10. Roxy

Chapter 10

Roxy

I sit and stare at the closed door that Gage just walked through. For a minute there, I thought he felt it too. All the sexual tension that’s been building year after year, I finally thought he felt it too. But he didn’t. I know by the way he set me away from him and would barely look me in the face. I had hoped he couldn’t read the desire and love in my eyes and obviously he didn’t. He left so fast I knew he must have just been passionate about wanting to look out for me… that was it. He’s always looked out for me and I’ve always trusted him, so I know he doesn’t understand what’s going on with me right now. It has to be hard on him that suddenly he’s someone that I hide things from. Which sucks, honestly. I’ve been close to Cat and Stella, but I’ve always felt a bond with Gage. I’ve told him everything. Well, almost everything. I’m a private person but he’s always been somebody that I can talk to and someone that I trust. He calls me on my shit and I do the same for him. To know that’s changing, that this pregnancy is changing our relationship is hard. But I still wouldn’t have it any other way. I cup my hand across my belly and stroke it easily. I’m still early, so I don’t feel any flutters or any kicks, but I still feel him in there. Knowing that I have a part of Gage inside me, that’s what pushes me and gives me the strength to go on.

I get up and put away the first aid kit before heading back out to the bar. We were already short staffed and when I come out, Ranger is out waiting tables and Gage is helping out. When I catch Gage looking at me I smile at him to let him know we’re okay. It’s not his fault that he doesn’t feel the same way toward me that I feel toward him. He’s always been good to me and no matter what he feels, I don’t want to lose him as a friend.

I grab a tray off the bar top and start to walk out to the tables to help with orders. Gage steps in front of me. “Roxy, please, tonight has been rough enough. For me, can you please just work behind the bar? Ranger and I got this.”

Before I can answer, Saint walks up to me and takes the tray from my hand. “I’ll help.”

Any other time I would argue with him, spouting off how I can take care of myself, but seeing how he asks so nicely and the fact that it has been a rough night—I mean, I’ve gotten the man into two fights already and it’s still early—I agree. “Sure. I’ll help behind the bar.” I turn to walk away, and then turn back to him. When I stop, his eyes fly up from my backside to my face, a blush crossing his face. Did I just catch him watching my ass? Surely not. “Uh, tonight. I’ll stay behind the bar… tonight,” I tell him. I don’t want him to think I’m going to be back there every night. A woman has to keep some of her control.

As soon as I walk behind the bar, Cat hits me with her hip. “You okay? Gage looks like he wants to kill someone.”

I nod my head, thinking what she said is about right because he did about kill a man outside. I get lost in my work then, the loud classic rock blaring through the sound system, the laughter and voices talking, filling my head. I do my best to stay focused, but my thoughts keep going back to Gage.

* * *

Gage

I feel like a fuckin’ traitor. Roxy has always trusted me to have her best interests in mind. I’ve always looked out for her. She may not think she needs saving, but I’ve saved her from more worthless men than I can count. I would see the desire in their eyes as they looked at her and I would nip it in the bud quick. I feel like she’s always looked up to me.

But now, once I pictured taking her on Ranger’s desk it’s like I can’t turn it off. I can’t look at her like she’s someone I should be devouring. When she came out of the back and smiled at me, it’s the same smile she’s given me a hundred times. She’s always been beautiful to me, but her smiles used to seem sweet… innocent.

When she smiles at me now, I feel like she pulled the trigger on the starting gun, telling me to come and get her. How can one smile do that to me? Fill my head with all these sinful thoughts?

My cock is so hard thinking of her I know I can’t walk right. I’m supposed to be taking orders and helping wait tables and I can barely walk with my stiffy between my legs. I can’t remember the last time I was hard just by looking at a woman and every time I look at Roxy now—hell, just thinking about her does it to me.

I walk over to the bar and put an order in. “Two lite drafts.”

Roxy laughs and the soft melody does me even further in.

“What are you laughing about?”

She looks like she may not answer, but finally she shrugs her shoulders as if saying what the hell. “I was just thinking if this was a different kind of bar, one where there were more women than men, I bet you’d make really good money in tips right now.”

She sets the beers on my tray and I look at her questioningly.

She rolls her eyes and shrugs her shoulders. “You know you look good, Gage.”

Her face heats up as she says it. I pick up the tray and start to walk away. Was she flirting with me? I turn and look at her and catch her looking at my ass. When she raises her eyes up to mine, she winks at me. Shocked, I trample over Saint and we both fall to the floor, covered in beer. When I look back up to Roxy, she and Cat are both laughing at us. Fuck, is this night ever going to end?