the question. He used to be immersed in the hookup culture when he was younger - only they called it something different. And then he met Kate. That’s how some of his trouble began. He rubbed the tattoo on his forearm absentmindedly. And lately he’d been doing it again…hooking up as much as he could, trying to obliterate the lancing pain Kate left in his heart.

  “You know, the kids who swap partners all the time. They keep it all poly-amory until they’re ready for exclusive rights. And you don’t give them unless you really want them.”