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CHAPTER8
Wes
“Where are you taking me?”she asks, leaning over the bar.
Her fingers are intertwined with mine, and her eyes are locked on me. It's been a few days since the morning that changed everything, and honestly, things have been going really well.
But the more I stare into Quinn’s eyes, the more uncertainty I see. I want to ask her about it. I want to reassure her that my intentions are pure...ish. But most of all, I want to make sure she knows she doesn't have to go into this with one foot outside the door.
“It was supposed to be a surprise,” I tease, bringing her fingers to my lips and kissing them softly. I think she's grown used to me being around at all hours of the day, and I won't admit it to her, but I’m pretty sure if I don't stop, all my employees are going to quit on me. Yet a part of me also thinks, I own the company, I can do whatever the fuck I want. “But if you want to know, I'll tell you,”
She shakes her head and smiles.“No, I like surprises.”
I smirk, knowing what it does to her and loving the flush that crests over her cheeks. “Noted.”
She sighs, letting go of my hands before resuming her cleaning of the bar. She's not closing tonight, something I know doesn't happen often, so I will take every second I have with her outside this place.
“Angel?” My voice is calm, but my heart is racing. Ever since we had our conversation about investors a few days ago, it's been mulling around in my head, taking root, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. I know she doesn't like this subject, but I have to say this before it burns a hole through my skin.
“Yeah?”
“Have you thought more about getting an investor?”
Facing away from me, her hands still on the glass she’s cleaning. Her shoulders bunch, and for a second, I wonder if I’ve overstepped and just screwed everything up.
But she takes a breath, sets the glass down in front of her, then turns to catch my gaze.“Nope. Not happening.” She sees my worry andher brows furrow as she studies me for a second. “Why do you ask?”
“I just thought it would be an easier way to handle what's going on.” What I really want to tell her is that I’ve been thinking about investing for a long time and that it would be a win-win for us.
“I’m not interested.” Her voice is short and curt, something I'm not used to coming from her lips.
“Why not?”
She takes another deep breath, closing her eyes. “Because I don’t want anyone’s help. Because I don’t want to rely on someone else to help me when I can do it myself, and because I definitely don't want someone else to have a say in the way I run my business.” Her voice rises, her chest puffing out at the last sentence.
I hold up my hands, not wanting her to think I want a fight.“I get it, Quinn, I do, but there are people out there who want a monetary investment and want nothing to do with the day-to-day...like me.” The second the words come out of my mouth, I want to take them back because her mouth hangs open, and I swear she's a statue for at least five minutes.
“Did I hear you right?” she asks, obviously still not believing what I just said.
“Yes. I'm offering to invest in the pub.” No use beating around the bush. I want to help her. I want her to succeed, and this is one way of doing that. But from the way she's adamantly shaking her head, I know I've made a huge mistake.
She says nothing as she walks away, going over to where Jess is standing and reading her orders. She takes her time filling the drinks, and when she comes back, she leans over the bar and looks me directly in the eye.“I’m only going to say this once, okay?”
Her gaze never falters, and for a split second, I wonder if this is it. This was the line I crossed too soon that she's done with whatever we were becoming.
“I appreciate you offering to help, I really do, but you need to back off.” I go to say something, but she holds her hand up to stop me. “Wes, this is my pub. Everything I love is in this place, my best childhood memories, birthdays, anniversaries, and friendships. Having you bail me out will taint those memories.”
The confusion must be evident on my face because she sighs and looks down at our intertwined hands. “I was raised to be independent. I was raised to pave my own way and not let anyone else distract or ruin the path I’m on. You helping me would do just that. I know you might not get it, but right now, I just need you to listen to the words coming out of my mouth and accept them.”
I wait to see if she's going to continue and when she doesn’t, I know I'm okay to speak.“Can I ask you something, and you promise not to bite my head off?”
She rolls her eyes but motions for me to ask anyway.
“What is so bad about letting me help? I’m not asking to take over. I'm not even talking about having any say whatsoever in the day-to-day.” I pause. “You like me, right?”
She raises an eyebrow.“I think I made that pretty clear the other morning.” As much as she tries to hide it, the blush creeps up her cheeks and blooms across the bridge of her nose.“Okay, so let's say you invest in the pub, let's say you save this place, and everything is great. But then we break up, it goes horribly wrong, and to get back at me, you take the pub away.”
I shake my head, hating everything she just said, hating that she's thinking that far ahead, and honestly, hating that she thinks that low of me.
“That will never happen.” My words come out as a demand because the thought of not being with Quinn is out of the question.
“You don't know that, Wes. You can't know what will happen in the future.”
“I beg to differ. I know for a fact that I am not the type of man to be that vindictive. So yes, I can promise you that will never happen.” The anger is seething through my skin. I hate that we are having this conversation in front of other people, and I also hate the fact that I can't find the words to make her understand just how much I like her and just how much I want to help her, regardless of whether we’re together or not.
She sighs. “As much as I would love your white knight to come to life and rescue this place from the depths of hell, right now, I just want to focus on getting this singles night ready and figure out the rest when it hits my lap.”
I nod, giving a small smile that I know doesn't reach my eyes because of the sadness reflected in hers. I know I can help her, and if she can't believe my words, then maybe she’ll believe a piece of paper. I will make sure she doesn't lose this pub. Even if she ends up hating my guts and wanting nothing to do with me. It's a risk I'm willing to take.
