The Wild Ones (Book 2 in the Smalltown Superstars Series)

5

The morning came all too fast and when that alarmstarted beeping Dawson had a mighty desire to smash it with a sledgehammer. Hegroaned and pulled the pillow over his head. He had only been asleep for abouttwo hours. He had such trouble falling asleep with Brook next door. Dawsoncould not stop thinking of her. She had consumed his thoughts until he passedout from exhaustion.

Hecould not sleep any longer though. Their flight left at nine thirty. He wouldhave to sleep on the plane. Dawson rolled out of bed and took a quick coldshower to wake himself up. He then dressed in a pair of old jeans and at-shirt. Not his usual fine attire but since he was on holidays, he figured casual was the way to go.

Dawsonpicked up his suitcase which had been packed the night before and left hisroom. He stopped outside Brook’s door and could hear the alarm but no movement.He banged on the door to wake her up and then carried his bag downstairsleaving it at the door beside Brook’s.Dawson went into the kitchen and found his chequebook.He left a cheque on the table for the maid service. He then made sureeverything was turned off.

Hedouble checked his office to see that everything was powered down and filedaway. Then Dawson took both his bag and Brook’s out to his car placing them inthe trunk. He was more than ready to go, butthere was still no sign of Brook. Dawson went back inside and up to her room.He could still hear the alarm; she musthave been so tired she slept right through it.

Dawsoncracked the door and looked inside. As hethought, Brook was still sound asleep in bed. He had to wake her if theywere going to make their flight. He came into the room calling her name, but she did not stir. Dawson turned off thealarm and knelt on the bed beside Brook. She slept on her belly. Her long hairfanned out down her back. The blanket only came up to her waist covering herbottom. Dawson could see the full view of her creamy ivory back.

Shestill wore her bra. A thin cotton band of navy blue wrapped around her, twotiny hooks all that held the flimsy fabric together. It would be so easy toremove it. He had done so a million times. What treasures lay beneath? Dawsoncraved to touch her. His hand gently touched her back, and Brook jerked awake clutching the blanket to her breast. Dawsonjumped up from the bed his heart beating like a teenage boy caught peeping hebacked up as her eyes fell on him. “You slept in.” He said right away. “Sleptright through the alarm. I had to come in and wake you.”

Brookpicked up the alarm clock and looked at the time. “Oh, darn it, I’ll be rightdown.” She promised.

Dawsonquickly left the room shutting the door behind him. He leaned back against thedoor breathing a sigh of relief. For a moment he was sure she would freak outand start calling him a pervert. Brook had startled him popping up suddenlylike a jack in the box. His heart was pounding wildly. Dawson headed back downto the front door to wait for her.

As promised, Brook had dressed and met him in thedriveway in a jiffy. She looked adorable in her faded blue jeans and a tight white t-shirt. Something right out of aplayboy fantasy from her tanned leather boots right up to her weathered cowboyhat, those bright red curls falling out from underneath. Dawson opened the doorto his Cadillac and Brook got inside. He soon joined her behind the wheel. Hepulled out of the drive, and they were ontheir way to the airport.

Theyparked in the stay over parking lot paying for a weeks’ worth of parking. Thenthey took their bags into the airport, stood in line to check their bags, afterwhich they walked through security where they were patted down and scanned with metal detectors. Brook laughed whenthe lady security guard ran her hands over her, claiming she was ticklish. Theyeventually made it through security and onto their plane.

Theyhad first class seats. Personally, Dawson hated flying coach. There was never enough room, and people always bothered him. Comparedto flying coach, the food was better in first class, as was the service andthere was more room to breathe. The flight to LA would not be a longone. Just a few hours. Long enough for a quick nap to feel rejuvenated whenthey touched down. Brook had the same idea because she was out like a light bythe time the aircraft took flight. Dawson flagged down the flight attendant fora blanket and covered Brook up. He then leaned his seat back and closed hiseyes to get in a quick nap.

Whenthey landed in LA, it took well over anhour to get through the US customs and security. Once they had, they went in search of their bags at theluggage curricle. They watched the bags go by one by one picking up theirs asthey came by. Then they headed over to the rental car counter. Dawson was notabout to go a whole week without a vehicle. He rented a convertible and paidthe woman behind the counter. Taking the keys to the car she led them out tothe vehicle, a white soft top convertible with the top down and grey patentleather seats.

Dawsonput the bags in the trunk and watched Brook grin as she jumped into the carwithout opening the door like she was Daisy Duke. Dawson playfully jumped thedoor sliding into his seat and slipped the key into the ignition. He put on hissunglasses and revved the engine. He thenheaded out to find their hotel.

Dawsonhad pre-booked a room at the MonahanHotel overlooking the beach. The whole trip had been pre-booked as a honeymoonso they had some juggling to do but he was sure he could make it work. He hadpreviously booked an executive suite for him and Raven. Just one bed to share,it would not have been an issue had things gone as planned. However, since his guest, today was not the woman he had plannedon, and he had not yet managed to swayher to fall prey to his wiles one bed posed a significant problem.

Shewould not be willing to share a bed with him, at least not yet. However, Dawsondid not want to give up the intimacy of a single room either. It forced themtogether, forced an intimacy upon them that would not otherwise be there givinghim an advantage in their strategic game of wits.

Whenthey reached the hotel, Dawson left Brook sitting in the comfort of the lobbywith their bags as he attempted to book a second room. So, he told her. Instead, Dawson made an arraignment with thedesk clerk and the manager to say they were all booked up and no other roomswere available as of now. For this service,he tipped very well. Dawson thenreturned to Brook and shrugged his shoulders in defeat. “I’m afraid we’re roommate’s Hellcat. There are no other suites.” He told her.

“What are you talking about?” She asked not believing him.

“They’re all booked up. It is a very popular place. Weonly got this room because I pre-booked it.”

“That is ridiculous,” Brook said standing up and heading over to the deskclerk. Brook leaned against the desk and smiled at the young woman. “Excuse me but can you look again you must havesomething.”

“I’m sorry Miss, butthere is nothing available. I can put you on a waiting list if you like. Ifsomething opens up, we can change yourroom for a fee.”

Brookfrowned. “Not a single thing?”

“No.”

Brooklooked back at Dawson and resigned herself to the idea that they would besharing a room. “Alright then. Would you at least send up acot, so we don’t need to share the bed?”

“I’m sorry ma’am, but all thecots have been taken up by the hockey league that checked in this morning.”

Brookwalked back to Dawson and picked up her bag. “Well then isn’t this your lucky day.” She said as if she suspected he had something to dowith this sudden shortage of everything. He did, but she could not prove it. Dawson picked up his bag, and they went in search of their room.

Theytook the elevator up to the fourteenth floor where they found their suite.Dawson opened the door, and they wentinside. It was a lot like every other hotel room he had rented. He travelled so much for work that hotel life hadlost its magic for him. Even the fancy ones were all the same after a while. Abed, a couch, a TV, a washroom. Some had a desk, most had a mini fridge, andsome were of the bars were stocked. Thisroom was one of the nicer ones. A towel swansat on the foot of the bed which seemed to amuse Brook.

Therewas a balcony with sliding glass doors. Brook placed her bag down and headedoutside. Dawson followed her out onto the balcony looking out over the whitesand beach and the calm blue ocean. It was very beautiful, but the sight thatheld him captivated was the sight of the ocean breeze blowing through Brook’sthick hair as she stared out over the blue water. The sun washed over her angelic face in a warm glow.

Brookturned to Dawson her bright green eyes sparkling with such excitement. “What should we do first?” She asked.

Hecould think of a few things, and none ofthem involved leaving the room. However, he was sure Brook would not go for any of those suggestions. “Well let’s see, we could go to the beach or sightseeing. Wecould go to the Disney and Universal Studio park and do the touristy thing.”

“Ooo I like that.” She said almost giddy. “It’s been a long time since I have been to an amusementpark. Do you like the rides or the games?” Brook asked eyeing Dawson carefully as if hoping fora very specific answer.

Personally,Dawson had always liked the rides the most. The rest of his family had alwaysdragged him around to all the games and the shows wasting away the day when allhe wanted was to go on the rollercoaster or the log ride. “I like the rides.” He admitted hoping she did too, of course, if she did not he would suffer the dull games and shows.

Brookgrinned with renewed excitement. “Awesome me too.” She said running back inside. Dawson went into theroom to watch her toss her bag onto the bed. She opened it up and startedfishing through her things. “Just let me change so if we get wet on any of therides it won’t matter.” She said grabbing something and runninginto the washroom. She only took a few minutes and came back out in a pair ofwhite jean shorts and a black bikini halter top that tied around her neck. Shehad tied her hair back in a loose braid down her back, and Brook slipped into a pair of white runners.

Dawson's eyes raked over Brook taking in thetantalizing sight. Long legs, full breast filling out her bathing suit top,flat belly and tiny, slender waist. Hisgaze focused in on the flash of colour that was poking out from the top of hershorts on her right hip. Was that a tattoo he saw? He was sure he saw red andgreen, something that looked like petals. “Is that a rose tattoo I see there?” He asked.

Brooklooked down and nodded. She took the waistband of her shorts and pulled themlow to expose the small rose tattoo on her right hip just below the pants line.It was cute and a perfect excuse to stare at her. “Do you like it?”

“Do your parents?”

“No. My parentshad a fit when they saw it. It was great.”

“You just live to make them nuts, don’t you?” Dawson asked with amusement.

“They all take life so seriously. They need to calmdown. Slow down and relax a little. Life shouldbe fun. If it weren’t for me their lives would be sodull.” She saidpulling her shorts back up.

“Do you have any more?” He asked wondering what else she had hidden.

“No just the one,” Brook said sliding her wallet into her back pocket. “Do you have one?” She asked.

“No.” He had never gotten one. Dawson had thought about ita few times but never done it. His mother would have never approved, and Raven disliked them, so he just never didit.

“Don’t like them?” Brook asked.

“Just never did it.” He admitted standing up. “Should we go now? I can’t wait to see what rides they got.” Dawson held the door open for Brook and slipped thekey card into his pocket. They headed for the elevator, and he could not help from staring at her firm perfect bottom inthose shorts. They drew the eye.

“Whatis your favourite ride?” Brook asked.

Dawsonimagined she would be a hell of a ride if given achance. “I like that boat that flips upside down.” He said rememberingthe rides at the last amusement park he had gonetoo. It had been so long ago he could not remember everything they had.He had been a teenager himself at the time.

Brookpressed the button for the elevator, andwhen the doors opened, they both steppedon. Dawson pressed the main floor button and the doors closed. “What is yourride of choice?”

“Iliked those that spin you around so fastyou’re forced up against the side of the car.”

Heliked the sound of that. Having Brook forced against him by gravity. “We shouldgo on those.” He said as the elevator stopped on another floor and the doorsopened.

Alarge group of men wearing team jerseys walked onto the elevator forcing Brookand Dawson to move to the back to makeroom. They must have been part of the hockey league the desk clerk had beenreferring. They were loud, boisterous, and a little bit pushy. Dawson and Brookwent quiet as the team laughed and mocked each other shoving one anotheraround. One fellow bumped into Brook and apologized drawing the whole team’sattention to the woman in the corner.

“Well, what a pretty little bit of a thing thisis.” One said with a thick southern accent.

“Awee bit of homegrown right here.” Anothersaid reaching out to touch Brook’s hair.

Brooksmacked his hand away glaring at the group of men. “Didn’t your mama ever teachyou to keep your hands to yourself?” She growled.

“Woo-wee, she’s spunky!” One of the men laughed.

“Thatis quite the accent sugar. Just where do you come from?” The first man asked asthey began to crowd her.

“Afar more civilized place where people still believe in personal space,” Brook said placing her hand on oneman’s chest and shoving him back. “And breath mints.”

Dawsontried to repress his amusement; she was amouthy little thing. He was impressed that she did not simply wither and cowerwhen faced with adversity like so many other women. However, they were startingto become a tad aggressive. “Gentlemen, perhaps you should give the lady somespace to breathe,” Dawson suggesteddrawing the group’s attention to him.

Theydid not seem to appreciate his interference. “Why are you this cutie’sboyfriend?”

“No.”

“Thenstay out of it.”

“ButI am smart enough to be able to spot a Neanderthal, and right now I see aboutsix of them.” He said as they all turned on him. Dawson could already tell theywished him harm, but he remained calm andcollected as the doors of the elevator opened onto the main floor, and he could see the security guard thatpatrolled the floor. Dawson reached over and took Brook’s hand. They slippedpast the men and off the elevator. “You gentlemen have a good day.” He said ashe led Brook past the guard. He did not stop but paused only briefly as hereached the guard and nodded his head back at the men coming off the elevator.“Those men were harassing the lady I expect the matter to be dealt with promptly.”

Hethen rushed Brook to the front door, andthey looked back just in time to see the guard stop the group of men and starthassling them. “They are going to be mad at you.” Brook laughed.

“Letthem. I’ll get those guys thrown out if any of them cause any more trouble. Those yahoos might think they are tough but in the real-world moneytalks. I can buy and sell guys like that three times over.” He smiled. “Come onlet’s go have some fun.”