Page 31 of Clashing

Chapter twenty-three

Not Mine

Ryker

G etting Nat help took way too long and especially ticked me off because she tried to seduce me again.

I let it slide because she’d been a friend since high school, and I felt bad for the situation.

Vulnerable, hurt people rarely acted logically.

Her mom promised to make sure Nat did what needed to be done.

It sucked to pull her mom into it, but Nat couldn’t stay in that relationship.

It was a disaster already, but violence was too fucking far.

I barely slept once I got home because another bounty I needed to chase was in the area.

After a couple hours of rest, a friend called saying they saw him leaving a gas station not ten minutes from my place.

This particular motherfucker had beat up his boyfriend to the point the guy was in the hospital.

Then he didn’t show up for his hearing. I won’t be gentle with this one.

Catching him wasn’t difficult. The cocky type who beat their partners never were.

The asshole pulled a knife, but I saw that coming.

It didn’t take me long to have him cuffed and enraged in my trunk as I drove to the police station.

Conrad was pleased when I stopped by to pick up the check from the last time.

He tried to chat, but I wasn’t in the mood.

There was only one person I wanted to talk to.

I stood outside the bar for a good several minutes. She always worked Saturdays so there was no way I wouldn’t see her. Inside, my heart palpitated out of control and every step took effort. Planting my ass on my usual seat, I glanced around the bar and spotted the new guy working but not Scarlett.

Shit. Was he working with her and Tammy or taking over for Scarlett tonight? I glanced around once more, searching for those beautiful dark curls. Something hard hit the bar, and I turned, finding Francis beside me.

“She’s not here.” His clipped tone raised my eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you be with Nat?”

“I wasn’t with Nat.”

“You went home with her.”

“Not like that.” I scowled. “She had trouble with her husband. The asshole hit her. I talked sense into her. I didn’t fuck her. I came here yesterday to talk to Scarlett, and Nat showed up.”

Francis grimaced. I cocked my head, and he scratched the back of his scalp. “Uh . . . from other viewpoints, it looked like you picked her up and took her home.”

Oh no . No fucking way. “Scarlett wasn’t here.” I almost fucking passed out with how little my body wanted to function. “I watched for her.”

“She came in around the time you two left.” Francis winced. “Then Danny told her about you two. Including that Nat’s married. Said you fuck like rabbits.”

“For fuck’s sake.” I dropped my head to the bar, then thudded it against the surface several times. With the rabbits comment, Danny? Really?

Francis clapped me on the back. “Sorry, man.”

“It’s fine.” I massaged my temples. “She’s not unreasonable. I’ll tell her the truth. Where is she?”

“She went out with friends. She said so last night. Ryker, she was really upset. I’d approach carefully.”

“Of fucking course.” I dug the heels of my palms against my eyes. “I’ll wait for her.”

“She was going out drinking, man. There was talk that she may not make it home tonight. She might stay with some girl named Hannah.”

“Great. Perfect timing. Thanks, universe.”

“You were really going to talk to her?”

“Yeah.” My heart rammed against my ribs. “Is she working tomorrow?”

“As far as I know.”

“Fuck.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and Tammy approached with my scotch open. “Fill it up, please.”

“He told you?” Tammy asked.

I groaned. “You too?”

Tammy folded her arms across her chest. “Did you have to bring Nat here in front of her? I’d be thinking of ten ways to castrate you if I were Scarlett. You may have rejected her feelings, but you didn’t have to flaunt your other fuck buddy in front of her.”

“I didn’t fuck Nat,” I snapped. “I helped her with something with her husband. God damn you two.”

“Oh.” Tammy’s shoulders lowered. “Yeah, it looked terrible. And Scar seemed really upset. I honestly don’t know how Danny didn’t pick up on it.”

Francis scoffed. “Danny’s been oblivious to these two since the beginning.”

Tammy lifted a shoulder. “Maybe he subconsciously knows and doesn’t want to think about it.”

“That’s enough.” I gulped my scotch and reveled in the burn down my throat. “Go away.”

Tammy cleaned out a glass. “You better hope she doesn’t hook up with Collin tonight.”

Francis tensed.

My blood simmered. Collin? “Who the fuck is that?”

“Some guy her friend was talking about when she picked her up,” Tammy said. “Her friend is weird, by the way. Cute, but weird. She said the dress Scarlett picked out was going to make Collin salivate over Scar more than he already does.”

“Uh-oh.” Francis looked up to the heavens, as if they could save this man if he touched my Scarlett.

“Do we know where they were going?”

Both shook their heads, and I gripped the glass tighter.

“You shouldn’t have taken so long to do something about her.” Tammy ground her teeth. “I love you, Ryker, I do. But you messed this up. She’s good for you and you pushed her away.”

“Stop being my shrink, Tammy.”

She rolled her eyes and strolled off, leaving me frustrated, irritation prickling the back of my neck. Scar wouldn’t hook up with someone else already, would she?

She might if she thinks I have. Fuck me.

Regardless, I stayed as late as possible, hoping she’d show. Tammy let me stay after closing while she cleaned but Scarlett didn’t come home. At three thirty in the morning, I finally left. I called her all night, but she never answered. I texted her but received no response.

Images of her with whoever Collin was played on repeat through my brain. Collin. Stupid fucking name. I didn’t doubt he’d salivate at whatever she wore because that damn girl could make a potato sack look good.

I went home, but the likelihood I’d sleep knowing she was out and possibly with a guy? Yeah, that wasn’t happening.

I tossed and turned all night, not falling asleep until the fucking sun rose. I’d never thought about a girl this much. That was the problem and for whatever reason, I’d decided I wanted to make it a bigger problem by keeping her in my life. My mind’s a mess.

I got up later than I wanted to after sleeping so long and took the dogs for a run before I left. By the time I got to the bar, the stupid NBA playoffs crowd was there. Thankfully, Tammy always kept my seat closed off.

As soon as I entered, I scanned the bar for Scarlett. My search ended at a corner table where she dropped off drinks. She had her hair in a loose bun and wore sinful booty shorts and a low top that fit her figure. God , I missed seeing her like that. It’d been ages since I’d seen her normal.

I made my way to my seat, and she turned with her empty tray, headed to the bar. She didn’t notice me at first but when she did, her lips pursed and she whipped her head away, not giving me a second glance.

I stretched over the bar as she passed. “Scar.”

Nothing. No acknowledgement.

Tammy patted me on the shoulder and left a drink in front of me but for the first time possibly ever, I was uninterested in it. Scarlett avoided passing me as she loaded drinks onto a tray and took them to another table. Then another. All right, fine. Ignore me.

She couldn’t do it all night. I bided my time until she had to linger by me to access the cash register.

Determined eyes remained glued on that register. She tapped the screen, posture tense while I leaned on my forearms over the bar.

“I need to talk to you.”

“I’m busy,” she clipped.

“Scarlett, come on. You’re not going to let me explain?”

“Explain that I told you I had feelings for you, and you flaunted your other fuck buddy in my face?” She finally faced me, hands planted on her hips.

“No, Ryker. I don’t need a fucking explanation for that.

And in case you’ve forgotten, this,” she gestured between us, “isn’t a thing anymore.

Nor will it ever be. So, you don’t owe me an explanation.

Fuck someone else’s wife to your heart’s content.

” She stalked off before I could respond and I clenched my jaw.

It hadn’t looked good, but she could give me a fucking chance.

If every stool and chair in the place weren’t occupied, I’d grab her and make her listen.

I flexed my hand and stayed where I was, reminding myself that getting frustrated wouldn’t help.

She and I had a bad habit of colliding tempers at the worst moments. Always clashing.

She bustled around and I remained silent so she could get her work done. As soon as it died down, I’d talk to her, and she’d understand. She had to. I missed her so fucking much. Her pissed at me was better than nothing.

Sort of. She wouldn’t refill my drinks and blatantly flirted with any guy who gave her eyes. So pretty much all of them. Only once did she spare me a glance and maybe I shouldn’t have glowered at her because she flipped me off on her way to flirt with another customer.

Damn her. She knew how to push all my fucking buttons, and she was pushing them all at the same time.

A piss was a good excuse to leave the bar and take a breath. Both of us angry at each other was a recipe for disaster, and I wanted to make up. Bring her home with me tonight and make the dogs’ night, then make her and my night.

Don’t be an asshole. Handle this maturely. I returned and Tammy refilled my drink. Thank God. I needed it to endure douchebags eyeing Scarlett’s cleavage all night.

My mantra to remain patient faltered when she returned to the register. Fuck , I didn’t want to wait until it slowed down. I wanted to clear the air, but she wouldn’t look at me.

She turned her back to me and I scrubbed my hand over my face.

I’d never fought with a girl like this before and didn’t know how to fix it.

If I were upset with her, all it’d take for me to forget it was a blow job.

Something told me this wasn’t the right time to ask her if I could lick her clit until she wasn’t mad anymore.

“Hey, you good?” Tammy approached, gaze flicking toward me as she addressed Scarlett. “You want a break?”

Thank you, Tammy.

“I’m good.” Scarlett dropped a lime in one drink then poured vodka into another. “I don’t need a break.”

“I heard your favorite artist is having a show a couple hours away.” Tammy typed on her phone. “Are you going?”

“I wish. It’s ridiculously expensive and at this point, it’s probably sold out.” Scarlett’s shoulders deflated. “Maybe when I’m not paying for an art class. It would be a dream to go.”

My phone buzzed. Tammy: You’re loaded. Buy tickets to Cath Riley’s art show and take her. She can’t say no to that, upset or not. The artist is way too important to her.

I owed Tammy big time.

They moved on with their drink trays and I tried to get tickets, but Scarlett was right.

Sold out. But I knew people. I might be able to work something out.

Even if I couldn’t, I had to talk to her tonight.

I couldn’t stand this tension. Couldn’t stand her thinking I’d treat her that disrespectfully.

An opportunity arrived when the crowds died out. Scarlett returned to the register and my heart thudded. Waiting until she was off her shift flew out the window. I stretched over the bar and closed my eyes at the smell of her perfume, the warmth of her body close enough to touch.

“Scarlett, I didn’t sleep with Nat last night.”

She stiffened and sent me a doubtful glare.

“I didn’t. I swear I didn’t. I wouldn’t do that to you, sugar. I’ve never lied to you and I’m not about to start.” Well, except that one time about not feeling anything for you.

Her expression softened a fraction, but she refocused on the register. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. It’s none of my business,” she muttered, tearing off a receipt. “You’re not mine to feel jealous over.” The last part was barely audible under her breath as she stalked away.

After dropping off a check and taking an order, she breezed past me into the kitchen. Groaning, I dropped my head into my palms. You could’ve avoided this if you hadn’t turned her down the first time. Idiot.

“Rough night?”

The unfamiliar voice dragged my attention to the right, and I resisted the urge to curl my lip. I hated nosy people.

“Something like that.” I tipped back my glass, swallowing a gulp.

“You served?” He pointed to the Marines tattoo on my arm with the years served underneath it.

“Yep.”

“So did my brother. Same years almost. What battalion and platoon?”

“1st Battalion, 109.”

“Ah, he was in 1st Battalion but a different platoon.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I don’t suppose the last name Loughty means anything to you?”

“Loughty.” My eyebrows shot up. “Not . . . Phillip Loughty?”

He grinned. “That’s the one.”

“Phil’s your brother?” I asked. He nodded. “That must make you Collie.”

“I’m not a fan of that nickname.” He rolled his eyes, but the grin remained intact. “I can’t believe the bastard carried that nickname through his term.”

I chuckled. “He did say it was to piss you off.”

“So, you do know him?”

“Yeah. We worked a couple missions together. How is he?” I rotated on my stool to face him. “He didn’t actually go through with that winery thing, did he?”

“He’s good. He did, actually.” Collie laughed. “Yeah, he’s doing all right with it. Bought a vineyard off this older couple over in Napa Valley. He loves it. Keeps him busy.”

“That’s great. Next time you talk to him, tell him Harding says hello.”

“Harding.” Collie cocked his head. “Ryker?”

“He’s mentioned me?”

“Yeah, he says you saved his life!”

“It wasn’t just me.”

“Still, dude.” He clapped me on the back. “You’re part of the reason my brother made it home. Let me buy you a drink.”

I started to answer but Scarlett walked in from the kitchen and her mouth fell open. “Collin?”

His grin turned a little too friendly as he focused his attention on my girl. “Hey, Scarlett.”

Collie.

Collin.

Oh, fuck .