“Hey, Sky, how goes it?” he asked.
“Can I get whatever you have on tap that’s hoppy?” I pulled out my credit card and gave it to him for my tab.
“We got something in the other day I think you’re going to like,” he grinned. I understood why Lena wanted to set me up with him. He was good-looking in a slightly unnerving way. He was a few years younger than me, so I hadn’t known him well in school but the Sawyer boys were well known in Southport. Mostly because Brad was a star on the basketball team and his older brother, Sebastian, was the trouble maker known by local police for starting fights and drinking in public. It was only fitting that two homegrown boys took over the institution that was Sweet Lila’s.
He slid the beer down the bar, and I caught it before it went off the edge. I took a sip and gave him a thumbs up. “Good stuff.”
“Brad, where’s the wine glasses? Oh hi, Sky,” Hannah called out as she came in from the kitchen. Lena’s high school best friend looked slightly frazzled in her normally chaotic way. She looked as if she had just come from the school where she worked as a teacher. There was a smear of red paint on her elbow and her hair had fallen out of the bun at the nape of her neck.
“I told you I would put them away,” Brad said with a note of something I couldn’t quite read in his voice. I noticed the way they moved around each other and got the feeling something was up between the two of them.
“Thanks, Brad. I’m waiting on Rob, so send him my way when he comes in,” I said, wanting to get away from the strange tension between him and Hannah. I had enough of that in my own life.
Hannah looked up; her eyes wide. “Rob Jenkins?”
“Yeah,” I said slowly.
“Are you two seeing each other or something?” She came over and leaned on her elbows in front of me. “Dude, he’s so hot. You are one lucky woman. What I wouldn't do to take a bite out of that tight ass.”
I noticed that Brad’s face became thunderous, and he turned and went back into the kitchen. Hannah didn’t even notice or pretended not to.
“Yeah, keep your teeth away from his ass, please,” I joked with a hint of warning. I liked Hannah, but her flirting was too much sometimes.
“I wouldn’t dream of stepping on your toes, Sky.” She made the sign of the cross over her heart.
“I’ll hold you to that,” I shook my finger at her in a mock warning and she chuckled. “Okay, well I’m off to nurse my beer until Rob shows up.”
I escaped to the back corner. It was the booth farthest from everyone and everything and would give us a little privacy in the soon-to-be busy bar. I pulled out my phone, checking my email, which was really an introvert’s signal to the rest of the room to leave them the hell alone.
It seemed not everyone got the memo.
“Is that you, Skylar?”
I looked up, instantly recognizing the stunning older woman standing beside my table.
“Tiff, hello,” I said, forcing a smile. My talk with Whitney and Kyle earlier had me re-evaluating my conversation with the lovely stranger from the clothing store. “How are you settling into Southport?”
“It’s such a nice town, full of nice people. I think I hit the jackpot when I found this place.” She put her hand on her hip. “How have you been? I’ve been thinking about you,” she said, her perfect lips spreading into what appeared to be a genuine smile.
“Oh really? Why is that?”
Tiff sat down without waiting for an invitation.
“I was wondering how it went when you pushed that man to the curb. What did you say his name was?” She propped her elbows on the table and folded her hands, resting her chin.
“I didn’t,” I pointed out, a little off balance.
“Oh, what’s his name then? Perhaps I’ve run into him in my wanderings around town.”
Was I being overly suspicious, or did she seem pushier than she had the last time?
“Um, his name is Robert Jenkins,” I found myself telling.
“Robert Jenkins. Hmm, that does sound familiar. Jenkins, Decate and Wyatt law firm?”
I nodded. “That’s it. He’s one of the partners.”
She giggled. “What a small world. Jeremy Wyatt handled the closing of my new house.”
Something inside me twisted slightly. “Oh yeah, small world.”
Tiff looked at me expectantly. “So, how did he take it when you told him to get lost?”
“Uh, well, I never said I was going to say that exactly.” Why did she care so much? She didn’t know me. Was this really some overt girl-power thing?
She grimaced slightly as if picking up on my hesitance. “I’m sorry, it’s none of my business. I just got such a good feeling when I met you. It’s hard moving to a new town, not knowing anyone. It was nice having an enjoyable conversation with someone genuine.”
I relaxed slightly, feeling foolish for internally overreacting. She really was just a nice woman. Maybe a little lonely and wanting friends. “It’s okay, Tiff. I liked talking to you too. Things went in the opposite direction after you and I spoke.”
Tiff leaned back in her seat, seeming eager to hear more. “Do tell.”
“I’m meeting him here in a few minutes.”
Tiff’s face became strangely blank. “I get the feeling you didn’t tell him to take a hike after all?”
“No, actually we’re together now. I was being a little harsh about the whole thing.” I shook my head. “I can be pretty unforgiving. It’s something I’m working on.”
Tiff’s eyes softened. “Oh Darling, we all have things to work on. If you’re happy, that’s wonderful. Just remember that if your gut was asking questions in the beginning, you shouldn’t ignore that. Men are often more than they seem,” she stated cryptically. She tapped my now half-empty beer mug. “Can I buy a new friend a drink? Maybe I can meet this man of yours?”
There it was again, that strange tingling of doubt. I didn’t know where it was coming from. Tiff was a perfectly nice woman. Pushy, but nice. But that didn’t mean I wanted a third wheel.
“That’s nice of you, Tiff, and maybe another time. But this evening is more of a date thing.” I tried hard not to be rude, which was difficult for me. I wasn’t one to mince words, especially when I was feeling like something was off.
Tiff got to her feet. “No problem. I’m sorry, look at me trying to push my way into your date. I should be ashamed of myself.” She let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“No problem. Like I said, another time. I’m usually in here a couple of times a week. It is the only place in Southport to hang out,” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood.
“Then I know where to find you,” Tiff joined in with a snicker and she turned to leave.
“Hey, did you ever reconnect with that guy you knew in town?” I asked her, feeling like a jerk for not enquiring sooner.
Her face did that blank thing again that was slightly unsettling. “I did find him. I just think it might take longer than I thought for us to find our way to each other.” Her full, red lips spread into a wide smile. “But when it’s meant to be, it’ll be.” She lifted her shoulders into an exaggerated shrug.
“Very true. Well, good luck.”
“Enjoy your date,” she said in return.
I watched Tiff walk to the back, obviously heading to the restroom. I also noticed how Brad couldn’t help but check her out. Tiff may be older, but she was one good-looking woman. Just as she disappeared into the bathroom, Robert came into the bar. He stopped, looked around and when his eyes found me, his entire face lit up.
It made every inch of my body warm to see him looking at me like that. It made me feel like the prettiest girl in the room.
He spoke to Brad briefly before heading my way.
“Hey,” he said with a smile, leaning down to kiss my mouth before taking off his suit jacket and hanging it on the hook at the side of the booth. He was wearing a form-fitting blue dress shirt that hugged his muscles in all the right ways. The man knew how t
o wear clothes. His glasses slipped down his nose, so he took them off and tucked them into his jacket pocket.
It was always strange to see him without his glasses, but he looked good either way.
Brad brought him a beer, putting it down in front of him. “Go figure, you two ordered the same thing,” the bartender laughed. Rob and I looked at each other and smiled. “Are you guys going to order something to eat or is it just drinks tonight?”
Rob looked at me questioningly. “Do you want to eat here, or…”
“We could go back to my place and watch a movie instead? Order take out?” I suggested.
Rob grinned. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
Brad cleared his throat. “Okay, well I don’t need your evening plans, just a yes or no on the food guys.”
We all laughed, and I told Brad we were good.
Rob bumped my leg with his and I nudged him back. “You look beautiful tonight,” he said, taking my hand across the table.
“Well, I sat at a desk all morning, hunched over my keyboard, and then went to Kyle and Whitney’s after lunch where I played with Katie and she puked on my shirt after I pushed her too high on the swing. Whitney washed my shirt. Don’t worry, I didn’t come here with kid vomit on my clothes,” I snickered. “So yeah, I’m sure I’m looking dead sexy.”
He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. “Trust me, you do.” His voice went deep, and I felt it in my girly parts.
I saw Tiff come out of the restroom and stop when she saw that Robert had joined me. She stared at him for a while, probably trying to determine if she had seen him before. She noticed me watching her and sent me a thumbs up. I gave her a small wave as she left.
Robert turned in his seat. “Who are you waving at?”
“Just some woman I met a few weeks ago,” I replied dismissively. “So, tell me about your day.”
“Shall I walk you through the wild and thrilling world of real estate law?” he asked with a straight face.
I clasped my hand over my heart dramatically. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”
Robert shook his head. “You mock me, Miss Murphy, and it hurts.”
“I’m so sorry. Please tell me about real estate law. And while we’re at it we can go watch some paint dry.”
Robert balled up a napkin and threw it at me, which I easily batted away.
“So... I was wondering if you’d like to go into Philly with me this weekend,” he said, chewing on his bottom lip as if he were nervous.
“Are you asking me to go away with you for the weekend, Mr. Jenkins?” I asked, batting my eyes. “I don’t know if that’s respectable.”
Rob laughed, but it sounded strained. “Yeah, um, I was thinking of going to see my brother and I wondered if you’d like to come along and meet him.”
Woah. This was huge. This was the guy who up until a week ago wouldn’t tell me anything about his family and now he was asking if I wanted to meet them?
Things seemed to have gone into overdrive in a very short period.
Misinterpreting my hesitation, Rob backtracked. “I’m sorry, I get we’re probably not at the meeting each other’s families yet. It’s only I promised Sam I’d come to visit him and I want to spend time with you too. But I get I’m putting a lot of pressure on this thing between us by even suggesting it.” He was rambling. I had never known the guy to ramble before. He was typically a man of few words, but now they were spewing from his mouth.
“Hey, Rob,” I interrupted. He shut up instantly. “I’d love to go to Philly with you. I’d love to meet Sam.”
Rob looked up at me through his thick lashes. “Really? Don’t feel you have to—”
“Yes, I want to!” I said a little too loudly. “Seriously. I’m thrilled you asked me to come with you.”
Robert leaned over the table and cupped my face, pulling me toward him so he could kiss me. “Thank you, Sky. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
My face flushed. “Let's get out of here,” I whispered against his mouth.
His eyes turned hot. “Let’s.”
**
We ended up going back to Robert’s house because it was closer. I had never been to his house before, so I was surprised when he pulled up to a beautiful two-story colonial on a quiet residential street not far from Adam's parents’ place. I parked my car and got out. I had followed him over and Rob was already waiting for me on the sidewalk.
“This is not what I expected when you suggested going to your house,” I said, as he took my hand and led me up the steps to the porch.
He put the key in the lock and turned the knob, turning on a light in the darkened hallway. “Were you expecting a bachelor pad like where Wyatt used to live?” he asked with a laugh.
“Actually, yes.” I followed him inside, finding myself in a cozy, comfortable space fit more for a family of four than a man living by himself.
He turned on a floor lamp in the spacious living room, casting a soft light over the comfortable, fashionable furniture. The man had style. “What about Edgar? We can go get him and bring him over here,” he offered.
The fact he remembered my beast of a dog made me like him even more. “That’s okay. My neighbor down the road, Mr. Sheehan, will take care of him. I called him earlier and he was going to go by and let him out and feed him. He usually stays a bit and fusses on him for a while.”
“You’re okay letting some random guy in your house?” Robert asked in disbelief.
“He’s not a random guy,” I chuckled. “I’ve known him since I was five. He used to coach my little league t-ball team.”
“Okay, as long as you’re sure.” I watched him light a couple of candles on the mantle of the rather ornately painted fireplace. It had been filled in with brick and Robert had put a dried flower arrangement in the hearth. He was the first man I had encountered that didn’t view decorating as painting the walls white and putting a futon in the corner. Even Adam’s, who wasn’t a typical dumb guy, the first apartment looked like a hotel room.
“When I moved to Southport I decided I didn’t want something temporary. I planned to put down roots. I didn’t want a sparse apartment that I’d have to move out of when I wanted something bigger. Then this place went up for auction and I snatched it up for a bottom-dollar price. At the time, not many people were looking for property in a town with one coffee shop and a rundown bar.”
“That’s all going to change in the next few years now that ground has broken on that massive development just outside of town.” I walked over to a large built-in bookshelf that took up most of the far wall. It was filled with every type of book you could imagine, but there was a set that instantly caught my eye.
I pulled out an old book, the dust jacket yellowed with age, my eyes practically popping out of my head. “Is this what I think it is?”
Robert joined me and grabbed the other two to make the set. “First editions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, yep.”
I gingerly opened them, using the utmost care as I turned the pages. I lifted it and inhaled deeply. “I love the smell of old books.”
Robert smiled. “Me too. I could spend hours in an antique bookshop.”
I gave him a gentle nudge with my shoulder. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”
“Now I’ll just think you’re using me for my Tolkien first editions,” Robert teased, putting the books back on the shelf.
“There are more?” I gaped, finding a first edition of the Silmarillion and the Hobbit as well. “I’m thinking we should put the Bruce Lee movies on hold and dive straight into The Fellowship of the Ring instead.”
“One does not simply walk into Mordor,” Robert intoned darkly, leaning down and kissing my mouth.
I had been lucky in that my friends had shared my Tolkien obsession when I was growing up. Meg and I watched the trilogy over a dozen times. It felt nice to know that Robert got my love for fantasy. It was almost unbelievable how many things we had in common.
�
��Can I have a tour?” I asked.
Robert took my hand again, pulling me close. “I’ll lead the way.”
We walked into the open and brightly colored kitchen. Someone—Robert? —had painted the cabinets in different colors, giving it a patchwork feel. The tiled backsplash along the counter was done in a mosaic style reminiscent of a Spanish villa. “Oh, I like your kitchen.”
“It’s a pretty great space, but if I were to choose kitchens, I’d choose yours hands down.” He opened the refrigerator and got out a couple of beers. I noticed they were a brand that I usually bought for myself when I had extra cash in my pocket. They were from a high-end brewery in the city.
“I couldn’t have done it without your friend, Mike. He is amazing at what he does. And thank you again for the stained glass. It’s such a gorgeous piece.” I took the beer he handed me and took a long drink.
“Mike has a lot of talent. He’s always had an eye for architecture. I’m planning to hire him to build an ensuite bathroom in the master bedroom.” He put his hand on my lower back and we returned to the living room before crossing the hall. Robert opened the door to a dining room complete with an eight-person table.
“This is a lot of room for one guy living by himself,” I observed, taking in the hand-crafted molding along the ceiling.
“Maybe one day I won’t be living alone,” he remarked with a shrug, his hand still pressed to my back. His words were like an electric shock through my body. His intention was clear. Was he thinking that way already? We had been talking again for a little over a week.
Seeing the look on my face, Robert laughed, cupped my face, and kissed the tip of my nose. “I’m not going to ask you to move in tomorrow, Sky. Calm down. It’s just when you know, you know.”
“I don’t subscribe to all that instalove bullshit, Rob,” I warned him, even though I couldn't help feeling giddy at his certainty.
“Who said anything about instalove? But instalust? Absolutely.” He kissed me, deep and raw, his mouth conquering mine. He pushed back against the wall, his body pressing against mine. He wrapped his hands around my wrists, pinning them above my head, his pelvis grinding against me.
Say You're Mine: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Southport Love Stories Book 4) Page 14
