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Brady grabs the card before I do. “I can get them home.” He looks at me.
“I’m sure you can,” I say. “Why don’t you close the tab and get them out of here so I can close up?” I walk toward Charlie. “It’s last call.”
“I’m good,” he replies, picking up his glass of water and bringing it to his mouth. I grab the rag and walk around the bar to see Brady trying to wrangle the girls, who are all wearing stiletto heels as they wobble.
“Have fun.” I hold up my hand as he props one of them up while holding the door open.
I wipe down the table, the whole time my body knows that he’s right around me. “You going to sit there all night?” I ask him as I walk to the next table. “I’m tired, and I want to close up.”
“What can I do to help?” He walks toward the back of the bar, putting his glass in the bin.
“I don’t need help,” I tell him as I wipe down the tables.
“I’m staying until you’re done,” he declares, “so you might as well just tell me what needs to be done.”
Our eyes lock on each other as I try to figure out what his game is. Like what the fuck is going on right now. This back-and-forth is giving me whiplash and I for one do not want to be in this game with him. His eyes penetrating into mine and I know that he’s not going to give in.“Fine.” I toss him the rag. “Clean down the tables.”
“Got it.” He walks past me and his smell fills my nose. All I can do is picture me on top of him, sitting on him on the swing, with my face buried in his neck. I walk around to the bar as I place the glasses in the dishwasher. “Tonight was good, right?” he asks from across the bar.
“It was,” I confirm, “busier than we’ve been in a while.” I make sure the bar is clean.
“Lots of new faces in town.” He tries to prolong the conversation.
“Yeah,” I agree. “I went to the bed-and-breakfasts on the outskirts of town, offering their clients a two-for-one discount on their first round of drinks.” His eyebrows shoot up. “I didn’t think it would be this successful, to be honest.”
“That’s a great idea,” he admits, walking over to the sink and rinsing off his rag before hanging it over the sink. “Are you done?”
“I am.” I nod as I walk toward him. “You can go out the front.”
“I’m parked in the back.” He looks down at me. “Right next to you, so why don’t I walk you out?”
“Fine,” I concede, turning and walking to the back of the bar, turning off the lights, leaving us in the dark before I push through the swinging door and head into the distillery part of the building. Going to the office, I grab my bag before walking out. The whole time he’s beside me, my body itching for his touch, but knowing the last thing I need is to fall under his spell. I flip off the lights before arming the alarm and then stepping out. He stands by my back as I lock the door, and when I think he’s going to leave my side to go to his truck, he shocks me even more by walking me to my car. “Um,” I mumble, not sure what else to say. “Thank you.” I finally look up at him as he stands there way too close to me, so close if I lifted my hands, I would be able to feel his chest under his T-shirt. I would be able to see the bite mark I left on him the last couple of times we were together, and I suddenly wonder if it’s still there. “For—”
He takes a step closer to me, and I stop talking because I can only watch him bend his head. I can’t even move; my body is still as his head covers the light from the moon, and he moves his head to the side of my face, kissing my cheek. “You look good tonight, Autumn,” he says softly in my ear. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kisses my cheek one more time before he steps back and opens my door for me to get in. I quickly get into the car, and when I turn back to look at him, all he says is, “Drive safe.” Then the door is shut in my face.
I watch him in the rearview mirror walk around to his truck, my heart lurching, my hands holding the steering wheel while my head spins. “What the hell is happening?”
Chapter Twenty-One
Charlie
I get in my truck and look over at her sitting in her car. Her eyes stare straight ahead while her hands grip the steering wheel. I wait in my truck for her to snap out of it, and all I can see is her shaking her head and mumbling something to herself before she backs up and makes her way home.
I pull out of the parking lot, and instead of going home, I follow her to make sure she gets home. She pulls into her driveway, and I park outside on the street. She gets out of her car and holds on to the door while she looks over at me. I put the truck in park before I get out and leave it running, walking around to her. “Are you okay?”
“What the hell are you doing?” She folds her arms over her chest.
“I’m making sure you get home safe.” I stop in front of her and look down at her. The breeze makes her hair fly onto her face. My hand comes up with hers as I tuck it behind her ear, wanting to bend down and kiss her lips but also knowing I haven’t earned this yet. From now on, the only kiss I’m taking from her is when she wants to give it to me. It’s also not going to be a hate-fucking kiss.
“What game are you playing, Charlie?” I step into her, my hands going to her hips.
“I’m not playing a game,” I tell her. “I’m trying to make up.”
“For being a dick and an asshole?” she questions, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“That’s putting it lightly,” I say softly. “I’m so sorry. I want to think of other words to say, but there isn’t anything I can say that will erase the hell that I brought down on you.” One of my hands goes up to touch her face. “There is not enough time on this earth that can make up for it, but I’m going to try to show you that I am.”
“You don’t have to show me anything. We can just avoid each other.” The thought alone makes me angry. “Maybe if we do run into each other, we can be civil with each other.”
