Mosquito Chase (2 page)

An ice-cold mug of beer thudded down in front of me. A wink and a smile sent my thanks to Mrs. Betty. As I sipped the crisp lager, I glanced at the mirror behind the bar to check out the scene. Someone was going to be coming home with me tonight, but who would it be? If I turned around, they would seek me out instead, and that would fuck up my game.

I zoned in on a tall brunette standing a few feet behind me, dancing with a few of her friends. They had made a game out of buying her drinks while encouraging her to approach men. This could only mean the curvy bombshell had been recently dumped. I read her face and found a smile that hardly registered, barely visible. But she continued to toss back the drinks like she meant it.

Definite possible target.

A spark of blonde caught my eye, one of the friends in her group. She was short with muscular calves. Maybe she’d been a softball player at one time. I always did love an athletic woman. She turned her head toward the bar, eyes focused at my back. I could see her full reflection in the mirror.

Georgia. An equestrian; clinging to men with her thick calves in the same way she clung to her horses. Been there. Done that. Was it possible to sneak her friend away without her cock-blocking me?

I studied the brunette for a little bit before coming to a conclusion.
Nah.
I could see the drama from a mile away. Either she would be an awesome lay who might assume we were together, or she would start crying, leaving me with blue balls.
Pass.

I shifted my eyes to one of the several TVs hung above the bar. It was a Saturday night and I was watching a sports news show because I didn’t feel like dealing with a little drama? I shook my head. I might be a cop, but apparently I’m also a pussy. I tilted my mug back and chugged the contents. Mrs. Betty moved like clockwork to replace my beverage. I wouldn’t have more than two, I promised myself. A cop being drunk on the road was frowned upon, even out here in the country.

A scream interrupted my beer consumption. Laughter followed, and then more high pierced noises. A familiar giggle sent my heart plummeting to the pit of my stomach. I sighed.
She’s supposed to be in Asheville
. I glanced at the mirror and saw her standing in the middle of a group of girls near the corner door. She flung her long blonde hair behind her shoulder. The huge ass rock on her ring finger blinded me, the way it always did when I saw her. It was a constant reminder to never get too close to anyone. I downed my beer and spun around on my stool. I adjusted the cap on my head and pushed to my feet. Her laughter picked at my brain like an ax. My boots clunked across the wooden floor as I focused on the end zone. I approached Georgia and the brunette as a smile eased up my cheeks. There would be no cock-blocking tonight. I would take them both home and wave at Tabitha on the way out.

I drew closer, and Georgia’s smile immediately faltered. I didn’t call her after that one night. I never intended to. I had a rule: never get involved with anyone; a rule I drafted because of Tabitha and that shiny piece of shit on her finger. Some women just didn’t get that.

“Georgia, it’s been a while,” I said as I bent down to kiss her cheek.

“About six months.” She tried holding back a smile, but her eyes gave her away. She was glad to see me. “I’m surprised you even remember my name.”

I feigned being insulted. “Of course, I would remember your name. I wouldn’t be a good cop if I forgot names of beautiful girls. How are the horses treating you these days?”

Her eyes widened as her jaw slacked. Seriously, I wouldn’t be a very good cop if I forgot what people told me. A lot of girls didn’t understand that either. They just smiled and spread their legs. But hey, who was I to complain if chicks dug guys in uniform.

“Good. Everything’s good.” She snapped out of her shock.

I turned to her friend and extended my hand. “Hi. I’m Caleb, and I have no idea who you are.”

Her sad brown eyes lit up, and she eased her soft hand into mine as she answered, “Rachel.”

A waitress came around to take orders, so I offered, “Could I get y’all a drink?”

They both ordered something fruity that I would probably eat for breakfast. “Just a water for me, and put these on my tab. Caleb Harris.”

The waitress walked away as Rachel grabbed my arm. “Wait. Are you
the
Caleb Harris?”

“Do I have more of a reputation than I’m aware of?” My eyes shifted between the two girls. Georgia shrugged her shoulders and Rachel smirked, her face becoming insta-flirt.

She shook her head. “I remember you from high school.”

I stared at her closely. I couldn’t remember a Rachel. “Really? That school is big. I don’t know how you would remember me.”

She stepped towards me and ran her fingertips down my bicep. “Who wouldn’t remember the star quarterback?”

“Quarterback, huh? I think you forgot to mention that a few months ago,” Georgia purred as she stepped forward.

I glanced between the two girls. One wanted me because of what I was. The other wanted me so I wouldn’t go after her friend. This was too easy. Their drinks came, and they both downed them fast as I sipped from the bottle of water. I took the moment to get to know Rachel a bit since I already knew Georgia.

“So, Rachel, what year did you graduate?”

“Oh, I was a freshman when you were a senior.” She pinched her straw, pulling it near her mouth and drawing attention to her lips. I knew these tricks. They always thought they could own me. They didn’t. I came to them, which meant I called the shots.

“That explains why I didn’t know who you were.”

“I went to an all girls’ school. We didn’t have football, but we did wear uniforms,” Georgia said, scooting closer to me, trying to one up her friend.

I wrapped my arms around both of their shoulders. “I’m definitely jealous that y’all get to keep drinking after I’ve had my limit. Why don’t we go back to my place so I can have a beer?”

They both grinned like they’d just hit the jackpot. Coming home with me would be a big win for them. I didn’t fuck just anyone. The only reason I invited Georgia was to see the look on Tabitha’s face as I passed by with my arms around two girls. And I invited Rachel because I was in the mood for a brunette. I wore a shit-eating grin as we headed for the door.

“Seriously, Caleb?”

Bingo
.       I turned slowly, acting totally surprised to see her.

“Tabitha! This is a surprise. Where’s that old best friend of mine that likes stealing girlfriends?”

“When are you going to get over that? It was four years ago.”

“As you can see…” I turned my head to the left and right, glancing at Rachel and Georgia, “It looks like I’m over it. But really, where is Steven?”

“He’s at home in Asheville.”

My eyes widened, faking shock. “You left him at home alone?” I shook my head. “Make sure you change the sheets when you get back.”

She crossed her arms, the damn ring catching my eye again. My confidence faltered for a moment. It was probably best to leave and hope these girls could make me forget. It was four years ago. The past needed to stay in the past.

I pulled the girls along as I hollered back, “Don’t forget to get tested, Tabitha. Wouldn’t want you catching anything from your
husband
.”

I walked out of Dixie’s Tavern into the chilly fall air, my arms wrapped around two hotties. I felt like shit; although, not enough to go back and apologize. Steven was a douche
and
, more than likely, contagious.

The girls wrapped their bodies closer to mine as I led them to my truck. Someone’s hand grazed down my back, fingers easing just inside my jeans. The least they could do was wait until we were in the truck.

“What have you been doing since high school, Caleb?”

I peered down at Rachel. Her eyes brightened, full of hope, a big change from when I first saw her an hour ago. She would need to let the hope go. No emotional attachment … for obvious reasons.

“I’m a cop.”

She turned around, resting her hands on the top of my truck, spreading those milky white legs apart. She glanced back at me over her shoulder. “Does that mean you’re going to frisk me, officer?”

I cocked my eye and took a step forward. I nuzzled my face against her neck and pressed myself against her ass. She released a moan as my hands roamed up her body, cupping her tits.

“Umm … so, do I just get to watch?”

I craned my head back to Georgia. Did she think I had forgotten about her? I reached out my hand and wrapped it around the back of her neck. As I pulled her toward me, her eyes hooded with lust. I tilted her head to the side and found that spot near her collarbone, the spot I knew would make her fall to her knees. Keeping my composure, I explored Rachel’s body and Georgia’s neck. I grew excited. I hadn’t had a two for one in months.

When both of the girls leaned against me for support, I released them. “Get in the truck.”

They both moved fast to fulfill my request, and I could have sworn I heard one of them reply, “Yes sir.” I didn’t know whether to feel scared or thankful … probably both.

I drove to my house; all the while, Georgia’s hand rubbed up and down my thigh. Rachel pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. Being on the far side of the bench seat was bothering her, I could tell, but she could pout all she wanted as long as she kept pushing her tits up like that. I attempted to adjust myself, but that just gave Georgia more reason to roam. It wasn’t long until my tires popped over the familiar sound of gravel. I had purchased and renovated a small mill house higher up in the foothills. I had to deal with that town too much on a daily basis. I needed to live as far away as logically possible.

I parked next to my cruiser and hopped out, offering a hand to Georgia as she stepped down from the cab. I did the same for Rachel and kicked the door shut behind them. The wind whipped around us. The girls pulled themselves closer to me. Winter always seemed to hit sooner up here than in town. I unhooked my arms from the girls as we moved into the warmth of my house. I closed the door and pulled both girls back to me. I gazed into Rachel’s eyes and gently pecked her lips, before turning to Georgia to do the same. I didn’t kiss on the mouth much, but random pecks were okay. Mouth kissing crossed some invisible emotional line I would rather not cross again. Seeing Tabitha today reminded me why I instated these little rules.

My jaw clenched as thoughts of Tabitha invaded my head. I was over her. I never wanted her back. I told myself this all the time, and yet the whole situation still got under my skin. I could never trust anyone again, except my brother. That was just the way it had to be.

I grabbed both girls’ hands and led them down the hall extending from my living room. I might have felt rude for not giving them a tour or offering a beverage, but they didn’t seem to care. We all knew what was going on here. Rachel stood beside the bed, her hand wrapped around one of the posts. Georgia seemed a little timid, and I didn’t want her to feel nervous about this. I took her wrists and gently pulled her toward me, her face inches from mine. I brushed my lips against her cheek and whispered, “Only what you’re comfortable with, okay?”

She nodded and grazed her hands up my sides. Rachel glided over, pulling Georgia toward her with a reassuring smile. I stepped back while watching Rachel reach for the zipper of Georgia’s dress. Georgia tugged at the strap of Rachel’s dress and slid it down her friend’s shoulder. I unbuttoned my shirt. It felt like my sixteen-year-old self was trapped in my head, cheering loudly and fist bumping the air. Rachel grazed her fingers down Georgia’s cheek, tilted her head up, and inched her lips closer to Georgia’s with antagonizing slowness. A groan began to rumble from the back of my throat when a loud bang echoed at my front door. The girls stopped, looking wide-eyed and nervous. I cursed silently, huffing and pointing at both girls. “Don’t you dare move.”

I fisted my hands as I left my room, a prominent bulge pressing against the inside of my pants. I didn’t fucking care. People should know better at this time of night.

Seething with discontent, I yanked open the door. “What do you wa –”

My eyes grew as big as my cock.

“You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me.”