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Guardian (The Guardian Trilogy)

Page 27

by Sara Mack


  “Sounds like she was a very wise woman.”

  “Well,” he hesitates. “She was in most things.” He winks at me.

  I sense there is another story there.

  Dane looks over at the dancing couple. “Care to join them?”

  Yes! my mind answers, but “Um, no I don’t think so,” comes out of my mouth.

  He nods like he knew that was coming. “Promise me one thing,” he says, looking directly at me.

  “What’s that?”

  “I get one dance with you before you leave town.”

  That’s a weird request. My brow furrows. When will we be somewhere together to dance? Probably nowhere. But then again, I never imagined us in this particular place tonight.

  He looks at me expectantly, tilting his head in anticipation of my answer.

  “Okaaay,” I fake annoyance. “I promise.”

  He seems satisfied with this. He finishes his beer and sets the glass down. “Ready to go? Or would you like your other half a Coke?” He points to my barely touched drink.

  I pull the cherry out of the glass and eat it. “Nope. Ready to go.” I put a $20 on the bar to cover our drinks and Long John’s tip. It’s probably way more than necessary, but he did dress up my lame order.

  When we reach Dane’s place, he asks me to pull alongside the building instead of parking. He’ll get out by the door.

  “Thanks for tonight,” I say sincerely. “I really needed it.”

  He smiles. “You’re very welcome.” He opens the door and steps out of the car, then peeks back in. “You owe me a Go Kart rematch and one dance.”

  I shake my head. “I only committed to the dance.”

  He grins. “Just making sure you remember.”

  Chapter 34

  It’s been four days since I started back to work. Leslie is nice and all, but it’s not the same as working with Dane. I miss our bantering and sarcasm. It made the days go by faster. I decide to let him know and send him a text.

  Work sucks without you.

  A few minutes later he responds. Miss you too.

  His response makes me smile. Then I think of James and my smile vanishes. I wish I could send him a message. I picture it in my head. Life sucks without you.

  “Emma?”

  Leslie’s voice brings me back to reality. “Yes?”

  “Could you be a dear and hand me two waters from the cooler?”

  I nod and grab what she needs. I look at the clock and sigh. Four more hours to go. I’m so bored. I decide to text Shel.

  What are you doing?

  She responds. Not what, who ;)

  Gross! TMI! Never mind.

  Something up?

  No. Just bored at work.

  Text Dane.

  Already done.

  Good girl.

  I roll my eyes. Three hours and 56 minutes to go. I look over to see Leslie humming while she wipes the already clean slicer. Hmmm. I text Dane again.

  What are you doing?

  Working, he responds.

  Am I interrupting you?

  It’s a welcome interruption.

  I need something to pass the time.

  Something or someone?

  I’m braver behind my phone. Are you volunteering?

  Maybe. What do you have in mind?

  Think, think, think. Ah ha! Don’t I owe you something?

  Yes you do.

  So?

  You’re killing me. Can’t tonight. Busy.

  My heart sinks. Bummer. I was getting brave there for a second. Rain check?

  Absolutely.

  Shel is leaving for Ann Arbor next week. I can’t believe our summer together is ending. The realization that I will be completely on my own back at school in a couple of weeks is hitting me harder than I thought it would. Sure, I have a few friends on campus. But, my close friends from home are the ones I will want around me. I know we can call and email, but it won’t be the same. I’m already looking forward to the holiday break.

  It also doesn’t help that my parents are less than thrilled with my leaving and living on my own so far away after what happened with Patrick. Their anxiety feeds mine. I know Patrick is no longer a threat; he’s in jail awaiting trial and has been denied bail. But, I’ve always had James by my side. It almost feels like I’m starting college for the very first time.

  Since this is our last weekend together, Shel, Matt, Dane, and I are headed out for dinner. We’re supposed to meet up at Logan’s Roadhouse, the scene of the infamous drunk guy fight from earlier this summer. Shel claims that night was the first time she realized she was attracted to Matt. I claim it was the drunken make-out session that pushed her over the edge. Regardless, we’re headed to Logan’s to celebrate. I rush to the restaurant after stopping home to change out of my work clothes into something cuter. I seriously can’t wait to be done with Bay Woods. I have one more week left.

  Entering the restaurant, I spot Shel waving me over. I make it to the table with a smile. “I see you managed to get a table for four this time,” I say sarcastically, then change focus. “Hi, Matt.”

  “Hey,” he smiles.

  “Listen,” Shel says. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be where you are with Dane.”

  “Which is where?” I ask her, making a face.

  She sighs. “You know what I mean.”

  “Speaking of,” I look around. “Where is he?” I had hoped to see him tonight. We haven’t been able to connect since the night at Adventure Land. We’ve text each other a few times, but he’s usually working or otherwise namelessly busy. Paranoia has been slowly invading my brain for days. I’m starting to think he’s avoiding me.

  “He should be here any minute,” Matt says looking around as well.

  Our waitress comes by to check on us. When she steps away, I catch sight of Dane entering the restaurant and breathe a sigh of relief.

  Shel kicks me under the table.

  “Ow!” I glare at her and rub my leg.

  “Sorry,” she says unapologetically. Then she mouths “I saw that!”

  I close my eyes. Apparently I need to be more careful.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Dane says as he slides into the seat next to me. He turns and smiles. “Long time no see.”

  Before I can say anything, Matt distracts him with a question. “How’s the project going?”

  Dane looks tense. “It’s turning out to be a little more challenging than I anticipated.”

  “I thought you liked a challenge?” I ask while I pick up a menu.

  “Some more than others,” he says with resignation.

  Something about his tone makes me curious, and I catch his eyes dart to Matt then back to me. He leans close and looks over my shoulder at the menu. “So, what are you all having?”

  When our food arrives, the conversation turns to our last time at this restaurant. Shel and Matt give a hilarious play-by-play of the fight with the drunk guy that has Dane and me rolling. Shel even reaches back into the vault to bring up the eating-strawberries-dipped-in-ketchup dare issued to her by Matt all those years ago. I haven’t laughed like this is in awhile. We talk about returning to school, our upcoming moves back to campus, and our wanting to be finished with it all. We tease Dane about being an old man since he finished with college two years ago. After dinner, Shel and I can’t resist and order this amazing brownie covered in ice cream covered in hot fudge to share. By the time it’s gone I’m thoroughly stuffed.

  “I can’t move,” I complain, holding my stomach.

  “You have a few minutes,” she says. “The DJ doesn’t start playing until ten.”

  “We’re dancing?” I ask with surprise. I guess it didn’t dawn on me because there wasn’t a band playing tonight. I smile. This will be fun. I haven’t been dancing with Shel in years. She immediately drags me to the dance floor as soon as the DJ starts. As I pass Dane to get out of our table, he grabs my arm.

  “Remember what you promised me.” He cocks an eyebrow.

&
nbsp; “I know. I haven’t forgotten.” My heart does a flip. I hadn’t forgotten, but I’m just now putting two and two together. Man I’m slow.

  Shel and I have a blast dancing. And we don’t stop. Matt and Dane watch us from the table, Shel waving to Matt every once and a while.

  I yell at her over the music, “I take it he doesn’t dance?”

  She makes a sad face and shakes her head. “His only downfall!”

  After about a half hour, when the song changes to something slow, I immediately decide it’s time for a bathroom break. It’s clear what I’m avoiding; I just need a minute to pull myself together. I tell Shel where I’m headed and turn. Halfway to the bathroom I’m intercepted. Someone grabs my hand from behind.

  “Oh no, you don’t,” Dane says as I turn to face him.

  “I have to pee,” I tell him and try to keep a straight face.

  “You’re stalling,” he says as he pulls me away from the restrooms and leads me back toward the dance floor.

  I actually do kinda have to pee. Whatever. Let’s get this over with.

  He leads me into the sea of people that already occupies the floor. I look for Shel, but can’t find her. Dane turns and faces me, placing the hand he holds on his shoulder. He releases it and wraps his hands around my waist as I place my other hand on his other shoulder. A small space remains between us as we start to move.

  “Does this make you uncomfortable?” he asks, wearing that smirk of his. The one that makes me want to hug him and slap him at the same time.

  Is that his plan? To make me uncomfortable just to watch me squirm? Two can play at this game. “No,” I say with confidence. I try to act indifferent as I wrap my arms higher around his neck and take a step forward pressing my body against his. He instinctively wraps his arms tightly around my waist. “Does this make you uncomfortable?” I challenge.

  I actually see his breathing hitch. He rearranges his features; he knows what I’m doing. “No.” He gives me a sly smile.

  “Okay then.” I rest my head against him, under his chin. Through his shirt, I can feel his heartbeat pick up, and it makes me smile. I may actually win this little game.

  His arms loosen around me a little, and I feel his hands start to play against my lower back. My heart jumps. Dang! He probably felt that. As I try to calm my pulse, I move my fingers to his neck and start to play with the hair at his hairline. His hands stop moving against me in surprise. Ha! Another point for me.

  We continue to move slowly with the music. I feel his hands start to move at my back again and then one leaves rank and starts to travel to my backside. I jerk my head up so I can look at him. He freezes. “What?”

  “Don’t look so innocent! I know what you’re doing!”

  “What am I doing?” He suppresses a smile.

  “You’re trying to grab my ass.”

  He feigns confusion. “You mean like this?” He slides both his hands down and grabs two handfuls of my behind.

  I jump, but resist the urge to slap his hands away. He’s wearing that grin of his as I try to look impassive. I calmly remove my hands from his neck and place them on his, picking them up and moving them back to my waist. I don’t say anything as I wrap my arms back around him and place my head under his chin. I can feel his chest shake with laughter.

  We finish the song wrapped around each other. I try not to feel comfortable in his arms, but it doesn’t work. If I could’ve melted, I probably would have. I can lie to other people, but I can’t lie to myself. I’ve missed this. Strong arms to hold me, arms that are real. When he steps away, I have to resist the need to hang on to him.

  The music picks up again and Shel finds me out of nowhere. Dane smiles. “Ladies,” he says as he leaves my side. I give him a small smile as I watch him go.

  “Really?” Shel looks at me with a sarcastic expression. “‘Nothing’s going on’,” she says as she mimics my voice.

  “Nothing is going on,” I sigh.

  “It looks mighty on from over here,” she says as she starts to dance.

  I try to hide my smile as I lose myself in the music, the dancing, and our laughter. I catch Dane’s eye from time to time as he sits with Matt at our table. I know he’s watching me, and I’m not sure if I can describe how I feel about that. But I know it’s a good feeling, and I like it.

  I hold out as long as I can, but eventually I need the bathroom. Shel and I head that way. As we pass our table, she stops and gives Matt a kiss. I roll my eyes at Dane. He grins as he tries to catch me around my waist, but I jump out of the way. When I look back to see if Shel is following me I catch his expression. I think he looks hurt. What’s that all about? I plan to ask him when I return but when we get back from our break, he’s gone.

  “Where’d he go?” I ask Matt confused.

  Matt looks at me sympathetically, which is surprising. “He, um, had to leave.”

  “Why?”

  Matt shrugs as Shel looks between us confused.

  What the hell? He’s just going to leave without saying goodbye? Not acceptable. I reach for my phone and send him a text message.

  Why did you leave???

  I wait impatiently for his reply. Minutes later my phone buzzes in my hand. I can’t handle watching something I can’t have.

  I frown. Are you calling me a tease?

  If the shoe fits.

  Anger wells up in my chest. That was not what I was doing! Who does he think he is? I grab my stuff.

  “What did he say?” Shel asks, concerned.

  “A lot,” I snap.

  “Well, where are you going?”

  “To straighten out a certain someone.” I give her a hug and then Matt. “I’ll call you,” I tell Shel as I head for the door.

  “Be careful,” she says as I leave.

  “I’m not the one you need to worry about,” I mutter under my breath as I step out into the night air.

  I am on a mission to give this certain person a piece of my mind. I jump out of the car and leave everything behind, but myself. I won’t be long. I walk up the sidewalk with my hands clenched in fists.

  When I reach his door, I pound on it, then stand with my arms crossed, looking around. I notice a doorbell. I press it twice and hear it ring inside. I look around again and spot his car in the lot. He should be here.

  After what seems like forever, I hear the deadbolt drop and watch the doorknob turn. Dane opens the door wide and stares at me. “Yes?” he asks. He looks pissed.

  “Oh no,” I shake my head and glare at him. “You don’t get to be mad! I’m the one who gets to be mad! How dare you? How could you even think that? Especially after what Mrs. Davis said to me! You were there! How could you –”

  In one smooth motion he cradles my head and brings his mouth down hard on mine. I lose my breath as his lips move against me, forming my mouth to his. He wraps his other arm around my waist and holds me tight. My heart pounds as my body warms; I feel myself melting beneath his touch. I search for that little part of my brain that registers logic and reason. I can’t find it.

  He breathes against my lips. “Do you want to come inside?”

  My body has disconnected from my mind. I curl one hand around his neck and cover his mouth with mine, pressing myself against him. He takes this as a yes and moves us off the porch, over the threshold, and into his place. He shuts the door behind us, never once breaking our connection.

  He leads and I follow, drawn like a magnet. We stop in the center of the room, near the couch, and his hands trace my spine. He catches my bottom lip between his teeth and I can feel the sensation all the way to my toes. I clutch at his shoulders and run my hands over his chest to grab at the bottom of his shirt. Clenching it in my fists, I slide his shirt up only to get it caught under his arms. His mouth and his hands leave me as he steps back. He pulls his shirt over his head and tosses it aside, then returns to me, his eyes searching mine.

  “Emma,” my name sounds heavy and stuck in his throat. “Are you sure you want this?”


  My eyes roam his toned chest until I find the small, red, inflamed line where he had his stitches. I take a step closer to him and reach out to run my finger across the mark. His breath catches in response and I whisper “Yes” almost inaudibly. I may have lost the ability to speak.

  It doesn’t matter because he hears me loud and clear. He hooks his fingers into my waistline, pulling me to him. He wraps his other hand behind my neck as his mouth discovers the skin there. After a moment his lips move to my ear. “Jump.”

  I’m confused until I feel his hands move around my back and then under me. I tighten my arms around his neck and pull myself higher, wrapping my legs around his waist. I bury my face in his neck as he carries me across the room and up the stairs. We turn and when we reach his bed, his arms relax and I slide down his body to sit in front of him. We stare at each other intently for a moment, and I try to calm my pounding heart. Is this what I really want? My body is screaming yes, but my conscience is starting to wake up and take notice.

  Dane leans over and finds my neck, trailing kisses down my throat, and silencing my inner voice. He moves against me, pressing me back, and I push myself along the mattress, toward the head of the bed. As he crawls over my body, I lose my fingers in his hair and pull his mouth to mine again. He obliges my silent request, balancing himself over me on his knees. His hands find the bottom of my shirt as he kisses me, lifting it to my shoulders, and when his mouth leaves mine I feel his lips against my chest. My eyes pop open. My conscience is screaming.

  “Stop,” I whisper as he moves to kiss me again. “I’m sorry. Stop.”

  He freezes immediately.

  I push myself back and partially out from under him, pulling my shirt down over my body. I focus on his face. “I’m sorry,” I say again, my voice full of remorse. “I can’t.”

  He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and then opens them again. “I understand.” He leans over to kiss my forehead before moving to the side to lie down on his back. He folds his hands against his stomach and turns to look at me.

  I start to get up. “I should leave.”

  “No.” He reaches across my body to pull me back into place. “Stay with me.”

 

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