Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
kole
“What the hell am I doing?” I muttered to myself as I walked home.
I closed the bar early, which wasn’t completely unusual.
If I didn’t have any customers, I’d lock up and go home.
Although it didn’t happen often since I was the only bar in town, but Monday nights were always the slowest of the week.
No point in wasting electricity and my time if I wasn’t making any money.
Though, tonight was different. The sole reason I was running home was about Dani.
She hadn’t left my mind. Not once all damn day.
Our interaction this morning only added to my unwanted curiosity about her.
She was feisty. Strong-willed. Shocked the hell out of me when she shoved that bagel in my mouth—and pissed me off in the same breath.
Yet here I was, hoping she wasn’t shut in her room when I got back because I wanted to see her.
Stopping in front of my house, I punched in my door code, and pushed open the door, going still when a wave of heat hit me.
“Fuck,” I mumbled, stepping inside and instantly feeling suffocated because of how hot it was in here.
The small light above the stove was on, giving me enough light to see that no one was in here.
She was either upstairs or not home. I strode to the kitchen wall, hitting the button on the thermostat, grumbling under my breath when I saw she had set it to seventy-five degrees.
I jammed my finger on the button, turning it back down to sixty-seven how I always had it.
My body buzzed with annoyance, instantly reminding me why I hadn’t lived with anyone since moving here.
I didn’t do well with sharing my space. I quickly moved to the back window, and slid it open before going to the front of the house and pushing open the two living room windows, enjoying the cold breeze that immediately started drifting through.
Stripping off my jacket, I hung it up in the coat closet before heading to the kitchen to make some food.
As I put my leftover meatballs into the microwave, I tried to be quiet in case she was sleeping.
I wasn’t used to this at all but would have to make it work until Fiona found her another place to live.
It was only nine thirty, and I doubted she was sleeping, but I didn’t hear a sound coming from upstairs, so I continued trying to be quiet.
Once the food was heated, I made myself comfortable on the barstool.
I shoved my fork into a meatball, annoyed with myself.
This one girl was flooding my thoughts, and it was driving me crazy.
I craved tasting her again. I was regretting that the lights were off when I was between her thighs because I wanted to see every inch of her body.
Voices drifted in through the window, pulling me from my thoughts, and I shifted on the barstool, adjusting my hard dick.
The curtains were still mostly closed, so I couldn’t see who was outside, but I heard her voice, making me wonder what she was doing out this late.
Most places in this town closed early except for my bar.
“You sure you’re okay?” a deeper voice asked.
My spine straightened, my head snapping to the curtains. I didn’t recognize it, and I slipped off the stool, creeping closer to the window.
“I’m fine,” Dani answered with a sigh. “You didn’t need to walk me home.”
“I’m only a few doors down,” the guy replied. “Is your roommate another intern?”
“No,” she muttered. “Thanks again. I’ll see you later.”
The doorknob twisted, and I hurried back to the kitchen, not wanting to get caught eavesdropping.
“Wait,” the guy implored. “I like you, Dani.”
The door didn’t open, and I bit my tongue wondering who the hell she was talking to. I had a feeling it was the guy who had eyes for her at my bar the first night the interns arrived.
“I told you I have no interest in dating while I’m here,” she replied softly. “I want to do this internship and start my life.”
“It’s important to me too, but we’ll be here a year. What’s wrong with enjoying our time?”
She didn’t say a word, and I wished I could read her features to see what she was thinking. I leaned against the counter, my eyes staying on the closed front door.
“Dinner,” the guy said. “Just as friends.”
“You want more than friendship.”
“I think starting off as friends is the best way for a relationship to build.”
She giggled even though it sounded strained. “Now you sound like the psychology major.”
“Come on, Dani.” His voice was laced with desire that had my pulse spiking. “Give me one chance.”
“Just dinner,” she finally agreed.
My heart pounded, a rush of anger jolting through my veins that had me curling my hands into fists. Fuck me. This woman had her claws hooked into me much deeper than I thought. And it was a damn problem.
I heard them saying goodbye, and I fell back onto the barstool, grabbing my fork as the door opened.
Glancing over my shoulder, I watched as she faltered a bit when she saw me while she pushed the door shut behind her.
Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and her hair fanned around her face as she took a couple steps closer.
“Hi,” she greeted, eyeing me warily. “I thought your bar was open later than this.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Trying to avoid me in my own house?”
“No,” she said quickly, clearly thinking of the bagel incident this morning. “Just surprised you’re home. I thought you had the night shift.”
I set my fork down, and got to my feet, facing her. “And why would you think that?”
“I met your coworker today. Adella.”
My heart dipped, hearing her voice change. She was acting uninterested. Bored. Which meant Adella told her that we’d slept together. I shouldn’t care. I willed myself not to. Yet for some reason, I didn’t want Dani to think that I was with Adella.
Before either of us said anything else, more voices came in through the window, and Dani’s eyes widened, realization dawning that I listened to her conversation. I shot her a grin, resting against the counter.
“Sounds like you’re already making friends,” I said casually. “We’re going to need to work out a system if you plan on bringing guys back here.”
Her already pink cheeks flushed as she scowled. “It’s rude to eavesdrop.”
“All I did was open the windows since someone decided to make my house a sauna.”
“I don’t like being cold,” she defended herself, crossing her arms. “And until I move, this is also my house. I have a right to feel comfortable while I’m here. You want money for the electric bill?”
I could fucking care less about the heat bill.
I wanted to get back on the topic of the guy she’d been talking to.
She stared at me pointedly, waiting for my response, and I took a step toward her until her eyes flashed with warning, her body going tense.
She was a lot more on edge than this morning when I had her against the counter.
The guy’s question filtered through my head when he asked her if she was okay, and I frowned, wondering what the hell happened.
She sighed after the long silence, rolling her eyes.
“I won’t touch the heat again,” she muttered, sounding tired. “And as for your other complaint—you don’t have to worry. Any guy I talk to, I don’t plan on bringing here. You made it abundantly clear you don’t want me here. So I’ll spend as much time as I can out of the house.”
Well, fuck me. I stared at her, my heart racing in a way I wasn’t prepared for. She was right. I didn’t want her living with me. But I sure as hell didn’t want to think about other men touching her like I did.
She broke eye contact as she folded her jacket over her arms, her gaze going past me to the kitchen and then darting back to the stairs.
“Hungry?” I asked gruffly, nodding to my plate. “There’s more in the fridge.”
“No, I’m fine. I’m going shopping tomorrow.”
Her voice was firm, and it was immediately clear she didn’t like taking help. At least from people she didn’t know. She moved up a couple of steps on the stairs before halting and resting her hand on the banister as she peered down at me.
“What kind of animals are around here?”
Her question threw me off, and I frowned. “In the forest?”
“Yes.”
“The ones to worry about are mountain lions and bears,” I answered, looking at her questioningly. “Why?”
She hesitated. “I was out on that path a couple of streets over, and thought I heard something—”
“That path leads to a cliff,” I cut her off. “Not smart to go out there at night.”
“Yeah,” she mumbled, moving up the steps again, “I know. I’m going to bed.”
With those words, she disappeared from view, and I heard the bathroom door slam shut.
I shook my head, turning my attention to my now-cold food.
Running a hand down my face, I grabbed my plate with my other hand and tossed the food in the trash.
My mind wandered as I washed the plate before setting it on the towel to dry.
I didn’t need distractions. I was here for a reason which meant I needed to get Dani the hell out of my head.
Hopefully, Fiona would find her a new place to live soon.