Chapter 15

TAYLA

They were here. Right in this bar. I couldn’t help but wonder if they’d followed me. The guy who’d tried to get my number raised his hands in surrender, and Walker pulled the knife away from his throat, then walked off.

Hayden was looking at me, while Walker’s gaze was fixed on Logan, his expression icy. He flicked his knife closed and slipped it into his back pocket, never breaking eye contact with Logan.

Logan held his gaze.

“I suppose we owe you a thank you,” Jess said.

Ignoring her, I asked Walker, “Why are you here?”

He glanced at me briefly.

“We’re here for the hotdogs,” Hayden replied.

“Right? They’re the best,” Jess chimed in.

“Join us at our table,” Walker suggested.

I looked at Jess, who seemed taken aback. Logan, however, tensed up.

“I recognize you,” Hayden said to him.

“We’re here together. Just the three of us,” Logan replied.

“I wasn’t asking,” Walker retorted.

Damn!

He turned and led the way, and we had no choice but to follow him and Hayden to a booth at the back of the bar.

Walker waited for Logan to slide into the booth first. When I tried to follow, he stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. Jess slid in next to Logan, then Hayden next to her. Walker let me slide in next to Hayden, then pulled up a stool right next to me.

It felt eerily familiar, being sandwiched between Hayden and Walker again.

“Why do we have to sit here?” Logan asked.

“So I can make sure you don’t get into any more trouble,” Walker replied.

I could feel the tension between Logan and Walker and shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

“I need some air,” I said, standing up.

Walker moved his legs to let me pass. I headed for the bar, then out the door.

Once outside, I took a deep breath and rubbed my temples. How had they ended up here?

“Hello?”

I looked up to see a tall man with dark blond hair and chocolate-colored eyes. He smiled at me, revealing a dimple in his cheek, and took a step closer. He was wearing jeans and a black silk shirt, unbuttoned at the top. A brown cord hung around his neck, and a small, dark crescent moon tattoo adorned the side of his neck.

“Can I help you?” I asked, trying to sound firm.

He smiled again, showing off perfect white teeth, and took another step closer.

“Why don’t you join me for a drink?”

“She’s taken!”

Walker appeared and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close. The blond man’s face hardened, and his eyes darkened.

“Raffiel,” he spat.

“Townsie,” Walker replied.

The tension between them was palpable.

“Back in town?” Walker asked.

“Just passing through.”

“Then don’t linger.”

Walker took my arm and led me to his jeep in the parking lot. Hayden joined us.

“Is that fucking Townsie?” he asked Walker.

Walker nodded, his face expressionless.

“Who is he?” I asked Hayden.

“Nobody important. Get in the back, little one,” Walker replied.

Hayden opened the back door for me.

“I can’t just leave Jess and Logan!” I protested.

“I told them we’d drop you off later,” Hayden said, grinning.

I wondered how they’d taken that news. Before I could dwell on it, Hayden grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. He lifted me up and pushed me onto the back seat of the jeep, then closed the door.

He jogged around to the driver’s side, got in, and started the engine. The jeep roared to life, and Hayden pulled away from the bar, tires screeching. I was pushed back into my seat by the speed.

I grabbed my seatbelt and clicked it into place, which made Walker chuckle.

Hayden weaved in and out of traffic as we headed back towards town.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked.

“Home,” Walker replied.

The back windows were tinted, so I couldn’t see out. I usually enjoyed the view from car windows, since I was usually the one driving.

I noticed Hayden kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, and I felt my cheeks heat up. I wasn’t sure why I felt so shy, but maybe it was the way he was looking at me. Like he wanted to devour me.

The ride was silent, and when we pulled up outside their house, I frowned.

“You said you were taking me home,” I reminded Walker.

He smiled at me, a warm smile that reached his eyes.

“You are home,” he said, licking his bottom lip.

He was moving fast.

“I don’t think so. I haven’t even decided if I want to be yours yet,” I told him.

He just smiled and got out of the car. Hayden got out and held my door open for me.

“Let’s have a drink on the deck,” Walker suggested, opening the front door and walking in.

Hayden waited for me to step inside before following me in and closing the door.

“No escape now, baby girl,” he whispered in my ear.

“Who said I wanted to escape?” I shot back, turning to face him.

His blue eyes met mine, and he inhaled sharply before backing me up against the wall. His hand reached out and gently cupped my throat, his thumb rubbing my bottom lip.

I licked the tip of his thumb, and his eyes watched, mesmerized.

“Maybe it’s you who won’t be able to escape me,” I said, feeling bold.

“You’ve had me captivated since the moment I saw you on the dance floor,” he confessed.

A rush of heat pooled between my legs, and I grazed my teeth along his thumb, making him growl low. It was like poking a bear with a stick.

I smiled and stepped around him, finding Walker in the kitchen with three beers in his hand. I walked up to him, took a beer, and took a sip.

His emerald eyes seared into mine, then trailed down to my throat as I gulped down the icy drink.

“Easy there, little one,” he murmured.

I made my way to the sliding door, nudging it open and stepping out onto the deck.

Beer in hand, I strolled up to the railing, gazing out at the ocean.

The evening was growing colder, the darkness creeping in, but the sea remained tranquil and glassy.

I spun around, leaning back against the railing, and found Hayden and Walker both staring at me.

“What?” I questioned when they remained silent.

“Would you be interested in attending a party with us tomorrow? It’s at the mayor’s house,” Walker proposed.

I made a face.

“Not particularly,” I responded.

“We’re actually trying to ask you out on a date,” Hayden clarified.

Oh!

“So, what if I stick around for dinner after I wrap up work here?”

Walker and Hayden exchanged a look before nodding in agreement.

“That sounds great,” Walker confirmed.

Hayden settled into a chair, while Walker approached me.

“I’m going to kiss you, Tayla,” he declared.

He leaned in, bridging the distance between us, and cradled my face in his warm hand.

I shut my eyes at the touch and felt his lips descend onto mine.

A moan escaped me as he kissed me slowly, deeply.

My hand reached out, sliding around his waist, pulling him closer.

Setting his beer on the railing, his arms enveloped me, pulling me tight against him as he deepened the kiss.

The sudden blaring of my phone from my back pocket startled us apart.

I dug it out and saw it was Logan calling from his other line.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Thank god you’re okay,” I heard him exhale.

Walker caught his voice, and his expression hardened.

“Are you alright? Where are you?”

“I’m just grabbing a drink, then I’m heading home,” I assured Logan.

“I don’t like you being with them. Get home soon.”

He hung up, and Walker’s frown deepened.

“What’s he to you?” he questioned.

“My cousin,” I informed him.

“Do you realize he stares at you? A lot?”

“He does?”

“More than a cousin should,” Hayden confirmed.

A shiver ran down my spine.

“I think I should head home,” I decided.

Walker nodded, and I trailed him back to the kitchen.

The car ride home was silent, ending with a simple goodnight as I stepped out of the vehicle.

The front door swung open, and there stood Logan, waiting.