Chapter 2 #2
She holds my gaze for a long moment and I can see the battle there.
Something is telling her she should back away, ignore the feeling.
Ask me to leave. I won’t be happy about it, but I’ll do it.
As badly as I want her to give in, I won’t pester her or try to talk her into anything.
I always take no for an answer when it comes to women.
But no isn’t going to be the answer today. I can see it the moment she’s made the decision, maybe even before she’s realized it herself. The spark between us wasn’t one-sided and it wasn’t in my head. Nova wants me.
So I’m not at all surprised when she holds out her hand. I place my phone in it without needing her to clarify. She sighs, like maybe she thinks it’s a mistake, but her fingers are steady and quick when she types her number in.
“We’re shutting the booth down at dusk,” she says, handing the phone back. “The guys can’t tattoo without good light.” She gives a little shrug. “Text me or not, it’s up to you.”
I finally let my lips tilt up into a grin. “That’s a dangerous thing to say to a man like me,” I point out. “I’m not sure you’re ready to know what happens when you leave things up to me.”
Her green eyes darken, that faint pink blush coming back to her cheeks. “I guess we’ll see.” Her eyebrow goes up in challenge. “If you text me.”
“Why wouldn’t I text you?”
She shrugs. “I know guys like you. Lots of big talk, very little follow-through.”
“That doesn’t sound at all like me, sweetheart. I’ll be seeing you soon.” When she raises an eyebrow, I smirk. “It’s a date.”
Nova shakes her head. “It very much is not.”
I let my gaze drift down her figure, lingering at the sliver of tan skin showing between her top and skirt before meeting her eyes again and smirking. “I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”
A group of little kids run up and I bite back a laugh when Nova visibly winces.
I get the feeling kids aren’t really her thing.
“Talk soon,” I tell her, giving the table a pat so I don’t put my hands on her instead.
Then I walk away from the booth before she can change her mind—even though I’d much rather shoo those kids away and drag her off somewhere more private.
Good things come to those who wait, I remind myself as I jog away.
I catch up with Sawyer right before he reaches our brothers on the other side of the field.
The three of them are standing with Ellie, my brother Jonah’s wife, in front of the little kiddie coaster.
I see their kid immediately in one of the cars, Lucas’s face lit up with glee as he speeds over the small hills and dips.
Mac, the oldest, does a double take at Sawyer as we approach. “The fuck is on your face?”
Jonah and Ellie turn to him too, laughing as they both give him shit.
Sawyer doesn’t seem to be bothered by the ribbing. He merely sighs and says, “all for nothing.”
“Aw, you got shot down?” Ellie says. “Sorry, buddy.”
“I really thought she was into me,” Sawyer mumbles. Then he brightens. “At least she flirted and touched me a little.” He jerks his head in my direction. “Lawson stood there scowling the whole time, not saying a word.”
Mac grins at me. “Scowling and not talking seems to have done pretty well for him over the years, if his reputation with the women is anything to go by.”
Sawyer scoffs. “I swear, all that shit is made up. There’s no way he gets women acting like a surly bastard.”
I shrug. “I might be a surly bastard, but only one of us got her number.”
He spins around to face me so fast he nearly knocks Ellie off her feet, earning a glare and back-of-the-head smack from Jonah. “She did not give you her number.”
I hold up my phone, smirking. “She typed it in herself and everything.”
“What the fuck!?” he yells, causing several parents to scowl in our direction and earning another smack from Jonah. “How did she give you her number? You didn’t even talk to her!”
I shrug. “Some of us don’t have to resort to simpering like idiots to get a girl’s attention.”
“I didn’t simper!”
I direct my gaze to his princess crown and he groans, rubbing at it.
“Those things don’t go away until you wash them a bunch,” Ellie points out helpfully. “Sorry.”
“Great,” he grumbles, then glares at me. “I can’t believe you got her number behind my back. What kind of loyalty is that, man? You knew I was into her.”
“Pretty sure every man who passed by that booth is into her," Mac pointed out.
“I wasn’t,” Jonah says quickly, wrapping an arm around Ellie’s waist. She smiles at him, all dreamy, and he leans in to kiss her.
I ignore their PDA, focusing on Sawyer. “She wasn’t into you, man. I’m sorry, but we had a vibe. Not my fault you didn’t notice.”
“But I hit on her first!”
I shake my head. “You sound like a child. You can’t call dibs on a woman, little brother.”
“I know that,” he grumbles. “I just don’t get it. I put all that effort into being charming and sweet and you just stand there like a grumpy asshole and get her number without even trying.” He turns to Ellie, who’s just now come up for air. “Am I crazy? Don’t women prefer charm over scowling?”
She shrugs. “I hooked up with your twin brother in the bar’s bathroom within ten minutes of meeting him. I don’t think charm really played a part.”
Jonah smirks down at her. “I charmed you with my dick.”
“Well, it is a very nice dick.”
Sawyer groans. “I did not need to hear that, Ellie.”
Before Sawyer can bitch and moan anymore, Lucas comes bounding up to us. “Did you see that?” he cries. “I went so fast!”
“Pretty brave, little man,” Jonah says, hoisting the kid up into his arms. “You were flying out there.”
“What’s next?” Lucas asks, bouncing around excitedly in his step-dad’s arms. I had no idea how much energy the average seven-year-old has before my little brother met and married Lucas’s mom.
“Jules just texted me,” Ellie says, looking down at what is presumably a text from our sister. “Her and Nick just got here. They’re by the ice cream stand.”
All of the Barlowe boys make a face at that.
When our best friend, Nick, told us he was in love with our little sister, it took us a while to come around.
Eventually we remembered that he’s a great guy and it’s clear he makes Jules happy—but we still have to express our displeasure that they’re engaged and living together whenever possible.
Ellie rolls her eyes at us before turning to her kid. She puts a hand on Lucas’s head. “What do you say? Ice cream sound good? Uncle Sawyer needs a pick-me-up after getting shot down.”
“What’s shot down?” Lucas asks.
“It’s when a pretty girl would rather hang out with a surly asshole rather than you,” Mac says, then sighs when Lucas holds out a hand for his dollar.
“This kid is going to bankrupt us within the year.”
“You could just actually stop swearing around him,” Ellie points out.
“Where’s the fun in that?” he mutters.
Sawyer is still pouting, so I hold back, gripping his shoulder to keep him by my side. “Okay, real talk, brother. Is it going to bother you if I text her?”
He makes a face, then sighs. “What would you do if I said yes?”
“I wouldn’t text her,” I say immediately. There’s not really a question. Teasing my little brother is one thing. Actually hurting him? Hell no.
He studies me. “You actually mean that, don’t you?”
“Of course I mean it. Nova’s hot, but you’re family.” And there is literally nothing I wouldn’t do for my family.
He sighs again, a little longer this time. “You should text her. At least one of us should have a good night.”
A rush of relief goes through me, strong enough to make my breath catch. There’s no reason for my reaction to be that intense, so I shake it off and sling an arm around Sawyer’s shoulder. “Come on, little brother. I’ll buy your ice cream.”
“It’s the least you can do,” he grumbles, trying to push me off as we go to join the others.