Crave (The Gibson Boys 3)

If she’s mine, that’s what it’ll be. People have a lot of feelings about me. My name was in the paper a lot growing up. I’m the kid with no parents who went a little wild for a period of time. I’m the guy who owns the bar downtown. I’m the one people whisper salacious things about because I’m the easy target.

The door opens, and Logan strolls in. He winks at Navie as I pour a bourbon neat for a customer. I watch him wander through the room.

There’s a cocky strut to the asshole that I don’t like or appreciate. The guy is on a mission to wreak havoc. He’s on that mission every time he’s been in here this week.

“Here you go,” I say, handing the drink to the guy across from me. “That’ll be …”

Logan stops at Hadley’s table. He brushes against her arm in a move that’s intended to appear innocent. I know it’s not. Hadley knows it too. She scoots away from the edge of the booth.

My teeth grind together as I watch this bastard make a play.

“How much is it, Machlan?” the customer asks.

“It’s on the house.”

I step away from the bar slowly, watching Hadley. She smiles, but her body tells something different. As Logan talks, Hadley moves her water between them in some unconscious defense mechanism.

Logan touches her arm. Hadley pulls away.

I jump across the bar, sliding across the top, and stalk my way toward their table.

“What’s happening over here?” I ask, my voice hitting them long before I actually arrive.

“Hey, Machlan.” Emily grins. “How are you tonight?”

“This is gonna be fun,” Peck grumbles.

“What are you doing, Machlan?” Hadley sighs. Everything about those five words is heavy. Weighted. Burdened.

“Are you with him?” Logan asks, motioning toward me over his shoulder.

For the first time since she walked in, Hadley looks at me. There’s a puffiness to her eyes and a pout to her lips that tells me she’s been crying. I wish she wouldn’t have looked at me at all.

My heart splits open. I know what she must be thinking. Here I come again after pushing her away, but what the fuck am I supposed to do?

“I’m not with him,” Hadley says, ripping her gaze from mine.

I shiver as a chill catapults up my spine. My mouth opens to argue with her, but I can’t.

Logan looks at me and cackles. “Lucky me.” He licks his lips with a wink before turning back to Hadley. “Do you want to get a drink, beautiful?”

The chill is replaced by a fury that’s hard to contain. “She doesn’t.”

“Don’t speak for me,” Hadley says.

“Just trying to help.”

“I don’t think she needs your help, pal.” Logan laughs.

“I’m not your fucking pal.”

“No, you’re not.” He grins. “And apparently you aren’t hers either.”

My fists clench, my arms primed by a shot of adrenaline. Hadley’s eyes go wide as she watches the two of us.

“You’re gonna need to walk away,” I say to Logan. “Do us both a favor and just get out of here.”

“Fuck you,” he snarls. He squares up with me, facing me head-on. “What do ya got to say about that, bud?”

Peck grabs my arm. “Easy there, Mach.”

I shrug Peck off. Loosening my shoulders, I keep my gaze pinned on Logan. “I’d say you’re running out of time.”

“You wanna go with me?” He looks at Hadley over his shoulder. “Because I’m not getting great vibes in here.”

Hadley doesn’t move. She looks at me with a sadness in her face. A resolution, maybe. “I’m not getting great vibes in here either.”

“Then let’s go.” He reaches for her hand.

I turn to the side, a punch loaded.

Peck jumps between Logan and me, making it impossible to unload without hitting him in the process.

“I can only save you for so long,” he says to Logan.

Hadley looks my way as she climbs out of the booth. “I’ll walk you out, Logan.”

“The fuck you will,” I say.

“Yes,” she bellows, whirling around so fast her hair follows in her wake. “I will. I will talk to who I will. And date who I will. And fuck who I will.” She glares at me. “But don’t worry. I’ll drive carefully.”

I stand so we’re only inches apart. My heart pumps so fast I think it might spin out of control.

“I won’t stand here and watch you walk out of here with him,” I say, blocking out everyone around us. “He’s no good, Had.”

“And how do you know that?”

“He was just trying to fuck Navie yesterday. He was with Molly in here two days ago.”

“He what?” Peck barks.

I ignore him. “This guy will chew you up and spit you back out, and I’m not gonna stand here and watch it.”

She shoves her delicate shoulders back and looks at me with a sadness I’ll never un-see. “Then don’t.”

It’s a challenge, a plea to walk out of here with her myself. It’s a dare I don’t take.