22. Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
HATTIE
Sighing, I snagged my bag off my chair, ready to head out to the front of the restaurant. Dylan had texted ten minutes ago to say he was on his way.
I strode out the door of my office and almost ran right into Ashley.
“Hey, you okay?”
Shoulders slumped, I took a deep breath. “Yeah, why?”
“You just seem…” She shrugged. “Not yourself.”
“Just tired.” I glanced away. “Ready for this whole stalker situation to be over.”
Her intentions were good, but I didn’t have the bandwidth for this conversation. And frankly, I had no clue how to explain the way I was feeling. Sad wasn’t right. I understood where Dylan was coming from. He didn’t feel as though he could put his friendship with my brother and his job on the line because we were attracted to each other, and I wouldn’t ask him to.
Although after the last week and the kiss we shared last night, a part of me hoped that he saw the connection between us as more than just physical attraction.
That was the realization I’d finally come to last night after he kissed me. For the first time in years, I felt like someone was totally tuned into me. Focused on me, truly hearing me. Like my brothers were with their wives, like Jackson was with Ashley. Even how my dad was with Mom. He was quiet about it, sure, but it didn’t go unnoticed. Ultimately that was what I wanted. Someone who got me a Cherry Coke out of the fridge or pulled me into a hug before I even had to voice that I was upset.
Except Dylan didn’t feel the same way.
Ashley narrowed her eyes at me, and I moved to brush past her. Thankfully she stepped to the side and didn’t push the conversation, but two steps past her, she spoke again.
“Hattie.”
I looked back at her over my shoulder.
“You know if you need to talk, I’m here.”
I nodded. My family drove me nuts sometimes, but I knew every one of them would be there if I needed them.
The minute I hit the dining room, I could make out Dylan’s deep voice, and a shiver ran down my spine. Breath held, I sought him out. When I found him, he was propped up on the end of the bar, talking with Michael, Paul, and Josh. I drank him in. He was still wearing a suit, but he’d removed the jacket. His badge hung around his neck, and his weapon was clipped to his belt.
As I came closer, he turned his head, his dark eyes piercing me with intensity. There was no stopping the butterflies that took flight in my belly.
Jesus, Hattie. At least try to get a grip .
I swallowed, unsure of how to even act in his presence, as I stopped a foot from him. Because the way he looked at me? It sent a thrill through me while simultaneously putting me on edge.
With a chuckle, Michael looked back and forth between us. “Trouble in paradise?”
Dylan wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “Nah, man. It’s great.” Tipping his head, he pressed his lips to my temple.
Without any thought, I melted into him and sighed. This was what I’d needed all day.
But I didn’t understand what was going on. This couldn’t be one-sided. He had to feel this connection between us.
We stayed like that, with his arm wrapped around me, while he talked with the bar regulars. As the minutes ticked on, hope bloomed in my chest. And each time he smoothed his hand up and down my arm, a myriad of sensations coursed through me.
Maybe he’d come to the same realization I had. Maybe he did want to pursue this.
But by the time we were in the car and driving away from The Dock, the hope I’d been feeling had completely disappeared.
A switch had been flipped, and now he seemed pissed. Had it been a rough day? Or was he upset with me? For the life of me, I couldn’t understand what I had done in the last ten minutes to cause his mood to shift.
“How was work?” I asked, hands clasped in my lap.
“Fine,” he clipped. He was rigid, his body ramrod straight, with a death grip on the steering wheel and a tic in his jaw. Definitely pissed.
Chest aching, I turned and looked out the window.
When “Just a Kiss” by Lady A started playing on the radio, I reached to turn it off. I’d heard it earlier while I was streaming music from my phone, and it had instantly reminded me of Dylan. As I went for the knob, Dylan did too. Our fingers brushed, and he yanked his hand back like my touch had burned him.
My stomach bottomed out as I sat back in my chair, blinking away tears. I was being ridiculous.
I hated this for both of us. Obviously, he was uncomfortable with my presence after the kiss, and I didn’t want him to feel like he had no choice because he’d made a promise to my over-stepping brother.
But I couldn’t go back to my apartment alone. Not with the stalker still out there. Maybe staying with one of my siblings or my parents would be better.
We drove the rest of the way in silence, and once we were in the house, I spun to him.
“Maybe I should go stay with my parents.”
“What?” His eyes widened, and he took a step back. “Why would you do that?”
I shrugged. “It might be better.”
“No, it wouldn’t be.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “They can’t protect you. Not like I can.”
I sighed, my chest deflating. “It has to be better than dealing with this awkward tension.”
His expression darkened, but he didn’t respond.
“Look, I know it’s my fault.” I fiddled with my earring. I didn’t want to fight with him. I just wanted him to understand. “I misread signals, and I’ve made things awkward.”
He groaned. “Hattie, you didn’t misread anything.”
“Yes I did. It’s fine. I get it. But…” I squared my shoulders, determined to get through to him. I’d give him an out. Let him know that he didn’t need to keep his promise to Rhett. I would take the blame if my brother got upset. “This situation isn’t fair to either of us. I know you want to keep your promise to Rhett, but now I’ve made it complicated. So I think the best solution is for me to go stay with my parents. I’ll call my brother too. Let him know it was my choice.”
Why did he look even more pissed off than he had a minute ago?
DYLAN
A solution, my ass. Did she not understand that I was her best chance in this situation? Like hell would I let her stay anywhere without me, and it had nothing to do with my promise to Rhett.
Her expression was desperate, pleading, but I wasn’t sure whether she wanted me to agree or disagree.
“I think it’ll be for the best…”
The best for whom, exactly?
“It’ll make everything easier.”
Was that what I wanted? Easy? A solution? When the woman I wanted was staring at me, begging me to say something?
Fuck it.
Either way, I was screwed. That was obvious after today.
“Hattie.” I closed the distance and cupped her face with both hands. “Need you to hear me right now. You did not misread anything.”
Her eyes popped open wide, and her lips parted. “I didn’t?”
I zeroed in on her mouth, ready to lean in and get another taste of everything I’d been thinking about all day. But first I needed her to understand.
“No.” I smirked. “I want you so badly I spent the whole day thinking about it. I’ve been so distracted thinking about you, about kissing you again.”
“Really? I—” She snapped her mouth shut and blinked several times. “What…I mean…” She huffed, her breath warm on my neck as she peered up at me. “I don’t understand.”
Chuckling, I caressed her cheeks with my thumbs. “I know, and that’s my fault. So I’ll make sure I’m really clear. I want you, Hattie.” I moved one hand down to cup the side of her neck and brushed my thumb along her lower lip. “I can’t think about anything but you. I thought that if I kept my distance, I could stay focused, because I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. But after today, it’s clear that regardless of what happens between us, I’ll be distracted. You’re all I think about.”
The corners of her mouth lifted into a smile. “And my brother?”
Shrugging, I grasped her waist and pulled her closer. “I’m not going to lie to him. He might be pissed when he finds out, but he’ll get over it.”
I brought her flush against my body, and she gripped my shoulders, her breath hitching. When her gaze locked on my lips, I tilted forward and paused an inch away, letting her take the lead.
I was done fighting this, but if she had any doubts, I’d back off and give her time.