“I’m sure. Thanks for dinner.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
Ignoring Rory’s disapproving look, she walked out of the bar with Brent at her heels. When she got to her car, he gently turned her around. Staring into her eyes, he said, “I had a great time. I’d like to see you again.”
Dread weaved up her spine.Ihatethis part. He’s a nice-enough guy.“I’m so busy right now.”
“Lunch, coffee, a quick drink. We can even agree that we’ll only go out for an hour. I’m pretty flexible. I just want to see you again.”
Shit.“Okay. Give me a call and I can see what my schedule looks like.”Chicken.
Brent’s eyes lit up. “Great. I will.” He leaned in for a kiss, but she turned away and his lips landed on her cheek.
She pulled away and opened her door. “I’ve gotta go. Thanks again.”
“I’ll call you,” he said as she pulled away, and she didn’t doubt for a minute that he would.
On the way home, she took a detour past the tattoo shop. As she approached the parlor, she saw three men standing outside. Slowing down, her breath caught when she saw him. Without thinking, she pulled into a parking space and shut off the engine. Gripping the steering wheel, she took several deep breaths.This is insane. I need to go home. Right now.Looking in her rearview mirror, she saw him talking with two other buffed men who were dressed similarly in jeans and leather vests. He took a drag on what she thought was a joint and exhaled, wisps of smoke floating around him. As if sensing something, he turned in her direction.
With her insides quivering, she switched on the ignition and drove away.
By the time she arrived at her house, she’d calmed down. Grateful that she hadn’t made an ass of herself, she parked in the garage off the alley and walked through the yard. Inside, she changed into her cotton nightshirt, poured a glass of wine, and curled up in one of the cushy chairs in the sun-room.
There was a full, bright moon, and glimmering stars freckled the ebony sky. As she sipped her wine, images of him played out in her mind. She knew she wouldn’t get much sleep that night, her mind too active with thoughts of him.I should stop all this nonsense and try to find someone best suited for me.Brent wasn’t her type, but she figured there must be someone in Alina who was and wouldn’t be a heartbreaker.
Maybe I need to just forget all this and concentrate on the shop and Aunt Patty. If someone is meant for me, we’ll find each other.She laughed.Now I’m beginning to sound like Rory.
The truth was things didn’t turn out like the storybooks. Many jerks had confirmed that for her.
She took another sip of wine.
Yeah. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter Five
Sitting in hispickup truck a couple houses down from where Hailey lived, Goldie lit a joint and took a long drag. He’d been parked watching her house for the past half hour. It pissed him off to no end that he was doing it, yet he was still there. What he hoped to see was beyond him.I’m nothing but a damn stalker wanting a glimpse of Hailey. This is so fucked.
Ever since the previous night when he’d almost kissed her in the hallway at Chianti’s, he’d been obsessing over her. She hadn’t made it easy on him when she drove by his shop and parked nearby. He’d thought for sure she was going to change her mind as he watched her sitting in her Buick, but when she’d pulled away, he regretted not going over to her. He wanted just one taste of her lips, then he’d move on and forget about her. He could do that. He’d done it with all the women in his life. Some of the chicks made an impression on him, but not enough for him to stick around too long. Leaving women didn’t even make him break out in a sweat, so he had no doubt he could forget Hailey in the sweet embrace of another chick with chestnut brown hair.
Scrubbing a hand down his face, he dragged his fingers to the back of his neck and rubbed it hard.I’m done with this shit.He sat up straight and grabbed the key in the ignition. Just before he turned it, Hailey walked down the porch stairs, beyond sexy in her shorts and halter top. Staring at the way her hips swayed while she walked across the grass, he readjusted his jeans and leaned his head back against the head rest.
Hailey bent over and her shorts rode up a bit, showing the crease right below her butt cheeks.How well I know your ass.Straightening up, Goldie saw a bunch of weeds clutched in her hand. She walked over to the sidewalk and picked up the newspaper, then went back into the house.
He’d sat out in his truck for forty minutes in the hot sun for a five-minute glimpse of her.The brothers would be all over me about this. And they’d be right. I’m acting like a goddamn pussy. This shit stops now.Turning the key in the ignition, the blue pickup growled as Goldie pulled away from the curb, heading back to the clubhouse.
When he walked inside, a blast of cool air hit him. He went straight to the bar where a frothy glass of beer waited for him. Tilting his head back, he guzzled it down.
“Damn hot out there,” Army said as he wiped the sweat dripping down his face. The prospect behind the bar placed a mug of beer in front of him.
“Damn straight. What’s going on at Lust?”
“Not much. Good crowds on the weekends. Lately we’ve been getting the suit-and-tie rush around four on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Guess all the suits want to get their stripper fix before they go home to their wives.”
“Does Fiona still work there?”
“Yeah. She was asking about you. What happened? You had a major boner for her, but I haven’t seen you around for a while.”
“I’ve been busy. Steel had me helping out at Skid Marks for a while, which was a major pain in the ass. I was busting my ass between the bike shop and the tattoo parlor. Glad that shit’s done.” Goldie picked up the new beer Ruger put in front of him.
