Chapter 23
Phoenix
By the time the lunch crowd started to pour in, I’d gone through two order sheets and one too many jokes from Dominic about how I “looked too happy to be Phoenix Thorne.” Cooper joined in, which just added to the fact these guys weren’t going to let me bask in my happiness on my own. They wanted to dissect the root of it.
Cooper dropped a keg at the back door, rolled his shoulders, and shot me a look that was all smirk. “Dude, what’s with the face?” he asked. “You’re grinning with like… actual teeth. You never grin during lunch rush.”
“I’m not grinning,” I muttered.
“You so are,” Dominic chimed in, not missing a beat. “It’s disturbing.”
“Shut up, both of you.”
They exchanged a look that said we’ve cracked the code, and I already wanted to fire them.
And then the bell above the door jingled, and there she was.
Elyna.
Her apron was knotted at her waist, and her hair was in a lose ponytail with some stray strands around her face. She gave a little wave to Dominic, then Cooper, and finally like she felt me staring, she found me.
Her smile was… soft, quick, just for me.
I shoved the clipboard under the bar before I did something stupid like drop it.
“Yup,” Cooper said, leaning on the counter. “Down bad.”
“Shut it,” I growled.
Dominic grinned. “She’s good for you. Keep smiling, boss.”
I tried to scowl, I really did, but it was useless.
My attention moved to the front door of the restaurant as it swung open.
Now the cavalry arrived: Asher in sunglasses indoors, Eric with flour still dusting his arms, Becket in uniform, and behind them, Dad.
They piled into a booth near the bar. Asher immediately yelled for a burger, Eric for a chicken sandwich, Becket asking if we’d finally fixed the fish tacos, and Dad who was the director of the police station sighing like he regretted birthing all of us.
I dropped menus. “Same as always?”
“Burger,” Asher repeated like he was ravenous.
“Chicken sandwich, extra pickles,” Eric added.
“Fish tacos,” Becket said, nodding.
“Cobb salad. No bacon,” Dad said, flipping the menu shut.
Asher groaned, “Dad, that’s not living.”
“It’s called wanting to see my grandchildren one day,” Dad deadpanned.
The table broke into laughter.
“You think with four single sons you have a chance?” Asher deadpanned.
“I’m relying on Izzy at this point,” Dad retorted since my little sister was in a relationship now with her childhood best friend.
I headed back to the bar, and that’s when I felt all their eyes on me. Dominic stopped by their table with a jug of beer and a plate of fries. My brothers were regulars and, besides that, they were family so they got special treatment.
All three of my brothers were watching. Not the menu, not the baseball game on TV. Me. And when Elyna passed behind the bar with a tray of glasses, their gazes followed mine.
I huffed out a breath, knowing what they must be thinking.
Eric smirked first. “Well, well. Guess our little whiskey talk wasn’t wasted.”
Asher whooped. “Knew it! He’s staring like he’s sixteen again.”
“Should we clap?” Becket teased, lifting his glass of coke.
“You all need to shut the hell up,” I said, trying to focus on the taps.
“No, seriously,” Asher said, pointing at me with a fry. “We give you one pep talk, and suddenly you’re all soft eyes at the single mom. Adorable.”
“Adorable,” I repeated flatly. I really didn’t like that word. I wasn’t adorable. “This coming from three guys who couldn’t commit to a gym membership, let alone a relationship.”
Eric snorted. “Fair.”
Becket smirked. “Still doesn’t change the fact you’ve got it bad.”
I flipped them off, which only made them laugh harder.
As if my day wasn’t dramatic enough, a blast from my past sauntered into the brewery with her young rich friends from town.
Patricia with her short white skirt, glossy blond hair, and bright smile.
She bounced right up to the bar, leaning forward just enough to know she was doing it.
Her top dipped low but I kept my gaze at eye level.
“Phoenix!” she sang. “Haven’t seen you in forever. The girls and I wanted a nice quiet day in the country.”
“Afternoon, Patricia,” I said, keeping it neutral. “What can I get you?”
“A flight. And maybe a one-on-one tour? I hear you give the best.” She winked, her words dripping with insinuation.
I kept my face flat. “Tours are Saturdays. Group only.” I knew what she was after, but those days were over for me the second Elyna walked through those doors.
“Boring,” she pouted. “Don’t you ever bend the rules?”
“Nope.”
She leaned closer. “Shame. What happened to your fun side?”
I set the flight down and stepped back. “Tab for the table?”
She flicked her hair, but the message landed.
She spun around with as much attitude as she walked in here with and headed back to her group of friends.
I looked over at them and some of them waved at me.
It made me think of how shallow all of my interactions with women had been until Elyna came back.
It made me kind of sad. There was never any feelings or intimacy.
I was new at all of it, but being with Elyna made me feel alive for the first time in my life.
Sharing things with her felt meaningful in a way I couldn’t describe.
My gaze landed on Elyna from across the room. Her shoulders looked stiff. She slipped through the swinging door into the back before anyone else could notice.
My gut clenched. I didn’t hesitate. I went after her.
I could tell that interaction with Patricia made her feel jealous.
On some stupid level it made me feel good that she cared, but I was also not a fool.
Things between us were very new, and I needed to reassure her because she was full of doubts.
I was going to make her realize I wasn’t like the other men in her life.
The stockroom was cool and dim, and Elyna stood with her hands braced on the prep table, breathing like she’d run a mile.
“Elyna,” I said her name carefully.
She turned—eyes sharp but vulnerable. “I didn’t want to watch that.”
“Good,” I said, stepping closer. “Because there’s nothing to watch.”
She shook her head, with half a laugh, half a scoff. “She was practically purring.”
“I don’t care if she sang the damn alphabet. I’m not interested.”
Her eyes searched mine, and when she didn’t find a crack, her shoulders dropped. “I know. I just…”
“You just what?”
Her voice dropped. “I don’t want to be one of many.”
“You’re not.” I closed the distance, tipping her chin up. “You’re the only one I want.”
Her breath hitched. A playful smile teased her curved lips. I took a step toward her and wrapped my arm around her waist, drawing her in to me as my gaze locked on her lips and my mouth watered.
“You know, I probably shouldn’t be making out with my boss in the stockroom.”
“Guess I’ll have to fire you,” I murmured, lowering my mouth to hers.
The kiss was instant heat, a spark catching dry wood. Her hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer; mine locked at her waist, lifting her onto the table edge.
“Phoenix,” she whispered between kisses. “We’re gonna get caught.”
“Worth it.” I kissed her deeper this time.
Somewhere out front, Asher’s laugh boomed, Eric shouted about fries, and Becket told him to shut up. The brewery hummed on.
In here, it was just us.
I tugged her apron loose and tossed it aside. Then I found the hem of her shirt and slid it up. She raised her arms, letting me strip it off, leaving her in a lacy bra I hadn’t known existed under her uniform. My mouth watered.
“Elyna,” I groaned, cupping her through the fabric before pulling it down to free her. She arched into my hands, a soft moan breaking from her lips.
Her fingers fumbled with my belt, desperate, until she got it undone. My jeans sagged, and her hand slipped inside, wrapping around me. My breath hitched hard.
“You’re playing with fire,” I warned, even as my hips bucked into her grip.
She smirked—lips swollen from kissing. “Then burn with me.”
I cursed and pulled a condom out of the pocket of my jeans, thankful I put one there this morning.
With my cock sheathed, I shoved her panties aside, and slid into her in one smooth, claiming stroke.
Her cry echoed off the shelves, and I swallowed it with another kiss, my hand cradling the back of her neck as I pressed deeper.
“Phoenix,” she gasped, nails digging into my shoulders. “Yes.”
The table rattled under us as I thrust harder, faster, needing more. She clung to me, meeting me thrust for thrust, her body gripping me like she’d been waiting for this as long as I had.
“You feel too good,” I groaned against her mouth. “I can’t. . .hell, Elyna. . .”
“Don’t stop,” she begged. “Please, don’t stop.”
Her head tipped back, eyes squeezed shut, mouth open in a silent cry as she shattered around me. The feel of her pulsing tight pushed me over the edge, and I followed with a hoarse groan, burying myself deep as release ripped through me.
We stayed locked together, panting, the only sound our ragged breaths.
When I finally eased back, I kissed her again. It was slower this time, tender where before it had been fire. Her hands fisted in my shirt like she didn’t want to let go.
“I meant what I said,” I whispered against her lips. “You’re the only one I want.”
She swallowed, her voice trembling but sure. “Then don’t let me run this time.”
I rested my forehead against hers, heart hammering. “I won’t.”Chapter Twenty-Five
Elyna
A week had passed since that afternoon in the stockroom when Phoenix told me I was the only one he wanted. A week of whispered words and hot nights tangled together, of learning his rhythms, of memorizing the weight of his hands, and the rough scrape of his jaw against my skin.