Page 41 of Chasing Callie

I cast a glance at her over my shoulder. “Swap stations?”

Her knowing gaze flits to the tourist group. “You guys can’t chase away the good tippers.”

“I’m not, just thought you might like a change of scenery.”

She squints at me, realizing I’m lying through my teeth.

“You guys act like I’ve never had a one-night stand,” she mutters, grabbing the empty ice bucket and heading to the back for more.

“Be right back,” I tell the guy who appeared at the bar to place an order, gaze intent on the woman sauntering away from me. My focus is right on her ass as she pushes through the door. She glances over her shoulder and catches me staring.

“Unbelievable,” she grumbles.

A grin tugs at my lip, and I prowl after her, like a wolf closing in on its prey. She flips the lid to the ice maker, giving me her back. She leans in to get the first scoop, and I pounce, wrapping my arms around her middle. She releases a screech of surprise but stiffens when I place my mouth at her ear. “Tell me their names.”

“What?” she breathes, but she knows exactly what I’m talking about.

“Their names, Callie.” My voice is deep, almost raspy from physically restraining myself from spinning her around and kissing her stupid.

“You’re nuts if you think I’m telling you. What are you going to do? Break their kneecaps too?”

I clutch her throat. Her heart is going a hundred miles a minute and her breath heaves as I hold her. God, she feels so fucking good. The curve of her ass pressing against me, the softness of her skin beneath my fingers. It takes everything in me not to spin her around and fuck her right here against the ice machine.

“Who told you?”

“No one, but I heard Derek was in the hospital and he was hurt the same night he insulted me. You always were a little over protective.” She huffs. “All of you are.”

“Only of you.” I nudge the side of her head with my nose, breathing her in, and ask again. “Names. Now.”

She sighs. “Jax and Brax.”

My heart stops and my fingers flex around her neck. “Just us?”

“As a one-night stand,” she says, implying she’s been with other men for more than one night. My mind goes to a dark place, where I imagine breaking every dick of every man who’s ever known her in that way.

“Jax?” she whispers, turning to look at me, eyes hooded. “You have to let me go.”

“You’re wrong.” I drop a kiss on her throat, nip her ear, and slowly drag my hand down her neck, between her breasts, and over the curve of her hip. “Now that you’re back, I’m not letting you go. Ever.”

My words are heavy, far deeper than what she meant, but she needs to hear it. I force myself to step away. She turns, bottom lip tucked between her teeth, gaze roving over my features.

“Jax,” she murmurs.

“Where the hell are my bartenders?” I hear Maura shouting at the kitchen staff.

“We’ll talk after work,” I tell her, turning before she can put up a fight.

By the time we get back to the bar, the Friday night rush is in full swing. I lose myself in the rhythm of pouring drinks, ringing up orders, and chatting with the regulars. But my attention keeps snagging on Callie, watching the way she tosses her head back when she laughs, how she leans in to hear a customer over the music, the graceful arch of her back when she reaches for the top-shelf liquor.

Every movement reminds me of how she felt in my arms moments ago. Every smile she flashes makes me wonder if she’s thinking about our conversation in the stockroom. Or that night ten years ago. How well she took my⁠—

“Hey, earth to Jax!” Lincoln waves a hand in front of my face. “You gonna fill this beer or stare at it all night?”

“Shit, sorry.” I snap out of my Callie-induced trance and finish pouring his draft.

Linc follows my gaze across the bar where she’s delivering hurricanes. “Man, you are so fucked.”

“What?”