One Look: A grumpy, single dad small town romance(28)

I rolled my eyes and then squared my shoulders to him. “Lark is with us.”

He only nodded his smug fucking face. “Is she? Seems she sat on our side. Maybe she’s with us.”

“You know I’m right here, right?” Lark was clearly annoyed that we were talking over the top of her head, acting like she wasn’t standing right between us. The scowl on her face was almost cute, had I not been containing my simmering rage at Royal trying to claim Lark as a King.

The tension boiled up around us, crackling in the air as someone stood behind Royal to back him up. More eyes were drawn our way, and murmurs began to float through the bar crowd.

This was not going to end pretty.

Lark threw her hands in the air. “You know what? I’m out.”

Shoving the both of us in the chest to push past, she sailed toward the front entrance. Watching her walk away let the wind out of my sails.

I lifted my chin at Royal. “Stay the fuck away from her.”

Royal only scoffed and leaned against the bar, then signaled to the bartender for another drink. “She’ll come running once she realizes she’s caught the eye of a King.”

Goddamn, I wanted to land my fist at his jaw. Just once.

Duke’s hand clamped on my shoulder. “It’s over. Let’s go.”

Duke and Lee steered me back toward the table where we’d been sitting. They both sat back down, but I remained standing, my eyes trained on the entrance to see if Lark would come back inside.

I owed her an apology for acting like a child fighting over a toy. She deserved better than that.

“That’s a fucking shame.” Lee shook his head before swiping his beer bottle off the table and taking a deep pull. “Would have been a fun little tussle.”

Duke shook his head at our grinning little brother. “You’re an idiot.”

Lee’s grin only widened. He was always ready and willing to back up a fight or end one—especially one with the Kings.

“So what was that about?” Duke asked, motioning toward the door.

I swiped my hand across my face. I glanced toward the entrance. Lark was long gone. “I gotta run. I need to check in on the guys, and Tootie’ll be back early with Pickle in the morning.”

Duke let his question hang in the air. He already knew the answer. Together we eyed the Kings from across the bar. They didn’t seem to be watching us, so the likelihood of me getting jumped on my way out was slim.

Duke only nodded as I said my goodbyes and pushed out the front door of the bar.

The summer air had become stickier as the June temperatures climbed higher and higher. Even the lake breeze was still. I looked down both ways of the sidewalk, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lark before she disappeared into the night.

She was gone, but I knew where to find her.

I needed to explain myself. Apologize for being a dick and ruining her night out.

The drive home was quick, and the light was still on in her apartment. I climbed the rickety stairs and made a mental note to get to work on fixing those before she broke an ankle.

I had raised my fist to knock when the door flew open.

Lark stood, hands on her hips and her eyebrows raised. “Can I help you?”

Jesus, she was stunning when she was pissed. I wasn’t expecting that. My mouth was dry at the sight of her flushed cheeks and the wild look in her eyes.

I scrubbed my hand at the back of my neck. “I owe you an apology.”

Lark’s eyebrows pinched down, and she dropped her hands and sighed in defeat. “Oh. Well, that’s no fun.”

Confused, I just looked at her.

“I was ready for a good fight, but then you showed up”—Lark’s hand flicked between us—“looking all sad and sorry. I can’t fight with you now.”

Lark crossed her arms and pouted. I couldn’t help but laugh. That woman was ridiculous.

Charming.

Dangerous.

“Look, I don’t know what got into me.”

Sure I do. Royal was moving in on something that was mine, and I didn’t fucking like it.

I cleared my throat and my errant, utterly ridiculous thoughts. “Royal can be a pain in the ass. He didn’t need to bother you, but I didn’t think about the fact that maybe you didn’t mind him . . . you know, talking to you.”

A slow smile played on her lips. “You were jealous.”

I shot her a blank stare, hoping like hell she couldn’t see right through me.

“Well.” She sighed. “Come inside before someone drives by, accidentally looks my way, and throws you into a jealous rage.” She liked to tease, and while I wasn’t completely unhinged, the thought of Royal driving up to her apartment was enough to further sour my mood.

Shoulda hit him.

Lark moved from the doorway, and I glanced back at the house across the driveway. Through the living room windows, the dull glow from the television meant the guys were still up, probably watching some late-night show. After tonight, I didn’t want to leave things awkward with Lark, so instead of doing the right thing—saying good night and walking away—I walked inside her little apartment.

It was like stepping back in time. Nothing had changed in the small space. There was even the old hunter-green recliner that Lee had lost his virginity in. I pointed to it. “Hey, Lark?”

She turned to look at me.