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He watched her walk away, and sighed. The woman had him tied in knots, and this was a problem because A, he couldn’t concentrate for thinking about her, which B, pissed him off because that messed with his work schedule, which was totally unacceptable and led to C, he had to get Bailey back into his arms, and hopefully bed, ASAP.
Chapter 23
“So look at you,” Piper said, handing Bailey her coffee. She was in Phil’s for dinner. Maggie was working, and then going to the town hall for a meeting, so she’d decided to treat herself.
“What?” Piper looked down at her sundress.
“You look fit, and healthy. You have spunk in your step, and just yesterday I heard you tell Jack to pull his head out of his ass. I like it.”
Bailey returned the high five before Piper walked away to serve another customer. She had changed. In the weeks she’d been back in Ryker, she’d made inroads into becoming the woman she wanted to be.
Peace had been restored between her and Joe, and while she’d not slept with him again, he occasionally caught her when she wasn’t looking and dragged her into the nearest isolated space and kissed her senseless. It was like some kind of evil mating ritual that left her feeling hot and edgy. She loved it.
But she wasn’t lowering her guard enough to get physical with him again yet. Bailey had stuff to work through, and he messed with her ability to do that.
“I just want to talk, Bailey.”
Clark slid onto the stool next to hers. He was tall, with smooth good looks, although on closer inspection, Bailey thought he looked a little dog-eared. His hair needed a trim, and he had a shadow on his jaw from not shaving. Which was pretty shocking, considering the man she’d known never left the house looking anything but immaculate. He also wore jeans and a shirt. Bailey couldn’t remember seeing him in jeans before.
“Go home, Clark. I can’t imagine what is still keeping you here. I don’t want to perform again, nor do I want to go back to Boston or the control my grandfather had over me. Go back to your clients.”
“You’ve changed.” His brown eyes studied her. “You look good... happy.”
“I am, and I’m also getting to know the person I can be, Clark. I can’t return to what I was. That’s no longer a fit for me.”
“What’ll it be?” Piper appeared to serve Clark. She wore a fierce frown.
“Pip, it’s okay.” Bailey patted the hand her friend braced on the counter to make herself look intimidating.
“It better be, or I’m personally running him out of town.”
“Just black coffee, thanks.”
Clark’s eyes followed Piper as she went to fill his order.
“You have friends here, Bailey. Protective friends.”
“I never had them before.”
“Friends?” He sounded surprised.
“Maggie, you’ve met her.”
“The fierce redhead who said she’d turn me into a eunuch if I upset you?”
“That’s her.” Bailey smiled. “When I lived here, she was a friend. I never made any more when I left. Acquaintances, not friends.”
He sipped the coffee Piper placed before him with another scowl.
“I’m not your enemy, Bailey, and I never wanted to be.”
She sighed. “I know that, and also that we’re both just products of my grandfather. He’s a master manipulator, Clark.”
“Your grandfather only wants what is best for you. I thought that was coming back to Boston, and performing again.”
“It’s not. I don’t want that anymore. I did enjoy it, but not now. Now I need to do things for myself, Clark.”
“Why did you never tell me you were unhappy, Bailey? You were always so calm and composed; not once did I see you any different.”
