11. Kayla

CHAPTER 11

KAYLA

I stare into Ash's eyes, and my heart flutters. It feels like it's just the two of us in this bar.

I wasn't sure if I should bring him here. From what I've heard, he's used to fancier places.

There are no frills in this town. Everything is pretty basic. I almost feel the need to defend it, and for some reason I feel self-conscious about it.

It might not be as fancy as the places he's used to, but they've got good people, good food, and good drinks. That's all I need.

Ash didn't say anything about it, except he laughed at the name of the bar.

I expected the locals to give me shit about not coming out more often, but surprisingly most of them have kept their distance.

I've been trying to focus on my conversation with Ash, but it's hard with Izzy mouthing things at me the entire time.

When I went to get us drinks from the bar she practically leaped over. She's thrilled I'm here because she's always trying to get me to come out. She quickly switched to scolding me for not telling her that the Ash Northcross was staying with us.

I would never admit it, but it's been nice chatting with him. His world is so different from mine, and it's fascinating hearing about it. I've only managed to get small glimpses into his life, though, because he keeps wanting to know about Jack as a teenager.

I could write a book about all the trouble Jack got into. It's funny to think about him then and him now. I worry that being on the ranch has robbed him of his spark.

Ash and I have been talking for a while now. Well, it's teetering the line between talking and flirting. The more drinks we have, the more we flirt.

I'm not complaining. It's nice to have a handsome guy to flirt with.

I decide to finally introduce him to everyone. I know a few of the guys here are fans of his hockey career, and a lot of the girls are fans of his physical attributes. To their credit, everyone has mostly left us alone, but it was hard to ignore the feeling of eyes watching us. This is what animals in a zoo must feel like.

There were a few times where I got lost in his eyes and everyone seemed to disappear. I've been doing my best to shove down my attraction to him, but Izzy's strong drinks are making it hard.

I break the intense eye contact we have going on, jump up, and offer him my hand. He smiles up at me and takes it.

I hate the way my skin tingles at his touch.

I lead him over to the guys who bought me the drinks. They've all definitely tried to hook up with me at one point, but that's what happens in a small town. I know they'll look out for me now.

As the guys start talking about hockey, Tiffany, Stacy, and Candice saunter over and introduce themselves. Back in high school, they were always nice to me because of my brother, but I know they never liked me.

Candice starts to run her hand up and down Ash's coat.

I can't stand by and watch it, so I walk over to Izzy.

She gives me a cheeky smile. "Girl, that man is all types of smitten with you."

I scoff. "No, he isn't. He's just a player — literally."

She gives me a look that says that's bull.

I watch as she pours me another drink. "Hey, Iz? I'd like to be able to walk home instead of crawl."

She shrugs. "There's a hunky, muscular man that could carry you home."

"His drinks are just as strong," I laugh. "By the way, you were so distracting, mouthing incoherent things to me across the room."

Izzy scoffs. "You've been able to understand me mouthing words across the room to you since we were kids. You were just distracted by a sizzling piece of?—"

I swat my hand at her before she can finish the sentence. She pokes her tongue out slightly.

Izzy has always been fearless. She's always gotten me out of my shell and made sure I had fun. I think that, tonight, pouring us strong drinks is her way of doing that.

She leans forward. "So, tell me. What's it like having him at the ranch? Does he walk around with his shirt off?" She tilts her head as she stares at him. "Have you seen his hockey stick ?" She wiggles her eyebrows. "Do you find yourself?—"

I put my finger to her lips. "Girl, chill. There's no ‘hockey' happening between us."

I start to pull my finger back, and she lightly chomps her teeth at me. She looks back over at Ash and bites her lip. "I would've grabbed his stick and taken a swing."

I scrunch up my face and laugh. "This sports analogy clearly isn't working."

She shrugs and continues to make drinks while watching Ash.

Taking a sip of the drink she's just made, I give her an approving nod. It's not as strong, but it's still nice.

She pushes out her bottom lip. "No fair. I wanted juicy details. It's been a while."

I sigh and look over at the girls hanging off him. "Me too."

The combination of the fireplace and alcohol has me burning up, so I take off my coat. There's a slight chance that a certain hockey player is making me feel hot and bothered as well.

I grab his drink and make my way back over to him.

Tiffany puts her hand on his arm, and Ash shakes it off. I'm taken aback by this gesture. She's gorgeous and usually the girl all the guys flock to. She was the queen bee of our small school.

He notices me and smiles. My heart skips a beat.

Tiffany is standing where I was before. I decide to go to the other side of him instead of trying to squeeze into the small space Tiffany has left between them. He steps closer to me, and I hand him his drink.

He leans down and thanks me. I enjoy the feeling of his hot breath on my skin.

I think he's going to step away from me, but he throws his arm around me. My body ignites under the feeling of his arm, and I take a sip of my drink as he continues talking like this were the most normal thing in the world.

Something about this feels natural. I try not to show how much I'm enjoying it, but if I were asked a question, I would have no idea what it was. All I can concentrate on is his arm around me.

I glance back at Izzy, who mouths, Oh, my God , and I subtly widen my eyes and shrug.

The girls excuse themselves, smiling at Ash but staring daggers at me.

He lightly drags his finger up and down my arm as he talks, and my body tingles as tiny jolts of electricity hum throughout my body.

A few of the guys glance at his hand and then me, but no one says anything. They're probably thinking that Jack is going to kill him. It was his go-to threat throughout high school anytime any of his friends hit on me.

I do my best to engage in conversation, but I mainly stick to sipping on my drink.

Ash excuses himself to join Olivia, the town baker, at karaoke. I suddenly feel hollow without his touch, and I hate that I feel like this. I try not to delve too much into how my body responds to him. I'm putting it down to physical attraction and the fact that it's been a while. That's the explanation I'm sticking with.

I laugh as he sings off-key to a pop song I've never heard. The whole bar is enamored with him as he puts on a performance. He throws off his jacket and a few people wolf whistle.

Afterwards, he continues to make the rounds, making sure he has a hand or arm on me the entire time.

I take the opportunity to really look at him. He reminds me of those movie stars that you can't quite believe are not photoshopped.

He catches me staring and meets my gaze with surprising intensity. My skin feels hot under his touch, and it takes everything in me not to kiss him.

Breaking our staring match, Carl, our postman, steals him for a toast.

I can't help but smile at how everyone has embraced him. This town is very protective and close-knit — which is also code for judgmental. The saying about gossip traveling faster than lightning definitely rings true here.

However, once you're in with the locals, you're considered family.

They've been by my side through losing my mom, my awkward teenage years, my early adulthood, and everything in between.

Seeing Ash slide right in is oddly comforting. It's like I'm getting their seal of approval. Not that I need it, because we're not a couple or anything. Nevertheless, it's nice to see.

I turn around to get another drink, and by the time I turn back, Ash is arm-wrestling Nathan, the bar owner. For a second I think they're fighting, but they're both laughing. I can't help but laugh too as I watch them struggle back and forth. They throw insults at each other as if it's going to help them win.

Izzy rolls her eyes at me as if to say Ugh, men . I notice how she looks at Nathan, and I wonder if there's anything going on there.

I look back to Ash as the crowd cheers them on. In spite of myself, I can't wipe the smile off my face.