The door swung open behind me, interrupting my inner freak-out. I didn’t turn around—I knew who it was.
“What are you doing out here, babe?”
“I’d like to leave now,” I murmured as I felt him move in close behind me.
He grabbed my arm, his grip gentle but firm as he spun me to face him. “What happened? Did someone say something to you?” he growled. “Look at me, Jill,” he demanded when my gaze drifted to the side. “Nobody fucks with you,” he continued, his eyes blazing with intensity.
“Trust me, none of the energy in that bar was going toward fuckingme,” I muttered.
The confused look on his face might have been cute had I not been so out of sorts. “What are you talkin’ about?”
“Why’d you bring me here, Cal? You had to know your fan club hangs out here,” I demanded.
His brow lifted incredulously. “My fan club?” He barked out a laugh.
I narrowed my eyes, frustrated. “I’m not interested in competing, Cal. Maybe this was a bad idea.” I bit my lip.
He moved in so close that his body was flush with mine. He tipped my chin up. “There is no competition, Jill,” he rasped. “Even if there was, you already won without even tryin’. Now, I don’t know what happened in there, but I can guarantee that this”—his hand moved to grip my ass, pulling me closer—“is a very good idea.”
I couldn’t contain the whoosh of breath that escaped me or the pounding of my heart his touch and words incited.
“It’s a small town, baby,” he continued, telling me something I was already all too aware of. “Maybe some women will get their panties in a bunch that I overlooked them. Might take folks a little while to get used to me having a woman in my life, but they’ll get over it.” He shrugged before his expression turned severe. “And if they don’t, they answer to me.”
He released his hold only slightly, his hands moving to cup my face. “Maybe part of me wanted to make a statement by bringing you here tonight,” he acknowledged. “To say you’re mine. To show you off, since you’re so goddamn gorgeous. But more than anything I just wanted an excuse to hold you close on the dance floor.” He grinned.
I blushed.
“I’ll take you home if you want—to my place, I mean,” he amended. “Or we could say fuck ’em and go finish our beers. What do you say?”
I thought about that for a minute. I knew I was being ridiculous, allowing some young, jealous women to affect my mood. It wasn’t unlike my reaction to Tim, in a strange way. I couldn’t control other people but I could control my reaction. This was the best date I’d ever had and I wasn’t about to be the one to ruin it.
I offered a hesitant smile. “Fuck ’em,” I agreed.
He grinned, wrapping a muscled arm around me and leading me back inside. “That’s my girl.”
We drank, we danced, I caught up with Mack, and Sal when he stopped by. I began to feel part of the club in the way I never had before. Cal’s eyes swept the room regularly, on the hunt for whatever had upset me earlier. Truth be told, I still got a few glares but I met them all with a smile.
“Ready to head home?” he asked when it neared last call.
It was late and I was dead on my feet. I’d also had the time of my life with him. I nodded.
My heart rate spiked the closer we got to Cal’s place. Would he kiss me good night? Would he try for more?
When we walked into the dark house, he flicked the lights on. I set my purse on the couch and wondered what the hell to do with myself.
“You go on and get into bed, babe,” he said, surprising me by looking like he was getting ready to leave.
My brow pinched. “Where are you going?”
“Gonna go get Bubs,” he replied. “It doesn’t feel right, not having him with us.”
Oh my God.
I bit my lip, moved beyond speech at his words.
He stepped into my space, his hand cupping my jaw tenderly. “Be back, baby. Get some sleep, yeah? Set the alarm when I leave.”
He delivered another soft kiss on my lips and with that, was gone.