Gavin’s Greed: A Bad Boy Romance (Sinful Series Book 3) Read online

  Gavin’s Greed

  A BAD BOY ROMANCE

  Sinful Series

  By:

  Scott Wylder

  Table of Contents:

  Also By Scott Wylder

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Copyright © 2018 by Scott Wylder

  All rights reserved.

  In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited, and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

  Also By Scott Wylder

  Good Guy Gone Bad

  Kitchen Heat

  One Day in Vegas

  Temptations

  Alpha Passion BOX SET

  The Bad Boy Biker

  The Black Mountain Bikers Series

  Benefits of Friendship

  Falling for the Dragon

  Trigger Happy

  Hard Miles Ahead

  She Got the Jack

  Sinful Series

  Paolo’s Pride

  Evan’s Envy

  Chapter 1

  (Gavin Lester)

  Sitting at his kitchen table, Gavin Lester counted his money, laying it all out in nice, neat piles on the dark, polished, walnut tabletop. He smiled. The stacks had grown phenomenally over the years. He’d never trusted banks much and had put very little into them—his 401K was there, of course and the five thousand he’d stuck in the savings account to shut Linda up a few years ago. The rest was sitting on his table in front of him just where he liked it.

  He had worked for the same construction company for ten years—then he became supervisor over a crew. Now, Gavin was a partner in the company. One day, he hoped to own that company. He’d been saving his money since he was six—still had the first dollar he’d earned at the age of six, too. His father had been adamant about framing it for posterity. In doing so, it had set off a fire in his life to collect all the money and goods that he possibly could—he’d been called an asshole and greedy for most of his life but that didn’t bother him; he still had more than most people and he would have even more as time went by.

  His home was paid for, as was his work truck. All three Harleys, the 1969 Super Sport Chevelle, the 1965 Mustang, and the 1969 Camaro were all paid for, too. He owed money on nothing except utilities.

  Linda, on the other hand, still owed three years’ worth of payments on her little Corolla. He loved her, but she wasn’t very frugal sometimes. She worked two jobs and poured most of her money into the house, so he couldn’t complain much. It made her happy and kept her loyal to him. The only time she’d nagged him much was the months preceding his five grand deposit into the savings account. She’d been hospitalized with pneumonia and said that it had opened her eyes to the possibility of him being hospitalized. Without his money coming in, how would they survive on her paltry check alone?

  Linda had no idea how much money sat in the safe under the floorboards of the bedroom closet—and he intended to keep it that way. He’d told her he had ten grand in the safe and she’d ragged him about putting half in the bank in case of some disaster that destroyed the safe and its contents.

  Would she completely flip out if she discovered he was actually a millionaire?

  Laughing at the thought of her reaction, Gavin gathered the stacks of money, banding them carefully and lovingly, and carried them back to the safe. Where exactly did she think his money was going? She knew his position as a partner at the company. She also knew his vehicles were paid for. He shook his head, smiling. She was a bit flaky, but he loved her.

  It was Sunday morning and Linda had gone early to her waitressing job; later she would go to her retail job and work in the ladies’ clothing and shoe department at the local Save-A-Dollar super mart until dinner time. Gavin didn’t have work on Sundays, but it was his day to play in the pool tournament—nothing huge, just a local tourney happening at one of his favorite pool halls. He always made a few hundred dollars in that tournament and never missed a chance to play in it.

  Patty would go with him, be his lady for the evening, his little good luck charm so to speak—she was a real beauty and had that sultry look that the men enjoyed. It put them off their game a bit when she was around, so it was good for him. Little Patty the pool hall doll was a friend with benefits, many benefits. She was loyal to Gavin, too. They all were. He demanded it.

  Rita was his choice for the long haul trips when he had to go out of town for his job. She was adaptable and quick-witted; she could easily fit in with any crowd, anywhere, anytime.

  Tara was for quick and kinky times.

  And Linda, well, she was his domesticated little house cat. She was the glue that held it all together for him. She knew nothing of the other women. If she ever suspected, she never questioned him, but he thought she never even considered it a possibility.

  Locking the safe and shutting the little trapdoor that concealed it, Gavin backed out of the closet and stretched. Catching his reflection in the full length mirror by the bedroom door, he examined his many tattoos. Most were black outlines, but some had color—mostly reds, turquoises, deep greens—what he considered manly colors. He’d collected tattoos like he’d collected muscle cars, money, job titles, and women over the years. And, as with everything else, he would acquire more ink, too. Every design was unique and some were his artistic creations.

  Satisfied with what he saw for the moment, Gavin moved to the den and called Patty to see that she was still on for tonight. Of course, she would be; what other plans would she have? She was, like the others, at his beck and call twenty-four, seven.

  Just the way he liked it; just the way he demanded it.

  Chapter 2

  (Linda Statham)

  The early shift on Sundays at Friendly’s was busy, hectic, chaotic, and tiring. Linda was fond of her job there as a waitress, but she wasn’t so fond of having to work nearly every Sunday. Breakfast wasn’t so bad, but after lunch, when the churches let out their congregations…that was a totally different story. Some Sundays, they had to go on an hour wait just to seat the patrons.

  Joan Friendly had hired Linda when she’d first graduated high school ten years prior. The women had forged a friendship through the years and amid the rotating doors of waiters, bussers, cooks, prep cooks, and dishwashers. Linda felt a loyalty to Joan for hiring her at such a young age. And, Linda had been able to pay off one car, buy another, which she almost had paid off, and helped pay off the house she and Gavin shared—thanks mostly to her job at Friendly’s Restaurant.

  Making another double-batch of sweet tea during the after-lunch slump in business, Linda smiled at Joan as she rounded the corner and walked toward her.

  “Hey, Joan. Are you surviving?” Linda chuckled and added sugar to the first batch of tea.

  Blowing her bangs off her forehead, the older woman grinned. “Barely. I’m getting too old to work this hard!”

  Joan’s cheeks were a ruddy red color and beads of sweat stood out on her forehead and temples. Linda worried about her friend; she was no spring chicken anymore. At fifty-four, Joan could still work circles around the rash of teenage waitresses that seemed to appear every year just as school was finished. Mostly graduates looking to make some quick cash, drawn to the restaurant for the cash tips.

  “You need me to do anything els
e after the tea?” Linda was eager to leave and rush home to see Gavin for a couple hours before she had to report to her other job at the Save-A-Dollar. Retail wasn’t her favorite job, but she needed the extra money to get her Corolla paid off quick—she really wanted a new car, but thought she’d stick with the Corolla for a few more years so she could build up a better cushion in her bank account.

  Joan looked around, surveying the other things Linda had already completed and shook her head. “You go on home to that man of yours and enjoy the rest of your day with him, honey. I think the next shift can handle it from here.” Joan patted Linda’s shoulder and smiled sweetly.

  “Thank you. I’ll get to spend a couple hours with him before I have to go straighten, stock, reset, and hopefully sell women’s clothes at the store later.” Linda rolled her eyes dramatically and gave a dry laugh.

  “Well, hell’s bells, if you’d told me that you had to work at the store later, I would have brought in one of the others today, Linda. You work too much, young lady.”

  “Nonsense. You know I like the tips on Sundays. I need them, too, to be honest.”

  “I know, honey. Looks like that rich man of yours would help you out more.” Joan looked over the rim of her glasses at Linda.

  “Rich? Why on earth would you think Gavin’s rich?” Linda nearly laughed.

  “Because he is, that’s why. And he always has the money to go gallivanting around the other side of town with those…” Joan closed her eyes and pressed her lips together, shaking her head, “…those people, drinking and playing pool and god knows what else. You’re too easy on him, Linda.” Joan walked away quickly. Over her shoulder she said, “See you Tuesday at noon, Linda.”

  Linda watched her go, shocked. Joan had never said anything like that before in all the years they’d known each other. She’d never once said a bad thing about Gavin. Why had she suddenly crossed that line, Linda wondered as she pulled her attention back to the second batch of tea.

  Thirty minutes later, Linda was parked and going into the house, excited to see Gavin for a while. They’d not been able to spend much time with each other for the last year even though they lived in the same house. Their jobs mostly kept them so busy that they only passed each other in the house—one entering and the other leaving.

  Then there were Gavin’s nights out, in which Linda usually didn’t want to participate or couldn’t because of work. But, he worked hard; he deserved to be able to go out and have a good time with friends.

  In the living room, she called out, “I’m home for a while, Gavin. You want to watch a movie or grab a bite to eat?”

  Silence answered her.

  Calling out again, she moved toward the bedroom—he was likely out in the garage working on one of his hot rods as that was his hobby at home.

  Then, she heard the shower running in their bathroom. Walking in quietly, she shut the bathroom door and quickly undressed. Pulling the shower curtain aside, she grinned and giggled as Gavin jumped in surprise.

  “Damn it, Linda! You nearly gave me a heart attack!” But his words weren’t too stern as he saw her nakedness and a smile spread across his handsome face.

  “I thought I might join you in there since I have some extra time.” She was already stepping into the shower.

  “That sounds like a really good idea to me.” He pulled the curtain closed after she stepped inside, pressing his body against hers.

  She reached for him and he was already hard. “That didn’t take long.” She wiggled against him, his hardness pressing into her stomach.

  “Never does when you’re around, baby.” He cupped her breasts and tweaked her nipples.

  Moaning, she leaned back, giving him the full access pass.

  Turning her to face away from him, Gavin bent her at the waist and took her right there in the shower.

  Linda was shocked, but didn’t dare say anything that might ruin the mood. He was rough, as if he’d been denied something he’d been wanting for a long time. As if his need for her was the most demanding need he possessed. She liked it and fully enjoyed it. Rough turned to gentle just before she climaxed, which sent him over the top.

  Clinging to each other and grasping wet flesh with wet hands, they soared to great heights together in the shower and then they drifted back to earth, still holding on to one another.

  Linda kissed him deeply when he bent to her. “I love you, Gavin Lester.”

  “I love you, too, Linda Statham.” He pulled the curtain aside and stepped out. “You better wash before the water goes cold.” He winked and pulled the curtain closed as he toweled off.

  Under the still warm water, Linda smiled. She was glad she’d come home a bit earlier than usual. It had definitely been worth it.

  Chapter 3

  (Linda)

  Humming Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, Linda stepped from the shower and toweled dry. Gavin had gone into the bedroom and Linda hoped it was to lie on the bed naked and clean and warm, as he did lots of times after a shower. She wanted to join him there and lie against him until time for her to go to work. She’d missed these tender times with him and wanted to get back to them before he thought to take his caresses and kisses to someone else.

  They’d been together for two years and she didn’t really think he would do that to her; Gavin was greedy with his money, but he wasn’t a cheater.

  Pushing the thoughts aside before they could take her down a dark path, Linda pushed the door to the bedroom open and stepped in wearing only a smile.

  The room was empty and Gavin’s boots were missing from under the foot of the bed. They were not his work boots but the ones he liked to wear when he played pool, which meant tonight was the beginning of the local pool tourney. She’d forgotten or she would’ve wished him luck. He didn’t really need luck, she knew but it was the thought that counted.

  Grabbing her wrap, she pulled it on as she walked toward the living room and the den. As she stepped into the dimly lit den, Gavin’s Chevelle started up outside and growled out of the driveway as she ran to the front door.

  Flinging the door wide, she yelled at him from the stoop. “Gavin!” She waved, hoping he would see her in the side or rearview mirror, but the car turned right and drove out of sight.

  Grunting in displeasure, she went back inside and pulled the door closed hard.

  Why hadn’t he said anything? Why had he just left without a word? Was he really that anxious to get to the pool tournament?

  Joan’s words came back to haunt her, but she wouldn’t dwell on it. She had to get ready for work, after all.

  Back in the bathroom, Linda fixed her hair up into a messy bun and applied very light makeup. For the first time since she graduated high school, Linda leaned close to the mirror and inspected her reflection.

  Other than the dark smudges under her eyes—surely what Joan had noticed when she had admonished Linda for working too much—her reflection looked amazingly like it had for the last decade. There were no wrinkles and no blemishes.

  Pointing at her reflection, Linda said, half-jokingly, “You see that you stay that way, too. And do something about those dark circles, Lin; get some more rest or something.” She turned away, satisfied that Gavin surely wouldn’t lose interest in her if she still looked as good as she had when they’d moved in together.

  Gavin’s clothes were in the hamper. Linda put hers on top of his and took the basket to the washer. As she loaded them into the washer, she saw a rosy blush on the shoulder of one of his work shirts he’d worn days earlier.

  Refusing to look too closely at it, she hurriedly threw other clothes in the washer on top of that shirt. It was just a smudge of dirt, or rust from some of the iron he works around, she thought.

  Hesitantly, she turned on the water and dumped powders in the wash. The temptation to yank up the shirt and inspect it closely was nearly all-consuming, but Linda had never been the suspicious type; she’d never been the jealous hag who constantly accused and nagged at her man. Her mother had be
en that woman and Linda was sure that it had finally driven her father insane just before he disappeared when she was fifteen.

  The lid banged. It was the sound of certainty to her. She was certain Gavin was not cheating on her.

  She went into the kitchen and heated a bowl of soup; her appetite had suddenly taken a nosedive, but she knew it was unwise to go to work without something in her stomach.

  After cleaning her bowl and spoon and placing them in the drainer, Linda dried her hands and looked out the window at her little flower garden on the other side of the front yard with thoughts of Gavin’s behavior plaguing her mind.

  The vibration mingled with the sound of a foghorn made her jump and reach for her cell phone in her back pocket. That notification sound never failed to make her grin, though.

  It was Gavin. He texted: Bye babe have a good night at work…I’ll be late…tourney night. I love you

  She read the text and then read it again. Sighing, she smiled at her flowers out there in the warm fall afternoon sun. He wasn’t cheating on her or even thinking about cheating on her. If he was, he wouldn’t have sent a text like that, would he? He had just been anxious to get to the pool hall after all.

  Linda replied: Sorry I missed you before you left. Good luck with tourn! I love you more!!!

  Sliding the phone into her back pocket, her mind eased, Linda headed to her car. A little bounce had returned to her step and the easy smile to her face.

  Although she had a long shift at the store tonight, she thought it would go by quick enough if she could hold onto the warm and sexy feeling from her and Gavin’s shower earlier.

  Once she clocked in, she found out how wrong she had been in that assumption. The troubles with work began when the boss met her with an entire reset sheet for the whole of the women’s clothing department.