Sand Angel (11 page)

He’d given her a little taste of happiness. Even if it was bittersweet this morning, she had learned something. Happiness couldn’t be found through another individual. You had to want it—work for it—just as she had done throughout the years.

She stepped beneath the flowing water. It was warmer than she preferred. Was it the water temperature or the heat coming off her body? As she began to soap her arms, she realized something.

She was in charge of her happiness.

She had wasted three years pining for Drew. And look what she had done to her life. Such a fool. She shook her head and rinsed off. This was where the foolishness ended. She shut off the water.

After grabbing a towel, she rubbed it briskly over her body. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy. She stepped from the shower and walked toward her small closet. There was no way to just turn off how she felt about Drew, nor the rush of adrenaline she loved when it came to performing. Her gaze scanned the outfits hanging. It was hard to explain the pleasure she got with each death-defying act she performed. It had become her life—what she lived for.

A vibrant pink riding ensemble caught her attention. With a jerk she opened a drawer and retrieved underwear.

Surprisingly, Drew hadn’t been the only driving force behind her desire for speed. Yes—speed just made it easier to forget him. With speed came accidents and there was no denying that pain numbed his memory, but he wasn’t the reason she rode. She was good—damn good.

As she slipped her bra and panties on, she realized just how much she had allowed Drew to mess with her mind. She pulled the jersey over her head and sucked in a breath of regret. Drew was all she had ever wanted. With angry movements she pushed her legs through the riding pants. He had deceived her once again.

But she was stronger now. He would leave and this time she wouldn’t fall apart. Maybe she’d go back home, mend the tear in her family’s relationship.

Filled with a brand new sense of purpose, she put her socks on, slipped her foot into one boot and then the other, snapping them tight. For the next two days she would enjoy what Glamis had to offer. Sunday she would head to Phoenix and say hi to her mom and dad.

Now all she had to do was stay away from Drew.

Plate in hand, Drew headed toward the toy hauler, taking a step backward as the door swung open and Zoë stepped down. Crap. She was already dressed to ride. Both he and Josh thought that by keeping her busy, they’d be keeping her out of trouble.

He’d just have to seduce her into seeing things his way. He liked the sound of that plan.

She didn’t say a word to him as she passed by and began to release the ramp at the back of the trailer.

“I brought you breakfast,” he said, leaning in for a kiss that caught her cheek as she turned away. Hmmm…something wasn’t right.

Glancing over a shoulder, she looked down at the eggs and bacon he held, then at him. “Ahhh…that’s sweet. I hope you didn’t go to any trouble. But if I remember correctly there’s a little restaurant and bar down by the Glamis Beach Store. I have a craving for a hamburger.” She moved up the ramp, her footsteps tapping on the floor as she disappeared into the toy hauler.

He shot a desperate glance in Josh’s direction. His friend urged him on with the brush of his fingers.

Zoë appeared again, but this time she was rolling her Honda 250 CR down the ramp. The bike meant trouble. Big trouble.

He moved in, stopping her with his free hand on the bike’s handlebars. “Ah…I thought we’d disconnect the toy hauler from your truck and take a ride to Brawley. Check out the sites.”

She tugged the bike out of his grasp. “Good idea. While you and Josh are there pick me up some tampons.” She threw over a shoulder, “Oh, and a big box of pads.”

Well that put a dampener on the seduction angle. Talk about bad timing. He could still hold and kiss her. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when he remembered how aroused she got with just the sound of his voice.

“Not Josh and me.” He set the plate down on a chair and hurried to her side. “You and me—alone.” He poured all his sexuality into his voice. “Come on, baby.” He lowered his tone and brushed his hand up her arm. “Let’s take a ride.”

She bent down, pointing to certain parts of her bike as if she mentally checked off all necessary items that should be verified before she rode. Then she stepped around him, grabbing a gas can to top off the bike’s tank.

“Nothing’s in Brawley. Came through it on my way here.” She popped up so quickly it caused him to stumble backward to avoid clashing with her. “But knock yourself out. See for yourself.”

Shit. This was harder than he thought. He brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. “How about you and me go back to bed?”

Her brows rose mockingly before she placed her hot pink helmet over her head. The matching goggles followed.

Damn. He’d forgotten about the tampons. And how many helmets did this woman own? Even her boots and gloves matched.

When she threw her leg over the bike, he shot a desperate glance toward Josh. There didn’t appear to be anything that was stopping her and Drew wasn’t ready to go riding. He had counted on taking her back to bed or going to Brawley.

“Wait. I’ll go get dressed and we’ll ride together.” He hastily started toward Josh’s trailer as Josh moved to his quad.

“Can’t. Stomach’s growling. Gotta go.” She raised her foot and kick-started the bike. The engine roared to life. With a twist of the wrist, she throttled it. Her front tire rose from the ground as she rode her back one.

“Shit.” Drew made a beeline for the trailer.

Josh was already hot on her trail.

Chapter Ten

Idiots.

Laughter bubbled up inside her, recalling the panicked expressions on both Josh’s and Drew’s faces when she asked them to pick up some tampons. Fast thinking. Pretty clever too, if she said so herself. Certainly, that little revelation would extinguish Drew’s desire. All she needed was for him to keep his distance throughout today and tonight.

As she ripped through the sands of Glamis on her bike, the crisp chill of morning stung her cheeks. She loved morning rides. Everything seemed so fresh and new. It was the hours that followed that usually screwed it all up.

From the corner of her eye she could see Josh following her. So, between Drew and Josh she was going to be on a short leash. A flash of temper rose when she thought of Drew insinuating that he was going to counseling with her. The man had some nerve. Hell, if it wasn’t for him
she
probably wouldn’t be going. Before she took off for Phoenix she’d set both Drew and Josh straight. She was a big girl now. She didn’t need or want male interference in her life.

Ahhh…hell. That wasn’t true either. She had never felt anything like Drew’s thick, hard cock filling her. Her nipples puckered at the thought. She loved the little growl in his voice, the way he dominated her—fucked her.

Still, she didn’t want Drew because he felt guilty or sorry for her. That was worse than not having him at all. And she couldn’t believe that Josh was in on this, probably the one who talked Drew into seducing her.

How was that for brotherly love? Couldn’t he just believe in her? Support the one thing in life she loved?

Her skin felt too tight. She could feel her blood begin to boil, a prickly sensation moving just below the surface. With the rise of anger she increased the throttle. It seemed that the two went hand in hand. Anger and speed.

No. She cut the gas, slowing down. That was before. Her riding would not be dictated by her mood. She was a good rider. Damn good. She had a bright future ahead of her if she used her head wisely. Yet she couldn’t pass the jump that approached. She hit it going a reasonable speed, catching air as she lunged off a dune.

Man, there was nothing like being airborne, heavy metal between her thighs. She landed the bike and didn’t look back to see if Josh took the jump too.

The distance from Gecko campground to the small beach store was quite a ride, but finally she pulled in front of the restaurant and cut her engine. She wasn’t really hungry anymore, but what the hell—she was here.

“Shit. Zoë, you were flying.” Josh pulled up next to her as she was removing her helmet. “You’ve gotta be more careful.”

She ignored him. He didn’t know what speed was really about. With a twist, she removed her key, strolled to the restaurant’s door and pushed it open. Sand littered the floor. The small, gritty particles crunched beneath her boots. The place was packed. The noise level was boisterous. There was only one table unoccupied as she walked over and sat down.

A waitress plopped a glass of water and a menu in front of her and walked away without a word.
Friendly little place. Perhaps I’ll trip her on her next round.

“What’s got your panties in a twist?” The chair scraped across the floor as Josh pulled it out and sat.

“No twist here.” She peered over the menu. “Are you following me?”

“Uhhh…” He grabbed her glass of water and drank slowly. “We’re supposed to spend the weekend together. Remember?”

She set the menu down and scanned his handsome features. “You’re a lousy liar.” Zoë was about to lay down the law when the waitress waltzed over to the table. The biggest, brightest smile was plastered on her face as she set another glass of water on the table. Then she leaned over so Josh had a view right down her shirt as she handed him a menu.

“Are you ready to order?” she purred.

Zoë wanted to poke the woman with her fork.

Josh shuttered his dreamy brown eyes. “Zoë?” he asked, without moving his gaze from the woman’s busty cleavage.

“Yeah. Hamburger, no catsup. Fries. Coke.”

“And you?” the waitress asked. Somehow it came out sounding like a proposition, but what the hell. What Josh did with his life was his business. Still, it didn’t hurt to give him some of his own medicine.

“What happened to the redhead you were with last night?” Zoë asked nonchalantly.

“A Coke will do,” Josh muttered, and the disappointed waitress moved away from the table. He shot Zoë a heated glare. “Was that necessary?”

She shrugged. “Not any more than your interference in my life.”

“I’ve never interfered in your business.” His face went blank like it always did when he was lying to her. He could pull the wool over anyone’s eyes but hers. She knew him too well.

She swallowed hard, steeling herself. “I know you know about the counseling—that Dave called you. I know you planned this whole thing with Drew just to keep your crazy little sister from killing herself.” Her fingers curled into fists. She blinked away the tears that threatened. She wouldn’t cry. Her chin inched higher as if she could hold the emotion back with the rise. “How could you? Don’t you have any faith in me?” But she couldn’t hide the pain in her voice, nor stop her chin from shaking.

He reached across the table to cup her hand and she jerked away. “Zoë, I didn’t plan on Drew coming. But when he showed up at the house? Well, I just thought—”

She pushed from the table. “I’ve lost my appetite.” After reaching in her boot, she laid a ten down on the table.

“Zoë, you have to eat.”

“No, Josh, I have to ride. And if you follow me—” she looked him straight in the eyes, “—I’ll run you off the road.” She spun around, her heavy boots slapping the floor as she jerked the door wide and disappeared.

Drew pushed open the restaurant door and looked around the small diner. Josh’s quad was parked outside, but Zoë’s bike was nowhere to be found. Noise rose as he scanned the room. In the corner Josh sat, alone, with his shoulders hunched. If his deflated posture was any indication, things weren’t looking good.

Drew crossed the room. “Where is she?” He pulled out a chair and sat. The hairs on his neck took the opportunity to make themselves known as they rose in warning.

Josh looked up from the table. “Gone.”

Drew leaned slightly forward. His brows pulled together. “What do you mean, gone?”

Josh shook his head. “She must have heard us talking this morning. Damn woman.” His friend’s long face showed his concern. “Hell, Drew, she even thinks I set it up for you to seduce her.” He brushed a weary hand through his hair.

“Fuck.” Drew got to his feet. “Why didn’t you follow her?”

The dubious laugh Josh released put Drew further on edge. “She threatened to run me off the road. You should have seen her face. She’d do it too—and enjoy every minute.”

Drew pinched the bridge of his nose. The damn dust in this place was giving him a horrible headache. His fear for Zoë wasn’t helping it. “What are we going to do now?”

“Pray.”

“Dammit, Josh, I mean it.” Tension crawled across Drew’s shoulders and up his neck.

“So do I.” He stood like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. A huff of disgust left his lungs. “Man, I screwed the pooch on this one. Whatever made me think I could mend the rift between the two of you?”

“You can try to answer that question later. Right now we need to find Zoë.” Drew headed toward the door. “I need to explain. I need to tell her I love her,” he said more to himself than Josh.