“Come here.” Nate eased her into his arms, unwilling to let her pull away this time. He was at a loss. Caught off guard by Liberty’s admission, he didn’t know what to say. He just held on as her body trembled against him. Unable to help himself, he placed a kiss on her temple, hoping he was offering some comfort. Her lavender scent was even more potent than when she arrived.
To Nate’s surprise, Liberty buried her face in the crook of his neck and wrapped her arms around his waist, gripping the back of his shirt as if it were a lifeline. She felt so perfect in his arms. How many times had he dreamed of holding her again, talking late into the night about their future, or just being in her presence? But not like this. Not with her crying and sharing some disturbing revelations.
Liberty sagged against his chest, and her sobs quieted. “I can’t believe I let you make me cry.” She tried to laugh, but it came out more like a whimper.
“I’m sorry,” Nate murmured close to her ear. “You’re right. I’ve been a total ass and—”
“Nate, will you tell this bonehead th…” Martina slid to a stop just inside the office with their cousin, Liam, hot on her heels.
Liberty stiffened in Nate’s arm and then tried pulling away, but he didn’t let go. Martina had the worst timing ever. A carpenter by trade, she worked closely with his brother in overseeing many of the company’s jobs. Liam was the architect in the family. He mostly worked from home, but came into the office once or twice a week.
“Well, what do we have here?” Martina smirked. Nate glared at her. She was a pain in the ass on most days, and he had often threatened to kill her. Right now he was more tempted than ever.
“MJ, what did I tell you about barging into my office? Whatever you guys want, it can wait. Close my door back on your way out.”
“Actually, I’d rather stick around and find out why you’re hugged up with—”
“We’re outta here.” Liam grabbed Martina’s arm and pulled her out of the room, closing the door behind them. Nate could still hear them arguing in the hallway, which wasn’t unusual with Martina around.
“I apologize,” Nate said to Liberty, releasing her when she pushed against his chest. “Apparently I need to start locking my door.”
Barely able to look at him, Liberty flashed a wobbly smile and went to her bag. “I should go. I wish I could say that I’ve never been so embarrassed in all of my life,” she mumbled on a shaky exhale. “Unfortunately, this is the story of my life.”
“What do you mean?” Nate still had so many questions.
She shook her head and waved him off. “Never mind. I’m sorry about…everything. I didn’t want to hurt you, Nate. Please know that nothing happened between Isaac and me while you and I were together. I wasn’t…I didn’t…I wasn’t with him while I was with you.”
Knowing she hadn’t cheated on him with Isaac should have made Nate feel better. All it did was create more questions. Questions he couldn’t ask her while she was in this condition.
“I won’t pretend I understand exactly why you walked away, or what you’ve been through, but I’m sorry…again. I’ve been a complete jerk.”
“I’m sorry too for blowing up and…and I shouldn’t have slapped you. I have never done anything like that before.” Her hand flew to her mouth to hold back a sob and more tears pooled in her eyes. He felt bad that he had provoked her, especially since she was so upset about hitting him. “I’m not sure what came over me.”
“I deserved the slap. I shouldn’t have said those things to you. As for all that you’ve told me, seemed you needed to get a few things off your chest.”
“Maybe, but I shouldn’t have…not like this. Not here.”
True. It was never a good idea to bring personal issues to the work place, and he hated the way he’d acted. There had definitely been a better way to handle the situation. Had he not been acting like a damn fool, he would have suggested they meet for lunch or go somewhere to talk. They had never fought before, always able to talk through their disagreements. The only good thing that had come from her break down was that he had needed to hear everything she’d said. Now what to do with the information was another story.
“I know right now my word means nothing to you, but I promise going forward I’ll be totally professional,” he said.
“Thanks. I’ll call you in a couple of days to set something up.”
He was almost afraid to let her leave, fearing that she’d disappear again. “If I don’t hear from you soon, Liberty, I’ll contact you.”
She hesitated for a moment and then nodded. When she rubbed her head, and glanced around as if not knowing what to do or say next, Nate asked, “Are you sure you’re okay to drive?”
“I’ll be fine, thank you.” She started for the door, but stopped and pulled an envelope from the side of her bag. “Oh and um…happy birthday.”
Chapter Six
“Ca—can I get another one?” Liberty asked, holding up her empty glass. She set it down when the bartender acknowledged her from the end of the bar with a nod.
A co-worker had told her about Teddy’s Bar & Grill, saying it was a good place to drink and think. After the day she’d had, Liberty had no intention of thinking, only drinking which was a new experience. On occasion, she had a glass of wine, but hadn’t had any hard liquor since a frat party she attended in college. After one drink and watching her roommates party to the point of throwing up, Liberty had vowed then never to get drunk.
Yet, here she was, at the point of having one too many, but not caring. She wasn’t driving, and she still had her faculties. One more drink wouldn’t hurt. Besides, it beat going home and staring at the TV. All that would lead to was her thinking about a certain tall, dark, and handsome man who she made a fool of herself in front of earlier. Nate probably thought she was a total loser. Only a loser would marry one man when she loved another, right?
Liberty shook her head. “Too little, too late.”
Maybe a few more drinks could dull all of her senses. Heck, if there was a way to wipe her memory, she would go for it.
“Bartender!” she called out again, glad to see him making his way back to her.
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” he asked. He looked like a badass rocker, with a little scruff on his face and long, dark blond hair pulled into a ponytail at his nape. He had the prettiest hazel eyes Liberty had ever seen on a man. “How about some coffee instead?”
“I haven’t even got a buzz yet. I think I can handle a couple of more. Just keep them coming.”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. You might not be falling-off-the-barstool drunk, but you’re slurring some of your—”
“Go ahead, Jaz. Give the lady another one on me. I’ll make sure she doesn’t drive home,” a man said. He was casually dressed with fair skin, freckles around his nose, and a crooked grin. Sitting on the barstool next to her, his smile widened.
“Yeah, Jaz. Give me ano—another one. I wo—won’t drive,” Liberty slurred. “I can’t. My car di—died.” Yet another reason to drown her sorrows with alcohol. If she didn’t have bad luck, she wouldn’t have any luck at all. Lately whenever she took two steps forward, she got knocked back four. She wasn’t sure what she’d do about her car situation now. Only paying nine hundred dollars for the vehicle, more items didn’t work than did, including the radio that only turned on when she hit a bump. At least the vehicle had gotten her around for a while.
“All right, one more, but I’m keeping an eye on you.” Seconds later Jaz set a whiskey neat in front of her.
“Thanks,” she said and then turned to her new friend and lifted the glass. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m Bruce, by the way, and you are?”
“Just a per—person tryin’ to forget her tro—troubles.” Liberty sipped her drink, uninterested in conversation.
Bruce didn’t take the hint. For the next twenty minutes, she heard stories about his multiple printing stores, the house he was having built, and the ne
w car he had outside. If he thought those things would impress her, he was mistaken. She was so over stuff. If she ever opened her heart to a man again, it would be for love. Not money or material things.
“We’re practically best friends considering the amount of time we’ve spent together. Are you ever going to tell me your name?”
Liberty shook her head. She was done with men. Staring into the amber liquid she recalled some of the mean things her ex-husband had done to her over the years. And then there were the lies. The awful lies he often spewed about her being an addict. She had never touched drugs in her life. Even when times were unbearable, indulging in narcotics was never a consideration. Neither was alcohol.
But tonight, Liberty just didn’t care. She wanted to wash all the bad memories away.
She slammed back the rest of the whiskey then closed her eyes, wincing at the burn in the back of her throat.
Dang that’s strong.
She pushed the drink away and rested her head on her forearms on top of the bar.
“Are you okay?” Bruce asked.
No, she wasn’t okay. Had she stopped at the strawberry mojito before switching to whiskey, maybe her head wouldn’t be swimming, but no. She just had to take the edge off of her lousy day.
Instead of admitting to Bruce that she probably wasn’t okay, she said, “I’m fine.”
“Want another one?” he asked.
Liberty opened her eyes, but closed them again when the room started spinning. Okay, maybe tossing back the rest of the drink had been a bad idea.
*
“Here’s to another year of life, bro,” Nick said tapping his beer bottle to Nate’s glass of scotch. Cheers went around the table as the other men followed suit. Despite not being in the mood for partying, Nate was trying not to ruin the evening for his brother. He and Nick were celebrating their thirty-sixth birthday with a few guys, mostly their cousins. Normally they’d be sitting around a poker table talking trash on a Friday night. Instead, they stopped off for a drink after dinner to wrap up their celebration.
After work, some of his family had met at his parents’ house. For as long as Nate could remember, his mother had insisted on cooking him and Nick a celebratory dinner on their birthday. Even at their age, they looked forward to their mother spoiling them with their favorite dishes and catering to them on their special day. Once dinner was over, the guys had suggested they stop by Teddy’s Bar & Grill for a couple of drinks.
Unfortunately, Nate couldn’t focus on the lively bunch. Ever since Liberty strolled in and settled at the bar, his attention had been on her. From the moment she walked out of his office hours ago, he’d been worried. Mentally kicking himself for letting her leave when she was still upset. He had called her twice, each time getting her voicemail. Now, there she was sitting across the room drinking more than she probably should.
What he really wanted was to talk to her, question her more about some of the things she’d mentioned in his office.
“Do you honestly think I wanted to leave you? Walk away from what we had? Leave the only man I’ve ever loved?”
Her words rattled him. Did that mean that she had never loved her ex-husband? The snippets she’d given him of the last thirteen years of her life weren’t enough. Even more questions about her plagued him. Nate didn’t know how or when, but he planned to get answers.
“I thought you two had kissed and made up. How long are you going to sit here staring at her?” Nick asked, talking loud enough to be heard over the latest Nicki Minaj song thumping through the speaker not too far from their table.
Nate didn’t have to ask who Nick had been talking to. Not only was Martina a pain in the ass on most days, but she was also the busy-body, know-it-all in the family who inserted herself into everyone’s business.
“Yeah, Mr. Lady’s Man. Put us all out of the misery of your funky attitude and go to the woman. You know you want to,” Jerry taunted. “Hell, I still can’t believe there was a woman out in the world who managed to get our boy to let down that guard around his heart. I know many a woman who has tried.”
His cousins and brother continued talking about him and his serial dating behavior as if he wasn’t sitting there. Nate didn’t care. He could admit that he had only ever loved one woman. It wasn’t until the past year or so that he noticed his dating habits. After a few outings with a woman, he soon tired of them and moved on to the next. Even though he desired marriage and a family, he was careful never to lead any of them on if he didn’t feel a connection soon after they started dating. Now he wondered if he would ever love another woman the way he once loved the one sitting on the other side of the room.
Without taking his gaze from Liberty, Nate brought his scotch to his lips. The slight burn of it going down his throat did nothing to squelch the desire to go to her. After her break down in his office, he was pretty sure she’d had enough of him for one day. But like back in college, whenever she was near, his senses went on high alert. Like a homing device, his gaze had always zeroed in on her. Tonight was no different.
“Okay, birthday boys, what else can I get you guys?” Frenchy, the server asked.
Many of the Jenkins family were regulars and like the staff knew most of them, the family knew the staff. Usually whenever Nate stopped by Teddy’s, Francesca, who preferred to be called Frenchy, was there. She was an accountant by day and a barmaid at night.
“Rumor has it Jerry’s buying this round.” She winked at Jerry, knowing she would get a rise out of him.
“Come here, girl,” Jerry said, pulling her to his side, his long arm going easily around her thick waist. “Who told you I was buying the next round?”
“I just figured it was your turn.” The server whispered something in his ear, and with the wicked grin on Jerry’s face, Nate could almost imagine what she was promising his cousin. Frenchy, a plus size woman who always looked pulled together, knew she was Jerry’s type physically. He only dated thick and curvy women. Yet, no matter how much she flirted, Jerry never asked her out, which baffled Nate. Jerry was a player and proud of it, chasing anything in a skirt, especially if she sported wide hips and big legs. Frenchy fit the bill.
“Frenchy, when you’re done talking dirty to my cousin, I need a favor,” Nate said, his attention back on Liberty and the man sitting next to her.
“Anything you want, honey. Since your cousin ain’t giving me no play, I’m all yours.” She moved away from Jerry and batted her long, false eyelashes at Nate. He couldn’t help but chuckle. She didn’t quit. She was determined to snag her a Jenkins man. Her words not his.
Nate stood slightly. He lowered his voice and moved close to her ear. “Tell Jaz to cut off the woman over there,” he nodded toward Liberty, “the one with the white blouse talking to the bald guy. I’ll cover her tab.”
Franky shook her head. “Always the boy scout, huh, Nate? Looking out for another damsel in distress.”
Nate didn’t take offense to the boy scout comment. He never liked to see a woman taken advantage of and considering the number of drinks Liberty had consumed, that’s exactly what could happen if she wasn’t careful.
“All right, I’ll tell him.”
After taking his cousins’ orders, Frenchy sauntered to the bar. Jaz, the bartender, glanced at him while she whispered in his ear and gave a slight nod in Nate’s direction.
Liberty had been at the bar for the last forty minutes and was on her fourth drink. Yes, he had counted. She might have changed over the years, but Nate had a feeling she wasn’t a drinker. At least she wasn’t one when they attended college. Then again, there was so much he didn’t know about her. But considering she was struggling to keep her head up, no doubt she had reached her limit.
“You, my brother, are a bleeding heart,” Nick said, nudging Nate with his arm. “If you’re so worried about the woman, go over there and take care of her.”
“Maybe I wi…”
Nate’s cell phone vibrated in his pants pocket. Pulling the device ou
t he glanced at the screen and groaned.
Angel.
“I’ll be back,” he said to Nick who waved him off.
Angel had been blowing up his phone for the last couple of days and he had finally answered one of her calls last night. He thought he had made it clear, again, that he wasn’t looking for anything serious with her.
“Hello,” Nate answered against his better judgment and slid past a few people to get somewhere quieter. He stopped near a back booth where no one was sitting.
“Nate? Can you hear me?”
“Yeah, I can hear you. What’s up?”
“Where are you?”
“Out. What do you want, Angel?”
“What do I want?” She chuckled, the low cackle grating on his nerves. “I want you. Why don’t you stop by tonight?”
Nate shook his head. “Angel, we talked about this. I won’t be stopping by your place. You won’t be stopping by mine. I think it’s best we move on. Go our separate ways. Date other people.”
She sighed dramatically. “Nate, we have a good time when we’re together. Why can’t we hang out and see how things go?”
Nate glanced across the room at Liberty, thinking about the connection they once had. “Angel, I’m looking for something serious and I don’t think I can have that with you.”
“I want a serious relationship, too. That’s why I’ve—”
“Angel, I’m sorry, but I’m just not interested in you. I don’t know how else to make you understand that.”
“You haven’t even…”
Nate stood straighter, tuning out anything else Angel said. Jaz had caught his attention. Waving from the bar area, he pointed to where Liberty had been sitting.
Unease crept through Nate’s body when he didn’t see her or the guy who had been hovering over her. Nate’s gaze searched the small dance floor and he didn’t see her, but movement to his right caught his attention.
Even after all of these years, seeing another man’s hands on Liberty was like taking a punch to the gut. He had no claims on her, but at the moment he wanted to decrease the space between them and yank the bastard’s arm out of his socket.
Proposal for Love Page 5