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“You’re probably right,” she responds as her eyes flash toward the table of idiots across the room. “Guys like that don’t scare me.”
“Then what scares you, sugar?”
“Right at this moment, the realization that I’ll never be the person I was before this moment. That once I walk out of this bar, nothing will be the same.” She drops her chin to her chest, running her finger along the rim of her glass.
“I see the real you, Marissa. The lonely woman with walls around her heart, too afraid to let someone love her. It’s okay to be scared. I’ll give you some time, but at some point, you will be mine.”
“I’m afraid of that, too,” she whispers, but I pretend I didn’t hear her.
The next few hours pass quickly as the bar fills, which is not unusual for any night here in Magnolia. Remember? Small town. There’s only one other option for something to do in town for those awake after nine p.m.: cow tipping. And that activity is reserved for people who legally can’t step foot into Tallywackers. I check on Marissa frequently, making sure she always has a drink in her hand, occasionally forgoing the shots and giving her a glass of water instead, much to her dismay. I also make a habit of scaring away anyone who tries to sit down within a few feet of her, and she scowled at me every time. I know it’s probably insulting because she can take care of herself, but I’m hoping she finds it endearing that I want to protect her from the bad guys, or at least that I can.
“Are you ever going to make a move?” Nolan slides up beside me, punching my shoulder lightly. “You’ve been complaining that she’s been avoiding you, and I deliver her to you on a silver platter.”
I grunt in response as he shoves more beer mugs into the fridge below the bar.I thought he had left hours ago.It seems my obsession with Marissa has gotten a little out of hand.
“If you don’t hurry, you’re going to be too late.” Nolan motions his head toward the group of guys approaching Marissa.
I stiffen, ready to step in if needed, but as usual, she has it all under control. After a few moments, they sulk away with their tails between their legs, in search of a new victim.
“One of these days, she won’t tell them no. Then what are you going to do?”
“The same thing I’ve done all these years.” I flash him a menacing look as Marissa turns toward me, a soft smile on her face as she wiggles her fingers in my direction. “Now, get back to work.”
“You got it, boss.” Nolan gives me a mock salute before heading down the bar to grab a customer’s order.
“Can I get one more for the road?” Marissa places her empty glass in front of me, her cheeks pink from the alcohol.
“I think you’ve had more than enough.” I shake my head, knowing full well I don’t have to worry about her drinking and driving. I mean, she’s a sheriff’s officer, and drunk driving is against the law.
“But you were taking so long. A girl needs attention.” She winks at me before pushing to her feet, lifting her glass as she leans forward across the bar, and wiggling it in front of my face.
“Water for you.” Marissa pokes out her bottom lip at my decree. “How are you getting home?”
“You.” She smiles brightly. “I didn’t expect someone else to be paying for my drinks all night.”
I grip the lip of the bar tightly, remembering all the assholes that have been revolving around her all night.
“I’m not wasted, but I don’t think I should drive.” She flops down onto the stool behind her, almost missing it completely. “I’ll never hear the end of it if I end up in the drunk tank.”
“I doubt that would be very becoming for an officer of the law,” I mumble as I wipe down the bar and take an inventory of what I need to pull from the back to restock for tomorrow.
I glimpse Marissa out of the corner of my eye, rolling her fingers around the rim of her glass. Her apple bottom and long legs are hidden from view below the bar, but the only thing I can think of right now is what she would look like naked, sprawled out for me to devour.
Images of our almost-kiss from earlier filter into my mind. The way her hair felt wrapped around my fingers and the scent of her hair as I buried my nose in it, a floral scent like a warm spring day. My cock hardens at the memory of her hard nipples poking through her shirt as I pulled her toward me, wishing the bar wasn’t between us.
“Anything else you need?” Nolan brings my mind back to the present. “It’s almost closing time, anyway.”
Closing time?My eyes flick up to the clock, noticing that it is, in fact, almost ten. Yeah, I know that’s usually when the party gets started in most places, but here, everyone needs to be home in time to make sure they can make it work on time the following day, even on a Friday. We close earlier on Saturday night because no one is allowed to miss church service, regardless of how bad their hangover might be.
No one wants to be known as the person who was out too late drinking the night before and couldn’t make it to service. It might be bad for business, but it’s damn near a public service for a few of the men in town. It keeps them out of trouble with their wives and the Lord and gets me more customers earlier in the day.
“No. You can head out. If I need anything else, I’ll make Marissa help.”
Marissa sticks her tongue out in my direction before spinning around to face the bar. “I’m not paying my tab.”
I bite back a moan at the sight of her entire back exposed as she turns. The need to run my fingers along her spine before tasting her soft flesh is driving me mad.
“Yeah, put her to work.” Nolan waves as his eyes shift down before flicking back to mine.
