Page 51 of Wrong For You

The only difference is thatmygrumpy asshole follows a continuous flow cycle. That instinctual claim gives me pause.Shit.Jake isn’t my anything.

Garrett lifts his chin at Ridge, unaware of my mental bumbling. “Hey, be sure to make extra room. It’s gonna get fucking rowdy with Harper spinning circles around everyone.”

My other boss offers a silent salute before leaving his perch to fulfill our request.

“Maybe I could help Ridge stack the chairs,” Callie murmurs while tracking his hulking form across the room.

“You should,” I urge. I’d encourage almost any excuse to get her cute butt off the stool to spread those clipped wings.

Her posture slumps more than it already was. “I’d probably just be in his way.”

“Girl, even if you just lift a napkin, he’d be grateful for your assistance.”

She visibly brightens. “Really?”

“You’ll never know if you don’t try, but only if you want to. Don’t make yourself uncomfortable.” I wrap my arm around her for a quick squeeze.

She nods and nibbles on her bottom lip.

Garrett drums his fingers on the bar. “You should listen to the woman who always gets what she wants.”

“Oh, puh-lease. Not always,” I insist.

“Sure about that?” He points to the area near the far wall where there’s already a decent amount of space cleared out.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I gush.

He flicks his wrist, shooing off my gratitude. “Not a problem, Harps. Long overdue, like you said.”

“You won’t regret it.”

“Better not. At least Evans isn’t here to burn the place down if another guy so much as looks sideways at you.”

I huff good-naturedly, but my pulse skips a beat at the idea. “Don’t worry, I haven’t seen him darkening the corner section for almost two weeks.”

“Miss him?”

“Hardly.” But the flip in my belly betrays me. Not to mention that our paths cross at Barre Twirl. “My tips have tripled without him constantly breathing down my neck.”

Garrett smirks while staring at the entrance. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing you’re not working tonight.”

“Right? I’d hate to miss out on dancing.” My head bobs to the peppy country song that just started.

“Nah, otherwise you’d get shitty tips.”

The shiver ghosting down my spine has me turning toward the door. Jake is there, just barely over the threshold. It almost looks like he’s still deciding whether to stay or go. His gaze searches the bar with an intensity that almost has me flailing my arms.

Then our eyes collide in a heated exchange that I feel in the depths of my core. There’s a pounding in my ears that drowns out all other noise until all I can hear is the echo from his pulse matching mine. I suck in a sharp breath as several emotions battle against his stony expression. Jake allows relief and frustration and longing and raw hunger to be put on full display.

It gives me the courage to wiggle my fingers at him in welcome. My smile combats his frown. Thunder crashes over his already stormy features. Then he rips his eyes off me and stalks toward an available stool basked in shadows.

“Oh, shit. This night just got a lot more interesting,” Ginger laughs.

I brush off her comment with an easy grin. “Nothing crazy is going to happen. We put the past to rest and decided to move forward as friends.”

Garrett chuckles, which turns into a booming laugh. “That’s a load of bullshit I could smell from across town.”

“Ha ha, very funny. Your support is greatly appreciated.”

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