That’s the moment my life changed forever.
I stare in open mouthed shock as a naked Eric pounds into a woman from behind. They are both facing away from me, enjoying themselves at the same moment I’m finding it difficult to breathe.
My world collapses.
I’m a good girl. I’ve never cheated, never even held hands with another man. I’m not perfect by any means, but I know, I know, I don’t deserve this shit.
I open my mouth, and then close it. Shock overrides my system. Never once did I suspect something like this from him. Never.
Anger soon replaces my shock.
“You fucking bastard!” I yell, taking two steps back, my hands on my face. Eric stills, then pulls away from the woman, turning to look at me with wide eyes. He starts shaking his head, as if he can’t believe this is happening.
I can’t believe this shit.
“Faye…” he says, reaching his arms out. For me? He has to be kidding. The woman rolls onto her back and sits up, pulling the sheet up. I gasp as I get a view of her face. Trisha. A friend of mine. In fact—one of my only female friends, at least that’s what I’d thought.
She breaks eye contact, as if ashamed. And she should be. I swallow, casting one last look at the man I thought I’d spend my life with.
“You two deserve each other,” I sneer, turning and running out of the house. I can hear Eric call out my name, desperation in his tone, but I couldn’t care less.
He’s dead to me.
*****
What does a girl do when she finds her boyfriend cheating on her? Well, after she’s cried herself sick for two days, she forces herself to get her ass out of bed. She plasters a smile on her face and reminds herself that people break up and relationships end every day. Life isn’t over. Change is good. Eric doesn’t deserve me, and things happen for a reason. Then she gets dressed up, paying special attention to her appearance, and goes out.
This is exactly what I did.
I don’t need Eric. Screw him.
What I need is a little fun.
There’s a bar I’ve seen but never been to. Knox’s Tavern, it’s called.
I get out of my car, smoothing down my dress, and start to feel a little nervous.
I’m going into a bar. By myself.
Why am I here again? Oh right, my boyfriend is a lying, cheating bastard.
The place is packed. My eyes scan the small dance floor before they land on the bar. I plop down on a stool, smiling at the men sitting near me. The place is swarming with both attractive men and women. A good pick-up place then. There are blond twins serving at the bar, both muscled and drop-dead gorgeous. I stare at them for as long as I can until someone notices, then I turn away, blushing.
Eric who?
“What can I get you?” the twin without the scar on his face asks.
“Umm…” I mutter. “Strawberry daiquiri please.”
That’s the only drink I can remember the name of. I tried one once at a friend’s eighteenth. God, I’m so boring. And predictable.
Next time I should order a shot of tequila.
The bartender smiles at me warmly, then turns to make my drink. I fight the urge to fan myself. I pay him for my drink and sip on it slowly, enjoying people watching. When I see what other women are wearing, I start to feel more confident in my black playsuit and wedges. I’m not showing too much skin at all. The sad thing is to exit the house I had to wear a cardigan over the playsuit, or my parents would have complained and nagged. I left the cardigan in my car. I sit here for an hour, declining the few drink invitations I get but feeling flattered all the same. When everyone starts to get really drunk, and a fight breaks out between a couple of bikers, I decide it’s time for me to head home. I question why I feel a little disappointed. Did I want to pick up someone tonight? Do something spontaneous for once?
As I walk to my car, I see a man standing next to a gorgeous black Harley. He’s wearing dark jeans, low on his hips, a black t-shirt and a battered leather jacket.
I know just who he is.
I’ll never forget those piercing blue eyes and thick dark hair.
I haven’t seen him in five years. The years have been very good to him. In fact, he seems to have gotten even sexier with age.
Dex.
I’ve had a crush on Dex for as long as I can remember. A silly, childhood crush. He was the local bad boy, but to me he was always sweet and patient.
He nods his head at me, a slight imperceptible move. He starts to walk towards me, taking me in from head to toe. When he grins and reaches out his hand to me without a word, I don’t think. I take it. He pulls me into his body for a hug. I lay my cheek against the cold leather of his jacket and smile.
“Long time no see,” I say, breaking the silence. I inhale deeply, taking in his scent. Something that I will never admit to another person.
“Look at you, all grown up,” he says in a low husky voice that gives me shivers. My body is on the curvy side. I have smallish breasts and a narrow waist but flared hips and solid thighs. And a huge ass. The way he is staring at me lets me know he likes what he sees.
A heck of a lot.
And it makes me feel good. Confident.
“I could say the same,” I reply breathlessly, boldly checking him out. Is that an eight pack under there? I let my hands wander over his stomach, trying to feel what’s under there.
He laughs. “Like what you see, do you?”
I step away from him, nibbling on my bottom lip.
I’ve always liked what I’ve seen with him. “I’m surprised you recognized me.”
He grazes his teeth over his lower lip. “It was the hair, dead giveaway.”
I swallow hard. “Oh.”
Very articulate Faye.
“Who are you here with?” he asks, eyes darting to the bar. “Not that it matters.”
“No one,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders a little sheepishly.
He gives me a slow spreading devilish smile. “Good. Want to get out of here?”
My eyes flare. “You just got here.”
“Yeah, but now I’ve found what I’m looking for,” he says, squeezing my hand gently.
Do I want to go with him? With the way he’s looking at me, I know what he wants.
My gaze lowers to his lips. I’d really like a taste of them. Fuck the consequences. I don’t owe Eric anything anymore. I’m a single woman. And I find myself wanting him, badly.
Don’t regret anything that makes you happy.
“Okay,” I reply on a shaky breath.
“You sure?” he asks, rubbing his hand down my arm. “’Cuz I want you pretty fuckin’ bad right now.”
I shiver at both his gravelly tone and his admission.
“Trust me, I’m sure,” I say with more confidence in my tone. The feeling is mutual.
He leans down and kisses me, catching me off guard. At the first taste of his lips, a moan escapes me. He pulls back before I want him to.
“Get on babe,” he demands.
“I’ve never been on a bike before,” I admit.
His answering smile makes my pulse race. “You’ll be fine, just hold onto me.”
I watch as he pulls off his leather jacket. “Here,” he says, putting it on my shoulders. “You’ll freeze otherwise.”
I slide my arms into the sleeves and zip it up. He looks at me in his jacket, an almost possessive look flashing in his eyes. Did I just imagine that? It’s probably my wishful thinking.