Without Love // Doobie Brothers

I pull up to the large mansion just minutes after April texted me to say she was ready. My only errand had been to drop off a deposit to Brax for the Mustang interior. The guy was giving me a bargain, only charging me the cost of supplies, nothing for labor. The catch was that he wanted me to do the work with him, even though I have no experience doing upholstery work.

The rest of the time I sat in my truck around the corner of the mansion where April was having tea. Waiting for her text. Remembering that kiss. Wishing for more. Now I'm looking up at the doorway schooling my face to look passive instead of lovesick. The feeling sucks.

Minutes later April bounces out of the house and down the steps. I can see in the background that the woman she came to visit with, Gladys, waves from the doorway. But my eyes don't leave April. Something is different about her, lighter. It's like she's suddenly unburdened from everything that's been weighing her down. The sense of hope is building up inside of me, but I tamp that down not wanting to be disappointed when everything turns out to be status quo.

"Hey," she beams as she hops in the truck. "Do you have time for a side trip before you take me back?"

"Yeah, sure. What trip?" I pull away from the house as I ask, rounding the fountain and leaving the mansion behind.

"Gladys needed me to pick up a few things from the store for her. She kind of hired me to be her assistant from time to time."

"Wow, a new job?"

April shrugs. "Kind of. I'm not quitting the salon, but Gladys doesn't have any kids, so she wondered if I would be available to hang out and spend time with her, occasionally run an errand."

"Got it." Something tells me there's more to the story, but I don't ask. "I could use a stop at the store myself. My fridge is getting a little bare and my mom has been working insane hours."

"Sounds like a win for both of us." She smiles back at me.

What is with her? No snarky come-backs, no sneering or silent stewing against the glass. She's...happy.

April is still bouncing in her seat. I want to comment on it, but I hold my tongue. She fascinates me, the opposing parts of her personality. One minute she's hard as nails, the next soft and quiet. I can't get enough of her, even though she wants to run in the opposite direction.

I bite my tongue and say nothing once again, just nod in agreement with her. I don't want to say a word to disturb this peace. My experience with April so far has proven to me that I know how to ruin a moment.

We pull into the closest grocery store and split up. April has a short list of things for Gladys, and I'm stocking up on frozen burritos and Poweraid. As I'm filling the cart with my favorite flavors--totally on sale, score--I hear April's name being called. I freeze in place and strain to listen.

"Your new clientele certainly agrees with you, April. Looking really good. I might just have to up the usual offer."

My blood boils. I don't recognize the voice but the inuendo is clear. It must be someone from her old school.

"I always knew you were learning impaired, Craig. Get the hell away from me."

That's my girl. I love that she doesn't back down, but I hate that she is even in this position. I recognize the guy's name. He's the one who started this whole thing. I start to walk around the aisle to the side she's on but once again pause when the asshole speaks up again.

"Same bitchy mouth as before, I see. Not gonna get you anywhere in life, honey."

That's my cue. I turn the corner with my full cart of sports drinks and accidentally ram the dude responsible for the shit show April's had to deal with.

"Oh shit, bro. Didn't see you there. My eyes were locked on my girl." I glare at the guy, my eyes actually locked and loaded on him. "Craig, right? Heard lots about you, man. You're a legend."

His brows furrow totally confused by my presence and whatever else isn't getting through his thick skull.

"Oh yeah? What have you heard?"

I step closer to him. "You like to pay for female attention, right? I mean, that's the only way you can get it." I square my shoulders. "But you picked the wrong girl to try that with," I nod toward April. "She's mine."

I don't even bother to look at April, knowing that she's fuming that I'm getting involved in this. But I can't stop what's become an instinct to protect her.

"Yeah, well, you're getting used goods. She's been passed around already." The ass smirks.

If he only knew what I'm fantasizing about doing to him right here in aisle five. I narrow my gaze and launch a direct hit. "You and I both know that's bullshit. The fact that your imbecile cronies went along with the lies and alienated a girl for not letting you go all the way with her speaks volumes about the size of your...well, I'll refrain from mentioning the obvious."

The guy just glares, not bothering to argue because there is no argument against the truth. April steps just a little closer to me and I feel totally empowered by that small gesture.

"Now in case you haven't heard about my reputation, I tend to beat the shit out of douche bags. I have no problem proving that to be true right here and now if you say one more fucking thing to her. Got me?" My arm wraps around April, pulling her into me.

Craig just puts his hands up, steps back and says, "It figures that you'd find someone as bat shit crazy as you are, April. Good luck." The guy turns and hustles away from us. I recognize the tension in April's shoulders as she watches him walk away so I brace for impact.

"I know what you're thinking," I say as I let my arm slide down her back then take a small step in front of her. "But don't let those worries cloud your opinion of me just yet."

"You have no idea what I'm thinking." Her voice is quiet, reserved. None of the signature April sass to be heard, and that breaks my fucking heart.

So I do something that might be stupid, or it might be the best idea I ever had.

"Got a pencil?" I ask.

A look of total confusion comes over her face. "Why?"

I step into her space, look into her eyes and whisper, "So I can erase our past and rewrite our future, April." Then I gently slide my fingers through her hair to cup the back of her head and slowly ease my lips closer to hers, testing the waters. When April doesn't pull away but instead lets her eyes close, I erase the space left between us and press my lips against hers. Relief. Total and utter relief to kiss her again.

Just as I expect to step back and give her a sense of space, April has my face in her hands and is taking over this kiss. It's strong, a message that she needed this, missed this as much as I have. When her tongue teases mine, I grip her hips and hold back the moan that's about to be released. After all, we are still standing in aisle five with a cart full of burritos and Poweraids. When a throat clears next to us, a store employee sweeping the aisle and passing on our right, April finally pulls back. She looks around and seems to remember where we are.

"Oh my gosh," she laughs and covers her mouth with her hand. "I can't believe..." Then she shakes her head and closes her eyes.

"Can we please pay for these groceries and get the food back to Gladys so I can drive you home?" I whisper the words in her ear then kiss her on the cheek.

April's eyes widen and her cheeks darken with the most beautiful blush. "Home?" she asks, as though she has no desire to be taken there.

If only she knew what I have in mind. "There's nothing better than a goodnight kiss on the porch, sweetheart. And I intend to get the best goodnight kiss of my life tonight."

When I see her blush coupled with a small smile, I know that I have not made a stupid mistake, and in fact had the best idea ever when I dropped one more pick up line on her.

I take her by the hand and we purchase the items, load them in the car then drive them back to Gladys.

After saying goodnight to the older woman, I drive to April's house, her hand in mine the entire drive there. The house is dark by the time we park in front of it. Her mom has left to pick up Ko from her dinner event. No one's home. If this were my dream scenario, we'd be parked in front of her house in my Challenger. I'd wrap my arm around April's waist and drag her across the bench seat then plant my lips right on hers. But here we are in my truck, bucket seats no bench. I can't pull April to me so I hop out of my side and race around the hood to open her door. I look up to find April smiling at me. Damn, it's the full wattage smile, too.

"What?"

She shakes her head, still smiling. "You are ridiculous."

That gives me a pause in my step. "How am I ridiculous?" I take her by the hand, still watching her face as we step closer to her front door.

April laughs, her eyes twinkling from the porch lights. "Well, let's see..." April ticks up a finger. "You haven't wiped the stupid grin off of your face since practically eating mine in the grocery store." A second finger ticks up. "You just about threw the groceries through Gladys' front door then held my hand in a death grip the entire drive here."

April steps closer to me, her heat filling the space between us. "And I have a feeling that if it weren't for the gear shift in the center of your truck, I'd be in your lap right now."

My eyes burning into hers, I take a step toward April, causing her to step back against the wall of her house. My arms reach out to cage her in. I lean into her, my lips brushing against the soft skin just below her ear.

"You got that right," I whisper. My left hand continues to lean against the house while my right hand lifts her chin just enough for my lips to claim hers. She's mine and I'm letting her know without a shadow of a doubt. April kisses me back with the same message, I'm hers.

Which begs the question; what changed? I pull back to ask just that when headlights illuminate the front of the house.

"My mom's home."

"I want to meet her." I know it comes out sounding like a demand, but I really do want April's mom to know I've got her back.

April takes a deep breath. "Right now?"

I shrug. "Why not?"

"Because...that would make it seem like-"

"I'm your boyfriend?" I cut her off and watch as she nods. "That's okay with me." I continue to watch April for a reaction. Some tension or a glare. Maybe her sass or snarky insult to put me in my place.

"I don't think you could handle what being my boyfriend might entail." The sass I love is back in her voice.

"Oh really? I think I can handle whatever you dish out, sweetheart." Haven't I already proved that to her?

"Even if my nickname for you is bitch?"

She says it with such a straight face I can't tell if she's joking or being totally serious. My jaw drops, not in shock but in confusion. I think April thinks she just dealt a deal breaker, but she couldn't be more wrong.

Before I can answer, April's mom walks up with Ko trailing behind. "Hey, honey I didn't realize you had company coming tonight."

"Oh, this isn't company." April thumbs over to me. "This is Nico. And he was just leaving." She shoves me away from the door and past her mom and Ko.

"Bye, Nico. Nice to meet you." Her mom smiles and I return the sentiment. I want to add that I'll be back soon, but I don't want to push my luck.

When April's pushed me all the way to my truck and everyone else has gone into the house, I grab April by the waist and pull her to me.

"Baby, you can call me whatever you want. I will proudly be your bitch," I say then kiss her in a dramatic peck. "See ya." I wink and move to hop into the truck.

"Don't call me baby!" April shouts.

I laugh as I drive away from the girl I'm never letting go.

Honestly, I think this is my favorite chapter. I've been waiting for Nico to use that last pick up line FOREVER!! Get ready for some swoony chapters coming up! Nico definitely has some game, but April hasn't suddenly gone soft. She's still gonna bust his balls. 😉

I'm still completely over the moon out of my mind excited about the love that inevitable is getting! As of this moment it has reached 175k reads, and the comments just make me 😍😍. It's the best getting to hear from readers and the reason I'm here. ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you for being here for me! I don't have the words to adequately express how valuable your encouragement has been.

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