I could get up and leave, but I don’t.
Subconsciously, I know I’ve been coming here once a week, just like Sylvie accused me of, because I wanted to run into him again. But now that I’m in the situation, I just want to skulk out. I hate the way I acted the last time I was in the bar with him. I hate even more that I had to apologize for my behavior.
We agreed to just go our separate ways two weeks ago while I stood on the front porch of the clubhouse and tried to explain that I should’ve acted better. He nodded and listened, but he never gave a verbal agreement to stop bothering me. Maybe it was that slim chance he’d approach and flirt again that has had my ass on one of these barstools once a week since.
Maybe I need to get out more like Sylvie has suggested. Maybe I need something else to take my mind off him. Maybe I need a vacation.
Chapter 3
Legend
“I think you’re barking up the wrong tree,” Grinch says, leaning in close once there’s a break in conversation.
“I’m not barking up any tree,” I mutter, but my eyes are glued to the bar.
Of course, Faith would be here right now. I made plans to forget about her, wanted to find a willing woman who didn’t tell me to fuck off the way Faith did the last time we were at Jake’s at the same time. It’s like the universe doesn’t want me to get my dick wet.
“Is there a reason you’re glaring at that woman?” Boomer asks, the label on the beer bottle in his hand already peeled away, concern drawing his brow tight.
“The sexy-as-hell one in jeans or the one in the dress?”
I snap my head in Spade’s direction. Immediately, he holds his hands up near his ears.
“Is she yours?”
Grinch scoffs, an irritating sound that makes me want to wrap my hands around his throat until he turns purple.
“She’s rejected him too many times for him to be barking up that disinterested tree,” my friend helpfully provides to the group.
Several of the guys chuckle, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end in annoyance, but I keep my mouth shut, tilting my beer to my lips.
“The one in the jeans or the one in the dress?” Spade asks, not giving up on his pursuit.
“Jeans,” Grinch answers.
“But the one in the dress is fair game?”
I tune both of them out as I continue to look across the bar, wondering what Faith’s friend is saying to her. I’m incapable of pulling my eyes away but manage a few seconds at a time. Boomer is right to express his concern for the way I’m acting, but maybe he doesn’t feel that electrical charge in the air. Hell, maybe I’m imagining something that isn’t there.
“She’s hot,” Slade says, his words meeting my ears in a way that lets me know he’s no longer referencing the friend.
“No,” Grinch says quickly, catching the same vibe from the man.
I turn to face Spade, wondering if we’re going to have a problem with him. First, he couldn’t take his eyes off Gigi last night, and now this?
“Completely off-limits?”
The man just does not give up.
I shift in my seat, calculating just how much trouble I’d get in with our bosses if I popped him in the nose.
“Hear me out,” Spade says, his grin wide as if he can’t feel the tension rolling off me. “If she’s not interested in you, shouldn’t that make her fair game?”
I crack my neck, preparing to move, when Grinch’s hand falls on my shoulder in warning.
“There are plenty of available women,” Grinch reminds him, indicating the group of four at a nearby table that haven’t pulled their eyes from us since we walked in.
Noticing the women smiling at him, Spade quickly loses interest in Faith and her friend.
“Brunettes are more my thing anyway,” Slade says with a wink in my direction before walking to introduce himself to the group of women.
“He’s going to be trouble,” I grumble, watching the women soak up Spade’s attention the second he steps in front of them.
“He just needs to get laid. He’ll calm down once his balls are empty,” Grinch explains.
“It’s a character flaw, or should I say trait?”
I jerk with the new voice, turning to see Slick standing right beside me, a glass of beer in her hand.
“He’s testing the waters right now. I’m pretty sure he’s not actually going to go after any of the women who have a claim on them.”
“I’m not claiming anyone,” I clarify.
Her eyebrows raise as she takes a sip of her beer.
“I think he’s either trying to check your own integrity or maybe he is going to be trouble, but it’s unlikely that intercourse is going to make him calm down. It’s one of his character traits.”