Lost Love (Cowboys and Angels #1)(41)

Cord put the shot in front of me. I downed it. He set one more in front of me, and as I picked it up, the hair on the back of my neck lifted.

“Steed?”

Her voice sounded like an angel’s. Putting the shot glass to my lips, I tossed it back, set it on the bar and turned to face her.

Mike stood there with his hand on her back. Paxton took a few steps away from him, breaking the contact.

“Hey, how’s it going?” I glanced over to Mike and gave him a head nod before turning back and facing Cord. I stood, pulled out my wallet and threw some money on the bar.

“I’ll see y’all later!” I called out to a confused Trevor.

When I walked around the barstool, Paxton stepped in front of me, blocking my escape.

“Where…where are you going?”

“Home. Not really in the mood to be out.”

She worried her bottom lip. “Did you just get here?” she asked.

My gaze swung over to Mike. Fucking dick. What in the hell did she possibly see in this guy? City slicker asshole.

“Yeah, enjoy your evening. Mike, good seeing you again.”

Mike nodded, then gave me a fucking smirk that had me balling my fists. I had to take in a deep breath to calm myself down. I really wanted to punch the motherfucker.

Stepping around Paxton, I made my way to the door. Each breath I took felt as if it burned my lungs. My feet were heavy as I made my way out into the cool fall night. How stupid was I to think I could walk back into her life like nothing happened?

I was an idiot for leaving her in the first place.

The lights on my truck flashed off and on as I unlocked it.

“Steed! Wait!”

Turning, my eyes widened as Paxton make her way over to me. She stopped in front of me and flashed that smile I fell in love with so long ago.

“Would you be able to give me a ride home? Corina’s, um, she’s having fun with Mitchell and doesn’t want to leave.”

I glanced back over to the bar entrance and frowned before staring back into those beautiful blue eyes of hers. “You want me to give you a ride home?”

She chewed on the corner of her mouth. “If that’s a problem I’m sure I can talk Corina into leaving.”

Paxton wasn’t leaving with Mike. A sense of relief washed over my entire body, and I let out the breath I was holding.

“No. No, I don’t mind taking you home. Not at all.”

There went that smile again. When she put her hand on my arm, my heart stopped. “Thank you.”

Nodding, I placed my hand on her lower back and guided her to the passenger side of the truck. Opening her door, I waited for her to climb in, but she didn’t. She stared into my eyes.

“I’m sorry about the other day with Chloe, if I stepped over the line.”

I was lost in a swirl of blue. Even in the dark of night with just a few parking lights her eyes lit up.

“You didn’t. She was so excited to win and then they told her what the prize was and her little face fell, it about killed me. She’s been talking about going with you non-stop.”

She beamed. “It’ll be fun.”

I nodded. The urge to reach out and touch her was overwhelming. “I’m sorry about Amelia. For what she told Chloe. And I’m sorry for what I said to you. It was heartless and I didn’t mean it.”

Her eyes searched my face. Bouncing from my lips back up to my eyes then back down again. It was like she was struggling with some deep eternal thought. Finally, she giggled then gave me a wink. “I do like you, so it’s not a lie.”

I laughed. “Well, that’s better than you hating me.”

Her smile faded while her gaze dropped to the ground.

“Let’s get you home, pumpkin.”

Slipping into the truck, she didn’t say a word.

The drive back to her house was silent. It took less than ten minutes, but it felt like a fucking eternity.

My heart was pounding as I pulled up and put the truck in park. Paxton sat with her hands folded in her lap. The weight of whatever she wanted to say was heavy in the truck. The only thing I knew to do was be patient. When it was clear she wasn’t about to, I opened my mouth to speak, but she beat me to it.

“Will you come in?”

Okay. That wasn’t what I thought she was going to say.

“Um.”

She closed her eyes and shook her head. “No. What I mean is, will you let me show you something.”

I wiggled my brows. Paxton let out a soft chuckle before reaching over and hitting me on the leg.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Sure, I’d love to come in.”

I jumped out of the truck and jogged around to the passenger side where I reached my hand out and helped Paxton down. She smiled, and I led the way to her front door.