Lead Me Home (Fight for Me #3)(76)

Need spun and licked and teased.

She had no fucking clue just how perfect they were, peaking below that satiny material. Nikki’s own personal form of harassment.

“Matt seems to be just fine with that.” Rynna nodded emphatically.

Great. That was all I needed.

Nikki had yet another meddler urging her along, not that Rynna could have a clue.

I glared between Rex and Kale.

Where was my crew when I needed them most?

Did they not see this bullshit?

I mean, I know I’d taken responsibility for Nikki’s well-being. But there were times when good friends should step in.

Like when a douche tried to make his way into territory he didn’t belong.

Fuck that.

Rex met my eyes, narrowing his, studying me as he took a swig of his beer.

Did he have any idea? All that time Nikki and I had been sneaking around, hiding away, hoping Rex and Kale would be enough of a distraction that Sydney wouldn’t notice. Guess I hadn’t given it all that much thought as to if they had.

Hope landed a bunch of excited smacks against Nikki’s arm, her eyes wide and her lips barely moving, like she thought she was telling a secret that she was actually issuing to the world. “Oh, oh, don’t look behind you . . . but he’s coming this way. Oh, wow, he really is good-looking.”

“Hey,” Kale defended.

Now the asshole has something to say.

She looked up at her husband, her red hair moving over her shoulders. “Oh, Cowboy . . . I was talking about for Nikki. Don’t get your britches in a twist.”

He leaned down, rubbing his nose against hers. “Cowboy? I’m your king, baby.”

Had to resist from balling up a dish rag and throwing it against the side of his face.

Yeah, this was not gonna end well.

Because my guts were churning when Matt, the fucker, came up to the bar just behind where Nikki stood.

He grinned at me like we were the oldest of mates. “Hey, man.” Still standing, he leaned his forearms on the bar. “How’s it going?”

Fan-fucking-tastic, that’s how.

“Good,” I rumbled. I tossed a napkin down in front of him. “What can I get you?”

How about the door?

“Whatever’s on tap.”

Everything’s on tap, asshole.

But I didn’t say anything, I just filled up a chilled mug with a light.

Figured that was all the pussy could handle.

I smiled at him when I slid it across the bar.

All teeth.

“Thanks, brother,” he said like he didn’t even notice I was five seconds from ripping him to shreds.

He lifted it in the air before he took a big swallow.

“Sure thing.”

He was grinning when he moved into the circle, going right for her. “Hey, Nikki. It’s good to see you.”

She peeked my way.

A flash of indigo.

A glimpse of the freckles on her defined cheeks.

My chest tightened.

She offered him a small smile. “Hi, Matt. How have you been?”

“Good, good,” he said. “Work’s busy, but other than that, I can’t complain. You?”

“Same here.”

Seemed like so many lies fell from her mouth with that simple statement.

Like all this bullshit wasn’t going down in her life.

This was brutal, watching them chat like every word wasn’t killing me.

I was a hot second from losing my cool. Turned out it was Nikki who was getting ready to do all the shredding, and the girl didn’t even have to lift a finger.

Our friends had turned to each other, talking quietly, giving them space, while I scrubbed at the bar with a rag and tried to pretend like it wasn’t any of my business.

Didn’t matter.

The turn in Nikki and Matt’s conversation hit me like a loudspeaker screaming in my ear.

“Band’s good tonight. You want to dance?” Matt asked.

Of course, that was when Lillith found it fit to pipe in. She all but shoved Nikki his direction. “Sure, she does.”

There was no missing the resistance that lined Nikki’s posture when Lily pushed her that way, the way her shoulders went up and her shoes slid across the floor.

An inch, and then two.

Enough to make my mind tip to the side. Axis creaking. Threatening to crack.

Nikki peeked back at me.

Was that an apology or her own anger and frustration, her spirit screaming out that I was responsible for this?

I’d known all along that one day . . . one day she’d move on.

Find joy.

A husband and a family and a load of kids, exactly what she deserved.

The way she’d dreamed about growing up.

How many kids are we gonna have?” she’d whispered when she was just fifteen, laying on a bed of blazing stars, nestled on my chest as we’d looked up at the night sky.

“Three. One little girl with your eyes and two boys just like me.”

She giggled. “I don’t think I could handle three of you.”

It was what I’d wanted for her even though the thought destroyed something inside of me.

Of her finding that with someone other than me.

Then I’d gone and ruined every chance she’d had. Chased off every guy. Certain they weren’t good enough for her.