Over the Hills and Far Away (NOLA's Own #1) (30 page)

I snapped my phone shut.

“What are you saying?” he asked.

He was pissed—at
me.

“I’m saying, I don’t deal with petty bullshit. You need to put that bitch on a leash, or I’m—”

He stepped up to me, so close that I automatically took a step back.

“So, what? You’re backing out because a chick answered the door?” His voice was laced with fury.

It was ridiculous how much the sound of it turned me on.

“No. I’m telling you, I don’t deserve to be spoken to like that, and I won’t stand for it. I was invited here—”

“Actually, I offered to pick you up.
You
invited yourself here.”

He might as well have slapped me for all the hurt that statement caused. I couldn’t stop my eyes from watering, and I was suddenly so thankful for my enormous sunglasses.

Swallowing hard, I nodded.

“You’re right,” I said, my voice sounding thick with my unshed tears. “Maybe I’ll see you around,” I told him. I turned on my heel, beating a hasty retreat down the steps.

I will not cry, not until I get into my car. Then, I’ll bawl my eyes out for the rest of my life. Fucking asshole. That bitch can have him—

“Kenna!” he bellowed like a furious bull.

I must have a diabolical sense of humor because I didn’t even break my stride as my right hand snapped up, and I flipped him the bird.

“Oh, hells no!” he cussed. “Don’t you fuckin’ take another step—”

I completely ignored him as I continued walking to my car, tears streaming down my face.

Just make it to the car, and then you can break down all you want. Just make it to the car—

A warm huge hand clamped tightly around my upper arm and spun me into a wall of solid chest muscle.

“Please, just stop,” he said softly, wrapping his arms around me, holding my head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re an asshole!” I sniffed.

“Yeah, I am,” he agreed simply, making no excuses for himself.

I really appreciated that, and I relaxed in his arms. He smelled fucking delicious.

“When you said you were out, I freaked. I don’t respond well to threats.”

“It wasn’t a
threat
—”

“Felt like one to me,” he stated. He pressed a kiss to my hair. “And you’re welcome here at all times. My home is yours.”

“I’m not coming back here, not if that’s what I have to put up with every time I do. I’ve done nothing to her, and I don’t deserve that.”

“No, you don’t.” He slightly pulled back, so he could look down into my face. His right arm let go of me, so he could reach up and thumb off a few stray tears that had leaked from beneath my sunglasses. “Don’t cry, Baby Girl,” he whispered. “It hurts me to see you cry.”

Kissing me softly, his tongue ran along my bottom lip. I totally forgot the last ten minutes had even happened. Fireworks went off in my mind, and the creatures of the riverdance marched their way south into my crotch. I felt so sublime, subdued even, and I had to wonder what sort of voodoo he had that made me go all weak inside for him.

“Come on,” he softly said to me, taking my hand and pulling me toward the house.

It took me a few steps to get my brain right, but then I stopped walking.

“Oh, man! Can’t we just go get lunch? I don’t want to see her again.”

He had his fierce angry face on and said flatly, “This shit’s gettin’ resolved
now.”

All but dragging me through the foyer and living room, he advanced through the house like a predator. It was an absolute wreck in here, reeking of old beer, cigarettes, and some ripe-ass body odor.

“Ugh. I don’t envy you for this cleanup,” I said as I pushed my Jackie O’s to the top of my head.

“You should. Cleanin’ service gets here at three,” he replied, not even slowing his stride into the kitchen.

We found Sheri sitting at the breakfast bar with Jason Jones. He was the only one in the band I hadn’t met, and I felt a little thrill pass through me. This guy was a goddamn genius on the guitar. He was a legend, and to see him in the flesh…
wow.

He really was quite stunning to look at, too. A true golden blond, his hair was about halfway down his neck, the front sweeping to his chin. His dark blue eyes and healthy golden tan made him the quintessential gorgeous all-American type. I could see how women just wanted to throw themselves at him.

However, I was much more partial to the Dark God of the Universe.

Phil pointed viciously at Sheri, his deep voice booming out as he said, “You.”

“I didn’t do anything!” squeaked Sheri, sitting ramrod straight on the stool.

She looked terrified, and I felt a smidgen of satisfaction over that. It was only fair since she’d terrified me with her nasty comment of his itches being scratched by others.

Phil pulled me to stand in front of him. “You see this woman? This is Kenna MacGregor, and she is
my
woman, Sheri. My
Baby Girl
. You disrespected her in
my
home. You told her to fuck off twice and denied her entrance into
my
house. On top of that, you
lied
and told her I was fuckin’ around with other bitches last night.”

“Phil, I didn’t know—” she tried to protest.

“Bullshit. I told you last night who she was!” he shouted.

Oh, man, he is furious.

Sheri turned the color of a very painful, horrific sunburn. Even her shoulders were creeping out in a flush.

“I-I’m s-sorry, Phil—”

“I’m not the one who deserves an apology, Sheri. That would be Kenna.”

Sheri glared at me, her tongue glued to the roof of her mouth. It was obvious she found the idea repugnant.

“Are you fuckin’ serious?” snapped Phil, stepping in front of me once more. “You know what? Fuck this! Get your shit, and get the fuck out of my house!”

“Now, wait a fuckin’ minute!” shouted Jason.

“B-but you said I could s-stay!” Sheri wailed.

“That was before you shit on my hospitality!” he roared at her.

Around us, an odd person was wandering here and there, wanting to watch the exchange without being busted for actually watching.

“I have nowhere to go!” she cried, her big gray eyes filling with tears.

I sensed my own irritation with her dissolving a bit.

I tugged on Phil’s hand.

Without looking at me, he said softly, “Yeah, Baby Girl.”

“Phil,” I whispered, “you can’t kick her out if she has no place to stay.”

“Sure I can.”

“Phil!” I whispered a little more loudly.

“I ain’t ever gonna chance losin’ you, especially not to a—”

“You aren’t going to lose me over something like
this
,” I said. “At least give her some time to find a place.”

He looked down at me, his face still angry but his eyes softened.

“For me?” I asked quietly.

Turning to face them once more, he glared at Sheri. “You got a week.”

Shakily, she said “Thanks, Phil.”

“Seriously?” he yelled, making all of us flinch. “She just pleaded your case for you, and you can’t even acknowledge her?”

“I’m sorry!” she cried.
“Kenna
, I’m sorry!” She turned her eyes on me, and for the first time, she was not scowling at me.

I got the sense we’d met somewhere before. She suddenly looked
extremely
familiar.

“No worries,” I replied.

“And, um, thanks.”

“You’re welcome?” It came out as a question, because I wasn’t too sure if I meant it.

Jason looked ready to spit acid.

“Right. We’re going out.” Phil looked at Sheri. “When we get back, I want your bony ass scarce.”

“Okay,” she replied softly, teary-eyed and pink-cheeked.

As we turned, I heard Jason ask quietly, “Shit, Sheri. How stupid can you be?”

Taking my hand again, Phil started to pull me along behind him. We went through the kitchen, hung an immediate right, and went down a small hallway leading to a sliding panel door.

“For future reference, I don’t live in the big half of the house. I live over here. There’s a separate entrance on the side. Use it from now on, yeah?”

“All right,” I replied, my head swiveling to get a look around at his half.

It was much cozier and clean over here
.
It was decorated in an Old World feel.

We walked directly into a decent-sized space, and on the left stood the kitchen that looked very much like the one in the big half but scaled down. It had the same green granite countertops and island with mahogany cabinets and stainless steel appliances. The flooring was hard wood though, and I loved it. It was so welcoming. It was an open-plan deal with no dining area. To the left was a wide staircase with some sort of closet or maybe even a small bathroom built in beneath it.

“It’s really nice over here,” I told him.

On the walls were framed posters of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors, and The Who along with some frames filled with pictures of his friends and family. I saw squishy-looking fat dark brown couches made of suede and dark wood furniture.

A massive shelf filled with CDs and records that my hands were just itching to paw through stood along the wall next to the back door. Against the wall separating the two sides, a huge flat screen television sat on a stand with several gaming consoles resting on the shelves beneath it.

“Thanks. My sister fixed it up for me.”

“She’s got great taste.”

He shrugged. “Sure. I like it.”

Silence closed around us, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. At least I wasn’t even though he watched me as I looked around.

“Do you mind if I look at your music collection?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

Surprised, I turned my eyes on him. “Why?”

“Because I’d rather be kissin’ you right now than lettin’ you mess up my tunes.”

“Oh.”

He was leaning against the island counter, his eyes hooded and flashing.

“Come here.”

His voice pooled straight into my groin, and before I realized it, my legs obeyed his command.

A few inches away from him, his large hands reached out and grasped my hips, pulling me into his body. He was looking down into my eyes, and I felt as though he could see straight into my thoughts, my soul. His hands were so warm, burning me through my clothes.

“Your tits look smaller,” he said, his voice sweet and teasing.

“They’ve always been this small.” I sighed sadly. “I was falsely advertising last night.”

“I like them better like this.”

“Really?”

“Mmhmm. They look…natural.”

I smiled. “They are.”

“You’re even more beautiful in the daylight, Kenna.” He sounded so silky smooth that I wished I could rub his voice all over me.

I swallowed thickly. “So are you.”

His head dipped down, and his lips pressed softly to mine. Within seconds, we were devouring each other, grinding and straining almost desperately. He tasted so good, like every flavor I’d ever loved had combined into one awesome, amazing experience. It was addictive.

“Fuck food,” he said. “Let’s just stay here.”

I opened my mouth to agree wholeheartedly when my stomach snarled viciously in protest.

How fucking embarrassing.

Laughing, he said, “On second thought, maybe we should go get some food. That sounds like a severely neglected beast.”

Inside the garage sat a brand-new silver-and-black Dodge Charger, which was nice and sexy. It was a muscle car for a muscly dude. But my eyes landed on the 1950 black Ford pickup truck.

Pointing to it, I couldn’t contain myself. “Oh! Let’s take that!”

He looked at me in surprise. “You wanna take the truck?”

“Yes, please.”

Fully restored, the paint job was meticulous, and the rims were shiny chrome. It was an absolute beauty. Peeking through the passenger window, I saw that it had an awesome sound system with fat speakers on each side of the dash. The interior was a warm caramel color trimmed in black cord.

He unlocked the door and opened it for me. Then, he walked around to the driver’s side and hopped in with a slight grin on his face.

“What?” I asked.

He slid on a pair of aviator sunglasses and gave me a full-blown smile with dimples. “I think it’s cool you like the truck more than the Charger.”

I shrugged. “I like classic cars.”

“Yeah, me, too.” Looking over at me, he patted the seat beside him. “I want you ridin’ bitch, next to me.”

I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Oh, yeah?”

“Mmhmm. It’s got a seat belt and everythin’.”

He was so cute.
How can I resist?
I slid over, opening my legs to accommodate for the gearshift, and our thighs pressed against one another.

“Mmm…I like the sight of my stick between your legs, Baby Girl,” he said, his mouth brushing against my ear, his voice all deep and husky.

Goose bumps erupted all over my body, and my nipples stiffened.

“Me, too,” I said, smiling shyly.

He bit his fat bottom lip. “How long do I have to wait until I’m inside you?”

His words from last night flooded my mind.

“I’ve waited too long for you. I ain’t up to playin’ games.”

“We’ll just have to find that out together,” I replied softly.