“I need to go check on the keg taps. They were having a problem earlier and there’s some sort of leak,” she said and started to head behind the bar to go downstairs to the basement.
“A leak? Why didn’t someone tell me?” he asked, following her.
“I guess they felt it was a manager’s job, not an owner’s,” she said to him and he knew he deserved it.
“Don’t get an attitude with me just because I caught you flirting with those men.”
“I was not flirting with them. They were flirting with me,” she said to him as he approached the keg where the leak was.
“That’s not what it looked like from where I was standing.”
He pressed by her.
“Let me take a look. You don’t know what you’re looking for,” he said, putting her down again. He didn’t know why he kept doing that and then he kept feeling guilty right after he did it.
She crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at him. He got down and cursed at the small leak. He was trying to pull on the connector as he glanced up at her.
“I know what I saw. I thought you were interested in my brothers. Is this why you won’t make a commitment to them?” he asked in frustration.
“That’s none of your business, Antonio. I don’t need to stand here and listen to your insults.”
“Really? How do you think Salvatore and Finn will feel when I tell them you were flirting with the beer guys and they asked you out? Are you meeting them and just lied and said no because I caught you?” he asked, twisting the knob harder. He was so angry, and jealous. He didn’t want those men near her. He wanted his brothers to have her as their woman, hell, he wanted to trust her, but he couldn’t. She was young, too young and beautiful. She could get any men she wanted. She would cheat on them, too, maybe use them like Sophia had.
“Salvatore and Finn trust me, just as Billy does, too. Besides, Billy was standing right next to you and he didn’t make accusations that weren’t true. I don’t know why you give me such a hard time, all the time. It’s starting to get on my nerves,” she exclaimed and he clenched his teeth and stared at her. Her eyes widened and she raised her hand up as she spoke.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she said.
Too late, the piece broke and club soda began to spray all over him.
He was shocked, cold, and wet as it continued and then he heard her laughing. It shocked him even more and something came over him. Antonio pointed the shooting tube toward her and she screamed as it wet her blo
use. He smiled wickedly, thinking he had the last laugh but then she headed toward him and pulled the hose from his hands and turned it on him.
It became a little battle of who would get who wet more and then he stopped laughing and struggling for control of the hose and instead took in the sight of her. Her blue eyes sparkled, her face dripped with club soda and her blonde hair was soaked, with strands against her cheeks. He looked at her chest, the white blouse completely see through and damn, was she built well. As his eyes locked onto her baby blues, he saw the youthfulness, the happiness and pure uninhibited attraction in her eyes. He pulled her toward him by her blouse and covered her mouth to kiss her.
Antonio towered over her as he held her close and ran his hands all over her body. He gripped her ass and pressed her up against the other kegs as he devoured her moans. She grabbed on to his arms and he wasn’t sure if she was pushing him away or pulling him back. He just absorbed her taste, the feel of her petite, sexy body in his arms and he took complete advantage of the situation.
When he cupped her breasts and then ran a hand between her legs she pulled back and gasped for breath.
Before she could get far he grabbed her hand and pulled her back against him.
“Don’t run away from me. Don’t fucking deny that.” He held her gaze firmly and she was trying to catch her breath.
“I’m not the one who’s been fighting it and being downright mean.” She then started to pull back. He wouldn’t let her.
“I know. I’ve been—”
“A jerk,” she said and he raised one of his eyebrows up at her and she lowered her eyes. He reached up and cupped her cheek.
“I have been a jerk. I don’t trust easy. I have my reasons. Why did you pull away from me?”
“I have my reasons, too.”
“Like what?”
“I guess fear, like you probably have.”
He squinted his eyes at her. “I’m not afraid of you.”