I tossed back the rest of my drink before finally looking at him as I stood from the stool, the legs scraping against the wood floor as I rose to my full height. His eyes widened.Fucking pipsqueak. “Interesting that while you were trying to stick your tongue down her throat, she was eye fucking me from across the room. I think it’s safe to say I know where thatinterestof hers lies.”
I didn’t wait for him to sputter out some pathetic, douchey response before I was walking away, right toward her.
My voice dropped low as I approached. “Come on,” I said, holding out my hand. “I’m taking you home before that dickhead tries something else.”
Haley held my stare, but didn’t hesitate, taking my hand as she slipped off the stool. “Okay.”
I led her through the bar, relishing in the way she ignored Brett when he called out her name. She found Marie, who was pretty damn tipsy, to let her know she was leaving.
Usually, I’d probably feel awkward with the way Marie was giggling and looking between the two of us like she knew something, but I didn’t care. Between that asshole and the way Haley had been looking at me, I was too damn on edge at that moment to give a shit about anything else.
We left the bar a moment later, and I didn’t let go of her hand until we reached my Jeep in the parking lot and I opened the passenger door for her. Once she was in, I shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side, sliding inside and starting the engine.
The drive to her townhouse simmered with unspoken tension, thick as smoke. It coiled between us, a living thing neither of us could ignore, no matter how much we tried. My thoughts were a storm I could barely contain, and her eyes kept flicking over, searching my face for answers I couldn’t—or wouldn’t—give.
I pulled along the curb out front and shut off the engine before we both slipped out of the car. As we walked up the walkway and onto the front porch, I told myself I was walking her to the front door.Nothing more.
Haley unlocked her door, cracking it open before turning to face me. “Are you alright?” she asked.
My brow furrowed. “I think the better question is, areyou?”
“I’m fine. But you seem…a little on edge.” And she knew why. I knew she did, even if she was feigning innocence.
“I’m good, Haley. I just—he was being too forward, he was being too handsy, and then he made that damn loosen-you-up comment…”
“You do realize I had no intention of falling for his crap, right?” Then, she added with a soft smile, “I wasn’t going to break my promise.”
“Marie was right. You should have told him to eat shit and sent him on his way.”
“Fair.” She chuckled. “But I was trying to give him a chance to say his piece so that I could shut down any further communication. I don’t need him texting me anymore, coming by my place, or popping into my hangout–”
“Whoa,whoa,” I cut her off, shaking my head. “What the hell do you mean bycoming by your place?”
“He said he stopped by here,” she explained as she gestured to her townhouse, “but I wasn’t home.”
My blood ran hot as I processed her words, and my hands balled into fists at my sides. Usually, I was calm in Haley’s presence, but at that moment, all I felt was this possessive overprotectiveness and jealousy.
I didn’t want that asshole messaging her.
I didn’t want him coming by her house, unannounced or otherwise.
I didn’t want him showing up in places he thought she might be.
I didn’t want him anywhere in her fucking orbit.
And I shouldn’t be feeling that way. At all. But I couldn’t help it.
“Blake…” Haley’s soft voice broke through my haze, and I looked at her. She could see it.Feel it. She was quiet for a moment before speaking again. “Tell me something real.”
There she went withthatonce again. It was meant to lessen the tension, and while I would usually answer with something meaningless or witty, this time…I went deeper.
“You make me feel things I’ve never felt before. Things I have no damn business feeling for you.”
Her eyes were locked on mine, searching. “Like what?” she whispered.
“Fierce. Protective.” I took two steps toward her, one with each word. “Possessive.” I took another step, bringing myself directly in front of her, and she had to tip her head back to keep eye contact as my frame towered over hers. “Aching. Needing.” I leaned down as my hand lifted to brush her neck, and her breath hitched. “Wanting.”
I closed my eyes, warring with myself as I let out a ragged breath, and my hand slowly dropped back to my side. I knew I should step away, that I should leave before I did something stupid, but I was struggling to reel it back in, to control myself. Because all I wanted at that moment washer, and it was slowly taking overeveryrational thought, every reason this shouldn’t—couldn’thappen.
