Chapter 7
1668 Words
Rafe POV
“Drinks at John’s?” Matt, one of my construction guys, asked.
I’d built this company from the ground up—years of long hours and dedication—but it was worth it. Now I was the go-to guy in the county. I could work from the sidelines now if I wanted, but I liked getting my hands dirty. I loved the work.
“Yeah, we’ll meet you there,” Tripp answered.
I looked at my best friend, guilt rising in my chest. All day I had been thinking about his baby sister—and not in the way he would ever want. No matter what I did to distract myself, I couldn’t stop picturing her—those lips, that body, the way she would sound moaning my name, our bodies tangled in a sweaty mess. Seeing her this morning was the highlight of my day. I didn’t understand how she drove me this wild—I’d never felt this way about anyone before. Especially not after seeing her for a fleeting moment, but she was bewitching. I’d even invited her to my house, something I promised myself I would never do. I’d made a rule about keeping girls out of my house—drama always followed, and I didn’t want that where I lived—but her, I wanted her to come. I wanted to see her face when she explored something I had created.
“Do you want to go get changed?” I asked, hoping Tripp would say yes so that I might catch a glimpse of her again. My stomach twisted, but I just couldn’t stop myself; I wanted to see her.
“I’m good if you are.” He answered, dashing my hopes.
The radio came on as I started the engine, filling the void of silence with Alex Warren’s Ordinary. I quite liked this song, but as I listened to the words, they hit me hard. She was out of the ordinary. I mean to say she was beautiful was an understatement. She looked like she had been plucked out of heaven and dropped right in front of me, and now that I have seen her, smelled her intoxicating scent, and heard her sweet voice—it really felt like she had brought me to the light, that before her I was stumbling around in black and white, and now everything felt vibrant. I noticed the beauty in the simplest things. Mikayla completely enthralled me; I just couldn’t stop myself.
“Are you taking anyone to Lucas’s wedding?” Tripp asks.
I glanced at my best friend, pushing down all the thoughts that were swimming through my mind about his sister. I had to stop thinking about her.
“Nah, I will just go alone.”
“What about Alexia?” My brow furrowed. Tripp knew Alexia was a bit of fun; I would never take her to one of our best friends' weddings as my date.
“I’m getting bored with Alexia,” I answer just as I pull up outside John’s.
I glance at my watch; it’s almost 7 o’clock. Today has been a long day; my stomach drops as I realize Alexia will be inside waiting for me. I hadn’t been completely truthful when I told Tripp I was getting bored with Alexia; she’s fun, and she did help me forget about everything for a while, but since yesterday, after seeing Mikayla, the thought of Alexia fills me with self-loathing. I hated myself for going back with her last night, and as much as I wished I had said no and left to go home, I was weak.
“The first round is on you,” Tripp says as he pulls the door open and walks inside.
It’s hot inside, the air thick with body odor and beer.
“Beer?” He nods, flashing me his cheeky grin. I can’t help but smile back.
I make my way toward the bar to get us both a beer while he goes and joins the rest of the guys already here. The bar is already busy, but it always is on a Thursday night. The band is playing a few notes on the stage, getting ready to begin their set, and the loud chatter of all the conversations filling the bar rings in my ears. I spot Alexia on the opposite side of the bar; she smiles and gives me a small but seductive wave. I give her a curt nod, hoping to give her the impression I’mnot interested, but she walks around.
“What can I get you, Rafe?”
Fùck. The way she says my name made something stir inside me. I look back at the bar and can’t help but smile as my lips curl up, seeing Mikayla behind it, waiting for me. It felt like the lights had turned on, and I could finally see the world around me. I had wanted to see her again; I thought I wouldn’t get the chance today, but here she was. My body feels alive, and my heart is beating strangely, but it does that whenever I think about her or when someone says her name. I may have to become a day drinker just so I can come and see her. My body is momentarily frozen as I just take her beauty in, her brow coćked, and I realize she was waiting for me to answer her.
“I didn’t know you worked here.”
Her lips curled up into a smile that made my heart pound hard against my chest.
“It’s my first shift.” Her voice is like velvet to my ears.
“How’s it going?”
“So far, so good, I think.”
As much as I wanted to get lost in conversation with Mikayla, the bar was busy, and I didn’t want her to lose her job after her first shift just because I wanted to talk to her.
“Can I have two beers, please, Darling?”
“Rafe, why did you sneak off this morning?” Alexia says.
My muscles tense, and it feels like something heavy is pushing down on my chest. I see Mikayla’s eyes darken, but she doesn’t do anything else; she grabs two bottles of beer and places them on the bar. Her sweet smile is now gone, and I feel cold without it.
“Anything else?” She asked, her voice seeming colder now. Is Mikayla jealous?
“No, Darling,” I say, giving her the money. My fingers accidentally brushed hers, and my body lit up—sparks racing up my arm, straight to my chest. I quickly turn away, facing Alexia. She used to excite me. Now she looked like every other girl in the room, unlike the vixen behind the bar, who would stand out in any crowd.
“You know I don’t do sleepovers, Alexia.”
She places her hand on my chest and leans close to my ear, sending a shudder down my spine. I can’t see Mikayla, but I can feel the daggers drilling into the back of my head.
“I think we should change that.” She whispered, her breath hot against my ear, and it tickled my skin, making me pull my head away from her.
“I don’t think so. I will catch you later.”
I slipped past her, joining Tripp, Matt, and a few other guys who work for me, but I stand so I can watch the red-haired beauty behind the bar, who keeps glaring at me every chance she gets.
“Since when did Mikayla work here?” I shout over the music so Tripp can hear me.
He shrugs his shoulders.
“Don’t know.”
Her eyes lock with mine from across the room, and it’s like everything blurs around me; she is the only thing I can see.
“What’s wrong with Alexia?” Tripp asks. I glance across the room and see her glaring at me, but I don’t give a fùck about her. What I do care about is Mikayla. She heard Alexia asking me why I left this morning; she knew I was with her.
“She wants more,” I answer.
“Then why don’t you? It’s about time you settled down, Rafe.” I glare at my best friend, confused. He knew I didn't want to settle down; I couldn't see myself being with one person for the rest of my life.
“What?”
“Alexia’s nice,” his voice sounds gruff.
“You can have any girl in here, Rafe—but her.” He points across the bar to Mikayla, making my heart race. “She is off limits; she’s not like Alexia; she’s my baby sister.”
God, I was such a dìck. Tripp knows me better than anyone else; he knows I don’t do the whole girlfriend scene. All he is trying to do is protect his sister from me. My chest feels tight. I glance back and see her moving through the room with a large tub, collecting glasses. She is wearing a pair of jeans that hug her body, and I can feel my blood warming up.
“I know, Tripp, I know Mikayla is off limits,” I repeat, but the words sting my lips and my heart.
She wasn’t just Tripp’s baby sister, not to me—she was an enchantress, and I was caught in her snare, and the more I fought against it, the more I became entangled. I follow her as she moves through the groups of people. I can hear Tripp talking to Matt and Hank, but I can’t concentrate on what is being said.
Then I saw it. A hand reaching out to grab her aśs.
My vision blurred.
Rage shot through me like a lit fuse.
She might be off-limits, but I’d be damned if I stood by and watched some drunk lay a hand on her.
- Writer
