He doesn’t seem to mind, though. He spends the whole time grinning over at me, serving people with a flourish. He’s not cocky Myles at all; he’s just pure, boyish joy, and my heart is so full to see him like this, to think that I’m the reason he’s smiling. Every time he aims one of his sweet smiles my way, anticipation hums through me, knowing that very soon I’ll have him back in my bed, in my arms.
And as I sit there, I have the thought that maybe Myles can be my shell now. Because when I’m with him, I feel protected. I feel like I’m safe from the world.
Finally, when the rush has died down and it’s not long until closing, he comes over and slides into the booth beside me. I tuck my hand into his and lean close to kiss him, but he hesitates.
“What?”
“Cory…” He glances around, his gaze hitching on Cory as he leans at the end of the bar, chatting to two women. Josie is further back, cleaning some glasses, and Eddy’s clearing tables. But none of them are looking our way.
“Oh.” I’d completely forgotten about Cory and the fact that he warned me away from Myles. But he doesn’t know Myles like I do—plus he worries about me far too much. “I’ll talk to him. He can’t fire you for this.”
“It’s not that. It’s just… he was pretty clear with me about not making a move on you.”
“I’m a big girl. Besides, I think I actuallymade a move onyou, so…” I lean closer, sliding a hand up his denim-clad thigh, feeling him quiver beneath it.
“You did, you bad girl.”
“I’myourbad girl now. So let’s go home and be bad together.”
He gives a low groan into my ear, brushing his lips against my skin. I wait for him to say something filthy, but he just gives a soft sigh. “I’m so happy, Cat.”
Hearing him say that makes joy glow bright in my chest. I press my mouth to his in a warm, passionate kiss, filled with the promise of what’s to come. “Me too,” I murmur.
His eyes flit over my shoulder and he cringes. “Shit. Here’s Cory.”
“Okay, I’ve got this,” I say, steeling myself. “You go finish up.”
He nods, slipping out of the booth and dashing away. Cory adjusts his course from the booth to follow Myles, but I reach out and grab his hand, pulling him down beside me.
“What the—”
“Just calm down, Cors, okay?”
Cory stares after Myles, his expression thunderous. “Itoldhim; I told him not to eventhinkabout—”
“Cory.” I punch him in the arm and he swivels to face me.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to get you to calm down before you kill someone.”
“No—” He balls his hand into a fist on the table. “What are you doing withhim?”
I place my hands on Cory’s shoulders. “Cors, I love you. You’re the best big brother a girl could ask for. But I’m big enough to make my own decisions, now. Myles and I are together, and it’s okay.”
He scrutinizes me with hard eyes. “Did he tell you about Amber?”
“Yes,” I say patiently. “I know all about that. There are no secrets, nothing to—”
“So he told you what happened, then?”
“Sure.” I give a light shrug. “I mean, not in detail, but I know—”
Cory cuts me off with a disbelieving laugh. He wipes a hand down his face, looking pained, and that same sensation of unease I felt earlier crawls back over me.
“Of course he didn’t tell you the details,” he mutters, glancing back to the bar. Myles is stacking glasses and he looks up, smiling at me, his gaze quickly shifting away with Cory here.
“Well, it doesn’t matter,” I say, lifting my chin.
