Paradise City: Harrison Series Book 1 Read online

  “That was a great move, but you’re a bad learner,” I said in little more than a whisper as we heaved breath against each other.

  His platinum hair was backlit into a yellow glow and his eyes turned from mischievous to a dark shade of blue, his smile melting as his head lowered slowly toward mine.

  I froze just then, feeling his warm breath on my mouth before his lips press firmly against mine. My eyes shut hard and I tried not to have a heart attack at the thought of this attractive guy kissing me. Instead I opened my lips to accept it.

  His body pressed more firmly against mine as the kiss opened and after a moment the tips of our tongues touched provocatively.

  My breath was gone. But not for the reason you’d think. I began to giggle and he pulled away just enough to look into my eyes. Probably wondering why in the hell I’d be laughing after a kiss like that.

  “You sat me on my bubble tea,” I whispered.

  It took a second before the fog in his eyes lifted and I saw my words register.

  “I what?” he asked, backing off me, pulling me up to a sitting position on the hood.

  We looked behind me and there was my crushed cup, sweet milky tea and tapioca balls all smooshed into the black paint. I broke into a raucous laugh and he followed, his hip leaning on the front bumper.

  “I’m sorry,” I said through gasps.

  Tyler just shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to cut off the rest of his laughs.

  “It was totally worth it,” he said finally, his grin beaming as he turned to me.

  “What are we going to do? I don’t want it to ruin your paint,” I told him, trying to wipe off the little starch balls.

  He pushed off from against the bumper and grabbed the white t-shirt behind his head and pulled it off before trying to wipe off the mess.

  There wasn’t a warning though, and I was brain dead by the vision assaulting me. His golden skin was like the Sun God himself. And God help me, the muscles rippling underneath that tan was infuriating perfection. For a second I just wished that he was shorter than his 6’2” and so white he was skin was basically see-through with zits and glasses. That’d help my self esteem a lot. But he was not accommodating.

  “This is going to need a wash,” he said, shaking me out of my blatant staring.

  Blessedly it was before he noticed I was being a perv.

  After shaking out the shirt he sniffed it then opened the door and threw it in on the floor before rummaging through his gym bag. It took him a good 90 seconds before pulling out a white cotton-ribbed sleeveless undershirt. He pulled it on and turned to me.

  “Want to go with me to get it washed?” he asked me.

  “Sure,” I shrugged. “I suppose it’s my fault anyway. I didn’t want to finish it.”

  “Not a fan huh?” he commented as he waited for me to get in.

  I wound my way around the car before he stopped me.

  “Hold on,” He brushed at my back for a moment before clucking his tongue and digging into the bag again.

  He held up another white sleeveless undershirt with an apologetic face.

  “I should apologize for getting a little over excited, but I’m not sorry,” he told me as I took the shirt from him.

  “Neither am I,” I said quietly before turning my back and stripping the tank top off and replacing it with the undershirt.

  My bra was a little wet with the tea, but I wasn’t about to take that off in his vicinity.

  When I turned around again Tyler was chewing his lower lip, his eyes roaming me again before he turned quickly and opened the side door wider for me to get in.

  I settled into the seat as he closed the door and jogged around to the driver’s side. He started the engine with a purr and drove us out of the parking lot to a car wash at an unfamiliar destination. When he pulled into a self-serve, I was a little confused.

  “Why not use an automatic car wash?” I asked him as we got out.

  “I don’t trust those high powered brushed on this paint and trim,” he said before digging a 5 dollar bill out of his wallet “Want to get the quarters?”

  I nodded and found my way to the cash exchange machine. After getting a large handful of quarters I returned and Tyler took a few before starting the soap brush. He scrubbed at the sugary mess on the hood for a minute before moving on to the rest of the car.

  “Why not?” he shrugged with a half smile while he soaped up the top and rear end.

  I laughed and watched until he asked me to get the washer hose. I sprayed it over the top to get the suds, but instead it flew over and drenched Tyler. He shrieked and laughed before slowly making his way around the car with a determined look on his face.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” he said, one corner of his mouth turned up, his eyes slitted in mischief.

  “It was an accident!” I squeaked.

  He grabbed me around the waist forcefully, soaking the front of my shirt and bra with his wet tank before dipping his head toward mine again.

  My brain was so muddled that I didn’t notice the moment when he stole the spray hose from me, just when he got his face so close to mine our noses touched before saying, “Oops.”

  He sprayed me down; my shirt clung to wet skin and my shorts turned a deeper shade of blue.

  “Jerk!” I shrieked again and tried yanking the hose away from him.

  Between laughs and tugs we fought it out before he dropped it and tugged me close to him before drowning me in another kiss. This time I didn’t go through shock and was able to kiss him back, snaking my arms around his neck and digging my fingers through the back of his hair.

  His hands drifted down my waist and hips, then his fingers dug into my hips as he pulled me closer, slipping his hands into my back pockets and squeezing, keeping me close.

  Breath was so hard to keep in my lungs while we exchanged the kiss. Tongues shyly meeting each other and lips bruised with eagerness.

  When we finally parted, Tyler took a deep breath before saying, “Damn”

  I looked up at him through my eyelashes, suddenly feeling shy and girlish.

  “I know we just met, but I seriously like you,” he told me, his hands pulling out of my pockets and settling on my hips again.

  “I feel the same way,” I confessed. “And believe me, I don’t open up to people easily or quickly like I have to you.”

  “Me either...”

  We stared at each other a moment longer before he changed the subject.

  “You think any more about what I told you at the gym?”

  “Huh?”

  “About the nationals championship,” he specified.

  “No, I’ve been otherwise occupied,” I said, giving him a quirky scowl.

  “Let’s go together,” he said, running his thumb down the curve of my hip. “I’ll drive and you can keep me company.”

  “Oh, I don’t know if my Dad would let me…”

  “I can meet him, if that’d help. It’d just be the drive up through friday night and then the drive back down saturday night. I’ll stock up on Red Bulls.”

  I smiled for him before shrugging.

  “I’ll ask him.”

  “And maybe we can practice that a little more between games,” he said, that grin returning to his face.

  I chuckled with my own grin before Tyler dipped and picked the washer hose off the ground to finish what we’d started. I stood back and watched. His arms flexed with the occasional tug on the hose and those back muscles shifted with the shirt as if it wasn’t even there. And his pecs, though not big enough to be mistaken as boobs, were prominent; with little brown nipples poking through the fabric. I could feel my lady bits tingle as I remembered the way he possessed me when he kissed me. There was no question of his desire, and though I’d just met him that afternoon, I felt like I knew him. His eyes were honest and his smile was quick. And even though he was charming, it wasn’t in a polished way like I’d imagine a rich boy to be. He was charming in a real,
boyish, down to earth way and that drew me like a bee to honey.

  When he put the hose back on the stand he came around the car again to open my door. I slid in and closed the door while he got in next to me.

  “Shall we drive?” He asked. “I need to dry this thing off somehow.”

  I just nodded at him and we pulled out. The drive was quiet besides the sound of the air conditioner blowing. It was actually really sweet that we could just sit and not speak. That silence wasn’t uncomfortable or awkward like it’d been with all the others I’d dated in high school. Not that there’d been a large host of guys that’d asked me out, but I’d had a couple of boyfriends. One I thought would be my lifetime companion until he cheated on me. He was the one I’d given my virginity to and I wished like hell that I could take it back. He didn’t deserve it. He was also the only guy I’d ever had sex with. It had been so painful and awkward that I’d been in no rush to repeat the experience.

  I’d kissed a few guys in my time though, and Tyler was the most possessive, but gentle and attentive partner I’d ever had. He took my cues for air and didn’t push my head back and strain it like guys tended to do.

  When the sun had sunk behind the dirt hills they called mountains in Vegas, Tyler sighed and commented, “Guess I should bring you back now.”

  I nodded, but felt that same feeling of trepidation. I didn’t want the day to end, though I knew Dad was probably worried that I’d not thought to text him and let him know where I was. When we pulled up to my car at the strip mall where we’d met up, I hesitated before opening the door.

  “Can I have your number?” He asked quickly. “I’d like to be able to contact you without having to get my ass kicked at quarterstaff first.”

  I laughed before holding my hand out for his phone. He stared at my hand blankly for a moment before yanking his phone out of his pocket and handing it to me.

  I put my info in it for him and handed it back. He looked at it, fiddled, then snapped a picture with flash that blinded me.

  “Sorry,” he said with a chuckle.

  “I’m blind!” I complained as I pretended to feel around for the door handle.

  “Well, I couldn’t NOT have a picture of you on the contact,” he explained as he stored the phone in a cup holder.

  “I think I’ll recover,” I said with a sigh before catching his grin in my peripheral.

  “I’ll call you on thursday,” he told me. “The competition is Saturday so we’ll need to leave friday afternoon to get there in time since it’s all the way over in Denver.”

  “Why Denver?” I asked.

  He just shrugged.

  “Well thanks for the drink, Tyler,” I told him as I opened the door.

  “Let me assure you that it was my pleasure.”

  I laughed again and unbuckled my seatbelt before sliding out.

  “Well even if I can’t go, you’ll have to see me again so I can return your shirt.”

  “You can return it right now,” he suggested, that twinkle back in his eyes at the thought.

  “You wish,” I said and closed the door.

  I leaned down and waved through the window before making my way to my car. I got inside and waved again through the window at him, then started my car. He waited until I started pulling forward, then followed me onto the main road. I turned left and watched him turn right going the opposite direction.

  On the drive home I tried to process what’d happened that day. Not only had I won my first bout of quarterstaff, I’d met an awesome guy and had stirring feelings swelling in my stomach.

  By the time I arrived home and saw Dad sitting in front of the TV watching sports as always, I was full on grinning.

  “Bout time you showed up Honey,” Dad said, sitting up in his recliner, shoving the footrest down until it clicked back into place. “Where have you been and why haven’t you been answering your phone?”

  “Huh?” I asked, fumbling for my phone in my pocket. There were no missed calls. I handed it to him and said, “I never got a call from you.”

  “What?” He asked and pulled up my call log. “Hm, that’s strange. I called you five times.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry Dad, I should have let you know where I was. I met someone at the quarterstaff game today and we hung out this afternoon. That’s all.”

  “A boy?” He asked, one bushy eyebrow raising as he settled himself back on his recliner, pulling the lever for the footrest to pop back out.

  “Yes a boy,” I rolled my eyes with a grin.

  “Well you’re not a child anymore, but you’re still my baby, Sam,” he said and muted the TV. “I don’t know if I like you hanging out with a boy I don’t know.”

  “I’ve always gotten along with boys better than girls,” I reminded him “That’s why Conner and I were inseparable.”

  “But he was a good boy with good folks. I knew you’d be safe with him and safe at his house. I don’t know anything about this new boy.”

  “Well, we’re going to drive to the national competition together on Friday,” I approached carefully. “So, you’ll get a chance to meet him.”

  “And where is it? How long will you be gone?”

  “It’s in Denver on Saturday morning. We’ll drive there Friday night and get home Saturday night.”

  “You’ll be spending the night with him?”

  Dad just about busted a vein in his forehead.

  “We’ll be driving. Nothing can happen while we’re driving Dad.”

  “I don’t like it,” he said, crossing his strong arms.

  “It’ll be fine. I’ve just spent hours with him. He’s harmless, I promise.”

  “Yeah that’s the problem,” he said, his bushy eyebrows twitching again. “You think he’s harmless as a puppy but he’s still a man and no man is harmless to a woman.”

  I rolled my eyes again with an adoring smile. I loved how my dad worried over me and loved me enough to say things like that.

  “Probably just waiting to get you alone again,” he mumbled as he turned on the volume again.

  “Love you Dad,” I told him, kissing his cheek before heading to my room and changing into my pajamas.

  Chapter 3

  Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty torturous. I couldn’t stop thinking about Tyler. And Thursday was the worst because I was waiting for him to contact me. Every time my phone rang or I got a text I jumped and was disappointed. It wasn’t until after Dad and I had eaten dinner that my phone dinged and it was an unknown number.

  -Couldn’t wait any longer to talk to you. We on for Friday?

  I sighed in relief then immediately saved his number on my phone under ‘Tyler Hotstuff’.

  -Wasn’t easy but Dad’s on board. Can’t wait for the competition.

  I was such a liar. I couldn’t care less about the competition. I couldn’t wait to have 24 hours all to myself with him.

  -Me either. Pick you up at 2pm. Address?

  I preceded to give him my address and felt my heart beating in my chest with excitement.

  I ran to my room immediately to pick out a couple changes of clothes. One to wear when he picked me up and one to wear after the competition.

  My phone dinged again.

  -You been thinking about me as much as I’ve been thinking about you?

  I grinned.

  -That depends on how much you’ve been thinking about me.

  -Nonstop since Monday night. Wow I feel like such a dork.

  -Don’t. Otherwise I’ll have to feel like a dork too and I don’t want to.

  -Can’t wait to see you.

  -Me either. Seems weird that we just met a few days ago. I feel like I’ve known you forever.

  -Ditto, It’s really weird. But in a good way.

  -Oh good, I’m glad it’s in a good way.

  -LOL! ;P

  I smiled like an idiot at the phone as if it’d magically make Tyler appear in front of me, but for a moment I was really glad it couldn’t. I was in no shape to see his hotness.
I’d just gotten out of the shower after dinner so my hair was wet and I was in a pair of old Hello Kitty pajama pants and baggy t-shirt.

  Another Ding.

  -Sitting in the office right now trying not to cry of boredom.

  -What’re you up to?

  -Paperwork.

  -Save some for me!

  -LOL deal!

  -What kind of paperwork?

  -Just the boring reservations and stuff. Nothing exciting jumping off the pages unfortunately.

  -Too bad.

  -What’re you up to?

  -Just hanging out. Had dinner, took a shower. Nothing exciting here either.

  -I beg to differ. I’d be all kinds of excited if I were there.

  -Haha you’re terrible. I’ll make sure my Dad doesn’t see this. He thinks you’re a horndog as it is and he doesn’t even know you.

  -Fair assessment.

  I rolled my eyes at that. Another ding.

  -JK JK JK. Sort of.

  He wrote again quickly

  -So you’re not a horndog?

  -Not usually. But then again I’m not myself when it comes to you.

  -Oh great, so you’re just horny around me. Got it.

  -Take it as a compliment.

  -I do. But now I can’t trust you.

  -What do you mean?

  -I mean I can’t trust a horny just-older-than-a-teenager, boy.

  -Ouch

  -You deserve it.

  -I know. I totally do. I tease you too much.

  -I don’t mind. :D

  -I mind. When you tease ME that is…

  -I don’t tease you.

  -HA! sure you don’t.

  -What? I don’t tease you.

  -OK, you just keep believing that. Good for you.

  -Whatever.

  -Thank you for the laugh.

  -Suck a lemon.

  -Lololol

  There was a pause in the conversation after that. I got on my computer to check my email and see if I had any IMs to answer. About 15 minutes later my phone dinged again.

  -Sorry, my dad came in to check on me. I hadn’t gotten much done.

  -My bad. I’ll stop distracting you.