Roxie Read online

  Twisting her wrist, Roxie pulled her arm away. Maxie’s hand fell limp on the table. Roxie sniffed and looked up at the ceiling fans. That old pain had scabbed over, but she didn’t like anyone picking at it. Not even her sister, whom she loved with all her heart.

  She cocked her head. “We were too young, too stupid.”

  Her throat felt like it had glass shards poking into it. “I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”

  Lexie sat back and let one eyebrow lift. “You could’ve fooled us.”

  Maxie’s expression turned gentle. “That was some kiss, Rox.”

  Roxie blew out a breath. Hadn’t it been, though? She still couldn’t feel her kneecaps.

  “Just because two people are good in the sack, it doesn’t mean there’s something more between them.” Carefully, she put the saltshaker back in its holder. “It takes more than hormones.”

  Because hormones led to other complications and the relationship had to be strong enough to handle the fallout.

  Theirs hadn’t been.

  And that was that. End of story.

  She began scooting across the bench seat. “I need to get back to the party. I’m not being a good hostess.”

  “They can wait a little longer,” Maxie insisted.

  “Yeah.” Lexie surprised them all when she planted her Steve Madden knee-high boot on the bench across from her, blocking Roxie’s escape. When her sister gave her the evil eye, she lifted a bottle off the seat beside her. “Let’s have the party here for just a little while.”

  A weight lifted off Roxie’s shoulders. Just a tiny weight, but it was enough to let her breathe again. The corner of her mouth twitched upwards. “Is that bourbon, Lexie?”

  Maxie was a bit more stunned. “I thought you stayed away from that stuff like the plague.”

  Lexie also produced three glasses. She poured fast, letting the liquid splash. “Sometimes a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do. I’ve just got to say one thing.” She slid the tumbler across the table and leaned forward. “Damn, but he’s pretty.”

  Maxie picked up a glass of her own. “Isn’t he, though?”

  Roxie swirled the copper-colored liquor around and watched the whirlpool that formed. She could feel it pulling at her, tugging her down. Tilting her head back, she drank a mouthful.

  That was Billy.

  So pretty, it hurt.

  * * * * *

  “Hey, Charlie,” Billy said, sticking out his hand and giving his old friend a firm handshake. “Congratulations, man.”

  Charlie’s wizened face split into a wide smile, and he stood from his chair. With a yank, he pulled Billy in closer to give him a slap on the back. “I didn’t know if you were going to make it.”

  Neither had he. The date and time hadn’t been an issue. He just hadn’t known if he could go through seeing Roxie again.

  Or if he could keep his hands off her.

  The knot in his chest pulled tighter. Strike number one.

  “Are you kidding me?” he said, keeping it light. “I wouldn’t have missed your big send-off.”

  Charlie was still patting his shoulder, as if to make sure he was really there. “The season just ended last weekend,” he said, offering an out. “I wasn’t sure if you could get away.”

  Actually, that part had been tough. “Yeah, well I had some time coming, and I told them I had to go celebrate with my old man.”

  Their gazes connected, and Charlie’s grip tightened on his shoulder. Billy cleared his throat. Biology had nothing to do with it. This man had been the steadiest influence he’d ever had on his life. Too bad he’d already been a wild teen with a chip like a cement block on his shoulder when they’d met.

  “How long do you plan on staying?” his mentor asked.

  “A few days, maybe a week or so. You know me, I’m not big on planning.”

  “Enough time to go fishing?”

  Billy grinned. “I’m always up for fun.”

  “Speaking of which…” He dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out tickets. The old man’s eyes sparked when he saw them. “These are for when the series starts up again in the spring. I figured you and Lola would be up for some traveling now that you’re retired.”

  “Whoa.” Skeeter leaned over his boss’s shoulder, and his eyes bugged out as he read the print. “The Brickyard 400? Are you serious?”

  Billy pointed. “VIP passes.”

  Charlie got a bit choked up. “Aw, you didn’t need to do that.”

  Billy gave him a firm poke in the chest. “But you’re glad I did.”

  That got a laugh out of Charlie and the bouncer.

  “Damn straight, I am.” The bar proprietor signaled for more drinks. He was still owner for one more night. “Drinks are on me.”

  Billy cast a look across the room. The place was busy, but he spotted Roxie heading for a corner booth. She couldn’t get much further away from him than that. “Yeah, I could use one.”

  Charlie saw the direction of his attention, and the smile on his face faltered just a bit. “I hope I didn’t stir the pot.”

  Billy shook his head and accepted the beer Skeeter passed to him. “Don’t worry about it.”

  That pot had been stirred so many times, it was forever running in circles.

  Still, that didn’t mean that beer couldn’t help. He took a long pull on the cold liquid and downed half the bottle before he realized what he was doing. Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth, he took a deep breath. He let go some of the weight that was draped all over him and looked around the place.

  The bar hadn’t changed much in the past few years. Two, to be exact. He’d managed to stay away from her that long this time.

  Finding an open spot, he propped himself up against the wall. The tables were still old and pockmarked, and the Bud sign in the window was still burnt out. But that was a new sound system he heard, and fresh paint had been slapped onto the walls.

  He wondered what changes Roxie would make.

  He shook his head. Probably tiger-print shades on all the lamps and black leather seats throughout.

  Reaching up, he rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn’t believe she owned the place now. He glanced across the room again, unable to help himself. Or that she’d found sisters. Two of them.

  Holy hell.

  “Blows the mind, doesn’t it?” Skeeter was working tonight, but he wasn’t on the door. What the guy lacked in book smarts, he made up in people smarts. He knew exactly where Billy was looking. And why.

  “How long have they been around?” Billy asked.

  “Few months, maybe a bit longer than that.”

  “They treat her okay?”

  “They’re like peas in a pod, man.”

  Billy’s eyes narrowed. He supposed they would be. If they really were identical triplets, they’d started out life that way. How the hell had this happened?

  “They’ve even got that silent talking thing going,” Skeeter continued. “Like they can sometimes read each other’s minds.”

  Now, that was a bit harder to believe. Nobody knew what was going on in Roxie’s head but her.

  He’d learned that the hard way.

  “Did they have tests run to verify everything?” he asked.

  “Hell, yeah. Roxie’s got hers posted on the wall in Charlie’s office.”

  Her office now.

  Billy settled his head back against the cool wall. He was so damn happy for her, it hurt a little. She belonged now. It was all she’d ever wanted, but somehow he hadn’t been able to make her feel that way.

  He slammed the rest of his beer and grabbed another from a passing tray.

  Shit. Why did he keep doing this to himself? Why did he keep coming back here? Was he some kind of masochist? He’d managed to stay away longer this time, but the pull always got to him. He’d show up, knowing he shouldn’t. She always left him in worse shape than she found him, but he couldn’t get over his addiction to her. She was like his drug. From time to time, he n
eeded a fix.

  That kiss they’d shared had only given him a taste. He wanted more. Hell, he needed it.

  But that probably wasn’t happening tonight—not with the way those two goons were still watching him.

  He jerked his chin towards them. “Do I need to watch out for the boyfriends?”

  Skeeter turned to follow his look. “Cam and Zac? They’re okay.”

  Yet they were giving him the stink-eye. It was cute how they thought they were protecting her. If they didn’t know that Roxie could take care of herself, they didn’t know her very well.

  Billy’s jaw set. Did they really think they could intimidate him? He was used to being the new kid, the outsider. Hell, who were they to judge? They’d only achieved boyfriend status. He’d married his triplet.

  Although…

  Shit.

  He ran his thumb across the edge of the label on his beer. “Is Roxie seeing anyone?”

  He knew the question opened him up, but he hadn’t been pulling one over on the bouncer anyway. And hell, the idea that Roxie might have a boyfriend of her own stung more than the fall he’d taken on his ass. He needed to know the answer before that caught him by surprise, too. He knew she wasn’t a nun, but he really, really didn’t want some guy to appear and be all lovey-dovey with her tonight.

  Although lovey-dovey really wasn’t Roxie’s style.

  “Nah,” Skeeter said with a shrug. “She’s been doing the bachelorette thing for a while.”

  Good to hear.

  When Billy took another drink, it went down a bit more easily. Yes, definitely good to hear.

  Movement from the back booth caught his attention. His teeth clenched, but he couldn’t help but stare like some kind of peeping Tom. He was like a freaking homing pigeon when it came to her.

  Homing pigeon… Well, now wasn’t that just the turn of phrase? This hadn’t been his home for a very long time.

  He planted his foot flat against the wall, grounding himself.

  That didn’t mean he could stop watching. One-by-one, different versions of the woman he’d loved popped out of the corner booth like clowns coming out of a circus car. Hooking his thumb in his pocket, he drummed his fingers against his thigh. When he’d first stepped into the joint, he hadn’t even known it was possible that he wouldn’t recognize her.

  Now that he knew there were others, he could see the differences.

  The first one wore jeans, but the blazer and pricey leather boots were a dead giveaway that she was trying to dress down. Lexie, was it? She was classy, but she hadn’t seemed snotty. With that face and body, though, she could get away with a lot.

  The second one had him tilting his head in consideration. Now that was sugar and spice all wrapped up in one. Sister Two was wearing a cute little number with a short skirt that wasn’t too short. The black ankle boots looked new and maybe a bit painful. A good girl was taking a careful trip on the wild side.

  The cop at the bar straightened when he spotted her coming his way. With him around, she could dress however she wanted. Nobody would dare make a move.

  Finally, long legs swung out of the back booth, and Billy felt his mouth start to water. This one was the real deal. Roxie.

  Those leggings of hers were something else. They fit her like a glove, showing off all her sleek lines and sexy curves. Her boots were well-lived in, but that walk of hers. Dayum! He almost swallowed his tongue when she balanced expertly atop them and began to strut.

  Those hips of hers were born to swivel.

  “You planning on getting back in on the action?” Skeeter asked.

  All Billy could manage was a grunt.

  There was no planning involved. Things between them just happened. It was like a chemical reaction. First there was smoke, and then a poof, and then a four-alarm fire.

  He could already smell the acridness in the air.

  That slinky top she wore knew how to caress her curves. It was belted around her waist and draped over her butt, making oglers wonder what was underneath. He knew what was underneath, but he couldn’t stop looking at her bare shoulder. Her top slipped off it, exposing skin. So soft, so smooth. She was wearing some kind of strapless bra. He’d felt it when he’d held her, but that didn’t stop him from wondering what it looked like.

  Catching himself, he banged his head back against the wall.

  “No, I’m not planning anything,” he told his old friend. “I’m just here for Charlie.”

  “Ri-iight,” Skeeter said astutely.

  Right.

  Billy set his empty down on the table next to him. Another tray was passing by, but he scowled at it. Beer wasn’t having the effect he needed.

  He lifted an eyebrow at Charlie. “You got anything stronger around here?”

  Chapter Three

  It was too late, too chilly, and too quiet to be outside, yet that’s where Roxie had ended up, and it was right where she was going to stay. It was deep into the night, probably closer to morning. The bar had closed and the staff had cleaned up long ago. Everyone had gone home, but she hadn’t known what to do with herself.

  So here she was on the roof of the building, listening to the night world and trying to make sense of things.

  With a soft breeze stirring, the nip in the air was closer to a bite. She huddled deeper into her blanket and stared out over the river. The moon was just a slit tonight, but that white crescent was bright. It cast a bluish tint on everything, making the scene a bit unreal.

  Unreal. Now wasn’t that the word of the day?

  The breeze picked up, causing her cheeks to sting. It was the smack in the face she needed. Sleep was not in the cards tonight, not with all the thoughts and feelings rushing through her head.

  Feelings. She scowled. When had they sneaked up on her again?

  Tonight was supposed to have been fun and carefree.

  Yet she hadn’t been feeling that way even before Billy had shown up, had she?

  Billy.

  She pressed her legs together more tightly and drew them up towards her chest. Watching the river glide along whisper-soft, she ran her fingers over her lips. They’d avoided each other most of the night, but that kiss he’d given her had lingered.

  Simmering and teasing.

  Until it wasn’t just her lips that were craving more.

  Her eyelids had just started to drift closed when she heard the door behind her. She stayed where she was, but moved her hand under the blanket to her side.

  “I thought I might find you up here,” a low voice said.

  Her shoulders slumped. Speak of the devil. “Billy,” she sighed.

  He knew her too damn well.

  He moved into her line of vision. He looked tall and sturdy with his hands tucked in the pockets of his jacket. His attention was on the view before them. People often asked why she didn’t move further away from the bar. Why did she keep her apartment on the third floor? This was why, her little secret.

  From atop the building, there was a bird’s eye view of Cobalt City. She could see the city lights on the east side, but more importantly, she could see down to the river. It flowed like black satin tonight, twisting and curling its way silently southward.

  “At least this place has a door to the roof and stairs.” He turned in a circle, looking at the rest of the neighborhood. Things weren’t as colorful or glamorous here on the west side, but it had a comfort to it. A familiarity. “No climbing out of windows or scrambling up fire escapes for once.”

  He’d followed her on both before… and walked across pitched rooftops to find her when things had gotten to be too much.

  He nudged her lawn chair with his toe. “All the amenities, too, I see.”

  She spent enough time up here that she’d invested in a cheap lounger and plastic table. Nobody had needed to know.

  “It’s my Shangri-La, baby.”

  “Definitely a step up.” He tested out the sturdiness of a nearby utility box. Deciding it would hold him, he hopped atop it and let his
long legs dangle.

  “Still, it’s not all that safe up here, Rox.”

  The corner of her mouth twitched. “It is when you’re carrying this.”

  She produced her pepper spray from beneath the blanket she’d wrapped around herself. His eyebrows rose in surprise, but then he let out a laugh.

  That soft chuckle made her press her legs together tighter. She hadn’t heard him do that for so long. He was the one who’d always had the easygoing personality, while she had the flash-fire temper. He was the one who’d made her laugh when times got tough.

  She tucked the spray away and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Maybe a coat wouldn’t have been a bad idea… like a parka with two inches of down and fur around the hood. She was suddenly feeling way too exposed.

  “It’s three o’clock in the morning, Roxie. Why aren’t you in bed?”

  Because it had been a big night for her, and that bed was so damn empty.

  And he had showed up.

  Take your pick.

  “Are you drunk?” she asked.

  “I’m feeling it,” he admitted. “You?”

  She pursed her lips, gauging her inebriation. “I’m a bit tipsy.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. The breeze was already ruffling it, making it look so soft and thick. She squeezed her hands together and flinched when she nearly triggered her pepper spray. Tucking it against her hip, she tried to find a better place to settle her hands.

  “I’m sorry I tried to hit you earlier.” She’d already apologized for that, but somehow she didn’t think it had stuck.

  “I appreciate you pulling your punch.”

  “I was protecting my sister.”

  “That’s a good instinct to have.”

  She rolled her head along the plastic headrest. He looked so sexy just sitting there atop that big metal box, all tough in that leather jacket, but so approachable with his baby face and rock hard body. With the bluish light cast all around them, everything seemed provocative.

  “They’re curious about you,” she whispered.

  “I’m curious about them.” He flicked a rock off the utility box and it skipped along over the hard roof surface, ticking aloud with every bounce. “What’s it like?”