Page 50 of On His Knees
I hold my hand up. I have no idea what words are going to come spilling out, but I have to say something. I open my mouth, but his ringing cell phone abruptly cuts me off.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Tate
I GRAB A bottle of beer from the fridge and glance around the busy bar. Summer and I need to talk, of that I’m certain. She was about to tell me something when my cell phone went off. I wasn’t going to answer but reached for it anyway, hoping it was Granddad. It wasn’t. It was Jaquelin asking me if I could come in because Henry isn’t feeling well.
My body is still reeling from that afternoon lovemaking session. Jesus Christ, to think she’d give herself to me like that, put that kind of trust in me. It was the most intense, profound moment of my life, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to cash in my man card just thinking that thought.
My heart speeds up when I see Summer and her friends enter and grab a seat near the window. My gaze meets Summer’s and she gives me a shaky smile. I look her over, and I swear she has sex written all over her. I’m guessing I do, too.
I have no idea how I’m going to be able to work, concentrate on anything tonight. I’ve yet to hear from Granddad, but no way do I believe she’s conning him. She’s full of humanity and compassion and no way could she do something like that. Unless she’s conning me, too, but I don’t—can’t—believe it for a second. Summer and Granddad must have some sort of business arrangement. It’s all I can come up with.
But what’s she going to think of me when the truth comes out? How can I prove to her I
’m one of the good guys, after coming here and crossing a line with her while pretending to be someone else so I could get close to her? I scoff. Crossing a line? Yeah, more like stomped the hell out of that line. Talk about a fucked-up situation.
She’s going to hate me.
Bile punches into my throat, and Jaquelin shimmies up beside me. She puts her hands on me, and I try to back away from her unwanted touches.
“When does your girlfriend leave?” she asks, and follows me until I’m pressed against the counter. I lift my hands, not wanting to put them on her, or give her any kind of encouragement.
“What are you doing, Jaquelin?”
“Come on, Tate. Don’t be such a douche.”
“Douche?”
She pushes her breasts into me, and I shake my head.
“Hey, Jaquelin, sexual harassment works both ways, you know,” Luca says, as he slides in beside me, his arms crossed. “He can file a lawsuit.”
“What the hell?” Jaquelin says, and turns a venomous glare Luca’s way.
“Why don’t you leave Tate alone? I think he made it pretty clear he’s not into you.”
Her face turns beet red, and she glares at us for a minute, and then she storms off into the back room.
I let out a low whistle and turn to Luca. “Thanks.”
He shakes his head. “Sometimes my law degree comes in handy.”
My brain stalls. “You’re a lawyer?”
“Yeah,” he says, and goes back to mixing drinks.
I spread my arms. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
“Shit. How did you know?”
“That case you won last month in Boston. I was following it.”
I nod. “Can we keep this between us?”
“Yeah, sure. I figured as much anyway.” He gestures with a nod to Summer’s table. “By the way, I overheard your girl telling her friends she really likes you.” I take a look at Summer, find her watching me in return. “You might want to put a ring on that one,” Luca says with a laugh.
