Page 6 of Fourth Wheel
I don’t dare peek over to see if Dempsey’s watching our exchange. I just hope for the best and shoot my shot.
“I’m not interested in waiting for you to count your pennies or whatever it is bar owners do at the end of the night. I’m ready to go now.”
I turn on my heel slowly, acutely aware of Jake’s eyes on me. If he stops me before Dempsey has a chance to intervene…
“Do you live around here? I’m almost done with my closing tasks. I could give you a ride home.”
Yahtzee. Bingo. Bullseye.Mine.
I brush the hair out of my eyes and turn to smile at my new knight in shining armor.
“You’re sure you don’t mind?” I ask at the same time Jake says, “Seriously?”
Dempsey stops where he stands behind the bar, his gaze shifting between Jake and me. He’s doing that little brow-scrunch, like he’s trying to work out what he’s missing. That’s the one thing I don’t want him to figure out before I get him out of this bar.
“Why not?” he finally levels at Jake. “She’s a friend of yours, right?” He turns to me before giving Jake a chance to answer. “Do you live far?”
“I’m staying at my parents’ house. It’s only a few minutes past the train bridge,” I offer before Jake can insert himself again.
Dempsey nods and gives me a little half smile. “I just need to grab my keys.”
He moves out from behind the bar, and I hustle to catch up. Partly because I’m eager to see what happens when we don’t have a stupid tree trunk between us. But also because I need to get away from Jake. I don’tthinkhe’s figured out that Dempsey doesn’t know who I am, but I have absolutely no intention of letting him be the one to spill the beans.
Dempsey makes his way down a dark, narrow hallway, and I follow, although I’m not sure he realizes he isn’t alone. We walk past the bathrooms toward a metal cage filled with bottles. He stops abruptly, and I smack right into his back, letting out anumphof surprise.
Just as I teeter, he spins around and grasps my forearms.
“Careful, princess.”
His hands are big enough to encircle my wrists completely, and even though it’s dark, I can feel his eyes boring into mine. We’re standing close enough to share breath. He’s leaning forward so his chest is almost pressed to my ear. I can practically feel his heartbeat in my own body.
“I’m parked out front,” he whispers, his words warm as his aura washes over me.
He’s still grasping my arms. I’m still leaning in, desperate to get closer. I feel tiny in his arms. His aftershave smells deliciously expensive. God, he’s just my type.
“Okay,” I whisper back, willing him to kiss me right here in this dang hallway.
He chuckles darkly at that. I’m being way too obvious, but I don’t care. “We’re going to have to walk back through the bar and out the front door if you want to be alone with me.”
I squeeze my thighs together at his bluntness. There’s no way I was imagining our chemistry all night, but it still makes a girl feel good to know she’s nailing her target.
“Okay,” I repeat, practically panting as his fingers skim up my arms, grip my shoulders, and gently turn me around.
“Lead the way, princess,” he croons in my ear.
Chapter 4
Dempsey
“Comeon!”shecallsover her shoulder as she practically skips into the crosswalk toward the town center.
“Hey! You didn’t look both ways!” I holler like an overly concerned dad as she strolls into the street without slowing her pace.
Like a little blond fairy, she flits around, making my brain work overtime as I track her movements and consider all the naughty things I’d like to do to her tonight.
Before I can catch up, she stops in the middle of the crosswalk and spreads her arms wide. She’s so fucking pretty standing there in her white skirt and fitted black tank top. I’m overwhelmed by the urge to pull her against me and never let go.
“No one’s out in Hampton at this time of night. It’s just you and me, Dempsey,” she declares, spinning around in a circle with her face tilted toward the sky.
