Page 24 of 2204 Hunter Lane
“I happen to be that gentleman,” I shot, slamming a crisp twenty on the wood. “Payin’ for his too.”
He met my stare and snagged the twenty, moving away from my presence.As he fuckin’ should.
“Thanks for the drink, Hunter. I can’t say I’m into the sweet stuff.” Said Cookie, Cracker, fucking what’s his face.
“Really?” I jeered. “Thought you’d love that shit.”
I turned right back to Bambi and slid the drink in her direction. “Drink up, buttercup. It’s good for you.”
She kept her arms crossed, alerting me to the most sinful part of her skin. “I don’t like whisky.”
“Well that is a damn shame.” I cupped her glass and downed it in one gulp, revelling in the sweet taste of poison.
“You’re gon’ get a lot of attention tonight, bartender’s right. So eyes on me sweetheart, you got that?” I commanded, wiping the remnants of whisky off my lip.
“What the fuck is your problem?”
Twice.
Twice now she’s asked that.
And both times I couldn’t give a sane answer.
What the fuck is wrong with me? Why was I acting like I gave a damn when I hated everything this girl stood for? Her attitude, definitely needed a fuckin’ reality check. Her lifestyle, anything but humble. Everything about her… fuck everything about her.
“Enjoy the evening.” I muttered, stealing Cracker’s fruity cocktail as I turned away.
Waste of time.
I passed Kenton on the way back to my booth, his eyes planted on Bambi’s seat as he strode towards the bar door.
I placed a firm hand on his chest, halting his movements instantly. “If you’re lookin’ where I think you’re looking, we’re goin’ to have ourselves a problem.”
And I walked my dumb ass away.
My dumb ass that lost control.
My dumb ass that just made a fucking fool of myself to Bambi.
And my dumb ass that hated her guts for a reason I couldn’t explain.
Her walk, her talk, the way she smiled, the way she sat there like this was her home. Like she didn’t just belong somewhere else twenty-four hours ago. A whole new life, surrounded by fancy cars and money and shiny shit. And now she was living in my town, helping Payton with her business, staying here for God knows how long and I’d just have to watch.
So that’s what I did.
I watched her all night; flirting with Cracker, eyeing up strangers, making friends, while I drank myself to oblivion and stayed in my damn lane.
Chapter Eleven
Marley
Iknew Hunter would be here but I didn’t realize his presence would be so authoritative.
Eyes on me sweetheart…As if I’d be freaking staring at him.
But I was. Only because I could feel his heavy gaze on me the entire night.
You know, for someone who hated me so much I didn’t understand his approach to conversation.
