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“It’s fine, Ash,” Alex says, coming up next to me and nodding at Ryan. “I can handle the rest. Thanks for the help tonight.” He hands me a wad of cash and I shove it in my back pocket.
“Sure. It was no problem. See you soon, I guess?”
“Yeah.”
A low growl sounds next to me and I know Ryan is losing his patience.
Good, so am I. With him.
Heading back into that small room off of the bar, I put my sweater back on and shove my arms inside my coat. Looping my scarf around my neck loosely, I grab my purse from the cabinet below, and sling it over my shoulder.
The second I open the door that leads back out to the main part of The Rusty Anchor, he’s right there, waiting for me. “Let’s go,” he says, placing his hand on the small of my back, pushing me towards the front entrance.
“What’s your problem?”
“Just walk,” he says, growling in my ear.
I can feel the searing heat of his touch through all the layers separating us, and my steps hurry, even though all I want to do is defy him.
It’s a reflex to want to do the opposite of what he says.
The few people left milling around pay us no attention as I’m all but pushed out the door. But he doesn’t stop there. Leading me over to his big black pickup, Ryan opens the passenger door, and practically lifts, and throws, me inside.
“Ry–” I start, but I’m cut off by the slamming of the door.
What the hell?
When he gets in behind the wheel, he doesn’t even look at me as he starts the truck and throws it in drive.
Staring at him wide-eyed, I can’t hold back any longer. “Ryan, what the fuck is your problem? I drove here, and I can drive home. Turn around.”
“No,” he says harshly. “Why were you working there tonight?”
“That’s what this is about?”
“All the men in there wanted you, Ashley. And you started a fight last night. Why did you go back?”
“I was hungry, if you must know. Which, by the way, you have no right to know.”
“And how did food turn into bartending?”
“Alex had a call-out, so I offered to help. I didn’t want to just go back to an empty house.”
“Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“I don’t know why I’m here,” I mumble.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Why did you come back?”
“Am I not allowed to visit my friend? Did you think you’d never have to see me again? You’re a little full of yourself if you think me coming here has anything to do with you.”
A small, sarcastic smile plays on his full, sexy lips, and I want nothing more than to slap him, and then kiss him. “I didn’t think you came back for me. I’m not that self-centered. I just meant, why did you run away to Pine Cove in the dead of winter?”
“I didn’t run away.” Looking out the window, I swipe my finger through the foggy condensation.
