I take her little peace offering and run with it. Even though a thin wall separates us, I know I’m right there in that shower with her, just as she’s right here in this bed with me. We both find our rhythm together using our moans as our guides. When she finally shatters, I’m right there with her as I pour onto my stomach with her name, leaving my lips on a low guttural groan that I feel deep in my bones.
I heftthe large crate full of liquor into the back room as I start to stock the shelves. The last of my orders have come in, and I’mpouring myself into work, so I don’t have to think about the way Olivia has my head in a tailspin.
She's back to avoiding me again and doing everything in her power to make sure I know exactly where I stand.
The ride home yesterday damn near killed me. All I wanted to do was touch her, even if it was to hold her hand. Being near her wasn’t enough, and I found myself needing and craving the contact, which is something I’ve never experienced before.
Whenever I would steer the conversation to a more personal level and ask a question to get to know her better, she quickly averted it and brought it back to my bar progress and work. I can’t tell if she’s hiding something or flat out making it known that I’m not crossing the line again. That thought alone puts a deep ache in my chest that I can’t seem to shake.
My phone rings, and I place the bottle of vodka on the shelf before grabbing my phone off the counter. Ryder’s face lights up the screen as I swipe to answer it.
“Hey, Ry.” I set the phone on the shelf and hit speaker so I can work as I talk. “What’s up?”
“I was just calling to see if you wanted to grab a beer at Sticks tonight and get your ass beat in a couple of games of pool.”
“You mean try to beat my ass in a game of pool tonight,” I chuckle, pulling out another bottle and stacking it. Having three brothers growing up, we’ve always been highly competitive in anything we do. We are all good sports about it, but deep down, we hate losing at anything we do in life.
“Whatever makes you feel better in that highly delusional brain of yours.” Ryder’s laugh flows through the phone, and I smile. This is exactly what I need to get my mind off things. It’s Friday night, and I haven’t been to a bar for weeks since I’ve dived head-first into renovations.
“That actually sounds perfect. I need a night to clear my head. Meet you at seven?”
“Seven’s good. See you then.” He hangs up, and I finish emptying the crate before heading to my office.
Not wanting to go all the way back home to change, I walk into my private bathroom attached to my office for a quick shower before I change into an extra set of clothes that I’ve been keeping here.
I’m so glad Ryder talked me into putting a private shower back here. He practically lived at his business as he built it from the ground up, and said a comfortable couch and a place to wash are something I won’t regret spending the extra money on, and he’s right. I’ve used this shower more times than I can count when the work led to late nights. It was just easier to sleep here so I could be back at it first thing in the morning.
Thirty minutes later, I’m locking up the place and heading to my black beauty. I try to block out images of Olivia on the back of my bike as I peel out of the parking lot and head toward Sticks. I knew I was taking a chance when I let her into my personal space, which up until now, I’ve done a damn good job at guarding.
I lean with my bike as I take a turn into town, my fingers tightening their grip on the throttle. Flipping up my dark black visor, I slow down when I go past the spot where I first met her. Blonde hair and pale green eyes flash through my mind in fragments. The wind blows through my open helmet, and I swear I smell the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle.
Flipping my visor back down, I rev the engine and pick up speed, wanting to feel the rush it always brings, but all I feel is her. As I enter the downtown area, I can’t stop myself from searching for her red jeep. It’s become a habit of mine since I met her, hoping to catch a glimpse of her like some love-struck teenager with a hard-on for the prom queen.
Slowing down, I pull into Sticks a short time later. Jukebox music flows into the parking lot as I unbuckle my strap and take my helmet off before securing it on the back of my bike. Running a hand through my hair, I make my way to the front door.
Sticks is one of those small local joints that have been around forever and a staple in this small town. It’s a great place to go if you are in the mood for bar food and a game of pool.
Stepping inside, I let my eyes adjust to the dark. The interior definitely could use an upgrade, but as sweet as old Stick is, he’s just as stubborn when it comes to his business.If it ain’t broken, then why fix itis what he lives by.
I spot Ryder at the bar and walk over to where he’s sitting. Two cold beers sit in front of him, and he hands me one as I take the seat next to him.
“Thanks.” I take a drink of the ice-cold liquid, hoping it will wash away some of my worries.
“Want to talk about it?” Ryder eyes me as I take another long sip.
“Talk about what?” I glance up at the TV screen and pretend to be interested in the hockey game that’s on.
“Eve said you sounded a little down when she called you this morning, asking how your little road trip went.”
“And she asked you to invite me out tonight so you could check on me,” I chuckle. I kept my story vague with Eve when she asked me about the trip to the winery, leaving out specific parts…and by specific, I mean the part where my dick was buried to the hilt in Olivia’s sweet pussy. All they know is I’m pathetically pining for a girl who wants nothing to do with me.
“She’s just worried about you. You’ve been putting in long hours and haven’t been yourself lately.”
“I’m fine.”
“When someone says they are fine, they usually aren’t,” he chuckles. “It’s an easy cop-out for getting people off their backs. I should know. I did it with you guys for years when Eve was gone.”
Sighing, I turn to face my brother. “I really like her, Ry. She’s got me so fucking worked up that I can’t see straight. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, and I guess I’m just terrified she’s going to slip through my fingers before I even get a chance to explore what this is between us.”
