Page 108 of Huckleberry Hill
“Uh, hi.” Chelsea frowned in confusion, shooting a look at Wade for explanation.
“Come on,” he said to her. “If you beat me, I’ll take you out to dinner.”
She laughed. “What happens if you beat me?”
“I’ll still take you out to dinner.”
The two of them wandered toward the pool table, leaving me alone with Declan. I threw his arm off and glared at him.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded again.
“What am I doing here,” he repeated, raking a hand through his mussed hair. “Million-dollar question.” He pointed to my cider. “Yours?”
I nodded.
He took it and drank the rest of it in a few swallows before setting the glass down with a forceful clank.
“Let’s go,” he growled.
“I’m not going anywhere with you. I came with Wade. I’m having a friends’ night out.”
“Wade is trying to sink his ball into a corner pocket,” Declan said, moving his body so his leather jacket brushed against my hoodie. “And you’re coming home with me so we can fuck the anger out between us. Got it?”
His words shivered down my spine and my belly fluttered.
I put a hand to his chest and pushed him back. He took a step away to give me space and I was able to get off the stool. “How did you know I was here?”
“Muddy told me.”
I closed my eyes and groaned.
“Hadley, you’re trying my patience.”
“I’m trying your patience? Rude.”
“You’ve got two choices. Either you walk out of here and get on the back of my bike, or I carry you out of here and you get on the back of my bike.”
“I thought you didn’t do jealousy.”
“I don’t. This isn’t jealousy. This is—fuck I don’t know what it is.”
“Possessive brute,” I stated, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re being a possessive, stalkery brute, and I don’t like it.”
“We can talk about that back at my cabin. Option two it is.” He bent down and scooped me up and flung me over his shoulder, caveman style.
I squawked and pounded on his back. My cheeks flamed with heat when I realized everyone in the bar was staring at us.
“Have fun, Hadley!” Wade yelled.
I stuck my tongue out at him and then I buried my face against Declan’s back in embarrassment.
When we got out to the sidewalk, I said, “You can put me down now.”
He ignored what I said and continued to walk toward his bike.
“Declan, I drove,” I stated. “I can’t just leave my truck here.”
“We’ll come back for it tomorrow. I need you on the back of my bike, Hadley.” He finally set me down and then gripped the collar of my hoodie. “I need to feel your arms wrap around me.”
