Chapter 5 #2
“Plus, you have her rattled, and I think in a good way.” Ace laughs before he takes another swig of his beer.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask.
“When I went to my parents for lunch, Autumn was there talking about Ainsley’s new roommate, Troy, who has her all flustered.
I can put two and two together.” Ace lets out a big laugh, and now it all makes sense about why he invited himself along and his smile.
“Ainsley is always so put together, so I had to see this for myself.”
Pleased that I have my woman flustered. Means I’m not working from nothing, but like hell I want these guys knowing anything that is going on between us. At least not until I can confidently say she’s mine.
“So what is there to do in this town?” I ask, like I give a shit, but we’re done talking about Ainsley.
"Fair enough. But again, don’t hurt her." Kevin takes a long drink, then glances toward Steph again. She's laughing at something a customer said, and his expression goes soft.
Levi clears his throat. "Okay, now that Kevin's done with his intimidation routine—"
"It wasn't intimidation," Kevin mutters.
"—can we talk about how Troy's been in town for two days and already has more proximity to a woman than the rest of us combined?"
"You're married," Kevin points out.
"Exactly my point," Levi says, grinning. "Rachel's going to lose it when I tell her about this."
I lean back on my stool, watching Kevin steal glances at Steph. "How long have you been waiting?"
Kevin doesn't pretend not to know what I'm asking. "A while. Since she left her ex."
"And you're not pushing," I say.
"She's not ready. I'm not an asshole." His jaw tightens. "When she is, I'll be here."
There's a beat of silence. Then Levi raises his glass. "To the long game."
"To the long game," Kevin echoes.
I clink my glass against theirs, and for a moment we just sit there, drinking and watching the bar move around us.
The food arrives a few minutes later—loaded fries piled high with cheese, bacon, and sour cream, and a platter of wings that smells incredible.
We dig in, and the conversation shifts to safer territory.
Work. The crew. A project coming up next month that's supposed to be a pain in the ass but pays well.
Ace is funny and quick with a joke, easy to talk to. He asks about my time in the Army, and I give him the sanitized version. Enough to satisfy curiosity without dredging up the shit I'm still working through. He gets it and doesn't push.
Levi talks about his wife and daughter. There's pride in his voice, the kind that makes something in my chest ache. That's the life I want. Steady. Rooted. Something worth coming home to.
Kevin stays quiet, answering when spoken to but otherwise keeping his attention on Steph. She's working the bar with Ainsley now, the two of them moving in sync like they've been doing this together for years.
I watch Ainsley pour a beer, laugh at something a customer says, tuck a stray curl behind her ear. She's good at this. At making people feel welcome. At keeping things light.
And then some asshole at the end of the bar leans over and grabs her wrist. Everything goes red, and I’m wired for action. I'm off my stool before I even register moving.
"Come on, sweetheart," the guy slurs, fingers tight around her arm. "Just your number. That's all I'm asking."
Ainsley pulls her hand back, smile gone. "I said no. Please respect that."
He doesn't let go. His other hand reaches for her, grabbing her forearm.
I'm behind him in three strides, hand clamping down on his shoulder, pressing harder than necessary but making sure my point comes across.
"She said no," I say, voice low and flat.
The guy turns, bleary-eyed and swaying. "Who the hell are you?"
"Someone who heard her the first time." I don't let go. "Back off."
He tries to shrug me off, but I tighten my grip. He winces.
"Jesus, man, I was just talking to her—"
"You were grabbing her." My voice drops another notch. "That's not talking."
Kevin's beside me now, badge out even though he's off duty. "I suggest you listen to him," he says calmly, "or I'll arrest you for harassment and public intoxication. Your choice."
The guy's eyes widen. He looks between me and Kevin, then back at Ainsley. "This is bullshit."
"This is you leaving," Kevin says. "Now."
The guy mutters something under his breath, yanks his arm free, and stumbles toward the door. I watch him go, hand still clenched into a fist at my side.
When I turn back, Ainsley is staring at me.
Her face is flushed, eyes bright with something I can't quite read. Anger? Embarrassment? Relief?
"I had it handled," she says.
"I know."
"I deal with drunk assholes all the time. I don't need you stepping in like some kind of... of..."
"Bodyguard?" I offer.
"I was going to say caveman."
My mouth twitches despite myself. "Noted."
She crosses her arms, and I try very hard not to notice the way it pushes her breasts up against the neckline of her tank top.
"I can take care of myself, Troy."
"I know," I say again. And I do. She's tough. She's been handling herself long before I showed up. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stand there and watch some asshole put his hands on her.
She holds my gaze for another beat, then exhales. "Thank you," she says grudgingly. "But next time, let me handle it first."
"Deal."
Kevin clears his throat behind me. "He's gone. I'll file a report just in case he comes back."
Ainsley nods. "Thanks, Kevin."
"Anytime." He glances at me, something like approval in his expression, then heads back to the bar.
I stay where I am, close enough to Ainsley that I can smell her perfume under the scent of beer and lime. She looks up at me, lips parted like she's about to say something else.
Then Steph calls her name from the other end of the bar, and the moment breaks.
"I should get back to work," Ainsley says.
"Yeah."
She hesitates, then adds, "I'll see you at home."
The word home lands somewhere in the center of my chest and stays there.
"See you at home," I echo.
She turns and walks back behind the bar, and I head back to my stool, where Levi and Ace are both grinning like idiots.
"Just roommates, huh?" Levi says.
I don't answer. Just pick up my beer and take a long drink.
Because they're right.
I'm screwed.