Chapter Six Charlie #2
The dude owned the only used car lot in town, and he thought he was a big fucking deal. I’d grown up with him, and he was always the guy who liked to point out the fact that I was a foster kid.
I hadn’t forgotten it, all these years later.
I noticed that some people liked to kick others when they were down in an attempt to feel better about themselves.
As Harper and Violet would say, the dude was very insector.
I pulled up the barstool next to Myles and gave them a nod. “Hey.”
“I see Huxley is his usual chatty self,” Dean said with a laugh as he tipped his head back and finished what was left in his glass.
Dakota set a beer down in front of me, knowing exactly what I ordered when I did swing by, before he stepped away to wait on a few customers who’d just walked in. I knew Benji was still working the wedding for Violet and Montana tonight.
“Just didn’t want to interrupt the conversation,” I said, holding my bottle up to the asshole still standing beside Myles, who’d just informed me that he had to take a phone call real quick, and he stepped away.
I shot him a look, letting him know that he’d better hurry his ass back.
I had zero patience for Dean Walker.
“I was just asking Myles about Violet, seeing as she’s best friends with Montana,” he said, and for whatever reason, my shoulders stiffened at him inquiring about her.
“I’m taking her out tomorrow, and I wanted to see what I could find out about her.
I’ve been working on getting a date with that woman for months, and she finally agreed to go out with me. ”
“Is that so?” I said, the words coming out much harsher than I expected.
Why the fuck would she agree to go out with this asshole?
“Wait a minute. You’re renovating her house, aren’t you?” he asked. “She’s renting your guesthouse while she’s waiting to move back in?”
I raised a brow. “You haven’t been out with her once, yet you seem to know a lot. And do you always try to see what you can find out about someone before you take them out?”
He laughed loudly like we were buddies and I was just giving him shit. But that was not the case, as I was basically insinuating that he sounded like a stalker.
“When you’ve been trying to get a woman to go out with you for months, you do what you can to present yourself a certain way when she finally gives in, you know? I don’t want to have put in all this effort for nothing.”
This fucking guy.
He had a reputation, and he was known for banging every tourist who came through town. Why hadn’t Montana given her best friend a heads-up about what a piece of shit this guy was? She’d known him as long as I had.
“‘All this effort’? From what I’ve heard, you’ve been keeping plenty busy with the tourists coming through town. But now you’re into Violet, huh?” I took a long pull from my beer.
“You keeping tabs on the competition, Huxley?” He laughed, and I wrapped my hand so tight around my bottle I worried the glass would shatter as he continued talking. “Obviously we’re two of the most eligible bachelors in Blushing. I get it. And you know my motto—‘Hit it and quit it.’”
I didn’t know his motto. I didn’t keep up with who the eligible bachelors in town were. And I didn’t give two shits about this fucker.
But I didn’t want him anywhere near Violet.
So, I’d have to play the game.
“Well, I don’t think you’re going to have any luck with that motto when it comes to Violet.” I shrugged, glancing over at Myles, still talking on his phone in the far corner of the bar. He looked pissed off, which didn’t mean much because it was also his normal state.
“Oh, what do you know? Myles didn’t tell me shit. But he’s a moody fucker, right?” More annoying laughter.
“I mean, if you’re crazy about her, like you claim to be, I think you should go for it. She’s staying in my guesthouse, and she’s a great girl. She’s got plans, though, so be aware.”
“Dirty plans?” He smirked.
“Nah, that’s not her thing. I helped her move into the guesthouse, and she has a whole bulletin board of her plans to be married by the end of the year.
She wants five kids, and she’s already got their names picked out.
I mean, you’ve got to respect a woman who knows what she wants.
” I shrugged, reaching for my beer again and then taking a sip as he gaped at me.
“But your ‘hit it and quit it’ might not be aligned with her motto that I noticed she uses as her screen saver.”
Shit. I’d never been great at thinking on the fly, but by the shocked look on his face, I was doing a damn good job.
“What the fuck? I thought she was wild. I was hoping for a good time. What’s her motto?”
This fucker had it coming.
But now I had to think of something quickly.
I cleared my throat. “I shouldn’t be sharing her secrets, so keep this between us.”
“Always. Bros before hos, am I right?”
No, you fucker. You’re not right.
I plastered a fake smile on my face. “It was something like, ‘Saving myself for Mr. Right.’”
“No shit. She’s a fucking virgin? How did I misread her so badly?”
“Maybe you’re just a clueless fuck,” I said dryly like I was kidding around. He roared in laughter, and I pretended to join in.
“Well, she won’t be the first woman I deflower.” He moved his brows up and down, and I cringed at his words. “Challenge accepted.”
Well, that didn’t go the way I hoped it would.