I could only shake my head at Delilah’s antics. She’d end up sleeping with the guy at this rate, and then I’d pick up the piece when he went home to his girlfriend. Pessimism and I were apparently good friends tonight. Trying to shake my thoughts I headed to ask the guys what they wanted. The closer I got to the table the more I could hear Jarren’s steady growling as he watched Delilah.
“Jarren, shut up and stay, or get the hell out if you can’t control yourself!” I snapped, catching all three men off guard. His ice blue eye shot to mine and his lip curled in a snarl. I leaned closer to speak quietly, “You’re drawing attention to yourself. I don’t know who he is, and while I don’t like him either, you cannot sit here acting like a wolf protecting his mate. Delilah isn’t yours to protect. Now, what are you guys drinking tonight?”
“Three beers, Zee,” Wyatt answered with a grin. Alex looked surprised but maybe a little pleased at my outburst. I wasn’t sure why I had said anything, other than people had been looking at Jarren and I got worried. The growling had stopped, but Jarren’s eyes still tracked everything going on at Delilah’s table.
“Got it, be right back,” I bent to kiss Alex on the cheek and went to get their drinks. That ended up being the last time I made it to their table that night. They didn’t stay long. Wyatt seemed twitchy, looking at every person as if they would suddenly blow up their beer mug.
Jarren didn’t even drink his beer. He studied Delilah and her new friend the whole time. Delilah must have realized that Jarren was watching because she ramped up the flirting. I struggled not to laugh when Delilah climbed in the guy’s lap and Jarren’s face turned red. When the flirting couple finally left, Jarren shot to his feet and followed them. That wasn’t going to end well.
“He won’t start trouble,” Alex’s voice slid over me, making me forget to worry. He pulled me back into him and wrapped his arms around my stomach. Warmth coursed through me at his touch and I leaned back, trying to put more of me in contact with him.
“He says something isn’t right about the guy and he wants to see where he’s going. I think he wants your little sister. I’ve never seen Jarren lose his composure with anyone but her.” He pressed his nose in my hair and took a deep breath. I relaxed in his embrace for a moment before I pulled away.
“I agree with him about this guy,” I turned to face him. “Something about him was really bugging me. Oddly enough, I’m glad Jarren is keeping an eye out for her. I just hope he doesn’t get too wrapped up in her. Delilah isn’t likely to ever accept him, or any of you.” I shrugged and looked up at him.
“And her sister?” Alex bent to brush his lips lightly against mine. “Could she accept us? Or even just me?” His voice was a whisper and his lips brushed mine as he spoke. I hated that he doubted me, but I couldn’t blame him.
“Hmm…she might be persuaded,” I smiled slyly at him. “How about since you showed me your thinking spot, I’ll show you my favorite place to go? I’m off during the day tomorrow.”
“That sounds great,” he grinned, and his dimples caused my breath to catch. “Do you want to meet here around ten?”
“Perfect,” I pressed a kiss to his lips, but when he tried to pull me closer, I pushed against his chest to stop him. “You guys get out of here. I’ve got work to finish and you’re distracting me. I’ll see you in the morning. Wear boots.” With that I headed to talk with a customer who was waving his glass at me.
******
When 10am came, I pulled into the lot to find Alex already waiting. His dark wash jeans, and typical black shirt were paired with what appeared to be a new black leather coat. I grinned as he bounced on the balls of his feet in the cold with his breath coming in little puffs of steam.
“It’s a good thing we aren’t climbing cliffs today,” I told him as I stepped out of my car. I’d gone for comfort instead of sexy, wearing a pair of fitted but well-worn jeans, a cream-colored sweater and my jacket. He took in my outfit and his lips tipped up into an appreciative smile. “That leather jacket wouldn’t have survived the rocks.”
“So where are we going?” he asked as I waved him over to my car. He eyed it apprehensively before he got in.
“I saw that look,” I told him and shot him a glare. “This car has lasted me since I was 16, and it gets around good in the winter.” His chuckle made me smile as he slid into the car without a word about it.
He told me about the police investigation while we drove. After several interviews with Wyatt and Tegan, since they claimed to drive the truck that night, the police were leaning towards teenagers acting out. The bomb wasn’t overly complicated, the screws and nails used for shrapnel were sold everywhere. Evidence was severely lacking, and Alex wasn’t interested in pursuing it.
Our walk after I parked my car was quiet. The silence was comfortable, and I didn’t spend the whole time thinking of how to fill it. Instead I watched the forest for new drawing opportunities and avoided where my thoughts wanted to stray. After several minutes, the trees thinned out and a little beach like area stretched along part of
