Page 18 of Love Me, I Dare You

“Lexi here will get you what you need.”

“I doubt that,” I mutter under my breath, and her expression shifts from annoyed to intrigued. Flickers of curiosity spark within her and only further push me to continue toying with her.

“What was that?” she asks, raising a brow and placing a hand on her jutted out hip. My eyes lower to the curve of her hips that dips at her waist.

I let out a small chuckle because I know she heard me and is suddenly feigning innocence. It’s fucking adorable on her and reminds me so much of the girl I used to know. “I meant the drink for you, Angel. Looks like you could use a drink to loosen up.”

She furrows her brows in discontent. “I’m perfectly loosened up Nash, don’t you worry your pretty little head about me. Instead, why don’t you tell us, are you on your way out of town yet?”

My lips turn up with joy, enjoying this far too much to stop. Taking a seat on the stool in front of me, I lean forward acrossthe bar, lowering my voice slightly so only she can hear me. Our faces are so close I can hear the soft hum of her unsteady breaths.

“Why? Are you already missing me?”

Bailey’s eyes widen at my brazenness, a soft gasp leaving her slightly parted lips. “Goddammit, Nash,” she shouts, trying to brush off her clear arousal that has her all flustered. “Can you just quit with the nonsense? Why are you here?”

By now we’ve garnered quite an audience. A few heads have turned our way, clearly waiting for the shoe to drop and whatever fiasco Bailey has in store. Settling back onto the stool, I give her a half truth. Being so close to her was intoxicating—the sweet scent of her perfume, the same one she’s always worn with hints of vanilla and citrus and something I can’t quite make out, nearly made me forget about the rule I set for myself.

Don’t fucking touch Bailey King.

One simple touch would be the gateway to becoming addicted to the sweet as sin angel. A complete juxtaposition, but one I completely understand. “Told ya, I’m here to help Monty fix up the ranch in order to sell it before my father’s debt catches up to us and we lose everything.”

I know that’s not what she’s asking, but I don’t have the answer she wants to hear, so I avoid her question altogether. Because truth is, I have no fucking idea why I’m here in her bar, standing across from her and having all these inappropriate thoughts about what I’d do to the woman if I so much as got my hands on her. I have no reason to be here, drooling over the sexy as fuck bombshell she’s become, and toying with her after everything I’ve done.

Yet I can’t get myself to walk away and leave her alone.

She rolls her eyes in exasperation, busying herself with stacking some clean glasses on the row of shelves at her waistlevel. “Not here in Crossroads? Although, I’m sure you could be helping Monty out from literally anywhere else.”

She pauses only to refill the glass of beer for the gentlemen to my left, who’s trying his hardest to pretend he’s not one hundred percent invested in our conversation. Setting the beer in front of him, she gives him a sweet smile while he whispers a soft thank you. The anger that bubbles inside me at the fact this fucker has done nothing to deserve her smile, yet here I am, getting nothing but her indifference or fury.

“Why are you here in my bar for the fifth time this week? And don’t you bullshit me again by saying you’re supposedly looking for Jase, because we both know he wouldn’t be happy to see you either.”

God, her sudden brazenness is fucking alluring and sexy as hell. The girl I knew would never be caught dead speaking to me or anyone in that way, yet here she is calling me out on my shit and not falling for a thing I’ve said to her.

“You're saying you’re not happy to see me, B.” I deflect, giving her the run-around I know she hates so much. Leaning back, I let myself indulge in the beauty of watching her so riled up. This woman is fucking dangerous. I don’t think I’ve smiled this much in the ten years since I’ve been gone.

She huffs out a deep breath, and it’s so goddamn cute. “God, you’re infuriating Nash, you know that?”

I simply nod in agreement. “I’ve been told a time or ten.”

Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she grabs two empty glasses and sets them before me. “Forget it, I don’t care,” she says, quickly putting together some fruity cocktail complete with a wedge of lime and one of those little decorative umbrellas. “Have your drink. Come here every day if you have to, but just steer clear of me Nash.”

I grab one drink out of her hands and bring it to my lips, licking the salt from along the rim and loving the way her gazeinstinctively drops to my mouth. Though it’s not salt, it’s sugar, and when I take a sip from the rim, I cringe, immediately spitting it back out. Too fucking sweet.

“And why would I do that?” Fuck, I don’t know why I’m pushing her on this. I should do exactly what she says. Staying the fuck away from Bailey King if I know what’s good for me. Yet the small wrinkle that forms between her forehead, the same one I used to love seeing when she’d scowl at me when we were just kids, makes me want to keep the teasing going.

Unfortunately, I’m not able to because we’re interrupted when a tall, blonde and good-looking son of a bitch slides onto the stool beside me. The fucker slams a hand down on my shoulder, digging his fingers into me as he turns me around to face him.

Familiar icy blue eyes meet mine, so many questions, thoughts and feelings swirling inside them as they search for the same in me.

Why am I here? What have I come for? When will I leave?

Jameson King looks exactly the same as he did the last time I saw him nearly three years ago. Contrary to what I’m sure Bailey believes, things between her brother and me aren’t as black and white as she thinks.

“Nash fucking Bishop,” Jase says, releasing his grip on me just enough to pat me on the back. His hair is slightly shorter, a mess of loose dark blond curls, not the usual neatly combed mane he’s kept.

I bring my glass up to him in a salute. “In the flesh.” Jase doesn’t seem quite thrilled to see me, but I’m relieved at least his welcoming isn’t a fist to the face like the last time I saw him.

It was a coincidence he strolled into the bar I was currently occupying with a few of the guys from the Disciples crew. I had on their distinctive cut most people were smart to stay away from, but Jase hadn’t seen it when he threw a beer bottle atmy head, following it up with an uppercut to the jaw. A full on brawl broke out, but I luckily put an end to it before things got completely out of control.

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