“That night at the bar—”
“Can we not talk about that, please?” I let out a slow, even breath, hoping to calm my nerves. “I’ve been trying my best just to pretend that entire thing didn’t even happen. There honestly isn’t a reason we need to revisit that disaster.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Again I knew I shouldn’t look at him, but I couldn’t stop myself. Tilting my chin upward, I was met with those gorgeous brown eyes. “I didn’t call you a kid, Chloe.”
His left hand left my waist and touched the hair that had fallen down from my loose braid. As he moved it back, his thumb skimmed over my jaw. Chills flowed over my shoulders and along my arms. “I called you Kitten.”
Again I felt like my heart might race right out of my chest but this time for an entirely different reason than before. “And you should also know that putting you in that cab and watching it drive away without me by your side was not easy. It was excruciating.”
I just stared at him, wondering if this was all nothing more than some kind of joke.
“Had you been sober,” he cupped my jaw in his palm and grazed over my cheek with his thumb, following the movement with his gaze, “that night and every night since would have been a whole lot different.”
“Is that so?” My words sounded breathy, but it was pointless to hide the way this man made me feel.
“The last thing I think of when I look at you is a kid, Chloe.” My chest was rising and falling quickly as I practically panted. Being this close to him, having his hands on me, and seeing the way he was watching me was almost too much. Sensory overload, a rush of so many different feelings all at once. “I think you and I should start over.”
“Do you?” I smiled in return when his lip tilted up at the corners. Then he nodded his head, and I laughed. “How would you suggest we do that?”
Dragging the pad of his thumb over my lower lip, he leaned in a little closer, and my breath hitched as he pressed a soft, gentle kiss at the corner of my mouth.
“First, we should go back inside and rejoin the group I’m sure is going stir crazy wondering where I carried you off to.” It’s then I remembered that we were not alone and was surprised that Rhett and Mike weren’t already outside looking for us. “Tonight we’ll talk, have fun, maybe dance a little.”
Mm, Landon Layne dancing, that could be a sight, I was sure.
“You dance?” Arching a brow, I waited, doing all I could to hide my excitement at the thought.
“Do I dance.” He laughed it off and pulled his hand away from my face. I missed the touch instantly. Stepping to the side, he placed his arm over my shoulder and began to drag me back toward the entrance of Lucky’s. “By the time the night is over, your feet are going to be begging for a break.”
Begging, damn, I was so close to doing just that.
Chapter Ten
Landon
I held up my hand and gained the attention of the bartender. Motioning between Chloe and myself, I held up two fingers. Carl gave a little nod and walked toward the opposite end of the bar.
A few minutes later, there were two beers placed on the counter before us, and I tossed a five down on the bar top in return.
“How did you know I wanted a beer?” Chloe made no movement to grab the bottle, only crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at me with sass. Her lips pursed, her eyebrow arched, and the tilt of her head to the side added a little more flare. Gorgeous, that was the first thought that filled my mind.
“I’ll take it if you don’t want it.” Rhett reached around her and attempted to grab the bottle, only to get his hand smacked. When he pulled it back, he let out a growl, and she laughed.
I watched in silence as the two of them bantered back and forth like brother and sister. One of the greatest things about this group was the closeness they shared. Blood or not, they were family.
I knew Mike long before he was ever a part of this group. We were friends back before the accident took place that claimed the lives of both of his parents. After that, we lost touch when he was placed into the foster system until, years later, my father retired and decided to settle in Brooklet.
I was just about to intervene when Rhett grabbed the beer quickly and brought it to his mouth, taking a long pull.
Chloe looked defeated as she watched Rhett with her mouth hanging open in what I assumed was shock. Then she slugged him in the arm. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t shock.
“Asshole.” Pushing him out of her way, Chloe stormed past him and straight to AJ.
“Now you’re in trouble.” If there was one thing I knew about the men in this crowd, they feared their women. As in, they would do just about anything to keep them happy—within reason, that was. Don’t get me wrong, they stood their ground, too, but I could already see the fear in Rhett’s eyes. Chloe turned around, AJ stepped up to her side, and together they glared at Rhett.
“Carl,” Rhett hollered out, only he remained focused on the two women staring holes in him. “Need another beer, stat.”
Just then, the women began to descend, and I chuckled when he backed away.
“Pussy,” I mumbled.
“Word to the wise, don’t ever piss off two of them at once. They are sneaky and vicious when necessary.”
Carl placed another bottle on the bar top, Rhett
