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“Why should I? You own the place, but if it makes you feel better, take it out of my pay.” He rolls his eyes, dropping beside me. “But because I work here, I wanted to let you know to stop being an asshole and get your shit together because Marissa is here.”
I stand quickly, knocking the crate I was sitting on to the floor as he places his hand on the center of my chest. “Whoa, there. She isn’t alone.”
“So, Colt is with her. I know she had to work a shift at the station today. They probably came in to grab something to eat. What’s the big deal?”
They come in here all the time, although not as often as I’d like, choosing to eat at the diner instead.
“Colt isn’t with her.”
I narrow my eyes in his direction, quickly losing my patience. I haven’t laid eyes on her in days, which isn’t unusual, but today it feels like an eternity. I asked her to give me a chance to get to know her, and she didn’t respond. The waiting is killing me. I want to storm into the station and demand she give me a chance, but that wouldn’t end the way I want it to. Marissa is as stubborn as a mule. Instead of choosing to give us a chance, she’d dig in her heels, and I’d be back to square one. And that I can’t have. So, I wait, no matter how much my heart yearns to know if she will give us a chance.
“Get out of my way.” I shove him to the side and go storming toward the front of the bar, eager to see Marissa.
As soon as I turn the corner, I freeze. Marissa is standing a few feet away, near the doorway, her eyes scanning the bar, searching the room for something before locking with mine. My eyes start at her feet and make their way up her long legs, which are covered in her Magnolia County Sheriff’s Department uniform. Her hair is pulled into a messy bun sitting on the top of her head, with a few strands hanging loose, framing her face.
“I didn’t know uniforms did it for you.” Nolan’s voice startles me back to the present. “Maybe if you ask nicely, she’ll cuff you.”
“You’re an asshole,” I chuckle, noticing who she came into the bar with. “As I live and breathe. Sutton Flores,” I shout, not bothering to hide my excitement at seeing my high school best friend.
“Asshole,” Sutton mumbles, barely loud enough for me to hear, before plastering a fake smile on her face. Her eyes lock with mine, widening in surprise. “Finn?”
“In the flesh.” I smile as she strides toward me, reaching over the bar and pulling me in for a tight hug. “Oh my God, how have you been? I didn’t even recognize you.”
“I get that a lot.” I chuckle, returning her hug before taking a step back. My eyes immediately focus on Marissa. “And I’ve been all right. How’s the city treating you?”
“Not as well as I expected.” She sniffles as the two of them slide onto the two empty bar stools in front of me.
I chance a glance at Marissa, wanting to know what happened, but she’s no help, only shrugging her shoulder before placing a comforting hand on her sister’s back.
Instead of prying further, I quickly change the subject. “What can I getcha?”
“Bottle of Jack. One glass,” Marissa answers without hesitation, pinning me in place with her stare. Her eyes focus on my lips as her tongue swipes across her top lip before pulling the bottom one between her teeth and nibbling on it.
I bite back a groan, dropping my hand beneath the bar and palming the bulge in my pants. My mouth waters as images of her gorgeous body, laid out before me, ready for me to feast upon her luscious skin, filter through my mind for the millionth time today.
“I don’t have the patience for your crap today, Buckley,” she responds, shaking her head slightly, trying to regain control of the situation, but now that I know she is barely hanging on, just like me, I have to see how far I can push her.
“Did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed?” I respond in a sing-song voice before leaning forward and whispering into her ear. “I’m sure we have time for a quickie in the backroom, but you’d have to be quiet.”
Her gaze flicks to mine as if I’ve called her name, and she shifts on the stool, dropping her head downward and inhaling sharply. The spot over my heart aches at the thought of not being able to catch another glimpse of her. Her lips move for a few moments before leaning back, her entire face pinking as her hand moves directly toward her gun.
“I will fucking shoot you, Finn.”
Fuck, why does that sound appealing right now? I give my cock one final squeeze before taking a step back and winking at her, the side of my mouth pulling up slightly. “Duty calls.”
I don’t spare her another glance as I stroll toward the other end of the bar to take care of a customer, fighting to look as if nothing unusual happened. I try desperately to remain focused on the customer, but I can’t resist the urge to glance down the bar, making sure she’s still sitting there.
“The way you feel about her is written all over your face,” Nolan says as he places a beer in front of them with a roll of his eyes.
“Is it that obvious?” I respond, turning to add the drink to their tab while grabbing the bottle of Jack and one glass Marissa requested.
“Yes, it is. It’s also obvious that what happened between you two wasn’t one-sided either. You two could’ve set this place on fire when she walked in.” He stares down, motioning toward Marissa.
“I know there’s something there. I can feel it,” I respond, raising the glass and rubbing the back of my hand against the spot over my heart. “Now, if I can just get her on board, my life will get so much easier.”
“Try being charming. Ladies dig that.” He winks as he strides toward them, with me hot on his heels. As I get closer, I hear the tail end of their conversation.
“The same time I slept with Finn Buckley.”
