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I’m done with this pissing contest and ready to give the jerk a piece of my mind because he’s way out of line. “I’m right here, guys, and I can speak for myself. Grit doesn’t have any claim on me. I’m single. So as far as I’m concerned, that doesn’t make me off-limits.” I turn my eyes toward Grit, who looks like he’s about to blow a gasket. “And as far as we’re concerned, Grit, I’m nothing to you. So back the fuck off and let me live my life now. You’re clearly living yours.”
I glance over at JoeJoe before I storm away from the table and right out the door. I’m in desperate need of air. It’s suffocating being inside the same room as him. Before anyone can bear witness to my emotional breakdown, I walk around toward the back of the building.
“What the fuck was that, Hailey?” Grit’s livid tone makes me jump and only enrages me further.
I turn and cross my arms, blocking myself off from him— though it does nothing to strengthen my heart. “What the fuck was what?” He’s not the one who should be angry right now. And he’s not the boss of me. Once upon a time, he was my caretaker, but now, I’m all grown up and he has no say in what I do or who I do it with.
“You have a thing for Riff now?”
Really? He’s going to act all jealous and territorial when he’s the one who showed up with a girl tonight and practically rubbed his relationship in my face. If this was him trying to send the message he’s not interested in me, then I received it loud and clear.
“So what if I do, Grit? I’m twenty-two and single. And Riff’s a great guy. I don’t see the problem.”
He steps right into my face, looking down with steel in his eyes.
“The problem is he’s no good for you.”
Right! I guess I was mistaken. Jealousy isn’t at play here. He’s back in the overprotective dad mode now.
“I don’t care about good right now, Grit. I’m looking for bad. Very, very bad.”
He leans down even closer. The fury outlined in all of his features has me taking a step back, trying to put distance between us before I climb his body and beg him to choose me instead of the girl he has inside. His smell is already invading my senses, and when he’s close, I can’t think straight. He follows my every move until my back is up against the wall and his arms are bracing me in. There’s nowhere for me to go. No escaping the torment of my need.
“I need to get back inside to my tables,” I state. “People are waiting on their orders.”
“You’re not going anywhere until we’re done, Hailey.”
“We are done, Grit. Now, you should get back to your…”
“Stop fucking calling me that!” he snaps, cutting me off.
“Why? I thought it’s what you went by now?” It’s the name all of his brothers call him, so I don’t see the problem.
“No. To you, I’m Derek. To all the other asses in the world, I’m Grit, understood?”
I shake my head. I really don’t understand, and that’s the problem. If he actually cared about me, he wouldn’t have done what he did. He toyed with my emotions; only to stomp on them and drag me right back into the pit of pain and disappointment. I’m done. I’m done with him, and I’m done with this conversation. I really just want to get back inside so I can go nurse my wounds in private.
“I’ll call you whatever you want if you just move and let me get back to work.”
“I’m not moving until you tell me what the hell that was about in there. Do you have a thing for Riff?”
“Why do you even care?” I try to push out from under his hold, but he doesn’t budge. “Your date is still waiting on her drink, so I should really get back in.” Maybe the reminder of the beautiful girl inside will get the dick to move.
“Answer. The. Fucking. Question.” He seethes every word like he’s a ticking time bomb about to detonate. God, he’s so damn infuriating.
“No! Fine. Are you happy? I don’t have a thing for him. But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t. And tonight, I’m—”
He cuts me off again. “The answer is and will always be NO. Do you know why, babe?” His head drops closer, eyes peering deeper, and my knees grow weaker. “Because you’re mine. You are mine and no one else’s. No one is going to touch you. Not Riff. And not any other fucker out there. Do you understand me? This body is mine.”
His hand begins to trail down the full length of my side, and a shudder runs down my spine, reverberating against my clit. It’s amazing how one simple touch can detonate the bomb inside me and obliterate the anger. Thankfully, I’ve got one tiny thread of good judgement left. I will never be someone’s side piece, and there’s someone waiting on him.
“Really? Doesn’t seem that way when you show up with a date.” My words are strong, but my body is growing weaker as his fingers brush along my bare thigh, teasing across my skin.
“Joe is just a friend, baby. Nothing more.”
Just a friend. My heart begins to beat again. Slowly, but steadily. And I finally give into the flutters tightening my lower stomach.
“So why were you acting so distant when you came in tonight?”
