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

  Soon, Joan’s words began to haunt Linda’s thoughts and they continued to plague her good mood for the rest of her shift.

  Chapter 4

  (Gavin)

  Though he knew he should have hung around and waited to say bye to Linda after her shower, Gavin found it impossible to stick around and go through the touchy-feely moments that he knew were coming after her shower. Not that he didn’t like these moments with Linda, but tonight he simply didn’t have the time or patience for it. He had a tournament to go to and Patty would be waiting.

  Once he got in the mood for a tournament and filled his mind with thoughts of the pool hall and the other players, interactions with them, with Patty, it was difficult to get out of that mindset. If he did push his way out of that mindset to, say, hang around and play touchy-feely with Linda, well, then his pool game was shit and he lost money—Gavin couldn’t deal with that.

  Patty stood ready at the end of her short sidewalk. Soon as Gavin pulled to a stop, she jumped in the car and shut the door.

  “Hey, baby! Whoo! Can’t wait to watch you play pool tonight.” She leaned and kissed him hard and passionate.

  Gavin kissed her back, taking in the smell of cigarette smoke mingled with her vanilla scented perfume. It helped him dive even deeper into the pool hall mindset he needed to win this tournament.

  “I can’t wait for you to watch me play; you’re my lady luck.” Gavin laid his hand high on her thigh and squeezed as they drove toward the pool hall.

  Gavin played pool better than he had in months—and even after the encounter with Linda had worried him so badly. He’d been sure that it would bend his game, but apparently Patty really was his lady luck because he took first place for the night. Granted the tournament lasted much longer than one night, but if Patty came with him every night, he was certain he would win it all.

  “Come on, Patty; let’s go celebrate, bad cat!” Gavin slapped her ass and kissed her neck.

  Squealing in delight, Patty ran for the car and got in.

  Gavin watched her trotting away in her best tight jeans and fitted tank top. She was beautiful, sexy, and he wanted to celebrate before going home to Linda. He slid under the steering wheel, started the engine and turned to Patty.

  Sliding his hand up her thigh to her crotch, Gavin moaned. Patty spread her legs and pressed against his hand. She didn’t even play at being coy, shy, or reserved. He liked that.

  “This outfit is really working for you tonight, bad cat.” He pressed his hand harder against her crotch and she giggled. “And, if you keep teasing me like this, you’re gonna get a rod thrown in that rear-end.”

  “Well, I was wondering how long it would take you to offer. I need a big, hard, long rod thrown in my rear-end, Gavin. A girl can only go so long without sex, you know. It starts to drive her crazy after a little while.” She grabbed his crotch and squeezed.

  Gavin didn’t play at being coy or shy or reserved, either. He enjoyed Patty’s brazen ways. “Here, let me help you with that.” Gavin stopped at a stop sign and unbuttoned his jeans.

  Patty immediately took over and unzipped his fly and pulled his cock out. Gavin moaned and gave silent thanks to whatever power out there that had made Patty and kept the little dark back roads mostly devoid of traffic at this hour.

  After finding a darkened pull-off where they wouldn’t be seen, Gavin bent her over the hood of his car and took her roughly. It didn’t last long, but she seemed fully satisfied as they finished.

  “Mmm. Gavin, you are such a bad, bad man. God, I love nights like this and I think I’d have sex with you anywhere.” Patty kissed him as she dressed quickly.

  She was unlike Linda in that she didn’t do the after-sex touchy-feely episodes. She wanted sex, rough and dirty usually; she wanted satisfaction and to be left alone afterwards—much the same as Gavin and every other man in the world, he thought.

  Gavin dropped off Patty at her house and headed back toward his and Linda’s house, trying to get into the proper mindset to become the Gavin that was loyal to her. It wasn’t an easy life, but it wasn’t so difficult that he was ready to give it up just yet, either.

  There was only one place to get something to eat at two in the morning—Rhoda’s Diner. Gavin stopped to grab one of her famous burgers before heading home; it would help him reset before crawling into bed by Linda again.

  As he stepped into Rhoda’s, there were others there from the tournament and some who were just eating, he supposed; or drinking because Rhoda served all night, every night. Things like that happen in small towns everywhere; it’s just what makes the world go ‘round. The cops turned a blind eye as long as no one caused trouble.

  Two guys from the tournament greeted Gavin as he stepped through the door and he exchanged some guy talk for a minute and then ordered his burger.

  Waiting on his takeout, Gavin sat at the end of the long bar. The long mirror above the bar showed the darkened area in the back where a few tables and booths sat. Movement in the reflection there caught his eye but the mirror was a bit wavy and showed a distorted image. The harder he tried to make it out, the more it wavered and blurred, but he was sure he’d seen Rita move over in a booth, trying to get out of sight.

  I’ll act as if I saw nothing and wait for my food; I’ll walk back that way after I pay Rhoda and see who it is in that booth, he thought. Rita should not be out this late with anyone—she should be at home in bed—alone. His mind churned these thoughts until his blood boiled with anger. His hands shook as he paid for his burger and the muscles in his thighs quavered as he walked toward the booth.

  Standing at the end of the booth, Gavin looked from Rita to the scrawny nobody that sat across from her. She stared at him with big, round, scared eyes and he glared at her. Time slowed down and then seemed to stop as he looked from her to the man on the other seat.

  Finally, Rita spoke. She stammered, “Gavin! Hi! Been to the tournament tonight, huh?” She pushed her hair away from her face and tucked a strand behind one ear.

  Gavin’s ears turned hot and began to ring. He looked at the man. “Who the hell are you?” He dropped his takeout bag onto the table.

  “Uhm. I’m Rodney.” The man actually held out his hand in introduction.

  Gavin turned to Rita. “What the hell’s going on, Rita? What’s the meaning of this?”

  There was movement and the next recollection Gavin had was of letting go of Rodney’s shirt and the man crumpling to the floor. Rita screamed somewhere far to his left. Then the screams turned to the wailing of a siren and the room lit up in blue and red strobes as the police parked out front.

  Chapter 5

  (Linda)

  The trilling of the phone in the living room startled Linda from an already restless sleep. Stumbling and tripping over her own feet as she hurried to the other room, Linda swore aloud—something she hardly ever did since she was a teenager.

  Relying on the dim glow of the small lamp in the corner, Linda snatched the phone from the sofa where she’d accidentally left it before giving up on Gavin calling and going on to bed alone.

  “Hello?” She looked at the digital clock on the microwave as she stepped into the kitchen: 4:10. She looked out the window and saw that the predawn darkness was beginning to lighten up.

  “Linda? It’s me. I need you to come get me.” He sounded strained.

  “Of course. Where are you? Did the car break down? Did you have an accident?” Already pulling on her clothes, Linda moved through the house, flipping on lights as she went, nearly panicked for Gavin.

  “Geez, Linda! Later! Just come to county lock-up and bail me out. You’ll have to bring…” His voice faded to a drone in her ear.

  County lock-up? What had happened and why was he there? The more she listened, the more she understood that he’d not been in an accident.

  On her way to county, Linda’s panic faded into the background and anger, in the form of a low-burning flame replaced it.

  By the time she reached the jail and posted bail for Gavin, Linda was numb. So many scenarios had run through her head, terrifying and angering her. Gavin had been charged with assault apparently.

  She wasn’t all together surprised, as Gavin did sometimes have a rather hot temper. Waiting on him to come out to the car, Linda figured that something had gone wrong at the pool tournament and resulted in a fight.

  Gavin opened the car door and flopped into the passenger seat, slamming the door and immediately rolled down the window. Huffing in irritation, he looked at Linda.

  “What the hell are we waiting on? Nobody’s sending an invitation for you to get me home, you know.” He pointed at the road and raised his eyebrows in simulation of an angsty teen.

  “What’s this? No explanation? No…nothing?” She put the car into drive and headed toward home.

  “Jesus! I said later, Lin! Don’t nag me so much, woman.” He turned to look out his window—again, just like an angst-filled teen.

  Linda gritted her teeth against the hot retort. He’d called her woman and that was one of her pet peeves. She had a name and it was certainly not woman—especially when he used it with the tone that made it sound annoying and dirty.

  Pulling up to the house, she motioned for him to get out. She was going to go on to work and not have to deal with the arguing that would surely explode if she followed him inside.

  “You’re going somewhere?” He opened the door and put one foot on the concrete.

  “Work.” She kept her eyes straight ahead and gripped the wheel.

  “Not even interested in my bad night, huh? Just like a self-absorbed woman.” He stepped out and slammed the door, stalking toward the front door.

  So angry that her whole body trembled, Linda drove just around the corner to a little convenience sto
re and parked beside the decaying little building. Digging through her purse, she pawed at her cell phone in anger and finally succeeded in dialing Joan’s number.

  “Hello?” Joan sounded tired.

  “It’s Linda, Joan. I’m not going to be able to work today. Something has come up.” Her voice quavered as she fought back the tears that threatened.

  “Linda? Are you all right? You sound terrible; what’s going on?” Joan’s voice perked up and real worry tinged her words.

  “Gavin was in jail and I just bailed him out. A fight with someone over something that he won’t tell me about. Joan, he spoke to me as if I was nobody.” The tears began streaming down her cheeks silently.

  “Where are you? Where is Gavin? You two aren’t fighting are you?”

  “I’m at Pap’s Store and no, we’re not even speaking. I left Gavin at home alone.” She sniffled loudly.

  “Why don’t you come over and stay here for the day? Don’t go home until you’ve calmed down, Linda.”

  Linda agreed and headed to Joan’s house, driving erratically along the small back roads where her friend lived.

  By the time Joan was ready to go to work, Linda had calmed considerably and she deliberated her next actions.

  “Joan, I think I’m going back. I have to find out why Gavin was acting that way. It was so unlike him; so uncharacteristic. He’s snappy sometimes but nothing like this.” Linda followed her friend out the front door.

  Joan turned to Linda. Worry etched her face. “Do you think that’s really the best idea? I mean, you don’t even have a clue as to why he was fighting in the first place and then he wouldn’t tell you anything about it and turned on you. It worries me for you to go back right now, Linda.”

  Smiling at Joan, Linda said, “I love you, Joan. I shouldn’t have worried you with all this in the first place, but I was just so upset and I didn’t know who to talk to or what to do or think.”

  After a long pause, Joan said, “You have my number and you know where I’ll be if you need me. Do not hesitate. If anything starts to go sideways, you leave. Don’t argue with him. You don’t know that he wasn’t on some drug that turned him violent, Lin. I know he doesn’t do drugs, but you can never be sure when someone just goes off like that. You can’t be sure. And, if that’s what happened, you also don’t know how long it will be in his system causing problems.”

  Linda looked away uncomfortably. Several years earlier, Joan’s adult son had come to a weekend cookout at his mother’s house and had become aggressive with one of his cousins. When Joan had tried to calm the argument, her son turned on her, also. In the end, Joan, her nephew, two cousins, and Joan’s son were hospitalized. Sadly, her son never recovered. He’d taken a fatal dose of an illicit drug and he died in hospital.

  Joan was rightfully worried. Linda didn’t like to talk about the death of her friend’s son. She liked even less that Joan saw some similarity between her past tragedy and Linda’s present situation.

  “I promise if he even looks off-kilter, I’ll just leave and come to the diner. Okay?” Linda tried to smile reassuringly even though she was beginning to wonder if going back was such a keen idea.

  Flipping her key ring, Joan studied Linda for a moment and then relented. “Okay. Deal. I’ll call you in an hour. If you don’t answer, I’ll send the sheriff, I swear it, Linda. I have to hear your voice when I call to know you’re really all right.”

  “Deal.” She laughed nervously and hugged Joan tight and quick.

  Parking by the sidewalk at her home, Linda took several deep breaths to steady her nerves before walking inside to confront Gavin.

  Inside, Gavin was stretched out on the sofa, idly flipping through the channels on the television. He looked up at her with no expression. “Not working today?”

  Linda’s pulse raced. Gavin’s expressionless face was unnerving. “No. Actually, I thought it might be a good idea to discuss last night, Gavin.” She slid her hands into her pants pockets, too nervous to sit.

  “Mmm. You did, huh?” He didn’t make eye contact but his expression clouded over.

  “Don’t you?” She sidestepped toward the door. Gavin’s stormy expression scared her a bit.

  Sudden as a snake-strike, Gavin sat upright, leaned forward, tossed the remote control to the coffee table, and stood. “No, actually I think it’s a really bad idea. I don’t want to get upset again over it and talking about it will just stress me out.” He took three quick steps and stood before her. His expression cleared. “I think we should go out and get something to eat. Let’s make the best of your unexpected day off, Lin.”

  Backing away, Linda said, “Gavin. I don’t know; I’m worried about you.”

  Chuckling, he replied, “Well, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me; let’s just go have a decent time. I got into a fight and I had been drinking. That’s all. Stupid on my part; I know that now, but shit happens, you know?” He reached out to stroke her upper arm.

  Linda tried to not flinch. She studied his face and his posture. All his body language suggested that he was telling the truth, but Linda had her doubts still. If he had taken drugs, there was no sign of them now. That was a plus. She nodded slightly.

  “Great! Is that a yes? Should I go get the car?” Gavin moved past her and toward the door, pausing only to look back at her and confirm that she was in agreement.

  “Yes. That would be good. We deserve a good time, eh?” Still feeling as if she were phoning it in from a distance, Linda smiled weakly. Something was off still; something wasn’t right with his actions, but she was fearful to let him know that she sensed it—she didn’t want to argue with him, after all.

  As he brought the car around the house, Linda ended her short call with Joan. She had called her friend just to let her know that she and Gavin were fine, no arguments, and that they were going out to eat and have a day together.

  Reluctantly, Joan agreed and ended the call.

  Chapter 6

  (Gavin)

  Gavin did his best to shrug off his night in the cross-bar motel and focus on Linda. She was, after all, his girl of choice for the day. For some reason, he felt that his world was beginning to crumble around him; the debris could build up quickly. He would do all he could to prevent Linda from finding out about the others and to keep any of his women from finding out about each other—that could be disastrous. What was his, was his forever—or at least until he tired of it; the women were his and he hadn’t tired of any of them yet.

  Linda would not ask many questions if he focused on keeping her attention away from the subject of last night. A day of wandering through the antique shopping malls just across the state line and eating out at semi-fancy restaurants should do the trick—and that’s exactly what he planned to do.

  Linda opened the passenger door and leaned to look in at him. “You need anything from the house?” Her smile was a bit warmer; less fearful and anxious.

  Shaking his head in negation, Gavin smiled what he knew was his best, charming smile to disarm her completely. That very smile had gotten him laid by some of the prettiest, sexiest women around. “Not a thing. Only thing I’m missing is your fine derriere in my passenger seat.” He waited until she buckled up and leaned over to loudly whisper, “I can think of a few other places I’d love to see and feel that fine behind, too.” He waggled his eyebrows at her and was rewarded with a flirty giggle.

  She was fine; today would be a good day for them and hopefully it would have a super-happy ending. If he played his cards just right, he could have Lin when they returned home and quite possibly he could have one of his other women later when he would make an excuse to run out for a bit—blowjobs on the fly were a serious turn-on for him—especially after having sex with someone else.

  His big fantasy was to have more than one of his women—an orgy. Naked flesh, mounds to squeeze, slap, kiss, nibble. Two of his women were oral experts and now that he’d thought of them and the specialized pleasures they could bring him, he couldn’t stop thinking about them. His groin throbbed as he drove with one hand resting high on Linda’s firm thigh, squeezing, kneading the flesh there.