I have to do whatever I can to prove to her that she can move on and love someone else—even if that someone else is me.

I know it’s selfish reasoning, like a spoiled child not wanting to share toys, but I never claimed to be a saint. And I can’t deny that I want her. She’s on my mind way too much and it’s driving me crazy. Maybe if I get her to like me enough to sleep with me that feeling will go away.

Not since Jessica, has one woman been on my mind for so long and it’s got me worried. I thought I was in love with her, but she fucked me over and nearly ruined my entire life with her bullshit. I can’t bring myself to trust women again—they can cause insurmountable damage.

The challenge of winning Holly over to spite Jackson is something I have to do. If only for my own selfish pride, I can’t let that douchebag win. Making Holly really like me is going to take more than my normal game. I’m going to have to let down my walls and let her in a little to see that I can actually be a nice guy when I want to be.

HOLLY

I close the front door behind us and lead Trip into the living room. The flat pillows on the couch need a good fluffing to be comfortable, so I pick one up and squeeze and rotate it before tossing it back down. “Lie down here while I get that ice for you.”

Trip pinches the bridge of his nose and obediently follows my command as I rush off to the kitchen. We don’t have an ice pack, so I grab a bag of peas from the freezer. I turn back and head back to Trip. The length of his long legs occupies nearly all the room on the couch and his feet hang off the end. His large hands rest on top of his chest as he lies there with his eyes closed. He looks so peaceful, like he’s sleeping, I’m almost afraid to disturb him.

I sit on the edge of the cough at his side and whisper, “Hey. I brought you something for your nose.”

He opens his eyes as I lay the small bag across his nose and gives me a small smile. “Thank you.”

For some reason the need to comfort him more washes over me. I smooth back the hair on his forehead. “You’re welcome. Why did he hit you?”

Trip shrugs. “He told me to stay away from you and I politely refused.”

I tilt my head. “Why do I doubt that you do anything nicely?”

 “Because I haven’t been very nice to you since I got here…” His eyes search my face. “But I want to change that.”

I gaze into his green eyes as my heart does a double thump in my chest. “What do you mean?”

He pulls the peas away from his face and props himself up on an elbow, bringing our faces so close his warm breath blows across my lips. “It means I want us to be real friends—not pretend ones, or someone you feel like you have to be nice to out of obligation. I want you to genuinely like me the way I like you.”

I lick my lips. “You like me?”

“You know I do. Would I really agree to pretend to date you if I didn’t? You’re fun to be around and I want to get to know you better.”

“That sounds like a good plan. After we punish Jackson enough, and I decide to take him back, we can go on as real friends.”

There’s tightness in his expression when I mention Jackson. “Are you sure you even want that guy back, Holly? He doesn’t seem like he’s that into you.”

I turn my gaze away from him. “Did he say that?”

Trip puts his index finger under my chin and turns my face towards his. “No, but some of things he said…someone who really cares about you wouldn’t say those kinds of things.”

I swallow hard. “What did he say?”

“He told me he could take you away from me anytime he wanted because he owned you.”

“Is that why you two were fighting?” I question in almost a whisper.

Trip nods. “I don’t know what came over me. The things he said, they made me snap and I lost my cool. I said some things I probably shouldn’t have. That’s why he punched me.”

I bite my lip and reach up to touch his face. “Your nose got broken because you were defending my honor?”

He smiles. “I guess so.”

His admission of such a sweet gesture moves me. On instinct I lean forward and kiss him softly. “Thank you.”

The pull towards him is ridiculous and I know he’s a player, but damn it I can’t help wanting him. The slippery warmth of his mouth closes over mine and I shut my eyes, enjoying every second.

Desire glazes over his hooded eyes as I pull away. He reaches up and moves a strand of hair away from my face. “You’re welcome.”

Without warning we throw ourselves together for another kiss. My arms wrap around Trip’s neck and he tugs my hips closer. Our tongues whirl together and Trip sits up, cradling me in his arms, pulling me against his chest. One of his hands snake up my back and finds its way into my hair, while I reposition my legs until I’m straddling him.

He groans against my neck as I move my hips, rubbing my crotch over the erection in his jeans. The seam of my shorts presses against my clit and I close my eyes imagining what it would be like if we were naked doing this. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to be with someone other than Jackson, and Trip makes it feel like it’ll be even better than I imagined.

My damp panties cling to my skin as I continue to ride Trip. “God, sweetness. You don’t know how much I’ve thought about this over the last couple of days. It’s been so hard to deny myself this.”

My tongue darts out and I lick his top lip. “Then stop fighting it.”

Trip slides his hands down my body and finds the hem of my riding shirt and tank-top. Soft fingers find their way onto the bare skin of my lower back before working their way up to my breasts. His nimble fingers slide inside one of the cups of my bra and he pushes it down, allowing my nipple to spring free. He rolls my tightened bud between his fingers and licks the inside of my mouth.

“I’ve been thinking about getting these titties in my mouth all damn day. I imagine everything on your tight little body tastes like heaven. Please tell me that you want this…”

I swallow hard. This is so out of character for me, but for some reason I’m drawn to Trip like crazy. I know it’s wrong to want this with him, but my body doesn’t understand that. All it knows is that this feels amazing and it can’t get enough.

I open my mouth to tell Trip to take me, but my front door opens and I freeze at the sound of Jackson’s voice. “Holly? Are you in here?”

I shove Trip’s hands out from under my shirt at the same time Jackson walks into the house and spots us. “Jackson? What are you doing in here?”

Jackson’s eyes narrow. “I came to apologize for being an asshole, but I can see you both are clearly busy.”

I jump up from Trip’s lap as Jackson turns and walks out the door. “Jackson, wait! It’s not—”

Trip grabs my wrist. “Don’t insult him by telling him it isn’t what it looks like.”

I frown. “Can’t you see how hurt he is? I have to find him.”

“Let him go, he’ll get over it. If you chase him down you might as well be ready to beg him to take you back. Do you really want him to have the upper hand in your relationship again?”

It’s second nature to chase Jackson down and apologize to him. I’ve been doing that over and over for the past year. Every time we fought, he would turn things around and everything would always end up being my fault—just like this situation.

As if Trip can read my mind he says, “It’s not you who needs to do the chasing. He cheated on you, remember? You aren’t together now, we weren’t doing anything wrong.”

I allow him to tug me back down on the couch and tuck me under his arm. “I hate playing games with people.”

He sighs and kisses the top of my head. “You’re too sweet for your own good.”

Maybe Dad was right. We’ve just begun this little game and it’s already becoming dangerous.

 Chapter 8

Bringing Down the Giant


HOLLY

Trip and I sit in at the front counter together going over more financial documents. Over the last week we’ve spent every day going over some aspect of this track together. Yesterday I finally got Trip onto the track for the second time. He knows how to handle himself pretty well on a bike. I was impressed with his skills, considering he told me he hasn’t been on a bike in a few years. It reminded me of the real reason he’s here, and helped me to get over the crazy moment we shared together on the couch.

Jackson hasn’t come around the track since the fight last week. Maybe that’s for the best. It’s good to know it’s finally over and he doesn’t deem me worthy of fighting for. At least I know where I stand with him.

“I think I’m finally able to decipher Bill’s chicken scratch. It’s only taken me a week to get it.” Trip looks up from the binder full of office expenses he’s going through and asks, “Where is Bill? He’s been outside washing the bikes for a long time. Do you want me to go check on him?”

I stand and stretch my arms. “That’s okay. I’ll go do it. I need a break anyhow.”

He nods and then returns his attention back to taking notes. I glance up at the clock. Those bikes must’ve been really dirty—Dad’s been out there for nearly four hours.

The garage door is wide open and I hear water slapping the concrete around the corner. I pause the moment my eyes focus on the source of the sound. Jackson is there washing the bikes. I glance around, searching for Dad, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

Jackson notices me watching him and shuts off the water before tossing the hose to the ground. He dries his hands on seat of his pants as he approaches me. “Hey, Holl. How are you?”