Page 70 of Break the Barrier
It was Tuesday night,and my mom had Luella for the night so I could go and join the guys for dart league.
This was something that CT and I started messing around with when he and my cousin weren’t together. It wasn’t until recently that I had found out exactly why they’d broken up in the first place, and I understood it, but CT has been one of my best friends since we were kids, and even though they hadn’t been together, I couldn’t throw that friendship away.
Dani never would have let me either.
Dani wouldn’t throw CT under the bus, and CT was a closed-lip man who gave me nothing to go off.
It made me respect him while still wanting to knock his lights out half the time.
“Logan! There’s your girl!” Stetson yells from clear across the dart area, loudly announcing what I already know, which is that Thea is walking over to us.
I clocked her the moment I walked into the bar, desperate foranother taste of her after last night. Damn, my kid had the worst timing.
She stops in front of me, her thumbs nervously tucked into her back pockets, looking like the picture of innocence. That vibe she gave off was just that—a vibe. I have a good feeling she’s a lot less innocent than she lets on.
I reach for her instantly, like it’s the natural reaction when she’s in front of me, which it is. My fingers grasp the fabric on the front of her shirt, and I tug her closer, bending down and pressing my lips against her soft ones.
She startles slightly before settling into me, her hand coming to rest on my shoulder. My hat semi-covers us from my friends—not nearly enough for what I’d love to do to her right now.
I pull away, only leaning back in once to peck her lips softly. “Hey,” I say to her, waiting patiently with a smile on my lips for her eyes to finally open.
A blush blooms over her cheeks, and she peeks around the bar, probably wondering who caught that just now. I hope they all saw it. I hope they all look on with envy and disappointment that I was the man who got to march up to this woman and take her lips with my own.
The urge to suggest we bail right now and go to my house is strong, but I resist.
“Um, hey, I just wanted to tell you there’s a beer special tonight.” Her words are rushed, and as her gaze hits mine, I smile at the nerves that are clearly resting just below the surface.
Our last night together had been the farthest we’d gone, and I was feeling almost desperate to take it farther, but I wasn’t sure what she was ready for. I don’t know if she wants to take that leap just yet, and in my years, I’ve learned the beautiful art of patience.
It was torture.
“Really? What kind of special is that?” My left hand rests on her hip, tugging her closer to me.
Thea licks her lips and glances at my friends and back at me. “Buy one, get one on pitchers. We got…” Her hands come up between us, and her gaze goes to them. I can tell she keeps glancing at my shirt and back to her hands like she wants to reach out and grab me. I wish she would. “We ended up with two extra kegs by accident.”
“Lucky for us.”
“Definitely.” She nods at me and starts to back away, but I grip her hip tighter.
“You’re not leaving already, are you?” I lean in, lowering my voice and watching as her eyes soften in my presence. The worry about being in front of everyone, about the town seeing us together, soothes away.
I knew going into something with her that she didn’t necessarily care about the town knowing that we were together, it was for her ex, for whoever was watching her and reporting back. And, in a financial aspect, keeping her assets safe from anyone who would come after her for money.
“I have to get back to work.”
Her retort is weak, and I smile at her, feeling her hand move its way up my chest and resting right over my heart. “Can’t you play a round or two?”
She finally smirks back at me, that spark of fire that’s been missing for a while coming alive behind her eyes again. “Why do I feel like you’re not talking about darts?”
I lean down, my lips an inch from hers. “You’re learning quick.”
Without warning, her lips hit mine in a moment of heatbefore she pulls herself away, using the surprise of the kiss to get away from me.
She turns halfway, giving me a smile over her shoulder before resuming her duties behind the bar.
“Damn, you’re so screwed.” I hear my brother say from beside me, and there was no denying the truth.
We play a few rounds, soaking up the time with friends, good beer, good music provided by Thea’s younger sister Juniper, who was pretty damn good, and a sight for me, which was watching Thea work.
