FUEL (DirtSlap Series Book 1) (15 page)

“Hi, darlin’,” he said in a very southern Georgian accent that rolled smoothly off a pierced tongue.

Her mouth dropped open. Thrand nudged her and cocked a brow.

She flushed. “Sorry, but have you noticed he sounds nothing like he looks?”

Thrand smirked. “Guys, this is Cassie.”

“Didn’t know you had a girl, man. Nice to meet you, Cassie,” Ethan said.

Zak sat in a chair with a bass in his lap and gave her a slight wave. He had the same vibe as Ethan but was leaner. His shoulder length, brown hair hung in his face, so she couldn’t tell much else.

Confused, Cassie looked at Thrand. “I thought you played country?”

He grinned, excitement in his gray eyes. “Yeah, but with a twist.”

Cassie snorted and pointed at Ethan. “Well, clearly. How else would you explain that?”

Ethan had sat back down and laughed. “Blunt, isn’t she?”

“You have no idea.”

“I told you all about the band, Cas. And I told you what we played.” Accusation laced Ryan’s words.

“You probably did. Sorry. A lot going on.” Ryan would know. He was there for most of it, but she wondered at his frown. Thrand tensed and slid a hand to the back of her neck. She glanced back and forth between them as Thrand and Ryan glared at each other.

“What the hell is going on?” They were supposed to be best friends. Instead, they looked like a two dogs with their hackles raised.

It was Ryan’s turn to blink, his laugh anything but pleasant. “You gotta be kidding me. You don’t know, Cassie? Are you that blind?”

She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to piece everything together.

“Ryan, let it go,” Thrand said deceptively quiet.

“Thrand, are you mad at Ryan about me hiding from you? ‘Cause if you are, you need to stop right there. That was my fault. You were right. I should have talked to you. Don’t be mad at him.”

“I forgave him for that already.” His eyes were still glued to Ryan, like he was daring him. To do what? Cassie had no idea.

“Fine. I get it. Back the fuck off.” Ryan was seated in a chair, and he abruptly got up. “I’ll be back later.”

He slammed the door on the way out.

Cassie was at a loss and placed hands on her hips. She glanced at Ethan for answers, as if he’d know. “Little girl, if you don’t get that they were fighting over you, then you need a reality check.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, that’s just stupid.”

“Tell you what. Me and Zak are gonna take off, too. Text us when you’re ready to play. Later.”

With that, they left her alone with a very agitated Thrand, if his clenched fists were any indication.

“Is there something I’m missing?” Cassie asked him.

“You really have no idea, do you? You call him, asking him help you. Watching you drink yourself stupid and no telling what you told him. He said you were having nightmares on top of everything. What did you think was going to happen, Cassie?”

She shook her head. The only thing she’d talked about was Thrand and her feelings for him. But at least the nightmares were gone. “No. He doesn’t like me. We’re just friends.”

“No, sweetheart. He likes you a lot more than that. He only brought you to me when he thought you would end up killing yourself or get hurt.”

She backed up a step, feeling the blood drain from her face.

“I wouldn’t have killed myself. I might get stupid sometimes, but I would
never
do that.” She gripped the leather cuff as tears threatened. “And I don’t like him that way. He knows that.”

“You’re right. He does. Because you’re with me.”

“Don’t go all caveman on me. He knows because I told him I—” She stopped herself and turned away. He certainly didn’t need that ammo to use on her.

“What? Told him what?”

She felt him step in close behind her, his hands brushed her hair aside to expose her neck. She inhaled sharply when his lips touched the sensitive spot at her shoulder.

“That you’re mine?” he asked and nipped at her skin.

She closed her eyes. Damn the man and the way he made her feel. She whirled around. “Am I? Because last I checked, you were still hung up on the whole your-my-best-friend’s-sister thing.”

He sighed and rubbed at the scruff on his face, like he did when nervous. “I’m working on it.”

“You’re working on it? Really?” She clenched her fists and had the urge to knock the hell out of him. “Maybe you need more space to get it figured out.”

She stomped to her room, flung open the door…or what used to be her room. The bed was gone, and the room was full of music equipment.

She turned her glare on him. “Where’s my bed?”

He smiled and shrugged. “In the garage. We needed the space.”

“So where am I supposed to sleep?”

His gaze darkened and he cocked his head, his smirk devastating her senses. “Where do you think?”

“Really?” The thought of sleeping with him every night, well yeah, made her insides turn to jelly, but he didn’t need to know that. “How about you sleep on the couch.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot.

*

Thrand stared at
the woman. There she stood, wearing his shirt that was barely long enough to cover her ass, exposing those long-ass legs that had been wrapped around his waist last night. And now she was pissed about sleeping with him? “Is there anything you
won’t
argue about?”

Her lips twitched as she tried not to smile and he had a hard time not laughing. She shoved her hair back and pursed her lips. “Not my fault. You’re easy to argue with.”

He walked over to her and leaned his arm against the doorframe just over her head. “Be honest with me. Do you want to be here? With me?”

He didn’t touch her, even though he wanted to. Those big green eyes stared up at him as though searching for something. Normally, he could read her face like a book, but at the moment, she had her walls up. Effectively keeping him out.

She rubbed at her cuff.

“Yes. But,” she looked directly into his eyes, “I was telling the truth. I won’t be someone’s guilt trip. If that’s how you feel, the answer is no.”

“Can you be patient with me? Give me a chance?” Because he was still torn. He was weighing the advice from Mick, and all his thoughts on what Cam might want, but it drove him crazy when she was away from him. Sure, she had only been here for a few months, but he couldn’t remember what his life had been like before her. Except boring. That was all he could remember about it.

She dropped her shoulders and wrapped her arms around her waist. “Working on it. Right.”

“Yeah. I never thought about what it would be like to see you again. And I for sure never thought this would happen.” Her glare had him rushing his words. “Hold on. Before you tear into me…that doesn’t mean I regret it. It means I’m trying to wrap my head around grown-up-stubborn-knock-me-on-my-ass Cassie and the kid I left at home.”

Her eyes twinkled, her expression smug. “I knocked you on your ass, huh?”

He shook his head and chuckled. “Out of everything I said, that’s what you got out of it?”

“Well, that somehow seemed important.”

Her hand played with his shirt, and he hoped that was a good sign. “So, yeah? You’ll stay?”

Her face got serious as her hand fisted in his shirt. “I can give you that. But there’s a time limit. You either figure it out or you don’t.”

She didn’t have to say what would happen if he didn’t figure it out.

He nodded. “That’s fair.”

She tilted her head, walked her fingers up his shirt, and curled her hand around his neck. She pulled him down to her, but instead of kissing him, she bit at his lower lip.

“I don’t share,” she whispered.

He grinned against her lips. “Good. Neither do I.”

She nipped at him again and, before he could do anything else, slipped away. The hem of her shirt hinted at the slight curve of her bare ass as she walked, hips swaying a little too much, to his kitchen. “I’m hungry.”

His mind blanked realizing she’d been standing there in nothing
but
his shirt.

C
assie sat on
the couch, which had been pushed out of the way, so the guys could have room for the band. There still wasn’t enough space, but for now, it was all they had.

She sipped on a beer, and kept her camera nearby so she could snap pictures while they played.

It had only been a couple of days since she’d agreed to stay with Thrand. She couldn’t help but follow him with her eyes as he set up. They still hadn’t gotten everything out but were currently at a truce of sorts. The worst part was keeping her feelings in check until Thrand could pull his head out of his ass. Because every moment spent with him pulled her in deeper than she’d already been. All she could hope for was that he figured it out, and soon. She didn’t want to think about what she’d have to do if he didn’t.

This was the first time the band practiced an entire set. Their first gig was in a few weeks at Booseys.

“Did you guys ever come up with a name?” she asked.

Ethan looked up and flashed those dimples. “DirtSlap.”

She grinned. “Good one.”

When the doorbell rang, she jumped up and opened it.

“I brought beer,” Lila said as she held up a case, then grabbed her in a hug. “Everything good?”

Cassie nodded. “For now.”

“Good.” She smiled, pecked her on the cheek, and swept past her. “Boys, I got beer.”

“What’s she doing here?” Ethan asked, a frown on his face.

Cassie looked between Lila and Ethan as they glared at each other. “She’s my best friend. That’s what she’s doing here.”

“Don’t worry, Ethan, I won’t sprinkle my fairy dust on you.”

“And I won’t send you back to Neverland.”

“Pfft…as if you could,” Lila said and gave a little wave of her hand.

“Keep that fairy dust to yourself. I don’t need my man-parts shriveled.” Ryan covered his crotch, mock disgust on his face.

“Ryan, I’m amazed it hasn’t fallen off yet. The number of times I’ve seen you with hickeys is testament to how easy you are. No telling what sort of cooties you have.” Lila inspected him like he might be contagious.

He flashed that killer smile and winked. “Are you jealous?”

“Oh, please! Don’t flatter yourself.”

Ryan grabbed a beer from her and pulled on one of her braids.

She smacked his arm.

“Owe! Why you always gotta hit me?”

“’Cause you’re a pain in the ass.”

Ethan laughed. “Ryan, don’t let that little imp beat you up. Be a man.”

“She’s mean. And who knows when she might sprinkle that fairy dust.”

Cassie giggled at the exchange, which had Ryan looking at her, all traces of humor gone. He turned to his guitar without another word. She sighed and shoved a hand through her hair. That was one complication she never saw coming.

She took the beer from Lila, pulled out several, and put the rest in the fridge. She moved back into the living room and set them on the table.

“You got water?”

Cassie turned to a voice she didn’t recognize and realized it was Zak. It was deep, smooth. It was also the first time she noticed he had extraordinary hazel eyes. His expression was blank, not smiling but not frowning either.

“Sure. Bottled okay?”

He nodded and went back to tuning his bass.

Odd choice of band members Thrand had put together. She was anxious to hear them play. She snagged a couple bottles of water and put them on the table with the beer.

“Who wants water?” Lila asked.

“Zak.”

Lila blinked. “He spoke?”

“Does he not usually?” Cassie had only met them a couple of times, so she thought maybe he was just shy.

“Never. They’ve met at Booseys several times, and I’ve yet to hear him talk. Or really even see his face for that matter.”

“He’s probably just shy.”

“He’s in a band. Doesn’t make much sense to me.” Lila fell onto the sofa and swung her leg lazily.

“It can happen.”

Cassie’s attention went to Thrand and Ryan who were deep in conversation. It was hard to believe Ryan had a thing for her. She didn’t want to be the reason their friendship ended. She let out a relieved sigh when they smiled and laughed.