“Anything new going on?” I questioned as I tossed my purse under the bar and grabbed my apron.
“Not really,” Tiff shrugged. “The guys have been in their usual spot, but your boyfriend hasn’t been coming in.”
My head snapped back at that, “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Call it what you want, but he likes you,” she laughed.
“We were working. I was a job for him,” I mumbled.
“That’s not what Jase seems to think. He told me that Mark told him that Jeff has a thing for you. I don’t think he’d ever admit it. I mean, he is a guy. They think women are cryptic. They have no idea,” she laughed as she shook her head.
“I haven’t talked to him in a week,” I shrugged. I wanted to get out of this conversation as quickly as possible. I didn’t think Jeff saw me as any more than a damsel in distress. With everything he’d witnessed over that time we spent together, I was kinda hoping that I wouldn’t run into him at the bar. Part of what had kept me away was the idea of seeing him. I didn’t really know how to be around him. I was still trying to figure out who I was. Leo had changed me the first time, and now I was changed again. Bits and pieces of the me I was before I ever met Leo were starting to emerge, and as much as I liked Jeff he just reminded me of the way I used to be.
“Well, now’s your chance,” Tiff mumbled low beside me. My head snapped up at her admission to see him. Jeff was striding through the door, and our eyes met. I saw his flash momentarily before he completely brushed me off and went to sit with the guys at a corner table. I could hear Dev and Jase shouting at him as he moved towards them, and a small pang of hurt hit my chest. I didn’t realize getting what I wanted would hurt so bad.
ooooooooo
Jeff
I knew coming here was a bad idea, but I did it anyway. I needed to prove that I didn’t have feelings for her. She was a mission. A mission that I completed, and now I needed to move on with my life, only I couldn’t for some reason. Lena had been stuck in my head since that day at the hospital. When she thanked me with tears in her eyes, something struck me right in the chest. I’d been avoiding The Rusty Nail all week. When Mark told me that she hadn’t been there, I decided to take a chance and join them. Now, I was regretting it by the minute.
When I stepped through the door and heard her laugh, my head snapped in her direction. It was automatic, and I couldn’t look away if I tried. There she was behind the bar, her hair piled on her head, huddled in conversation with Tiff. It took everything in me to walk to the table where the guys were and ignore her. If I went up to the bar, she’d think I was interested, and I couldn’t be. We could never be anything. One: she was a victim on the case, and two: I couldn’t do the relationship thing. Danielle was proof of that. ‘She understands, you idiot,’ I muttered to myself before turning my back on her.
When I reached their table, I made sure to keep my back to the bar as I sat down. A pitcher of beer was sitting in the center of the table along with a pile of money. “What’s with this?” I flicked the bills with my fingers as I reached for the pitcher. I needed to get something in me to help take my mind off the blonde behind the bar.
“Bet money,” Mark snickered. “We all have wagers on you.”
“Yeah, we’re all wondering how long until you give in and go after her,” Dev’s head tipped toward the bar as Jase leaned back and placed his hands behind his head.
“I’ve got fifty that says you don’t make it through the night,” Jase chuckled. “How about making me a rich man?”
“You fuckers are losing money then. I’m not interested,” I shook my head as I poured a glass.
“Sure you aren’t,” Mark snorted. “I saw you when you walked in the door. It’s like a fly to honey, and she’s your honey.”
“Shut up,” I snapped. He was right, but he couldn’t be. Lena had enough in her life without me piling on to it.
“Well if it isn’t her, it needs to be someone. You’re too tense,” Jase shifted before leaning forward and placing his elbows on the table. “It’s good she’s back though. Tiff has been going crazy here with that new chick. Girl doesn’t know her stuff.”
“Can we make somewhere else our spot?” I muttered.
“My wife owns this joint. Why would I go somewhere where we have to pay for the beer?” Dev narrowed his eyes on me. “Just do us all a favor and ask her out, or at least go fuck someone.”
I glared at him, “You need to stay out of my sex life. Is yours lacking that bad right now?”
“Nope,” he snickered. “My woman satisfies me just fine. I’m just tired of watching you mope.”
“I do not mope,” I huffed. “I need some air,” I muttered as I shoved back from the table and stormed toward the back hallway. I knew there was a door at the end that led to the back-parking lot. Employees used it, but Sam wouldn’t care if I was out there and I’d have some privacy to get my head on straight.
ooooooooo
Lena
I don’t know what made me want to go after him, but after being brushed off as if I wasn’t even there, I was angry and felt as if he’d pushed me aside. What had I done to make him act like I didn’t even exist? “Will you be ok for a little bit?” I heard the words tumble out of my mouth before I could even stop them.
“Sure,” Tiff nodded. “I’ve been on my own for days.”
“Sorry. I’ll just be a minute,” I tossed my apron under the bar and rushed after him. I had no idea what I was going to say, or why I was even doing it. Maybe it was fear I’d done something wrong. Maybe a need to tell him thank you again, or maybe I just wanted to get things back to the way they were when we first met. Sure, I was different then, but his flirty side was fun. This version just worried me.
“Jeff!” I called out as I burst through the door. His head popped up as he spun to face me. It looked as if he’d been pacing and I’d caught him off guard. Now that I had his attention, I didn’t know what to say. My feet were rooted in place as we engaged in a stare down.
“I wanted to say…” I began but then let my voice trail off.
“You should be inside,” he growled. His voice sounded angry, but his stance said otherwise. He was guarded. It was almost as if he were fighting a battle of wills only it was with himself. “I came out here to get away.”
“Why?” I pressed as I stepped forward. I knew I was sticking my nose where it didn’t belong. What he did with his time was none of my business. We weren’t in a relationship, and he’d made that clear when we started the case. Now that it was over, we weren’t anything.
“I can’t be here with you,” he forced the words through gritted teeth.
“Why?” I moved closer, but then he turned on his heel and stalked up to me.
“Why?” he lowered his voice as he advanced on me. I stepped back and he kept coming until he had me against the brick wall. “Because I can’t,” he hissed.
“What did I do? Why can’t we be friends like before?” I whispered as I stared at him. His amber eyes blazed with something I couldn’t place. Not anger, but something deeper. A desire he was fighting, and despite the losing battle, he was locked in place.
His hands clenched into fists at his side as he squeezed his eyes shut, “You didn’t do anything.”
“Why are you avoiding me then?” I whispered.
“You don’t understand,” he mumbled.
“Well help me. I liked talking to you. I liked it when you sat at the bar. After everything, I thought you’d understand me better now. I thought…” I looked away as I released a deep breath. When my eyes came back to his I saw the battle begin to wage out of control. He was fighting so hard, and this time I was the one pushing him. It felt weird, and so unlike me. I wasn’t this girl, but things changed. Knowing Leo was dead flipped a switch in me. I felt like I could be normal. I didn’t have this cloud hanging over me, and for once I wanted to forget all the bad things that had happened and live.
“I don’t want to be your friend, L
ena. I can’t. I can’t be your friend. I can’t,” he kept repeating the words as his eyes squeezed shut again. One hand raised to tug at his hair as the other propped him up where he was leaning against the wall.
“I don’t understand,” I reached up and cupped his jaw. It felt natural, but his reaction was anything but.
The hand in his hair flew to my wrist as he gripped it and removed my touch. It was a firm grip but not painful. His jaw ticked and we stood there unmoving in silence. The seconds seemed to drag by as neither of us was willing to give in, and finally he snapped.
“I can’t be your friend because I don’t’ want to be,” he took a few deep breaths.
“What is it that you want?” I whispered, barely audible.
“This,” he growled as his lips crashed into mine. It all happened so fast that I couldn’t react at first. Both hands came up to cup his jaw. His lips pressed to mine as he licked at the seam. I couldn’t help but open to him. It was a natural reaction, and it had been years since a man had kissed me like this. He groaned as his tongue slipped in and he took control. It only last for a few seconds though before he almost shoved me away. “I can’t do this,” he panted. “God damn, I can’t do this.” I stood there, lips swollen, breath coming in gasps as I watched him begin to pace again. “I’m sorry,” he looked over at me, “but I can’t be what you want. I can’t.”
He turned and headed back inside, leaving me there. By the time my brain had caught up to what had happened, I rushed after him, but he was gone. Dev, Jase, and Mark were all seated at their table alone. What had just happened, and was I upset about this? Did I want to be with him like that? Could I? I hadn’t been in a relationship since I dated Leo. Could I even be normal, and what did normal look like?
Chapter 17
Jeff
“Hey!” I stopped in front of Mark’s desk. I’d been working on paperwork all morning, and not getting much done. The kiss I’d shared with Lena had been replaying in my mind since I’d walked away from her the night before, and it was messing with my head. I was supposed to be putting together evidence to share with the DA on Gabe and Joe’s cases.
“What’s up?” he leaned back in his chair and smiled up at me. I could tell he was waiting for me to give him an opening to razz me, but my head was so screwed up at the moment that I ignored him.
“I need a night out,” I huffed. “All this sitting at a desk is driving me up the wall. Wanna help me find someone to take the edge off?”
“Thought you already had someone for that,” he mused.
“No,” I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not into her like that.”
“Sure you’re not,” he chuckled. “Mind if I hook her up with Matt, then?” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Sure, what do I care,” I rolled my eyes as I picked up a pen and threw it at him.
“You care because you like her. Just admit that you do, and I’ll go out tonight even though my woman is going to be pissed. It’s my first evening off, and I promised her I’d spend it with her,” he tipped his head to the side as he stared at me, daring me to tell him he was wrong.
“Fine,” I tossed my hands in the air. “You’re right. I thought I liked her, but not that way. She’s been through enough. She doesn’t need what I would bring into her life.”
“See? Was that so hard?” he teased.
“Whatever, man,” I sighed. “Now are you prepared to call Amber and tell her you’re not coming home tonight?” I smirked.
“You told me just so you could watch this, didn’t you?” he growled.
“Maybe,” I snickered. “Maybe I just like the idea of you not getting off tonight.”
“You’re a fucking asshole,” he shook his head. “If we’re going out, I’m choosing where.”
“Fine, but we’re not going to The Rusty Nail. I need to get nailed, and it won’t happen there,” I turned to walk away. I was doing the right thing, right? Getting her out my system was what I needed. I’d forget about her, and move on. She didn’t need me anymore, and she didn’t need me drifting in and out of her already unstable life.
ooooooooo
After watching Mark get his ass chewed by Amber, we decided that we’d meet up at the Stoplight. It was an up and coming club down the block from The Rusty Nail. Dev and Jase had both been there before, and agreed to meet us. The neighborhood was ever changing, and even though the club was in a rougher part of town, it was under a rejuvenation. A few wealthy developers were really trying to turn it around. I hadn’t talked to my parents in years, but I had no doubt that if my father wasn’t involved, then he knew the men that were.
“So why did we come here tonight?” Dev lowered himself into a chair beside me. “I mean, shit, paying five dollars for a beer… that’s awesome,” he shook his head at me.
“You fuckers are boring. You do the same shit every day. You go home to your wives and girlfriends. You play with your kids… have a little fun every once in a while,” I lifted my beer to my lips as I scanned the room. When I arrived at the Stoplight, I’d picked a table off to the side of the dance floor. It had a good view of the room, and the door. If a hottie came walking in, I’d spot her right away, and these douche bags were close enough to the bar that I thought they’d be happy. “Here,” I tossed a fifty at him. “Use that to pay your tab.”
“Buying me off now?” Dev lifted a brow as he stared at the crumpled bill.
“If it’ll get you to man up and stop acting like a pussy, yes,” I continued to scan the room. “Whatever happened to the Dev I used to know, the one that had different women all time?”
“He got domesticated,” Jase hooted.
“Right,” Dev turned to face Jase. “And what do we call you now? Pussy whipped?”
I tried to keep from laughing because the look on Jase’s face was priceless, but he didn’t miss a beat.
“Um, nope,” he turned to look at Mark “that would be this fucker,” he slapped Mark on the back. “How’s Amber?”
“Shut up, asshole,” Mark grumbled as he reached across the table and swiped the fifty from under Dev’s hand. “If I have to put up with this abuse, then he’s buying another round.”
“Here, just start a tab,” I pulled my wallet from my pocket and handed the asshole my black AMEX.
“Whoa, who’d you take out to get this?” he teased. Dev knew, but none of the other guys did. I didn’t talk about my family. There was a reason we weren’t close. My parents were well off. I don’t mean they didn’t struggle, I mean they owned almost half the buildings in the area. My father’s family had started buying real-estate when he was just a boy. Now, they could pretty much have whatever they wanted, except ordering me around. When I told them I wanted to be a cop, they pretty much forbid it. When I didn’t listen, I was told to leave. I walked out the front door of their pretentious house on my way to the academy and haven’t looked back since. My trust fund is the only part of them I still associate with, and I don’t even use it often. I’ve supported myself for years, but tonight… Dad can foot the bill.
“Do you really want an answer to that?” I glared up at him.
“Guess not,” he shrugged. “What’s the limit on this?” his brows bounced.
“Don’t know,” I mimicked his pose. “Let’s find out.”
“Dude! Where have you been all my life?” Mark laughed.
“Hey, Colby!” Dev narrowed his eyes on Mark. “How ‘bout you shut the fuck up and get me my drink?”
Jase grabbed his middle and started laughing his ass off as Mark stood there staring at us. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he shook his head and began to weave his way through the crowd.
“That was a little harsh, don’t ya think?” I finished my beer and tried to keep my smile hidden. It didn’t work for very long before I joined Jase laughing, “but it was fucking funny as hell.”
“He needs to learn when to shut up,” Dev lifted a shoulder before giving me a sideways glance. I knew what
he meant. He was trying to get the conversation off my family. He knew that I didn’t talk about them for a reason, and he was trying to be a good friend.
We spent most of this night razzing each other and tipping back beers. A few women stopped by our table, but none really caught my eye. Jase got a text right before we were getting ready to leave from Tiff. She’d said that if we were going to be there much longer she and Sam were going to stop by. That didn’t sit well with Mark. He was pissed that he’d blown off Amber, and now it seemed like he was the one that wasn’t getting laid tonight. “How about you get us another round?” I smirked at Mark as I slid my empty bottle toward the center of the table. I had a nice buzz going, but was still very aware of my surroundings.
“What am I, the beer bitch?” Mark frowned. Between Dev, Jase, and I we’d gotten Mark to get up every time. One of us had an excuse ready each time he tried to get out of it.
“Nah,” I shrugged. “I think the bartender likes you,” I laughed when I glanced up at where he was now standing. Movement caught my attention from the corner of my eye, but I brushed it off. I was toasted enough that I wasn’t worried who might walk up, but when I saw who it was I wished I’d been paying better attention. She was not supposed to be with them.
“Hey boys,” Tiff grinned as she stopped by our table, trailed by Sam and Lena.
“Hey baby,” Jase grinned drunkenly. “Come here,” he reached for her and pulled her into his lap. “Whatcha doin’ here?”
“Apparently, I’m driving you home,” she giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I’m not that drunk,” he mumbled as he nuzzled into her neck.
“Great,” I groaned. “This was supposed to be a guys’ night.”
Below the Surface (The Witness Series Book 5) Page 11