14. Luke
14
Luke
“ Y ou guys made it!” My sister squeals above the music as Greer and I enter the bar hand in hand; something she doesn’t miss based on her grin.
“Yeah, sorry we’re late,” I say. “Dinner ran a little longer than expected.” I cover for Greer, not sure what she feels comfortable telling our friends. I know people who have suffered traumatic events are prone to flashbacks, but I’ve never witnessed one firsthand.
One minute she was right there with me, and the next, she completely disappeared into her mind. There was nothing I could do but hold space for her. Greer is so much stronger than she gives herself credit for. The fact she felt safe enough to reopen that scar and let me in is proof of that. As Sutton and Navy wrap her in a hug, I’m forced to drop Greer’s hand.
“You good?” Navy asks quietly.
“Yeah, I just had a bit of a flashback in the truck.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry,” Sutton says with a sad smile. Both women look at her expectantly, running soothing hands up and down her back. “Why are you here then?” Sutton asks.
“You could have texted us, G,” Navy says. “We would have understood if you wanted to go home.”
It’s funny watching these three together. Sutton is always put together—the planner, the leader. Greer is clearly shyer and more emotional. Navy’s straightforward honesty could make a grown man tremble. They are vastly dissimilar from each other, and yet the bond between them glows.
“Uh-uh, ladies,” Hunter yells. “No one is going home!” He wraps his arms around Sutton’s and Navy’s shoulders, joining their girl huddle. He looks right at Greer. “I’m really glad you’re here, Greer.”
“Me too.” She nods before stepping back into me. Her hand finds mine. Hunter raises an eyebrow, and I see his thoughts floating above his head.
I know he worries I’m just trying to help Greer, to fix her and help her be happy again. Maybe I am. But there’s something about Greer, and this thing between us feels different from any previous relationships. She doesn’t seem to need or want anything from me except my company.
“Are you two together now?” Navy asks, causing everyone in the group to stare at us. There’s no beating around the bush when Navy is present.
Greer lifts her shoulders, eyes glinting in the light, and gives that sweet smile I’ve come to love. “We’re taking it one day at a time,” she says, her voice smooth as she leans into me.
“Hell yeah!” Adam hoots as he passes out beers. And just like that, our friends accept whatever this is between Greer and me.
“Alright, alright, alright!” The MC’s voice powers through the speakers. “Who’s ready to dance?” The crowd erupts into cheers and hollers.
The band strikes up a popular country song, and people converge on the dance floor. Dinner ran a lot longer than we anticipated, and the night is well underway. As expected, the dance hall is filled wall to wall with people. The band is finishing its last set before the DJ takes over.
“C’mon, babe, let’s dance.” Hunter grabs Sutton around the waist and pulls her into a spin. She shakes her head but follows him to the center of the crowd.
“Alright, handsome,” Grace says to Adam, “you promised me dancing.”
“You bet your sweet ass I did,” Adam says. “Let’s go, baby.” He buries his face in his wife’s neck as she leads them out to the dance floor. A longing for what they have zips through my heart.
“I’m gonna go grab some drinks,” Navy says. “What can I grab you to drink?”
“Anything with tequila,” Greer shouts above the music.
“You got it.” Navy drags Vinnie with her to the bar.
“You ready for this?” she asks, bumping my hip with hers.
I wish I could tell her how ready I have been. In the weeks I’ve known Greer, she’s starting to emerge from her cocoon of grief. I’m not sure how I got so fucking lucky that she moved in next door and to have her presence in my life.
“Woman,” I tell her, “I was born ready.”
“Let’s see those moves then, mister.”
I slide my arm around her waist and lead us to the dance floor. A spot opens and I claim it as ours. With a rock step, she swings out, and then I twist her in and under my arm, her back now flush to my chest. “You asked for it,” I say against the smooth skin of her neck.
Her chest heaves, the low-cut neckline of her dress slipping to reveal the swells of her breasts, and I can’t tear my eyes away.
“Hey, you?” She nuzzles her nose into my cheek, breaking me from my staring contest with her chest. “I thought we were dancing. If you’d rather do something else . . .” The husky whisper tumbles straight to my core, and I know she’s got that goddamn lip between her teeth again.
“We are,” I say. “And I’d love to rather , but first, we’re going to have this kind of fun.” I spin her around again before taking up a traditional frame. “You’re good at this. How long have you been country swing dancing?”
“Since I was a kid. It’s something Dad and Mom did, so I learned. We’d go out dancing a lot with Brian’s friends and see a lot of country shows.”
There’s no hesitation this time when she mentions him. I love that she’s willing to let me get to know her and be herself, even the parts buried in the dark. Greer had talked about her life with Brian at dinner. It allowed me to see how big her heart is and how strong she truly is.
Her face glistens with perspiration, and she smiles as I twirl her. Brian was a lucky man to have had this amazing woman as his wife for as long as he did. A pang hits me low in the gut imagining how he must have felt knowing he was leaving her. Any guy might question if he measured up to Brian and what he and Greer had together, or wonder if she has room in her heart for someone new, something new. I don’t, though. She wouldn’t be here with me if she didn’t. I’m thankful he loved her like she is meant to be loved.
“Okay, bitches!” Navy shouts behind us. “It’s shot time!”
“We’re going to regret this, aren’t we?” Greer says against my neck, tugging me off the dance floor.
“With Navy and Vinnie as bartenders? I’d say the chances of that happening are 100 percent.”
“I’ve never really done shots,” she says as she takes a shot glass from the tray.
“First time for everything.” I smile. “Just have fun.”
Sutton hands out limes, and Vinnie passes the salt.
“Mind if I . . . ?” She gestures to the salt and lime.
“Uh, sure thing.” I offer her my hand.
“I was actually thinking . . .” I see the flirtatious gleam in her eyes. God, she’s fucking gorgeous like this. Gorgeous all the time, really.
Her soft fingers trail over the skin below my jaw. A flurry of fuck-knows-what dances over my skin, and I’m an immediate addict. This woman can touch me any time she wants.
Her voice is low and sultry when she murmurs out, “That I could maybe do it here.” When her finger draws a lazy circle over the same spot to get her point across, I nearly combust. I’m not sure I’m going to make it through an entire night with this woman without crossing a boundary I'm not sure she's prepared to cross.
“You sure?” With a quick glance at the group, it’s clear no one is paying us an ounce of attention.
“Yes.” Confidence punctuates the word as she pushes me back, the bar stool wobbling as my ass lands on it. Her hand cups the side of my face, and she tilts my head to the side. I focus on not forgetting to breathe. I catch sight of Hunter in a similar position—struggling to hold back as my sister licks the salt from his neck and takes her shot before removing the lime from between his lips.
Time stands still, and I wonder if Greer’s lost her nerve. But then, her cheek brushes mine, her warm breath whispers over the skin below my jaw. I stop breathing, chest constricting, when her tongue caresses the skin along my pulse point.
Buzzing fills my ears. My lungs, having been deprived of oxygen, finally heave an inhale. That little minx giggles. I’m powerless, unable to hide her effect on me. She shakes salt on the wet spot before placing the lime between my lips. Our eyes meet, creating an unspoken promise of something more.
“Ready?” she asks.
I nod.
She leans in, licks the salt on my neck, tosses back the shot, and leans over to capture the lime from my lips. Her lips briefly meet mine before pulling away, her cobalt eyes a storm of desire.
Gripping her waist, I pull her between my thighs, her breasts level with my face. There’s no mistaking her pebbled nipples.
“You’re trouble,” I growl. Shivers course through her body, tempting me to scoop her up, throw her over my shoulder, and discover how her body truly reacts when we’re alone.
Her giggle morphs into uncontrollable laughter, and she buries her face in my neck. Flames spark throughout me as she loops her arms around my shoulders.
“God, I’m . . .” She hesitates before whispering, “I don’t know what you’re doing to me.”
“Well, I could be doing—”
“Oh my god, Greer?” A high-pitched voice interrupts. “Is that you?” Greer pulls away from me as if she’s been burned.
“Annie?” she says, eyes wide. I can’t help but wonder if maybe Greer is embarrassed at being caught. A swirl of shame sinks low in my gut at the possibility.
“Hi, how are you?” Greer asks Annie.
“I’m good,” Annie replies. “Gosh, it feels like forever since we saw you last.”
Greer visibly tenses when she notices two men behind Annie. I don’t know who they are, but she’s obviously not their biggest fan. My protective switch flips on.
“Since the funeral,” the taller guy behind Annie says. Greer’s eyes flare with shame as she starts to retreat.
“That’s right,” Annie says quietly, shooting daggers at the tall guy. “How are you doing?”
“Um, I’m pretty good,” Greer answers.
“Who’s this?” Guy two asks.
“Luke Bradley,” I answer, reaching out to shake his hand. Greer’s visceral reaction to these people, or, I hate to think it, her embarrassment at her boldness with me, still has me wrapped in knots. I’m normally cool and collected, but right now I have the urge to punch him in the jaw. I bury it down and make an attempt to remain civil.
“Nice to meet you, Luke,” Annie says.
“Are you two, like, together?” the shorter guy blurts out.
I push out of the stool, step into Greer, and wrap my arm around her waist. Our friends step near, readying for anything, but keeping quiet. I don’t know these people, and I’ve never heard Greer mention them. How dare this guy come in asking questions he has no right to ask?
“Um . . . Luke and I are taking it one day at a time.” Greer pushes back into me.
“It’s so weird”—guy two pushes closer, spilling some of his beer—“seeing you with someone else.” My jaw clenches. It’s clear these guys have zero social training and have had way too much to drink.
“Jesus, shut up, Alan!” Annie chastises him.
“It is, though.” Guy one shrugs nonchalantly. He reeks of whiskey. “It’s been less than a year, so, yeah, it’s weird as hell seeing you with someone new.”
My hands splay over Greer’s hip, pulling her tense body into mine. I know she’s preparing to escape. I don’t know these people, but I’ll be damned if they make her feel shameful for being with me.
“It was good to see you guys,” Greer says. “I just need to run to the restroom.” She squeezes my arm, and I release her. She flees across the bar with Sutton following close behind. Hunter stands nearby, laser focused on what’s happening between me and these idiots.
“What is your problem?” I step toward them.
“What do you mean, bro?” guy two, Alan, asks.
“First of all,” I say, “I am not your bro. Second of all, why the hell do you think you have any right to comment on Greer being with me?”
“We’re her friends,” Alan says.
“Her friends, huh? If you’re her friends, why haven’t you seen her since the funeral?”
Idiot one bristles, puffing out his chest. “She didn’t want us around.”
“Are you sure about that? Did you ask her? Or was it you guys who couldn’t handle being around her?”
“Jesus, man, it’s not like that.” Alan’s shoulders slump.
Annie remains silent.
“What was it like then?” Raising my eyebrow, I dare one of them to tell the truth.
“It was just too hard,” Annie relents.
“Too hard?” Hunter butts in.
“Greer was so sad. All the time,” Annie says. “We didn’t know what to do anymore.”
I shake my head and grab my beer from the table.
“You stay by her side,” I say. “She’d just lost her husband and been through something none of us would wish upon our worst enemies. If you were truly her friends, you don’t have to do anything except be there. You couldn’t do that, though, could you? So, don’t you dare stand here and make shit-ass comments about her or how she’s living her life now. You don’t know Greer anymore. You lost that privilege when you bailed on her. A loss that has quickly become our”—I gesture to my friends—“blessing.”
“You guys have a good night now.” Hunter’s arm brushes mine as he steps up next to me. “And the next time you see our girl, maybe start with hello instead.”
Alan and the other guy nod before walking away. Annie’s face is cherry-red.
“I’m sorry for what he said,” Annie says. “I’m really glad Greer’s doing better now. Please tell her goodbye for me.”
I reply with a curt nod.
“You okay?” Hunter asks as the others step up to the table.
“God, man, I don’t know. That was—”
“You like her though, right?” Hunter interrupts.
“You know I do.”
“Well, you better get used to it. Greer is a widow. There’s no changing the stupid and judgmental shit people might say to her and about her. Grief is part of her story.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad you know. Are you prepared to deal with all that? Because the last thing she needs is for more people to bail on her. So, before you let all of us fall in love with her too, you gotta ask yourself if you’re willing to put in the work. Is she worth it?”
“She’s worth everything.” I feel it in my bones.
“Good.” Adam clinks his beer to mine.
“We think so too,” Grace says, tucking herself into Adam.
“Now,” Vinnie adds with his signature smile, “go get your girl and let’s salvage the rest of this night.”
I’m halfway to the restroom when I stumble upon Greer and Sutton. Sutton’s gaze meets mine and a silent understanding passes between us. She places Greer’s hand in mine and heads back to our friends.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Um, I think so. That was very unexpected.”
“Those guys were idiots,” I say.
Greer laughs. “They really are. Annie was always pretty okay, but I’ve never liked Alan or Troy.”
“I’m sorry for embarrassing you and for what they said.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and lead her back to the table, our friends already heading back to the dance floor.
“Luke, you didn't embarrass me”—she wraps her arms around my shoulders—“Honestly, I knew things like this was going to happen, but I was just caught off guard. You make it easy to forget . . .” Her voice trails off as she turns, the floral scent of her shampoo breaks through the bar’s stale air.
“Sweetheart, you and I both know you’ll never forget. No one will ever understand what you’re going through. You don’t have to carry the weight every second of every day.” My heart thrums against my ribs as she relaxes into me.
“It’s getting easier,” she admits. Soft blue eyes study my face. I want so badly to lean in and kiss her, but I know tonight’s been a lot for her. Resting my hands at the base of her spine, I ignore how thin the material of her dress is.
“Should we go home?” I ask.
She contemplates this for a moment. “Nope, I’ll be good.”
“If you’re positive, but if . . .”
“I’ll let you know,” she says with a knowing glare. “I want to be here with you.”
“Me too.”
“Can we get drunk now?” she asks with a playful smile.
I laugh. “Let’s go.”
And drunk she gets.
It’s well after one a.m. when I carry Greer through the front door of her house and into her bedroom. Her covers are already pulled down, making it easy to lay her down. Her boots don’t want to come off, but after wiggling them back and forth, I finally wrestle them off. I toss them in the corner before tucking her feet beneath the covers.
“I wanna my bra off,” she slurs.
“Okay, sweetheart.” She rolls over and I reach under her dress, trying like hell to ignore the softness of her body, the rough lace of her panties, and unsnap her bra. As I slide my hands out, she pushes her ass toward me, and it brushes against my palm. I groan on instinct. There are many things I would love to do to Greer. So many. But not until she’s conscious and sober.
“Behave,” I tell her, shaking off the lust.
“You no fun.” She snort-giggles. She wiggles her bra straps through the sleeves and tosses it to the floor. I definitely don’t notice it’s black lace.
“I’m tons of fun. You have no idea the things I want to do with you, to you, but I don’t want you to regret them.”
A soft, dreamy look transforms her face.
“I won’t. Not with you.”
“Get some sleep, sweetheart.” I bend down and place a kiss on her forehead. Her arms wrap around my neck, and she squeezes. After tucking the sheets around her body, I grab the trashcan from her bathroom and place it by her bedside table.
Tequila and Greer made good friends tonight, but I doubt they’ll be friends tomorrow.