My lips pull into a tight line. As much as I hate the idea of sinking to this embarrassing level with him, I know deep down he’s right. I’ve always heard men like their women to be the sinner and the saint. I need to suck it up and do this. I want to prove to Jackson and everyone else that there’s more to me than just this straight-laced good girl that they all think I am.

His green eyes burn into mine the moment our gaze meets. “Cover your fucking cock, you dirty manwhore.”

He smirks and pulls the towel off his shoulder slowly with one hand. The tattoos etched into the smooth skin of his arms, shoulders and chest catch my eye as Trip wraps the towel around his waist.  “There may be hope for you after all, sweetness. We’ve still got a lot of work to do, though. We’ve got to keep working on making that pretty little mouth of yours dirty.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “Fine. We will. Now, can you please get out so I can pee?”

“Sure thing.” Trip winks at me before squeezing past me, slapping my ass on his way out.

My skin burns from his touch, and I rub my backside to console it. “Hey!”

“Just warming that booty up for later. Get used to my touch, babe.” He holds his hands up and makes a grabbing motion with his hands while his back stays to me. “These things are going to be all over you today.”

“Ugh.” I close the door a little harder than I mean to in order to get away from him. No matter what, I have to remind myself it’s important to be nice to Trip. He’s helping me with the two most important things in my life: this track, and getting back with Jackson.

I stare at myself in the mirror and study my reflection as I curse myself for allowing him to get to me. I need to learn to let things go and stop getting riled up so quickly.

I toss my hair over my shoulder and turn on the water. My blue eyes stare back at me as I wait for the water to warm up. The vision of Trip smiling and flexing his fingers as he talks about groping me floats through my mind. I wish the thought of his strong hands being all over me didn’t make my stomach flutter the way it’s doing right now. Damn him.

I throw some water on my face and glance back at the clock on the wall behind me. It’s not as late as I thought. I’ve got time for my normal routine. I pull my shirt over my head and take off my underwear in order to grab a quick shower. I slide the shower curtain back and turn on the water just as the bathroom door flings open.

I yank the shower curtain over my naked body and stagger at the same moment I pivot.

Trip’s large hand grabs my elbow to steady me. “You all right there?”

I jerk away from him. I don’t like the idea of him touching me while I’m completely naked. “Don’t you knock?”

“You didn’t, so I figured our relationship had already progressed to the ‘no knocking’ level.”

I shove his shoulder towards the open door, careful to keep the plastic wrapped around me. “Well it hasn’t, now get out.”

He holds up his hands. “Easy. I just came for my toothbrush and deodorant. I promise I won’t peek, unless you want me to.”

“Get out,” I order.

 “Say please.” I narrow my eyes at him and he raises his eyebrow. “Our deal…”

This is literally killing me. “Ugh. Fine. Please, get out.”

He grabs his stuff off the counter and grins. “Only because you begged. I can’t ever turn a woman down when she begs me to do something for her.”

I fight the urge to scream at him, and tell him I’ve changed my mind and our deal isn’t worth it when he laughs at me yet again. I want to, but I won’t. I need to see this thing through. I’m tired of thinking about Jackson all the time. Even I know it’s pathetic, this little deal with Trip will help me see these feelings I’ve been harboring through. Jackson will either want me back, or he’ll continue to pretend that what we had was nothing—which will tell me it’s really over.

Either way, I’m ready to move on with my life. I need a new direction, and I want to find someone who actually wants me.

 Chapter 6

Love Crime

TRIP

I walk towards the office my cell vibrates and I yank it out of my pocket. I check the caller ID and roll my eyes. “Yes, Dad?”

“Well maybe if you would check in from time to time and let people know where you are, I wouldn’t be checking up on you. Where are you?” my twin brother, Tyke, asks, enough angst in his voice to create the next teen blockbuster.

I slip my sunglasses on and glance around at the mountain scenery. “I’m in Arizona.”

“What the fuck for?”

Having a brother so involved in your life is a pain in the ass sometimes. “Charlie Richardson, our financial investor, called with a killer investment opportunity and I had to jump on it right away. So, that’s what I’m doing…checking shit out.”

Tyke sighs into the phone. “And you didn’t think to call me and let me know. Jesus, man, I’ve been fucking worried about your stupid ass. It isn’t like you to take off for days and not let me know where you are. Why didn’t you call me back? I left you, like, fifteen messages.”

“I don’t have to tell you everything,” I argue.

“I know, but, damn. A little common courtesy would be nice. I thought one of our psycho fans finally lost their mind and had you tied to their bed somewhere like Misery.”

I laugh. “That might not necessarily be a bad thing. The groupies I bang are always smokin’ hot. A few days being someone’s sex slave could be kind of fun.”

“Trip…” My brother is a fucking worrywart. Most of the time he’s too serious for his own good, and it gets on my nerves. “I’m just asking next time you let me know. Anna was worried too.”

 You would think Anna, our housekeeper, is my mother the way she frets over Tyke and I. “Yeah, okay. I’m sorry. This all happened so fast, I didn’t even cross my mind to tell you I was leaving. And I know it’s not a very good excuse, but I’ve been really busy from the moment I got here. Calling you slipped my mind. Tell Anna I’m sorry.”

“I will. So, tell me—what’s this business that’s got you so pumped, and how long are you going to be gone?”

“A motocross track, and I’ll be back in a few weeks. I need to stick around here and get a good feel for the place.”

“You know those are money-pits, right?”

I shake my head even though he can’t see me. “Not if the place has the right sponsors and they hold big events. There’s money to be made. Besides, you know how I like off the wall shit. This place is the perfect business for me.”

“But, Trip, this isn’t like buying a personal playground. It’s going to affect other people when you make a bad decision.”

“Are you saying I can’t handle running something like this?”

“No, with help, I’m sure you’ll be fine. What I am saying is that I know you. When you set your sights on something, you don’t stop until you get it—even if it’s not for the best. You aren’t very restrained.”

Shows how much he knows. I want Holly and I’ve showed nothing but restraint since I figured out who she is. I think that proves I can do anything to make this business work. I’ve pushed my own sexual desires to posses her out of the way in order to make this right. “That’s where you’re wrong, Tyke. I know I can do this.”

“How much are you buying the track for?”

I kick at the gravel with my toe. “I’m not buying it, exactly. It’s more like a bail-out loan, then I become a silent partner.”

“That sounds more your speed. Taking on a business is a lot of work.”

“I know that. I’m not a complete idiot. I know I can’t run something entirely by myself.”

“No one ever said you were. I think this is a smart move actually.”

I scratch the back of my neck. “You do?”

“Yeah. This band may not last forever.”

I raise my eyebrows. He’s never said anything like that before. It’s not like him. Tyke loves Black Falcon just as much as I do. “Why would you say that?”

He sighs into the phone. “Forget I said anything. I’m just talking crazy.”

“Am I missing something? Did Noel or Riff say something about the band breaking up?” I can hear the near panic on my own voice.

“No. I’m just saying we’re all starting to go in different directions, is all.”

“We are not. Everyone just needs a break. Once Noel and Riff get their fill of the chicks they’re with, it’ll all be out of their systems and things will get back to normal.”

“I hope so. Haven’t you noticed we hardly see them anymore?”

“Damn, dude, stop being so harsh. Give them time before you doubt them. They’ll bounce back. You’ll see.”

“I hope you’re right, baby brother.”

“Aren’t I always right? And stop calling me that. Who cares that you're five minutes older. Big fucking whoop.”

Tyke laughs. “Obviously you do.”

“Whatever, man. I’ll call you later.”

“All right. Don’t forget to come up with beats for the new songs we were working on before you took off.”

“Will do,” is all I say before ending the call.

I shove my phone back in my pocket and continue across the gravel lot to the shop. When I step onto the porch I spot Holly through the window and I smile. The thoughts I’ve been having about how fucking fantastic she would look naked were confirmed this morning when I walked in on her in nothing but that tight, little birthday suit. I wonder if she’s thought about me since the other night in the bar. I didn’t leave anything to the imagination this morning when I gave her the full Trip show in the bathroom, so I bet she’s thinking about me now.