Chapter 2 #3
Karlie huffed out her breath as if she didn’t believe him.
“They already talk about me. From what I hear, I’m the gossip of the town.
I don’t care what they say or think about me.
When this is over, I’ll go back to Atlanta, and the gossip won’t be able to touch me again.
” His heart sank at the mention of Karlie going back to her life in Georgia.
He’d have to work hard to convince her to stay with him.
He was hoping he’d be able to tie her to him somehow, show her that they fit, and Drew was starting to see that he was going to have his work cut out for him.
∞
When they got to the restaurant, Karlie started to rethink her whole stupid fucking plan.
She didn’t even want to get out of Drew’s truck.
Her dad had texted her again and told her to just meet them at the restaurant.
Her father didn’t seem too pleased that they had missed the actual rehearsal, as if it were her fault that she got a flat tire.
If she had her way, she and Drew would be back at his house, preferably naked and in his bed.
Sex with Drew would be mind-blowingly amazing, and Karlie needed something like that.
She needed something to take her mind off the evening she was about to face.
Drew grabbed her hand, linking their fingers together, and rubbed her knuckles with his thumb, instantly calming her.
She hadn’t realized that her heart was racing until that moment.
Karlie took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on just getting her heartbeat and breathing under control.
When she opened her eyes, Drew’s face was right in front of hers, his hands caressing her cheeks—so sweet, so comforting.
How could she feel so safe and comforted by him after only a few hours together?
Technically, she had known him since high school, but she never really talked to him until today.
Now, she couldn’t imagine him not talking to her or touching her, and especially not kissing her.
They hadn’t even had sex yet, and still, she felt so connected to him.
“You ready for this? Just say the word and we’ll go home,” Drew offered. She knew he was referring to his home because her home was in Atlanta now, but that still sounded better than walking into the shitstorm that surely waited for them in the restaurant.
“No, I’ve got this.” She thought she sounded convincing—not too shaky. But judging by the knowing smirk on his handsome face, Drew didn’t believe a word she was saying.
“Let’s do this, then. Just stick to me and I’ll get you through,” he promised and followed it up with a short kiss. Karlie smiled, trying to silently thank him for everything, but not having the words at that moment.
She checked her makeup and spiky hair in the rearview.
“As good as it gets,” she whispered to herself as Drew rounded his pick-up to help her out of his truck.
Drew was at her door, and just behind him, on the curb, stood Jake.
Judging by the angry look on his face, Drew wasn’t too happy to see her ex.
Jake, the sleazebag, was just staring at her with a nasty sneer on his smug face.
Karlie fought the anger roiling in her gut.
It took everything in her not to walk right up to Jake and punch the smug look right off his face.
Drew opened Karlie’s door and reached a hand in for her.
The sooner they got into the restaurant and made their rounds, the sooner they could leave.
She knew that Drew could make her forget all about the asshole staring at her right now.
“You okay, baby? You with me?” he asked.
Her gaze flew to his face, and instantly, she felt better.
“Don’t even look at him,” Drew said. “Hell don’t even talk to him.
I’ll take care of Jake. Just be here for your family and sister this weekend.
” He seemed so protective, but she wanted to protest and tell him that she could handle herself.
Karlie knew Drew was capable of annihilating anyone who tried to even come near her, but that wouldn’t help her situation.
He helped her out of his truck and pulled her to his side.
“Well, well, it’s about time you showed up,” Jake said.
“This one keeping you too busy to fulfill your obligations, Drew?” He eyed Karlie like a panther surveying its prey.
His ugly sneer was plastered back on his face.
“You look nice, sweetheart,” Jake said and bent toward Karlie for a kiss.
Drew blocked Jake’s access to Karlie with his body, shoving her behind him.
“She’s not your sweetheart anymore. That’s something you’d do well to remember if you’d like to keep that face all pretty for your wedding to Karlie’s sister tomorrow,” Drew growled, keeping his smile mean.
“Karlie is here to support her sister and her parents this weekend. You don’t get to talk to her, touch her, or look at her.
If you ever try to kiss her again, I’ll make sure your lips don’t work for your honeymoon. We clear, chief?” Drew asked.
Jake just laughed and shook his head. “Well, isn’t this cozy.
You’ve been back in town for a total of ten minutes, and here you are all snuggled up to Drew.
You knew he had a thing for you, and you just decided to use that to your advantage, huh?
I always knew you had it in you to be a slut, just like your little sis—” Jake didn’t get the chance to finish his ugly sentence since Drew had him flying backward, hitting the brick wall to the restaurant.
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear, you son of a bitch. You don’t talk to her—ever.” Drew wrapped his hands around the collar of Jake’s nicely pressed dress shirt, and Jake chuckled like he didn’t give a shit.
“Yeah, man, I get you. You’re her knight in shining armor now. Fucking let go of me or we will be doing more than talking.” Jake tried to pull off nonchalant, but Karlie could see the fear in his eyes.
“Drew, everyone is watching us,” Karlie whispered. “My dad doesn’t look very happy either. We should just go inside.”
“Yeah, Drew, you should just go inside. You don’t want to mess up Bob’s new son-in-law and the father of his grandchild.
He might not take too kindly to that.” It made Karlie sick to hear Jake refer to her father by his first name.
He never had respect for any other human being besides himself.
Drew slowly released the asshole and took Karlie’s hand into his own.
They just needed to get this over with and finish what she foolishly started.
If not, her entire trip home would have been for nothing, and Karlie wouldn’t let that happen.