Part 7 (1/2)

I've told Angel everything, of course. Her advice was- no surprise here- to f.u.c.k him again and see how I feel. I tried telling her I don't need to f.u.c.k him again; I already know how I feel, but she refuses to accept that as a valid response.

Maybe I should take her advice for once...

”We're here.” Kimber's voice pulls me back to the present, and I immediately shake off the lingering thought.

I look out the window just in time to see the cab pull up in front of Ramshacks, a hopping bar and grill not ten minutes from campus. I've been here several times before and it's a location I am extremely comfortable with. At least I have that much and not in some strange place two hours from home. This place offers me an easy escape should I need it. Not to mention, I know at least a handful of the waitresses from school.

I follow Kimber out of the car and into the restaurant, taking a deep breath before pus.h.i.+ng my way inside. It takes a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the dim overhead lighting and I blink rapidly several times before the interior finally comes into view.

It's busy but not too bad considering it's a Friday night. Most of the booths that circle the far walls of the room are full, but there are several high-top tables around the bar that are still empty. Kimber grabs my hand and pulls me in that direction.

Before I even have a chance to react, she leads me to one of the already occupied high tops, this one a long rectangle that seats eight. I recognize Paxton first. He throws Kimber a wide smile and nods in our direction, prompting Decklan, whose back is to us, to turn.

”Hey.” He gives her a jaw-dropping smile and pulls her against him. Her body disappears into his embrace, his muscular arms caging her in.

She pushes up and lays a kiss to his scruffy jaw before stepping back and giving the other two people at the table a little wave.

”Paxton you've met Harlee, yes?” She addresses the too hot for his own good musician, who hits me with a panty-melting smile.

Holy h.e.l.l what is with these guys? All three of them are unbelievably good looking; Paxton, even better than I remembered. Don't even get me started on Decklan. And then Gavin... Well, I think I've made it pretty clear how irresistible that one is. Even on a good day, with a clear mind, I have trouble thinking straight in his presence.

”We have.” Paxton interrupts my thoughts. ”Good to see you again, Harlee.” He nods.

”You too.” I smile, turning to the next person Kimber starts to introduce.

”This is Gavin's cousin, Tracy.” She gestures to the young brunette sitting directly across from Decklan. ”Tracy, this is my roommate, Harlee.”

”Nice to meet you, Tracy,” I say, giving the girl a smile.

If I had to guess, I'd say she's at least a couple years younger than I am. There's an innocence to her big chocolate eyes. Something that tells me she hasn't quite seen the world for the way it is just yet.

”There you are.” Kimber's head snaps to the side, and I follow her sight.

The moment his face comes into view, I suck in a ragged breath. Not only because Gavin looks incredible in his dark jeans and fitted black s.h.i.+rt, but also because he has a gorgeous slender brunette on his arm. One that hits me with dark eyes the moment she steps up in front of me.

At first, I think she's going to hit me or something, the way she studies me for a long moment. Instead, she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me into a tight hug.

”You must be Harlee. It's so nice to meet you,” she sings, finally releasing me after a long moment.

”I... Um...” I stutter, not sure who the h.e.l.l this person is.

”Charlie, leave her alone and go sit down.” Gavin shoves at her playfully.

Charlie... His sister.

Relief immediately floods through me. For a moment I thought I was going to have to endure him hanging all over some beautiful brunette all night. I hate that the thought even bothers me, but it does. Knowing she's his sister brings a whole new level of panic to the surface.

How does she know about me? Has he talked to her about us? About me? What has he said? Certainly, given the fact that she hugged me, he must have told her something. Why would he tell his sister about me?

The questions flood my mind as I watch Charlie cross around the table and slide into the stool next to Paxton. Now that I really look at her, it's clear she's related to Gavin. They have the same dark hair, the same big eyes-despite the fact that they're different colors, and the same wide, mischievous smile.

”I'm glad you changed your mind.” Gavin pulls my attention back to him just as Kimber slides into the seat next to Decklan, leaving the two seats directly across from them empty.

As much as I don't want to, I know that I am going to be stuck sitting directly next to Gavin. I'm already getting lightheaded by the incredible smell radiating off of him. It's hard saying how I will feel having to endure being so close to him for the duration of dinner.

”Well, Kimber asked,” I say, avoiding his gaze as I cross around the backside of the table and take the seat across from Kimber.

As I predicted, Gavin wastes no time sliding in next to me, giving me a knowing smile as he does. I hate that he thinks this is all about him. Is it that far out of the realm of possibility that I would come here for Kimber and not him?

I look down the table at the row of people across from me. Kimber, Decklan, and Tracy all line the front side, where Charlie, Paxton, Gavin, and I occupy the other.

”Is anyone else coming?” Kimber asks the exact question I was thinking.

”No, I think this is it,” Gavin answers. ”We invited Mia too, but she's busy with her kids.” He seems almost relieved by this fact.

I get the feeling him and his older sibling are not all that close. Though I'm sure the difference in age has something to do with it. From what Kimber has told me, which isn't all that much, Mia, who is six years older than Gavin, is not quite as laid back as the rest of the Porter family.

I turn my attention to the menu in front of me, eager to have something to focus on other than the man sitting next to me. I swear I feel his eyes on the side of my face, but I choose to ignore him as I continue to read over the menu, despite the fact that I know exactly what I want.

I order the same thing every time I come here: a club sandwich and sweet potato fries. And while usually it's one of my favorites, right now the thought of stomaching any food makes me feel half ill.

Gavin squeezes the top of my thigh causing me to jump slightly in my stool. Finally looking in his direction, I pin wide eyes on him. He laughs and then nods his head to the side. Only then do I realize the waitress standing at the edge of our table, clearly waiting for me to order my drink. How did I not even notice she was there?

”Sorry.” I give her a weak smile, grateful that I have no idea who she is. ”I'll take a water with lemon please,” I say, feeling the goose b.u.mps spread down my back as Gavin's hand once again settles on my leg, this time sliding upward slowly instead of grabbing me playfully.

My whole body tenses and I turn my gaze back to his face, tempted to smack off the smug smile I see there.

”Stop,” I mouth, pus.h.i.+ng his hand away.

He lets out a small chuckle, clearly not the least bit concerned about what anyone else at the table is doing.

”No,” he mouths back, his gaze holding firmly to mine.

Before I can even react, I feel his hand come to a rest just above my knee. The thin material of my leggings offers no protection from the heat of his touch as it slides slowly upward once again. Every painfully slow inch it climbs, the tighter my lower belly clenches, a need forming deep inside of me. A need I know only one thing will satisfy.

When he stops just inches from my upper thigh, I relax a little. I ignore the nagging sense of disappointment I feel as I try to focus on the conversation currently taking place around the table. Something about Charlie enrolling at the University of Oregon for her last year, but I've already missed too much of what was said to really follow.

I turn my attention to Kimber, who instead of listening to Charlie, seems to be focused solely on me. She looks between Gavin and me for a long moment before a knowing smile begins to creep across her face.

She throws me a wink and then turns away, leaving me staring across the table at her in complete confusion. What is it that she saw that prompted her reaction? Am I that transparent that without any action she can read me so easily?

I'm still trying to sort through all of this when I feel Gavin's grip tighten on my thigh. I flick my eyes toward him, my frustration starting to mount. I expect to see him staring at me with teasing eyes and a c.o.c.ky smile; what I find instead is so much worse.

Blue, l.u.s.t-filled eyes settle on mine just moments before I feel his warm hand cup my s.e.x, causing me to let out a slow, shaky breath. I want to turn away, break the contact, but I can't seem to muster it.

At this moment, all I want is him. I want to feel his hand bare against my most sensitive flesh and not against the barrier of my pants. I want to feel his lips hot against my neck, my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, lighting up my entire body.