Sweet Ride Read online

  Appearances can be deceiving.

  Payton Clare, the easy-going, fun-loving party girl, moves to Del Mar, California to be closer to her best friend. No one knows that a violent act in her past has left her damaged beyond repair.

  She finds it hard to trust men, especially Jack De Luca, the badass, motorcycle-riding, undercover cop who had the potential to turn into something more. Jack’s been absent from her life for years and has just ridden back in town and struggles with his own personal demons.

  Can they find their way back to each other, overcoming their pasts to make a life worth living together?

  Sweet Ride

  A novel by

  Maegan Lynn Moores

  Copyright © 2013 by Maegan Lynn Moores

  ‘Intimate Couple Undressing’ cover photo

  licensed from www.gettyimages.com by ©Photodisc

  ‘Police Badge’cover photo

  licensed from www.gettyimages.com by © Tetra Images

  Editing done my Madison Seidler

  http://www.madisonsays.com/

  Check us out at:

  http://www.maeganlynnmoores.com/

  https://twitter.com/maeganlynnmoore

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maegan-Lynn-Moores/428869337179376

  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6586078.Maegan_Lynn_Moores

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1 – What the Hell?

  Chapter 2 – VIP

  Chapter 3 – Seeing Payton – Jack

  Chapter 4 – Take That

  Chapter 5 – Nightmare

  Chapter 6 – Night Out With the Gang

  Chapter 7 – Jack’s Night Out – Jack

  Chapter 8 – Blindness

  Chapter 9 – I Hope You Guys Gets the Shits

  Chapter 10 – First Date

  Chapter 11 – Dinner Chez De Luca

  Chapter 12 – Interrogation – Jack

  Chapter 13 – Is Anything Real on You?

  Chapter 14 – Julie

  Chapter 15 – Birthday

  Chapter 16 – The Morning After

  Chapter 17 – The Cabin

  Chapter 18 – Justin Beiber

  Chapter 19 – Trust Me – Jack

  Chapter 20 – Girl’s Night Out

  Chapter 21 – Never Leave Your Intended Victim Unattended

  Chapter 22 – Mom and Daddy-O

  Chapter 23 – His and Hers

  Chapter 24 – Serenade

  Epilogue

  Dedication

  This book’s dedicated to the strong, smart and beautiful women we call ‘Mom’.

  A special dedication goes out to my mother Ada Kean. Unfortunately, she lost her battle with Alzheimer’s in March 2013. Due to the progression of her illness, she was unaware of our endeavor as budding authors. Had it not been for this horrible disease, she would have been so proud and excited. Her initial thought would’ve been that we’re friggin’ nuts for writing an erotic novel, but she definitely would’ve loved it and supported us. She will be forever remembered and missed because there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her.

  This one’s for you, Mom.

  Love you and miss you.

  Tanya

  Please make a donation to the Alzheimer’s society at one of the links below.

  http://www.alzheimer.ca/

  http://www.alz.org/

  Prologue

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the Justice of Peace tells Ryder. When I look over at the hot-as-hell biker gazing down at the gorgeous woman by his side, all I can see is absolute happiness—and a dash of desire thrown in. And who can blame the guy? Even the simple wedding dress my best friend, Ella, is wearing makes her look smoking hot.

  “Hell yeah, I will!” Ryder exclaims for everyone to hear. He doesn’t waste time claiming his very pregnant, but glowing bride. I watch as he gently places his hands on the sides of her face and draws her toward his body. Their smiling lips meet in a loving, tender kiss, but things quickly start heating up as the kiss deepens. I have to bite my tongue to keep from telling them to get a room.

  God! They’re so fucking beautiful together. My eyes aimlessly wander past the happy couple and land on the one person I’ve been trying my hardest to avoid today: the best man. And he looks freaking amazing, wearing black dress pants and a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up exposing his colorful tattoos. His clothes do amazing things for his toned body. As if sensing me ogling him, his smoldering emerald green eyes meet mine and a sexy as hell smile slowly creeps across his handsome face. Shit, stop looking at him, Payton! I warn myself. I quickly shift my gaze back to the happy couple.

  The newlyweds reluctantly pry their lips apart. After exchanging a few private words with each other, they walk around and chat with their guests. I can tell Ryder wants everyone gone, so he can spend some alone time with his wife. From the corner of my eye, I see Jack lingering close by. I try to avoid the inevitable confrontation by moving closer to my family.

  Once I’m standing with them, I hear a quiet squeal. Turning my head, I see Ryder swooping Ella into his arms making his way toward their house. She’s grumbling something at him, wearing a worried expression on her face. Knowing Ella the way I do, she’s concerned that he’s hurting himself trying to carry her. It’s only been four months since he was shot by one of his good-for-nothing brothers of his now disbanded motorcycle club. Ryder smiles down at Ella and mutters something to make her smile back before planting a series of small kisses all over her lips. He continues the journey toward the house with everyone following close behind.

  On the way to the house, I sense Jack walking up behind me. He’s so close I can feel the heat from his body against my back. He pulls in a deep breath before saying, “Payton?”

  “Jonathan, Jamie, Jordan, or whatever you’re calling yourself these days,” I snap.

  Before he gets the chance to say anything else, I run ahead catching up with my mother, stepfather, and sister, putting as much distance as I can between us.

  Once inside the house, I maintain my effort in eluding him. I tell myself to always keep an eye on Jack because I can’t have him blindsiding me here. I’ve managed to avoid any kind of contact with him over the past four months—ignoring his persistent phone calls and deleting all of the messages he left me. He must’ve finally taken the hint that we’re through because he hasn’t even tried calling me in the last month or so.

  Today’s the first time I’ve seen him since I found out about his ‘undercover work.’ My body’s reaction to him hasn’t changed since the night I first watched him step out of that SUV. I still want him, but I know I’m never going to have him. I think I’m doing a really good job of hiding my reaction to Jack when my mother suddenly approaches me.

  “So, what’s the deal with you and Mr. Hottie?” she quietly asks me, so no one nearby can hear. She wraps her arm around my shoulders and hugs me into her side.

  “What?” I ask back, my body stiffening against hers.

  “Jack. Ryder’s friend. Did something happen between you two?”

  “Why would you ask that?”

  “Sweetie, the sexual tension in this room’s so thick you can cut it with a knife. You’d have to be blind not to see it. Now tell your mother. Were you involved with him?”

  “It ended before it even began,” I tell her, my eyes glossing over.

  Or at least that’s what I thought.

  Chapter 1

  What the hell?

  My eyes flutter open, and instantly I’m totally disoriented as I take in my surroundings. Looking around, I notice that I’m in a bed. Naked. And I know it’s definitely not my bed. What the hell? I must’ve been su
per trashed last night because I never end up sleeping at the guy’s place. Usually I just fuck ‘em and leave ‘em. I try to remember what happened last night, but my head hurts way too much and my memories are slightly foggy. Shit, I’m going to have to lay off the tequila for a while. Who the hell did I go home with last night? I look over at the alarm clock on the nightstand and see that it’s 9:36 a.m. Yep, time to get a move on.

  I make my way out of bed and look around once more. Again, nothing looks familiar to me. In my glance around the room, I try to locate my clothes. All I see on the floor are piles of dirty clothes and a used condom. Yuck! Seriously, dude, throw it in the trashcan already.

  I can hear someone humming in the shower as I make my way into the hallway. That’s my cue to get the hell out of Dodge. I’ve got to get out of here before this guy’s finished showering. I mean how awkward will that be? I can’t even remember the guy’s name. I walk into what appears to be the living room, but really there’s hardly any furniture in the room other than a leather recliner, a huge flat screen television mounted on the wall, along with a state-of-the-art gaming system. Awesome Payton, you really know how to pick them, don’t you?

  I spot the dress that I wore last night, along with men’s clothing scattered just beside the door. Wow, we really didn’t waste any time getting naked last night. I hastily pull on my panties and sexy backless, dark purple, cowl-neck dress, nab my purse off the kitchen counter, hook my strappy stilettos on my finger, and do the walk of shame out the door without looking back.

  Once I’m outside of the apartment complex, I slip on my shoes and take a quick look around to get my bearings. I just moved to Del Mar, California a few months ago so I could be closer to my best friend, and I’m not entirely sure where I am right now. I walk a couple of blocks over until I come across a greasy spoon diner and take note of what street it’s on. I hear a chiming sound when I walk through the entrance of the diner, and I’m pleasantly surprised with how clean looking the place is. A waitress walks over to my table shortly after I sit in one of the corner booths, and I order a cup of coffee. She gives me a funny look and asks me if I’d like anything else, but the thought of eating any solid food right now makes my queasy stomach roll.

  As I wait for my coffee, I reach into my purse and haul out my new iPhone. I’m going to have to call Ella to see if she can come pick me up. When I look at the display on my phone there’s a close up photo of me with my tongue down some guy’s throat. My stomach does another roll and I’m seriously close to throwing up. The photo was taken earlier this morning, at 2:15 a.m. I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that this is the guy I went home with. I can’t really tell what he looks like because his head’s turned to the side, and I’m blocking the view of his face. This is a first; I’m absolutely stumped about this guy. I can’t remember his name or what he looks like. God, that’s definitely the last time I go out for drinks with the girls from work. They’re such bad influences.

  My coffee arrives, and I take a sip. Shit, that’s good. Maybe, they can hook up an IV and pump the caffeine directly into my veins. While I continue my caffeine fix, I delete the offensive photo and dial my best friend’s number.

  “Someone better be fuckin’ dead or dying,” answers a gravelly, breathy male voice. Why’s Ryder answering Ella’s phone?

  “Well, good morning to you, too, sexy. Where’s my girl?” I ask, nervously. I’m obviously interrupting something.

  “She’s busy,” he grunts out and disconnects the call. Uh-oh, Mr. Wilde’s definitely not too happy with me right now. That’s freaking fantastic! I totally just called them while they’re in the middle of doing the nasty, and according to everything that Ella’s told me—God knows when she’ll be calling me back. Apparently Ryder’s pretty fantastic in the sex department and really knows how to please his woman, over and over again.

  Great, what am I going to do now? I can’t walk home because I’m wearing five-inch stiletto heels that’ll tear my feet apart. I either have to go back to what’s-his-face’s place and see if he can give me a lift, or call a cab. Decisions, decisions; which one will it be? Call a cab it is. Even if it’s going to cost me a small fortune. Just as I’m about to dial the number to the cab company, my phone begins playing “Wild Ones” by Flo Rida and Sia. I pick up right away, knowing it’s Ella’s ringtone.

  “Hey,” I answer with a grin on my face and take another sip of my coffee.

  “Hey, yourself,” Ella says, clearly still out of breath.

  “How many this time?” I ask out of pure curiosity.

  “Three,” she says, giggling.

  “Damn, girl. You’re one lucky bitch,” I say, pointing out the obvious. Leave it to Ella to bag a guy that gives her multiple orgasms before taking care of his own needs.

  “Don’t I know it,” she replies dreamily.

  “Ella, babe, do you think you can get your naked ass out of that bed and spend a few minutes away from that spectacular piece of man-candy to come pick me up?”

  “Sure, where are you?”

  I give her the address of the diner, we say our goodbyes, and I disconnect the call. I sip on my strong coffee while I wait for Ella to show up. The rumbling of a motorcycle engine catches my attention, making my stomach do an excited flutter. When I glance out the window I see a black Harley stopped at the intersection. When the light turns green, the rider turns left and drives away. I didn’t get a really good look at the guy, but he kind of reminded me of a certain sexy undercover cop I know. Holy shit, was that Jack? No, it can’t be. This guy has short, wavy hair, where Jack’s hair is long, and he wears it pulled back. Or at least he used to.

  It’s been a little over two years since my fling with Jack De Luca, or Diesel, as he’s more appropriately known; though it seems way longer than that. He called me, left plenty of voicemails and texts apologizing, but I never answered his calls, and I deleted every single message. It didn’t take very long after for him to forget about me. The last time I saw him was at Ryder and Ella’s wedding, and I tried to avoid him as much as possible. From what Ella told me, he moved to San Diego six months ago for some kind of undercover operation, and they haven’t heard from him since.

  Jack De Luca’s the one guy I’ll never forget. He’s the only man that I’ve ever slept with more than once. I don’t do relationships with men; I just fuck them. With Jack, I was seriously close to forgetting my rule of no relationships—until I found out he lied to me about who he really was. Even still, thoughts of him aren’t entirely unpleasant or uncommon. I actually think of him quite often. Based on my history, and what I’ve been through, no man will ever want to be with me seriously. I’m nothing but trash, or so I’ve been told, so why not act like it. Ella doesn’t know what I’ve been through, and honestly, I want to keep it that way.

  As I’m taking my last sip of coffee, I see Ella pulling into the parking lot in her black, extended cab Ford F-150 pickup truck. I watch her as she steps down off of the running board, and then bounces towards the diner. A few seconds later, I hear the door chimes signal as Ella enters the restaurant, looks around until she spots me and then walks over to my booth. She plops her cute little ass on the seat directly across from me. “So, with whom did you go home this time?” she asks.

  “Don’t know, don’t care,” I reply, shrugging. I look away and try not to notice the disapproval on her face.

  “Payton, you’re going to get yourself in trouble if you keep doing stuff like this,” she warns.

  If she only knew the trouble I’ve already gotten into. She can’t ever, and I don’t plan to tell her. I always want her to think of me as the funny, spunky, sexy friend who likes to party and doesn’t give a shit about anything. That’s who I am now, or at least the version that I want people to see.

  “Can we go now?” I ask, brushing of her obvious concern. I slide my ass across the seat of the booth, stand up, and head over toward the checkout to pay for my coffee. Ella gets up and walks out of the diner without say
ing a word to me. She gets in the truck and waits for me. God, why do I have to be so bitchy all the time? I never used to be like this, but lately it keeps coming out. After I finish paying, I head out and join Ella in the massive truck. How does she drive this thing? She’s so freaking tiny.

  “I’m sorry, Ella. I’m hung over and feel like shit. Forgive me, bestie?” I ask, trying to smooth things over.

  “Already forgiven,” she responds and quickly stretches her body over the console, pulling me into a fierce hug, which I return. “I just worry about you, Payton,” she adds, making me feel even more like shit.

  Pulling away from our embrace, I try to convince her that I’m okay. “I know, Ella, but I’m a big girl and can take care of myself. You don’t need to worry about me.” She sighs, starts the engine, and pulls out of the parking lot.

  Ella drops me off at my house. I invite her to come in, but she says that she has to go home and get Hendrix and Harley ready for a play date. The twins are two years old now and are the most healthy, beautiful toddlers I have ever seen. Hendrix is the spitting image of his father, and Harley is just as gorgeous as her mother. Ella’s blessed with a gorgeous family, and she deserves it after everything she and Ryder went through. Between cheap double-D tramps, stalker ex-boyfriends, kidnappings, and shootings, they are so lucky to have found their happily-ever-after. Even though I love her like a sister, sometimes I can’t help but feel a little envious of her. Occasionally I dream that it’s me who has a husband who adores me and a couple of beautiful babies, but it’s never going to happen for me. Life’s a bitch like that.

  I share the house with two other roommates who are dancers at the strip club, Climax. When I first moved here I actually applied for a job as a dancer there because I heard they made really good money. After all, I couldn’t be too picky about where I worked because I’m twenty-four, almost twenty-five years old, with no college degree. My options were limited. I figured I might as well shake what my momma gave me, but the more I thought about taking my clothes off for men’s entertainment, the worse I felt about it. I just couldn’t go through with it.