Chapter 2
HAILEY
Under different circumstances, this might’ve been a dream come true.
Sitting opposite the man I’ve had a crush on for what feels like my entire life.
Sharing a lunch and a drink in a swanky restaurant without a care in the world.
Pretending that what we’re doing isn’t wrong, when I know how much my father would disapprove.
Still, there’s a part of me that knows Rex is only doing it because he feels bad for me.
He wants to be a guiding light in the darkness and provide support in my hour of need.
This isn’t the first time, either. I lost my mother a decade ago, and Rex was there for us.
He carried my dad on his shoulders and brought him back from ruin.
That’s where their friendship solidified, and ever since Rex has been a staple in our family.
It breaks my heart thinking about that changing. I’m so used to having him around our place, that the thought of him not being there leaves a hollow pit in my chest. But apart from checking on me, there isn’t much reason for him to visit anymore.
“You should wear suits more,” I say, trying to steer my thoughts away from the negative. “They look good on you.”
Rex smiles and looks down his body as if inspecting the ensemble. His usual style is a pair of dark blue jeans and a neutral t-shirt. Generally black, but I’ve seen the occasional dark grey or silver.
“You think so?” he asks, taking a long sip of stout. We’ve gotten the eating part of out of the way, and now it’s time for drinks to drown out the horrors this week brought. “I always thought suits were stuffy, hot and pretentious.”
“They are. Doesn’t mean you don’t look good in them,” I gulp at my own straightforwardness.
Silly, I know. The statement wasn’t even serious. Just a compliment that could, and probably will, be taken as an offhand comment. Something to say in a lull of conversation.
Yet, no matter what I say around this man, I get nervous. Something as simple as you look good in suits, makes me feel like I’ve crossed a line, while a swarm of butterflies engulf my belly.
“Well, if you like ‘em, maybe I’ll wear them more often,” he plays it off cool, shooting a charming smile my way. “But you know that means you’ll be seeing a lot more of me, right? Ain’t no way in hell I’m wearing these monkey suits without a captive audience.”
He leans back in his chair and his smile turns delightfully sinister.
“Oh, God, you don’t know how happy that makes me to hear.
” Another sentence that makes my cheeks feel like they’re about to burn to crisps.
Maybe it’s the booze talking, or the massive blow I suffered with my dad’s passing, but I can’t seem to keep my mouth shut.
Anything that pops into my head, slips out of my lips without a second thought.
“Really?” He raises a brow. “And why’s that?”
Shit … he called me out on it.
And that puts me in a bit of a strange predicament. The floor is open now, speak honestly and tell him everything that’s been running through my mind for years, or cover it up with some sweet, heartfelt message of not wanting to be alone.
“Because I don’t like to think about a world without you in it,” I say. The best of both worlds. Not wearing my heart on my sleeve and divulging every naughty little secret I’ve got about him, but telling him just enough to gauge his reaction.
The way his lip coils up in a smile makes my heart melt straight between my thighs.
God, he’s handsome. Rugged, manly, with a strong jaw and a permanent five o’clock shadow which covers a scar running from his lower lip all the way down his chin.
His eyes are like pure gold, and they have a strange glow about them when I answer.
Almost like they’re sparkling in delight, as if he never had any intention of disappearing on me to begin with.
“Y’know, I was just thinking about something similar,” he says. “My world wouldn’t be as bright without that smile in it.”
It takes Rex saying it for me to notice. I’m smiling from ear to ear and it’s all because of him. Partly out of embarrassment, I suppose, but mostly because this is going so much better than I expected.
“I missed seeing you smile, Kitten,” he says nonchalantly when I don’t respond. Filling the blank space with a compliment that knocks the wind out of my lungs and leaves me wanting to jump over this table and kiss him right here.
Hearing him call me Kitten makes it harder to stay put. At some point in my life, his nickname for me changed from a cute title to a lustful call that tickles the darkest recesses of my dirty mind.
Must be the way he says it, low and husky. As if it’s meant for the bedroom.
“You’re gonna make me blush, Rex.”
“You already are,” he calls me out on my lie. “Haven’t stopped since we sat down.”
“Well, can you blame me?” I flutter my eyes at him. “Not every day I sit across the table from a handsome, suited man, who makes me feel like the only girl in the world.”
Rex’s jaw flexes and his eyes harden at my comment.
Fuck, I said something wrong. Pushed too hard. But things were going so well … weren’t they?
As quickly as the sternness came to his face, it vanishes behind a smoldering gaze that could melt my panties off.
“Gotta be careful talking like that, Kitten.” He’s trying to keep things light and playful, but there’s deep severity in the undertones. “You might wake up a lion.”
Wait a second. My mind must be playing tricks on me. Is he saying what I think he is?
“Maybe not a lion,” Rex continues before I get a chance. “I’m more like a junkyard dog. But once we latch on, we don’t let go.”
I suspect that’s as close to confirmation as I’m going to get. Now, the real question is what am I going to do with this information?
I’ve waited for a moment like this for years.
Something different, of course, where we were both happy and brought together under more favorable circumstances.
I’ve played it out in my mind a thousand times over, too.
Thinking of what to say, how to act, what I’d be wearing …
hell, I even practiced a sultry voice in the mirror so I’d look more accustomed to this whole thing.
But I’m not accustomed to it. Not at all. My only experience with a man before right now, was in high school, and the furthest we got was a peck on the lips. This is out of my element and I’m out of my depth, but I can’t miss taking this opportunity. Seeing where it leads.
It might just be the beginning of something spectacular.
“Rex is a mighty fitting name for a junkyard dog, don’t you think?” I grab my drink and slot its short straw straight into my mouth.
Not the sexiest compliment I could give, but it kicks things in the right direction.
“You’re not the first person to tell me that,” he smiles. Leans closer to me. “But you’re definitely the prettiest.”
My cheeks instantly set ablaze and I can’t help but giggle.
“With red eyes and a runny nose? You’re flattering me,” I tease.
Rex smiles and leans back in his chair. He fiddles with his drink glass a moment, taking a long while to think of what he’s going to say next.
“Can’t expect to have you at your best, if I can’t take you at your worst,” he says, sort of nonchalant. An offhand comment he put out there for me to take however I want.
But the answer screams to me.
It’s happening. Really happening. This isn’t some late-night fantasy while I’m curled up in bed.
Rex McCree is flirting with me.
Before I can answer, two guys walk up behind Rex. One of them stands in front of the other with a smirk on his face, but both of them have their eyes glued to me like I’m a trophy they’re trying to steal away.
I freeze up as I stare at them. Rex’s face hardens, eyes narrowing to thin slits as he inspects my face.
“Excuse me,” the one standing closer to us says. “I was wondering if I could bother you a moment.”
“Unless you’re here to bring me another drink, you better fuck off,” Rex doesn’t bother looking at them. He speaks into the void, knowing his message will carry itself to their ears.
“Woah, woah, woah, relax,” the one behind adds. “We’re not looking for any trouble. We’re just—”
“Leaving,” Rex cuts him off.
“Christ, Lady, your old man’s pretty intense.”
I see the shift on Rex’s face before I can process the guy’s words properly. His nostrils start flaring and something inside those beautiful hazel eyes snaps. He launches out of his chair, and spins toward them snarling.
“What the fuck did you just say?” He roars. Tables all around us spin around to see what’s causing the commotion.
The two men in front of him aren’t small, but they’re tiny beside Rex. He’s truly a giant of a man, standing over a head taller than the guy in front of him, and double their size.
“We’re not looking for any trouble,” the furthest one says, his smug look vanishing behind quivering lips and craned-neck gawking.
“It found you anyway,” Rex answers.
The guy in front of him rolls his eyes. Just by looking at him, I can tell he’s an entitled brat. Two entitled brats. Thinking they’re better than everyone and that the world owes them something.
“Take it easy, Pop’s, you’re gonna bust a blood vessel,” Brat one says, dashing Rex a cocky grin.
Big mistake.
Suddenly and without warning, Rex’s hand shoots up from his side and his flat palm collides with the guys cheek. A thunderous clap booms out around the room, followed by shocked gasps from nearby tables. Brat one stays standing for a second, the cocky smile washed away by utter disbelief.
Then he topples forward, but his friend catches him before he faceplants. Rex looks down at the two of them, his fists balling in preparation for a counter attack. None come, as the two of them scurry off.
“Might be time we get out of here,” Rex says, looking at me over his shoulder.
I nod slowly, awe-struck and amazed at just how so fucking hot that was.