Lead On (Complete)

~ Chapter 6 ~

                She let out a sigh as she nodded, not sure what she was agreeing to exactly.  She knew where her heart laid and the feelings she had, but she also knew herself.  This man had always, and would always, be her everything, but she would deny that if anyone asked.

                “You can talk away, but that doesn’t mean I have to listen you know.”  He looked down at her, at the hint of a smile that was tugging at her lips and smirked to himself.

                “Damn, I have missed your smart ass ways.”  She couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her at his comment.  Yeah, she could give him that.  “Come on, let’s go have a drink.”  He took her hand and led her off the dance floor, the eyes still peering into her back, which caused her to shiver and he took notice of that.  “You okay?”

                “Yeah, you would only think I was crazy if I told you.”  She sat down at their table and took a swig of the beer that Jimmy had left for them.

                “Doubt it, lay it on me.”  She sighed and started playing with the beer label.

                “When everything happened after you left, a lot of the ladies felt like it was my fault.  I think I heard all kinds of names and had all kinds of things tossed my way.  Anyway, many were upset that I let someone like you go.  And now that you are here, still looking sexy as hell,” she said, waving her hand at the ladies who kept glancing their way, “they still want you and I’m getting all kinds of glares.”

                “Nothing of me leaving was ever your fault, you know that right?”  She couldn’t help the shrug that lifted her shoulder.  She knew what he had said, could recall it, but she still didn’t believe him.  Well, at least not on everything.  “No, it wasn’t you Rose.”

                “Jeff, it doesn’t matter.  Everything has been said and done and it’s in the past.  You can have your pick of any ladies in his bar and trust me, not one would say no to you, ring or not on their finger.”

                “No,” he started before he took a long pull of his beer, “not everyone.  And all of them mean nothing to me.  They didn’t then and they sure as f**k don’t matter now.”  He stared at her as she stared back.

                If she was honest, she had always trusted him.  When he said he wanted her that was true.  It wasn’t until he left, went to Austin and she found him in some other woman’s arms that she questioned if she was ever enough.  But no one but her mom knew what she saw.  She couldn’t bear the thought of everyone knowing that shame as well.

                She swallowed hard and finally lowered her gaze, taking another drink from her beer.  His look was unnerving to her, it always had been.  Hell, that’s probably how she always ended up saying yes to him.  He would shoot that liquid gaze to her and she would melt and basically offer herself up on a silver platter.

                “Why do you do that?” she asked him.  He lifted a brow as he reached for a piece of her hair, running it through his fingers before pushing it back behind her ear.

                “Do what?”

                “Look at me with those eyes.”  He smirked as he tilted his head.

                “I still don’t know what you mean, darlin’ but I like that soft look your eyes take in when you look at me like that.”  She blinked a few times and mentally she had to shake her head.  That was how she always got in trouble with him.  “But that look, it’s my favorite.”

                “And what looks is that?”  He took a swig of his beer and leaned close to her ear.

                “When you get angry, your eyes flash and this intense fire burns behind them and it has always been sexy as fuck.”  She felt her heart rate speed up and she reached for her bottle, frowning as she found it empty.  “Let me grab you another darlin’.”  She nodded, still refusing to look directly at him but she watcedh him walk away and over to the bar.

                She also watched as one Bobby Jo walked over to him and placed her well manicured hand on his shoulder to grab his attention, which he gave her only a quick glance.  And Rose watched as Bobby Jo talked and laughed but she saw nothing out of Jeff.  And as bad as it was, that was very comforting.

                Rose shook her head; no, this was not good.  Regardless of what he said, she wasn’t dating him and they weren’t married anymore so he could sleep with whoever he wanted too.  Hell, she was sure that years later, he probably had more than enough women.  She glanced at him and frowned to herself over how good looking he still was.  There was really no wonder why the ladies kept eyeing him and kept sending her death glares.

                And watching Bobby Jo with Jeff now brought up homecoming their senior year where she was queen and Jeff won king.  Jeff hated it but Bobby Jo loved it for she got to be pictured with the best looking guy around.

                Rose laughed to herself and went back to fiddling with the label on the beer bottle.  She glanced up, seeing another female walk over to her and she braced herself.

                “Rose, you look good.”

                “So do you Cheyenne; did you finally get that nose job?”

                “I did.”

                “Looks good,” she offered.

                “Thanks Rose.  So, some of the ladies and I,” she said, waving her hand to the table of ladies behind her, “were wondering if you were back with Jeff?  Or if we could, you know, borrow him for the night?”  A beer slammed down in front of her, making quick work of cutting her off.  She turned her head and looked up at the man standing behind her.

                “No Cheyenne, you may not borrow me.  And though she may not see it yet, I am here for Rose and with Rose and not looking to be with anyone else.”