Page 35 of Small Town Firsts
“Ashamed of me?” He tipped his head and those killer eyes blazed.
“What? No. There’s nothing to be ashamed of because we’re just colleagues. Not that anyone will believe that after today. Gillian will be sure to push that information far and wide.”
“I don’t know who that is.”
“The super-hot brunette hostess.”
“I only saw the super-hot bartender.”
“Stop.” I poked him in the belly. “Now you’re just being ridiculous. No one can miss Gillian—and if they do, she makes sure that doesn’t last for long.”
“And who cares if she does?”
“The Taproom is the first time I’ve managed anything. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m not taking my job seriously.”
“Okay. I get that. But why would that make a difference at the restaurant?”
The laughter was easier now. “You really don’t know how small towns work, do you?”
“Gossip, all right. I get it.”
But he really didn’t because this didn’t matter to a man who had his level of confidence. He didn’t know how it felt for all the eyes to be on you and for the whispers to chase you.
Because I’d been whispered about for the last five years. And none of the whispers had been kind.
Trash.
Liar.
Thief.
TEN
RONAN
I WON’T BE A MISTAKE
The pain shimmeredin her golden eyes. While her moonflower scent teased under the sticky sweet cherries and sharp citrus, I could tell whatever was going on with her was about more than just a shitty drunk guy hassling her.
Carrying her out of there might not have been the best idea, but I wasn’t sorry about it. Seeing her take out that frat boy with such ease had given me a moment. First—hot. Very hot. Secondly—the fact that she probably knew from experience how to put a guy down was what made me see red.
The bitterness got under my skin to fester.
I hadn’t even thought about how others would look at us. I’d just scooped her up and then I needed to keep my arms around her. As if it was more important than anything in my brain in that moment.
What the hell was this woman doing to me?
More importantly, what was going on inherbrain? And would she let me in enough to find out?
I coasted my thumb over her cheek. Her skin was like silk and her hair a heavy fall of wild around her shoulders.
I could distract her. Indecision swirled in the amber of her sunset-colored eyes. She seemed a little lost—so unlike the ball-busting woman I’d come to know the last few weeks.
The urge to bundle her up again was strong. Instead, I leaned in and gently laid my lips on hers. She tasted of cherries and salt from the heat of the day.
Her fingers gripped the tailgate and I wished they were around me. Instead of dragging her under, I coaxed. A taste, a tease, a breath-stealing sip from those full lips wasn’t enough.
I was pretty sure it would never be enough.
