“Is it really your birthday?” he asks. “How did I not know that?”
“Why would you know my birth date?” I ask. “And yes, it really is. On Sunday, anyway.”
He smiles, sending tingles down my spine. “I’ll be there.”
***
I keep glancing toward the front door, wondering if Ronan is really coming. The bar is busy, and most of our group is a few drinks in and feeling no pain. Originally I wanted to throw us a big party at my place—I love throwing parties—but our birthday kind of sneaked up on me this year. In the end, I decided it would be simpler just to go out, rather than try to plan something last minute.
Braxton has Kylie in a booth near the back, and I wonder how long they’ll end up staying. He’s always touchy with her, but tonight he hasn’t kept his hands off her. His mouth, either. He leans in close, and it looks like they’re talking, then he touches his fingers to her chin and kisses her. I’d be grossed out—he is my brother—but I’m kind of awestruck when I see them like this.
He loves her so much it makes my breath catch. He was never this way with any of the women he dated in the past. I wonder what it must have been like for him, being friends with Kylie for so long, watching her date other men. It must have been awful. Granted, he wasn’t exactly sleeping alone all those years. But seeing them now, I’m both incredibly happy for them, and wishing I was lucky enough to find both a best friend and a lover in the same person.
A hand on the small of my back startles me and I turn to find Ronan smiling at me. He’s dressed in a dark jacket over his button-down and slacks, and his hair has that slightly unruly look that makes him so intriguing. From the corner of my eye, I notice quite a few other women watching him. I’m hit with a little spark of jealousy, and a very strange sense of satisfaction at our no dating other people pact.
“Happy birthday,” he says.
He’s standing so close I feel like I can’t quite breathe.
“Thanks.”
He looks around, like he’s taking in the scene. “This is a nice place. When you said it was kind of a dive, I had a different image in mind.”
“Dive isn’t really the word,” I say. “It’s mostly just casual.”
“You didn’t think I’d like casual,” he says. “You still think I’m a snob.”
“No, I don’t think you’re a snob,” I say. “I just wasn’t sure if this is your kind of place.”
He laughs a little. “That’s kind of the same thing. But it’s your birthday, so I’ll forgive you.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box tied with a gold ribbon. “Here, I got you something.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. It’s just a small thing.” He holds it out to me.
I take the box and untie the ribbon. I lift the lid and find a thin silver chain with an infinity symbol in the center. “This is beautiful.”
He steps a little closer and lowers his voice. “You told me you lost your parents. But they’re never truly gone. They’ll always be a part of you. Forever.”
I touch the necklace with two fingers, not sure if I can speak. I lick my lips and swallow hard. “Ronan, this is … I don’t even know what to say.”
“I know what it’s like to lose someone,” he says. “I saw this recently and thought of you. I know it isn’t the sort of thing a boss gets an employee, but I figured maybe we’re a little more than that now? Friends, at least?”
I meet his eyes, my heart in my throat. “Thank you. This is so thoughtful.”
He smiles, and I’m frozen in place. The buzz of conversation hangs around us, but I’m transfixed. It’s so strange to be with him here, surrounded by my friends. We only see each other when we’re working. But here we are, standing in a bar on a Friday night. It feels so casual, like he could be a man I know from somewhere else. A man who isn’t my boss.
Right now, I really wish he wasn’t.
“Can I buy you another drink?” he asks.
My eyes flick to my glass, sitting on the cocktail table next to me. It’s almost empty. “Sure. I’m just going to run to the ladies’ room.”
“Meet you back here,” he says.
I tuck the box into my small handbag and head toward the back of the bar. My heart is beating too fast. I need to get myself together.
I step into the bathroom and take a deep breath. Was that Ronan who just gave me an incredibly sweet and thoughtful gift? And he did it with no innuendo, no jokes about wanting to get me naked in his office. I’m so used to verbally sparring with him all the time, I wasn’t sure what to say. I need to get my wits back so I can thank him properly.
I reapply lipstick and take a few more deep breaths. I don’t want to think about how close I was to kissing him. Goddamn, that man knows how to keep me off balance. I need to slow down on the drinks, or I’m going to do something I’ll regret.
I open the door and almost run into a guy coming from the bar.
“Sorry.” I try to step out of the way.
“That’s okay,” he says. He doesn’t move, taking up all the space in the small hallway.
I try again to go around him, but he moves in front of me.
“Excuse me,” I say.
“Look at those legs,” he says, his voice slurring a little. He gets closer, looking me up and down.
I don’t know who this guy is, but he’s making me very uncomfortable. I take a step backward and put my hands up. “Can you let me past? I’m just trying to get back to my friends.”
“Come back here with me first,” he says.
He steps in and grabs my arm, his grip like a vice. I suck in a breath to scream at him to let go, but he clamps his other hand over my mouth and presses me back into the wall.
I struggle, trying to kick at him, but he’s so much stronger than me. He lets go of my mouth and wraps his arms around me, crushing my chest. He shoves me further into the hallway. I scream, but unless there’s someone in the men’s room, I’m sure no one can hear me. The crowd and the music in the bar are too loud.
He pushes me against a door and opens it. We both stumble into the alley behind the bar. Fuck, I can’t let him get me out here alone. I grab the door jamb, clutching at it with my fingers, but he manhandles me outside, and the door bangs shut.
I get in a good kick to his shins, then stomp on his foot. He grunts, but his grip on me doesn’t loosen.
“Get the fuck off me,” I say.
He makes a growling noise in his throat and pushes me up against the side of the building. I try to knee him in the balls, but he turns just in time.
“Struggle harder,” he says into my ear. “I like it.”
“Fuck you!”
I thrust up with my knee again but he wedges my leg against the wall with his, and puts his hand over my mouth again. His body pins me. I can barely move. My eyes widen as his hand reaches beneath my shirt and he squeezes my breast through my bra.
Oh fuck. This can’t be happening.
Fear swirls through me and my heart thunders. I keep struggling, but no matter what I try I can’t squirm out of his grip. He runs his tongue along my neck and shoves his hand into my jeans.
He shifts enough that I get my leg free and try to knee him again. He slams me back into the wall, knocking the breath from my lungs. I gasp, trying to breathe with his hand smashed against my face. His breath is hot on my neck, putrid with the stench of beer.
His hand slips and I get my teeth into the flesh of one of his fingers. I bite down as hard as I can. He lets go, but before I can move, he hits me across the face.
Pain explodes across my jaw, up the side of my head. I stagger to the side.
“Stupid bitch,” he yells.
Instantly, his hands are on me again, and I’m up against the cold wall. My mouth is on fire and I think I hit my head against the wall, but I’m too disoriented to know for sure. My vision swims, and I hear the sound of fabric ripping.
His hand clamps over my mouth again and he stops
, pressing me up against the wall. I hear a squeak, like hinges, and I realize someone is opening the door a crack.
I yell through his hand, but it’s muffled. My shirt is ripped wide open, and I can taste blood. I struggle harder, willing whoever is at the door to open it all the way.
Please. Hear me out here. Please.
“Selene, are you out here?”
I scream again and drive my elbow up, into the underside of his jaw. I don’t hit him hard, but it’s enough to make him loosen his grip on my mouth.
“Help!”
The door flies open and Ronan steps out. His eyes widen and he lunges, throwing a punch that knocks the guy’s head to the side.
The guy recovers almost instantly, answering back with a punch of his own. Ronan ducks out of the way, but another swing connects. Ronan takes the hit across the jaw and barrels into the other guy, landing another punch to his face.
Ronan’s eyes are wild. “I’ll fucking kill you.”
The guy steps back, like he’s not sure he wants to finish this fight. Ronan darts in and the guy blocks. He’s drunk, but he seems to know what he’s doing. Ronan doesn’t let up, coming at him again despite the blood dripping down his chin. He lands a punch to the guy’s gut, then another. The guy grunts and staggers to the side.
Ronan swings again and clocks him alongside the head. The guy seems to hover in the air for half a second, before his legs buckle and he collapses to the ground in a heap.
I take a shuddering breath while Ronan stands over him, breathing hard, fists opening and closing. He turns to me, his eyes still wide.
I grab the tattered shreds of my shirt with shaking hands and try to hold them together. Tears stream down my face; I can’t stop them.
Ronan rushes over to me, taking off his coat. Gently, he puts it around me and holds it closed while I slip my arms into the sleeves.
“Come here,” he says and wraps me in his arms. “Did he hurt you?”
I nod against his chest and he pulls away. I take a trembling breath. “Get me out of here. Please.”
Ronan puts an arm around my shoulders and leads me through the alley toward the street. I spare half a thought for the guy lying unconscious behind us, but I’m so terrified I just want to get away from him.
“I’m parked up here,” Ronan says. He holds me tight while we walk up the street, and my hands clutch the lapels of his coat, keeping it closed around me.
He pulls out a key and lights blink on a dark Mercedes sedan. He opens the passenger door and ushers me in, then goes around and gets in the driver’s side.
“Where’s your house?” he asks. His hands grip the steering wheel and his voice is thick with tension.
I give him directions and he pulls out into the street, taking me home.
15: Selene
Ronan is quiet on the drive to my place. I don’t remember either of us picking up my purse, but somehow it’s in my lap. I clutch it in my hands while I stare at the lights passing by.
We park outside my house. I’m still shaking as we go inside. Without a word, I go upstairs to my bedroom. I have to get out of these clothes. I can smell the stench of beer, feel his hand plunging into my jeans. I pull off my ripped shirt and change into a pair of leggings and an oversize blue sweater. I want a shower, but I don’t want to leave Ronan sitting downstairs alone for too long.
I come out of my room and hear him talking. He says my name and gives my address. I wonder if he’s talking to the police. We probably should have called them from the bar instead of leaving, but I couldn’t think about anything other than getting away.
I’m still so shaken up that my hands are trembling, but I go downstairs and get my phone. Kylie and Braxton will notice I’m gone. I don’t want them to worry, so I send them a quick text, saying I went home. I don’t tell them what happened. I don’t want to deal with Braxton freaking out, and he might kill the guy if he finds him. Literally.
Ronan puts his phone down. “I called the police and told them what I know.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
“Come here,” he says and gently takes my wrists. He pulls me against him and wraps his arms around me. “It’s over. He won’t touch you again.”
I let Ronan hold me. I don’t care that he’s my boss, or that he feels so good I don’t want him to let go. Right now, I need him. I need him to keep his arms around me. I need to feel his breath against my hair, his strong hands on my back. I relax into him, closing my eyes.
After long moments, he pulls back and touches the side of my face with a gentle hand. “Did he hurt you?”
I nod and touch my jaw. “He hit me here.”
Ronan’s eyes flash with anger and his nostrils flare.
“Anywhere else?” he asks.
“I’ll probably have bruises where he grabbed me, but I don’t think it’s serious.” I brush his chin with my fingers. “You’re bleeding a little.”
He licks his lips and moves his jaw around. “I’m okay.”
My body is still pressed against him, my face close to his. He leans his forehead against mine and wraps his hand around the back of my neck. I tilt my head so my mouth moves closer to his. Despite the way my jaw aches, I want him to kiss me. I want to feel his lips against mine. My heart beats faster, and I slide my hands around his waist.
His phone rings and I gasp. I step back, and he grabs it off the counter.
“Yeah. Yes, it is.” He listens for a long moment. “Okay, thanks for letting us know.” He hangs up and puts his phone down. “That was the police. They’re sending someone over to the bar. They’ll call tomorrow if they need you to give a statement.”
“Okay,” I say.
He touches my face again. “You should put some ice on that.”
“So should you. There’s a bathroom over there if you want to clean up.”
Ronan goes to the bathroom and I get a couple ice packs out of the freezer. I wrap one in a paper towel and press it to the side of my jaw. Now that I’m calming down, pain blooms across my face. My cheek throbs; my lip feels swollen. My stomach turns, and I’m dangerously close to losing it. I close my eyes, leaning against the counter to steady myself, and take slow breaths. I felt better with Ronan close, and I hope he hurries back out here.
I’m okay. It’s over. I’m okay.
The front door opens. I hear footsteps coming toward the kitchen.
“Selene?” Braxton says. “Are you here?”
Ronan comes out of the bathroom holding a washcloth to his lip just as Braxton and Kylie walk in.
Braxton looks from me to Ronan, then back to me again. His eyes widen. Anger rips across his features and his body tenses up, his arms flexing.
“What the fuck?” Braxton asks and starts moving toward Ronan.
“Wait,” I say, holding up a hand, and Braxton stops. “Don’t, Brax. He didn’t do this.”
Kylie runs forward and puts her hand on Braxton’s arm. Ronan looks between Braxton and me, like he’s ready to get in his second fight of the night.
“What happened?” Kylie asks.
“Some psycho at the bar,” I say. “Ronan stopped him.”
Braxton glances at Ronan again, then rushes into the kitchen. “Are you all right?” He tips my head to the side and looks at my face. “Did someone fucking hit you? Who was it?”
“I don’t know who it was,” I say. “Some guy grabbed me when I came out of the bathroom. He shoved me outside. I…” I look away. I don’t want to tell them. I’ll have to see it again if I talk about it.
Braxton’s anger is so strong it makes my heart race faster. It’s a twin thing; I feel his emotions sometimes.
“Did you call the police?” Kylie asks.
“Ronan did,” I say. “They’re sending someone to the bar.”
“We realized we hadn’t seen you in a while,” Kylie says. “We were already on our way over when we got your text.”
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to get out of there.”
Braxton brings
me in for a gentle hug, and rests his chin on the top of my head. I can hear his heart beating fast. “Holy shit, Selene.”
Ronan walks over and stands on the other side of the island. I pull away from my brother and hand Ronan an ice pack. Braxton looks back and forth between us a few times.
“Thank you,” Brax says to Ronan.
Ronan nods. “I’m just pissed it happened at all.”
“I’m glad you were there,” Braxton says. “Fuck, I want to kill that guy.”
“Okay, Brax,” I say, putting a hand on his arm. He is not helping me calm down. “Why don’t you and Ky go home. I just need this day to be over at this point.”
“Fuck that, we’re not going anywhere,” he says.
“Braxton.” I meet his eyes. “I’m serious.”
“I’ll stay,” Ronan says.
I look at Ronan. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Do you have a spare bedroom, or am I sleeping on the couch?” Ronan asks.
“Really—”
“Let me make this very clear,” Ronan says. “If you ask me to leave, I’m going to sit on your front porch all night. So what’s it going to be? Couch? Spare bedroom? Or am I sitting on the steps outside?”
I open my mouth to tell him he doesn’t need to stay, that Brax and Ky will stay over if I need someone here. But as crazy—and probably foolish—as it is, I don’t want Ronan to go.
“There’s a bedroom right over there,” I say, pointing to Kylie’s old room. I look over at Braxton. “Brax, you guys can go home. I’m really okay. I just need to go to bed.”
Braxton eyes move to Ronan, then back to me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” I say.
Kylie meets my eyes. If I needed her, I’d be able to tell her with a look. I nod, assuring her I’m fine.
“We’ll call you in the morning, okay?” she says.
I nod. “Sure.”
Kylie tugs on Braxton’s arm and speaks quietly to him. “You know she means it. She’s okay.”
“Lock the doors,” Braxton says.
“I will.”
He takes Kylie’s hand and they walk toward the front door. I can feel his reluctance to leave, and he looks back at Ronan one last time before they disappear into the entryway.
Always Will: A Bad Boy Romance Page 9
