Chapter Nine
Brooklyn
I spend three days curled up on the couch reading and watching movies. I take breaks to make food and go on little walks down the lane and back. I’m feeling better every day. Stronger - less sore. Kip has mostly stayed holed up in his cabin other than dinners. He’s left for the evening twice.
I’m just trying to keep my distance. The less he knows about me, the better; plus my very presence clearly makes him irate, so distance is for the best.
Today is the day I’m supposed to start work. I feel up to the challenge physically. I sneak into the garage and grab the bike. It’s not literally stealing. Kip is just being a butthead about the whole thing.
I pull on the helmet and start down the lane. I’m pedaling fast. I need to get out of view as soon as possible. He’s going out later, so he won’t even miss me or the bike. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
Ok, riding a bike with a broken arm is not the easiest task. It’s not impossible either. Once I get onto the main road, I take a leisurely pace. The last thing I need is a bike crash that lands me with a cast on my other arm.
I have on a fairly short skirt which is riding up quite high as I pedal. I figure wearing something a little sexy is better for tips. Not too sexy, but a shorter skirt and a tight V-neck top.
Once I make it into town, I leave the bike on a rack near the restaurant. I shake out my hair and take a deep breath.
Ok, Brooklyn. You got this. Waiting tables with a broken wrist is not going to be easy, but I’ve done a lot of hard things in my life. This is just another one.
I push the doors open to Head and Tail, and Sadie waves me to come back by the bar.
“I’m glad you came. Beth is out sick tonight, and we are getting slammed already. McKenzie is here tonight. Have you met?” She nods in the direction of a tall, curvy brunette.
“No.” I reach out my hand.
McKenzie takes it. “So you’re the one that’s sent the town into a tizzy?”
“Am I?”
They exchange a look and then McKenzie says, “Yes.”
“Have you waited tables before?” Sadie asks. I shake my head.
She clucks her tongue. “Okay then, follow me. You can shadow me for a few tables, and then I’ll give you some of your own.”
“I’m a quick learner.”
She throws me a look over her shoulder. “I’m sure you are.”
Two hours fly by. I’m having fun. Everyone is nice. It’s fast paced. I like trying new things. Working with one arm isn’t the easiest, but I’m managing.
The tips are amazing already. Everything’s looking up, and I feel like I can breathe for the first time in days. It’s short lived though because as I’m walking back to the bar, I crash into what feels like a solid wall. I look up to see Kip staring down at me. He puts his hands on my shoulders.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he says.
“Working.”
“What?”
“I got a job here the other day,” I respond.
“You did what?”
“Yeah. I talked to Sadie – do you remember she was our server the other day at lunch?”
“Of course, I fucking remember Sadie.” He’s doing that thing again where I can practically see the steam coming out of his ears.
“Yeah. I’m working, and you’re in my way. Sadie can get you a table if you’re hungry, or you can take a seat at the bar.”
“You aren’t working here,” he growls.
“Yes, I am.”
He has to be joking right now.
“No, cupcake, you aren’t.” He grabs me by the arm and drags me into the back hallway.
“Kip, I don’t think you’re allowed back here.”
He doesn’t say a word, pulling me further down the hall.
“Kip, stop, I’m going to get into trouble. I really need this job.”
He pulls me into a side room and points at me. “You’re leaving.”
“Kip, what the heck? You can’t tell me what to do.”
“You’re fired.”
I scoff. “What?”
He looks so angry – I’m surprised his head hasn’t popped off.
I glance down. His hands are digging into my arms.
“Hey Grumps, you’re hurting my arms.”
He drops his hands immediately and then says, “You’re fired.”
“I’m what?” I say.
“Fired, leave,”
“You can’t fire me.”
Sadie walks by the open door and then stops. “We really need the hands tonight. Beth called in sick. All the customers like her, Kip.”
“Don’t care.”
Sadie cocks her head to the side. “She told me you knew she was here.”
He doesn't look at me.
“Why would I need his permission?” I say.
Sadie ignores me. “Is this because you two are trying to get pregnant?”
Oh, my god. Does the whole town know?
“Yes,” Kip says, quickly.
“Oh Kip, quit being so protective. Women aren’t that fragile. We can work and have babies too. You only have to stop working if...”
“I got it. I got it.” He raises his hands.
“Okay, boss, whatever you say,” she says as she turns to leave.
Boss? I open my mouth, and he immediately clamps his hand over it. He shoots me a look that shuts me up immediately. There’s a small crowd gathered at the end of the hallway now, and he just leans out into the hallway and yells, “Get the fuck back to work.”
He pulls me all the way into the office, and then slams the door shut with his other hand. Once it’s closed, he finally takes his hand off my mouth.
“You’re lucky I didn’t bite you,” I snap.
He just glares.
“Boss?” I say, hands on my hips. “You work here?”
“No.”
I narrow my eyes.
“I own it,” he says.
When his words hit my ears, I stumble back a step. “Own it?”
“With Hawk. It was our parents’ place and our grandparents’ before that. I run things as long as Hawk promises to leave me alone. He’s allowed in the front, and I stay back here.”
“Why the heck didn’t you tell me earlier?” I ask.
“Wasn’t any of your business.”
I just hold eye contact with him, unflinching.
“I’m not quitting.”
“The hell you aren’t.”
“I need to work.”
He sighs. “How did you get here today, cupcake?”
I hold my head up as straight as I can. “The bike.”
“Goddammit,” he mutters. “You were forbidden from riding it.”
“And I told you - you can't forbid me from doing anything,” I counter.
“It's stealing.”
“Please.” I roll my eyes.
“I can call Hawk right now and report you.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Really? You’re going to call your brother and report your own girlfriend for stealing your bicycle?”
He doesn’t respond.
“I didn’t think so.”
“Kip, I really need this job. I’m running out of money fast.”
“What do you need money for?”
I blink at him several times. He’s joking? Right?
“Um...the regular things like food.”
“I'm buying your food.”
I throw up my arms. “I don’t want you to do that.”
“Well, I am, and I’m giving you a place to stay.”
“I have to fix the car.”
“You can use Mom’s car.”
“I still have to fix the car. It’s not mine.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Kip, please.”
“Fine,” he says. “But, you have to drive Mom’s car or ride with me. You will not walk or ride that damn bike.”
“Yes. yes. Thank you.” I throw my arms around his neck for a hug. His whole body tenses.
Oh, god, how awkward.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “You’re not much of a hugger, are you?”
He doesn’t answer, but there’s such a fierce intensity in his eyes, it makes me shiver. It doesn’t exactly look like anger, but it doesn’t not look like anger either.
His eyes fall from my face down to my body, and heat rises in me as his gaze lingers. “Ginger, what the hell are you wearing?”
“A shirt and skirt - what does it look like?”
He’s staring right at my cleavage. “It looks like you need to cover up.”
I roll my eyes. “Who’s being possessive now?”
His eyes lock on mine, and he looks pained. He does not like that comment one bit.
“I should be getting back,” I say, putting my hand on the door handle.
His hand flies up to the top of the door, stopping me from opening it. I’m trapped between his arm outstretched over my head and the door. The smell of sandalwood washes over me, and the heat from his body just radiates out toward me. I really need to move. He’s making me dizzy.
“Don’t make me regret this,” he growls.
“I won’t,” I squeak. He moves his hand, and I open the door. The small crowd has gathered again at the end of the hallway.
I turn to him and whisper, “You know you’re going to have to pretend like you like me, or everyone will get suspicious. Think you can play nice, Grumpypants?’
I’m waiting for a response. He glances down the hallway briefly and then steps closer to me.
I inch my feet back until my back presses against the wall.
He slides his hand into my hair, holding his hand against the back of my head.
He tilts my chin up and dips his head. His lips are hovering over mine.
“Like this?” he asks. His hand tightens on my hair, tugging my head back even further.
Before I can answer, his lips are on mine.
His tongue is in my mouth. Correction: his tongue is deep in my mouth.
I groan and open wide, so I can slide my tongue over his.
He steps closer, pinning me to the wall with his hips.
We’re crushed together so tightly I can hardly breathe.
I reach up and cup his face with my hands, running my fingers over his stubble.
My knees are literally growing weak. This is the sort of kiss that makes you forget your own name. A once in a lifetime sort of kiss.
The room is spinning, and we’re just melting into one another until he pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. I grab onto his biceps because I’m sure my legs are about to buckle. We’re both breathing hard; his eyes locked on mine.
He whispers, “You think they bought it?”
Who? What? What is he talking about? Bought what?
His eyes flick over to the crowd now gawking at us down the hall. Oh, right, them. Yes, I definitely think they bought it.
He pushes back and winks at me. “Guess you need to get back to work.”
“Yes...yes, I do,” I stammer, straightening my shirt and smoothing my skirt. I’m not sure I can walk straight now, so this should be interesting. I turn to go, and he smacks my ass.
“Don’t want to make the boss angry,” he says.
I shoot him a glance over my shoulder, and he walks into his office like nothing happened and shuts the door behind him.