Page 33 of Instant Heat
I dragged a frustrated hand through me hair before me palm smacked down on the hood of me truck.
"Dammit!"
This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go. Fingers spread, I placed both hands on the smooth surface of the hood. Me chin dropped to me chest and a heavy sigh blew over me lips. I had no clue where to go from here.
I liked Raelyn. A lot. But after that little stunt in the bar, it was clear her brother wasn't going to make things easy for us. As much as I was willing to fight for this girl, I wasn't prepared for her to go against her family.
As if merely thinking about her was enough to conjure her up, Rae appeared by me side. The sad look on her face piercing me heart. There was something very wrong with seeing me beautiful carefree Rae looking so troubled.
I reached for her and when she came without hesitancy, I released a breath I had no idea I was holding. Wrapping me arms around her, I held her as close as I could without crushing her.
"I'm sorry." We spoke at the same time.
Bringing me hands up to cup her shoulders, I gently pushed her back. Trapping her gaze with mine, I said,"There's no need for you to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong."
Rae nervously looked over her shoulder at the entrance of the bar. Her bottom lip wobbled just a bit, and she quickly rolled it over her teeth. I hated this. I wanted to curse some more. I wanted to storm back inside and ram me fist into Thatcher Brooks'face.
But what I wanted most was for that sad look on Rae's face to go away.
Taking her chin between me fingers, I guided her gaze back to mine."You're sure you want to leave?"
She took a deep breath; her chest slowly rising and falling with the action."Yes."
We climbed into the truck and a few minutes later I pulled out of the lot. The journey back to Donald's house was made in silence, and it wasn't the comfortable type either. It was obvious that the incident at the bar was weighing on Rae—as it should.
After rolling to a stop in the driveway, I switched off the ignition. Neither of us moved to get out, though. I looked over at Rae who was staring at her hands in her lap and hated myself for being part of the reason her smile was gone.
Reaching over, I curled me fingers around the back of her neck, me thumb brushing along her jaw."I'm sorry your night is ruined."
"My night is not ruined," she said. I wasn't entirely sure if she was trying to convince me or herself."I'm just disappointed that Thatcher refuses to see past his own stubbornness."
"Your brother…" I shook me head."Cic maith se tóin atá dlíth air. The bloodycúl tónaneeds to mind his own damn business."
Rae pulled away from me touch. Her back ramrod straight."Yes, I agree, Thatch probably is whatever name you just called him but," she took a sharp breath,"he's stillmybrother. And I don't want you insulting him to my face."
She was right. He was her family and right now I was the guy shoving a wedge between them. Shite, that was the last thing I wanted."Of course. I'm sorry." Angling me head away from her, I stared at the darkness outside."You should go make things right with him. And you should do it now."
"What are you saying?"
Shifting me gaze back to Rae, I forced the words out."You shouldn't be here with me until you make things right with your brother. Nothing and no one should ever be more important than family."
She gave me a look that might as well have been a punch to the gut."Right… you don't want me here. Got it." There was no mistaking the current of hurt running through her words. Tugging on the handle, she had her door open before I could utter another word.
By the time I got out of the truck, she was already halfway to her car parked in front of the house. Breaking into a jog, I caught up with her and curled me fingers around her arm."Rae, wait. I didn't mean it like that."
"I think you've made it perfectly clear where we stand.
Me hand slid down and wrapped around hers."Don't leave like this."
She cast her gaze to the sky, her shoulders rising and falling with an exasperated sigh"I'm confused. Maybe jumping into this without giving it a second thought wasn't the best idea."
I couldn't blame her for thinking that when the same thoughts had been running through me mind as well. However, just the thought that she might leave and never come back had me breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Rae, please?"
She placed her free hand on top of mine and pried me fingers loose."Good night, Griffin." Taking two steps backward, she spun around and marched to her car.
As I watched her taillights disappear into the darkness, I couldn't help but think I'd lost her before I really even had her.
