Page 3 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

My eyes were on her. She had narrow hips but long legs that would easily wrap around me. She walked with a confidence that intrigued me the closer she got. When she reached the bar, she didn’t hesitate. She pulled up a stool next to mine, her posture relaxed yet assertive.

“Buy me a drink?” she asked.

I nodded at Riggs. “Whatever the lady wants.”

She looked at my glass. “I’ll have what he’s having.”

“Nice ink,” I said, nodding at her arm. “Bet you’ve got a few more worth seeing.”

She blinked, caught off guard, then smirked. “Maybe.”

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. “I know a place where you could show me all the ones you’re hiding.”

Her cheeks flushed but she didn’t look away. I took the chance, just to test the waters. I grabbed the back of her head and kissed her. It was forceful with my tongue pushing into her mouth. She immediately gave in, leaning into me and kissing me back.

I pulled back, satisfied with my choice. “Finish your drink,” I said.

She smiled. “You’re bossy.”

“Damn right.”

“Hey,” her boyfriend snapped as he approached us. “She’s with me.”

I barely glanced at him. “Not anymore.”

His hand clenched into a fist. I slid off my stool and squared off against him. I was six two slouching. I glared down at him. He wasn’t even six feet tall.

“Fucking slut, have her,” he hissed and walked away.

I knew she would fuck me tonight and go crawling back to him in the morning. He seemed like a big enough bitch to take her back. Enjoy the taste of my dick on her lips.

She took a sip of her whiskey and looked at me. “Do you always pick up women with other men?”

I shrugged. “If it’s the woman I want, I don’t give a shit who she’s with. Not my fault if a guy isn’t man enough to keep his woman.”

There was a hint of challenge in her eyes. “And what makes you think I’m the type of woman who would just go home with a guy she just met?”

I leaned back against the bar. “You kissed me back,” I said simply, as if that explained everything.

“Maybe I was just curious to see if you lived up to your reputation.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And do I?”

“We’ll see.” She downed her whiskey and looked at me. “We doing this or what?”

I threw some cash on the bar and handed her my helmet. I could feel every eye in the bar on us, the weight of their judgment thick in the air.

They were just jealous.

Because tonight, like every other night, I would get what I wanted. And the rest of the world could go to hell.

2

MERRITT

Iran my fingers under the edge of the doormat, feeling around for a key that I was half certain wouldn’t be there. Nothing. I sighed, stepping back and surveying the front of the house.

The place had fallen apart more than I had let myself admit. The shutters were missing on half the windows, the other half hanging crooked. The grass was dead. The flower beds that used to be so pretty and vibrant were filled with dead weeds that had succumbed to the chill of winter. The porch steps creaked ominously under my weight. I could see a hole big enough for a raccoon to crawl through. Dad would’ve hated it looking like this.