“It was nice seeing you, Carson. Don’t be a stranger at the bar,” Hailey calls after me.
I lift the hand gripping the flowers, and give her half a wave. Stepping inside my house, the door slides shut behind me, and then I stop.
The beeping from the motion sensor Hailey triggered still sounds through the house.
I take deep breaths, trying to settle the burst of emotions Hailey made me feel.
Lifting my hand, I stare at the flowers.
Up until the moment I saw Hailey, my life was set in a strict routine. When I wasn’t busy with a contract, I locked myself up in my house.
I was content with my life. I felt in control of every single detail.
Until Hailey.
A reckless feeling washes over me. It’s intense, making my unwavering need for absolute control… waver.
Every move I make is thought out. I play out every scenario, looking at every possible outcome.
Not today.
Dropping the flowers, I open the front door. I make sure it shuts behind me as I quickly walk down the pathway. Reaching the road, I pick up my pace and rounding the bend, I see Hailey up ahead.
She stops to pick a single flower, and as she continues to walk, she slowly plucks the petals as if she’s deep in thought.
What are you doing, Carson?
If she glances back, she’ll see you.
What the fuck are you doing?
My pace begins to slow down.
Stop!
My feet listen. My hands clench into fists as my eyes burn over her back, her sexy as fuck ass, her legs tanned and toned.
I keep watching Hailey until she disappears out of my sight.
Taking a deep breath, I turn around and head back to the house, unsettled that I lost control.
Up until now, I’ve avoided looking deeper. It’s been two weeks since I met Hailey, and every passing day she fills more of my thoughts.
Like any other man, I’ve always been able to appreciate a beautiful woman. Within reason, of course.
There’s no reason when it comes to Hailey.
There’s no control.
There’s only want and need.
It’s more potent than anything I’ve felt before.
Reaching the front door, I enter my code. I step inside and crouching down, I gently pick up the flowers. They’re already wilting.
I silence the incessant beeping from the motion sensors then go to the kitchen. I tear two paper towels loose so I can place the flowers between them.
Staring down at the wilting petals, I know without a doubt the same thing will happen to Hailey if she comes close to my world.
And still… even knowing this… I can’t stay away from her.
HAILEY
It’s almost closing time, and crouching down behind the bar, I’m busy packing clean glasses on the shelves, so we’re ready for when we open tomorrow. I hear Lars ask, “Vodka?”
“Please.”
With a glass in each hand, I dart up. A happy smile spreads over my lips at the sight of Carson. I was worried he’d avoid the bar after the awkward encounter we had on Tuesday.
“You’re here,” I say, my voice spilling with relief.
Drops of water cling to his clothes, and his hair is wet.
And now I’m picturing this is what he looks like when he steps out of the shower. Sigh.
Carson takes a seat on the same stool he sat on when we first met. “I’m here.”
My smile widens even more. “It’s good to see you again.”
A weird expression flashes over his face, then he murmurs, “It’s good to be seen.”
My right eyebrow pops up, and I can’t resist teasing him, “Wow… not to jinx anything, but I like this talkative side of you.”
The corner of his mouth lifts, and just like Tuesday, the sight of his hotter than hell grin steals my breath and makes heat creep through my body.
He should really smile more.
Lars accidentally bumps the crate on the floor, and it reminds me of the glasses. I crouch down and pack them away as quickly as I can. When I’m done, I move the empty crate to the side so we can fill it with dirty glasses.
Because it’s raining, it’s been quiet tonight. I saunter closer to the side of the bar where Carson is seated while turning all the bottles so their labels show.
I glance at Carson, and finding his eyes on me sends another wave of heat through me.
Feeling the need to say something, I go with the dumbest question ever. “Did you walk here in the rain?”
Oh, Hailey. Facepalm.
“Yes.”
I watch as he lifts the tumbler to his lips and, when he takes a sip, how his throat moves.
Sigh.
Failing to come up with anything else but the weather, I say, “If it doesn’t stop, we’ll both have to walk home in the rain.”
He sets the tumbler down and then drags the pad of his thumb around the rim of the glass. Again, I notice the rings, and I lean on the counter to get a better look. The one on his pinky has a chain wedged between two metal bands. The second has a cross symbol with a skull at its center. The third is just a plain black band, and the fourth on his pointer finger has a star emblem.