Tartlet (Turf Wars #4) Read online

  Poppy grins. “Oh, I have some great ideas. Are they being dicks, if they’re being dicks I’ll have something to say. Trust me, I’ve been in your shoes and they can be douchey.”

  I laugh. “They’re dicks, but I can handle it. I’m just glad to see a female. I’m getting testosteroned out.”

  Poppy laughs. “Well, I’m here anytime. I’m actually coming to see Beckett, but if you’re due for a lunch break soon you should come over to my friend Eve’s café, it’s just over the parking lot.”

  “Oh, I’ve been there once before. Sure, sounds good. They owe me lunch now.”

  “Good. Get cleaned up, and I’ll meet you out front.”

  “Sorry about your shirt,” I say, pointing to the large stain on her shirt.

  She waves it off. “Don’t even, it doesn’t bother me.”

  She strolls off and I get myself changed, walking out of the bathroom and running straight into Remy. He catches me, big hands on my shoulders, and I won’t lie, I take a good long smell of him. There is something about a man who has been working with cars—the smell drives me wild.

  It’s my biggest weakness.

  “Did you just fuckin’ sniff me?”

  I snort and take a step back. “Yes. I happen to like the smell of mechanics. So sue me.”

  “Don’t see me throwin’ my nose between your legs because I like the smell of pussy.”

  I grin. “If that’s what floats your boat, I’m here for the taking.”

  He stares at me, shocked.

  Oh, that’s right. Working with men means I know how to deal with them, too. They always think they can shock me with their sexual advances, but I’m more than capable of putting them back in their places by shocking them right back. Also, if Remy wanted to take me over one of those old cars out there, I wouldn’t say no. He’s gorgeous.

  “Didn’t pick you as that type.”

  “What type is that?” I ask, crossing my arms.

  “Easy.”

  I grin. “That depends how you define easy.”

  “You just offered up your pussy for me.”

  “And? I’m sure you roll around offering your dick up to random women all the time. Are you easy?”

  He narrows his eyes, then leans in close. “Oh, fuck yeah.”

  I laugh. “Well, then you’re in no place to judge. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lunch date with Poppy.”

  “She’s trouble, watch her.”

  I wink at him. “Then we’ll get along just fine.”

  I turn and walk away but as I reach the door, I look back over my shoulder. “Oh, and Remy?”

  He looks to me.

  “You made a mistake doing that to me today. There’s one thing you should know about me, I know how to play. Hard.”

  With that, I leave.

  They’re about to learn who Gabriella really is.

  “SO YOU’RE WORKING WITH all those guys,” Eve asks, her eyes wide. “God, they’re hard enough to handle separately. Are you crazy, girl?”

  I laugh. “Probably, but it’s a good job and I’m out to prove them a girl can be just as good as them.”

  “Good for you!” Ramona, Eve and Poppy’s friend, laughs. “I love nothing more than having to see them eat their words.”

  “Have you lived around town for long, Gabby?” Poppy asks. “I feel like I’ve seen you, but I’m not sure where.”

  I’m sure she has, too.

  “Yeah, I’ve been here most of my life. I am known to have caused a few problems during that time,” I grin.

  “Oh, what’s your last name?” Eve asks. “I’ve been here forever, too.”

  Shit.

  One mention of my last name, and Eve will know exactly which family I belong to and why I’m here.

  “You’ll never believe it, but Smith,” I laugh. “The most original name in the history of names. When I have to tell people, most of the time they think I’m lying.”

  Eve laughs. “I can imagine! What street did you grow up on?”

  Jesus, she wants to know everything.

  “Eve, dear, who is your new friend?”

  An old woman sitting on the table beside us, literally just saved my ass. I had no idea how I was going to answer that one. I couldn’t exactly make up a street name, she’d probably know it was fake.

  “Oh, sorry. Doris, this is Gabby. Gabby, this is Doris. The town gossip and excellent advice giver. Do not ask for said advice unless you want the god honest brutal truth.”

  Doris shakes her head. “Don’t listen to her, dear. I keep to myself. I’m just here for the cake. I overheard you’re working at the garage?”

  I nod. “Yep, but they’re not making it easy. The whole being a girl thing and all ...”

  “When I was in middle school,” Doris begins, “there was a group of boys who didn’t want me on their sports team, but I was passionate. I got so angry when they fought to have me removed, that I put superglue in every single one of their jockstraps. You’ve never seen anything funnier than all of them trying to figure out why they couldn’t get them off.”

  “Oh my god!” Eve laughs. “Doris, that could have caused long term damage.”

  “It was only a drop or two, dear, and they were all fine. What really could have caused long term damage is them kicking me out because I was a girl.”

  “I like you,” I say with a nod. “I think I want to be you when I grow up.”

  “Get the Botox now then, dear. You don’t want these wrinkles ruining your chances with the gentleman. They don’t like the saggy skin, not now all these women have those big, perky breasts. I asked if I could get perky breasts a few years ago and my doctor told me it’s just too late for me now, there’s so much skin he’d be in there for an entire day.”

  I laugh. “You’re great just as you are. You’ve also given me an idea.”

  Poppy grins. “Do share.”

  “I’m going to need you all to help me, are you in?”

  “Hell yes!” Ramona claps. “I’m so freakin’ in.”

  “Ah, yes, it has been too long since I’ve pulled an epic prank. They deserve it after what they did to you today.”

  “Take me,” Doris says, sipping her coffee. “I do love a good revenge plot.”

  Eve shakes her head. “Doris, you’re way too big mouthed. You’ll tell everyone before we even finish.”

  Doris feigns a gasp. “Eve, dear, I thought you liked me.”

  Eve grins. “I love you, Doris, but you’re not coming.”

  “Fine,” she huffs. “I’ll stay here and grow my skin collection by eating more of these muffins.”

  I laugh. “Right, gather round, this is going to be epic.”

  Oh.

  Indeed.

  4

  “IT’S GOING TO TAKE a while,” I say, handing them all a roll of fishing line and a pair of scissors each, “but it’s going to be worth it when they come in tomorrow.”

  Eve grins. “This is epic. I don’t care how long it takes, the look on their faces is going to be priceless.”

  “This’ll teach them, no doubt about it.” Ramona looks at the pile of spanners, wrenches, screw drivers and tools I’ve got ready to be hung from the ceiling.

  Yes, we’re going to hang each and every one of their tools from the ceiling with fishing wire. We’re using the car hoists to get us up high enough and we’re going to hang each and every item separately. It’s going to take a while, but my god, when they come in tomorrow, they’re going to bust a top.

  I can’t wait.

  “You’re genius, this is the best plan ever,” Poppy grins.

  “You’re not climbing on a hoist, you can do all the tying,” Eve orders her, pointing a finger. “We can’t have you falling off and hurting that baby.”

  Poppy frowns. “Oh come on, those hoists hold cars. I’m fine!”

  “Nope.” Eve shakes her head. “You’re going to tie them all so we can hang them. Get to it.”

  Poppy mutters something and then starts
picking up each tool and tying it before handing it to one of us. We get to work, taking a bunch of the tools up at a time, hanging them anywhere we can get them and then coming down for another load. It takes us a good three hours, but by the time we’re done, the garage looks freaking hilarious. Every single thing that can be hung, is now dangling from the ceiling.

  “This is epic.” Eve laughs. “My god, I want to be here when they walk in tomorrow.”

  “Riggs is going to kill you.” Poppy laughs. “Considering you’re the one who stole his key to get in.”

  Eve shrugs. “Eh, he’ll only get so mad. He loves me too much.”

  “I’m the one who’ll get into the most trouble.” Poppy grins, clapping her hands together. “Beckett is still moody and all over the place. He’ll probably take it out on me the most.”

  “Ugh, he’s still being dicky?” Ramona asks.

  Poppy shrugs. “I mean, no, not in a mean way. He’s just moody, it has been quite a road for us, but we’re getting better. He cares about me, that much is clear, but you know, we didn’t get together in the most conventional way.”

  “How do you mean?” I ask, even though I know damn well how she means.

  “Oh, well he was seeing a married woman and we kind of ... I don’t know, started a thing and then everything just went really bad. It’s a long story, and I got pregnant, and he stopped seeing the married woman. He did love her, though, so I can’t help but wonder if he’s not fully over it.”

  He loved her?

  Becky.

  Ugh, why? If he knew what she was really like, he wouldn’t. She can put on a good show, but my dear sister is as cold and heartless as they come.

  I feel bad for saying that sometimes, because maybe I just never gave her a chance. In our family, things don’t always go the way you want them to. You have dreams of having this incredible sister and being close, but it just wasn’t how it went down. I wonder if things were different, if we’d get along, but I find it so hard to even picture a world where that would happen.

  I don’t know that Becky will ever look at me without hate and disgust. I’m not the sister she ordered, if I were, we’d be fine. I don’t like the richer things in life, I don’t care about our father’s business and money means nothing to do me. For her, those things are her world and I’m sure she’d love a sister she could do her nails with and talk about the latest handbags.

  That sister ain’t me, I’m afraid.

  “I mean, it’s probably going to take time,” Ramona says carefully. “Feelings don’t just turn off, but, in saying that, he made a choice and I’m certain he’s confident with that choice.”

  “I wonder if I wasn’t pregnant, if he’d still have made the choice, though,” Poppy murmurs.

  I feel bad for her, that would be a crappy situation to be in because you’d be constantly wondering if you didn’t have a baby growing inside you, if that man would still be there? I see the way Beckett looks at Poppy and there is no doubt he’s into her, but apparently he was in love with Becky, and Poppy is right, can you just switch that off?

  I don’t know, I’ve never been in love so I couldn’t tell you.

  “I’m sure he cares about you,” I say, giving her a warm smile. “How could he not? Look at you, you’re so fucking beautiful.”

  She grins. “Says she, have you looked in the mirror lately?”

  “Right?” Ramona nods. “Girl, you’re the most attractive woman I’ve seen in forever.”

  “Gotta agree.” Eve nods. “You’re smokin’, Gabby. You’ve got to have men lining up.”

  I snort. “They do until I open my mouth; I’m afraid I’m very forward and not too many like that.”

  “I like strong willed.” Poppy winks. “It keeps them on their toes.”

  “Speaking of ...” I look up. “This’ll keep them on their toes, too.”

  “Oh, hell yes it will.” Eve grins. “Let’s get out of here so we don’t get busted. Riggs will be wondering where the hell I am soon. I said I was drinking with Ramona but he knows I won’t be out late.”

  “I’ll be in early tomorrow,” I tell them. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

  This should be fun.

  Oh, yes.

  It’s going to be a blast.

  “WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. Fuck.”

  I press a hand to my mouth as I watch Remy stand in the garage, his eyes on the ceiling, the other guys all beside him, looking up. Their faces are the best thing I’ve seen and my god, I wish I could pull my phone out and record them, but I’m certain it wouldn’t go down well. I smother a laugh and keep my hand pressed to my lips as Remy turns, his eyes on me. “Care to fuckin’ explain?”

  I look up, and then burst out laughing. It takes me a minute to compose myself, but when I do I look him dead in the eye with a grin that tells him I’m not to be messed with. “I told you, I can play just as hard.”

  “How the fuck did you get all our tools up there?” Hank asks, looking almost a little impressed.

  “With great difficulty, and help.”

  “One of your helpers didn’t happen to be a pregnant little hottie with a big mouth, did it?” Beckett asks.

  I snort. “Never met someone fitting that description, sorry.”

  He grunts. “Bullshit.”

  “You’re goin’ to get every fuckin’ one of them down, now,” Remy orders. “We got work to do and fuckin’ a lot of it.”

  I walk to my corner and roll my tool set out. “Nope,” I say, wheeling it over to the one car that has to be done before opening. “I’ve got everything I need to get the job done, I guess I’m getting employee of the month this time ‘round, yeah?”

  “Fuckin’ ...” Remy growls.

  I grin at him. “Maybe you’ll think twice about treating me the way you did yesterday. Better get to it, boys, the customers will be here soon.”

  “There’ll be revenge for this,” Remy warns. “Mark my words.”

  “Yes, yes.” I wave a hand at him. “Get to it, you don’t have all day.”

  With a growl, he gets to it. They all do, climbing up on the car hoists and getting the tools down one by one. By the time they’re done, I’m finished with the car and it’s ready to go. The garage opens just as Hugh is getting the last tool down. I wipe my hands on a rag and look at them. “Great job, guys. I must admit, it looked pretty rough up there.”

  Remy glares at me, walking closer and leaning in. “This isn’t over.”

  I lean in, too, until we’re nearly nose to nose. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  He growls and spins on his heel, opening the garage doors to the two customers already waiting with their cars.

  I keep my grin the entire day. The guys get right back into with little disruption to their day, but I get a whole lot of glares thrown in my direction. They’re all pissed, all their tools are mixed up and they’ve been constantly swapping with each other to try and get them all back in the right place. I’ve been enjoying every damned moment of it, watching with a smile on my face. Like a Cheshire cat.

  “You better wipe that smile off your face, kid,” Remy mutters, walking past me. “It’s irritating as fuck.”

  “So easily agitated.” I grin.

  He gives me a look. “Get over here and help me lift this out.”

  He points to a heavy part that needs to come out of a car. I walk over and together we maneuver it out. “I guess,” I grunt, “if you just told me I’m good at my job, we might not have these kinds of issues.”

  “Never goin’ to happen,” he mutters, his biceps straining as we place it on the ground.

  God damn, man is fine.

  “When is your next club cookout thing?” I ask, helping him move the part out of the way now it’s on the floor.

  “Why?” he asks, voice tight.

  “Ah, because I really want to go to one.”

  “This weekend,” he mutters.

  “Oh, how awesome!”

  He gives me another look. “Are you a
lways so fuckin’ excited about everything?”

  I nod. “Mostly, yeah.”

  “Fuck me.”

  “You only live once, my friend. Anyway, lunch time.”

  He watches me as I go. I flick him a smile.

  Into the biker clubhouse to start gathering some information.

  Mission one, complete.

  5

  I MEAN, YES.

  This party is epic.

  I knew the parties thrown by the club were good, but this is something else. This is a rager and a half. There are people everywhere, drinks, drugs, sex, and a whole lot of fucking crazy. I love every single thing about it, even though I really shouldn’t. I promised myself my partying days were over, but this brings back some fond memories of the times I let myself go crazy.

  I’m better now, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to enjoy the shit out of this night.

  I move through the crowd of people, following Eve who knows exactly where she’s going. She finds a spot where we can sit down, and Ramona joins us a few minutes later. Poppy will be here soon, but she’s not happy about having to attend a party and staying sober. Can’t say I blame her—with all these people enjoying themselves, it would be hard.

  “So, what do you think? Is it everything you imagined?” Eve asks me.

  “Oh my god, yes. This is awesome!”

  “If you go down a few halls, you’ll see people fucking. It’s insane later in the night. I do it for a good laugh.” Ramona grins.

  “That’s bad ass, and creepy, and I love it.” I chuckle. “I’m in.”

  “Seriously, drunken sex is hilarious to watch.” Eve nods. “I don’t think they understand how their moaning sounds.”

  I giggle. “God, I can imagine. I’ll be going in for that one later.”

  “The drunken sex or the watching?” Ramona wiggles her brows.

  “Both if I’m lucky!”

  We drink and dance and, my god, I haven’t enjoyed myself like this in years. Busting to pee, I move away from the crowds of people and toward the bathroom. They really do need to reconsider the bathroom situation, it’s always full and, honestly, there are a lot of people here. One is just not enough. I wait in the line, hopping from side to side, when Remy walks past with a woman attached to his arm.