Chapter 4
I'm sure Iza thinks I'm crazy. I paused at the auditorium door, took a deep breath, then opened the door. Iza sat in our usual spot. She waved to me. I figured she would give me my bookbag and tell me she'd find another study partner. Who'd want to work with an insane girl, who might take off at any moment? Instead, she pointed to the seat next to her and motioned for me to sit.
"I didn't mean to upset you yesterday. I shouldn't have asked. Forgive me?" She smiled.
She was asking me to forgive her? I'd behaved like a mental patient, and she was apologizing to me?
"Don't worry about it." I lightly placed my hand on hers. "I'm sorry I ran off like I did."
"It wasn't your fault. I knew better than to ask those questions." She took my hand in hers and squeezed it, briefly. "If you ever need to talk, I'm a good listener."
But for her to listen, I'd have to talk, and that I couldn't do. "I'll remember that."
"It's nice having another girl to talk to. Maybe we could have a girls' night out." She flipped open her calendar and thumbed through the pages. "We could go dress shopping in New Orleans. Two weeks before finals. That's early enough to have dress alterations done before the formal."
She jotted down a note in her calendar.
She was excited to make plans with me, after I'd acted like an asylum patient, so I couldn't say no.
"Ok, but I don't really shop." I didn't have money for frivolous shopping trips.
"No problem. You'll love New Orleans. Have you ever been?"
"No." I'd never been out of the state or to a formal. Formal? My palms began to sweat. "What formal?"
"The winter formal the fourth year students throw every year. We're required to attend."
She clapped her hands together and her eyes sparkled. Her excitement wasn't helping the queasiness in my stomach.
"Is something the matter?" Her eyes engaged mine, urging me to confide in her.
"I've never been to a formal," I whispered, then chewed my lip.
"What about your prom?"
"Skipped it."
She inhaled sharply. "What? Why? They're so much fun. It's like playing dress up again, like when we were kids."
"Never played dress up either."
She frowned, which I'd never seen her do before. "Every child should play dress up."
I sighed. "Orphans experience too much reality to be able to pretend."
"Then it's settled. I promise you'll love dress shopping." She sounded like a teenager who'd been given a credit card and free reign.
I raised one eyebrow at her quizzically, and she grinned in return.
Dr. Nash began exactly where she'd left off the day before, and again, I struggled to scratch down notes.
According to Dr. Nash's end-of-lecture announcement, we wouldn't be permitted in the clinical labs to practice skills until we'd completed our fourth test. So, it was going to be straight lectures for a month and a half. I was thrilled and was certain the entire class felt the same, as groans echoed around the auditorium. Just a couple days of six-hour lectures could slay the healthiest man with tedium, but a solid month and a half should've been considered cruel and unusual punishment.
After class, my brain was fried. Thank God Iza had to hurry off to meet her brothers for an early dinner, because I couldn't endure another minute of studying.
I walked back to the parking garage, where Vin waited on his motorcycle, next to my car. He wore a blue polo shirt, jeans, and his leather jacket. I hadn't expected to see him. Yet, here he was, with a boyish grin and a small lollipop in his hand.
"A little something to sweeten you up."
I sat my bookbag in my car. My hands automatically went to my hips as I turned to him. "I wasn't the only one with a sour disposition yesterday."
"Which is why this one is for me." He produced a huge rainbow-colored swirl lollipop from inside his jacket, which instigated laughter from us both. "I apologize. What can I say? I'm not good at taking no for an answer."
"I'll give you this one reprieve." I grinned, as I unwrapped my small lollipop and stuck it in my mouth. It was blue raspberry, my favorite. I twirled it around, then popped it out of my mouth, not thinking how it might look.
"Hmm. I knew lollipops would make a good apology, but the visual affect is a bonus." A wicked smile appeared on his face.
I ignored him and the weak feeling in my legs. I stuck the lollipop safely back in my mouth, I kept it there.
"So, Red, how about a ride?"
"My answer hasn't changed, but feel free to keep trying."
"I plan to." He handed me his lollipop, winked, then drove off.
His visits after class continued and, each time he brought me a small gift. One day, it was cotton candy, then a donut, or a bubble gum machine ring. The best was the day he rode in with a bunch of Mylar balloons. Twenty of them.
"Well, I guess it's possible to un-cool a motorcycle." I chuckled as he came to a stop.
"Hey, you're always cool when you ride a one of these." He tossed his raven-colored hair out of his eyes and dismounted, handing me the bouquet of red, purple, and silver balloons.
"Not when you're holding some little girls balloons for her." I snickered.
"Think that's funny? I rode a long way holding onto those wind resistant bastards, just to see you smile."
He stood in front of me, ignoring society's rule about personal space. "Now, show me my smile."
I loved his confidence. It made him practically irresistible.
Looking up at him, batting my eyelashes, I displayed my best smile.
He grabbed my chin and kissed me deeply. Odd muscles in my belly contracted, as butterflies crashed and dived around my stomach. I let go of the balloons, my arms wrapping around his neck. What was I doing?
The kiss was better than the ones in my dream.
Even after our lips parted, I felt wobbly, and I was forced to hold onto him.
"Take me for a ride," I whispered. I needed to sit before my legs gave out.
His sexy smile widened. "Baby, I'd love to, but I have some place to be. I wasn't expecting you to give in today. Tomorrow?"
"Three pm tomorrow. I'll meet you here." My hands slid down, resting on his shoulders. His muscles felt hard as stone under the leather of his jacket.
He tucked a stray sprig of unruly hair behind my right ear. "Try not to miss me too much."
I knew I was getting involved with trouble, but what a well-packaged bunch of trouble he was. The epitome of a bad boy—it rolled off him in radioactive waves. I didn't care. If he were the road to hell, I'd gladly travel it without much hesitation.
As requested, he was in the garage after lecture the next day, with a white Gerber daisy. He looked amazing, dressed all in black. His clinging T-shirt was more titillating now that I'd felt his arms' hard muscles. He flaunted a cocky grin, then glanced at Iza, who stood beside me. His smile vanished.
Iza's face blanched, as she stepped in front of me and turned her back on Vin. "Lexi, is he who you have plans with?"
"Yeah. His name is—"
"Vin Archer. I know who he is." Her eyebrows pinched together.
"How?" I prayed she wasn't about to tell me they'd dated.
"Our families have an unpleasant history."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't talk about it now." Her eyes became thin slits and a crease appeared across her forehead. She really didn't like him.
"Hey, Red. We going?"
"Yeah." I held up a finger, telling him to give me a minute, but Iza didn't elaborate.
"Izabell, how are you?" His smile was sweet as he directed it at her.
"I'd be better if you fell over dead, but not all dreams come true."
My mouth dropped. Had she really said that?
He didn't acknowledge her comment, just held out his jacket to me. I took it and slipped it on. The leather felt cool as I pulled my hair out of the collar, and it brushed against my face.
Iza walked up, putting her finger in his face. "Don't you dare hurt my friend."
Tension pulsed in the air. It was almost audible, as it crackled and popped around them.
"She's in no danger, Iza, but your ugly lies might get you into trouble."
They were toe to toe, and neither appeared willing to back off.
I raked my hand through my hair. Really? What were the chances they'd know and hate each other? Thanks Fates, you sadistic assholes.
I stepped between them, pushing them apart. "Just stop it. You're acting like two kids fighting over a toy."
"Sorry," they said in unison. Then Iza strode toward her car, shaking her head.
I really wanted to know why they shared such abhorrence for each other, but this wasn't the time. I made a mental note to ask Iza about it later.
Vin took my hand and helped me onto the back of the bike. I wrapped my arms around his waist, sat my chin on his shoulder, and whispered in his ear. "Did you miss me?"
"I dreamt about you. I'd tell you about it, but it might make you blush." He laughed loudly, then jump-started the bike.
"Funny. I didn't dream about you at all."
He looked over his shoulder, the corner of his mouth curling up, and he winked. "I'm going to have to work on that. Now, hang on."
We flew out the garage and down the street. Vin merged onto the highway and, after about ten minutes, took the Rain Tree exit. Soon, we were on a dirt road with pasturelands on both sides and scattered, old, run-down barns with rusted tin roofs.
We had to be doing eighty or more. It felt marvelous. I let go, sticking my arms out while leaning back, like I had before. Clouds flew overhead. As we went down a hill, my stomach dropped, and I giggled uncontrollably. Riding with Vin was becoming one of my favorite activities.
I sat up, wrapping my arms back around him. We passed a sign, which read Rain Tree five miles. I'd never been to Rain Tree.
"Vin, where are we going?"
"To my shop. I'm going to introduce you to my friends."
I wanted to see his shop, meet his friends, and discover if there was more to him than good looks and sarcasm.
He pulled into the driveway of an enormous, blue metal building with two garage doors. One door was open and two guys sat near a red motorcycle. Vin cut the engine, dismounted, then helped me off the bike.
He took my hand, brought it up to his lips, and kissed my knuckles. My breath caught as I remembered our first kiss. My lips tingled, and nervous ripples disturbed my calm. I longed to kiss him again, feel his soft lips on mine, his silky tongue caressing the inside of my mouth. The ripples morphed into a tsunami.
As he pulled me toward the garage, he placed his hand around mine, but even it's coolness wasn't enough to restore my calm. I breathed in deeply, then slowly let it out.
"Guys, this is Lexi." Vin smiled at me. "This is Jaxon."
A stocky guy knelt near the motorcycle, which was in pieces on the ground. "Hello little lamb."
"Hi." I inched closer to Vin, and he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.
Jaxon's hair was black as tar, his eyes a bright blue-green. He was nice looking, but there was something about him, something I couldn't put my finger on. Like, I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.
"The one sitting on the chair is Ash." Vin gestured to a tall, lanky, russet haired guy with some kind of engine part in his hand and a tool in the other. His complexion was pale, and his hazel eyes appeared to change colors, from green to brown.
"I didn't know you were bringing company today. A warning would've been nice." Jaxon flung a tool into the nearby toolbox.
The loud bang made me jump. I stared at the floor, my stomach in knots. Am I intruding?
Vin's thumb stroked the back of my hand, as he shot a warning look at Jaxon, as if telling him to mind his manners. "I brought her to see the shop and meet my friends. Have you seen them? Because my friends wouldn't act like assholes?"
"If I see them, I'll let you know." Jaxon took a wrench and turned a bolt on the engine, removing another part from the bike. He and Vin glared at each other for a moment.
A slender girl sauntered into the room. Vin introduced her as Rhea. The way she moved, fluid and sultry, on the balls of her bare feet, was exquisite. Her shoulder length hair, hung in perfect spiral curls and framed her impeccably shaped face, making her amber-colored eyes more prominent. Her skin was luminescent in its flawlessness. "Are you two boys fighting again?"
Her long legs, moving with more grace and more finesse than those of a cat walking a ridgepole, carried her to Jaxon. She stroked one of his sideburns with the tips of her nails and he leaned into her touch. "No one is fighting. Vin is giving me a lesson in manners."
Without even looking at the trashcan, Ash flung a broken bolt into it. "You're going to be a doctor?"
"Um… Yeah."
"So, how'd you meet Vin? Lexi, is it?" Rhea sat in a camping chair next to Jaxon.
"I rescued her from a rainstorm." Vin winked at me.
I was relieved he'd left out that I'd been crying like a child.
A metallic screech filled the garage. I cringed. The sound was worse than nails on a chalkboard.
"You're going to break that if you keep turning the screw so hard, you dumbass." Jaxon pointed his finger at Ash, who ignored him.
Metal squealed again as the screw stripped out.
Rhea grabbed Jaxon's chin, turning his face toward her, and kissed the corner of his mouth. "Baby, let him tear it up. Then he can stay and fix it."
"No, he'll leave it for me to fix like he always does. Idiot child."
All the guys appeared to be around the same age, which made Jaxon's curse odd.
"You listen here old man. I'll fix this damn part however I want. You don't like it? Well, I don't give a shit."
Old man? Weird. I scratched my temple.
Jaxon threw his wrench at Ash's head. Ash caught it without difficulty and threw it back. Jaxon moved to catch it, but Rhea's hand shot out catching it first.
Man, they all had great hand-eye coordination.
"Come on." Vin led me out the back of the garage, as tools continued to fly.
A wooden, homemade swing hung from an immense oak tree. I sat on it, my hands wrapping around the chains.
Vin put his hands on my shoulders and gently pushed. "I know they're rough, but those guys are family."
I didn't say anything. How could I tell him I really didn't like his friends? They hadn't seemed too fond of me either. Would it have mattered to him?
I'd never done this before. I'd only dated one guy in high school, and his friends were my friends. So I didn't know what the protocol was for my situation.
It's probably better if I just keep it to myself. Besides, I'm dating him, not his friends. Right?
A strong arm caught me around the waist, freezing me in midair. Lips grazed my neck and I gasped, my hands locking onto Vin's arm. His touch did things to me, things with which I wasn't familiar. My pulse quickened, my breathing increased, and I desperately wanted to turn and kiss him.
He released me and eased the swing down until I sat level. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing really."
He moved in front of me and placed a finger under my chin, tilting my head up. "I don't believe you."
"Stop being so perceptive." I took his hand and intertwined my fingers in his.
He'd told me his friends were like his adoptive family, but what about his real family? Did he have siblings? He wouldn't talk about it. All he'd say was that his family was the definition of dysfunctional.
Maybe his father was abusive and Vin left. Maybe he felt guilty for leaving his siblings, if he had any.
"If you're worried about them, don't be. They'll warm up to you." He moved back behind me and pushed me again. "You've met my family. Tell me about yours."
Maybe if I talk about my family, he'll talk about his real family.
I had to be careful though. If I let this go too far I'd be in tears again. Vin seeing me cry once was enough.
"It's just my brother and me. He's the oldest."
"And your parents?"
I tightened my grip on the swing chains and adjusted my seat. Why did he have to ask that question?
A quick answer was best.
"They're dead." I clenched my jaw, my lips making a straight line. Hopefully, he wouldn't ask the question most people asked next. What happened?
"I'm sorry."
He didn't, and I was grateful. I glanced down at my wrist and realized I'd forgotten my watch. "What time is it? I have to meet Iza at my house at four thirty."
"You could blow her off." His smile was playful, but I was sure he meant it.
"That wouldn't be very polite of me. We have studying to do."
"Fine. I'll take you back." We made a pass through the garage so I could say good-bye to his friends, but they seemed completely disinterested.
"So can we ride again tomorrow?" We stood next to my car. Vin held my hands and gazed into my eyes. His lips were so close, only inches from mine. My stomach was doing flips, and my temperature rose ten degrees. If I leaned forward just a bit more, we could kiss.
As if he'd read my mind, Vin closed the short distance between us. His lips were cool, like his hands, and his tongue was velvety. He kissed me slowly, his hand cupping my face before sliding behind my neck. My thoughts blurred together into senseless images.
He stopped and stared at me.
Had I done something wrong? My body tensed. I didn't like him looking at me so closely. My flaws were too visible. "Was that ok?"
His eyebrows pinched together for a second, then he smiled. "Horrible. I don't think I've ever had worse."
I shoved him, playfully, but he didn't budge. My grin threatened to split my face in two. "That bad huh?"
"Monstrously bad." He quickly kissed me again. "I'll pick you up early tomorrow. There's something I want to show you."
"What?"
His hand pressed against my cheek, his thumb rubbing across my lips. "Wait and see."
I grabbed him around the neck and kissed him, tracing his lips with my tongue. Then I gently bit his bottom lip.
A low rumbling sound came from his throat, and he pushed me back, holding me at arm's length. "We're biting now?"
"Hmm." He drew me to him, then kissed down my neck to the hollow. He licked then lightly bit me back.
Sparks of pleasure shot out to every nerve ending in my body. I giggled at the prickly sensation. He nipped a second time. I was lightheaded, falling. He held me up.
He licked the hollow of my neck again, then pulled away. My head was swimming, my thoughts foggy.
"What was that?" My words came out slurred, and I couldn't focus my eyes.
"I call it kissing." With one hand, he wiped his mouth. The other still held me upright. "You know, when two people who are attracted to each other put their lips together and—
"Smart-ass."
"At your service." He dipped his head as if tipping a top hat.
"Well, I wasn't counting on the lightheaded feeling that came with it." I backed away to walk to my car, but instead, I stumbled and fell. Vin caught me before I hit the concrete. He was remarkably quick, covering the distance in an instant. He took the keys from my hand and unlocked the car door, helping me into the front seat.
"I've been told I have this affect on girls." His laugh was haughty.
I smacked at his arm, but my aim was wide. My vision was blurry. Maybe my blood sugar is low? It'd been a while since I'd eaten, and low blood sugar could cause someone to pass out.
"Vin, there's a granola bar in my bookbag. Would you get it for me?"
He disappeared to the back of the car and reappeared with the granola bar. I opened it, took a bite, then another. He produced my water bottle, and I drank like I'd been out in the desert all day.
After finishing my snack, the dizziness dissipated, the blurred vision cleared, and I was able to smack Vin properly. "Look what you did."
"You started that. I can't help that my skills are more potent with you." A mischievous light flickered in his eyes. I'd started it, but he'd certainly finished it.
"You good to drive?" He brushed a stray piece of hair out of my eyes.
"Yeah. Better now."
"All right. See you tomorrow." He handed me back my keys and shut the car door.
Damn. Mr. Experienced might be more than I can handle. I cranked the car. Guess I'll find out the hard way.