Destined for A Dirt Road (Dirt Road Summer #2) Read online

  “I don’t share, Shay,” he says as he pulls into his swanky townhouse garage.

  “I thought we were going to dinner.”

  “We are. I cooked for you—surprise.” He chuckles as he steps out of the car. He walks over to my door and opens it, reaching for my hand. Reluctantly, I place my hand in his as he leads me toward the elevator.

  Once we’re inside, his mouth attacks mine, taking me by surprise. His kiss is fierce as he stakes his claim. His hand reaches around my waist and pulls me against his erection. “I think we may just skip to dessert,” he growls, breaking the kiss.

  The elevator stops at his floor and I’m left gasping for air as he unlocks the door. He kicks the door shut once we enter and grabs me by the waist. My legs wrap around him as he kisses my neck feverishly. Wyatt carries me straight to the bedroom and flops me on the bed. Hunger fills his eyes as he looks me up and down. He hovers over me, crushing his lips against mine as his hand travels to my breasts. My chest begins to rise and fall with every touch. His hands continue to travel south until they reach my jeans.

  “These need to come off, I need to taste you.”

  Whimpering, I raise my hips as he unbuttons them. They slide off with ease and I close my eyes as his tongue begins to assault my clit. “Oh God,” I moan as he begins to bring my body to ecstasy. My hips begin to buck as he delves deeper. With each flick of his tongue I’m losing more control.

  “You like that, Shay? You like the way I make you feel? You like when I make you come?” he asks as he thrusts two fingers inside me.

  “Oh Wyatt,” I moan, reaching for the waist of his jeans. I can’t reach them but I want them off.

  He unbuttons them with his free hand as he continues to ravish me. Once they’re off, his cock springs free and he removes his fingers and places them in his mouth, sucking on my sweet juices. He kisses his way back up to my breasts and when his cock is in reach, I grab ahold of it and begin stroking him up and down.

  “Fuck, Shay, that feels so good. Your mouth would feel even better.” He moans. He knows how I feel about giving head. I’m not big into it. If I’m drunk, I may do it, but normally I don’t.

  Instead of answering him, I continue to stroke his cock. My eyes close as he grabs my nipple with his mouth. “Mmm,” I moan as he caresses it tenderly.

  He reaches into his nightstand with his free hand and grabs a condom. He pulls his mouth away to tear the package open. He pulls my hand away from his cock to slide it on and looks at me with hooded eyes. Normally, I can read him but right now I have no clue what he’s thinking. With one swift thrust, I cry out. Usually, he’s gentle but this is anything but. It’s rough and impersonal.

  “Never. Forget. Who. You. Belong. To,” he growls between each thrust.

  Who I belong to? I don’t belong to anyone but myself. Hell, I didn’t even know we had labels until tonight. One or two more quick thrusts and then he pulls out. I never even had a chance to orgasm. He left me hanging. He feels threatened by Beau, I know he does. I guess he thinks fucking me good and hard will help set me straight, but what I will never admit to him was that I saw Beau the entire time he touched me. Except I know Beau would never do this to me. He would never leave me feeling like a washed up piece of nothing.

  Chapter 2

  Beau

  The next morning I wake with an ache in my body. I shouldn’t have drank like I did last night but I wasn’t sure what to do. I never expected to be sideswiped like that. I never thought in a million years my worst nightmare would come true. Shay was quite the performer. She had all of us fooled. Not even Sienna knew about this guy. The sun is a little too bright for me. Its evil rays are streaming in, making me ache a little worse. Groaning, I toss the covers over my head and try to fall back asleep but it doesn’t work. I’m awake with a million and one things running through my head. None of the thoughts are pleasant. As much as I want to be optimistic, pessimism is invading. If she’s happy with this Wyatt, no way will she leave him to be with me.

  I lie under the covers a little longer before I decide it’s time to face the sad music. This morning should have been totally different. Shay should have been lying here beside me in this bed. We should have been righting all our wrongs and picking up where we left off. Instead, I’m dragging my feet across the plush carpet to get to the kitchen. My feet hit the cool tile and shivers run through my body. I just want an aspirin and a glass of water. Then maybe if I feel up to it, I’ll make a pot of coffee. The walk to the medicine cabinet seems to last forever. I can’t get there fast enough. My hand reaches out to open the wooden cabinet and my fingers curl tightly around the small bottle of aspirin. I hold onto the bottle like it’s a lifeline before finally opening it and tossing one down the back of my throat. I reach for a bottle of water and nearly drink it all in one sip. The cool liquid gently lubricates my throat and I let out a sigh as I set the bottle down on the counter.

  I know I wanted to make coffee but right now I just want to lie on the couch and continue to feel sorry for myself. I think about packing up and moving back to Louisiana but then I remember that I renewed my lease so I’m pretty much screwed for the next six months. The couch is soft and inviting. I lie down and stare at the dark screen on the television. My pathetic reflection is staring back at me. I hate this shit. I didn’t come here to be down. I came here to succeed and get what I want. I told Sienna I would fight for Shay and as soon as this damn hangover subsides, that is just what I will do.

  ***

  Shayleigh

  I had Wyatt drive me back to my house last night. Sometimes I stay over with him but last night I wasn’t feeling it, especially after how he treated me during sex. I took the longest shower last night trying to wash away my guilt but I know I’m stuck with it. The aching in my heart isn’t going to go away. Beau’s face plays over and over again in my mind. Why didn’t I just tell him the truth instead of tip-toeing around it? Now I’m lying in my bed staring at the sun coming in through the blinds. My phone rings and Sienna’s name pops up. What time is it anyway? I look toward my clock and it’s a little after nine in the morning.

  “Hello?”

  “Don’t hello me, you little hussy. Who is Wyatt?”

  Damn, she wastes no time. She must have talked to Beau. “Well, good morning to you too. I see you’ve talked to Beau and don’t seem to know who Wyatt is. You know who he is.”

  “Yes, I talked to Beau and he’s heartbroken, Shay. He moved there to be with you.”

  “I know that now. I didn’t know before, obviously,” I tell her sarcastically.

  “And duh, I know about Wyatt but I played stupid with Beau. I didn’t want him knowing I knew. You said it was nothing, but Beau doesn’t agree.”

  “We’re sort of dating,” I tell her quietly.

  “What?” she shrieks. “Damn, Shay! And what do you mean—sort of dating?”

  “We don’t attach labels because of his position in the hospital apparently.”

  “Oh okay, I guess that makes sense,” she says with a bite of sarcasm. “I can’t believe you kept this from me.”

  “I didn’t want Beau getting hurt,” I admit quietly.

  “Well, it’s a little too late for that,” she answers under her breath.

  I want to kick myself in the shins but instead I just sigh into the phone. “Did he really think he could just come down here and everything would go back to how it was last summer?”

  “Yes, he did.”

  I can’t lie. I often thought about just how different things could have been if I hadn’t left so abruptly that summer. I still think about what would have happened if we never got into that fight, but I guess we’ll never know. Sienna and I talk for a little longer before we hang up. I should have known this phone call was going to happen. I should have known Beau would call her and tell her everything. I guess I don’t blame him. He picked his entire life up and dragged it here for me and I crushed every single one of his dreams. Sad to say, my dreams were crushed last su
mmer, but I crushed those on my own.

  I climb out of bed and go take another shower, as if I didn’t take a long enough one last night. I turn off the shower and reach for a towel. I wrap it tightly around my body and step out. The mirror above the sink is fogged but that’s all right with me. I don’t really want to see myself right now anyway. I step into my room and let the towel drop as I stand beside my dresser. I reach for a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I toss my wet hair into a messy bun on the top of my head and walk down the hall into the kitchen.

  Dad is sitting at the table nursing a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper. He must have gotten a late start like me. He’s usually out and about by now.

  “Hey Dad,” I greet him as I reach into the cabinet for a coffee cup.

  “Morning, Shay. You’re up a little late,” he says, looking up from the newspaper.

  “Yeah, I’m just a little tired, I guess,” I tell him while I pour the coffee into my cup.

  “I understand. So that Beau guy seemed nice.”

  My eyes look up abruptly as I make my way to sit across from him. “He is.”

  “I don’t think I’ve heard you mention him.”

  I try not to roll my eyes. Dad is trying to pry and it’s kind of funny. “That’s because I haven’t, Dad. He’s an old memory I left behind in Louisiana.”

  “He doesn’t seem to want to be left behind. He seems like a real good guy.”

  “You’ve already said he seems nice and now he seems like a real good guy? What are you up to, Dad?” I ask before taking a sip of my coffee.

  “I’m just saying, any guy who makes a big move to be near someone must be a hell of a guy.” I cut him some eyes knowing he’s right but I won’t admit it. His phone rings. I couldn’t be happier. “I’ve got to take this, Shay.” He stands and walks into the living room to answer his phone.

  I sit alone at the table finishing my cup of coffee. I consider texting Beau and apologizing, but that’s probably better left alone. Wyatt already feels threatened by him and if he were to see a message from Beau on my phone, I’m afraid I’d never live that down. I could always delete the messages after but that’s sneaky and I don’t like to play games.

  I get up and wash out my coffee cup, setting it in the drain board. I head back to my room and sit on my bed. I reach for my phone and hold it in my hand. I’m almost willing it to ring or chime but nothing comes. I’m off from the hospital today so I can do anything I want but I’m quite content just sitting here. I set the phone back down on the nightstand and reach for my Kindle. I love reading because I can forget my problems and enter someone else’s world. I open a new book I just bought the other day. I’ve been dying to read it and finally have time.

  I’m pulled in from the first word and before I know it, an hour has passed and I’m a few pages from the end. I love when I can’t put a book down. I have this crazy gift of being able to read really fast and my wallet suffers because I buy books like they’re going out of style.

  This book had me laughing and crying, but the worst part was the guy reminded me of Beau. As I turn my Kindle off, I sigh as he constantly invades my mind. In the book, the girl and the guy went through all kinds of hell but ultimately ended up together. They got their happily ever after. Who is my happily ever after? Is it Dr. Wyatt or hometown Beau? Gah, this is weighing too heavily on my mind and I know just what I need. I need a night out with Farrah. Farrah works at the hospital with me. The two of us have become pretty good friends. She’s no Sienna but she’s pretty awesome. Wyatt has a gala tonight for the hospital and since we pretty much don’t label ourselves at the hospital, he’s going solo. I can’t just sit home because who knows what kind of mischief will be rolling around in my mind.

  I decide to text Farrah a little later and see if she’s up for a few drinks and dancing. I sure as hell need to unwind from all of this turmoil.

  Chapter 3

  Beau

  So far my day has been unproductive. I’ve molded myself into the couch and I’m not sure I could move even if I wanted to. I’ve been thinking though, slowly trying to figure out my plan to fight for Shay. I have no clue how to go about this. I mean, how the hell do I compete with a doctor? He’s got a fast car and probably some swanky apartment. He’s probably got more money than he knows what to do with. I’m just a car mechanic with a little more than enough money to get by but I love Shay with every breath I take so all I can do is hope that’s good enough.

  My stomach is growling. It’s past lunch time and I really need to drag my ass off this couch and at least make a sandwich or something. The longer I try to fight the hunger pangs, the worse they get. Eventually they win and I slowly drag myself off the couch. I grab a paper towel and reach for the loaf of bread. I set two slices of bread on the towel and get the ham out of the refrigerator along with the jar of mayo and a slice of cheese. I make the perfect sandwich that melts in my mouth. One sandwich later, the pangs in my stomach somewhat subside. I lay back into my molded form on the couch.

  My phone rings, breaking me out of the peace and quiet. Branson’s name pops up and I already know what he wants before I answer. It’s what he always wants, it’s what he lives for.

  “Hello?”

  “Beau, my man! What’s up?”

  “Just sitting here on the couch doing a whole lot of nothing.”

  “Well, consider yourself busy tonight. Come with me, it’s been too long and you need to drag your pussy ass out of that apartment. What are you moping over again?”

  “Shut the fuck up, man. I’m not moping.”

  “It’s that girl, isn’t it? Man, there are plenty of fine ass women out there that will drop their pretty little panties for you.”

  He knows I’m not into all of that. He knows that Shay is all I want but he’s so persistent that I join him in his little games every weekend. I’ve only really gone out with him twice, and both times I was bored shitless. I didn’t want any of the women throwing themselves at me and I wouldn’t give them a second of my time.

  “You aren’t convincing me, you know that,” I tell him, chuckling.

  “I know. At least just get out of that apartment. You know you’re tired of staring at those four walls.”

  He hit that one right on the head. I am very tired of staring at the walls. The only place I go is to work and the store. Then it’s back to home sweet home. I lead quite the exciting life here. It’s so different from back home with Rob where we were constantly doing shit.

  “Okay, Branson, you win this time. I’ll meet you at the bar this evening.”

  “Fuck yeah! They aren’t ready for us tonight.”

  “You mean they aren’t ready for you.”

  “Same thing. See you tonight, man.”

  I hang up the call and toss the phone back onto the coffee table. Maybe going out tonight will be a good thing. He’s right, I do need some time away from everything. I need to clear my head and actually socialize, even if that means just staring at Branson while he flirts with any woman that walks by. I can try to drown some of the heartache with a drink or two. Maybe that’s just what I need. At this point, I’m down for anything…anything but a woman. I don’t want to touch another woman because that woman won’t be Shay. I need her like I need the air I breathe.

  The next few hours pass and I’m still lying in the same spot on the couch. I know I need to get moving and get ready to meet Branson but I’m so comfortable that I can’t even fathom getting up. I don’t want him coming and banging on my door though, then I’d have to kick his ass. I manage to pull myself from the couch and drag myself to the bedroom. I should shower, but then all I’ve done is lie on the couch, and I’m getting ready to go to a smoky bar. I’m not looking to pick up women and I don’t smell like ass, so a little cologne will freshen me up just fine. My eyes land on a black polo shirt in my closet and in one swift yank, I pull it from the hanger. I slide it over my head and grab my favorite jeans. I spray my cologne after brushing my teeth. I’m beyond ready
for this night to end and it hasn’t even started yet.

  ***

  “My man, Beau. Glad you could join me tonight,” Branson says with a wicked smirk as he leans against his truck.

  His parents have more money than God himself and the jacked up white Dodge Ram 4X4 is partial proof of that. His truck is loaded to the max with every gadget you could imagine. His leather seats are top of the line. One look inside this truck and you’d think he should just have it on display instead of driving it around town.

  “Yeah, I’m here. I need a damn drink.”

  “Well, let’s get your thirst quenched.” Just then a brunette in a short skirt walks past him and his jaw hits the ground with a thud. “Holy shit, let’s get inside. This is like Christmas morning!”

  I roll my eyes and follow his lead into the bar. The smoky haze welcomes us as we step inside. The music blares from the speakers and a mass of bodies dance along. Several women have already tried to eye fuck me but I pay no attention. That’s not what I’m here for. Branson struts up to the bar and slaps his credit card down.

  “What are you drinking, man?” he turns to ask me.

  “I’ll get my own, thanks though, bud.”

  “Hell no, you coming out with me is epic. I owe you a drink. Tell me what you want or I’ll just pick. There’s a shit ton of liquor back there and I’m sure I can come up with something.”

  “What the hell ever. I’ll drink Crown and Coke then.”

  His devilish grin says it all and when he turns to hand me two glasses, I glare at him. I should have known this shit was going to happen but deep down I appreciate his gesture. He’s trying to get me to forget it, but what he doesn’t know is that I don’t want to forget.

  I bring the glass to my lips and almost drink the entire glass at once. My eyes shift to the left and realization hits me that I shouldn’t have drank that so fast. The alcohol is going straight to my damn head. I’m seeing things that aren’t there and paranoia is taking over. Uneasily, I down the rest of the drink and slam the first glass on the bar. One down, another to go. I have a feeling this second one will be my last. I’m losing my damn mind in here.