“Well, I’m glad you went out with him,” she nodded, deciding not to pry further. “It’s good practice if nothing else,” she said as she shrugged. I knew she was being deliberately casual, letting me off the hook.
I headed to the opposite side of the bar to refresh drinks where needed and to change the music to something more upbeat as the night picked up.
Hours later, I was more than ready for my shift to end. It had been a busy night and I was ready to crash. “I’ll have another one, baby!” one of the college dipshits who I’d been putting up with for the last hour hollered entirely too loudly.
“Sorry, bud, I already called last call,” I told him while sneaking an eye roll at Jodie. There were five of them sitting at the bar, the only customers left, and I had to admit this was one of those nights where I was glad one of the Knights would be in to make sure I got home okay.
“Oh, come on, gorgeous, just one more.” He gave me a lopsided grin. I put my hand out to clear away their drinks and he grabbed onto it.
“Let go,” I commanded, trying to pull my hand out of his grasp.
“Hands off!” a familiar voice barked from the doorway.
My entire body froze as the guy hastily dropped my hand. My heart felt like it stopped and then started beating so swiftly, I worried it would fly out of my chest as I turned to watch Sal stride toward the bar.
His timing as of late had been…ironic? Irritating? I couldn’t quite decide.
I felt like a deer in headlights and completely devoid of thought for a few seconds. My body’s reaction was completely uncontrollable as he came nearer still. My heart pounded; my knees went weak, and I could swear my panties were wet at the sight of him.
“Hey,” his deep voice greeted as his eyes swept over me possessively. I saw his eyes heat as they took me in. Sal had always made it abundantly clear he loved every inch of my body. His expression proved that hadn’t changed. His eyes swept back over to the college guys as they packed up and began to make their exit.
Who the hell did he think he was storming in here and trying to be my own personal savior? Well, screw that.
My eyes narrowed, self-preservation taking over. “What do you want, Sal?” Being angry felt a hell of a lot more empowering than bursting into tears, or worse yet, hurling myself into his arms. “Actually, you know what? Forget it, I don’t care what you want,” I added harshly as the last of the college guys filtered out. I turned to Jodie who was pretending not to watch our exchange. “You covered if I head out now?” I asked her, trying to keep the desperation from my voice.
“Yeah, sweetie, go ahead,” she answered easily. I hadn’t told her much, but we’d worked alongside each other on many a night, and I was sure she’d pieced together Sal was someone important.
“Thanks,” I answered. Without a second glance at Sal, I grabbed my purse from under the bar and hightailed it outside. My hands shook as I pulled my keys out and heard the bar door open and shut behind me.
Dammit, I felt completely out of my depth with this. My emotions were all over the place, a chaotic jumble pounding violently in my chest.
“Kat, wait,” he commanded from behind me.
I kept walking, unable to face him. When I unlocked my car door, he stood so close behind me that I could feel his body heat.
He braced one arm against my open door and one against the roof of my car, effectively caging me in.
“You’re gonna have to talk to me sometime,” his gravelly voice stated as his lips grazed over my ear.
My betraying knees went weak at his proximity and the rasp of his voice, but somehow I managed to hang on to my restraint. “No, I really don’t,” I said as I shook my head, proud I managed not to turn around. “Back up,” I added quietly.
He sighed as he always used to when he was feigning patience with me. “Okay, baby, for tonight. I’ll back up,” he allowed.
I dove into my car the moment he moved away.
Tonight, the headlight shining in my rearview making sure I arrived home okay wasn’t so reassuring.
I didn’t even bother turning the lights on inside my apartment. Instead, I sat numbly on the couch for a while, just as I had the night before, feeling completely confused and lost. My phone had been ringing off the hook, but I didn’t even look at it.
My buzzer starting ringing an hour later and I sat up abruptly. It was after two AM. What now?
“Yeah?” I answered my intercom impatiently.
“Kat, it’s Hank. Scarlet’s water broke. Get your ass down here,” he barked.
Shit, I was going to win the worst best friend of the year award. I’d been ignoring my phone for hours!
“Coming, two seconds!” I yelled.
