Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
KEELEY
Nico announces last call at the bar, and I pout as if my expression will elicit a change of the rules. “You don’t have to leave.” He laughs softly. “We just can’t serve alcohol anymore. We officially close in thirty minutes, if you want to wait.”
“What would I be waiting for?”
“Me.”
Of course. I bite back a smile, but before I can respond, he gets called away, and my mind once again drifts to Sal.
I wonder what he’d think about my innocent flirting. I’m not actually going to sleep with Nico, and I’m ninety percent sure he knows that. Though I will admit I’m enjoying the attention from someone who’s not afraid to give it to me.
Unlike the man in my mind.
As Nico chats with a gorgeous blonde at the other end of the bar, I study his features, trying hard to picture him in my bed, between my legs.
I imagine his palms wrapped around my thighs as he spreads me, the veins in his forearms bulging below his rolled-up business shirt sleeve, his dark eyes boring into mine as his deep voice penetrates my thoughts.
“I’ve wanted to do this for so long, Keels. I hope you’re ready for me.” His head lowers to the apex of my thighs, and I moan as I grab his salt and pepper hair, his— God-fucking-dammit.
I shake myself out of my head and Nico smiles, catching me looking in his direction. God, how long was I staring his way in a daze?
It’s another couple of minutes before he appears in front of me, and when he does, I have my apology ready to go.
As much as I’d love him to fuck the idea of Sal right out of my mind, I’m not sure that’s possible.
Especially in my slightly inebriated state.
My mind is too messed up to think clearly.
On a normal day, I’m smart enough not to insert Sal into my fantasies. It does no one any favors.
“Your place or mine?” Nico asks and I laugh.
“I’m going back to mine. Actually, I’m going back to a hotel because a water pipe burst somewhere in my apartment building days ago and we still have no water. It’s really… not the point. I’m going alone.”
“You sure?” Nico doesn’t bother hiding his disappointment, and I feel bad about my constant flirting. If he knew my mind was elsewhere, though, I doubt he’d argue.
I don’t apologize because I have nothing to be sorry about, and instead pay my tab, giving him a decent-sized tip. More than I’d usually give.
After one last smile, I grab my phone and contemplate how to get home. I should Uber, but I once made a promise to my mom that I wouldn’t Uber alone if I’d been drinking, and I kind of want to keep my word.
Pulling up my contacts, my finger hesitates over Easton’s number, my nose crinkled uncomfortably. He’s going to kill me. But once he hears my reasoning, he’ll reluctantly agree that calling him was the right thing to do.
Doesn’t make it any easier.
I should have gone home with the girls.
My phone rings in my hand as I’m staring at it, and Sal’s name flashes across the screen. What in the world?
Glancing up as I answer, I frown as my eyes find a man with a lot of Sal’s distinct features looking back at me from across the room. God, I’m drunk. Maybe I should have picked that guy to go home with, then it wouldn’t have been such a stretch.
The man matches my frown as I watch him, his frame getting bigger as he stalks toward me.
“Come on, we’re leaving,” he snaps when he reaches me, grabbing my hand to pull me up from my comfortable stool.
“What?” I shake my head, confused until his voice registers in my mind.
“We’re leaving.”
“Sal?”
He pauses, his eyes wide and he stares at me, confused. “Who the fuck did you think I was?”
“Why are you acting like Easton?”
“Easton? Trust me, you don’t want to be making that comparison right now.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want to throw you over my lap and spank you. What did you think was going to happen when you messaged me drunk and alone at a bar in the middle of the night?”
I don’t even remember doing that, but since he’s here. “Take me home, Sal.”
“Fuck, Keeley.” Sal covers his pained expression with his huge palm, and I study the veins bulging on his skin. “That’s why I’m here.”
“Good.” My eyes lift to his and I smile. “I’m ready. I have been for a while now.” I frown at my own words, not even sure if I mean that to say I’ve been ready to go home, or ready to go home with Sal. Both are true.
And from Sal’s quiet groan, that I’m sure he thinks I can’t hear over the music, I’d say he thinks the latter, and he’s not at all happy about it.
My mind spins as I stare out the window of Sal’s sports car, the passing lights making me drowsy as I close my eyes to block out the brightness.
“Thank you for coming,” I say softly, fighting a yawn. “It would have sucked to have no way home on top of everything else.”
“Everything else? What’s everything else?” Sal tries to keep his tone even, but the slight uplift at the end makes me laugh as I glance his way, catching his frown before he schools it.
“Despite pissing me off, you’re a good man. But you don’t have to worry about me. I can handle staying in a luxury hotel for a few more nights. It’s not like it’s a hardship.”
I yawn and turn back to the window, resting my head against the glass.
“What do you mean by hotel?”
“I’m staying in a hotel.” Another yawn escapes me as my eyes drift shut. “My bed is like a pillow.” I picture the cloudy goodness and imagine myself snuggling against the mountain of pillows right now. I sigh as my body sinks into the softness, my throbbing feet finally getting to rest.
Bright lights assault my eyes, and I scrunch my face before rubbing them and slowly opening them just a touch. Through the slit in my eyelids, I can see we’ve stopped moving.
“Where are we?”
“My apartment building.”
“What?” I straighten in my seat, getting caught by the seat belt. “I thought you said you never take anyone to your apartment.”
“I know what I said, Keeley. This is different. You passed out after mumbling something about staying in a hotel, and I couldn’t wake you.”
“Wow, I must have been out of it. I’m not usually a deep sleeper.”
“No, I mean, I didn’t try. To wake you.”
My chest tightens as I stare up at him, seeing through the man I have no reason to be pissed off at. My Sal. My gentleman.
“Thank you. We can go to my hotel. It’s?—”
“We’re here now.”
“At your apartment building.”
“Yes.”
I raise a brow pointedly because he’s clearly not seeing the issue here. “The building your daughter also lives in?”
“She knows we’re friends, Keeley.” Sal all but rolls his eyes, and I almost groan until I remember what Paige said earlier tonight. She knows everything.
“So I heard.”
“What does that mean?”
“She said you tell her everything. She knew about the concert we went to. What else?—”
“I know what you’re asking, and no, I haven’t told her that I kissed you.”
“Twice.”
“Twice.”
“And you don’t think she’ll question me spending the night in your apartment?”
Sal shakes his head. “I’m not worried, if you’re not.”
“Of course you’re not worried. I have no doubt your gentlemanly mind isn’t thinking what I’m thinking. But Paige might.”
“Christ, Keeley. Nothing is going to happen. I won’t have to lie to her so I don’t see the issue.”
“Perfect.” I smile when I really want to curse the heavens. Why the hell didn’t I go home with Nico? Now I have to spend the night in Sal’s apartment, not getting lucky.
Sal smiles back at me, oblivious to my sarcasm. “Can you walk or…” His gaze darts to the window behind me, and I almost turn to check what he’s looking at.
“I can walk.” I definitely don’t need him helping me inside. Or touching me in general.
“Okay. Wait there.” He gets out of the car and I do as he asks, waiting for him to open my door.
Sal holds his hand out for me to take, and I let him help me out, not entirely convinced I can do this part on my own.
Walking is fine. Our eyes lock when I’m standing, and the intensity of his gaze penetrates my chest, making my pulse spike.
I bite my lip, and his eyes briefly drop to my mouth before he glances away, clearing his throat.
With a quiet huff, I pull away from his grasp, taking a step toward the glass door, only to pause as realization hits me.
“Easton lives here.”
Sal scoffs and it sounds suspiciously like a chuckle, drawing a scowl his way. “He lives with Paige, Keeley. Why is that only just sinking in?”
“Because I don’t tend to think about my brother when talking about my sex life.”
Sal visibly swallows, and I almost return his half-scoff, half-laughing reaction. “We weren’t talking about your sex life.”
“Weren’t we?” I raise an eyebrow, and he stares at me stunned until his gaze hardens and he shakes his head.
“Come on. It’s time to go inside.” He holds his arm out, gesturing toward the doors, and when I walk ahead, he once again ushers me forward protectively, only this time his hand hovers much farther away. As though that makes all the difference.
And maybe it would, if I couldn’t feel the electricity hovering between us. He doesn’t have to touch me to pass on his warmth.
“What are we doing when we get to your apartment?” I ask, as the doors open.
“Going to bed.”
“Exactly. I told you we were talking about?—”
“Keeley,” Sal grates, his teeth clenched in frustration, and I swear he follows it with “I’m trying here,” but he’s mumbling under his breath so I can’t be too sure.
Either way, a smile tugs at my lips as we walk.
Sal came to my rescue. He found out I was drinking, alone, and he hunted me down. Sure, he’s protective. It’s in his nature. It would be easy to believe that’s the reason we’re here.
If he hadn’t looked at me like my face haunts his dreams.
I’m also ninety-nine percent sure there was mention of a spanking.
He wants me. There’s no doubt about it. Only he won’t touch me now that there’s alcohol coursing through my veins.
When I’m sober, however, that’s a different story. I have a feeling he’s not going to be able to deny me again.
And I want to find out.