He drove me home in his beautiful BMW and parked at the curb. Being the gentleman he clearly was, he moved to my side of the car, opened my door, and helped me out. My heart started to thud in my chest as he walked me to the front of my building.
Oh, god, please don’t let him try to kiss me.
“Can I see you again?” he asked as his fingers trailed my jaw. His eyes shone down into mine and I swallowed nervously. His other hand moved to the small of my back drawing me closer, and I took a deep breath ready to give him the brush off.
“That’s my woman you’ve got your hands on,” a painfully familiar voice growled from behind me.
My heart felt as though it spontaneously combusted in my chest at the same time my stomach rolled and my knees nearly gave out.
Sal.
“Who are you?” Gavin asked clearly confused, his brows knitted as he peered behind me.
“What the hell!” I demanded, spinning to face the source of all my heartache for the past six months.
And there he stood, looking more beautiful than anyone had a right to. His black hair was longer than when I’d last seen him. It was unruly and as wild as ever, curling slightly at the base of his neck. His dark eyes shone brilliantly on me and I hated myself for wanting to run into his arms. Instead, I latched onto the feral anger I felt toward him and narrowed my eyes. His tattooed, muscular arms were crossed over his chest, and I viciously fought the urge to feast my eyes on the beautiful form I knew I’d find.
Sal clearly didn’t feel the need to fight his own urge, and his eyes swept up and down my frame with a savage expression.
“Who the hell are you?” Gavin demanded again.
“He’s no one,” I bit out angrily, nearly choking on the power of my emotions.
What the hell was he doing here? Suddenly, Scarlet’s call made perfect sense. She knew Sal was back in town. I could have strangled her for not warning me when she had the chance.
“No one? That’s not the impression I got last time I had you screaming out my name, baby,” Sal responded arrogantly.
Oh no, he didnotjust say that. He wasn’t going to stake a claim when I’d finally made a significant step to at least try to move on.
Was he?
“You have some fucking nerve,” I seethed. I felt like I’d just run a marathon, my heart was pounding so hard. But I took a deep, fortifying breath and turned to my date. “Thank you for a great date. I’m sorry about this,” I apologized, waving toward Sal.
“Are you safe, maybe I should see you inside?” Gavin asked, his brow wrinkled with confusion and concern.
“You’ll see her inside over my dead body,” Sal growled. “Or yours.”
Seriously? I tried hard to keep calm and turned to face my date.
“I’m fine. You should go,” I assured Gavin.
Gavin looked between us for a few moments, clearly trying to get a handle on the situation. “Okay, I’ll call you,” he said before glancing again at Sal. He folded himself into his BMW and, with one last look, took off down the street.
I didn’t even glance in Sal’s direction. I pulled out my keys and put them in the door hoping he didn’t notice my hands shaking.
“Baby,” he began, his tone softer now.
“Don’t,” I practically whispered. “Just, don’t.” I shook my head. Then I spun to face him with a question burning on the tip of my tongue. “Are you back because I finally took a step to move on? Is that it? Did Wes call you?” I demanded.
His brow wrinkled in clear confusion. “I haven’t talked to Wes. I’m back because this is where I need to be,” he answered firmly. “I missed you,” he added quietly.
“Go fuck yourself, Sal,” I said bitingly as I opened the door and slammed it behind me.
Chapter 4
“There just wasn’t a spark,” I explained to Jodie, my fellow bartender as I slung drinks the next night. I hadn’t told her a word about Sal.
She’d asked about my date with Gavin and I’d had to fight to recollect how I even felt about it. My mind was full of Sal. The lack of spark with Gavin was the least of my concerns. I hadn’t slept a wink the night before. I felt like the walking dead.