Page 12

Caleb

I really don’t want to fucking go out tonight, I think to myself as I get out of the truck, meeting Theo in front of it.

But it was my turn to drive, and after he busted his ass last week to make sure Sierra’s house was done in time, I owed him one.

I can hear the music from the bar in the street, and I hope it’s not a long night.

I’m fucking exhausted, and I’m also fucking pissed that Sierra shut me down again.

It’s like I’m a glutton for punishment regarding her.

The more she tells me no, the more I want her.

It’s almost as if the universe is fucking with me when I walk into the bar, I quickly sweep the room, and my eyes find her.

She’s holding up a glass to a guy. He must be someone new that works with Emmett since they are sitting at a table with a bunch of the ranch people.

Two tables are pushed together as they talk across the table at each other.

Most of them laughing at what one person is saying.

Her eyes find mine, and instead of lingering there, I turn away from her, pissed she said no to dinner with me, but then even more pissed she’s sitting at a table having a drink with someone else.

“Should we stay at the bar or do you want to grab a table?” Theo asks me, probably not realizing what is going on.

“Whatever,” I answer, walking into the room as he heads straight to the back, bypassing all the tables.

We stand at the end of the bar. I put my hands on the top, waiting for the bartender to approach me.

I feel eyes on me, but I’m afraid to look over and find she isn’t looking at me; it is all in my head.

“What can I get you?” the bartender finally asks me when he makes his way over to our side of the bar.

“I’ll have a beer, whatever you guys have on tap is good,” I tell him as he nods and turns to Theo.

“I’ll have the house blend,” Theo adds, and the bartender turns away, heading to fill our orders. “So we going to talk about it, or just pretend she’s not here and you are seething?”

I look over at him. “I’m not seething,” I scoff. “I’m fine.” I turn back to face the front instead of turning to the side and taking another look at her.

“The vein in your forehead looks like it’s about to explode.” He smirks as he leans on the bar, putting his elbow on it. “Dude, what is with her that has you so gone for her?”

“I’m not gone for her,” I deny to him and stop when we both look over as we hear laughing and see Lilah pull Emmett up to dance as he shakes his head no.

But he wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her to him anyway.

My eyes quickly go from them back to Sierra as she brings the glass to her lips and takes a sip of it.

The server is at their table as she leans into the new guy, I try to remember if I have seen him around or been introduced to him.

Her hand goes to his elbow, and she smiles up at the server and holds up two fingers.

Then she looks back at him saying something, and they laugh at something.

My hands flex into fists the longer that I stand here and watch.

“Okay, so maybe we should get out of here,” Theo says, and my eyes go back to him.

“What? Why?” I ask him at the same time the bartender puts the drinks in front of us. I pick up my beer and lean against the bar like Theo is, facing him. Taking a deep pull of the cold beer, forcing myself to act like I’m fine.

“Because it looks like you’re about to start this brawl, and it’s just the two of us and like fifteen ranch people.

So I don’t usually do math, but the odds are not in our favor.

” He brings the glass of house blend to his lips, hiding the smile, then looks at the door.

He motions with his chin so I turn and sees Brock coming in, holding Everleigh’s hand.

“We might be three, depending on if Brock is in a good mood, but most of the time, he hates everyone, so he’s a draw. ”

I look over and see Brock walk by the ranchers’ table, holding up his hand as a hello before he comes to the bar.

He looks right and left before coming toward us.

Both of us watching him to see if he’ll pick coming to stand with us or opting to sit in the corner by himself.

With Brock it’s always a toss-up. “He might be on our side,” Theo mumbles, taking another pull of his whiskey.

“Evening,” he says to Brock, who just grunts.

“Hey, Everleigh.” He looks around Brock to say hello to her, which earns him an even bigger glare.

“I’m just saying hello,” Theo retorts. “I know she’s yours.

” He pushes off from the bar. “You think I would be stupid enough to try to pick her up in front of you?” He shakes his head.

“I like to breathe and live.” He takes another sip of his whiskey, turning to the side probably to see if there is anyone else that he could go and talk to.

It was supposed to be his night to let loose and I can see he’s on edge.

“Ignore Grumpy McGrumpers,” Everleigh advises. “He’s just pissed I made him take me out tonight instead of staying home and hibernating on the couch.”

“I also said we could hibernate in the bed.” He turns to her, arguing his point. “I basically named every single other place in our house but here.”

“Be still my heart.” She crosses her hands over her heart.

“He’s so romantic,” she says sarcastically.

“Anyway”—she smiles—“how are you all doing? How was your day?” My eyebrows shoot together, and I'm actually afraid of getting throat punched by Brock if I answer. I look at Theo, who shakes his head, not willing to answer either. “Ugh, you guys are the worst.” She shakes her head. “I’m going to go and sit with some girls.” She puts her head back, getting on her tippy-toes before leaning in and kissing his neck before walking away.

“Great,” he groans and moves between us, “now she’s not even with me.”

“She’ll come back,” I tell him, slapping him on the shoulder trying not to laugh at the big man sulking that his woman went to say hello to her friends, “or you’ll find her.” Theo and I both laugh while he glares.

“What the fuck are you two doing here anyway?” He looks at both of us.

“It’s Friday night and we’re both single, so where the fuck else would we be?” Theo fires back, looking around. “I mean, it’s not like I can meet anyone at work.”

Brock turns to me to find out what my excuse is.

“I’m only here because it’s my turn to drive or I’d be home on my couch,” I confirm to him, at the same time I look over at the door and see Frankie, Dominic, and Nino walk in.

“We might be able to take the ranchers now.” I motion with my head toward the door.

Brock’s eyebrows shoot together. “Why are you taking on the ranchers?”

“Because this one,” Theo explains, looking at me, and motioning with his head, “is pining over the new girl.” He points over his shoulder toward where Sierra was sitting but is now standing as she dances with Everleigh doing some line dance thing.

“And the new rancher was sitting beside her, and they were talking.”

“Did you ask her out?” Brock asks me.

“I did,” I admit, and Theo gasps. “Asked her to have dinner with me. She obviously said no.” I pick up the beer in my hand and take another pull. It feels like acid going down my throat.

“Yikes,” Brock says, “maybe you’ll rub off on her.”

“Thanks,” I deadpan and stop talking when the guys make it to us. “Hey,” I say, not wanting to continue the conversation about Sierra. “Thought you guys were going back home for the weekend.”

“Nah,” Frankie says, “we decided to stay and work.” I smile proudly, nodding my head.

“Now, that is what I like to hear.” I slap his shoulder. “Drinks are on me.” I squeeze his shoulder as the bartender comes to us. “But only one. I need you guys in tip-top shape tomorrow.”

“I’ll take a case of the house blend,” Frankie jokes with him. I laugh at him, picking up my bottle of beer and looking over to see a couple of the ranchers are also up and dancing, especially the new one. He and Sierra are side by side as they laugh at themselves, trying to follow the moves.

“The worst thing you can do,” Brock cautions from beside me as Frankie, Dominic, and Nino go to the other side of Theo, “is sit here watching her every move. That’s like some sort of torture.”

“I’m not watching her,” I deny. “I’m scoping out the bar.”

He throws his head back, and his bark of laughter fills the room. Everleigh smiles at him and stops dancing to watch. “I had that same look on my face when I saw Everleigh with Emmett dance once.” My head nearly gets whiplash from how fast I turn my head toward him. “Wanted to rip his throat out.”

“I got the message from her loud and clear,” I admit. “She’s not interested.”

“Doesn’t make it easier.” He takes a pull of his own beer.

“It’s fine.” I shrug, pretending it’s not bothering me. “How are you doing getting me more equipment?” I ask, and he side-eyes me.

“Deflection,” he notes, chuckling in his glass as he takes a sip.

“I’m president of that club.” I roll my eyes, but he gives in and changes the subject.

The two of us talk about the different cranes I’m going to need for the barn roof that has to come off.

Everleigh comes over, hugging him from the back as she pants from dancing.

“Having fun?” he asks her when she takes his beer and drinks whatever is left of it.

“Yeah,” she replies, trying to catch her breath. I look over my shoulder and spot Sierra walking out of the bar. My eyes go to the table, seeing the guy sitting and talking to a couple of people.

“I’ll be back,” I state, pushing away from the bar and zigzagging my way out of the building.

I turn to look to the right and then to the left, not spotting her anywhere.

I turn to walk around the building when I see her leaning against the side of the bar, facing the parking lot.

Her head tilts back against the building with her eyes closed.

“What the hell are you doing out here alone?” I bark at her, and she jumps, her eyes flying open as she looks over at me.

I walk toward her as she puts her hand on her chest right in the middle. “Fuck, Caleb,” she hisses as I come to stand in front of her, “you scared the shit out of me.” The dim light from the corner of the building lets me see her eyes just enough.

“What are you doing out here all alone?” I practically hiss at her. “It’s not fucking safe. Lilah just got kidnapped.”

“Well, that guy is behind bars.” She straightens from the wall. “What are you doing out here?”

“I saw you come out here,” I admit to her.

“So you followed me?” she asks me.

“Yes.” I don’t even skip a beat as I answer her. “Damn straight.”

“Why?” she asks, standing straight.

“To make sure you were okay.” My voice is low as I try to control my hands and keep them from doing something we both might regret.

“I’m fine.” Her voice is as low as mine, her chest rising and falling faster than a second ago. “As you can see.”

“Yeah, I can.” I take a step closer to her, the front of our shoes touching. “More than fine if you ask me.”

“Caleb,” she says, and I don’t know if it’s a question or a plea, but the way she says it makes everything in me snap. My hands fly to her face and slide into her hair, gripping it in my hands.

The feeling is like silk in my hands. Pulling it back, I make her head go back to look at me.

“You drive me fucking crazy,” I admit to her, lifting my one hand from her hair and softly holding her chin in it.

“Fucking crazy all the fucking time.” I’ve never, ever felt this before.

This woman has the ability to make me do things I would never do.

Like pin her against a fucking building after seeking her out, even after she has shut me down more times than not.

“Why is that, Sierra?” My hand moves from her jaw to the side of her neck, as my finger finds her pulse and I feel it going as fast as mine.

“I don’t know, Caleb.” Her eyes look into mine.

The minute she says my name, no, the second she says my name in almost a moan, it’s gone.

Every string that I had to hold on t, to keep myself in tack, snaps.

And I’m falling, free-falling off the edge of the mountain, and she’s the only one who can stop me from falling.

My head advances, and she pants right before her eyes close, and I smirk, knowing she wants this as much as I do.

Her parted lips give me the in I need to slide my tongue into her mouth.

Her tongue slides with me, and it’s even better than I thought it would be.

It’s fucking heaven. It’s probably even higher than what heaven is.

She arches her back and pushes her chest into me as her hands fly to my head, running her fingers into my hair and staying there.

I push her back into the wall. Our mouths don’t break apart, but instead, my head moves to the other side to get the kiss even deeper.

My hand moves from her neck down her shoulder, to her arm, and farther to her hip, where I grip her.

The kiss is full of heat, full of wanting, full of fucking everything.

Our tongues fight with each other, wanting the other one to give in.

Our heads move side to side after a couple of minutes as we try to get the kiss even deeper than it is.

I let go of her mouth only to trail my kisses to her jaw.

“Fuck,” I murmur as I suck in the side of her neck as my tongue slides over the vein while I suck it, then going back to her lips.

“Sierra,” I say her name, and this time, it’s her who comes in for a kiss, making me stop talking.