Page 17 of Beat around the Bush
He nodded, his eyes narrowing a bit as he studied my face, likely looking for the truth in that statement. Hopefully he didn’t look too hard because the only true part about what I said was that he was my boss.
I’d be alone with him in his truck. I wasn’t sure how far Outlaw’s Watering Hole was from here, but I hoped it was less than thirty seconds, because any longer alone with Lennon, I wasn’t sure if I could control myself. I’d probably end up rambling about things he couldn’t care less about and embarrass myself.
***
“How far is the bar?” I asked Lennon as he set the alarm to the store. The rain was coming down in buckets, so I pulled my hood on. My denim jacket did little to ward off the cold, but once I had enough money to spare, I’d buy a proper winter coat. For now, this would do.
“Couple blocks away,” he answered as we walked across the parking lot. He hadn’t put his hood on, but the water bounced off his hat as we hurried to his truck.
“Oh.”
He glanced at me before pulling out his keys. “I’m not going to kidnap you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
My gaze shot to him. “What? No. I was just curious. Everything seems so close together here.”
He came up on the passenger door, opening it for me. I slid in, wiping my hands on my jeans, though that did little to dry them as the material was wet, too.
He hesitated, watching the movement before his eyes found mine. “It’s a small town.”
“I know.”
And we’re off to a great start.
He closed the door, coming around the hood to get in on the driver's side. He started the truck as I buckled myself in, cranking the heater. “The first snow is going to be here soon,” he pointed out.
I nodded, and turned to catch him staring at me.
“You should probably get some chains. Your tires looked pretty bald.”
“You were looking at my car?” I asked.
“Well, I kind of had to when you hit me.”
I looked ahead of me through the windshield, the rain sliding down the glass. “I guess you’re right. I’m really sorry about that, by the way.”
He shifted the truck in reverse, backing up a few feet before shifting into drive and heading out of the parking lot. “You don’t need to keep apologizing for it, Oakley.”
“I just feel bad, okay? Can a girl not apologize for ramming into the back of your truck?”
I had a lot of guilt on my conscience, and if apologizing for the hundredth time for rear-ending him made me feel better, I was going to do it.
A few minutes later, he pulled into a parking lot outside a big wooden building. The only thing indicating it was a bar was the giant orange neon sign out front. In the dim light from the overcast sky, the sign glowed bright, illuminating the mist around it.
Lennon killed the engine, turning to face me. “You may feel bad, but just know that I’ve let it go. It happened, and you’re okay, and that’s all that matters.”
Our eyes were stuck in some trance as I saw something flit over his face. Like seeing the sun after a week’s long storm. But itwas gone in an instant, and then he was getting out of the truck, coming around to open my door for me.
“Thank you,” I mumbled as I got out.
He nodded in response and closed the door. He’d parked close to the front door of the bar, so thankfully, on our way inside, we didn’t get too soaked. I shrugged out of my jacket as we walked over to the table Brandy and Lettie were at by the pool tables. A few guys I didn’t recognize were playing a game, not noticing us as we approached.
“You made it!” Lettie squealed.
She wrapped me in a quick hug, then released me. “I didn’t know what you wanted to drink, but we can go get it together. I need a refill anyway.”
Lennon draped his coat over the back of the chair beside me, and the guys at the table turned to find us standing there.
“Thought your ass was never going to show up,” the guy with the beige cowboy hat said. He ambled over to us and shot me a smile, holding out his hand for me to shake it. “I’m Bailey. And I take it you’re Oakley?”
