Chapter 11
11
Grayson Hawk
I’d just gotten a drink and turned around to rejoin Scarlett and a few of the guys when I see her step inside. Chills covered my arms and shoulders as I took her in.
Long legs that disappeared under a tight skirt. A sweater hanging off one shoulder and waves of chestnut colored hair flowed over her shoulders. The lighting in Ruby’s isn’t all that bright, but I could see the nervous energy rolling off of her. The way she worried her hands in front of her and the squared shoulders and wide eyes also gave it away.
Like a deer in headlights, my quiet little neighbor looked like she was about to bolt.
The minute she turned around to face Vivian behind her I felt other parts of me come alive. Who knew the sweet little mouse had a body like that under all those baggy clothes she wears.
Taking a step in their direction I watch as Vivian’s gaze shifts to meet mine but it’s the woman whose back is facing me that I’m more interested in.
“Hey, neighbor.” I can visibly see her entire body go rigid and I chuckle.
“Good evening, Gray,” Viv is the one that speaks and I wait for the one I now know as Skye to face me. Scarlett hasn’t shut up about these two since the night she hung out with them. “How’s your night going?” Vivian asks.
She flirts, she’s always flirted, but thankfully she and I have never gone beyond that.
“Long shift, not one of the greatest, so here we all are.”
“Choir practice.” Vivian nods in understanding. Though she and I have never moved passed pleasantries she has been with a guy from another shift. She knows what it means when we all gather. “Sorry to hear that,” Viv offers her sympathies with only a look of understanding.
“Choir practice?” Skye spins around with a look of confusion on her face. It is the first time I get the opportunity to see her so close up. Her deep brown eyes lock with mine and I don’t miss the cute little patch of freckles over the bridge of her nose.
“It’s what we firefighters call a much-needed gathering after a not so successful shift.”
“You mean someone.” A sadness settles in her eyes while continuing to look up at me. A kindness that hits me deep and the comfort very few people in my path have ever been able to give me without speaking a word. It suddenly feels like the walls are shrinking in around me.
All I can do is nod, because the words have escaped me.
“Scarlett is back there.” I motion with my thumb. A heavy weight presses against my chest. “You ladies enjoy yourself.”
Before either of them speaks a word, I turn around and walk in the opposite direction I’d originally come from. I just needed a minute.
I step up to the bar, leaning over to rest my elbows on the top. Still holding my beer, I glance across the room to see Vivian and Skye join Scarlett and a few others toward the back. Watching from a distance I take in her smile and the curve of her neck as she pushes back her hair and tucks it behind her ear.
“Who’s the brunette?” Atticus asks from the barstool next to me. I hadn’t even noticed him there until now. Atta is mostly broody and hard to read. He quietly observes while the rest of us act like idiots, and though we all think he doesn’t notice the stupid shit most of us do, he does. Swear he knows everything.
“Neighbor,” I say and he nods.
“The one that Scarlett hung out with and they all kept you up all night?”
“That would be the one.” I take a long pull from my beer, drawing half the bottle. “That woman’s the one that has you tied up in knots?”
“I’m not tied up,” I insist yet even I don’t believe my words. I empty the rest of my beer and hold up a hand for Joey to get me another.
Atticus chuckles at my side.
“Shut the fuck up,” I say, only making him laugh harder.
As Joey passes me my beer I reach into the bowl of peanuts and toss a handful at Atta before pushing off the bar and walking away. Fucker just laughs even harder but I keep my back to him as I walk toward the back.
The closer I get the more pressure I feel on my chest.
Watching Skye I squeeze my bottle a little tighter and round the table to the opposite side.
Reclaiming my stool from earlier I lock eyes with her from across the table and immediately she looks down, tucking her chin toward her chest. After a few seconds and when Vivian says something to her, she lifts her gaze and I’m the first person she looks at. Her cheeks redden and I can’t help but smile as I lift my beer to my lips.
I feel like a fool for not knowing this gorgeous woman has been living right next door to me all this time.
“Why are you acting weird?” Scarlett asks in a low tone only I can hear.
“I’m not,” I assure her and nudge her shoulder.
“You’re staring,” she adds, elbowing me back. “Skye isn’t like Gia, or all the other women you choose to spend time with.”
She narrows her eyes at me.
“She’s sweet, and she has a lot of weight on her shoulders. She’s not the type you can hook up with and then kick out the next day.”
“I don’t kick anyone out.”
“Please.” She rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.” Lifting her finger she holds it only inches from my nose and glares at me. “Stay away from her. She’s not emotionally built for the kind of relationships you want.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re a whore,” she says without hesitation. “Besides, her opinion of you isn’t all that great anyway. She knows all about your activities.” She air quotes the word activities. “She and her sister have heard them firsthand and all I’m saying is Skye is a friend. I like her and she doesn’t need some guy messing with her head. Even if that guy is my cousin and best friend, I will hurt you if you hurt her.”
“Never even said anything to her.”
“No but you are watching her like she’s a gazelle and you’re a hungry fucking tiger searching for food.” I can’t help but laugh at Scar. “I’m serious.”
I knew she was but what she didn’t know was the reason I was staring was because I still didn’t understand why the minute I got close enough to her it was like she stole all my air.
I’m not used to connecting with people, or women. Yes, physically has never been a problem but this was something else, something more. All we shared was a few words and I felt like she’d kicked me in the nuts. My stomach was in knots, just like Atticus had said. And nothing pisses me off more than the fact that he’d picked up on that right away.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Scarlett’s eyes narrow as she stands up and fists the edge of the table. “Of all the nights for that bitch to show up.”
Following her gaze the heaviness in my stomach quickly shifts to an emptiness as I see what’s got Scar so pissed.
Gia.
“I swear if she comes over here.” Scarlett doesn’t get the chance to finish her sentence as Gia notices me, grins across the bar and starts to move in our direction.
“If a catfight breaks out in here, Coop is going to be pissed,” Hollywood adds too loudly and Scarlett shifts her annoyed look to him. He holds up his hands in surrender. “I’m just saying.”
I’d never really noticed it until now. I guess I’ve never been in a room with Gia and Scarlett at the same time, but Gia smirks and a triumphant gleam settles in her eyes when she stops next to the table. Like she has some power over Scarlett. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
“Hey.” She squeezes past Hollywood and steps in closer to me, placing her hand on my forearm. “I was supposed to leave town tonight but it got delayed.”
I look over to find Scarlett glaring holes in the back of Gia’s head. But what bothers me more is that Skye is watching Gia close. The slow glide of her hand over my arm, before spreading her palm over my left pec.
“So I was on my way back to my hotel room and thought, why not spend the night with my favorite guy instead.”
My stomach grows sour when my gaze locks with Skye.