“Absolutely not. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 13
Declan
It takes about four and a half minutes of sitting next to Elsie in a crowded, noisy restaurant, brushing elbows as she studiously ignores me, to decide I’m going to pursue her.
Fuck whatever rule I set for myself about not hooking up with anybody in Port Myles. That rule should have been chucked out the window the second I laid eyes on Elsie, all feisty and mad about her parking spot, hazel eyes blazing, with that damn braid I wanted to wrap around my fist.
Elsie’s elbow nudges my forearm and I barely catch her muttered, “Sorry.”
Our table is packed, with Sean at one head of it, Frankie to his right, then Grace, Olivia and Cam. Eddie sits at the other end of the table, with Maya to his right, then Ty, Elsie and I. I could see the protest in Elsie’s eyes when Ty tugged her town into the seat beside him, putting her right next to me. At least she was polite enough not to say anything.
I don’t mind, though. I kind of like how hard she’s resisting whatever she’s feeling for me. Because sheisfeeling something, though I’d be willing to bet she won’t admit that even to herself. I see it in the way she avoids my eye, but can’t help glancing my way when she thinks I won’t be looking. Unfortunately for her, I’malwayslooking. I can’t help myself.
Before I can decide how to play this, a woman approaches our table.
“Hi, Mom,” Olivia says, and everyone else around the table, my friends and coworkers included, echoes with a chorus of, “Hi, Mom.”
“Congratulations to all of you,” she says, smiling at each of us who had our opening day today. “First round of drinks is on the house.”
Everyone whoops and cheers around me, and drink orders are called out and jotted down by the server standing with Olivia’s mom. I order my usual Coke, making a mental note when Elsie asks for a blueberry mojito. Very Maine of her.
The server gives us some time to figure out what we want to eat and Elsie is quiet, studying her menu like she’s never seen it before. It’s cute. I know for a fact that she and her friends come here often, because one of the customers I tattooed today told me so. Everyone in this goddamn town seems to know her, and it makes me jealous in a way that I know isn’t rational. I hardly know her. Doesn’t seem like shewantsto know me. But this weird part of me feels like she’s mine, somehow, and I find myself wanting to wring the neck of everyone who gets to claim a little piece of her in a way I haven’t yet.
It’s time to change that.
“Elsie,” I say, and she nearly jumps out of her skin. One of her knees bangs into the bottom of the table and her elbow bumps mine again.
“Are you okay?” Ty asks from her other side.
“Yes,” she squeaks out. “Fine.”
Ty leans forward to peer around her at me. “You might need to approach her like a wild animal,” he suggests. “Move slowly, hands out in front of you, maybe provide a snack?”
“Fuck off,” Elsie fires back. Ty tosses his head back in a laugh.
“I’ve never heard you curse before. I’m honored.”
Elsie rolls her eyes and buries her head in her menu again, apparently forgetting I was trying to speak to her.
“Elsie,” I say again, a bit gentler this time. She still flinches, but at least she doesn’t bang into anything.
“Yes?” she asks, still studying her menu. I keep my eyes on her face, waiting for her to break, to spare me even just a fleeting glance.
She doesn’t.
“Look at me,” I finally say, the words coming out more like a command than the request I’d meant them to be. My voice is all gravel and heat, but it’s loud enough in here that she might not notice.
My eyes zero in on the way her throat bobs before she sets down her menu and turns slightly toward me, her eyes settling on mine. I make another mental note, one that has my dick twitching.
Takes commands well. Good to know.
“Are you going to ignore me all night?” I quirk one side of my mouth up into the smirk that seems to irritate her to no end, just to see if I can get a rise out of her.
It works. Her eyes narrow and I’m reminded of the Elsie who told me off for stealing her parking spot before we’d even been introduced. The one who marched right up to a stranger on the street and told him exactly what she thought of him. I know now, from the pieces I’ve gathered talking to people who know her, and from watching her interact with customers all day, that that’s not Elsie. She’s sweet. She’s kind. She’s a friend to everyone in this town,by the sounds of it. Even Ty had never heard her curse until just a few minutes ago.
What is it about me that brings out that side of her? Does it mean I rattle her just as much as she seems to set me off-balance?
