Collide (The Barker Triplets 2)

“Bobbi?” Billie prodded.

“I’m fine.”

And she was. Instead of the nothing that had hung in her belly for days now, there was something else. Something hot. Something alive. Was it because of Shane? Had that one moment when their eyes connected, kick started something inside her?

Did she care what the reason was?

“Bobbi,” Billie said again. “Are you alright?”

“I don’t know what I am, but since I’m no longer employed, you’re buying?”

Bobbi threaded her arm through her sister’s and moved toward the bar.

Chapter Nine

Shane watched Bobbi approach the bar and though he knew he should just play it cool and turn the other way, he couldn’t. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He’d known this would happen sooner or later. He just hadn’t planned on the sooner and he sure as hell hadn’t planned on it happening in front of most his hockey team as well as a good amount of local folk.

He should leave. He should pick up and get the hell out. He wasn’t in the mood to socialize anyway, not after the meeting he’d just come from. And now he was pissed that he’d decided to stop at The Grill for a drink on his way home. But at the time, the warm glow of The Grill had seemed a hell of a lot more inviting than the quiet loneliness of his place.

The choice had been easy, but now?

Now he was stuck here with the entire town watching it seemed, and the only coherent thought in his head was that Bobbi looked hot as hell. Not good for his brain to go there. Back to that place. Back to the night when he’d held her in his arms. When he’d undressed her.

When he had pushed away the one thing he had thought he’d never have again.

Shane sighed and closed his eyes. Fuck.

“Jesus Christ,” Duke Everett, owner of The Grill, muttered as he wiped the bar and slammed down a draft for one of Shane’s teammates. “I don’t need this. Not tonight.” He leveled a look at Shane. “I don’t want any trouble.”

Shane held his hands up. “Hey, I’m not looking to do anything other than order another beer.”

Duke’s handlebar mustache quivered as he glanced over Shane’s shoulder and he frowned, his bushy eyebrows pushing together as his eyes narrowed.

“I’m not one to pay attention to gossip, so if the two of you are back together, fine. But if things aren’t exactly calm between you, then I’d rather one of you move on.”

“Duke, the fire was an accident. Are you ever going to let it rest?”

Duke’s eyebrows bunched together as his frown deepened. “Nothing between the two of you was ever an accident.”

“We were young and stupid.”

“Yeah, well after the stunt she pulled last week and your involvement in that mess, I’d say you might be older but you’re sure as hell still stupid. Word of advice?”

“I don’t need—”

“She’s a hot mess Shane, and you’re just now getting your shit together. Don’t go there.”

Irritated that Duke had pretty much hit it on the head, Shane growled. “You don’t have to worry.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

Duke gave him a curt nod before slapping the rag he held over his shoulder and heading to the far end of the bar where Bobbi now stood with her sister.

Logan Forest smiled wryly as he settled onto the stool beside Shane. “Looks like the night just got a whole lot more interesting, no?”

Shane shrugged. “If you say so.”