29. Unexpected
TWENTY-NINE
Unexpected
TARA
“This was fun,” Tara exclaimed. “How often do you do this?”
Celeste leaned forward and rested her arms on the table. “Once every month or two, I suppose. It’s tough since we all own businesses with different hours. We do the best we can, though. Sometimes it’s just nice to get out as friends without thinking too much about work, you know?”
“Yeah. I do.” Tara smiled. “In Chicago, we’ll occasionally go out for drinks after work, but it’s far less often since we all live in different places around the city. Some of the drives home can be pretty long.”
Tara glanced up to see Kiro at the bar. “Looks like Kiro’s thinking about coming over.”
“He usually waits until the estrogen levels have dropped to a safe enough level.” They leaned in and giggled. “I think he’s bringing a friend tonight, too.”
“Oh yeah? I saw Derek over there.”
“Yeah, but he’s working on getting someone to take home. That man is transactional.”
Tara pulled back in surprise. “Transactional?”
“Oh yeah,” Celeste explained. “He’s with a different woman each night, maybe two nights, but that’s about it. He’s a good guy, just having a rough go of things since he lost his best friend in Afghanistan. Kiro’s always looking out for him just like Derek’s mom and dad helped Kiro’s parents when they first arrived in Grant’s Crossing. He says that they take care of Derek as if he’s their own family.” She smiled at Kiro, who headed in their direction. “Kiro says Derek’s always been like a big brother to him.”
“Hey, sexy.” Kiro leaned in for a kiss. “You about finished up here?”
“Hi, Kiro,” Tara said while standing up and pushing in her chair.
Kiro greeted her with a hug. “Hey, Tara.”
Tara grabbed her purse as he sat down. “I’m heading to the ladies’ room. Be right back.”
Tara disappeared into the back hallway where the restrooms were located. Tara had hardly socialized since coming home. She had spent most of her days working at the bookstore and going back and forth to the hospital to see her dad. Now that he’s back home, she was glad to spend time out and relax a bit.
In the ladies’ room, she freshened up and then headed back out to the table. She arrived just in time to see Steve place his jacket on a seat at their table.
“Steve?” Tara asked.
Tara always wore nice slacks or a casual dress to the bookstore to work, but tonight, for Girls Night Out, she wore an olive green dress with a scoop neck and three-quarter sleeves that hugged her waist and dropped into a flowing skirt that made it almost to her knees. She knew she looked good, so she enjoyed how his eyes roamed up and down her dress with a naked hunger that forced him to take a few extra moments before his cocky smile slid back into place.
Her stomach turned somersaults at the sight of the man who both infuriated and excited her. He was wearing a long-sleeved midnight blue button-down shirt that brought out the blue of his eyes and hugged his muscular arms. He tucked it into the most perfectly fitting blue jeans, topped off with a pair of black boots, completing the sex-on-a-stick look.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kiro and Celeste exchanged an amused look. Tara threw a friendly glare their way. She cleared her throat to bring Steve’s wandering eyes back upward and arched a brow.
“Tara.” His voice sounded deeper than the last time they spoke. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Girls’ Night Out.” She sat down in her chair, which, conveniently or inconveniently, she couldn’t decide, was right next to his. Despite the seating arrangement, she liked how he waited for her to sit down before taking a seat himself.
Kiro cleared his throat. “Steve and I were just playing darts while D was shooting pool.”
Tara knitted her brow. “Sorry, D?”
“Derek Mitchell.”
“Ahh.”
“Anyway, we were just waiting for you guys to finish up, and–”
“Keeping tabs on your girl, Kiro?” Tara smirked back at him.
He turned to Steve, who smirked as if sharing an inside joke. For a second, a look of worry crossed Kiro’s face. “Am I that obvious?”
Tara pressed her lips together, keeping her grin at bay at how cute Celeste and Kiro were together. She held her thumb and index finger close together. “Just a little.”
Her smile was genuine. She loved that he and Celeste were finally a couple. Celeste always talked about Kiro while they were in college and would always happen to secure a ride back to Grant’s Crossing with him when they wanted to go home for a weekend during their first two years. Then they didn’t talk to each other for a few years. Tara was thrilled when Celeste moved back home to start her own business last year. That’s when she and Kiro worked things out and became a couple.
“Tim was right about you.” Steve took a pull of his beer, staying nonchalant.
“Right about what? Oh.” Kiro shot a glare toward Steve.
“Tim?” Tara was curious.
“One of the guys at the station,” Steve explained. Tara felt his eyes linger on hers for a second or two longer.
She liked it but cleared her throat as if to play it off. “Tim Ellis?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, I know him. He comes into Between the Lines from time to time.”
“Where’s Derek now?” Celeste asked, making Tara grateful to direct their attention elsewhere. “Why doesn’t he join us?”
Kiro tilted his beer toward the bar. “Too busy entertaining his date for the evening.”
Tara turned her head to see Derek cozying up to a blond by one of the pool tables.
“Tonight’s date is a blond,” Celeste whispered to Tara, who giggled.
Tara turned to Steve. “So, you got your motorcycle back?”
Steve smirked. “Mmhmm.” His cerulean blue eyes peered into hers, and then he softened his gaze. “Don’t have it towed again.”
She didn’t want to look away, not caring that she could feel her beating heart trying to burst through her chest. Her eyes dropped to his lips and down to his shirt, which made him look so huggable. She envisioned herself slipping her arms around his waist and…
She blinked and looked up to see the amusement in his eyes. She narrowed her own. “Well, make sure you don’t park it in the loading zone again.”
“Sure thing, Sugar.” His lip curled up on one side.
Tara leaned closer. “And don’t call me Sugar. You’re not fixing a cup of coffee this time.”
“Are you sure you don’t like it?”
As she met his gaze, she gave him an award winning eye roll. She wasn’t going to admit to him that she might actually like it.
Tara smiled across the table at Kiro and Celeste. “I think I’m gonna call it a night.” She looked around the room for their server, but she was busy serving another table. “Celeste, is it okay if I send you my share?” She grabbed her phone and pulled up a payment app.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Done.” Tara hit send and stuck her phone in her purse. She threaded the long, narrow strap over her shoulder. “Let me know if you need more.”
“Okay.” Celeste looked to see the message pop up on her own phone, then stood up to give Tara a hug. “I’m so glad we did this.”
Kiro and Steve stood as well while Tara hugged her friend
“Me, too. Goodnight, Kiro.” She turned her head. “Steve.”
Celeste pulled back. “Where’s your jacket?”
“It was warmer this morning so I walked off without it. I’ll be fine. It’s not far.”
“In those?” Steve pointed his chin down at her heels as he pulled his wallet out of his jeans and dropped a couple of bills on the table.
Tara didn’t wear heels to work since she was on her feet all day, but for tonight, she absolutely did.
Just not her Louboutins.
Obviously.
She still needed to walk home.
“Oh, yeah.” Tara looked down at her feet. “I walk in these all the time.”
“Then I’ll walk you home.” He grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair.
“You don’t need to.”
“Let me walk you home.” He cut her off as if the discussion were over. Then, he extended his hand so she could walk out first. “Please.”
She shrugged in resignation, shared a look with Celeste, and agreed.
With a nod, he wished Celeste and Kiro goodnight, both of whom were unsuccessfully suppressing smiles.
Celeste leaned into Kiro. “She likes him.”
“Good,” Kiro kissed her temple. “Because he likes her, too.”