out. It may be June, but goosebumps scatter over her chilled skin, and I chafe at the arm I'm holding against my chest in an effort to warm her. She loosens her fistful of my shirt and squeezes her dark eyes closed. "I can't believe I let them do that," she says on a long exhale.
The tip of her tongue glosses over her bottom lip before she tugs her fingers free of mine and shrinks into herself, her arms hugging her waist. She meets my stare. "I … thank you for stepping in. You guys…" she trails off, unsteady.
"Yeah." I leave three steps between us for her comfort. "Of course, they're assholes."
Her stilted smile and canted head tell me she agrees. "Thankfully, they're assholes I'm not obligated to serve since they're not sitting in my section."
That's not likely to stop them, but why worry her when she's rattled? "Even if they were your customers, they'll leave you be since they think you're with me."
Jess stills, her brows furrowing before laughter trickles from her lips. "Wow, you said those words with a straight face." Her dark hair floats around her shoulders as she shakes her head. "Arrogant Carter Cooper, some things stay the same."
"Confident," I correct.
She drags a sharp breath, her lips parting when headlights slice across us and a vehicle swings into a nearby parking spot. Whatever she planned on saying is lost as she runs her hands over her body and smooths out her uniform. The movement piques my attention. Fuck me, those curves.
"I should get to work." She peeks toward the corner of the building like she expects watchful eyes. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I move.
She extracts herself from the flowerbed, careful of the plants I've trampled, and we walk to the front of the building without speaking. The moment the entrance is in sight, I spot Owen, Finn, and Frey through the double doors shooting the shit with Ally at the hostess stand. If there were trouble, they'd be in the back of the restaurant keeping the assholes in check.
Jess inhales beside me, dragging a deep breath in before exhaling through her mouth in a stream of air that must empty her lungs. When she begins a slow inhale, I touch her elbow and waylay her return. "You sure you're okay?"
The neon string of lights spelling out Bleachers illuminates her, highlighting the wild emotions glowing in her eyes. "I'm fine." She pushes out another deep breath. "I'm telling myself how shoving a beer bottle up that man's ass if he dares to speak to me would get me fired and would be a bad idea."
Her mouth twists sideways, a crooked little smile taking over, and I relish the visual.
"Is that fucked up?" she asks, her voice low but filled with mirth.
"Nope. Not the least bit fucked up." I've stopped short of the entrance myself, having determined it best if I remain in the parking lot. My actions if I laid eyes on Sonny would be questionable, so I understand her thought process
"His name is Sonny, by the way, the one who had a hold of you. He and two of the others played ball at Rossview with Owen in the day. I don't suppose their names are relevant right now." Jess frowns, and maybe their names are relevant to the woman they assaulted and terrified. Another day. "Listen, they all deserve a beer bottle up the ass and a lot worse, but will you do me a favor and trust me when I ask you to stay clear?"
Jess pulls her hair over her shoulder and wraps it around her fist, twirling the strands into a long curl. "Sure," she says after a long time studying me. "Anything for my new boyfriend."
"Probably shouldn't let Finn hear you."
Dropping her tangle of hair, she lifts to her toes and brushes her lips across my cheek, the scent of alcohol and burger grease surrounding me. I pull a hand from my pocket, my fingers reaching for her waist as she whispers, "Who says we're exclusive, Carter Cooper?" But she's leaving me and heading for the door before I gather a second breath.
Empty, my hand falls to my side.
"Thanks again," she says over her shoulder.
While frustrating, watching Jess leave isn't a hardship. There's a bounce in her step, maybe it's the ex-cheerleader in her, that stirs my lust. She’s provocative without being overt: the carefree sway of her hips and round ass; the bunch and release of the well-honed muscles