I swear I can still feel him on my skin. The press of his fingers into my flesh, the whisper of his lips.
At the bar, Will grabs two beers, and we head to the back to an empty pool table.
“You play?” he asks, reaching for a pool cue.
“I do.” I smile, lifting the bottle to my lips and taking a long drink.
He sets his beer down and passes me a cue. He gets the balls racked and breaks.
“Solids,” he calls out as he sinks the six in a side pocket.
He moves around the table, calculating his next move before lining up a shot and taking it. It’s damn close, but the ball catches the corner and bounces off.
Setting my beer down, I move around the table to get my shot lined up. Leaning over the table, bracing my fingers in the green felt, I take my shot and sink the eleven. I smile to myself, looking for my next one.
I miss my next shot and Will steps up. He leans over the table, facing me. The muscles of his arms bulging, the stretch of his t-shirt over his shoulders, is damn distracting. He catches me staring and gives me a wink with a knowing smirk. Suddenly thirsty, I take another long pull of my beer.
Swaggering toward me, Will crowds me on my bar stool, spreading my knees to make room for his hips. It shouldn’t be as tempting as it is. This boy definitely looks like he could show a girl a good time, but I can’t be the one that tears his family apart. I’m too old for him, can’t give him the family he deserves.
And he’s not Ian.
His good ol’ boy demeanor and quick smile make him turn heads and break hearts. Every girl in the place has turned to look at him at least once. He’s not hard on the eyes and a shameless flirt.
His fingers lift my chin when I scan the room, then he lowers his head toward me.
“I’m sorry, Will, but I’m not interested.” My words are barely a whisper, holding zero power.
“This isn’t for you,” his words are just as quiet a second before his lips brush mine. One hand in my hair, one on my lower back to pull me against him.
I barely hear the roar from the other side of the room, his lips expertly coaxing mine to open for him. Will’s mouth is soft on mine, more teasing than passion filled. My hand raises to his chest to push him away when he’s ripped away from me.
A big smile plays on his kiss-reddened lips as Ian shoves him against the wall, getting in his face.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Ian yells, barely an inch from his brother’s face.
“Not much. Playing pool with my buddy here.” He lifts his chin toward me.
Damn him. Will saw Ian come inside, then kissed me just to get a rise out of him. I shake my head at him, sighing.
“Stay the hell away from my girl.”
Excuse me?
Before I can think it all the way through, I’m off my stool and forcing my way between the boys. “Excuse me? I can do what I want, with who I want. You don’t own me, Ian Rojas. I am not your girl.”
Frustration at my situation has me snapping at him. I wish, more than anything, that I was his girl. My heart aches for him. Bleeds for him. But there are things he doesn’t know.
Ian grips the back of my neck, pulling my body flush against his. Butterflies riot in my belly at his nearness, at the frustration in the set of his shoulders, the passion in his eyes. He wants me just as badly, but he doesn’t have all the facts. He’s still hurt over the way I left.
“You’re mine,” he growls against my lips, making my heart skip a damn beat.
I want it so badly. So damn badly.
A knot forms in my throat, tears once again filling my eyes. “I’m not.”
It’s so quiet in here, I’m sure the entire bar heard the whispered words. I didn’t want this. Didn’t want to do this in front of everyone in town. Tomorrow, there will be buzz in the air as everyone talks about this very second. My back against Will’s chest, Ian gripping my neck so hard I’ll have bruises.
Ian’s eyes dart back and forth between mine, looking for a lie. For anything that will ease the pain I know is crushing his chest.
Just as quickly as he grabbed me, he spins away and stomps from the bar.
My feet are glued to the floor. Everyone is watching to see what happens next. Where’s a damn rainstorm when I need one? Where are my wildflowers to get lost in?
Will’s hand grips my shoulder. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll take you home.”
The bolder on my chest is so heavy. I can’t breathe past it. I’m about to crack and spill every one of my secrets. All I can do is nod, my lower lip trembling as I try my hardest not to cry.
Damn him. Damn Ian Rojas.
The entire drive, I’m sniffling, wiping the tears off my cheeks as they slide from my lashes. Traitorous bastards. Being home is healing in so many ways, but it hurts too.
We end up at Will’s place, a small cabin on the property his parents own. There’s plenty of room at the main house for him, but he wanted his own space. I can’t blame him there. I’ve only been home a little while, and I’m itching for my own space.
“So, you and Ian have slept together since you got back, right?” Will brings me a beer and drops down on his warm leather couch next to me.
I sigh and take a drink from my beer. “Yeah.”
My head flashes to that first night. His voice carried through the rain, and the second my eyes met his, I was a goner. When he touched me, when he took me, my soul was awakened once again. He’s the only man to ever touch that part of me. Frankly, it scares me. I want him so badly it physically hurts, but he deserves so much more than what I can give him.
“What’s your plan?” Will’s question pulls me out of my head.
“For what?”
“For Ian. You obviously want to be with him. What’s the play here?” He takes a deep pull from his beer.
Dropping my gaze, I pick at the label on my bottle. My plan?
“I don’t have one.”
“Do you want to be with him?”
My shoulders drop, the pressure on my chest returning. “More than anything.”
“Then why are you still running?”
With tears blurring my vision and my bottom lip trembling, I speak the words I’ve never said out loud. “He deserves better than me.”
Will doesn’t say anything for minute. He just holds my gaze.
“If you really believe that, you’re an idiot.” He sets his bottle down and leans forward with his elbows on his knees. “Since you left, he’s become a robot. He does the same thing every day at the same time. Nothing ever changes. He’s dated a few women, but he’s never looked at any of them like does you.
“Since you got back, I’ve seen more emotion from him than I’ve seen in the last ten years. He needs you. You are everything to him. You always were. The only thing standing in your way is you.”
Will gets up, taking his bottle into the kitchen. His words replay in my head.
He needs me?
No. I need him. He’s my anchor when life gets rough, but I make him crazy.
“If that’s true, then why did you kiss me? Why do you keep flirting with me?” I stand to face him, needing something to do besides sit here and sulk.
He shrugs, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I like to rile him up. He’s always Mr. Perfect, and when I get the chance to ruffle his feathers, I take it.”