Chapter 10
INEZ
10
Igrab a laminated menu off the counter and fan myself, all hot and sticky from running around this evening. I’m still catching my breath even though I’ve already been on break for a couple minutes.
It’s a busy Friday night which is pretty normal for this place. But after being away for a few months, it’s clear that I’m out of practice.And maybe a little out of shape, if I’m being honest.
We just finished up with our big evening rush, so I duck into the kitchen to hang out for a minute. When the cook offers to whip up a chicken wrap for me, I can’t refuse the offer.
I missed Joe while I was gone. He’s a funny old man who’s never short on fascinating stories from the good ole days. I’m snort-giggling dorkishly at a story he just told me—one I’m pretty sure is more fiction than fact—when Nolan passes through the kitchen. He’s got his head in his clipboard as he makes his way to his office in the back.
Eyes lingering on Nolan, I struggle to pay attention to Joe’s story. Boss Man is wearing a denim button-down shirt tonight. The fabric clings to his wide shoulders and hints at his tight abdomen beneath. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showing off his strong, tanned forearms.
I have a confession to make. I have a thing for guys in denim shirts.
I recall the muscled perfection of Nolan’s forearm draped around me as we sat together on his couch the other night, watching the movie.
I shiver.
I’ve done my best to not think about that moment from a few nights ago. But my mind keeps dragging me back there, no matter what I do. The electricity in his touch. The gravel in his words. The lust in his eyes. The kiss that almost happened…but didn’t.
Meanwhile, Nolan has been keeping all contact and conversation with me to a bare minimum. He’s being his grumpy self again, and this time, I don’t blame him.
Let’s just say things have been ‘strained’ between us. Tuesday night’s almost-kiss led to Wednesday morning’s stilted ‘hello’ in the hallway and last night’s awkward shift at the bar. And who knows what’s in store for us as we work together tonight?
At this point, I’d bet Nolan is majorly regretting that he freaking kidnapped my suitcase and forced me to move in with him only a few days ago!!
But this awkwardness is all my fault. I’m the one who got scared when the lips I’ve been wondering about for years were only inches away from mine. I’m the one who ran away like a coward the minute Nolan went to take care of Stella. I’m the one who chickened out.
In my defense, I’m not in the right headspace to be making out with grumpy single dads in the dark. I just walked out on an engagement and I’m still dealing with the fallout from that. A majorly inappropriate rebound is the last thing I need. At least I’m mature enough to recognize that. Brownie points for me, I guess.
Still, I hate that I’ve made things weird between Nolan and me.
Right before he shuts himself in his office, his gaze flicks to mine from across the distance.
That look he just gave me was definitely not I want to jump your bones, but much more along the lines of Are you seriously still on break?
Before I can figure it out, he’s gone.
Joe leaves to take the trash outside, and I hop up and take care of my plate. Then, I follow Nolan into his office after a brief courtesy knock.
His head pops up from where he’s seated behind his old and rickety desk. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I’ve been meaning to ask you, how much will rent be? You know, since I’m staying at your house now.” It’s been on my mind all week. I can’t keep living under his roof for free. It’s not how I roll.
But he immediately bristles, waving his hand to dismiss my question. “Don’t worry about it.”
I prop my hand on my hip. “Nolan. I’m not staying with you for free.”
“Well, I’m not taking rent money from you.” He shrugs. “So maybe you’ll find another way to pay me off.”
I freeze.Pay me off…?
The suggestive words he just spoke obviously did not match his grumpy tone.
It seems to take him a few seconds to catch up and realize how dirty he just sounded.
Nolan pauses. Shifts in his seat. Then, he meets my eyes with a cringe. “Um. That sounded way different in my head,” he mutters.
His face right now is just priceless. I can’t help myself—I burst out laughing. “I know you didn’t mean it like that.”
But a teeny tiny part of me kind of almost wishes he did.
“Sorry.” Shaking his head, Nolan apologizes for his accidental innuendo. “Lack of sleep.” And despite his grumpy mood, he cracks the smallest of smiles.
It’s not something I’m rewarded with very much. Especially at work. It makes my chest warm up. “You should do that more often.”
“Do what?” Nolan asks, his brows pinching together. Even his look of confusion is a cute one.
“Smile. It looks good on you.”
His storm blue eyes pierce me as they flick down and then back up. They leave this wake of white hot heat all throughout my body.His voice comes out in a low tone. “Careful there, Machado. I might just think you’re flirting with me.”
Fuck. Am I? Am I seriously flirting with the boss man? Again? I need to stop doing that. Nothing good could come of it.
No inappropriate rebounds, Inez. No inappropriate rebounds.
I try to shake off the blush racing up my neck. “Er…I should get back to work. Y’know, before the late night crowd picks up.”
I don’t wait for a response, turning and walking out of his office. All throughout the rest of the night, I still keep thinking about this whole weird-as-hell energy we have going on.
But it all boils down to this—Nolan Brighton has got layers of dust and cobwebs covering up his heart. And after everything I just went through, I don’t have the fortitude in me to try and convince a guy like that to love me. So, I’ve got to keep my head on straight where he’s concerned.
After the bar closes, the rest of the staff goes home for the night. Nolan and I stay back on our own to finish the closing tasks. I didn’t think it was possible, but the tension is even worse when we’re alone together. There’s this constant buzzing I can hear almost as strongly as I can feel it.
When we finish up at work, we ride home together, as is becoming our usual routine. The drive is quiet and uncomfortable because Nolan is still hellbent on keeping his distance all while keeping me hostage under his roof. Such a strange man.
But I’m sick and tired of the weirdness in the air. Sure—hooking up is off the table. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be cool with each other.
We make it back to his house, and rather than holing myself up in the office like I’ve been doing since we watched the movie together that night, I decide that I’m in the mood for something different.
Deciding to start with a drink of water, I follow Nolan straight toward the kitchen. I rise onto my tiptoes and reach for the tallest glass on the top shelf. But at the last second, I spy something way more interesting hanging out at the back of the cabinet.
“Let’s do tequila shots,” I suggest, grabbing the bottle and spinning toward Nolan.
He eyeballs me warily before turning to the fridge. “I’m beat. I’m going to bed.” He emerges with the water pitcher.
“Aww.” I pour my shot and toss it back. Limbs already feeling warm and loose and silly, I begin singing as I dance around. “Nolan is a bor-ing man, bor-ing man, bor-ing man. Nolan is a boring man, who has to go to bed,” I sing to the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb.
“Yikes,” he groans. “That’s going to be a hit.”
“Come on. Do shots with me!” I beg. I really want to loosen the awkwardness between us.
Nolan sets the water pitcher on the counter. He rubs the back of his neck as his eyes skate up and down my body. “Inez, you’re my employee. I’m trying to be professional here.” He’s got all sorts of excuses, but I can’t help but notice that he doesn’t seem in a hurry to head down the hall to get to bed.
“Professional?” I scoff. “After you forced me to move in with you. Against my will.” I let out a loud, fake gasp. “Yeah, so very professional of you, Boss Man.”
“Wow. You’re so ungrateful,” he spits out. “Not a great personality trait.”
I do a three-sixty degree eyeroll. “It’s simple. When we’re at work, we’re coworkers. When we’re at home, we’re roommates. And roommates do shots together on a Friday night.”
OMG. I think I just implicitly referred to Nolan’s house as my home.Totally didn’t mean to do that.
Grabbing a second shot glass, I pour us each a shot this time.Then we battle it out in a long stare-off.
Finally, he relents.
I struggle to fight my grin as he picks up the glass and gruffly clinks it against mine. Then we drink together.
Without a word, I fill the glasses back up to the brim with tequila and we do it again.
I’m three shots to Nolan’s two. “That hit the spot,” I mumble.
When I say that, Nolan’s shoulders stiffen and his eyes widen at me. I realize the innuendo of what I just said. Instead of feeling embarrassed, I suppress a giggle. Yeah, I bet he’d like to hit the spot. Snicker, snicker.
He quickly shakes himself out of it.
Thinking we’re going to call it quits right there, I twist the cap back onto the bottle. I had a hard enough time convincing that man to take the first shot with me. I highly doubt we’re about to stand here and finish the rest of the tequila.
“You done already?” He motions toward the alcohol.
I shrug. “Yeah.”
“See—this is why I didn’t want to get this started.” His head wags from left to right.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Knew you wouldn’t be able to keep up.”
No fucking way. I’m officially offended.
I uncap the bottle and fill the glasses again, ready to accept his implicit challenge. “Shove it, Boss Man.”
His shoulders go stiff again. I glance at his pants. He seems to be going stiff down there, too.
“Goddammit,” he mumbles. “That mouth of yours is gonna get me in trouble tonight, Machado.”
Well…maybe I want to get him in trouble tonight.
Stop it, Inez. Only emotionally available men.
I’m four or maybe five shots in now. Counting isn’t coming quite so easy at this point. I’m thinking about how good it would feel to let go. To let my guard down and just be myself. To take what I want. And right now, what I want is the man standing in front of me, with the fitted denim shirt and the hooded denim eyes.
My gaze drifts to his lips. And all of a sudden, I can’t take my eyes away.
His long fingers come up to rub at his mouth, almost self-consciously. “Why are you staring?”
I blink. “I’m not staring.”
I’m totally staring.
I force myself to look away, trying to find something around his kitchen to gaze at. But it’s probably less than a minute later, and I’m already back to staring at Nolan’s mouth.Whoops.
Okay, I’m officially a little tipsy.And god, I’m horny. I giggle at the thought.
Nolan takes a step closer, crowding me against the counter. “What are you laughing at?” he asks in a stormy tone.
“Do you really want to know?” I dare him.
“That’s why I’m asking.”
I boldly tip my chin up. “There was this rumor going around town a while back that you kiss like a bearded toilet plunger. I’m just wondering if it’s true.”
Nolan rubs over his upper lip with his fingertips. I can’t peel my eyes away. “I can assure you that the rumor was complete bullshit,” he answers darkly.
There's not much distance between us now. I trail a finger down the buttons of his shirt. Heat radiates off his pounding chest. “It’s okay, Nolan. I don’t expect you to admit to your sloppy kissing skills,” I tease.
His eyes darken further still. “Well, you could always kiss me and find out for yourself.”
“I’m sure you’d love that.” I try to give him some sass, but it comes out all breathy.
Silence stretches between us. I stare up at Nolan as he stares back at me. We breathe each other in and out.
After a while, his voice comes out like a low rumble, a little earthquake in the silent air. “All the guys around town want you. Do you know that?”
My stomach twists into knots at his words. “But do you…?” Because the truth is, I don’t care what the other guys around town want. I don’t care what any of them think.
All I want to know is if Nolan wants me.
The air crackles as he stares back at me. The tension sky rockets.
“Do I what…?” his words drag out.
I shake my head, impatient with him playing dumb when it comes to this crazy sexual energy between us. I sigh loudly. “Do you want me, Nolan? Do you want to kiss me? Do…” My voice cracks. “Do you want to…fuck me?”
Wow. Curse you, tequila. The liquid courage is really working its magic right now.
“Goddammit, Inez.”
“Just answer the question.” I’ve already put myself out there. I might as well see this all the way through.
But Nolan doesn’t answer. Just when I think he’s going to bail, he leans forward and grabs my face.
And then his mouth is on mine.
Firm lips crushed against my lips, Nolan’s strong fingers sink into my hair. Instantly, my senses are overwhelmed. The weight of his body leaning into mine. The pinch of his short nails biting into my scalp. The bruise of his beard grazing along my chin. The scent of his skin intoxicating me in a way those shots of tequila never could.
I gasp at the sensory overload.
Nolan takes advantage of my shock, pushing his tongue into my mouth and pulling my hair. Silently answering all my questions. He does want me. He has to want me.Right?
I’ve imagined the way this man’s lips would feel on mine hundreds of times over the years, and holy hell, my imagination never quite did him justice. No kiss has ever been this good.
He tastes like tequila and dark promises and lust. There’s so much longing in his kiss, so much anguish, so much desperation.
It’s not enough. I throw my arms around his neck, wanting him closer still.
Just when I’m ready to climb up his body like a horny spider monkey, Nolan abruptly pulls away, stepping back and taking his perfect lips with him.
I whimper.
“Fuck. Sorry,” he blurts out.
“W-what…?” I mumble, dazed.
He gives me a searing look that takes my breath away. Without another word, he storms off, disappearing down the hall.
Chest heaving and breaths ragged, I draw my fingers over my swollen lips. Holy shit. Those kissing rumors were absolute bullshit. Bearded toilet plunger, my ass.
Nolan Brighton kisses like a passionate, love-starved bad boy.
And now, I’m crumpled against his kitchen counter, hungry for another taste.