Page 112 of Clashing
As much as we didn’t want to, we needed to be careful. Danny was cleared to work a couple hours a day, so he was in the bar more. Once he left, we either went upstairs or back to my place. It depended on the time. Tammy banned us from having sex during business hours because it was too loud.
Scarlett turned red when Tammy scolded us. While she was embarrassed, I wasn’t. My woman liked to scream, and I liked to make her scream. I never wanted anyone to hear her scream before, but now it felt like a claim.
Tonight, I intended to make her scream a lot because her inner brat was out in full force.
She told me before I left to take the dogs for a run that she wouldn’t wear the skirt I hated her wearing at the bar. Mostly because I hated how much attention it drew to her. She teased me about being jealous but promised she’d only wear the skirt for me.
A lie. A flat-out fucking lie. I returned to the bar and found her in that very skirt. Worse, her low-cut shirt barely managed to contain her marvelous tits, and she refused to change.
I tried to let it go. I really did, but then the flirting began. Flirting with customers right in front of me, along with a mischievous little smile that said,I know I’m driving you insane. If the bar hadn’t been busy, I would’ve hauled her upstairs and forgone the “no fucking during business hours” rule. One guy in particular couldn’t keep his damn eyes off her and I swore she gave him special attention to make it worse.
Although telling her what not to do usually blew up in my face, she was killing me by batting her eyelashes at that motherfucker. Against my better judgment, I grabbed her arm when she passed by. “At least stop with that one.”
She blinked innocently.Pain in my ass.“What one?”
“You know which fucking one,” I snapped. “Cut it out. Why are you flirting with him so much?”
She stuck her tongue out and twisted out of my hold. “Maybe I’m keeping my options open.”
“Fucking asking for it, Scar,” I growled.
She returned to work without sparing me a second glance. It took all my willpower to stay in my seat and not scare the guy off. Watching her flirt with other guys put me on edge. Sometimes, I wondered if she did it on purpose to punish me for not making her mine when I could have.
I startled when someone plopped onto the seat beside mine. Then I internally groaned. Hannah. Scarlett’s friend. The extrovert from introverts’ nightmares. Without asking, Hannah swiped my drink and took a sip. Girl was fucking weird.
“Hey, Ryker. Scarlett said you’re about to rip someone’s head off.” She grinned. “Want to talk about it?”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” I snagged my drink from her. “She’s trying to piss me off.”
“Why do you think that is?”
Maybe because making up is so much fun.Or to punish me. Either way, it’d end the same.
Hannah had this mission to become my confidant. Always asking about my feelings. “This isn’t a therapy session, Hannah.”
“Ugh. You’re so closed off.”
Scarlett paused in front of us, hands on her hips. “Is he bothering you too?”
I scowled at the infuriating beauty. “Yeah,I’mthe problem here.”
Hannah giggled. “You guys are silly.”
“I didn’t know you were coming by.” Scarlett held up a glass. “You want a Cape Cod?”
“No. I’m not staying. I only came to drop this off.” She handed Scarlett one of her favorite jackets. “You left it with Collin last night. We never saw him again, so he gave it to me today to give to you.”
Collin?
Scarlett’s sass dissipated as she avoided my gaze. “Thanks.” She stuffed the jacket behind the bar. “Sure you don’t want a drink?”
“I’m good. I’ll see you two later.” Hannah blew a kiss and skipped for the exit.
Scarlett pointedly avoided my eyes. Turning to the cash register, she flipped through receipts. Redness crept up her neck and face.
I gave her three minutes to speak, and since she didn’t, I did. “Something you wanna tell me?”
“No.” She massaged her temples. “Nothing happened. I didn’t know he was going to be there.”
