When Hearts Collide (Complete)

~ Chapter 16 ~

                Jackie walked Sam to Rachel’s mom’s car and leaned in the window to talk to her, waving to Rachel who was also in the backseat.

                “Dylan’s friend, Jordan, will be staying the night soon, not next week because I’m working, but thereafter, maybe Rachel could come over as well?”

                “I think that would be great.  We don’t have plans until closer to the end of summer.  Just let us know when Jackie.”

                “Thanks Paula.  Have fun girls.  And let me know if you need anything.”  Paula glanced over as the door opened and Bobby walked out, her breath catching.

                “Maybe I need to come have a drink later.”  Jackie laughed and waved the car off then made her way into the bar.  She paused as Bobby lifted a crate full of bottles and she had to smile.  She needed to talk to him, to figure out why he would say anything.  And what exactly had he said because whatever he said triggered something in Sam.  And to her, that was totally changing her thought about being alone.

                She looked around, no one coming in yet and she let out a breath.  She needed to let go of the anger from last night.  Bobby wasn’t hers and she knew that, so did she have the right to get upset?  No.  However, just because she thought that didn’t mean it was helping her feelings.  She let out another sigh and then grabbed some of the bottles that were sealed and started opening them.

                “Are you okay?”  Jackie jumped slightly as the voice came from behind her and she turned to look at him.

                “Lost in my own thoughts.”

                “All okay?”  He leaned against the bar, arms crossed over his chest and her eyes drifted over both his arms and that chest and all of her naughty thoughts came back to mind.  Mentally, she had to shake her head.  Oh, she really needed to stop going there with those thoughts.

                “Uh, yeah I think.”  He lifted a brow and gave her a smile.  “I owe you an apology, Bobby.”

                “Why?”

                “Last night after…”

                “Our kiss?”  She blushed and pushed her hair back and he took notice of how those locks looked being all down in their glory and he thought how damn sexy that red would look against his black pillow cases, all so red and fanned out.

                “Well, no, that was totally amazing.”  Those words from her brought a prideful feeling to his chest.  She licked her lips and blushed even more.  “I meant that afterward, when you kissed the other chick, I might have been a little more upset then I should have been and was maybe a bit more rude than I should have been as well.  And you have you own right to do anything with anyone.”  He took a step closer and she quickly stopped her rambling and tilted her head back to look at him.  She rather liked that he was quite a few inches taller than her.  Her ex was around the same height and she had hated it.

                “Jackie, I like to hear that jealous tone, it makes me feel great, I won’t lie.  And you had every right to be upset.  I maybe a d**k in a lot of ways, but I have never jumped from one woman to another in the same night.  She literally came onto me and kissed me.”  His fingers brushed over her cheeks and he smiled.  “Believe me, the last thing I wanted to taste last night was your lips on mine.”

                “Uh,” she cleared her throat, not sure what to say to that, her cheeks burning up.  Why would he ever say anything like that?  Granted, she liked, ok no be honest, she loved that he had just wanted her but hadn’t they talked about this?  Maybe they needed to work something else out.

                He grinned, a small dimple coming out that she hadn’t noticed before and she almost fell.  God damn, could he please stop being so sexy?  He was killing her!  Although, he quickly turned around, giving her a moment to compose herself as a few customers walked up.  He helped them and she let out a low breath before going back to the bottles.

-----

                Three hours later, Jackie finally looked up and around, the crowd busy and intense, although slightly slower than normal.  Bobby tossed a bottle in the trash and walked over to her when they finally got a break.

                “Damn, does this bar ever slow down?”  Jackie laughed and looked at him.

                “This is slow.”

                “No, boss lady, this isn’t.”  She flung the towel over her shoulder and glanced around again.

                “I have empty tables and a couple of empty bar stools, it’s slow.”  He laughed and she let the sound wash over her.  “You haven’t had a break, go ahead.  I can hold down the fort.”

                “You sure?  I’m going to go grab some Chinese real quick.”

                “Oh, can you grab me some Sesame chicken and I’ll pay you when you come back?”

                “Sure.”  He hung his towel back along the wall and quickly headed over; once he was sure she was okay.  Granted, everyone had drinks before he left and they hadn’t gotten anyone in 20 minutes. 

                He placed the order, thankful they were still open and that no one was there.  Not that he knew Jackie couldn’t handle it, but he just didn’t want to leave her alone for too long.  After sitting at the table for ten minutes, he got up as his order was called and grabbed it, thanking the guy and headed back to the bar.  And as he was walking in, he saw the same young guy from last week talking to Jackie.  His hands clenched and he wanted to say something, but he couldn’t.  So he walked over and put the food down, smiling at them both.

                “What do you say Jackie?”

                “Tony,” she said, shaking her head, “I already told you I needed to think about it.  It’s not like I have a lot of time for dating,” she said, waving her hand.  Those few words gave Bobby pause and the bottle of beer quickly slipped from his fingers, causing her to jump.     

                “s**t, I got it Jackie.”  But he knew her well enough, and she was done talking to the little punk, and he was quite okay with that.  He grabbed the broom and started sweeping up, his eyes straying back to the other guy.  Maybe he should tell Jackie to go on the date so she could see how wrong Tony was but how right Bobby was.

                “Are you okay?”  Bobby nodded as he tossed the glass.

                “Yeah, just lost the grip.”  Bobby nodded to the guy who was with his friends.  “I think should say yes,” Bobby told her.

                “I don’t bounce from guy to guy, you know.”

                “I know, but I think it would be good for you.”  She glanced over and nodded, although he had no clue if she would say yes.  Part of him hoped she did, part of him hoped she didn’t.  But that was only because he wanted her and didn’t like to share very well.

-----

                He helped her toss everything and lock up then he waved bye to her as he headed up to his place.  And once he was in his room, he walked over to the window, watching her as she locked up the front door and headed to her car.  She quickly and safely got in, started it and waited. 

                He knew she was fine, so he was curious why she was waiting.  After a few more moments of waiting, the car turned off and she was getting out.  He pulled away, grabbing his keys and wallet, ready to help her if she needed, but a knock on the door made him pause.  He slowly opened it to find Jackie standing there, a soft smile on her lips.