One Shot Too Many Read online

  One Shot Too Many

  Nikki Winter

  Copyright Notice

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright© 2012 Nikki Winter

  Editor: Stephanie Parent

  Proofreader: Novellette Whyte

  Cover Artist: Nancy Grayson Donahue

  Published by Mocha Memoirs Press, LLC

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Due to copyright laws you cannot trade, sell or give any e-books away.

  Publisher Note:

  This is a work of fiction and may contain descriptions of adult situations, explicit language, and scenarios. This story is for adults only. Please keep this out of the hands of people under the age of 18 years old.

  Dedication

  Can I just say that this story was full of awkward starts and stops from beginning to end? Why you ask? Oh just because I laughed every few sentences so it was sort of hard to focus. Then there was the fact that I originally wrote in a separate name while working on this so I wouldn’t damage mine eyes due to imagery that a certain someone’s name conjured. Thank God for “find and replace.” (grin) Love you Billy! Mean it! Honest! Although I have to say, I damn well better be getting my own Italian after this Londoner. Or heads will roll! Roll I say! Okay, I’m done being strange now. Go forth and enjoy this lovely little short! –Nikki

  31 Days of Steamy Mocha:

  One Shot Too Many

  Chapter One

  Two a.m. It was two a.m. Yet the asshole banging on her door apparently hadn’t caught that memo. Billy Calleira ran a hand down her face, trying to wipe some of the blurriness from her eyes. For a second she considered lying in bed and pretending she didn’t hear him, but then came, “Biiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllyyyyyyy! Open the door! Pleeeeeeeeease. I need to....I need to talk to you.” Pause. “It’s....It’s important. Biiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy.”

  Her brows lowered. “Oh Jesus Christ.” She knew that voice. With a groan, Billy slid out of bed as the banging and the pleas continued. Finally she reached her condo’s front door and stood on her tiptoes to peer through the peephole.

  With a roll of her eyes and another groan, she unlocked the door and swung it open. “Noah? What the hell are you doing here?”

  Barely holding his six-foot-four frame up, Noah Perugino—her fiancé’s best friend—squinted down at her from the hallway of her building, the glare of the scattered lights no doubt burning his eyes. “Need...need to talk to you.”

  The smell of whiskey reached out and wrapped itself around her olfactory glands. With a grimace, she backed away. “You’re drunk.”

  One side of his mouth curled and he spread his arms out wide. “I’m not drunk.” He stumbled then chuckled a bit. “I’m just a little…” Pause. “Fuzzy around the edges.”

  Billy rubbed her temples. “Noah, why are you here? You’re supposed to be doing that bullshit last-night-as-a-single-man thing with Kasey.” Otherwise known as the man she was set to marry in just a week; a man she had more and more doubts about each day. Not to mention she was partially in love with the blasted-off-his-ass fool standing in front of her, but that was really neither here nor there. She couldn’t have Noah.

  It was something she’d accepted from the first moment she’d laid eyes on him four years prior—courtesy of Kasey. She and Kasey had only been dating a month, but things had been going well enough. The pair had met at a late night sports bar, only introducing themselves after getting into a rather entertaining argument about that year’s Super Bowl.

  Kasey had asked her out, and at the time Billy found him too cute to pass up. That changed in no time. Kasey was still cute. And apparently too cute to ever have any time for her anymore. Three years later, and every day she wondered what would’ve happened if it had been Noah that she’d met first—Noah, who ironically was supposed to be with Kasey that night at the bar.

  The day she’d met Noah was the day her life changed. One look at him and she was lost.

  You can’t have him. It was a thought she had often. Despite Kasey’s constant absence as of late, she was going to marry him, she was going to love him, and she was going to be happy.

  Liar.

  Noah’s ice-blue eyes narrowed on her before he glanced up at the ceiling and then quickly down at the floor. “We did dooooooooo that.” He bit his bottom lip. “But I…left because...because...”

  Billy started away from the door. “I’m calling you another cab.”

  Noah reached out and gently gripped her forearm before he pouted, the hard angles of his face suddenly turning boyish as he shook his head slowly. “Noooo...I came all the way here just to talk to you.” He pressed his index finger to her nose. “I always thought this was cute.”

  Okay... Billy sighed. “Noah, you need to go home.”

  He frowned as he ran a hand through the short-cropped black curls on his head. “No! I want to talk to you!” Noah shouted.

  Billy heard Mrs. Heche’s door open from across the hall; her neighbor was otherwise known as the “Hallway Nazi from yore.” Nosey old sow was standing in her doorway, glaring like an old-school principal.

  She looked back to her uninvited guest. “Jesus. Keep your voice down.”

  Noah leaned down until they were nose to nose. “Either you let me in or...I get waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay louder,” he sung. “Your choice, imp.”

  Eyes narrowing, she backed up until he could step across the threshold before slamming the door on Mrs. Heche’s peering. Noah stumbled around her living room, staring at everything as if he’d never seen it all before. Irritated now, Billy snapped, “Go in the kitchen and sit.”

  He turned those eyes on her, tilting his head like a confused puppy. “You’re yelling at me.”

  “You show up at my doorstep at two in the morning and you think what?” She folded her arms across her chest. “That I’m going to be speaking in soft dulcet tones?”

  Look turning to sorrowful, Noah slurred, “You’re angry with me.”

  Billy took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she re-opened them he was still staring at her. “I’m not angry with you.” How could she be when he was standing there looking so damn adorable? “Just go in the kitchen and sit down. I’ll make you some coffee.”

  With one last glance in her direction, he did as she asked. Billy took a second to get herself together before she followed after him. Noah had his forehead pressed to the kitchen island and was humming softly. Not surprising, seeing as how he owned a bar downtown where he played with his band as lead singer and guitarist on a regular basis. Billy guessed that was where he and the rest of the Cro-Magnons had spent their night of male celebration—which begged one question.

  “Noah?”

  He lifted his head, only resting his chin on the granite counter as he peered up at her through obscenely long black lashes; his large arms were folded, dragon tattoo sleeves clearly in view.

  “Where are the rest of the guys?”

  Noah spoke, but it was mumbled because his arms were blocking his mouth. Reaching across, she moved them. “What?”

  “I said...they’re in a”—his voice dropped to a whisper as he looked around like someone was watching—“hotel room...with...with...”

  Billy’s brows rose. “With?”

  Abruptly he sat up, flinging his arms out to his sides. “They’re with strippers!” Noah cried, obviously no longer worried about whomever
his imagination had conjured into watching them.

  She slapped a hand to her forehead. “I should’ve seen that coming.”

  Her guitarist shook his head. “No...you don’t understand.” It was back to the whispering.

  Frowning, she asked, “What don’t I understand?”

  He leaned across the counter and gently grabbed her shoulders. “Kasey is with them.”

  “So...” In Billy’s mind she knew she’d be kidding herself if she thought Kasey wouldn’t have strippers at his party. Hell, she’d had strippers at hers a few days prior.

  Noah huffed like he was put out and shook his head again. Billy had the feeling that if he kept that up he’d get dizzy and slip right off the barstool he was resting on. “You don’t get it...you never get it...” he murmured. Then he stood and started out of the kitchen.

  “Where are you going?” Billy questioned as she followed. He walked into her living room and plopped down on the couch, his eyes sliding closed.

  “Don’t wanna go home...wanna stay here with you,” he was muttering.

  She walked closer. “Noah, I need to call you a cab.”

  Opening his eyes, he glared at her. “No.”

  “Yes.”

  That glare became harsher. “No.”

  This was getting exhausting. “Noah—”

  Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her over to stand between his legs before he placed his head on her tummy and wrapped his arms around her waist. Tingles swept her body like a wildfire, leaving every erogenous zone heated and suddenly awake. Her clit swelled at the same time as her nipples hardened. Just like that, she wanted him from the simplest of touches. “Don’t make me go, Billy. I can’t...I can’t do it another night,” he slurred.

  Letting out a breath, she ran a hand through his hair, enjoying the silky feel of it beneath her fingertips. “Can’t do what?” she queried softly.

  He looked up at her but didn’t lift his head from its resting place. “Be without you...”

  Her stomach dropped.

  His brows lowered. “Why...why are you doing this to me?”

  Billy’s mind ran a mile a minute. “Doing what?”

  Noah’s lip curled. “Marrying him.”

  She tried to slip out of his arms. They were in dangerous territory now. “Noah—”

  He gripped her tighter. “He doesn’t...he doesn’t...he doesn’t love you, you know?” Pressing his cheek back to her tummy, he added, “Not like I love you.” His hands ran down her hips to the backs of her thighs, his fingertips creeping up the bottoms of her pajama shorts.

  Mouth gone dry now, she tried to slip out of his arms once again, and once again she failed. “Noah—”

  “He cheats on you,” he said softly.

  Billy froze. “What did you just say?”

  Noah shrugged his huge shoulders, still keeping his hold on her. “I said he cheats on you.” He gave a desperate chuckle. “All the...all the time. Bastard is probably cheating right now.”

  “You’re drunk.”

  “I’m telling the truth!” Finally letting her go, he sat back and stared at her through glassy eyes. “I saw him!”

  Billy backed away. “I’m going to bed and you need to sleep this off.”

  Noah stood. “I’ve watched him, Billy. He...he does it all the time. And I asked him.” His voice rasped. “I asked him why?” Pause. “I said why are you doing this to Billy? She loves you...she’s gonna...she’s gonna marry you.” Those blue eyes went stormy with fury. “And do you know what he said?” He leaned toward her. “Hmm? He...he said... ‘Nice girl, great fuck, and she’s dependable. But I like my freedom. She doesn’t have to know.’”

  She sucked in a deep breath.

  “And do you know what I did for you, Billy? Do...do you know what I did for you?” Noah smirked. “I hit him.” He pointed to his jaw. “Right here. I hit him right here for you.”

  Billy swallowed. “You should...you should lie down and get some sleep.”

  He bit his lip. “He went in the room...he went in the room with one of the women and, Billy, he didn’t come back out. Don’t believe me?” Pulling a card from his back pocket, he placed it in her hand. “Here’s the room key, go...go see for yourself.” His eyes turned sad. “I didn’t want the strippers. I just want...I just want you.” Reaching out, Noah ran a hand down the side of her face. “I’ve always wanted you. He doesn’t...deserve you. I do. I deserve you.” He slapped a hand against his chest. “Marry me. You should marry me, Billy. Not him. Not Kasey. Me.”

  Placing her hands against his chest, she tried to slow the hammering of her heart. “Noah, I want you to listen to me, okay? You had one way too many, and we both know you don’t really want to—”

  He placed his fingers against her lips. “Don’t do that. Don’t tell me what I...I feel for you. I know what I feel.” Framing her face, he stared down into her eyes. “I love you.” He kissed her hard; his tongue slipped into her mouth and tangled with her own, leaving the taste of Jack in its wake; leaving her pussy aching to be filled by him. Then he let go and sat on the couch once again before passing out cold.

  Chapter Two

  For two hours she’d debated, thought, paced. Billy had sat by Noah as he rested on her couch, the only sound in the room their inhales and exhales. He slept on while the biggest internal battle she’d ever experienced in her life had waged. Noah had said he loved her, had kissed her, and asked to marry him instead of Kasey. But. He. Was. Drunk.

  Suddenly an old saying came to mind as she stared down at him. A drunk man tells no tales. There were many types of drunks, but a dishonest one had never been heard of. Alcohol made the mouth loose and laid emotions bare. Whiskey and whatever dangerous alcoholic mix Noah had partaken in had done both to him. Now Billy was left to stare down at the small hotel key in her hand.

  Some small part of her knew what Noah said was true. Kasey wasn’t “working late” or “hanging out with the boys.” In the rare cases that they spent more than a few hours together, he was constantly on his phone. So the bigger question was why? Why had she tucked her head in the sand for so long?

  Glancing over at the drunken bear snoring in her living room, she knew the answer. Leaving Kasey meant cutting ties with Noah too; never seeing his smile again or getting to hear him sing. It meant never watching how gracefully his hands moved when he got lost playing his Les Paul. It meant never experiencing that quirky sense of humor or being close enough to smell his cologne. Yes, she could’ve admitted how she’d felt long ago, but where would that have left her? The indecisive ho who came between two friends because she had a yearning to see Noah naked?

  With a sigh, she sat back against the couch and stared up at the ceiling. Deep down she knew that marrying Kasey would mean getting to love Noah from afar, which was way better than never loving him at all.

  “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Billy murmured, twirling the card between her fingers now. The weight of her engagement ring felt way heavier than it ever had. If Kasey was cheating—which she was pretty sure the prick had been doing—she had every right to leave him. But where did that leave her and Noah?

  And why was it that he needed liquid courage to tell her how he felt? Why torment her for four years, then suddenly drunkenly pop up on her doorstep with whiskey-based confessions of love?

  Tired of wondering how one night had landed her in the middle of a love triangle, Billy headed for her bedroom and grabbed some sweats. If she was going to do this, she might as well get it over with.

  ***

  The smell of coffee was what caused his lids to slowly peel open. Noah swallowed and tasted last night’s festivities. Gagging, he rolled to his side and caught a look around. He froze. He knew this couch. He knew the paintings on the wall across from him. He knew the entertainment center that held way more Prince memorabilia than was normal or healthy.

  “God, kill me now,” Noah whispered.

  “God’s going to have to stand in line.”

  His head sn
apped up to see Billy sitting in her window seat, staring out the glass, a mug in her hand.

  “Billy—”

  “You were right,” she interrupted softly.

  Noah sat up slowly, praying he wouldn’t lose what little he had in his stomach—and that was when he noticed his boots and jacket had been removed. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to remember something, anything from the night before. “I was right about what?” he asked slowly, dread building in his chest.

  Billy looked over at him then, one side of her mouth tilting up as the sun shined on her flawless skin. Mocha. Merriam-Webster defined it as a superior quality of coffee and/or a mixture of cocoa and chocolate with coffee. As far as he was concerned, neither of those definitions fit at the moment. No, mocha was the color of her skin; deep, rich, smooth and dark. He’d always wondered if it was as sweet as it looked.

  “He cheats on me,” she said, repeating his own words from the night before softly back to him.

  His heart stopped and then started again. “Billy—”

  “He cheats on me,” Billy said again. “He cheats on me and now I know.” She showed him the room card, and Noah felt regret roil through him. “And do you know what else, Noah?”

  He waited.

  “We’re both cowards. It took liquid courage to get you to admit how you feel. And I hid behind marrying someone I don’t love just so I could be near you.” She snorted. “We’re wonderfully fucked up, I’d say.”

  The night’s events hit him like a right from Tyson.

  “I didn’t want the strippers. I just want...I just want you.” Reaching out, Noah ran a hand down the side of her face. “I’ve always wanted you. He doesn’t...deserve you. I do. I deserve you.” He slapped a hand against his chest. “Marry me. You should marry me, Billy. Not him. Not Kasey. Me.” He’d kissed her. He’d finally gotten to taste the sweetest mouth known to man, and he’d done it drunkenly. He felt like such a dumbass.