Page 22 of Worth the Rush
“But what if I wasn’t planning on going home at all?” I ask innocently. His smile falters just for a moment, but then a smirk takes its place.
“If you wanted me to take you to my place, then you could have just said that,” he says. I think I may finally understand that saying “shooting daggers out of your eyes” because I feel like I want to throw something at him.
“Sorry, Lover Boy. I don’t think you and I would be a good mix,” I tell him.
“No?” he questions. “Hmm…that’s not the impression I got the other night,” he states as the main lights in the bar come back on, and being a redhead has never been more inconvenient. I know my blush is on full display. I played right into that.
I look around, and the whole table pretends to be looking anywhere but at us. Rhett and Winnie both take sips of their drinks, Rhett muttering something about “this bar and jealousy”under his breath. Great. That embarrassing bit of info would be my cue. I swallow.
“Thanks for inviting me tonight, I think I better head out,” I say to Winnie. “I’ll see you around.” I grab my coat and slide out of my seat. A hand on my arm stops me, and I turn to see the adorable tiny brunette pulling me into a hug. My throat tightens.
“Please come by the bakery soon! I have some new coffee and treats I’d love for you to try, and we can hang out,” she replies.
“Yes! And we’re having a wine night on Friday! Say you’llcome,” Mare chimes in. I nod and smile, not sure if my voice is shaky. Then I make a beeline for the door. I hear harsh whispers as I open the door and step out into the now-dark sidewalk. I take a deep breath. I don’t think I’ve been embarrassed in a solid decade. I don’t reallydoembarrassed. I don’t do very many negative emotions actually. I walk toward my parked SUV and hit the fob to unlock it. I open the door and go to sit when I sense someone at my back.
I swing my elbow as hard as I can, and I make a direct hit to someone’s jaw.
“Oh, fuck!” I hear my attacker's muffled voice. I grab the pepper spray attached to my key fob and click it open, ready to spray and knee this piece of shit in the balls.
“Back off, motherfu—Alder?”
Ifeel the blow to my face and step back as far as I can to avoid another hit.
“Oh, fuck!” I hear myself say.
“Back off, motherfu—Alder?” Ivy asks.
“Yeah,” I confirm. “It’s just me.
“What the actual fuck? Why are you out here following me? What is wrong with you?” So many questions, not enough time to answer them all, and my jaw is starting to throb. She really went for it. As much as it hurts, I’m also really proud. Ivy Rutherford knows how to throw a punch and that’s irritatingly sexy in this moment.
I push those thoughts aside so I can speak to her, “I just came out here to say I’m sorry.” I look at her, rubbing my jaw. “For being an asshole inside, but I guess now for scaring you too,” I tell her.
She grabs the side of my head, not gently, but she at least takes care to avoid my newly injured jaw.
“Let me see.” She sighs, and I lean my head down into herhand. “This is your fault—” she starts, and I almost start laughing, but I bite my tongue, not wanting her to stop touching me. “But I’m sorry you didn’t think before creeping up behind me,” she adds, and this time I can’t help the small laugh that escapes. I clear my throat to try and cover it.
“I took it too far in there and realized it immediately, but that was still too late. I really am sorry,” I say.
“Mmm,” she hums. “It sounded more like your family and friends brought you to this conclusion,” she teases.
“I’ll admit I received an earful, which, if you knew Rhett better, you would find that interesting, but I came to the conclusion all on my own, Ivy. That’s not how I operate, and I shouldn’t have said what I did not knowing if you wanted anyone to know what’s gone on between us,” I get out in a rush. It’s the truth, and I hope she sees that.And by the way, since we’re being honest, I’m kind of your boss. I think, but I still don’t say.
“Besides you spilling the tea to your friend group, I’m not looking forward to facing the wrath of every woman in Silverthorne after your little show earlier,” she says with a gentle swipe to my jaw.
“You noticed?” I ask.
She gives me an eye roll. “Everyone in the bar noticed, Lover Boy.”
“I wasn’t after any other woman’s attention, Ivy. Just yours,” I tell her. She removes her hands from my face, crosses her arms over her chest, and steps back toward her SUV again. She leans against the side of it and looks down at the ground for a moment, then lifts her chin to look at me.
“You probably shouldn’t be doing that,” she says quietly.
“Doing what?” I ask her and take a step closer. Flurries arestarting again, and she looks like an angel in the dim glow of the lights above us.
“Trying to get my attention, Alder. It’s pointless. I’m not going to be here for very long, we’re going to be working together, and, if I’m being honest, you’re not really someone I would typically date,” she says. Her words initially sting, but I recognize denial when I see it.
“It’s just us out here, Ivy. I was there, and that isn’t how it felt that first night. Are you telling me you didn’t enjoy yourself?” If she lies, I’ll know it. The sounds she was making are engraved in my brain for eternity, and there’s no way in hell she was faking it. Any man with a pulse knows the real thing.
