Her Maine Reaction

by Rebecca Gannon

  “Ashley, I know you. All you’ve ever wanted is love. That’s why you’ve tried every dating app in the world, and have given so many men a chance when they don’t deserve one. You were searching for what we all want.”

  “Okay, Dr. Phil. Yes, I want love, and happiness, and all that shit.”

  “And I know you’ve never been caught up on a man before.”

  “I know.” I sigh, downing my drink in a few gulps. I don’t think there’s enough alcohol in this bar that could make me forget the way my skin tingled when Ryan’s eyes met mine today, and then trailed down my body. It was like he could see under my clothes, and read every thought in my head.

  “Let’s just enjoy the night, because we’re probably going to be too far gone to come up with anything good,” Ally says.

  “True.” I laugh. “I’ll get us some shots and another round.”

  “We still have full drinks. You’re the only one who downed hers in thirty seconds.”

  “Well, yours better be gone by the time I get back.” Standing, I push my hair behind my shoulders and saunter up to the bar. I tend to get a little sassy when I drink.

  “Another round please, Alex. And three shots.”

  “Already? Courtney just got you a round.”

  “Judgy much? We can handle our liquor.”

  “Never said you couldn’t, beautiful,” he says, holding his hands up in defense. “You have a ride home, right?”

  “How sweet. You’re concerned for our safety. And yes, I’m sure either of their men will have no issue coming to pick us up.”

  “Okay.” He nods, pouring our shots.

  Taking two trips back to the table with our drinks, I hold my shot in the air and propose a toast. “To reunions, a good night, and fun.”

  “Here-here!” Ally and Courtney say together as we clink glasses and shoot our shots back.

  The song changes in the bar, and I gasp. “Oh my God, I love this song! Come on!” I yell, standing, trying to pull them to their feet. “Let’s dance!”

  “Oh, no. No, no, no,” Courtney chants. “I don’t dance.”

  “Yes, you do, and you will.” Dragging them to their feet, I pull them towards the small makeshift dancefloor that’s really just a few tables pushed out of the way, and I start to spin around. Raising my hands above my head, I move my hips, and sway to the rhythm of the song. Grabbing Ally’s hand, I twirl her around, and we move to the beat.

  Smiling at Courtney, I grab her next, and pull her towards me so I can show her how to move. Laughing, she goes with it, and we start to move together, until a hand snakes around my waist, and I freeze.

  Spinning around, I come face to face with some drunk asshole who thinks he can just put his hands on me without asking.

  Pushing him away, I level him with a death stare. “What the fuck are you doing? Don’t touch me.”

  “Baby,” he slurs. “I think you could use a man like me with the way you’re moving. I’ll take care of you real good.”

  “You’re disgusting,” I sneer.

  “Come on, baby,” he slurs again, reaching for me.

  “Get the fuck away from me.” Stepping back, I bump into Ally, and she finally realizes what’s happening.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “This fucker thinks he can just touch me.”

  “The way you’re dancing”–he licks his lips–“makes a man want a taste of that fine body.”

  “Gross,” Courtney says, grimacing. “Get out of here.”

  Another drunk asshole walks up to our little party, and sways next to me. “Is he bothering you, beautiful?”

  “If you’re talking to me,” I start, “then no. I can handle this on my own.”

  “I can help you, sweets.” He winks, turning to the dick who touched me. “Leave her alone.”

  “Is she yours? You should keep a better handle on her.”

  “I’m not property, and I’m standing right here. I can speak for myself, you chauvinistic fuckers.” I’m raging on the inside right now. I feel like I’m some sort of douchebag magnet. I’m just trying to have fun with my friends.

  “Let’s just go back to our table,” Ally whispers in my ear. “I’ll call Jake to come and get us.”

  “Fine,” I huff, wanting to get away as quickly as possible.

  But after turning away, one of them grips my arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Freezing, I look down at the hand on my arm, my blood turning to ice in my veins. He’s seriously touching me again? Turning slowly, I meet his bloodshot eyes of the first dick with my steely gaze. “Get your hand off of me.” My voice is low and menacing.

  “Or what, baby? You’re going to stop me?”

  “She won’t, but I will,” the second asshole says as he breaks the grip on my arm and swings his fist, connecting squarely on the first guy’s jaw.

  His head snaps back. “The fuck?!” he yells, his nostrils flaring, and his chest heaving.

  Charging forward, he knocks the guy to the floor, and starts punching him in the face. The sound of knuckles meeting bone and flesh sends chills down my spine, and I start to back away, my eyes wide.

  “Hey! Hey!” Alex yells as he comes out from behind the bar. Pulling them apart, he pushes the first asshole back, and two guys come out of nowhere to hold him back from charging forward again.

  Backing up, I sit back down at our table, my legs no longer able to support me.

  What’s happening? I don’t even know these people, and they started fighting because of me. Over me?

  I stare blankly at the table in front of me.

  I don’t know how much time passes, or how many swirls of the wood I’ve circled with my eyes, but my drunken haze is broken through by Ally’s voice.

  “Hey! Ashley!” Looking up, I blink a few times, and focus in on her concerned eyes. “Are you okay?”

  “Sure.” I nod, but I don’t really know.

  “I called Jake and told him what happened. He’ll be here soon to pick us up.”

  “Great,” I say, my voice sounding dead to my ears.

  I think she says something back to me, but my eyes are on the door of the bar that just opened, and Ryan walks in with a deputy in tow, his presence bringing me a comfort I’m not ready to analyze.

  Scanning the room, his eyes land on the scene to my right, but then dart around until they meet mine. Even from this distance, I can see him searching my face to see if I’m okay. I’m clearly not.

  His jaw tightens, and he tears his eyes away, making his way over to Alex and the two assholes.

  “Can we go?” I ask, my eyes following every step Ryan takes, admiring his powerful presence.

  “I don’t know. Maybe he needs a statement from you or something,” Ally says.

  “I don’t care. I just need to leave.”

  “Okay, yeah, sure. Let’s go.”

  Standing, we all put our jackets back on, and I keep my head down as we weave our way through the crowd and outside into the cold night. But I don’t feel it. I don’t feel anything, really.

  “He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

  Remaining quiet, I lean against the wall and close my eyes. Taking a deep breath, the cold air makes it feel like a thousand tiny needles are pricking my lungs, but it does nothing to break my trance.

  How did my life become such a shit show?

  When the door next to me swings open, I open my eyes and see the deputy that came here with Ryan walking one of the guys out. He pushes him towards his cruiser, and shoves him in the back–handcuffed.

  Next, Ryan emerges with the other, and walks him over to his SUV, putting him in the back too. Spotting Ally and Courtney huddled together, his eyes scan the shadows of the building until he finds me. Slamming the door to his SUV shut, he walks towards me, his long legs eating up the distance in a matter of seconds.

  I try and look away from him, but his eyes hold mine captive until he’s standing right in front of me.

  “Ashley, are yo
u okay?” he asks, and I nod. “Tell me what happened.” His eyes are hard and angry, but full of something else, too.

  Swallowing, I try and get my dry throat to work, but I can’t. No words will form.

  I’m saved by the rumble of a truck pulling into the parking lot that makes Ryan stiffen, turning towards the source. But when he sees it’s Jake, he relaxes and turns back to me. “Go with Jake. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Nodding again, I push off the wall and slowly make my way over to the white pickup truck. Ryan opens the back door for me and I grip the inner handle hard, using all the strength I have left to lift myself up inside.

  He rounds the truck and talks to his brother for a minute, and then steps away, letting Jake drive off.

  Closing my eyes, I lean my head against the window, the cool glass relieving my heated skin as I drift off to sleep.

  Chapter 4

  Something warm touches my face and my eyes jolt open, searching the dark.

  “It’s just me,” a low voice says that I immediately recognize.

  “Where am I?”

  “At Jake’s. But I’m going to take you home now.”

  I pull the blanket that’s around me a little tighter. “Uh…”

  “I promise I’ll be good.” He chuckles softly. “I just need to get your statement about tonight. And I doubt you want to still be here when Jake and Ally start going at it.”

  “Oh my God.” I groan, throwing the blanket off of me. “No, I don’t. That’s why I’m at Dottie’s.”

  Standing too quickly, my head pounds, and I start to sway. Reaching out into the dark to grab onto something before I fall, an arm wraps around my waist before I get the chance to.

  “I got you,” Ryan whispers in my ear. His warm body against mine sends a shiver down my spine, and he tightens his grip before letting go and taking my hand.

  I look around, but I can’t see or hear anything. The moon is hidden behind the clouds tonight, so there’s no light coming from anywhere. The only thing keeping me steady is the strong, warm hand engulfing mine. But then he releases it, and I panic for a second, until I feel him behind me again.

  “I have your coat,” Ryan whispers, helping me put it on.

  Opening the front door, he takes my hand, and we step out into more darkness. Shuffling closer to him, my head turns in every direction, ready for something to jump out at us. “I’ve got you,” he says again, and my heartrate kicks up. “There’s nothing out here, I promise.”

  “Okay,” I whisper, somehow knowing that he’d protect me even if there was.

  Ryan opens the passenger door of his black pickup truck for me, and I hop up inside. When he rounds the front and climbs in, the second he closes the door, it feels like the cab shrinks to the size of a thimble–allowing me only short, shallow breaths.

  Starting down the driveway, I focus on breathing evenly so he doesn’t see how he affects me. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I keep them hidden so I don’t give in to my urge to reach out and touch him.

  The ride seems to go on forever as he winds through the pitch-black streets of Pine Cove. When he finally pulls into the driveway of the cottage, I practically jump out of the truck the second he puts it in park.

  I need air. His scent is everywhere, and I can’t take a breath without the spicy, woodsy smell filling my lungs.

  Hurrying to the front door, I pull out my keys, but it’s dark, and my fingers are numb. I can’t find the right key.

  “Let me,” he says, covering my hand with his. Slipping the keys out from between my fingers, he unlocks the door and pushes it open, motioning for me to step inside.

  When I hear the door close, I turn and find him behind me. “What are you doing?”

  “I said I have to ask you a few questions.”

  “Now?”

  “Would you rather come by the station in the morning? Or maybe I should stay the night and you can tell me over coffee?” He smirks.

  The audacity of this man.

  “No. You’re not staying the night. Let’s just get this over with. But I’m tired and still a little tipsy, so I’m making coffee first.”

  Unwrapping my scarf, I toss it on the couch along with my jacket, and walk down the hall to the kitchen. Placing a fresh filter in the coffee maker, I scoop out the grounds, and press brew. I need water first, though. My throat feels like the Sahara. Grabbing a bottle from the fridge, I down half of it in a matter of seconds, reviving myself slightly.

  It’s time to get out of these clothes and into sweatpants.

  Bending down, I start to unzip my boots, but I hear a low groan behind me. Spinning around, I find Ryan standing in the doorway, his heated eyes on me.

  “Why are you watching me?”

  “Because I can,” he says simply.

  Rolling my eyes, I walk past him and into the pink bedroom, making sure the door is closed behind me before I start undressing. He definitely doesn’t get the privilege of seeing all of this.

  Taking my boots off, I peel down my tights, and shimmy off my skirt, before stepping into a pair of comfy sweatpants. I replace my sweater with a long-sleeved t-shirt, and then shove my feet into my fuzzy slippers.

  When I reemerge in the kitchen, I find Ryan leaning against the counter, a steaming mug of coffee in hand. His eyes take in my new outfit and his lips turn up, fighting a smile.

  “What? Is there something wrong with this?” I ask, waving a hand down my body.

  “Not at all, sweetheart. It only makes me want to look at you more so I can try and catch a glimpse of that sexy body you’re hiding under there.”

  I don’t even know how to respond to that.

  “Let me make you a mug. How do you take your coffee?”

  “Cream and a little sugar,” I tell him, taking a seat at the small, round kitchen table. “Why aren’t you in uniform?” I ask, trying to distract myself from him being here, alone with me.

  “Would you prefer if I was?” He smiles, his perfect smile. “I didn’t think you’d respond well to me if I showed up in it, though. I thought we could talk as friends.”

  “We’re friends?”

  “Are we not?”

  “I don’t know. I wouldn’t say we are.”

  Ryan just smiles, and I watch him as he makes my coffee. He adds the perfect amount of both cream and sugar that I like, and then saunters over and places it in front of me before taking the seat across from me.

  “Don’t you need a notebook or something?” I ask.

  “Yes. But if you’re more comfortable just talking to me, that’s fine.”

  My brows furrow. “How is that fine? It doesn’t seem very official. Aren’t you the sheriff?”

  “I have a good memory.” He smirks.

  “Fine.” I sigh, taking a sip of coffee. The hot liquid flows down my throat, and gives my brain the jolt it needs to focus on telling Ryan what happened. “We were having a good time catching up–Ally, Courtney, and I. And after a few drinks, and a couple of shots, a song I like came on, and I dragged them up to dance. Then some dick thought it was okay to snake his sleazy arm around my waist, call me ‘baby,’ and tell me it looked like I needed a man like him to take care of me by the way I was dancing.” Ryan’s jaw clenches, and he grips the mug in front of him a little tighter, the blue in his eyes turning to ice.

  “I told him to fuck off, but he kept saying shit to me. Then some other asshole comes up to us, thinking he’s helping in defending me, but he only made it worse. The first guy thought that he was my boyfriend coming to my defense, and he told him he should keep a tighter leash on me, or something like that. I tried to walk away at this point, but then he grabbed my arm.”

  “He touched you again?” Ryan asks through clenched teeth.

  “Yeah. And that’s when the other guy pushed him away and punched him in the face. But that only seemed to anger the guy more, and he charged at him, knocking him to the ground. Then he started punching him in the face over and over again.” A shiver racks my bo
dy and I hold the hot mug close to my face. “That sound.”

  “It’s okay. Everything’s fine now,” he says, trying to soothe me.

  “I know,” I say defensively, eyeing him over the rim of my mug. “I can handle myself. I’ve been doing it a lot lately.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing.” Looking away, I pick a spot on the wall behind him, and study it.

  “Hey,” he says, trying to get me to look at him. “Ashley.” His smooth voice floats over me like I’m submerging into a warm bath, and my eyes have no choice but to drift back to his.

  Even from here, I can see the light blue centers of his eyes are rimmed by a darker navy–almost as if the light is trying to push away the dark, but it still creeps in no matter what.

  I see that in him. He’s good and he’s light, but he’s also something else. And it’s that something else that drew me to him in the first place.

  The longer I look, the more the dark overtakes the light.

  “What’s on your mind, Ashley?” he croons, pulling me in.

  I shake my head weakly. “Nothing.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes, and I’m done with my statement. So, you can go.”

  “What if I said I didn’t want to leave?” His voice is low and seductive–hypnotic.

  “I’d say that’s too bad, because you have no choice in the matter.”

  “I know you want to remember again, Ashley.” His voice drops even lower, his eyes melting into mine.

  “Remember what?” I ask as he stands, closing the distance between us.

  Leaning down, he braces his arms on the table, his face just a few inches from mine. My breaths are coming shallow, and my hands shake around my mug.

  “You felt it. And I can tell you it was just the beginning. I can give you so much more, sweetheart. You can deny it, and you can pretend all you want, but I know.”

  My eyes dart down to his lips. They’re right there.

  He exhales. That simple act parts his lips, and I want to taste him. I want to see if he’s as sweet as I remember.

  Tilting my chin up, he lowers a fraction of an inch. Our breaths mix, and I’m dizzy.

  I’m riding on the thin edge of sanity, and just the slightest touch would push me over into a frenzy I know I wouldn’t be able to control.