Rough Riders Read online

  I’m not in the habit of raiding the kiddie pool, so it was a bit of a shock to realize that this one had not only caught, but held my attention.

  “Who the fuck is that?”

  “Where sir?” Eric turned to look in the direction I had been staring in.

  “Over there in the purple sweater with the hair down to her ass.”

  “Don’t know, can’t see her face, she’s looking the other way.”

  “Bring her to me.”

  He walked over to where she was standing with a group of friends and said something to her. She looked over at me, blushed and then looked down at the ground, before shaking her head no. Eric looked back at me as if to ask what now? I just looked back at him not saying a word. I guess it’s true what they say, never send a boy to do a man’s job.

  He came trotting back over to me looking all pensive and shit, like he expected me to kick him.

  “Ah sir, that’s the chief’s daughter.”

  “The what?”

  “Her father’s the chief of police here in Williams Town.” By then our eyes had reconnected and it wouldn’t have mattered if she was the virgin queen, the die had already been cast.

  I don’t know what possessed me, but I beckoned her with my finger. At first it looked like she was going to ignore me, but then her cheeks got all flushed and she walked over to me. I sent Eric packing as soon as she got close.

  She had the sexiest walk I’d ever seen, almost as if she was afraid to put her feet on the ground, and it added a little twist to her hips. “I’m Travis Mallory.” I held my hand out for her to shake when she came to a stop in front o me.

  “I know who you are.”

  “You do? Well then, you have me at a disadvantage. Let’s walk.” I didn’t give her the opportunity to deny me again, but instead, took her arm and led her off to the side, out of hearing range. Up close she was stunning, that amazing hair with bright blue eyes and her peaches and cream skin, was a fucking exotic combination.

  “What’s your name?”

  She blushed again and looked around as if seeking rescue.

  “I’m not going to hurt you little one, just talking, it’s okay to talk right?”

  “Lydia, my name is Lydia.” Damn she’s so cute, I liked that lip biting action she had going on too.

  “Hello Lydia. So, I hear you’re the chief’s daughter.”

  She threw a quick glance Eric’s way, before nodding her head yes. “ So, did you live somewhere else before, because I’m pretty sure I would’ve known about your existence before now if you grew up here.”

  “No, I’ve lived here my whole life, that’s how I know who you are.”

  “Is that why you refused to come to me, because you heard about me?”

  She shrugged her shoulders and avoided eye contact.

  “Look at me; so if you know who I am it’s a good guess you know how I am.”

  “I’ve heard stories, why do you want to talk to me?”

  “I like what I see, you’re gorgeous; any of these boys around here think he’s your boyfriend?”

  “No my dad would kill me.”

  “Oh yeah, why’s that?”

  “He doesn’t think I need to be dating right now, I’m supposed to concentrate on my school work that’s all.”

  “Well we have a problem.” She finally picked her head up and looked at me, and I felt the punch in the gut. No fucking way she was getting away.

  “What problem? I don’t understand.”

  “I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other, so either we work around your father, or I go see him; which do you prefer?”

  She studied me like she was trying to see if I was for real or not, I held her eyes with mine so she could see I was dead serious about this shit.

  “My dad would never allow us to meet.”

  “Do you want to meet?”

  She didn’t answer but she was blushing again, I couldn’t help myself, so I lifted her face with the tip of a finger. I didn’t hear the people around us anymore, nothing else mattered except what was happening between the two of us right that second. It was her eyes, they did something to me; fuck if I know what that was.

  “Scratch that, I want to see you again, so that’s what’s going to happen. Now all I need is your phone number.” I didn’t have all day and besides, I’m not in the habit of playing around when there’s something I wanted. And little Lydia was the first thing I’d wanted this fucking badly in a long time.

  She gave me her number after a little added pressure; though I could already tell that she was more than a little interested. It was only as I was putting the shit in my phone that a disturbing thought struck me. Fuck, I was standing in a schoolyard picking up a chick.

  “How old are you Lydia?” I looked down at her, holding my breath for the answer. If she was underage I was so fucked, I knew in my gut that she was going to be a part of my life, a part of me. But if I had to wait, it would probably kill me; already I could feel the pull of attraction. And knowing me, there’s no way I would ignore it. But if she turned out to be too young, I’d have to readjust some shit.

  “Eighteen, I just turned eighteen a few weeks ago.” Thank fuck; I would hate to be one of those dicks who takes advantage of an underage girl. I studied her for a moment, trying to decide on my next move. I can’t say that I’ve ever dated anyone so young before, not since my high school days at least, and with my family being who they are and her dad being who he is, it was a fucked up mess anyway you looked at it.

  “You said before that you know who I am, how do you know me?”

  “Everybody knows you, at least the females do.” I glanced over to her little group of friends and saw that their attention was focused solely on us.

  Some of the guys didn’t look too jazzed that we were talking; shit, my competition were high school kids.

  “You sure you don’t have a man over there, that one with the Mohawk is eyeing me pretty hard.” She looked back over her shoulder and turned back with a frown.

  “No, I told you, my dad wouldn’t let me. That’s just my best friend Caleb.”

  “I have a sister, I’m pretty sure that shit wouldn’t stop her.” Like I gave a shit, she was already mine no matter what obstacles stood in my way. A beauty like hers didn’t come along everyday, and that shit would be wasted on anyone else but me.

  “No, no boyfriend.”

  “Well you’ve got one now. “ I dropped that little bombshell in her lap but didn’t give her any time to react before carrying on. “So here’s how it’s going to be. I have some serious shit to do right now, but when I’m finished taking care of that you and I are gonna get together and talk over some things. Since you don’t have a man for me to get rid of, then your dad might be the only problem. If you know about me then you know my reputation, which means your old man being the chief isn’t going to be too pleased about us being together, not to mention the fact that I’m eight years older than you. We’ll deal with that as it comes. In the meantime, stay away from that kid Sam, he’s bad news.”

  “You been smoking any weed lately Lydia?” Her eyes widened and she looked at me like I had two heads.

  “Are you kidding me, my dad’s like a blood hound, I think he’d know if I even thought of smoking a joint.”

  “Okay then that’s good; like I said, I have some shit that needs my attention, but once that’s squared it’s you and me. Do you understand what I’m saying?” She shrugged her shoulders and bit into that plump bottom lip again.

  “I think so, you’re…you’re asking me out on a date.” She peeked up at me from under her lashes and I kid you not, my cock jumped and leaked in my jeans. She has the most amazing fucking eyes I’ve ever seen on a woman. I laughed at her answer before running my finger down her baby soft cheek.

  “No Lydia, I’m not asking you out on a date, I don’t do the dating thing. Simply put, I’m going to claim you. Don’t let that scare you, it’s all good I promise.” Her body had tremb
led at my words.

  “I’ll call you later around seven, be sure to answer; don’t make me come looking for you unless you want your dad to know about me.” She gave me her little blush again and pulled her hair forward. The sight of all that hair gave me ideas. I could already see myself fisting that shit while I fucked her hard from behind. Poor little Lydia, she had no idea what she’d done by letting me get a look at her.

  “I want to kiss you so fucking bad right now, but that’ll have to wait; too many eyes.” She gave me my first smile then and I knew I was a fucking goner. She’d thunder bolted my ass; my dad will be so pleased to know the legend lives on.

  Chapter 6

  That was then, since that day we’ve been through the drama of sneaking around behind her old man’s back, her idea not mine. She swore he would never let her see me otherwise. I went along with it because she seemed petrified to do anything else, but I wasn’t planning on hiding for long. I’m too grown for that shit, and besides she was eighteen, legal in all fifty states.

  It had taken her two weeks to get use to me, and the idea of us. Some nights when he thought she was over at one of her girlfriends for a sleepover, she was really with me. And the more time I spent with her, the more I wanted. I was playing it cool, not wanting to scare her off, but my dick was putting me through the ringer. One look at her ass in those jeans she was so fond of, and the poor girl was teetering on the brink of being taken before she was ready.

  To keep her safe and give her time, sometimes I took her to one of my places for dinner and sometimes we ate in, but only on those nights I was sure I wouldn’t pounce. We spent those two weeks getting to know each other. I’d learned that for all her sweet shyness, she was stubborn as fuck. I also realized that if I was going to have anything resembling a relationship with her, this sneaking around shit wasn’t going to work.

  It left a bad taste in my mouth, but she was adamantly set against telling her dad. In the end, it didn’t matter because he found out anyway.

  Now here we are, she was living with me and going to school. Since I’d been the one to take her away from her home and there was now a rift between her and the only family she had, I felt even more protective of her.

  She was spoilt as fuck, because I wanted her to have everything she wanted, nothing was ever too much for her, and my girl wasn’t shy about her wants and needs.

  After years of living with a strict father who didn’t find it necessary to lavish her with the things all young girls wanted, or needed, she was like a kid in a candy store and it made me happy to make her happy, so it was a win win.

  I’d taken her virginity the first night she’d moved in, she was still petrified of her dad coming after her and dragging her back and couldn’t seem to settle down.

  I hadn’t exactly planned for anything to happen that night, but I’d started kissing her on the couch to take her mind off of what was going on, and her taste was so unbelievable, that I’d wanted more, so I took it.

  I wasn’t surprised to find her a virgin after everything she’d told me about her father and the way he’d raised her, but I had been in no way prepared for the way it made me feel to breech her for the first time. To know that I was the first one to have her, and I’d vowed then and there that I would be the only one.

  “Mine, you’re mine, you’ll always be mine.”

  Those were the words I’d growled at her while my body had claimed hers for the first time. And ever since then she’s had me by the balls.

  I was in and out all day. On top of all the other bullshit on my plate, I have two new businesses that are close to my heart, a tattoo parlor, and a bike shop. My boy Colt builds custom bikes and I sell some of them in my shop, and lately those shits have been flying off the showroom floor. My boy was making his mark after years of putting in hard work.

  We’ve been close since we were teens and getting into trouble, though we were from neighboring towns, we still found time to hang every once in a while. He’d had some trouble a year or so ago and I’d helped him set some shit up to take care of it. Now it seems he was at it again. Like me, he was always grumbling that he’d never seen so much trouble until his lady came into his life. I can relate.

  I have to remember to call dad later about the favor he had asked me about last night. Colt was settling down now, a married fucking man trying to walk the straight and narrow, that shit was funny as hell. I think maybe with this new development I just might take a ride out his way, besides I hadn’t gone to see him and his new family in a while, and the holidays were coming. I gotta get the new baby some shit. Lydia would love that, she and Kat were tight and she is a baby fanatic. That made me think of putting one in her, but she wanted to go to college and shit.

  Nothing wrong with that, she’s a smart one, so if she wants to go to school to be a vet I won’t stand in her way. We’d already checked into schools nearby where she could do that shit, because she wasn’t going anywhere. Selfish I know, but I don’t give a fuck. No way I’m letting my woman go across the country away from me, she’s lucky I even let her out the house as it is.

  I was in my shop going over the books when my phone went off. Dad calling; I wonder what he wanted this time of the day? Probably calling to bust my chops about some shit, which was one of his favorite pastimes.

  “Travis you burn down the Potter dealership?”

  “Why?” Fucker’s always in my business.

  “I’m hearing rumblings, you know nothing goes on around here I don’t know about. What the little fuck do now?”

  “He put hands on Lydia.”

  “He did what?” He barked into the phone and I had to pull it away from my ear. This is why I hadn’t told him shit.

  “Dad.”

  “Why wasn’t he in that shit when you torched it? I didn’t hear about any bodies.”

  “I took care of it.”

  “He still breathing?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Dad I said I got it.”

  “Somebody put hands on your mother he’d be so fucked.”

  “I’m trying to do things a little different.”

  “What the fuck for? I say go with what works.”

  “I need a favor dad.” Better get him off the scent or he’d go messing in my shit, bloodthirsty fucker. I didn’t want Wayne dead, not yet anyway. I had too many things going on at once and it was never a good thing, no matter how much power you wielded, to have too many fires burning at once.

  I still had to deal with Slim and his shit first, and then clean up the mess he’d made. Wayne will be dealt with in due time, but not just yet. Besides, it was too close to me fucking him up, and that might get tongues wagging; nothing more dangerous than wagging tongues in a small town.

  “Speak to me son.”

  “My boy Colt got a little situation he needs taken care of.” I told him about the problem Colton was having with the chick in the hospital. “We need to find out who the fuck she is.”

  “Bring me what you got I like that kid. He still married to that fox?”

  “Yes he is, and if he hears you talking about his wife he’d probably cap your ass.”

  “Nah, if I even looked at a woman like that your mother would have my balls, fucking woman. So what’re we doing about the Potters, these fucks have been a thorn in my side for too fucking long.”

  “Stay out of it old man and let me do my thing my way.” He mumbled some shit before hanging up in my ear.

  After getting off the phone with dad I checked my watch, not much time had gone by but I still had a lot of shit I needed to get done before my pain in the ass was due to be picked up from school. I had to shake my head, because the girl keeps me on my toes. That first day, I would never have imagined that she would give me more trouble than all my enemies combined. At least with them I could just cap a motherfucker and be done with it. Now I’m on my way to finalize my shit and hope that for the next six hours or so that her little ass was in sc
hool, she’d stay out of trouble.

  Fuck, I grew up with a father who was the head of the local faction in this part of the state, whose arm and power had spread even farther since I was a kid, and I’d never gotten up to as much shit as the chief’s daughter. My girl is a fucking trouble magnet.

  Of course my father loves the fuck out of her, she’s his type of daughter he says. The two of them have these crazy fuck conversations about politics and shit that didn’t mean shit to anyone else, but those two could go at it for hours.

  My little sister, who was all of thirteen, thought she was her new playmate or some shit, and my sister in law Gillian was trying her best to turn her into as big a bitch as she is. Like I don’t have enough to deal with with her shit already, that one’s teaching her how to make me old before my time.

  Everything is Gillian said this and Gillian said that, and my mother the ringleader, just oversees shit and runs everybody’s lives. At least she had family now, I’d given her mine, and as soon as she was finished high school I planned to make that shit official.

  Jarvis was in his office on the phone when I got there, so I walked in and pulled up a seat across from him. He held up his finger for me to wait and I quirked my brow at him. He got the message.

  “Ahem, yes, well I’ll have to get back to you later on that, I have a very pressing matter that just came up.” He made his excuses and hung up the phone.

  “So, young Mr. Mallory you’re back.” He gave me this smirk like he knew some shit I didn’t. I hate those fucking looks, they always mean I have to end up popping a motherfucker, and it was too damn early in the fucking day.

  I didn’t say anything, just kept my eyes on his, waiting for him to get to the fucking point so I could be on my way. He started fixing the papers on his desk nervously, and I knew he was about to piss me the fuck off.