Page 4 of Clashing
Athudfrom the stairs jerked Danny’s attention away. “You all right, Scar?” he called out. “Need help?”
“No, I don’t need help!” came the response. “I’m good.”
Damn. She had a sweet voice. Even yelling, it was sweet as sugar.
“She doesn’t want my help anymore,” Danny grumbled as he snatched another glass to polish. “Every time I offer, it’sno thank you, Dan. I can take care of myself.”
“Sounds like you helped raise her right.”
“I know.” Danny sighed and braced his knobby hands on the bar. “But it’s nice to be needed, isn’t it? I almost miss the days she was a little girl, coming to me with every problem under the sun because she knew I’d take care of it for her. Now, I hear about everything afterward.” He frowned. “She’s not so little anymore, Ryker. She’s grown up a lot. What am I supposed to do about that?”
“Let her be. She still needs you. She’s here, isn’t she?”
He wrinkled his nose. “I suppose, but she didn’t call me when that bastard put her in the hospital. You know what she did?” He chuckled and shook his head. “She took self-defense classes, and the next time he tried to hit her, she hit him harder. I don’t know whether to be proud or pissed she didn’t let me take care of it.”
“A little of both seems fair.” I remembered him telling me about that asshole. I offered to drive with him to handle it, but he refused. He wouldn’t admit that she took after him in not wanting anybody’s help.
A bell from the kitchen drew Danny’s focus. He tucked the rag in his back pocket and went through the double doors at the same time a girl descended the stairs, battling a box bigger than her.
No. Not a girl. Awoman. Goddamn.
I had no plans to hook up, but my pants tightened at the sight of that ass. The jeans she wore weren’t too tight, but they were snug around her ass. Dark brown hair fell in loose curls down her spine, landing above the hem of her jeans, andfuck me. There I was again. Staring at that ass.
What the hell is wrong with you?I shook my head to clear my thoughts as she struggled with the box, ending up on the other side before I saw her face. I prayed she was ugly because God help me if that was Danny’s girl.
Fuck. It had to be. She came from the stairs leading to the room I’d helped Danny load a bunch of art boxes into over the last couple of weeks. Unless she had a friend, she was Danny’s.
The box shifted a few times, and a huff of frustration later, I spoke without thinking. “Do you need help with that?”
The temptress peeked around the box, and all hope of something being wrong with her went to shit. Her mouth opened like an invitation. Her gaze swept over me, and I took the opportunity to return the favor.
My gaze drifted as I took her in, andfuck, was there something to take in. Her tits were as generous as her ass, so much so her shirt stretched over them. A pinch in her waist and hips that flared out gave her that perfect hourglass figure. Curvy and fucking gorgeous.
Before drool slipped out of my mouth, I forced my eyes to find hers. She drew her lower lip between her teeth. I swept my tongue over my lip, imagining what hers would feel like.
“I’m good,” she squeaked. Her focus drifted over me once more, and by the time those big brown eyes found their way to mine, a blush dusted her cheeks. Good to know I wasn’t the only one affected.
“You sure?” I asked, eyeing her. She’d have to lift the package over the bar, and she didn’t have much height to her.
“Yeah, I got it.”
She ducked out of sight, and I leaned over the bar to watch her struggle. The cardboard rose, then dropped. Twice. Like Danny said, she didn’t want any help.
The package elevated again, clearing the bar, but not the register. I sighed when it lowered once more.The hell with it.The barstool scraped as I stood and sauntered over to her. I grabbed the box and hauled it above the bar and register, then set it down on the other side.
“Thanks,” she muttered. “I would’ve had it.”
I shrugged and eyed the hallway. That was most likely her destination unless she intended to carry this box through the entire bar. “Where’s it going?” I asked. My attention returned to her in time to find her biting that luscious lip again, and checking me out. For the second time.
If she was going to be blatant about it, I might as well too.
“Out back to my car. I can get it.”
“Are there more?”
“Yes.” She set her hands on her full hips, and I suppressed a groan. She was a looker. “Like I said, I can get them.”
“I know you can. I just don’t think you should have to do it all by yourself.” I slid the box toward the hallway. “Nothing wrong with accepting a little help, is there?”
