Bear, page 17
Her pussy clenched at his words, another orgasm building, which was the only reason she didn’t remind him that his Christmas gift was not to be used for spanking.
“Oh, yeah, milk me, babe. Milk me so good. Fuck, fuck,” he chanted as she tumbled over the edge of ecstasy again. Stars blinded her, but all her other senses were heightened. The smell of soap and sex was heady, but it was the sound of Teddy’s relinquishing groan and the feel of him jerking against and inside her that had her squeezing him tighter as they both rode out their climaxes.
In a daze, she felt Teddy quickly washing her body. She’d finally broke through that blissful haze when he ushered her out of the shower and dried her with efficient dabs of a fluffy towel.
She hooked it around her chest and made her way into the bedroom. Teddy followed behind, wrapping a towel around his waist, his magnificent chest still dripping. He reached into a drawer and pulled out a clear pair of gym shorts as if he’d been doing that for years.
“You don’t live here.” Her tone snipped at him, but she didn’t watch his reaction. She marched to the closet to get dressed. She pulled on a casual dress since it was the fastest way to cover herself.
Teddy sighed. “Believe me, babe. No need to let something silly piss you off now. I’m about to give you a real reason to be furious.”
She turned, narrowing her gaze at him as she used the towel to squeeze water from her sopping hair. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“The FBI confirmed the man who hit Chad was Flint.”
She threw the damp towel onto the bed. “Well, that no good piece of dog shit. When I get my hands on him, I’m gonna wring his neck.”
He propped his hands on his hips. “You’ll be lucky if there’s anything left of him once I get ahold of him.” Teddy gritted his teeth. “The feds questioned us about you today. There was concern you might be working with him, or at the very least, harboring him.”
She reared back, anger flooding her veins. “I ain’t seen hide nor hair of that punk since the day he left town.”
Teddy lifted his hands as if to placate her. “I know, babe. I told ’em that. They’re not investigating you. I just wanted to get our thoughts on everything since he’s your cousin and all.”
A door slammed, and Roxie jumped. Teddy grabbed his gun from the dresser and stood in front of her.
“Mom?” Chad called from down the hall.
Teddy dropped his gun as if relieved, but Roxie’s tension skyrocketed. Before she had a chance to even move, her son stood in the doorway, looking in.
At Teddy in nothing but a pair of shorts and a glistening chest.
At Roxie with wet hair, wearing something different than she had that morning.
What a freaking nightmare! Her teenage son had just totally busted her into her bedroom to find a half-naked man.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Roxie stared at Chad for what felt like hours as her mind raced with excuses, but it was probably only seconds. When she opened her mouth, the only thing that came out was, “Why aren’t you in school?”
Jesus, that didn’t sound defensive at all.
His smile was a little smug, and she narrowed her eyes at him.
“To get my game jersey.”
“It’s not football season, son.”
“Yeah, but it’s Thursday,” he said as if that made complete and total sense.
She widened her eyes and lifted her hands as if waiting for further explanation. She was off every Thursday, and he was never home this early. Never. During football season, his teammates practiced until dark, and in the off-season, they worked out in the gym until dusk. In both situations, that was after school. He should be in class right now.
“The Bears’ scout came to the school today. Coach wanted us to get our jerseys for some photo ops before dinner.” He took a breath. “You signed the permission slip when you got back on Sunday for me to get out of class this afternoon, remember?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. Yes, she remembered doing that. No, that didn’t help her deflect from the bare-chested man standing behind her. She turned around and muttered to Teddy, “Put on a shirt.” Then she marched into the bathroom to brush her tangled hair. The low timbre of male voices lingered behind her, but she didn’t even try to listen to what the guys were saying. She yanked the brush through her gnarly hair and tried to get her wits about her. When she felt she could have a conversation with her technically adult son without her cheeks flaming red for getting caught with a man, she walked back out.
Thankfully, they’d made their way into the living room and away from this den of iniquity.
Chad turned to her when she walked in. “Why didn’t you tell me y’all were getting married?”
She felt the blood drain from her face. “Chad, just because you came home and saw us…where you did…I mean…that doesn’t mean we’re getting married.”
He rolled his eyes. “I know sex doesn’t mean marriage. Don’t forget I caught y’all kissing Christmas morning.”
Teddy choked. When Roxie’s gaze shot to him, he did a piss-poor job of hiding his humor behind a cough. After staring for a few seconds in silent warning, she focused on her son. “Again, that doesn’t mean we’re getting married.”
“I get that, mom, but Mr. Jenkins, the scout, referred to you as Bear’s fiancée today. Well, he called him Theo, but…” Chad trailed off with a shrug.
She frowned at Teddy, wondering why the scout would assume they were getting married, but when he groaned and rubbed a hand over his face, she knew it wasn’t some innocent mistake.
“We are not getting married,” she said slowly through gritted teeth.
A horn honked, and Chad rushed to give her a hug. “Okay, well, gotta go. I rode with Scott.”
“Chad, wait,” Teddy said, stepping closer to him. “I was just telling your mom that the feds confirmed the man who messed with your mom’s tire the other day was, in fact, Flint. We have you to thank for that lead. You did good.” He clapped Chad on the shoulder.
Chad gave him a sheepish smile and quickly left. Roxie appreciated the praise he gave her son, but it didn’t cool her irritation. As soon as her son was out the door, she turned to Teddy, the anger simmering low in her gut quickly starting to boil. “Why would the scout think we were engaged?
“Because I told him we were.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?”
Teddy took a step toward her, but she shook her head, backing away.
“I made some calls during the season. That was months ago. Back before Thanksgiving, even.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“I’m sorry if I overstepped. Babe, you gotta understand the process. Sometimes, getting your foot in the door isn’t about what you know, it’s who you know, and having a parent—step or otherwise—that’s an alumnus helps.”
“You’re not his stepdad.”
“I just wanted Chad to have the best possible chance at getting looked at.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make. You’re getting his hopes up for something that might not happen.”
He looked at her as if he was flabbergasted, and she wouldn’t completely blame him if he was. “I’m helping him. It’s not any different than me running drills and coaching him. It’s all to help him make the team.”
“And if he doesn’t?” she asked, raising her chin.
This time when he took a step toward her, she stood her ground. “Then he walks on. He’s already been accepted into the university. He’ll practice with the team and prove his worth over time.”
“A walk-on doesn’t get any athletic financial aid. Do you know how expensive that school is? How the hell am I going to afford tuition there when I couldn’t even buy new tires for my car?”
Teddy blinked, but when he cussed softly, he obviously understood the glaring problem she had. “I’ll pay. I have plenty of—”
She held up a hand. “Don’t. Don’t you dare finish that sentence. I am not a charity case.” God, how could he say that? It made her feel inadequate, which made her spittin’ mad.
He moved quickly, pulling her into his arms. She struggled in his embrace, too pissed to see reason, but he held strong. “Babe. Stop. Listen to me.” When she pushed him again, he let go, and she stumbled back. “I know you’re mad.”
“Mad? If you had hair, I’d jerk your bald!”
“You’re not a charity case.” His calm words belied the irritation swirling in his eyes.
“Then don’t treat me like one.”
“You and Chad are everything to me,” he yelled.
That had her pausing. They’d had plenty of moments where he’d shown her his dedication to her and Chad, but the man wasn’t one for expressing his feelings with words very often. Anger still simmered, but it felt more contained.
“You lied to the school. If they find out, they could revoke his admission. His player status wouldn’t even matter then.”
“Sounds like we should get married then. If you wouldn’t do it for your own protection, maybe you’ll do it for Chad’s.”
She gritted her teeth. “That’s a low fucking blow.”
He propped his hands on his hips and looked at the ceiling as he laughed without any humor. “Can’t fucking win with you,” he muttered. When he looked at her again, his gaze hardened. “Since you’re going to be irate with me, regardless, might as well tell you what I came home to say.”
“You did. Flint’s the guy who attacked Chad.” The memory of Teddy praising him just a few minutes ago flitted through her mind, but she ignored it. She didn’t want any thoughts to soften her toward him. She was mad and planned on staying that way until her anger burned out on its own.
“A new possibility was discussed. One where Flint is behind everything. All the instances where your tires have been messed with, even the attack on the garage.”
She crossed her arms. “Why would he do all that?”
“To mess with you.”
She gaped at him. “Why in the world would he want to do that?”
“Don’t know, babe. That’s what we’d need your help with.”
Running a hand through her drying hair, she said, “Maybe he’s getting back at me because of you.” Yep, she was still pissed at Teddy. “You guys were friends, and from what little I know, you were the one who betrayed him. He could be doing all this, being a thorn in my side, because of you. Surely, he knew you liked me just a little bit at least. Maybe he doesn’t want you to have any happiness, and he’s taking me down with you.”
Even though she’d been shitty about it, Teddy seemed to contemplate her off-the-cuff theory. He ran a hand down his beard. “Not bad.”
“And you camping out in my yard only confirms to him that I mean something to you.”
“Yeah, I got it.” His gaze narrowed at her.
He could glare all he wanted. She was on a fiery roll, pinning this on Teddy. Petty? Yes, but there was no room for logic in her pissed-off brain right now. “So, you’re the one to blame for the shop getting blown...” She trailed off, something else dawning on her. Teddy’s eyes softened as his mouth flattened, obviously understanding what she was thinking even before she connected all the dots herself. “If it was Flint who did that at the shop, then Thad wasn’t involved.” She paced, her thoughts racing through her mind. “But how’d he get his car? Heather said the name on the booking was Howes.”
“It’s possible Flint found a car and used that name.”
She scoffed. “He just found another green GT4 lying around? Did he also happen to find another Wild Wild West key chain to go with it?”
“Don’t remember anything about the keychain, but classic cars in need of restoration aren’t that uncommon. If they were, Bang Shift Garage would be out of business.”
“So he spent thousands of dollars on a car and spent probably thousands more to have y’all fix it, just to blow it up?”
“The car could’ve been a barn find, and besides upfront costs on material, we haven’t been paid. Not saying he didn’t spend a shit-ton of money just to screw with you—or me—just that there are ways around it if he was determined enough to fuck with our heads.”
She pursed her lips as she thought about it. Lord knew if she had her mind set on something she’d do her damnedest to make it happen or die trying. Her cousin probably wasn’t any different, which brought her around to her earlier realization. “If Flint is behind it all, then it eliminates Thad.”
Teddy gave her a grim nod. “Chances are, he’s never been back in town.”
Roxie gasped. “And I told Chad. Jesus, I told him his father was some mafia assassin, who’d been lurking around, terrorizing us. And you,” she sneered, pointing at Teddy, “you told him to be vigilant. Hell, for all I know, his dad is some accountant who married and started a new family.”
“I’m sorry,” Teddy said, dropping his hands. “I never should’ve told you to tell Chad. I do think he needs to be wary of his surroundings and stay alert, but we could’ve warned him without bringing up his biological father.”
She had royally screwed up. Why hadn’t she trusted her instincts? She knew the answer to that before the question finished registering in her mind. Whenever it came to Teddy, she couldn’t trust herself. When he was there for her, he was wonderful, but when he screwed up, he did so majorly. “Chad is my son,” she said, faking a calmness she did not truly feel. “There is no we, Teddy.”
“C’mon, Roxie, I know you’re pissed.”
“I’m livid. At you and at myself.” She shook her head, fighting off the threat of tears. “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.”
“What are you talking about?” His phone started ringing, but he didn’t move a muscle.
“Me.” She looked at him and shielded her heart in a layer of ice. “Every time I think maybe, just maybe, things will be different this time, I get hurt. When I met Thad, I thought if I gave him my all and took the scraps he gave me, I’d find happiness. When I met you, I thought the same thing, but the thing is, I deserve more than scraps.”
“I don’t give you scraps, babe.” The look in his eyes almost melted the coating around her heart. “I know I don’t deserve you. That’s been part of my problem from the beginning. You are wonderful and too fucking good for me.” His gaze held a slight panic, a rare emotion from the usually calm authority he exuded. When his phone began to ring again, he didn’t take his gaze off her.
“It’s time for me to decide what’s good for myself.”
He reached for her, but she was too numb to dodge him. Or maybe she just wanted to feel his arms around her one last time.
“You mean everything to me, Roxie. You and Chad. So much more than I’ve ever told you. I have so many fucking regrets, but I don’t regret one moment with you.”
She couldn’t even contemplate what kind of feelings he was talking about. Not now. She was too focused on him not having any regrets. “Not even the first time we had sex?”
He held her tighter. “Never. Every second with you is precious, Roxie. Baby, I lo—”
“Don’t.” She stepped back and looked up into his pleading eyes. “You can’t say that. You don’t even remember our first time.”
A crease between his brows slowly formed. “I remember—”
“No. You don’t. You were drunk the first night we had sex.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it. “I—what?”
“That’s what I tried to tell you on the way back from the wedding. I went to the bar. You were there and three sheets to the wind. I drove you home, and you came on to me.” She smiled sadly. “Hell, you even sent me flowers the next morning, saying you couldn’t wait to see me again. When I showed up at the shop later that day, you were nursing one hell of a hangover and acting like it had never happened.” She looked up at him, her eyes hardening. “I took your scraps and hoped for more.”
The color drained from his face. “Baby,” he breathed. “Jesus, I’m so sorry.” He stepped toward her, but the front door burst open. Teddy grabbed her and pushed her behind him as he turned to face the sudden threat. “Fuck, Brody.”
Roxie stepped away from Teddy and looked at her best friend’s husband.
“Sorry. You weren’t answering.” He held up his phone as proof he’d tried to call first. “Oz found Flint. He’s taking him to the station now; says we can join in the questioning.”
“Be sure to shove a foot up his ass while you’re at it,” Roxie said and reached for her handbag by the couch. “I’m going to your place to visit my bestie and hold that precious baby.” After the day she’d just had, she needed the pick-me-up something fierce.
Teddy’s hand wrapped around her arm when she went to pass, and she mentally stomped on all those butterflies in her tummy. “You and I will be sitting down later and hashing out everything. We’re not done here.”
“Yeah, Teddy. We are.”
He shut his eyes and inhaled through his nose. She stepped away from him, and he released her without hesitation.
As she walked to the door, she said, “Thad isn’t involved, and Flint’s in custody. I want you and your camper gone from my property before the sun sets, Bear.” God, it felt wrong to use the name everyone else did, but it was time to let go of the dream she’d held onto for so long. She wasn’t holding out for scraps anymore.
“Roxie!”
She shut the door and marched across the street. Maybe Xan had been right. Roxie really was like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.
Not because of the red hair, the hooker name, or the refusal to kiss. No, Roxie, too, wanted what she shouldn’t. What she was never destined to have.
She wanted the fairytale.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Bear moved toward the door to go after Roxie, but Brody jumped in front of him.
“Don’t know what’s going on with you two, but it’s gonna have to wait. Flint’s been a fucking ghost for two damn years. We gotta go.”
