Charmed (23 Strokes Series Book 1) Read online

  She finally gives up the struggle and a huge sigh escapes her lips. “Evan, this was a mistake. Let me go.” It’s a punch to my heart but she’s lying. It’s written all over that pretty little face.

  I lean over her again. “This was no mistake. You want me just as much as I want you.”

  She starts struggling again, belting out a loud, “Nooo.”

  I stand up, freeing her. Last thing I need is someone running in here getting the wrong impression. But she does want me and I will have her. “Oh, you want me, Wildfire. At lease admit that to yourself, because this,” my hand gesturing between us, “was never a mistake and I will have you again.”

  “You’ve never had me, Evan,” she spits out. She stands to face me, defiance in her eyes.

  I grab her arms, turning us as I push her back against the door. “Oh, I’ve had you, Wildfire. I had you in that stock room pinned against the wall, leg over my waist. I had you leaned over that bar screaming my name. I had you in the alley outside begging me to give it to you harder.” She stands still, watching me, her breathing picking up and her eyes starting to gain fire.

  I slow down my words, whispering into her ear, “I’ve had you here.” I put my hand between her legs again, moving two fingers back and forth, lightly pressing into to her. “And I’ve had you here.” I bite her bottom lip then place a soft kiss on her mouth. She moans and right when I think I’ve got her again, some cock-blocking fucker knocks on the door.

  “Is everything ok in there?”

  Wildfire tenses but I continue playing with her body, kissing down her neck, inhaling her intoxicating vanilla scent. She isn’t speaking up so I reply, “Yes, Tall Girl, everything is fine.”

  “Kimber, are you ok?” she questions again.

  “Tall Girl, walk away right now,” I order, trying to hide any anger. I need to get her out of here before…too late. Wildfire is pushing against my chest hard and I have no choice but to step back. She starts buttoning her jeans and straightening out her top and hair.

  I’m doing nothing to hide the bulge in my pants, watching the flush on my Wildfire’s cheeks. I want it seared into my memory. She turns around and opens the door. Tall Girl is looking back and forth between us, a knowing grin growing on her face.

  “Yes, everything is fine. I was just showing Evan my office and well, he’s seen it, so now we are going home. I mean, I’m going home. Evan is going wherever. We are definitely not going to my home together.” She looks like a kid that got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. My dick stirs again, thinking about where I just had my hand.

  Tall Girl is shaking her head. “Sure, Kimber, ok. You get on home without Evan.” Wildfire steps around her and hurries out of the office.

  Tall Girl gets up in my personal space before I can go after Wildfire, poking a finger into my chest. “Ok, Evan, what in the hell are you doing here and don’t bullshit me.”

  “What did she mean, her office? Is she the manager or something?” I ask, ignoring the question.

  “You didn’t answer my question, Evan. Why are you back after all this time, pulling this shit. Haven’t you done enough?” she asks, but I didn’t do enough last time and that’s exactly why I’m here.

  I pinch the space between my eyes. “Tall Girl, I am here because I love her. I’ve always loved her.”

  “I don’t believe that for one second, Evan Stone. I saw you having sex with those girls not one week after leaving her. Hell, every time I came out you had some groupie attached to your dick. A man who loves a woman does not do that.”

  “What?” What in the hell is she talking about? She never came to see us. She must see the confusion on my face because hers has turned from anger to pity.

  “You don’t remember, do you? Can’t say I’m surprised.”

  Shit. Here we go. “No, Tall Girl, I don’t remember and I’m not going to stand here and explain my life to you.”

  “Well, you better do a better job of explaining it to her, because if you hurt her in any way, I will be making you a tall girl. Ya’ get me.”

  I laugh loud, noticing that Tall Girl is exactly the same too, defending her friends to the end. “Yes, I got you. Now, tell me how this is her office. She told me earlier that Bill and Nancy sold this place. I’m surprised to see her here. You too, for that matter.”

  “She told you they sold it?”

  “Well, I wanted to talk to them and she said they didn’t own it anymore.”

  “Hmm…I’m here because Kimber asked me to be here. You need to ask her about everything else.” And with that, she turns and walks away, leaving me wondering what the hell is going on.

  Chapter 12

  Kimber

  I’m pulling up to The Lucky Charm and see Evan leaned up against the wall of the building, head tilted down to his phone. He could have stepped off the cover of World’s Hottest Rockers. His black t-shirt is tight across his muscular chest, setting off the colorful tattoos running down the arms that pinned me against the door last night. His black jeans are loose with beat up converse peeking out from the wide bottom. His black hair is giving off almost a blue hue as the sun shines down on him like a spotlight from heaven. It is covering most of his face with just his lickable lips and chin showing. The tingles are taking over again.

  I do not know what got into me last night, but I was grateful Penny showed up and doused the fire. Ok, I do know what got into me because Evan is right. I want him. I want him like a thirsty man in the desert wants water. But as much as I want him, I can’t give in to him after everything that happened. It was bad enough I let it go as far as I did. So when the opportunity presented itself, I high tailed it out of there as quickly as I could.

  I sat up all night trying to figure out this situation. He says he’s here for me and loves me. Bullshit. I fell for that crap already and it’s not happening again. I park my car and take a deep breath, remembering my game plan.

  So I decided, if I saw him again, my only real course of action would be to play nice. He’ll get bored and move on. I look at my reflection in the mirror. “You can do this.”

  As I’m walking up to him he raises his head and smirks, those greens moving up and down my body sending a wave of heat with every passing. At least I managed to get on a cute t-shirt and dark skinny jeans today, although he didn’t seem to mind the disaster outfit yesterday. It’s really the best I could do with my wardrobe. I need to go shopping. Too bad I hate shopping.

  He starts licking his bottom lip and it’s taking all my strength to not throw myself at him right here, right now, but then I realize what he’s doing. Oh, that bastard. No, I’m playing nice. I put on a sweet smile. “Evan, what are you doing here? Didn’t have a bus to catch out of town?” Dammit.

  “Why, no, Wildfire, I didn’t,” he responds, kissing my cheek. “Hello to you too.”

  I smile and shake my head. “It’s Kimber. Sorry, this blast from the past showed up yesterday and has my mean streak front and center. Hello, Evan.”

  “Oh really,” he replies. “Need me to kick someone’s ass for you?”

  “No, he won’t be staying long. I should be fine, but how sweet of you to offer.”

  I scoot around him and unlock the front door. I step inside and have deja vu as he follows me in. We were inseparable those three months we were together and spent a majority of that time right here in this bar.

  This time when I scan the room I see his ghost everywhere, even though he is standing right beside me. On the stage. Sitting at the bar. Mopping the floor for me so I could get off early. I shake my head out, but the ghosts are still there.

  “I don’t know. Sometimes when the past catches up to you, it stays caught up, Wildfire.”

  “Kimber, you mean,” I reply and he follows me back to the office. My cheeks redden as I think back to last night. I’m going to have to build myself a new office if I’m ever going to get any work done again.

  I sit down at my desk and gesture for him to have a seat in the chair that
is knocked over on the floor. I don’t remember that even happening. He sets it upright with a smug expression on his face.

  As he sits, stretching his legs out in front of him, ankles crossed, I lean forward and place my hands together, resting my chin on my fingertips. “So, what have you been up to all these years, Evan?”

  He raises his eyebrow but smiles. “Oh, you know, a little of this and a little of that. Nothing too interesting, really. You?”

  “About the same. You plan to see the sights on your visit?”

  “I’ve already seen the only sight worth seeing in Mills Point, but since I’m home now, I’m sure I’ll be checking out the old hangouts.”

  I suck in a breath. “I’m sorry, I must have heard you wrong. This is not your home. You live in California.” I start shuffling paper around on my desk but keep on, “Or so I heard.” Dear Lord, please do not let Evan move back here.

  “I may have a place in LA, but this is my home. Make no mistake about that,” he states with resolution and we have a semi stare off.

  He starts again, “So, are we going to keep playing this little game or can we have an actual conversation?”

  Rolling my eyes, I answer, “Fine. The sooner you say what you came here to say the sooner you’ll be out of my hair. So talk.”

  “Wildfire, I’m not going anywhere. I meant it when I said I came here for you. I meant it when I told you I loved you. I want us together. As in, happily ever after, together.”

  He says it calm, like he’s handling a business transaction, but the intensity in his face is unmistakable.

  Oh my gosh. He is completely serious right now. He really came here thinking he could tell me he wants and loves me and we would end up together. He must have done too many drugs because that is never going to happen. I admit, I would have slept with him had Penny not interrupted, but sex is sex. I’m not going back to him. Ever.

  “Yeah, that’s not going to happen so you might as well move along. I can print out the bus schedule if you’d like.” I start typing on my computer, searching for the schedule.

  He stands up and begins to pace around the room. He turns to me like he wants to say something a few times but never does. I watch him go around and around, staying silent for a good five minutes.

  He finally sits back down. “No, I’m not accepting that.”

  Yeah, he is completely insane. Should I be worried? Has he missed some medication?

  “No, I haven’t missed any medication. I’ve come to some hard truths over the past year, and one of those is I can’t live my life without you anymore. So here I am.”

  “My hard truth is, what we had was over a long time ago and I have no desire to repeat it,” I respond quickly. I’m trying to look him in the eye, but he has gotten up again and is walking around the room, taking in the bookshelves and wall hangings now. “Did you hear me?” I ask.

  “Yeah, I heard you, Wildfire. I just don’t believe you.”

  “Believe it. Do you seriously think that after all this time you can waltz in here acting as if nothing has happened? That I’m going to change my life for you.”

  “No, I’m not asking you to change your life for me. I’ve decided to change mine for you. For us. It’s what I should have done years ago.”

  “I don’t want you to change your life, Evan. I never wanted you to change anything. Not then and certainly not now.” My voice is slightly elevated as the anger creeps back inside.

  “Oh believe me, you made it perfectly clear what you wanted me to do back then.” Now he looks angry and that pisses me off more.

  “Then why the hell are you here? Why come back here now, stirring up shit that is best left settled?” My voice is getting louder, which is unfortunate because Evan’s eyes are getting lusty. I need to stay calm. That’s the only way to get him to leave.

  “Nothing is settled, Wildfire. I’m here to make this right between us.”

  “You want to make it right?” I can’t help but let out a laugh. “That’s what this boils down too. Poor Evan Stone has a guilty conscience. Guess what? I don’t give a flying fuck.” Yeah, the calm thing is so not happening.

  “I didn’t mean it like that. I...”

  I interrupt him, losing even more control. “How dare you come here trying to get some monkey off your back when you have no idea the hell I’ve been through. The pain you put Mom and Dad through. You think telling me you love me again is going to make up for any of the heartbreak you caused this family. Get the hell out of my bar and take your damn guilt with you. I hope you choke on it.”

  “No. I’m not leaving this time. You think you’re the only one with pain. You don’t think it killed me every day not having my family.” His voice is rising now too.

  “Couldn’t have killed you that much. You chose to not come back,” I belt out.

  “You’re right. I did make that choice, but don’t forget your hand in that. Don’t act like you didn’t start that ball rolling.”

  How dare him! “So it’s my fault. That’s just great, Evan. Blame me for all your life problems. Just go home.”

  “I am home.”

  “I’ll call the police if I have to,” I threaten.

  “Call whoever you want. I’m not leaving this office until this shit is straight between us so we can figure out how to move past it and have our happily ever after.” He sits back down, crossing his arms over his chest, smiling as if he has this won already.

  “You are completely fucking insane. We will never have anything together.”

  “Yes, we will. I’m not letting you do this again.”

  “Not letting me do what again? Throw out the trash?” Evan flinches and I see his confidence waver. That’s what gets to him? That I called him trash. Insane. “I swear, I’m going to call the police if you don’t get the hell out of here.”

  “You know who you should be calling. The parents. Let’s have a big ol’ family reunion and hash it all out. Then maybe we can get back to normal, because these last seven years have been a fucking nightmare and I’m tired of it.”

  My heart drops into my stomach at the mention of my parents. They loved Evan like a son and would have been so happy to see him here again. Healthy and well. They urged me to call him for years, not believing what went down between us. I wouldn’t have believed it either if I hadn’t heard it with my own ears. “His last stand” as my dad called it, was pretty convincing. It fooled me for about two hours until another hard truth showed its ugly head.

  But is he serious? “A fucking nightmare? Are you joking with me right now? You got everything you ever wanted. I’m the one in a nightmare,” I yell out.

  “I didn’t get anywhere close to what I wanted. Call them. Now,” he commands me with a harsh voice.

  “No!” I scream out, but immediately lower my voice as I tell him, “I can’t anyway.”

  “Why? Maybe Nancy will knock some sense into you. Make you realize what you keep throwing away.”

  “I’m not throwing anything away that doesn’t want to be thrown,” I spit out. How can he sit there and act like he isn’t the reason for all of this. Yet, I’m getting a nagging feeling of doubt in my stomach and that’s not good.

  “What the hell does that even mean? Get them down here. Now. I’m sick of this shit.”

  I calm my voice down. “Evan. Listen to me. They won’t be coming down here. They can’t come down here.”

  He is sitting, waiting for me to say something else, but I don’t know what to say. I can’t lie about it. But this isn’t exactly the right time. I keeping holding his eyes and mine begin to water as they always do when I think about them.

  I can see the panic forming across his face as he takes in my tears. “Where are Bill and Nancy?”

  “Evan, I...They...” I can’t get any more words out before tears start streaming down my cheeks. His face changes from panic to fear.

  He gets up and comes over to me, his eyes searching mine for answers. He finds them because my tear-soaked gaze
tells him everything he needs to know, but still he begs, “Wildfire, please tell me they are ok. Please.” It’s a desperate plea and I can see the tears forming in his eyes now.

  “It was a car accident about four years ago. There wasn’t anything anyone could do.” I repeat my standard answer for anyone that asks about my parents.

  My parents were on their way home one night and the car rolled off the road and down the embankment, killing them both instantly. No one knows exactly what caused the accident. There were tire marks on the road and the police said Dad probably tried to stop to avoid an animal and lost control of the car. I’ve never been able to decide if I was happy they didn’t suffer or pissed that a fucking squirrel could have killed them. Depends on the day, I guess.

  “No. That can’t be right. I would have known,” he whispers, pulling me up, grabbing me around my waist, hugging me into him.

  I cry into his chest and feel it hitching as he tries to hold back his own tears. We stand like that for a long time, cradled in each other. Even after our crazy conversation, hell, maybe because of our crazy conversation, it feels so right having him hold me, comforting me. Like I’m right where I belong.

  He finally breaks the silence. “Why didn’t you call me?” I tense up. He pulls back so he can see my face again.

  “Evan, I wanted to tell you but I was twenty-three burying both my parents. The grief was overwhelming, and after everything that happened between us. I don’t know, I just couldn’t.” He’s still staring at me as if he’s waiting for me to say more again. And he deserves more, but I can’t make myself speak.

  I untangle myself from him and sit back down, and it seems Evan isn’t the only one who has guilt because I feel like a complete asshole.

  Truth is, I didn’t want to call him. I was mad at him for leaving, mad at my parents for leaving, mad at the whole world for destroying my life. Penny would ask me every day if I had let any of the band know and I’d either ignore her or take out all my pain on her. She finally stopped asking. By the time I had a handle on my grief, I still couldn’t find it in me to call. I’m not sure if it was pride or pain that kept me from doing what I knew I should do. Both maybe.