Page 21 of His to Love
I laughed softly and then immediately stopped when a wall of heat hit my back and a deep, masculine voice practically growled, “She’s not alone.”
The bartender’s eyes snapped up and then widened. I didn’t need to look to know that Tyson was behind me, and he sounded completely unhappy.
I rolled my eyes at the unnecessary display of alpha maleness when his hand trailed along the back of my shoulders. Tiny goosebumps erupted all over my skin, and I forced myself not to shiver beneath his touch.
His hand left my shoulder, but then went to my thigh when took the seat next to me.
I stared at my water glass, feeling warmer in my cheeks, while the bartender turned to Tyson. “Of course. What can I get for you?”
“Whatever the lady’s having,” Tyson said, his voice still tight.
I watched the bartender move away and I wanted to shout for him to come back. To have another shot with me. To smile all happily and whatnot and not leave me with the man next to me. But that was ridiculous, so I kept my mouth shut.
I looked down at the firm hand on my thigh and fought another shiver. A white dress shirt with sleeves rolled up his forearms showed off the perfect amount of dark hair and a shiny silver watch at the wrist. What was it about a man and a nice thick watchband that made women want to drool? It was so simple, but so sexy.
I gulped and slowly pulled my eyes up to see him fully.
When our eyes met, his hand on my thigh tightened, his lips pulled thin, and then he turned me on my barstool until my legs were in between his.
He looked better than he had that morning and he had looked absolutely lickable then. Sitting in front of me now, he looked slightly angry, definitely annoyed, and as his eyes scanned my face and then dropped to my body where he took in the lightweight, emerald-colored sweaterdress which clung to every curve of my body, he looked…
Well, he looked like he wanted to eat me alive. Possibly after shouting at me.
“Hey,” I said lamely, and looked over his shoulder. Staring at him directly in the eye was too intimate. We were too close, me sitting in front of him, his thighs spread wide so my knees were in between his. His arms went to the back of my chair and he effectively caged me in.
His lips twitched slightly, as if he was now more amused than annoyed.
“Have a bad day?” He nodded toward the empty shot glasses on the bar.
I grabbed my water and took a sip, reveling in the cool water that helped douse the heat I felt rolling off Tyson.
Damn it. The man was magnetic and sexy and irresistible and I knew I should resist him, but his pull on me was impossible to ignore.
So instead of lying, or brushing it off, I opted for honesty. “Yeah.”
I frowned and turned back to the bar. Tyson let me go, allowing me to turn away from him, but his hand stayed on me. His fingers brushed lightly though my black hair until I could feel him fidgeting with the ends, twirling them around his finger.
The gesture was soothing, not sexual at all, but I still felt my body respond with warmth that spread to my lower stomach.
He leaned forward, resting his arms on the bar but with his head turned in my direction. I didn’t say anything until two more shot glasses appeared on the bar in front of me and I nodded toward the bartender as I reached for the one in front of me. “Thanks.”
The bartender grinned. “No problem.” His smile disappeared as soon as he glanced over to Tyson, and I couldn’t help but smile. He was rather large and intimidating, and I almost felt bad for the cute guy.
“Just like you said this morning. My dad’s still an asshole.” I took the shot and as it hit my stomach, I figured that was my last one.
Three shots in ten minutes were dangerous and I needed to keep my senses tonight.
“You wanna talk about it?” Tyson asked.
Genuine concern flashed in his eyes. But there was something else there, too. Something that made his jaw tighten and his teeth grind together. I didn’t know what it meant, but I didn’t like it.
“No, Tyson. I don’t want to talk about it.” A bitchy smile spread across my lips, and Tyson’s eyes hardened further. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re here, suddenly everywhere I go.”
His Adam’s apple dipped. “That what you want to do right now, Blue? Start the question and answer portion that I promised we’d have tonight?”
I didn’t know why he suddenly looked so angry, or why his nostrils flared in the way they always did when he was really, really pissed.
But I did know that answering his questions, or listening to him answer mine, was the very last thing I wanted.
