Chapter 7
Ryan had a problem. A big fucking problem.
A problem he’d spent the last hour jogging the twisting streets of Haven trying to tame, but it was no use. His sexual frustration had reached epic proportions. He’d given Emma her second rock-climbing lesson earlier today, and an hour spent staring at her ass in that harness was more than a man could take. Right now, he was coiled so tight he was about to jump out of his own skin. After that first night on his bike, the night they’d almost kissed, he’d set a ground rule for himself: no fantasizing about Emma.
Fantasizing about her would only make him want her even more, and he needed to get her out of his head as fast as possible so he was not going there.
Problem was, since that night, he couldn’t get off without thinking about her. He’d tried every distraction he could think of, but as soon as he got down to business, his mind filled with images of Emma, imagining her on his bike…beneath him in bed…her hand on his dick…
And fuck it.
He hadn’t had any relief now in a long, fucking time.
But he prided himself on his self-control, and he’d get through this. His attraction to Emma would fade soon, as long as he didn’t give in to it. It had to. Any day now, some other chick would catch his eye, and he’d make up for lost time.
In the meantime…
He jogged until his body was spent then went home and took a long, cold shower. At least he was bartending at The Drunken Bear later tonight. That ought to provide a healthy distraction from Emma and his libido.
Emma reachedfor her beer and took a lengthy sip. Across the table, her date did the same. Cal Rocha aka Outdoorsy Bearded Guy from Tinder flashed her an easy smile. They’d messaged with each other for a few days, so when he asked her to dinner at The Drunken Bear, she’d happily accepted. Okay, maybe she’d been partially motivated by her hope that Ryan would be tending bar tonight so he could see firsthand that she was serious about dating. That she’d moved on. She’d even worn one of the new dresses she’d bought on her very successful shopping spree with the girls last weekend.
But Ryan wasn’t here.
And Cal was sweet…but her heart wasn’t in it.
“So what do you do for work?” she asked, offering him what she hoped was a cheerful smile.
“I’m a wildlife rehabilitator,” Cal said, brushing his blond hair out of his eyes. “I work at the Bear Tracks Institute in Silver Springs.”
“Oh, that’s so cool. What kinds of animals do you work with?” This time, she knew her smile was genuine because, aww, he worked with wild animals! That was really amazing and also kind of adorable.
“Pretty much anything you find in the Smoky Mountains National Park. We’ve got orphaned bear cubs, deer, raccoons, snakes. I’m rehabbing a red-tailed hawk right now. Came in with a broken wing, but she’s almost ready to fly again.” He reached for his burger.
“That is really amazing. Wow.”
“It’s pretty cool, yeah,” he answered, a smile crinkling his brown eyes. “No two days are ever alike, that’s for sure.”
“I like that about my job, too.” Emma reached for her own burger and took a big bite. The more she got to know Cal, the more she liked him. They had things in common, and he was really cute, not to mention a perfect gentleman. The only problem was, she didn’t like him. There was no spark, not for her at least. But she totally wanted to set one of her friends up with him.
“I could give you a tour of the facility if you’re interested,” he offered with another easy smile.
“I’d love that.”
“You’d like Nancy. She’s one of our bear cubs. Cute little thing, but watch your back because she’s a pickpocket. She lifted my cell phone last week and prank called my mom.”
Emma laughed so hard she almost snorted beer up her nose.
“She’s a character, all right.” Cal’s brows bunched. “I’m pretty sure the bartender is throwing some major shade our way. He your ex or something?”
Emma glanced at the bar, and her gaze collided with Ryan’s. It zapped her system with a ridiculous burst of heat and sparks. So he was here tonight after all. But instead of feeling giddy about rubbing his nose in her date with Cal, she just felt mad. Because she couldn’t even enjoy her date, and it was all his fault. Well, her fault really for letting herself get so hopelessly hung up on him, but right now, it felt better to blame him for her misery. “Oh, um, something like that.”
“He needs to chill,” Cal commented, taking a big bite out of his burger.
“Yeah, he really does. I’m sorry. I didn’t know he’d be working tonight.” Which was technically true, but now she felt terrible for hoping he would be, because she hadn’t considered that it might be awkward for Cal. What a disaster. She shot Ryan a pointed look.
He glared back at her, the heat of his stare enough to make her body sizzle. She felt it even after she’d turned her attention back to her date, a tingling feeling on the back of her neck that let her know Ryan was watching.
Which made her even angrier. If he didn’t want her dating other guys, if he was jealous, then he needed to quit acting like a big baby and do something about it. And if not? He needed to butt the hell out of her dating life and stop acting like an overprotective ogre.
“So what do you like to do for fun?” Cal asked, seemingly willing to ignore the situation with Ryan.
They enjoyed the rest of their meal together, or Cal seemed to anyway. Emma tried her best, but she was completely distracted by Ryan’s presence and the annoying prickle of his gaze on the back of her neck. Which meant she was thinking about Ryan instead of her date, and that was just ridiculous. Next time, she’d insist on going somewhere other than The Drunken Bear.
Maybe a change of scenery would help, or maybe her mind would be on Ryan regardless. And that was pathetic. And it sucked. And it made her want to strangle him…or kiss him…or something.
“This was really nice,” she said as Cal walked her to her car after dinner. She fiddled awkwardly with her keys. Shit. Was he going to try to kiss her? Because…
But Cal shoved his hands in his pockets, offering her an apologetic smile. “I had a great time. And I’d love to give you that tour at Bear Tracks if you’re interested. But before I take you to dinner again, you’ve got to work out whatever’s between you and the bartender.”
Emma’s cheeks flushed hot despite the cool evening breeze. She ducked her head and blew out a breath. “Yes, you’re right. I’m so sorry.”
“No worries,” Cal said, turning to walk away. “Call me if things change.”
“I will. Thanks, Cal.” She got in her car and sat there for a few minutes, fuming. This was so ridiculous. She’d just ruined a perfectly good date with a perfectly nice—and not at all boring—guy because of Ryan.
Ugh.
She thumped her fist against the steering wheel, and then—because clearly she’d lost her mind—she stormed back inside The Drunken Bear, heading straight for the bar. Ryan looked up, the intensity of his gaze slamming into her like a tidal wave.
She walked straight to him, leaning in with her elbows on the bar, so mad she felt like slapping him. “You’re an asshole.”
He blinked, seemingly at an uncharacteristic loss for words. His gaze scorched her, and for a moment, she thought he was going to reach right across the bar and kiss her. But of course, that didn’t happen. Instead, he took a step back, and his gaze shuttered. “You’re right. I am.”
Now she blinked. She’d been itching for a fight, and since he wasn’t giving her one, she had no idea what to do. “Do me a favor and keep your nose out of my dating life from now on.”
He nodded. “Fair enough. But take your next date somewhere else.”
“Oh, that’s a definite.”
“Em—”
“Just don’t, Ryan.” She looked up at the ceiling, mortified to feel tears stinging the backs of her eyes. Why this man? Of all the men in the world, why this one?
In an instant, his hand snaked out and covered hers. “I’m sorry. Really.” And when she met his gaze, she saw the truth of his words in his eyes. He was sorry, whether for ruining her date or for not dating her himself, she wasn’t sure. In the long run, what did it matter?
Ryan could never be more than her friend, and the sooner she got that message through her thick skull, the better, for everyone involved.
Ryan walkedinside The Music Factory at nine o’clock on Tuesday, feeling like he’d just stepped back in time. The place looked exactly the same as it had when he, Ethan, and Mark had frequented the place as teenagers: scuffed wood floors, dim lighting, and techno music pumping, even at this relatively early hour.
He spotted Trent in back, dancing enthusiastically with a group of kids that looked about his age, maybe a little older. At least he was making friends, and they didn’t seem like a bad crowd. And Trent had made a real effort since their chat last week to start pulling his weight at Off-the-Grid.
“Oh my gosh, I haven’t been here in ages,” Emma said from behind him. “It looks exactly the same.”
“Yep,” Ethan agreed.
“I’m not surprised,” Gabby said with a laugh. “This place looks straight out of the nineties.”
“Probably haven’t updated a thing since it opened in the late eighties,” Ethan said, hooking an arm around her shoulder. “Really cool that Trent’s playing here, though.”
“Yeah,” Ryan said.
“You want to dance?” Ethan asked Gabby.
“How about a drink first?” she said. “Emma?”
Emma nodded and followed them toward the bar. Ryan walked toward the back to say hi to his brother. Trent spotted him and gave him a nod. Was it uncool for his thirty-year-old brother to come over? Ryan didn’t care.
“Yo,” he said as he walked up to the group.
“Hey.” Trent paused his energetic bopping to make introductions. “This is my brother, Ryan. Ryan, this is Jax, Ellis, Marco, Marina, Nico, and Emerson.”
The kids waved and said hello. Then Trent moved closer to Ryan. “That’s Iris over there in the DJ booth.” He pointed out a woman with jet-black hair and heavy makeup. “I’ll be going up to join her in about fifteen minutes.”
“Can’t wait to hear you play,” Ryan said.
“Spin,” Trent said. “I’m going to spin.”
“Right.” Score one for the uncool older brother. “Can’t wait to hear you spin. Ethan, Gabby, and Emma are at the bar.”
“No Mark?”
Ryan shook his head. “Not really his scene, but you know he supports you one hundred percent.”
Trent nodded. “Can’t quite picture him here. It’s okay.”
“Good luck.” Ryan cracked a grin. “Break a leg up there.”
“I’ll try my best,” Trent said with an answering grin, then resumed his wild bouncing to the techno beat.
Ryan made his way to the mostly empty bar, sliding in next to Emma. Not many people came out this early, let alone on a Tuesday night. The four of them were by far the oldest people in the room, maybe the only ones old enough to drink.
“I feel ancient,” Emma whispered with a giggle, as if she’d read his mind.
“Liquid courage,” Gabby said as she passed out shot glasses.
Ryan took one. They raised their glasses together and drank. He felt the familiar burn of whiskey slide into his stomach. To hell with liquid courage, though. Given the way Emma looked tonight, in a short pink dress, her blonde hair in loose curls over her shoulders, he needed the opposite of courage to keep his hands to himself.
He’d almost lost it the other night when she’d come to The Drunken Bear on a date. If she’d been trying to get a rise out of him, it had worked. Big time.
“You’re awfully quiet tonight.” Emma turned toward him, still smiling. Her blue eyes danced with the lights flickering behind them.
He shrugged. “It’s pretty loud in here.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be an old fogey. You’re going to dance with us, right?”
Dance with Emma? Hell. He was screwed. “Yeah. I can dance.”
“I remember you having a few moves of your own.” She bumped her hip against his with a laugh. “This is going to be so fun. I’m glad Trent gave us an excuse to go dancing tonight.”
“Yes,” Gabby agreed. “I’m ready to get my groove on.”
At the back of the room, they watched as Trent made his way up to the DJ booth. He took his place next to Iris and slipped a set of headphones into place.
“I think that’s our cue,” Emma said, grabbing Ryan’s hand.
“Aw, he looks so important up there,” Gabby said as she took Ethan’s hand and followed them onto the dance floor.
Ryan had no clue what song was playing, but it had the familiar techno bass thump he associated with club music. It vibrated in his chest once they’d reached the dance floor, commanding his body to move to the beat.
Emma clapped her hands and spun, and fuck, her skirt twirled when she moved. Desire coiled in his belly, tight and hot. Gabby had settled into the beat, her arms around Ethan’s neck. Ryan felt a little bit awkward dancing alone. He would have far preferred a woman in his arms, but touching Emma would be way too dangerous tonight so he kept his distance and watched her dance.
“Good evening,” a woman’s voice announced over the music. Ryan looked up to see Iris speaking into a microphone from the DJ’s booth. “We’ve got a special guest DJ in the house tonight. In fact, tonight is his very first gig, and I think you’re going to be blown away when you hear what he’s got in store for you. Just eighteen years old out of St. Louis, Missouri. Give it up for DJ Chillax.”
The crowd—such as it was—burst into applause, whooping and cheering for his kid brother. Chillax? Ryan grinned, adding his own voice to the noise.
Trent stepped up, looking right at home with his headphones on, one arm waving to the beat while he mixed music with the other. Ryan had no idea if he was any good, but he looked good, and the music sounded pretty cool. Everyone was dancing.
That’s my brother, he wanted to shout. Spinning tunes at eighteen years old. Okay, maybe not worth dropping out of college for, but Ryan got it now. He did. Trent was passionate about his music, and it showed. Ryan found himself bouncing on his feet, moving to the beat as he watched his brother work.
Then Emma twirled into his arms. “Dance with me.”