Swerve: Boosted Hearts (Volume 1) (6 page)

Hugh’s eyes narrowed on her, and he opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off before he managed to change her mind.

“I better go.”

“Shay…”

“Bye now!” Her voice was overly loud and kind of wobbly. Spinning on her heels, she hustled out of Hugh’s magnetic force field…before she got sucked in and never got out.

His curse was loud enough she heard it as she walked away.

* * *

Hugh finished checking the transmission fluid in the Toyota and moved on to the radiator hose that needed replacing. He kept his head down, out of the way, because he sure as hell wasn’t in the mood to talk. Shay had walked out of his workshop an hour ago, and he was still fighting himself, trying to stop from going after her. What the hell would he even say? It was a dumb idea. So he kept busy. If he was a different man, just a guy who owned a garage, who loved to work on cars—things could be different. But he wasn’t that man.

Not anymore.

He’d wanted to be a mechanic for as long as he could remember. Ever since he was a kid. Had gotten a job in a garage as soon as he could. Had always known he wanted his own shop one day. He hated that Al had twisted it, turned it into something he could no longer be proud of.

“Yo!” Joe called. “I’m taking off.”

Hugh stood, wiped his hands. “Where’s Adam?”

“Office.”

He gave his brother a chin lift and closed the hood. Joe walked out, and Hugh headed toward the front of the shop, as well. Adam was on the phone, so Hugh took advantage of the fact and left before his friend could stop him. Leaving Adam to close up on his own wasn’t cool, but he would question Hugh about Shay, and he wasn’t going there. There was nothing to talk about.

He climbed into his truck, fired it up and headed for home.

Twenty minutes later—and he still didn’t know how the hell it happened—he found himself sitting in his pickup, staring across the road into The Happy Armadillo freaking Trailer Park. The name was messed up, no doubt, too damn cute, and by the looks of it, full of old people. But he’d never wanted to be anywhere more in his life.

What would Shay do if he rocked on up and knocked on the door? Would she welcome him in or turn him down again? Press those abundant curves against him and kiss him hello? His cock stirred. Shit, this wasn’t like him. He didn’t go back for seconds. He was a “hit it once and get the hell gone” kind of guy. He had to be. He didn’t need the complications in his life; he had enough of those already.

Their deadbeat, asshole of a father had seen to that. Then he’d disappeared. Hugh had tried to track him down, but the bastard was smoke. Either that, or someone had fitted him with a set of concrete shoes and taken him for a swim. The guy had never been smart, had made a lot of enemies, and the longer he stayed away, the more Hugh was convinced it was the latter.

He should probably feel bad, have some remorse. He didn’t feel shit. The debt the old man had dumped on Hugh and Joe had nearly sunk them both.

After the meet with Don, he should never have taken what Shay offered, not when he knew deep down staying away wouldn’t be easy—he gripped the steering wheel—and not with Al coming after them. Shit.

He couldn’t have her, but he couldn’t regret it, either. Fuck no. Shay had been the sweetest piece he’d ever had. So much more than he’d imagined, and since the night he’d seen her in that costume, looking sweet and sexy as all hell, he’d imagined. A lot.

The woman was a mystery. Talked like class, dressed up like Poison Ivy, and lived in a goddammed pink trailer.

He straightened in his seat when Shay’s door swung open, and the woman in question stepped out. Her hair was up in one of those messy buns, and she was wearing little pale-blue shorts and a tank that clung to her soft, round tits.
Jesus.
Was she wearing her PJs?

Christ, she was.

He wanted to go to her, pull her inside and peel those innocent-looking articles of clothing from her lush body and corrupt her every way he could think of.

She walked over to the trailer next to hers, calling something out before opening up without knocking. A few minutes later, she came out with a dog, one of those little rat-looking ones. She clipped on a lead and walked the rodent around a grassy area in the center of the park. The dog sniffed around, took a dump, then Shay picked it back up and went back to her neighbor’s. The door opened, and a frail old woman stood there, arms out for the dog. Shay helped her back inside and shut the door behind them.

Shay was sweet.

The kind of woman who would help an elderly neighbor. The kind who lived in a cute pink trailer and proudly had on display in her living room an entire shelf of ceramic fucking cats. She was not for him. She was naive. Enough that she’d take home a total stranger and trust him with her body. He’d gotten the feeling that was a first for her. She’d been all in, but she’d also been a little hesitant, a little shy. The type of women he usually slept with had the moves, knew what they wanted as much as he did. Shay had lacked skill, but she’d more than made up for it with her enthusiasm. That subtle innocence had been as sexy as hell. Shit, she was the best he’d ever had.

For some reason, he couldn’t drive away. Not until he’d seen her one more time. Thirty minutes passed before she came back out and headed to her own place.

Hugh watched her move, the way her tits and ass swayed as she walked, the way her soft red hair bounced.

“Shit.” He needed to stay away, but he was starting to think that was easier said than done.

Before he changed his mind, he started his truck and pulled out onto the road, cursing himself for being the fool he was the whole way home.

Shay turned her back on the crowded bar and drew in a steadying breath.

Birthday drinks!
How could she have forgotten what today was? She’d walked in to start her shift and nearly turned around and ran back out again. But that wasn’t something she could do, not when she needed the money so badly. Plus, it would put extra pressure on the other waitresses if she left, and that wouldn’t be fair.

She had to deal with it, deal with the fact that right at this very moment, more than half of the TBS Designs staff, including Travis, were laughing and drinking at a table in her section.

Vinnie’s brows lifted as he slid a tray full of drinks her way. “You okay, Shay?”

She wasn’t. Not at all. “I’m…I don’t think I can…”

Amanda dumped her tray on the bar. “That your ex, hon?” She jerked her chin toward TBS’s table.

“Yes. Would you mind…?”

“I’m on it. Let me deal with king douche.”

Some of the tension left Shay’s shoulders when she released a relieved breath. “I owe you.”

Throwing Shay a wink, Amanda headed across the bar to the crowded table and started taking orders. Not everyone who worked at TBS was like their horrid boss, and Shay felt bad for not going over and at least saying hello.

As it turned out, she had an excuse for avoiding them—the place filled fast, and she was nonstop just keeping up with her tables. She was heading back to the bar after delivering a round of drinks when someone grabbed her elbow, pulling her to a stop. Shay spun around and came face to face with Travis.
Wonderful.

“Shay?”

She didn’t bother answering. It was obviously her. And how much of a surprise could it be seeing her here, when he knew damn well this is where she worked. She raised a brow in question, mustering up the same fake attitude she’d used on Hugh the day before, pretending this didn’t affect her, didn’t upset her.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ve missed you around work…I’ve missed
you
.”

Seriously?
“I doubt that very much. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have drinks to deliver.”

He grabbed her arm again. “Please, will you talk to me, let me explain? You won’t answer my calls…”

He called her several times a week, not to mention the continuous texts. He needed to take the hint, already. “There’s nothing to explain. I heard what you said, the way you truly felt…”

“You overreacted, were oversensitive. I was just kidding around, Shay. You know how it is, right?”

No, she didn’t. If you cared about someone, had
real
feelings for that person, you did not ridicule them. You certainly didn’t put them down because you were embarrassed people found out you were seeing them.

“I have to go.” She pulled her arm free and rushed to the bar. He’d seen her, talked to her face to face, heard her tell him she wasn’t interested; maybe now he’d leave her alone. Maybe now he’d stop calling.

The rest of the night was thankfully uneventful. A couple of her old friends from TBS came over to talk to her when she was collecting drinks. Most knew why she’d left her job, and more than a few had heard his hurtful comments and let her know what they thought of him. But he was their boss—that was all the support she could expect, and she appreciated it. But now, she just wanted to put it behind her, all of it.

Three hours later, the place had thinned out, and her feet felt like they had their own heartbeat. She was ready for a hot mug of cocoa followed by bed. Unfortunately, she was still a bus ride away, which sucked, since she needed to be up early to let Edna’s dog Rocky out, followed by a shift at Raggedy Jane’s, then a website design to finish for a client. Thankfully, Jane’s was walking distance and didn’t require public transport.

Shay handed in her tips to be split between the waitresses. The manager divided them up and handed over her share. They’d done well. But she’d need a few more nights like this to cover everything for the month.

She grabbed her jacket from behind the bar, slung her bag over her shoulder and waved goodbye. “Night, Amanda, thanks again for covering my table.”

“Anytime, hon. See you Monday.”

She sucked in the cool night air as soon as she walked through the door. She usually enjoyed her shifts at Woody’s, but tonight, she felt deflated and exhausted. Keeping it together had been harder than she thought. She hadn’t talked to Travis face to face since she walked into his office, told him she’d heard what he’d said, and walked out without giving notice. At the time, she’d believed she’d loved him…that he’d loved her. Idiot.

“Shay, wait.”

She stiffened then turned around. Her ex-boyfriend stood by the door, leaning against the wall.

“What are you still doing here?” she asked.

“I was waiting for you.”

“I don’t know why…”

“You do.”

Travis walked up until she had nowhere to go, the chain-link fence surrounding the parking lot at her back.

“You need to let me explain,” he said.

“I don’t need to do anything.”

“Please, Shay.”

“Why are you doing this?” she whispered.

He blew out a breath. “I made a mistake. I thought…”

“You thought what?” She straightened her spine.

“Look.” He lifted a hand, fingers curling around the fence beside her head. “Don’t take this the wrong way…but you’re just
you
, and I’m the manager of a highly successful business. My family is wealthy, have connections, expect certain things. The woman on my arm needs to
behave
a certain way.”

He dropped his hand to the side of her neck, and she flinched at his touch, the way it made her skin crawl.

“Shay, that woman needs to
look
a certain way.”

“Travis…”

“I mean I love the curves. I do. You know that.”

His gaze did a sweep of her body, and she inwardly cringed at the bulge at the front of his trousers.
Gross
.

“I’ve missed the curves a lot, darling. All I’m asking is that you lose a few pounds. I don’t know. Maybe get a makeover? Get your hair and make-up done by a professional. Get someone to help you out with your clothes? What we had was special. I want it back.” He smiled down at her, eyes softening, as if his words would have her jumping for joy. “It’s not much to ask to get us back, don’t you think? I want you back, Shay.”

Stunned, she stood there for several seconds, trying to get her thoughts together, her feelings over his messed-up, highly arrogant declaration. In the end, all she could come up with was, “Wow.”

His smile grew wider. “I know. I’ve surprised you. I mean, we’ll have to keep our relationship quiet until we have you looking your best, but I think—”

“Travis…”

“You’ll be more than acceptable after you’ve dropped a little weight, done something with that hair, maybe dye it? Lose the red; it’s kind of, well, it’s red…”

“Travis.”

She said his name with more force, and he finally shut up.

“No.”

His brow scrunched. “No?”

She shook her head. “No. I won’t be going on some crash diet, and I sure as hell won’t be dying my hair. My hair is the same color as my grandmother’s was. I like my hair, and I like my life.”

“Darling…”

She shoved his hand away from the side of her neck. “Why you think I’d be jumping for joy over your offer, I have no idea; maybe you’re delusional? Even if you wanted me back the way I am, I would tell you to take a flying leap. You want me but only if I’m someone else. You mocked me to your friends, to cover your embarrassment when they found out you were seeing me. Like I was some charity case. Like I was some pity fuck.”

He flinched. “Shay.” This time his voice was sharp, reprimanding. Travis didn’t like it when she cursed, which was why she’d done it.

“Look, Travis, don’t take this the wrong way,” she said, firing his words back at him. “But I could do better. In fact, I have done better.”

His mouth tightened, lips thinning. “Don’t play games with me. I know you haven’t been with anyone else.”

She just smiled.

Travis grabbed her arm. “You haven’t.”

“Walk away, Travis,” she said, yanking her arm free.

He stared at her for several seconds, face red with anger, then finally he spun on his dress shoes and stormed off across the parking lot. She slumped against the fence, getting her emotions, her heart-rate back under control, then pushed off and started toward the street before she missed her bus. He wasn’t worth the slice of pain his words had caused. He wasn’t. He never had been.

“Shay?”

She jumped at the deep, rumbling voice coming through the darkness. Then he stepped forward, big body moving out of the shadows.

Hugh
.

“Who was that? You okay?”

Her gaze moved over him, ate him up. “What are you doing here?”

“I was working late; thought I’d stop by.”

She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “But your garage is twenty minutes away.”

He shrugged. “You gonna tell me who that guy was talking to you?”

“My old boss.”

His brows lowered. “Was he giving you a hard time?”

She hugged herself. “Yeah, but I don’t think he’ll be bothering me anymore.”

His wide shoulders seemed to grow wider, expression going from easy to hard in a split second. “He’s been bothering you?”

“I’m fine, really.”

“Your car here?”

“No, I…”

Closing the gap between them, he planted a hand on her lower back and directed her to his truck. “I’ll drive you home.” He pulled open the passenger door.

“No, I couldn’t…”

“You could.”

It was late. She didn’t want to walk to the bus stop, even though it was only half a block away—and Hugh made her feel…good. Just being around him made her feel good, and she needed that right then.
A solid reason to stay away from him.
Still, when she opened her mouth, instead of declining, she said, “Thank you. That’s really very nice of you.”

For some reason, her statement made him grin. It was highly attractive, but then she lost sight of it because she climbed up, and he shut her in. His smile was gone by the time he got in with her.

A few minutes later, they were on the road, Hugh’s formidable presence filling the cab.

“What was that back there?”

She blew out a breath. Telling him about the most humiliating moment in her life was not something she relished, but she got the feeling he wasn’t in the mood to drop the subject. The determined look in his eyes, not to mention the way the muscle in his jaw jumped every so often, spoke volumes. Why he cared, she had no clue. They’d shared a night, and yes, he’d shown up at her work and offered her a ride for some unknown reason. And okay, she was a little confused about that, since he’d made it clear he didn’t want anything more than casual. They both had. Still, she found herself confiding in him. “That was my ex-boyfriend.”

“You were fucking that guy?”

She ignored the slight growl to his voice and carried on. “We were dating. Well, that’s what I thought, but in reality, I was his dirty little secret.”

She watched his fingers tighten on the steering wheel. “He screwed you over?”

“I, ah…I heard him talking about me, making excuses for seeing me. He said a bunch of things, hurtful things… He was…embarrassed of me.” She glanced over at him. “I was forced to quit my job. I’m a graphic designer, and finding another job doing what I was at TBS is proving difficult.” She motioned to her Woody’s shirt. “Which is why I work three jobs.”

“What did he want just now?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “He told me he’d take me back.”

“What?” Okay, now his voice was all growl.

She wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to stop the nausea caused by just thinking about Travis’s words. “Yes, and all I have to do for the pleasure is lose weight, change my clothes, my make-up, and dye my hair a different color.”

Hugh was silent, so she kept talking. “But there’s another condition on top of all of that…we have to keep our relationship a secret until I look…” She lifted her hands, doing air quotes. “Acceptable.”

“Motherfucker,” he finally said, quiet fury radiating from his deep voice.

A sudden rush of emotion rose up from nowhere. Hearing it out loud, that she wasn’t good enough, hit hard. Why, she didn’t know. She’d heard the words before, many times, and not just from Travis. Her mother had said the same on numerous occasions. She turned away as hot tears suddenly filled her eyes, ran down her cheeks.

“Babe?” Hugh reached out, took her chin between his thumb and finger and made her look at him. “That asshole still mean something to you?”

She shook her head. “What? No. God, no. When he touched me my skin crawled. Ignore me, I’m just…”