Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
JAX
Maura physically shoves my brother out. Knox looks ready to murder someone, but even he knows better than to go up against Maura when she’s in this mood.
“And stay out until you learn some goddamn manners!” she shouts after him, standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips. “This isn’t your personal fight club, Knox Williams!”
The crowd in the bar goes quiet for all of three seconds before erupting into excited chatter. Nothing gets the locals more worked up than a Williams brother losing his shit. Especially in public.
I catch Callie’s eye from across the bar.
Her cheeks flush pink, and those eyes are warm with something that looks suspiciously like arousal.
I can’t say I’m surprised. Knox has always been a powder keg when it comes to Callie, and no matter how much she pretends to hate it, I know deep down she loves it.
I smirk at her, and she quickly looks away, busying herself with straightening bottles.
“You like that, Alley cat?” I ask, sidling up next to her at the service well.
“No,” she lies, but the pulse jumping in her throat gives her away.
Chuckling, I grab the vodka from her well and pour the stupid tourists a free shot in hopes they’ll let my brother’s aggression slide.
Nodding at them, I slide the shot glasses over and do my best to sound apologetic.
The one Knox went head-to-head with watches Callie with far too much interest for my liking.
I cast a glance at her over my shoulder. “Swap stations?”
Her knowing gaze flits to the tourist group. “You guys can’t chase away the good tippers.”
“I’m not, just thought you might like a change of scenery.”
She squints at me, realizing I’m lying through my teeth.
“You guys act like I’ve never had a one-night stand,” she mutters, grabbing the empty ice bucket and heading to the back for more.
“Be right back,” I tell the guy who appeared at the bar to place an order, gaze intent on the woman sauntering away from me. My focus is right on her ass as she pushes through the door. She glances over her shoulder and catches me staring.
“Unbelievable,” she grumbles.
A grin tugs at my lip, and I prowl after her, like a wolf closing in on its prey.
She flips the lid to the ice maker, giving me her back.
She leans in to get the first scoop, and I pounce, wrapping my arms around her middle.
She releases a screech of surprise but stiffens when I place my mouth at her ear. “Tell me their names.”
“What?” she breathes, but she knows exactly what I’m talking about.
“Their names, Callie.” My voice is deep, almost raspy from physically restraining myself from spinning her around and kissing her stupid.
“You’re nuts if you think I’m telling you. What are you going to do? Break their kneecaps too?”
I clutch her throat. Her heart is going a hundred miles a minute and her breath heaves as I hold her.
God, she feels so fucking good. The curve of her ass pressing against me, the softness of her skin beneath my fingers.
It takes everything in me not to spin her around and fuck her right here against the ice machine.
“Who told you?”
“No one, but I heard Derek was in the hospital and he was hurt the same night he insulted me. You always were a little over protective.” She huffs. “All of you are.”
“Only of you.” I nudge the side of her head with my nose, breathing her in, and ask again. “Names. Now.”
She sighs. “Jax and Brax.”
My heart stops and my fingers flex around her neck. “Just us?”
“As a one-night stand,” she says, implying she’s been with other men for more than one night. My mind goes to a dark place, where I imagine breaking every dick of every man who’s ever known her in that way.
“Jax?” she whispers, turning to look at me, eyes hooded. “You have to let me go.”
“You’re wrong.” I drop a kiss on her throat, nip her ear, and slowly drag my hand down her neck, between her breasts, and over the curve of her hip. “Now that you’re back, I’m not letting you go. Ever.”
My words are heavy, far deeper than what she meant, but she needs to hear it. I force myself to step away. She turns, bottom lip tucked between her teeth, gaze roving over my features.
“Jax,” she murmurs.
“Where the hell are my bartenders?” I hear Maura shouting at the kitchen staff.
“We’ll talk after work,” I tell her, turning before she can put up a fight.
By the time we get back to the bar, the Friday night rush is in full swing.
I lose myself in the rhythm of pouring drinks, ringing up orders, and chatting with the regulars.
But my attention keeps snagging on Callie, watching the way she tosses her head back when she laughs, how she leans in to hear a customer over the music, the graceful arch of her back when she reaches for the top-shelf liquor.
Every movement reminds me of how she felt in my arms moments ago. Every smile she flashes makes me wonder if she’s thinking about our conversation in the stockroom. Or that night ten years ago. How well she took my—
“Hey, earth to Jax!” Lincoln waves a hand in front of my face. “You gonna fill this beer or stare at it all night?”
“Shit, sorry.” I snap out of my Callie-induced trance and finish pouring his draft.
Linc follows my gaze across the bar where she’s delivering hurricanes. “Man, you are so fucked.”
“What?”
“You, Knox, and Brax.” He shakes his head, chuckling. “All three of you stare at her like she’s the last drop of water in the desert.”
I clench my jaw. Why has he been watching? “Mind your own business, Linc.”
“I’m just speaking the truth.” He grabs his beer and tips it toward me. “It’s going to be interesting when she finally chooses one of you.”
The thought of Callie choosing Knox or Brax over me sends a bolt of possessiveness through my chest. “Who says she has to pick one?”
Lincoln’s eyebrows shoot toward his hairline.
I tip my chin up.
He shakes his head. “Fuck, you’re serious.”
“You know, I like you a lot better when you’re working and too busy to give me hell.”
“Ah, but it’s my night off.”
“And yet here you are,” I tell him. “Nothing better to do?”
He shrugs. “This is as entertaining as anything.”
“Well, stop butting into my business and worry about yours.” I tip my head toward Otto who is staring at Linc like he’s hungry.
“Shut up,” Linc grumbles.
“That’s what I thought.” I turn back to my work, but what Linc said runs through my head. The idea of her with anyone else pisses me off. But sharing her with my brothers? I think I can manage that. It’s always been the four of us against the world. Why should that change now?
The bar finally empties out around two in the morning.
My muscles ache from the long shift, but there’s a different tension coiling inside me as I watch Callie count her tips at the end of the bar.
She’s let down her hair and it falls in messy brunette waves around her face.
My fingers itch to grab a hand full and slam my mouth to hers.
“It was a good night,” she says, sensing my approach. “Even with your brother knocking out that tourist.”
“Knox has always had a temper.” I lean against the bar beside her, our shoulders almost touching. “Especially when it comes to you.”
She stills, eyes fixed on the stack of bills in her hands. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know exactly what it means, Alley cat.” I reach out and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re our girl.”
“I’m not—”
I grip her chin and tip her head up, bringing my lips close enough to brush hers. “You are,” I murmur, tongue tracing the seam of her lips.
“Jax,” she breathes my name.
I close the distance between us, slipping my tongue into her mouth and devouring her, stealing her breath and savoring the soft little moan she releases for me.
Maura barges through the door from the kitchen. We spring apart like teenagers caught by their parents. Maura stands there, keys jangling in her hand. “If you two are done making eyes at each other, I’d like to lock up sometime tonight.”
Callie hurries to gather her things, avoiding my eyes. I watch her movements, the way she tries to calm herself, smoothing her hands down her jeans and tucking her hair behind her ears.
“This conversation isn’t over,” I murmur as we walk out into the cool night air.
She looks up at the stars, a small smile playing at her lips. “I know.”
And in those two words, I hear hope. A chance to keep the only woman I’ve ever wanted.