The Bully (Calamity Montana #4)(17)

The views of the city were stellar. I’d woken up many mornings to watch the sun rise over the mountains in the distance. The location was close to the best restaurants and boutique shops. The apartments themselves were top-of-the-line.

But I hadn’t known my neighbors. I hadn’t felt part of a community. And those restaurants? I’d usually eaten at them alone.

No, I’d take my little house on my simple street in Calamity. Because after only two weeks, it already felt more like home.

Even if Cal was a temporary thorn in my side.

Peter was still talking to him, blathering on like Cal was actually participating in the conversation.

“Can I ask you something else?” Larke asked, following my gaze. “Have you and Cal ever . . .”

“Oh. Uh . . .” I didn’t even get the chance to lie. My face gave away the truth. Damn it.

“Sorry.” She held up her hands. “That was none of my business. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“It’s fine.” This was part of friendship, right? Confiding in each other? Did that even count as a confession?

“No, that was rude,” she said. “It’s just that earlier, when he looked at you, it was like the rest of the room disappeared. And the two of you seem to—”

“Hate each other,” I finished.

“Yeah. Of course.” She smiled and straightened. “I was thinking about ordering food, but it looks like the kitchen is backed up. I don’t know if I can wait an hour. Maybe we should call it a night?”

“Yeah, I think I’d better head home too. Tomorrow is the first day at the new Grays Peak building, and I have a feeling it will be hectic trying to work and get my office set up.”

“This was so fun.” She stood, pulling me into her arms when I was on my feet. “Call me. I was going to come watch Lucy sing too. Let’s go together.”

Yes, please. The worst part about being single was constantly going places alone.

“I’d love to.” I picked up my purse and dug out my wallet while she did the same, each of us leaving cash on the table for Jane. “I’m going to use the restroom before I walk home.”

“Okay. Bye.”

I waited until Larke walked out the door before crossing the bar, not for the restroom, but Cal’s stool.

Peter was yammering on about cars and how he could give friends a great deal on the newest model Ford half-ton.

Cal’s hands were balled into fists. His jaw was clenched. To steal Larke’s phrase, he was insanely gorgeous, even when he was angry. Fury gave his features an edge. But Cal was never more attractive than when he smiled. And that side of Cal was as rare as his championship rings.

Frustration simmered beneath the bulging muscles of his shoulders. His traps were bunched and pulled close to his ears. Peter was about to get tossed off that damn stool if he didn’t shut up soon.

“Hi.” I slid onto the stool on Cal’s other side.

He glanced over, then slid his beer glass away. “You can throw another drink on me, but it won’t run me out of town.”

“But it would be fun.”

He frowned.

“Why are you here, Stark?”

“Because I was hungry. But if I’d known it was going to take a fucking year to get my food, I would have gone somewhere else.”

“Not the bar. Calamity. Why are you in Calamity?”

“I live here. Thought I’d better get to know my local bartender.”

On cue, Jane appeared with a cheeseburger, fries and a basket of onion rings. “Another beer?”

He shook his head. “Water.”

“Say please, Cal,” I ordered.

The corner of Jane’s lip turned up as she waited.

“Please,” he gritted out.

“Nellie, can I get you anything?” she asked.

“No, thanks.”

Larke had introduced us earlier. When I’d asked Jane if she could make me a martini, she’d informed me that it would be with vodka and it would be dirty. I’d liked her immediately.

Jane filled a glass with ice water for Cal, then brought him a bottle of ketchup before helping a customer at the opposite end of the bar.

Cal tore into his burger, his eyes closing on the first bite. A deep, throaty moan came from his chest. The last time I’d heard that moan it had not been over food.

A pulse bloomed between my legs. I crossed them, shoving forbidden memories aside, and focused on my task at hand.

Cal had to leave. He couldn’t live here. My window of opportunity to convince him of such was short. As soon as he had a home, it would be much harder to run him out of town. So I had to push and push hard.

“Looks like you’ve made a new friend.” I leaned in closer, my shoulder brushing his. The heat from his skin seeped through his thin T-shirt.

He stopped chewing, his gaze dropping to where we touched.

The air around us crackled. The world blurred. The little voice in the back of my mind whispered. More.

I shied away and blinked reality back into focus.

That voice got me in trouble, especially where Cal was concerned.

“Is this really how you want to spend your evenings?” I glanced past him to Peter who was doing his best to eavesdrop. “Have your ear talked off? Have your neighbor tell you how you botched the AFC Championship when you threw that pick six in the third quarter?”