Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
NATE
“Morning brother,” Jordan greets me as she walks into the kitchen, ready for work in a pair of blue scrubs. She grabs a coffee mug from the cupboard as I grunt a “morning” and go back to reading the news on my tablet. “I see you’re in a great mood.”
It’s not that I’m in a bad mood, I’m just in a mood where I don’t want to talk to my sister. I made a rash decision last night, something that isn’t like me, and I know she’s going to question me on it. Christ, I’m surprised she’s not questioning me on a lot of choices I’ve made in the last twenty-four hours. Then again, she probably sees the decisions as part of my love life, and she wouldn’t dare negatively question that. It’s the only reason I think I might get through this conversation without her having a heart attack.
“I thought you’d be all smiles this morning given that we have a house guest,” she muses, leaning against the counter as she sips on her coffee, studying me. “Then again, it looks like said house guest slept in the guest bedroom, so maybe that’s why you still look grumpy.”
“I’m not Liam.”
“Clearly.”
I swipe down to the next story on the news, picking my mug up to take a sip of my own coffee, ignoring my sister, although I need to talk to her. I may run the majority of the bar, but Jordan is still part owner, and I gave Savanna a job without consulting her. I’m pretty sure there are rules against that, or at the very least it’s frowned upon, especially when you’re facing a world of unknowns where finances are concerned. The bar does well, but given the tax situation, I don’t know where we stand and I won’t know for a few weeks, something that Jordan is well aware of after the meeting with the accountant.
I sigh and push my tablet away, looking up to find her still watching me. Damn her perceptive eyes and knowing me so well. It’s like she’s been standing there waiting for me to spill whatever is on my mind.
Deciding to get it over with, I sigh. “I hired Savanna as a server last night.”
“What? Nate!” Jordan hisses, eyes bugging out of her head.
I don’t mention that it took Liam and I some convincing to get Savanna to agree. Brody was useless, sitting there minding his own business the entire time. After Savanna left the table, Liam was on me like white on rice, bringing up the fact that she didn’t have a job, and if I had more help I could take more time off.
It didn’t take long to persuade me because the thought had already been on my mind when I watched her walk out of the kitchen with that serving tray held like she had done it all her life. But after everything I had already done for her, Savanna wasn’t as inclined to take the offer until I told her it didn’t need to be anything long term if she didn’t want it to be. Which was stupid as shit of me because it’s pointless to train someone only for them to leave shortly after.
I think I was feeling a little desperate to keep her in my life somehow because, despite our flirting—super hot, leave me semi-hard all-night flirting—I get the sense that Savanna is skittish when it comes to men and dating. It’s nothing that she’s said specifically, minus the whole thing with her boss, but more what she hasn’t said. There were times last night when Liam or I would ask her a question about her life prior to moving here and she would avoid answering, usually by asking a question of her own.
“I know, I’m sorry. I should have consulted you,” I apologize, meeting Jordan’s eyes.
She’s moved to lean against the island instead of the back counter, her cup set down in front of her. She looks pissed and I can’t say I blame her. I’d be angry if the situation was reversed.
“I thought you liked this girl?”
“What? I do. What’s that got to do with anything?” Except I already know, and I was hoping to hell that Jordan wouldn’t call me on it.
My sister’s eyes narrow at me, and she already knows that I know what she’s going to say, but she says it anyway. “You and I own the bar. Do you really think it’s appropriate to be dating someone who works for us?”
“We aren’t dating,” I point out. “Besides, we’re the owners. Don’t we get to make the rules? Is this really what you’re questioning me on? My love life? I thought I told you to stay out of it.”
Jordan snorts. “Since when do I do what you tell me?”
Hardly ever. I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “Look, I know what you’re saying, but we’ll cross that bridge if we ever come to it. In the meantime, I’m trying to help her out. She’s had a shitty time since she moved here, and I can do something to make it better.”
“My brother, the hero,” Jordan says with a roll of her eyes, but I know she wouldn’t try to change me. “Okay, fine. On to the other problem—can we afford it?”
“I’ll make it work,” I tell her, firm and confident. “I don’t know if she’ll stick around long or not, but if she does, I think she’d be an asset. You should have seen her last night.”
In my time working at the bar, I’ve seen my fair share of servers come and go. I’ve learned to observe someone carrying a stack of dishes, both plated and dirty, to tell if they’ll be good or bad at the job. Savanna passed a test that she didn’t even know I had with flying colors.
“Bryn is going to be cutting her hours, we’re going to need someone…”
“But you don’t know if Savanna will even stick around,” Jordan points out what I just told her. “You met her in an elevator of some professional building, Nate. What was she doing there? Don’t you think she’ll want to go back to that?”
I’ll admit I didn’t think about this when I offered Savanna a job last night. That was the impulsive side of me not looking at all the angles, and one of the reasons I was up so late thinking about everything. But I kept coming back to the fact that when she finally accepted my offer, she lit up like it was the best thing that had happened to her in her whole life, and she couldn’t wait to get started.
Her smile had been damn near blinding, and the rest of the night she glowed, which had me staring at her, captivated by how beautiful she was. I’ve never met someone as gorgeous as her. The more time I spend with her, the more I’m attracted to her on every level. I’m just hoping that’s not going to be a problem now that she’s working for me and I’m going to be her boss. Especially after what happened with her last boss.
Christ. Not that anything is happening between us.
“I’m not sure,” I say, picking up my mug to hide my cringe behind it. “She was pretty damn happy when she accepted, so maybe not.”
Jordan rolls her eyes, her frustration with me glaringly obvious. “It’s like I don’t even know you anymore, and yet you’re being exactly who I know you to be.” Pinching the bridge of her nose, she lets out a deep sigh. “My brother isn’t usually one to offer his guest room up to a stranger, and he’s definitely not one to make decisions about the bar without talking to me about it.”
“But,” she continues, waving her hand in the air. “He is the guy that would give the shirt off his back to someone who needed it, even if it were below zero in a snowstorm.” Her hands come to rest on her hips. “I just don’t know what to make of you right now, Nate. The only conclusion I can come up with is that you like her. A lot. Which I think might surprise me the most.”
I frown at her, my eyebrows furrowing. “Why? I do like women, you know.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious. Yes, I know.”
I should really start playing a game with myself when I’m talking to her. The rules would be pretty simple: guess how many times in one conversation I can make Jordan roll her eyes.
She picks up her coffee mug. “You guys just met the other day, though, and you’re not the kind of guy that rushes into anything.”
“I haven’t rushed into anything except offering her a job,” I point out, and then amend, “And offering her a place to stay.”
“Just be careful. I don’t want to see you hurt,” Jordan says, her voice and eyes soft with affection. “Speaking of the bar, though… have you made any progress on the stuff for the accountant?”
“Not yet. Yesterday was a write off. Going to get working on it today.” I down the last bit of my coffee and shove my mug towards Jordan for her to refill it since the coffee maker is behind her.
“I can try to help when I get off later. Or tomorrow. I have the day off,” she offers, pouring me another cup.
“It’s okay, Jor. I’ve got it handled. I can always call Larry if I need help.”
That’s a bold-faced lie. I don’t have anything managed and I have no idea where to start. But I know my sister could use a day off without worrying about work, especially after her breakup with Paul. I’d rather see her relax and process things in her own life than worry about the bar. Even though I know she’s willing to help.
“Nate…”
I shake my head while she slides my mug across the counter. “Once I get things organized you can help. Let me get a handle on the office today and tomorrow. You just take care of yourself, okay? That’ll help me more.”
While her eyes don’t roll—they’re focused on something interesting on the floor—a loud sigh expelling from her lungs has her shoulders sagging. Pure exhaustion rolls off of her in waves in that moment, and I know I’ve made a good decision in staving her off from helping. Giving her permission to look after herself made an invisible wall come down, and she finally nods her agreement. When her eyes meet mine again, I can see a shine in them that wasn’t there before. It makes me want to find Paul and kick his ass all over again.
“Thanks,” she whispers appreciatively. “It’s been a rough week. I could use a day to decompress. Plus I need to get my stuff from Paul’s and drop his crap off.”
“I can go with you,” I offer.
Jordan’s head is shaking before the words are out of my mouth. “It’s okay. I can handle it.”
“Morning,” a sleepy voice says from the doorway, and we both turn to find Savanna standing there.
It’s like déjà vu the way she takes my breath away, and I find myself instantly sporting a semi. Around Savanna it seems like I’m in a constant state of arousal. Her blonde hair is pulled into a high ponytail this morning, the length of it wavy from the braid she had it in, and she looks deliciously disheveled in the same pair of pants and t-shirt as yesterday. I could really get used to her being around looking like this every morning.
It's not only that she’s stunning, or that I know she has a bit of feistiness lurking beneath. It’s the way she handles herself in every situation I’ve seen her in. Nothing has been too big for her to deal with. The job, the fire, the apartment, my best friends last night at the bar. Christ, she was brilliant with them. Fit in perfectly without missing a beat.
“Coffee?” Jordan asks, already headed for a mug. She’s a much better hostess than I am host.
“Please,” Savanna says, smiling.
Once she has a coffee poured and doctored, Savanna joins me at the island, letting out a sigh of pure bliss that goes straight to my cock and has me gritting my teeth. It’s made worse because she’s so close to me today, not standing across the island where I can’t feel the heat coming off her body.
“Sleep okay?” I ask by way of distraction, but I choose a horrible topic. All it does is make me picture her in my guest bed, sprawled out with her hair splayed across the pillow. The things I would love to do to her in that bed… or in mine.
Savanna nods before taking another sip of her coffee, that blissful smile on her face as she looks over at me. “That bed is heavenly. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so rested.”
The things I’m picturing doing to her would make her the opposite of rested.
“So, Savanna,” Jordan pipes up from across the counter and we both look to her. I can tell by the expression on my sister’s face that she’s going fishing, and I’m a little apprehensive that I might be in trouble. “Nate says you’re coming to work for us at the bar.”
Savanna perks right up, and when she speaks, excitement laces her words. “Yeah! It took some convincing on Nate’s part, but I’m honestly thrilled about it. It might sound weird, but I loved serving in college.”
Fuck.
“Oh really?” Jordan turns her eyes to me, a penetrating look in their blue depths.
Savanna ratted me out and doesn’t even realize it. I know I’m going to need to answer to the fact that I had to convince her to come work at the bar, but I’m saved by the vibration of my phone before anyone can utter another word.
It’s Tina, the fire investigator that I reached out to yesterday, returning my call about Savanna’s apartment. Tina and I came up together in the academy, but a few years in, she decided to switch directions with her career and go into investigations. She’s worked her way up high enough that if anyone I know is going to get me clearance into Savanna’s building, it’s her.
“This is about your apartment,” I tell Savanna who swings her entire body towards me, eyes wide as I swipe ‘answer’ on my phone. “Tina! How are you?”
We exchange pleasantries, doing a quick catch up, during which time Jordan packs her lunch into her bag, waves, and takes off to work. I’m relieved that for the time being I’m saved from her wrath. But I saw the look she gave me before she left, and I know this is just a reprieve until I see her next.
“You said something about the fire on Birch in your message,” Tina says, finally getting to the reason for our chat.
I glance at Savanna who has gone back to her coffee, but is definitely keeping tabs on the conversation, judging by the side eye I’m getting from her. “Yeah, was wondering if you had any idea when people would be let back in the building.”
“Oh jeez, Nate. That whole place is a disaster,” she says, and I can hear the frown in her voice. “I was out there yesterday to take a look, and it’s going to be a few weeks at least. The whole sprinkler system needs replacing.”
“Shit,” I mutter, watching Savanna deflate right in front of me. But I’m not giving up. I had a feeling this might be the case and I’m hoping Tina will do me a solid. I hold up a finger to tell Savanna not to lose all hope yet. “What are the chances you’ll let me in?”
There’s a pause before Tina asks, “For what?”
“A friend of mine lives there, and she’s got nothing with her. No purse, no phone, nothing. I was hoping you’d give me the okay and we could go in and get some of her things,” I say, watching as Savanna sits up, her hands coming together in a prayer fashion, almond eyes wide with optimism.
“Ah, Nate…”
“I know. It’s a big ask, but I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. She didn’t have a chance to get anything when we pulled her out,” I say, my tone hedging on pleading.
“This is the woman you pulled out of the building?” she asks, sounding a little stunned.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, Nate. I didn’t realize… gosh, that must have been tough.”
I don’t correct Tina’s assumption that we were friends prior to the fire because I can tell I’ve struck a chord. While it might not be the most straightforward I’ve ever been, I’m going to take advantage.
There’s another long pause before she sucks in a deep breath, and I can hear it whoosh out of her on the other end of the line. “I’ll tell you what—I’ll let you go in there, but you gear up, and you take someone with you. Brody, Liam, one of the other guys, I don’t care.”
I give Savanna a thumbs up and grin when she pumps her fists in the air.
“But she doesn’t go in, Nate. I don’t want her anywhere near the inside of that building. If she isn’t okay with you getting her things, tough shit. Understood?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” I tell her.
At least I don’t think it will be. Savanna might not get everything she wants out of her apartment, but at the very least we can go in and get her purse and phone. If she’s comfortable enough, we’ll grab some of her other things.
Tina and I talk for another couple of minutes, and when we finally hang up, Savanna launches herself off her stool and into my arms, nearly knocking both of us onto the floor. It’s reminiscent of the night of the fire, though I was more prepared for it that night, and I wasn’t nearly as attracted to her as I am now.
“You are the best, Nate!” she says, hugging me fiercely, her body pressed as flush to mine as she can get, given that I’m still sitting and she’s now standing between my legs.
I squeeze her back, but the closeness has my cock thinking it’s time to come out and play as it gets harder by the second. I grab onto her hips to hold her back, so she doesn’t feel what she’s doing to me. I don’t need that complication right now, especially after the conversation Jordan and I had this morning.
Holding her hips has consequences of its own. With her pajama pants so low, and the worn out t-shirt riding up with her arms high, my hands find purchase along her skin. She’s warm and pliable beneath my touch, and I know I should remove myself from her body, but fuck, I’ve wondered about this little piece of skin since yesterday morning, and I’m having trouble not committing it to memory while this moment is here within my grasp.
Savanna releases her hold around my neck and leans away from me, but her hands remain on my shoulders, her face lit up in excitement. “Seriously, I think you’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a really long time.”
I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks at her praise, so I shake my head and her compliment away, even though my chest wants to puff out in pride. “Not a big deal. Just helping where I can.”
“Does that often get you into trouble?” she asks, her tone a little more subdued.
I know she’s referring to Jordan, and I give a sigh, fighting the urge to run my hand through my hair because I really don’t want to stop touching her. “You caught that, huh?”
“She didn’t sound very happy, Nate. Are you sure it’s a good idea for me to work for you guys?”
I can feel her fingertips playing with the neckline of my shirt, and I swallow hard, commanding my eyes to stay locked on hers and not drop down to her breasts that only moments ago were pressed against me.
“Let me worry about Jordan,” I tell her, forcing myself not to smooth my thumb over the skin at her hip. “In the meantime, let’s focus on your stuff.” I’m rewarded when the tiny frown that had formed dissolves into a smile for me. “There’s a catch to getting your stuff. Tina won’t let you in the building.”
Savanna’s face falls just an inch. “But… you can go in?”
“As long as one of the guys comes with me, yeah. If you trust me, I’ll go in and get your stuff.” Something clouds her eyes, but it’s so fleeting I wonder if I imagined it. Before I can think better of it, I give her hips a slight squeeze, my tone soft as I add, “It’ll be better than nothing, because I’m pretty sure you’re not getting in there for at least a few weeks.”
I watch as she drops her eyes between us, her lip pulling between her teeth. I wonder if she wasn’t busy fiddling with my shirt if she would be picking at her nails like I’ve seen her do so often.
“I trust you,” she finally says quietly, her eyes lifting to meet mine. This close I can see the brown flecks around her pupils, but today they look more gold than brown. “After everything you’ve done for me, how could I not?”
My hand has a mind of its own as it slowly travels from her hip to her waist, giving her a slight tug to pull her body closer to mine again. Trust is one of the most sacred things I believe a human can give to another, and her words touch me in a way I haven’t felt in a long time.
I like this woman. I like her a lot, which I know is crazy since we’ve only known each other for a few days, but Christ, she just does something to me, and I haven’t even kissed her. I plan on rectifying that situation, though, my other hand finally leaving her hip to come to her jaw, her skin smooth beneath my touch.
Our eyes are searching each other’s and I can sense her anticipation as much as I can feel my own as I tilt her head towards me. My heart is beating wildly in my chest, and though I want to claim her mouth and devour her, I want to take my time and savor every second of this moment.
I wait too damn long. When I’m inches away from her, so close that I can feel her breath against my lips, my phone vibrates violently on the island beside us. The noise is so unexpected that we both jump, the magic of the moment vanishing as we pull away from each other in surprise.
Of all the times to get a fucking call, it has to be now. To make it even more ironic, it’s the one person who probably wants to see me get laid more than I do. Liam.
“I should answer that,” I tell Savanna, releasing my hold on her waist.. “I’ll need someone to come along, and he’s the most likely candidate.”
“Of course,” she says with a small smile, suddenly looking shyer than I’ve seen her. It doesn’t stop her from leaning in to press a kiss to my cheek, though. “I’m going to go get ready for the day.”
“Okay,” I say, then pick up my phone and answer it. “Hold on,” I tell Liam, and throw him on mute. “Savanna?”
She’s already halfway across the kitchen and turns to look at me.
“That bedroom is yours for as long as you need it.” Before she can answer me, I take Liam off mute and greet him with a “hey asshole”, watching Savanna with serious eyes as she just looks at me, stunned, before turning around to go get ready.