She scoffed. “I should have known that with him there is always strings attached.”
“Want me to get rid of him?”
“How? He won’t leave. I told him he couldn’t stay if he didn’t order anything, so he put an order in.”
“Refuse service.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I’ll bring his food to him then. Stay back here.”
Her gaze immediately went to the red exit sign above the back door. “We’re short-handed to begin with. Besides I can’t keep running from my problems.”
A protective urge came over him, wanting to carry her away from here, but he knew she needed to settle things with her ex. “I’ll be behind the bar if you need me.”
“Thanks, but I need to do this on my own.” She kissed his cheek and pushed through the kitchen doors. Pride swelled in his chest as she marched into the lion’s den.
Shane fully respected Olivia’s wishes to handle her ex on her own, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t stand in his place behind the bar and continue to observe.
Olivia’s hands went up in front of her, moving as fast as her mouth. Anger tightened the skin around her eyes. Shane took a few drink orders but kept his attention on Olivia.
“Go to hell,” Olivia’s voice floated over the chatter of the pub. Her face twisted in rage. Her lips continued to move, but Shane couldn’t hear her over the chatter. She spun on her sneaker away from the table, and Daniel grabbed her wrist, yanking her back to him.
Shane’s body jolted forward, but he dug deep and stopped himself. Olivia wanted to handle this on her own, and he wouldn’t take that away from her. He picked up the rag, needing to keep busy, and wiped down the empty space of bar in front of him.
“Leave me alone!” Olivia wrenched her arm away from him, and any control Shane had snapped. He catapulted himself over the bar and didn’t stop until he was firmly planted between Olivia and her ex. Confusion marked Daniel’s face, and the chatter in the pub came to a deafening silence.
Shane stared into the asshole’s eyes, refusing to show any sign of fear. He didn’t fear people who hid behind wealth and knew nothing about real life struggles. “She said to leave her alone.”
“Who the hell are you?”
“Shane, and you must be Daniel, the douchebag that was dumb enough to let Olivia go, but you know that, don’t you? Because why else would you be here?”
Daniel stepped toward him, but he didn’t back down. He’d faced deadlier things in his life to let a custom-tailored suit intimidate him.
“None of this is your business.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. It became my business the minute you walked in that door. And it definitely became my business the minute you grabbed her.”
Daniel looked around him to Olivia. “Do me the one favor, and you can come back to my place and take anything you want.”
Olivia blinked up, uncertainty in her big brown eyes. Shane’s heart sunk. After everything, she was going to walk out the door with this jerk?
“I…” She shook her head, shoulders rolling back, and stood to her full height. “I don’t want any of it.”
Shock spread through Daniel’s face. “You have got to be kidding me.”
She stepped toward him, never once cowering at his vengeful gaze. “I love my job in this ‘shithole’, and I make a decent salary. I may not have the things you gave me, but I don't need them. I have my family and friends who love and care about me—not to mention the people of this town who support me. Everything else is meaningless.”
Self-confidence looked amazing on her. She glowed with poise and conviction, and he’d never been more attracted to someone. The wall around his heart cracked, hope and love forcing their way inside. He’d worry about it later. Right now, he needed to get rid of the trash.
“You heard the lady. She doesn’t want any of it, including you, so why don’t you leave?”
He pulled at his shirt sleeves and adjusted his stupid cuff links. “I’m not done eating.”
Shane grabbed Daniel’s hand, snatched up what was left of the burger, and slapped it down into his palm. “You can take it to go.” Shane shoved him toward the door, and Daniel smacked his hands away, the burger going airborne with the motion.
“I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but your ass is mine. Where’s the manager?”
Connor uncrossed his arms in his spot behind the bar and gave a wave. “That would be me, and whatever my cousin says, I back him up a hundred percent.”
“You shoved me. That’s assault. I’ll have you arrested.” Daniel reached for his phone.
“You can try.” Connor stepped out from behind the bar. “But from what I saw, you attacked Olivia, and Shane was defending her.”
Disbelief shone in his eyes. “That is not what happened.”
“Is it not?”
“That’s what I saw,” Jean called from the end of the bar.
“Me too,” Maria said.
“Me too,” the chorus around the pub echoed.
Olivia stepped in front of Shane, and he didn’t stop her. This was her battle, not his. He shouldn’t have gotten involved in the first place, but seeing Daniel’s hand on her wrist tossed out every rational thought. .
Olivia smirked. “Wouldn’t want to tarnish your good name, now would you?”
Daniel stared at her, angry daggers shooting from his eyes, but Olivia didn’t back down. She stood tall, facing the man who betrayed her with the grace and strength Shane knew she had from the moment he met her.
“It’s probably best you leave.”
The entire pub’s attention focused on them and Olivia firmed her stance. Pride erupted in his chest as Olivia refused to back down.
“It’s only a matter of time before you come crawling back,” Daniel spat.
“Never going to happen.”
“We’ll see about that.” Daniel threw a twenty on the table and stormed out. The door slammed shut behind him and the entire pub erupted into applause.
“Good riddance,” Jean called out.
Olivia picked up the twenty. “All that money, and he’s a terrible tipper.”
Shane laughed at her ability to crack a joke after the tension that filled the room only seconds ago.
Shane touched Olivia’s elbow, making sure not to grab or yank her like Daniel had. “You okay?”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I think so.” She looked around at the crowd. “I have to check on my tables.”
“Do what you have to do. We can talk later, if you want.”
“I’d like that.”
She lifted on tiptoes and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Thanks,” she said, and he watched as she hurried off to the kitchen, confidence in every step.
***
Olivia’s hands shook at the array of emotions battling it out in her mind. Part of her was throwing a party for being able to stand up to Daniel, but the other part of her? That part was a damn mess mixed with lingering rage and embarrassment.
Shane had already seen her at her worst; nothing could beat that day on the train. Still, having him witness the disaster that was her relationship with Daniel was humiliating. It’s why she ran off to the kitchen. She didn’t want to face him. Especially since it didn’t dawn on her until today how emotionally abusive Daniel was. He used words and material possessions to manipulate her, and she let him. It was why they lasted for three years. She never challenged him. Never told him no and always praised him and his accomplishments.
She was ashamed for how long she allowed it to go on, but she was also proud at how she finally found the strength to see beyond his manipulation and the courage to stand up for herself.
The rest of the night moved by in a blur, bouncing from one table to the next until the last customer left. Olivia shut the door behind them and collapsed in the closest chair.
Strong fingers dug into the tense muscles along her shoulders, and she closed her eyes, relishing i
n the relief. She didn’t want to open her eyes and come back to reality. She wanted to stay in this little cloud of heaven for as long as possible. The minute she let the world back in, she’d have to talk to Shane about tonight, and she was still too embarrassed.
Warm breath stroked her ear. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll give you a ride home.”
She wanted to go anywhere he wanted to go, but being in a car with him, there’d be nowhere to run. “I have to help—”
“Connor’s got it under control.” He slid his hand down her arm and laced his fingers with hers, giving her a little tug of encouragement.
“But—”
“Go!” Connor yelled from the kitchen.
Shane smirked. “Told you.”
“Let me just grab my bag.” She stood, slowly releasing Shane’s hand as she walked backward. Maybe they didn’t have to talk at all. Their fingers unlaced, and she hurried to get her belongings before meeting him at the door.
A cool ocean breeze met her as Shane opened the door and she stepped out into the night. Spring still clung to the air, and while it was a bit chilly, Olivia welcomed it over the oppressive humidity that was bound to appear soon.
Main Street was empty. All the businesses were dark, and the only light that still shone bright was over McConnell’s. In a few weeks all that would change as people made their way out to the east end for their summer getaways.
Goosebumps popped up along her arms, and she hugged herself.
“You cold?” Shane asked.
“A little,” she admitted.
He fell in pace behind her, his large hands rubbing up and down her arms, creating friction and warmth. “Better?” he asked.
“A little.”
He wrapped his arms around her, his heat encompassing her. A fiery trail moved along her skin, sparking little fires of desire in its wake. She’d never been turned on so easily, but when it came to Shane all he had to do was touch her, and she was ready to rip her clothes off.
It was like that with Daniel in the beginning… or at least she had thought it was. The more she looked back, she realized their hot and heavy sexcapades had more to do with the thrill of would they or wouldn’t they get caught. With Shane, there was no pretense.
She stopped walking and turned in his arms. His eyebrow furrowed, his lips parting, but before he could say a word, she crashed her lips to his. All her inhibitions that she’d thrown to the curb suddenly gathered and jumped back in her mind as if she used up every last ounce of courage she had today.
Daniel’s judging eyes flashed behind her lids, making her dissolve into a puddle of self-doubt. What if she was being too aggressive? What if the raw passion came from Shane and his desire to be in control?
She gave up control, trying to follow Shane’s lead, but his mouth stopped moving. He pulled away, cupping her face, and angling her to look at him.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“I wanted to kiss you.”
“And I wanted to kiss you, too, but one minute I’m kissing you, and the next I’m kissing a soggy dishtowel.”
“A soggy dishtowel?” She playfully smacked his shoulder.
“Flaccid, moist, uninterested,” he teased, moving her toward the side of the building. She knew what would happen the minute her back hit that wall, and she wanted it. His finger traced the outline of her face, up and over the curve of her ear and lingered near her lobe. “Want to talk about it?” he asked.
“Talk about what? How you think I’m flaccid, which is the most unattractive word imaginable.”
His lip curled upward in an amused grin. “I meant what’s going on up here.” He tapped her head lightly. “And flaccid is an ugly word. But one minute you were with me, and then suddenly you were a million miles away.”
Her head dropped at his words. He was right. She let her mind take over, filling her with self-doubt and uncertainty instead of allowing herself to be in the moment.
“I know we’re having fun,” he said. “But I’m selfish, and I don’t want to share you with Daniel either.”
Taken aback her head snapped up, smacking Shane square in the nose. A loud umph came out of him, and his hand shot against his face. He moaned and mumbled a few indecipherable words, but if Olivia were to guess, they weren’t getting a PG rating.
“I am so sorry.” She reached for his face, wanting to take away the pain, but also wanting the wall to swallow her whole. “Do you want me to kiss it better?”
“Depends on who’s kissing me. You or the soggy towel?”
She brought his nose slowly to her face and brushed a kiss gently across it before moving down to his mouth. His lips yielded to hers, letting her keep control, and this time she took it. She thrust her fingers into his hair, holding his head close and angling it to deepen the kiss.
The electricity she’d come to expect between them flickered to life as their tongues met in a slick erotic tangle. She moved into him, arching her center to his, feeling the hard press of his growing erection.
She pulled back slightly, nipping at his lip. “How was that for a soggy towel?”
“That was no damn towel. That was all you.”
She smiled and blinked up, catching his brownish green eyes. “You don’t have to share me with Daniel,” she said. “You saw what happened tonight. We’re over. We’ve been over for a while.”
He tapped her temple. “But he’s still in here.”
“I don’t want him to be.”
“Then don’t let him.”
Olivia laughed. “If it were only that simple.”
“It can be.”
“For three years, I tried to be everything I thought he wanted. The sad thing is, I didn’t even realize I was doing it. I’ve never felt comfortable in my own skin. I’ve always thought if I was just taller, thinner, had blonde hair, curly hair, if I was smarter, sexier… I guess what that all means is I don’t think I’m good enough.”
Shane’s hands came around her waist, holding her close, but not close enough that she couldn’t look deep into his eyes. “You are good enough and whenever Daniel or anyone else pops in your head and makes you think you’re not, think of this moment. Right now. Think of my words. You, Olivia Green, are more than good enough. You’re pretty damn special.”
The sincerity in his gaze melted her heart and gave her the confidence to pin him up against the building and kiss him until they were breathless.
Chapter 16
Shane slowed the car in front of Olivia’s house, and she shifted in her seat. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but at least he’d have the memory of their earlier kiss that turned into a full on make-out session until Connor cleared his throat as he walked to his own car.
Olivia bit her lip, plump and swollen from their workout. “I’m not tired.” Three unassuming words that were filled with so much promise.
“Me either,” he said. “I can keep driving… or we can go back to my place.”
Crimson crept up her neck and filled her cheeks. Her eyelashes fanned down. “Your place sounds good.”
He turned the wheel toward the road and continued on. Olivia’s hand crossed the console and rested on his thigh. His cock came to attention, pressing desperately against his zipper. He took a deep breath, but when her hand inched ever so slightly toward his throbbing erection, a moan rumbled up his throat.
Desire sparked, hot and strong, making it a sheer determination of will to keep from pulling over and lifting her onto him. He wanted to explore her, savor every inch of her body, worship it the way it deserved. All of which he couldn’t do from the front seat of a car.
Her fingers massaged and crawled up and down the bulge, finally closing around his length. The car drifted, and he quickly corrected the wheel, bringing his hands back to ten and two.
Olivia giggled, and God the things he was going to do to her. But right now, he needed to get to his place in one piece. He rested his hand on hers, peeling her off him. She protested with a moan of disappointmen
t.
“Let me get us there safely, and then you can explore as much of me as you’d like.”
“You’re a safety-first kind of guy, then?”
He kissed her knuckles and flashed her a smile. “Always.” Shit. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as realization dawned on him. “There wouldn’t happen to be any gas stations open now would there?”
“Not in town. Why?” She leaned over, her fruity floral scent making his already hard dick even harder. “You have three quarters of a tank.”
He groaned as he shoved his urges down. “I don’t need gas.”
“Then why do you need…” Understanding dawned on her face. “Oh! Condoms. Duh. No worries.” She reached into her monogrammed bag and pulled out an unopened box. “I have some.”
His eyebrow lifted without prompt.
“Not that I planned tonight or anything,” she said. “Harper gave them to me. She had extra.” Every time Harper went on a date, she made sure to be prepared. Unfortunately, most of the dates were duds, and she was just accumulating a large collection of unused, unopened condoms since she kept forgetting to keep the boxes in her car.
He snatched the condoms from her hand and slipped them into his pocket. “You guys are really close, huh?”
Olivia nodded. “Harper and Isla are like sisters to me. Except they don’t snap at me as much as my own sister does, they don’t borrow my clothes and get stains on them, and they don’t guilt trip me nearly as much as Cindy does.”
“Is Cindy older or younger?”
“Older. She’s married. My brother-in-law Zane is a saint. My sister can be a bit of a pain in the ass. Then there’s Jolie, my niece. We call her, Jojo. She’s my little buddy.”
Shane listened as Olivia spoke about her family, warmth and love flowing through her tone.
“You’re lucky,” he said, “to have so many people care about you.”
“What about you? I know your mom passed, and obviously you never knew your dad, but any other family other than the McConnells? Friends you left behind in California?”
Shane ran a hand over his face. All his friends were dead, and it was the reason he steered clear of making new ones. Until he came to Morgan’s Bay, and Olivia so effortlessly planted herself into his life.
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