GOLDIE(14)

Rory threw her a warning stare. Hailey stirred her drink. “I guess I’m just tired. The shop’s been so busy.”

Taking her hand in his, he squeezed it. “I know how that goes.”

“And it’s the damn heat. You probably got overheated at the restaurant, and now it’s freezing cold in this bar. It’s not good for your body to go from one drastic temperature change to the next.” Troy brought his bourbon and seven to his lips.

“I don’t think that’s it. Hailey’s been running the floral shop and going back and forth to the rehab center to see her aunt. That can be exhausting. And she’s at the shop six days a week,” Rory said.

Hailey nodded, but her mind wasn’t on the conversation—it was on the sexy guy’s mouth sucking her nipples while his fingers dove into her. “Oh.” The small moan escaped through her lips, and heat rose up her neck as all three of them stared at her. If she wasn’t so mortified, she’d have busted out laughing over Rory’s tight-assed expression. She gulped her vodka tonic, then picked up her purse.

“Ladies’ room?” Rory said tensely.

She shook her head. “Home. I’m really tired, and I have to open the shop in the morning.” She pushed her chair back. “I had a really nice time. Thanks.” Smiling at Brent, she stood up.

He jumped to his feet. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay out a little longer?”

“I’m sure. Thanks for dinner.”

“I’ll walk you to your car.”

Ignoring Rory’s disapproving look, she walked out of the bar with Brent at her heels. When she got to her car, he gently turned her around. Staring into her eyes, he said, “I had a great time. I’d like to see you again.”

Dread weaved up her spine. I hate this part. He’s a nice-enough guy. “I’m so busy right now.”

“Lunch, coffee, a quick drink. We can even agree that we’ll only go out for an hour. I’m pretty flexible. I just want to see you again.”

Shit. “Okay. Give me a call and I can see what my schedule looks like.” Chicken.

Brent’s eyes lit up. “Great. I will.” He leaned in for a kiss, but she turned away and his lips landed on her cheek.

She pulled away and opened her door. “I’ve gotta go. Thanks again.”

“I’ll call you,” he said as she pulled away, and she didn’t doubt for a minute that he would.

On the way home, she took a detour past the tattoo shop. As she approached the parlor, she saw three men standing outside. Slowing down, her breath caught when she saw him. Without thinking, she pulled into a parking space and shut off the engine. Gripping the steering wheel, she took several deep breaths. This is insane. I need to go home. Right now. Looking in her rearview mirror, she saw him talking with two other buffed men who were dressed similarly in jeans and leather vests. He took a drag on what she thought was a joint and exhaled, wisps of smoke floating around him. As if sensing something, he turned in her direction.

With her insides quivering, she switched on the ignition and drove away.

By the time she arrived at her house, she’d calmed down. Grateful that she hadn’t made an ass of herself, she parked in the garage off the alley and walked through the yard. Inside, she changed into her cotton nightshirt, poured a glass of wine, and curled up in one of the cushy chairs in the sun-room.

There was a full, bright moon, and glimmering stars freckled the ebony sky. As she sipped her wine, images of him played out in her mind. She knew she wouldn’t get much sleep that night, her mind too active with thoughts of him. I should stop all this nonsense and try to find someone best suited for me. Brent wasn’t her type, but she figured there must be someone in Alina who was and wouldn’t be a heartbreaker.

Maybe I need to just forget all this and concentrate on the shop and Aunt Patty. If someone is meant for me, we’ll find each other. She laughed. Now I’m beginning to sound like Rory.

The truth was things didn’t turn out like the storybooks. Many jerks had confirmed that for her.

She took another sip of wine.

Yeah. It was going to be a long night.





Chapter Five





Sitting in his pickup truck a couple houses down from where Hailey lived, Goldie lit a joint and took a long drag. He’d been parked watching her house for the past half hour. It pissed him off to no end that he was doing it, yet he was still there. What he hoped to see was beyond him. I’m nothing but a damn stalker wanting a glimpse of Hailey. This is so fucked.

Ever since the previous night when he’d almost kissed her in the hallway at Chianti’s, he’d been obsessing over her. She hadn’t made it easy on him when she drove by his shop and parked nearby. He’d thought for sure she was going to change her mind as he watched her sitting in her Buick, but when she’d pulled away, he regretted not going over to her. He wanted just one taste of her lips, then he’d move on and forget about her. He could do that. He’d done it with all the women in his life. Some of the chicks made an impression on him, but not enough for him to stick around too long. Leaving women didn’t even make him break out in a sweat, so he had no doubt he could forget Hailey in the sweet embrace of another chick with chestnut brown hair.