Crushing (The Southern California Wine Country Series) by J Gordon Smith Page A

ribs.
    “I should check on your friend.”
    Amanda demanded, “Rescue her but … don’t Rescue her .”
    Kyle looked in Amanda’s eyes, “Not to worry. You had my attention when we first met at my sound check.”
    The black shirted demons pushed another limb into the flames. Sparks popped out of the fire and burned like red eyes in the dirt at Amanda’s feet. She moved further from the flames and watched Kyle stride toward the crowd of people cheering on what must be happening to Julie. When the crowd parted to let Kyle through, Amanda saw a dark haired young woman licking Julie’s thigh and attacking the puddle on Julie’s stomach. The crowd filled in behind Kyle and Amanda saw no more until Kyle returned with Julie slung over his shoulder. He set her down on her feet next to Amanda. “Be careful of Haley.”
    Julie said, “Thanks. That was uncomfortable. I’ve never kissed a girl before and not sure I wanted to.” Julie ineffectively brushed off the tequila that spilled across her shirt that clung tight to the contours of her bra.
    Kyle said, “Haley likes guys, but even more she likes fucking with people. I think she suggested Sardis frighten you with the shots. You were easy targets.”
    “Pinned down and all.”
    Amanda’s eyes looked at Kyle’s shirtless body and said, “I could use a drink.”
    “This way, ladies,” Sardis said, appearing around a corner of the flames. He was shirtless too but so many tattoos covered him that it looked like he wore a perpetual shirt already pledged to the dark underworld.
    Kyle said, “Sardis, leave these two alone.” He turned to Amanda. “The drinks are in the house. Do you want me to escort you? Do you want to get them on your own? Do you want to wait here with my brother while I go get them?” Kyle bent his stare at Sardis.
    Sardis put his hands up, “I’ll behave if they stay, honest.”
    Julie said, “You two don’t seem like brothers.”
    Sardis said, “We are, but different fathers. Also, different tattoo parlors. You’ve met Haley. She did all this,” his hands swept down from shoulder to below his waist hidden behind his jeans. “She’s bat-shit crazy but a talented witch with a tattoo gun.”
    “Julie and I can get our own drinks.” Amanda did not like the idea of waiting with Sardis and she did not want Kyle escorting them and increasing the tension. She wanted to avoid whatever was going on between the two brothers, “Come on, Julie.”
    Julie asked as they approached the house, “Why didn’t you have Kyle escort us? He more than obviously likes you. And I see you like him, too.” Julie looked over her shoulder and saw Kyle watched them to make sure they got to the house unimpeded.
    “I didn’t want to add fuel to whatever is going on between those two.”
    “I see what’s going on.” Julie nudged Amanda. “And you do too. Don’t be coy about it. They both want you and you only want Kyle.” They walked across the porch and entered the open door.
    Amanda said, “I thought I’d be polite …”
    The front of the cabin’s roof line and the small porch made the house appear average, but the interior opened up and went back deep in a never ending great room. A wall of glass on the far side exposed a massive stone patio that reached into the hillside. The hillside was filled with a lighted circular hot tub wrapped by the inside curve of a large kidney shaped pool lit by lights that made it glow the color of a Caribbean shoreline.
    Julie’s breath halted, “This isn’t a polite party.”
    Topless girls ranged around the room, making out with shirtless boys or dancing on the wood floor where living room furniture might go. They held drinks high over their heads with enough drunkenness that their beer slopped over their cups and splashed down their hair, arms, and chests.
    Amanda remembered parties like this when she was younger, when her mother entertained new boyfriends and told her to stay in her room. Amanda was immediately