Touching Scars(76)

My hackles rose. His inflection indicated something so much more than a change in my appearance. He was letting me know, in not so many words, that he enjoyed the way I looked. I had to break eye contact with him. If I didn’t get out of there soon, I was going to lose all mental ability to not go ballistic. The bile in my throat made another attempt to come out.

Looking anywhere but at Adam, I said, “Well, I have work to do.” Turning to Timber, who looked completely perplexed by the exchange he’d just seen, I spoke quickly. “I need to make sure everyone is still good down there.” I tipped my head to the opposite end of the bar where they were sitting.

He put his hand up to cup my cheek. My eyes shot over to Adam who was watching us. His jaw was working back and forth. Oh, God, please don’t say anything!

“Kat, eyes.” I looked back to Timber. “You okay with this? Whatever went on between the two of you is history, okay? I promise he won’t stay long, but I need to hear you say the words.”

I couldn’t tell him what I really wanted to say, which was to get that fucking piece of shit out of my bar. It was so close to the tip of my tongue, but instead I said, “It’s history. Go visit with your friend.”

He kissed my temple. Despite his clear reluctance, he walked back around to where Adam and Slim were. I turned to look at both men. It was like looking at an angel and a devil sitting side by side. One who brought peace into my life, and one that brought misery.

I began mindlessly wiping down the same glasses I’d already taken care of earlier, trying my hardest to keep myself distracted from the conversation behind me. Timber cleared his throat a few times to get my attention, but I couldn’t muster turning around. One look at Adam was one too many.

I lost track of time. I had no idea how long they had been sitting there and I’d moved aimlessly around behind the bar, keeping my distance. At one point, Slim stood up and walked down to where I was standing and said a cheerful goodnight. Did I reply?

In the short time that the monster had been here in my presence, a million questions had formed in my head. Did Timber know that Adam was the owner of the company? If he did, why didn’t he say something? In fact, why hadn’t his name ever been mentioned in past conversations between my Uncle Roger, Slim and me? It all just seemed so odd to me. And it didn’t go unnoticed to me that there was no coincidence that, out of all the oil fields Adam could own, he owned the one that I had family working on? Little pieces of the puzzle were slowly fitting together and I realized that this was how Adam had kept tabs on me. All this time, I thought I had run far enough away, when really, I hadn’t. He’d known right where I had been all along, and he’d made sure he’d kept me within reach.

A loud barking laugh came from behind me, and my shoulders rose. The glass I’d been wiping fell from my hands and clattered to the floor. Thankfully, it didn’t break, but it still got the attention of the two men I was trying to ignore.

“Shit!” I bent down to pick it up.

“Kat, are you alright?” Timber’s concerned voice reached my ears.

I turned to look at him, avoiding the other eyes that were staring at me. “Yeah, I’m fine. It just slipped, that’s all.” I needed an excuse to get away to collect myself again for the umpteenth time tonight. “I need to use the ladies room. Be right back.”

I didn’t give him time to respond before I shot past him and made my way into the dimly lit hall that housed the restrooms. Darting inside the single toilet room, I stood in front of the mirror to stare at my reflection.

I hardly recognized myself. My face was pale and there was a sheen of sweat across my upper lip. I swiped my fingers under my eyes to collect the dampness that had collected there and then leaned forward to get a better look. It was no wonder Timber was overly concerned. I didn’t look well. For the past hour, I’d been fighting the need to evacuate the contents of my stomach, and it just became a losing battle. The thought of Adam sitting next to Timber right now, and the possibility that he’d tell him, made me retch. Side stepping the sink, I fell to the floor with my hands braced on either side of the toilet and threw up. Each heave of my stomach shook my whole body. I had no idea how I was going to continue to play it up that I was okay, when I so wasn’t. Timber had learned to read me like a book, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to hide this from him.

He’d have to know the name.

I spewed again violently, coughing until every muscle hurt. My eyes were watering and I was barely holding myself up. When I felt like I had nothing left in me, I stood on shaky legs and went back to hang my head over the sink. I cupped my hands under the lukewarm water and splashed it on my face. I felt disgusting. Timber was no doubt going to come searching for me, but I decided right then that I needed to head up to my apartment and crawl into bed. There was no more pretending or functioning for me tonight. Timber would know everything before the night was through.