The door shut behind the last of them with a thud.
While we hadn’t exactly destroyed the bar, it was in worse shape than when the night first started. We all stood there next to the bar, breathing hard. Sutton had a split lip and it looked like Dane was sporting a black eye.
All of us would be feeling our age just a little in the morning.
Charlie took in the damage to the room, hands on hips. “You know this means more repairs for Colt.”
“He’s up to it,” Sutton laughed slapping me on the back. The laughter worked through the rest of us, until even Ridge’s mouth moved slightly, which was as close as Ridge got to a smile, much less a laugh.
“Out. All of you,” Charlie ordered.
They looked at me.“Go,” I said.
They went. I didn’t move until the door shut behind them.
Then there was just me and Charlie.
“You hit a man with a bottle,” I said walking toward her.
“He was about to blindside you.”
“I had it.”
She snorted.
“You could have been hurt.” I stopped in front of her and looked at her and thought about the last six weeks coming here, nursing a beer until closing time just so I could watch her. I thought about the kisses we’d shared, the feel of her hot pussy against my fingers, the sound of her trying not to moan when I’d made her come. The taste of her. The feel of her breast beneath my hand tonight.
I knew what I wanted. Full, complete surrender. Tonight.
“I’m done waiting, Charlie Jones.” And just like that, my patience was gone. I leaned forward and put her over my shoulder.
“Colt McAllister, what do you think you’re doing?” She pounded me on the back.
“Collecting on my bet. Now settle down.” I gave her ass a firm smack, then rubbed it with my hand.
I headed for the door. She hit my back again. I allowed it.
In the parking lot, Grant’s truck was still there, and he was leaning against it as if he had all the time in the world. “Need some help?” he called out.
“Yeah. Lock up for her.”
Grant grinned. “Sure thing, big brother.” He whistled as he started back inside.
That was my younger brother. Two steps ahead of all of us and twice as pleased about it.
Charlie huffed. “This is kidnapping.”
“Nope. It’s called calling in the bet.” I set her on her feet beside the truck and opened the passenger door.
She got in.
CHAPTER FIVE
Charlie
I was not nervous.
I repeated this to myself on the drive up the mountain. I sat in the passenger seat with my hands in my lap and watched the dark trees go past in the headlights and told myself I was a grown woman who had made a deliberate, informed decision and was completely fine with it.
