Page 48 of Rescued Love
“You got it. I’ll keep this on file for your tab. Just come and cash out whenever you’re ready.” Dixon takes his card and taps the bar twice before heading toward the register.
Nathan grabs the two beers, and I scoop up the drinks. “It was my bet,” I remind him while pouting slightly.
“And you’re my girl. I’m paying,” his voice is firm without any room for argument.
I freeze in place and my mouth falls open in surprise. Did he just say what I think he said? I’m his girl?
When he realizes that I’m no longer at his side, he turns around with worried eyes. It takes him two strides to close the distance between us and stands so close that our toes are touching. His eyes roam over my face as if something drastic or horrific could have happened in the span of a few seconds.
“What’s wrong?”
The question tumbles from my mouth without even realizing it, “I’m your girl?”
He narrows his eyes slightly. “You didn’t know?”
“I mean,” I start and then huff out a breath before my voice goes breathy, “I was hopeful.”
Nathan makes a humming sound and steps right up to me, invading my personal space in a way that would make me feel uncomfortable if it were anyone else. Even though the bar is pretty full, everyone fades away except for the man in front of me.
“I didn’t want to move too fast, Kitten, but I’ve known you’re mine since I saw you.” He winces slightly. “I just couldn’t admit it to myself at first or see past my own fears which had nothing to do with you and everything to do with my job and a jaded view of the world.”
“Wow,” I breathe out.
“Yeah,” he smirks, “wow.”
He winks at me before nodding toward where Hailey and Wesley are waiting, their faces matching masks of interest as their eyes dart back and forth between Nathan and me. I grin at them and wink at my best friend whose shoulders relax as a wide grin takes over her face.
She knew how I felt before I did and was just waiting for me to catch up. I’m sure it helps that she already experienced falling for her other half.
As we move their direction, I inform him, “If I’m your girl then you’re my man.”
His steps stutter slightly before he growls, “Damn fucking right I am.”
My heart starts to gallop in my chest with his declaration. Mine. He’s mine.
When we sit down, Hailey and Wesley’s eyes are still moving between the two of us and they’re wearing expectant faces. As we’re passing out the drinks, I lean forward and stage whisper, “Apparently, I’m his girl.”
“And I’m her man,” Nathan adds on, his chest puffed up with pride.
Wesley barks out a laugh before picking up his beer and clinking it against Nathan’s. “No offense, if you were trying to keep that shit quiet or something, but it was obvious.”
My head snaps his direction, and I squeak, “What?”
Wesley smirks and shrugs one shoulder. “I knew there was something between you last weekend when Nathan showed up here.”
I look at my friend, my gaze like a laser while I wonder if she mentioned anything to Wesley about what went down when we first met. She gives me a subtle shake of her head and I relax.
“I think you’re in the wrong line of work then,” I tease Wesley who raises an eyebrow in question. “You should have been a fortune teller.”
Hailey giggles and points to her man. “Can you imagine him dressed in robes with a turban and a crystal ball in front of him?” She pantomimes moving her hands over an imaginary crystal ball like she’s trying to see into the future. “I see you’ll have a very long life. And it’s almost time to change the batteries in your fire detectors.”
Wesley wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her against his side, kissing her head while chuckling. “You joke, but fire safety is very important. Do you know how many people would rather just listen to their fire detectors beep without changing the battery?” He shivers. “That’s dangerous shit, not to mention annoying as fuck.”
Hailey shoots me a pointed look that screams ‘see what I have to put up with?’ and I devolve into a fit of laughter. The best part is, Wesley isn’t even trying to be funny. I get it, as a firefighter he sees people on the worst day of their lives and his job is fraught with danger. If I were in his shoes, I’m sure I’d be preachingabout fire safety to anyone who would give me five minutes to listen.
My best friend’s eyes turn toward Nathan and harden slightly. Uh oh. I brace myself for her to threaten him in the name of my honor.
It wouldn’t be the first time, and I love her for her fierceness when it comes to those she loves.