Recklessly Forbidden (Bennett Brothers Book 2) Read online

  Recklessly Forbidden

  Bennett Brothers

  Emily Bowie

  Recklessly Forbidden

  Copyright © 2017 Emily Bowie

  Kindle Edition

  Published by: Emily Bowie

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without written permission except for the use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Recklessly Devoted

  Other books by Emily Bowie

  A note from the author

  Acknowledgments

  Want more Emily Bowie

  Chapter 1

  JEWELS

  My leg is vibrating in place under my huge gown and graduating cover. My hands try to keep my leg from bouncing around but I am way too excited. Sitting in the front row, I am listening to my principal give the introduction for the valedictorian speech. This is it! He did warn me that he would have to be using my actual name—Jewels—not my nickname, Ruby. No one calls me Jewels, not even my mother. But it is the name on my driver’s license.

  “Please welcome Jewels Nicole Rogers!” The crowd erupts in cheers and hollers. Slowly, I make it up on stage, ready to give the speech I have worked on for the last month. Looking into the crowd I see my mom blubbering away, my brother, Luke, looking so proud, and my boyfriend, Trevor. I would have loved for my dad to be here, but God only takes the best.

  I still can’t believe that was a few short hours ago. Sitting at Van’s BBQ, where we have celebrated every milestone and birthday since I was able to sit still. It is tradition. The restaurant is packed, with us jammed smack-dab in the middle. Trevor’s hand holds mine, his thumb slowly circling against my thumb. Grabbing his knife, he taps his water glass and stands up. This not only catches our table’s attention but everyone’s in the room.

  Grabbing my hand, he lifts me to a standing position next to him. “I want you all to be able to share in this day with Ruby and me.”

  It’s my day not his but that’s okay. I look at him, smiling, waiting to hear what words he will toast me with. Before today I have always been in the shadows. Luke, my brother, is the all-star. I can’t help but relish in the attention I am getting.

  “We would like to announce that we are gettin’ married!” He sweeps down and kisses me, tipping me in a grand, romantic gesture. The room fills with even louder cheers of congratulations and clapping.

  I feel my cheeks burn crimson, and I’m a little lost in what is happening. I’m only eighteen, much too young to be getting married. I have only ever had one partner. What happened to proposing, actually getting down on one knee and asking for a girl’s hand in marriage? The moment all girls dream about. And this is mine?

  My eyes widen as I stare at Trevor, trying to figure out what he is doing. He is beaming with happiness and what looks like pride. He is shaking the hands of people around our table, and I am frozen in place, watching my life in front of me. Even amongst this attention that should be all about me, it’s not. Once again I am in the shadows and Trevor is the focal point.

  No. This is not what I want. We never spoke of marriage. What the hell! The room’s eyes are on us. I plaster a smile on my face for everyone else’s benefit. Trying to keep the southern charm I was brought up with intact. “Excuse me,” I say politely and begin to make my exit.

  “Ruby.” I hear his chair scrape across the floor as he starts to follow me out into the fresh air.

  Hoots and hollers are still heard throughout the room. Growing up in a small town truly makes everyone believe that they have a piece in helping you become who you are. They feel like they know you way too personally than they actually do.

  The fresh air hits my face but does nothing to relax or calm me down. I look at his truck, wishing I had driven instead of Trevor. Hiking up my hundred-pound dress, my cowgirl boots sound with a determined beat as I begin walking. I have no idea what I am doing; I just know that I need to get away.

  “Ruby, stop!”

  I hear him yell, but I ignore it. I am much too flustered to speak. I need to walk this off. But the squeal of his tires tells me he will not be letting that happen. I can see his truck out of the corner of my eye matching my speed, then he begins yelling at me through the open window. “Get in the fuckin’ truck, Ruby!”

  I wrap my arms around my chest like this will protect me. Why is it that no one ever asks me what I want? He stops the truck ahead of me and steps out. I want to be able to run my fingers through my strawberry blonde hair but I must have a hundred bobby pins throughout it. Making any attempt impossible, and only frustrating me more. Everything in my life is out of control, out of my hands. Whatever happened to being in control of your own destiny?

  He is standing with his feet apart, like you would to trap a small animal. I keep my head high, trying to keep my tears at bay, all the while sidestepping his presence. It does nothing. Instead, he wraps his muscular arms around me, scooping me up like it is nothing, dragging me into the passenger side of his crappy truck.

  Turning my body away from him and toward the window, I sit with my arms crossed, biting my tongue until we’re closer to my home. The more I think about his gall, the angrier I become.

  The whole ride is silent. I have no idea what he is thinking. The more I think about it, the more I realize I don’t care. Who announces they are getting married without consulting with the other party?

  Reaching my driveway, he begins to slow down. Now I’m not crazy but I need space, and I need to do something to show him I am serious. Opening the truck door, I jump out. Dress, cowgirl boots, and all.

  “Are you fuckin’ crazy?” I hear him yell out as he swerves his truck to the side of my driveway before stopping.

  I fall onto the pavement, scraping my hand and tearing my dress a little, but I’m fine. The truck honestly wasn’t going that fast. I don’t have a death wish. Besides, it isn’t like I will ever use this dress again.

  I begin running up to my house but Trevor is too fast. He grabs me just as I reach the house and pushes me against it. He brings my hands above my head, pinning them in place while his knee moves in-between my legs, giving me no opportunity to escape.

  “Ruby, this is going to happen. You will be my wife.” His eyes are cold and hard. I can see he has made up in his mind, this is happening. I can only imagine the gossip around town if this doesn’t happen.

  “What happened to an old fashioned pr
oposal?”

  He brings his face close to mine. “That went out the window when your family needed me.”

  “What are you talkin’ about?”

  “You are about to lose your ranch, without my family’s money you will be homeless in less than a year.” I try to wiggle away but I stay pinned.

  “The pedestal you all put your dad on will crumble down. The amount of his gambling debts he has on this place, I’m shocked he didn’t lose it himself. This town’s best kept secret is that your mom cries herself to sleep at night.”

  He smirks at me while brushing a lock of hair out of my face. “I plan to have you barefoot and pregnant in my kitchen before the year is up. You wouldn’t want the town to know I deflowered their princess, now would we? At least not before marriage.”

  His smile on his face is evil. It is as if he planned for all of this. He wanted to corner me in so I had no other choice.

  I hear the cocking of a rifle to see one being pointed at Trevor’s head. That’s what I love about my family. They always have your back, no matter what.

  “Get off our property,” my brother says between his clenched teeth. The dirt behind him is still swirling from his dramatic entrance.

  “She’s mine now, Rogers.”

  “The fuck she is. No one is gettin’ married.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Slowly, he lets me go, but not before he pushes his hard-on into me. Telling me that this turns him on even more.

  That night I packed all of my things and left town, determined to never step foot in this town again.

  Chapter 2

  JEWELS

  One year later

  I can’t believe I let my cousin Mandy convince me to go on a double date with her. I’m fine in the big city by myself. Her words to me were, “You can’t sit inside all day by yourself. I can’t be your only friend.”

  She didn’t take my response that I would go get a dog very well, so here I am.

  Sneaking a peek at my watch, I see he’s late, leaving me at the table with Mandy and her boyfriend, Kent.

  I already sucked back two Cokes and am tempted to order a drink to see if they card me. He better be hot, I tell myself. I focus my eyes on the table to be sure they don’t stare at the entryway.

  A sharp kick to my calf brings me out of my thoughts, my deep blue eyes immediately fly up and over to where I had been so focused on not looking. My eyes lock onto him. I don’t know how I know it’s him but I do. And man he’s fine. I can’t help but lick my lips in appreciation. I feel mesmerized, as if I’m physically unable to stop my appraisal of him. It should be a sin to be this good-looking.

  Everything about him screams he’s a woman magnet, from his perfectly tailored outfit to his dark, clean-cut hair, to his chiseled, clean-shaven jaw and smoldering dark brown eyes. Now I wish I had a drink in my hands. Somehow, my body begins to feel my brain’s scrutiny over eye fucking this stranger; I force myself to look back at the table. Trying to shrug off the effect he already seems to have on me.

  Taking a seat by me, he greets Mandy and Kent. I wait for him to turn his attention to me but it doesn’t happen. Just great, he’s one of those guys. Fighting off an eye roll, I let my manners shine through instead. “Hi, I’m Jewels.” I try using my sweet vixen voice in hopes I might have the same effect on him as he does to me right now. I see the look on my cousin’s face and shrug impassively before my attention turns back to him. She knows I never go by Jewels only my nickname, Ruby. New town, new start, new name, I figure.

  His smile is captivating. “Sorry, where are my manners? I’m Tyson Bennett.” His voice has a low, sexy rumble to it, making him even sexier.

  I instantly forgive his rudeness and give him another chance.

  The waitress comes to our table just then, her attention solely on Tyson. Seeing how everyone’s dressed, I wish I had known this was a nicer place; I feel underdressed in my jeans and T-shirt. I try not to squirm in my seat as a wave of discomfort washes over me. I now wish I had taken Mandy’s advice and picked something from her closet. The dress the waitress is wearing is perfect and I can’t help but wish I were the one wearing it. It is a simple black dress, formfitting, and has a triangular cutout on either side that exposes her skin, creating an understated sexiness.

  Bringing myself back to the conversation, I hear him say, “And she will get a Bellini.” I hold my breath for her to deny him but it doesn’t come. Maybe this is the perk of hanging with older friends.

  As soon as she leaves he places his arm around the top of my chair, whispering into my ear, “You look very nice tonight.” Up until this point I found him quite charming, but the textbook dating protocol is a turnoff. Especially knowing I don’t deserve the compliment based on how I’m dressed compared to everyone else here.

  I give him my sexy smirk. At least the one Trevor used to say was sexy. “Thank you. You look very dashing.” And he does. He is wearing longer dark gray dress shorts with a thin, geometric patterned sweater in shades of blue. It is tight and delicious. I instantly begin to wonder what he looks like underneath it all. Would he have that rancher body with strong arms, or is he more of a six-pack guy? Either way, that shirt makes him look like he has it all.

  “Are you from around here?” he asks with slight amusement dancing in his chocolate eyes. I mentally scold myself for drooling over him before returning to my checklist. Despite his initial rudeness, I give him points for trying to get to know me. I try not to judge myself that I am starting to go through my own checklist of date musts. Having a year in the big city, with knowing almost no one, I have had time to make my list as I read through a mountain of romance books. So far he has checked off two of my must haves.

  “No. From Three Rivers. It’s a super small town where everyone is famous for at least one moment in their lifetime.” I let out a low laugh; trying to play down how true my comment is, yet also hating how the last remark slipped off my tongue without warning.

  He chuckles, leaning in to lower his voice. “When was your moment?”

  My breath freezes, but I recover fast. “I was lucky, it didn’t happen until I finished high school.” Needing to steer this conversation away from my disclosure, I ask, “How do you know Mandy and Kent?”

  “I went to high school with Kent.” He looks in Kent’s direction but he and Mandy have drifted off into their own conversation. It’s like we are no longer at the table with them. I love that they seem to be laughing with each other, nuzzling into each other, and whispering into each other’s ears in their own private world. I want that someday.

  “What type of music do you like?” He keeps eye contact with me, sending shivers down my spine. Trevor was never this attentive. I have no idea why I was so scared to go on this blind date. I now wish I hadn’t made Mandy tag along with me. I’m a big girl, I have this.

  “Country, and you?” I turn my body into him, allowing us to talk in front of each other rather than beside.

  He laughs, moving his arm so that it is now touching me. “Of course it is.”

  “What’s wrong with that?” I ask, enjoying the comfortable banter between us.

  Tilting his head, he gives me a look but ignores my question. I can’t define the look, but whatever it is it makes me feel warm and happy. “Rock.”

  Just then the waitress comes back, ruining our moment. “Are you ready to order?”

  He moves his arm back to the top of my chair, making me wish that he would put it back against my neck, then turns his attention to the waitress.

  Gesturing to me, he responds, “She will have the steak, medium, with baked potatoes, fully loaded, and Caesar salad. I will have the same.”

  Hold up! Did he just order for me? My cheeks puff out, letting out a breath. Yep, that just happened, like I have no voice.

  “Medium rare, please,” I interject, feeling annoyed that he had the gall to order for me. Strike one.

  He continues our conversation like nothing just happened. “How long are you planning
on staying in the city?”

  “Forever,” I answer honestly. I have no intention of ever going back. “I’ve outgrown Three Rivers.”

  Our conversation ceases when the waitress comes back to our table to refill Mandy’s wine. It’s impossible not to notice her beautiful body as she stretches across the table.

  “Your dress is beautiful,” Tyson compliments, having her turn and smile at him. Which is a very nice compliment if he were talking to me, not some other girl on our date. She giggles and thanks him then reaches over to top up Kent’s wine, elongating her torso beautifully right in front of us.

  That is when I see his hand start to come up, pausing before moving to rest on the glass in front of him. I can’t help but look at him and then to the waitress. Do they know each other?

  Turning her eyes back to Tyson, she gives him a sexy fuck me look. The one I wish I could master. Instead, I look like I’m just drooling and in need of help. Damn those romance books! Anyway, strike two.

  Rolling my eyes, I inhale the rest of my Bellini that is now liquid and not slush because I have wasted my time with talking to him.

  Looking around the dimly lit lounge, it looks like the women that come here don’t actually eat. Only lettuce. Even Mandy. She needs to get back to her ranch roots and have a bloody steak. Anyway, not the point.

  Mandy and Kent finally begin to acknowledge our presence. “Who’s your celebrity crush, Jewels,” Mandy asks me out of nowhere, putting me on the spot. Is this the type of question I want to answer on a first date? I turn more toward the table so I can look at Mandy.

  “I don’t know, Scott Eastwood. I liked him in The Longest Ride.”

  “He was so good in that movie!” She turns to Kent. “We should watch that when we get home.”

  Our meals come out looking mouth-watering good. I can’t wait to try this steak; it has been a good few months since I have had one. My measly paycheck doesn’t afford me the opportunity to splurge often.

  Taking our first bites of our perfectly cooked steaks, the conversation of celebrities continues.