I stalk over to her, pull her into my arms and make her look me in the eyes. “Tell me something about yourself that I don’t know. I don’t know shit about your life back at home.”
She swallows hard and tries turning her face away, but I don’t let her. I need to be able to read her eyes when she talks. “I work at a hair salon. I’ve been there for four years. I love it. Doing hair makes me happy. I just turned twenty three a few months ago and I have a cat named Puma. He’s black and white and a pain in the ass, but I love him. I hate seafood. I eat ranch sauce on everything and have a passion for reading. I’m not much for the party life and would rather curl up with someone that cares about me and watch a movie instead of going out.” She pauses to look down at my lips before looking back up. “There’s not much else to tell.”
I release her face and we both just stand here in silence. Something feels a little off about the way she’s acting. Maybe it’s just me. I don’t blame her for not wanting to get close to me; especially, not knowing my intentions. I don’t even know them myself. This is all new to me.
“Okay.” I turn and walk to my bike, unsatisfied. “Let’s go.”
Sarah has been giving me weird looks all fucking day. I’m not really sure what’s on her mind, but it’s starting to get on my damn nerves.
“Say it,” I mutter.
She sets her towel down on the bar and begins wiping it off. “Say what?”
I look up from putting the glasses in the cooler and study her face. She definitely has something on her mind. She knows I don’t like playing these games. I’m not a fucking mind reader. “You have something you want to say. Since when do you hold back?”
Shaking her head, she turns away and starts working faster at wiping down the bar. “Okay, then.” She drops her towel, leans against the bar and smiles. “You broke your fucking rules.” Pushing away from the counter, she walks over to me and kneels down next to me. “Someone finally broke you. I’m in total awe of this woman. She’s a goddess. I’m definitely jealous, Slade.”
Grunting, I slam down the glass in my hand and stand up before rubbing my hands over my face. “Fucking, Cale.” I reach for her arm and pull her up to her feet. “I swear he gossips just like a fucking chick.”
She quickly grabs for a beer and places it in front of one of her customers before rushing back over to me. “He called me this morning to see if I wanted to get off work early; said he needed some extra cash. He got on the subject of Aspen and it came out. He’s just as shocked as I am. Believe me.”
“Yeah. Well, you’re not the only ones. Don’t even ask me to explain it because I can’t. I wouldn’t even if I knew how so back off.” I lean against the register and watch as a few girls look at me from across the bar, smiling to each other. They’re both looking desperate; watching my every move as if their lives depend on it. I’m sure it won’t be long before they approach me and try to pull me into the back. I’ve had it happen more than once while working. It used to get me all worked up. Right now, I’m not even feeling it.
“Do you need to take a break?” Sarah stands next to me and eyes the two girls before nudging me. “I can handle the bar. I don’t need you.”
“Nah.” I push away from the register and start checking the bottles of liquor to see if any need to be replaced. I need anything to keep me busy. “Not this time.”
“Wow. Two surprises in one day,” she says teasingly while walking back over to clean the bar. “I don’t know how to take all this in.”
“Yeah, well I can be full of fucking surprises. Trust me.”
“Oh yeah. Well, here’s another one. Look who’s here.”
I turn behind me to see that Aspen and her friend have just walked in.
Fuck me. She is fucking beautiful.
Aspen’s eyes stay focused on me the whole time that her and Kayla make their way up to the bar. They both stop in front of Sarah and order a couple drinks. I see her trying hard not to look at me. I can tell it’s a tough struggle for her.
After the way we left things earlier, I’m not sure how the fuck to feel about her being here. I don’t get the way she was acting. I opened up to her and it feels as if she’s trying to keep me out.
Fuck that. I don’t need that right now.
Seconds later, Cale comes walking in and I focus my attention on him. Just the asshole I need to speak with.
The girls have taken their drinks and are heading over to one of the empty couches. Now would be a good time to give Cale a piece of my fucking mind.
I wait for him to step behind the bar before I get straight to the fucking point. “You have a big fucking mouth.”
He looks at me and then over to Sarah. “You can take off if you want. I’ve got it from here. I’m sure you don’t want to deal with this side of Slade.”
Sarah nods her head and grabs for her things. “Yeah, I’ll be more than happy to get the hell out of here.” She starts walking away, but then stops to look back at us. “I already closed out my tickets. You boys have fun now; just not too much without me.” She winks and takes off in a hurry, waving back at Aspen and Kayla.
“My bad, man. I didn’t think you’d get pissed about it. You’ve never been secretive about your sex life before. It just sort of came out. It’s a big deal. I still can’t believe it.”
“Yeah well, it’s a big deal for me too so let’s just drop it.”
“All right.” He looks over at Aspen and Kayla. “You do realize she’ll be leaving soon, right?”
“Yeah. So?”
“She probably won’t be coming back for a long ass time. There must be something special about her for you to let her get to you the way she has for this past week. Are you sure you’re willing to let her go?”
I take in a deep breath and release it. I look up to see Aspen laughing at something some moron is saying to her. I feel my stomach drop as I watch her having a good time with him. “Yeah. It’s not my place to have her stay. There’s nothing going on between us. She’ll be gone tomorrow and things will go back to normal.”
“Really,” Cale asks. “Is that why you’re breathing heavy right now and your fists are clenched at your sides?” He studies me from the side. He’s good as fuck at reading me. “You want to rip that guy’s head off right now; especially, now that he keeps getting closer to her as if he’s going to take her home. You’re about to freak the fuck out. Admit it.”
Fucking shit, he’s right.
I jump over the bar, walk up beside her and nod at the douche in front of her. He looks a bit nervous all of a sudden. Yeah, well he should be. “What’s up?” I step in between them, pull her to me by the back of her neck and press my lips against hers, immediately wrapping my hands in the back of her hair.
I kiss her hard; spreading her lips open with my tongue before picking her up and wrapping her legs around my waist. From the corner of my eye, I see the asshole has gotten the hint and has stepped away.
Smart move, mother fucker.
She moans softly before pulling her lips away from mine and running her tongue over them. She seems a bit shaken up by my bold move. “Umm . . . wow,” she breathes. “I mean. What are you doing?”
“Kissing you. Isn’t it pretty fucking obvious?” I pull her face close to mine before running my lips up her neck and stopping at her ear. “You like my lips kissing yours, sucking them and owning them. Just remember that.”
I set her down and walk away. I’m heated.
Cale watches me as I make my way past the bar and outside. I need a fucking cigarette right now. The thought of that guy even trying to take her home has my blood boiling. I need to relax before I break something. I’m not used to this kind of jealousy.