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He frowned, puzzled in a way that felt genuine. “Well, that’s just it. It’s not done, even though it should be. I replaced the parts that were shot. Ran through everything I could think of. But the blasted thing still won’t turn over.” He shook his head. “Doesn’t make sense. It should be running.”
He looked like he needed a hug.
“Oh,” I said, instead of forcing bodily contact. “Okay. So…still dead.”
“For now,” he said. “I’m not done with it, though.”
I nodded, telling myself I’d ask more questions later, that I wasn’t avoiding anything…that the tight feeling in my chest meant nothing at all.
“How’s it looking?” Sterling asked as he came up behind me.
Mack explained the problem again, and Sterling listened, nodding along like he was just as confused.
I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking at that moment. Was he as relieved as I was that it wasn’t done yet? I shouldn’t have been. That was a huge problem.
Sterling’s hand settled at the small of my back. It would have been casual to anyone watching, but it was devastating to me. He leaned in just enough that only I could hear him. “It’s time to go,” he said.
Something in his voice dipped, promised…and my body betrayed me instantly.
I squeaked. “I—what—now?” I blurted out. “I mean, I should probably hydrate. Or stretch. Or, I don’t know, apologize to the bull? That feels like the closure I need.”
His mouth brushed my ear when he spoke again. “What are you afraid of?”
The question shouldn’t have landed that hard…but it did.
I swallowed, my pulse suddenly loud everywhere. “You,” I finally whispered.
He went still for a moment, and then his fingers pressed lightly into my back, grounding and possessive all at once. “Good,” he murmured. “That means you’re paying attention.”
I reared back, shock sparking through me as I turned to face him with wide eyes. “Sterling—”
“You didn’t let me finish,” he said, his lips tipping up like he was amused as he reached up and pushed a piece of hair out of my face, rendering me mute by the soft touch. “The only thing you really need to be afraid of, baby,” he continued, “is how addicted you’re going to be after I get you in my bed.”
I hated how easily my breath forgot what it was supposed to do. I stood there, stunned, my heart hammering. I was caught between outrage and the terrifying realization that some reckless part of me wanted to find out exactly how right he was.
He didn’t wait for an answer.
Sterling took my hand and threaded his fingers through mine, turning us toward the door. He didn’t rush or drag me. He just started guiding me through the bar with quiet confidence, his shoulder angled just enough to shield me as we passed bodies and spilled drinks and curious looks.
We made it six steps.
“Whoa, whoa—absolutely not. I thought you were joking about leaving,” Ryder said, popping into our path with an exaggerated pout. “You can’t just leave. Jett’s out of town again doing his bounty hunter thing, and the night’s just getting good.” He leaned in slightly. “You sure you want to head out?”
Sterling went still beside me, the change immediate and out of place. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I’ve got it.”
Ryder held his ground, jerking his head back toward the bar, but something strange was flickering in his eyes. “You’re gonna miss it. Kelsey’s currently trying to get over you by bagging a seventy-year-old.”
He nodded toward the corner booth where Harvey was now sitting, beaming like he’d stumbled into unexpected fortune, while the girl who Sterling had so coldly rejected—Kelsey, I guess—leaned in close, her lashes fluttering with a seemingly renewed purpose.
“I give it five minutes,” Ryder added. “Six if she takes a shot first.”
I choked on a laugh before I could stop myself. Good for Harvey…although, I wasn’t entirely convinced he had what it took to survive a girl like her.
“See you later, Boone,” Sterling muttered, finally maneuvering us past him.
“You’ve cut me to the core, Hayes,” Ryder yelled after us. “I may never recover from this.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” Sterling said dryly, steering us toward the door.
