Taking Chances (Blackrock Book 2) (18 page)

“Tell
me why you just walked out?” He looks angry; his jaw is
clenched and his arms are crossed in a defensive pose.

“I was just trying to make
the decision easier for you.”

“By fucking walking out on
me? How is breaking my heart easier on me?”

Jesus,
he sounds like a girl. My head hurts and I want to scream. “Knox,
please believe me. I don’t want to break your heart. I am so
messed up right now. Everything was great until Max got hit, then the
flowers, and us fighting. I don’t know why, but I feel like
things are falling apart again. I don’t know how to fix it.”

He
looks at me for a while before his face softens a little. Letting out
a long sigh he runs his hands over his face.

“Darlin’, don’t
walk out me again, okay? And don’t think for me either. I know
what I want and I’m looking at her. I think you need to have
some fun.” He smiles at me and I snort a laugh.

“Yeah,
the last time I had fun a bar got wrecked and I got shouted at in the
middle of the street.”

He
groans as he climbs up beside me, putting his arm around my shoulders
he holds me to him. “Let’s make this simple. I love you
and I don’t want to loose you.”

Nodding
I agree with him. “Same here.”

“Good. Now stop acting all
crazy and jealous because I will never cheat on you and if something
is bothering you then tell me out straight.”

“Okay,
I will and I know you won’t cheat, but I really don’t
know where my jealousy is coming from because I am not that type of
person.”

Knox
runs his hands down my hair. “I know where it’s coming
from,” he informs me after a few minutes.

Turning
I lie on his lap, looking up at him. “Where then?”

Placing
his hand over my heart, he smiles. “Here, because you love the
shit outta me and deep down you don’t want to lose me.”
He grins and I try not to but I fail terribly. “See I’m
right.”

My
heart speeds up as I think about what he just said and it makes
sense. Maybe Roger was right when he told me I push people away.
Maybe I do as a safe guard before they leave me. I swallow hard and
blink away the tears that are forming in my eyes.

Knox
traces his thumb across my lips smiling down at me. “See
darlin,” talkin is easy.”

Rolling
my eyes, I sit up. “Thanks for making me feel better.”

He
shrugs at me. “That’s what I’m here for. Now lie
down with me. I have ten minutes before I have to get ready for
work.” I position myself in the crook of his neck just enjoying
being in the moment “Darlin’?”

“Yeah,”

“What
date is your birthday?”

I
laugh at him and his weird off topic question. “Don’t you
remember?”

He
smiles, kissing me. “I remember the night in the bar when I
first saw you, but that wasn’t your real birthday.”

“How
do you know?” I ask, watching him.

“Because
I have a good memory. Now when is it?”

Shaking
my head, I sigh. “Not telling.”

Laughing,
he rolls on top of me. “It’s okay, I will steal your real
ID.”

He
then gets up checking his watch and heads to the bathroom. Hearing
water running, I stroll in behind him.

“What
you doing?” I ask, sitting on the toilet lid.

“Getting
ready for work, darlin’,” Bending down he kisses me
softly, rubbing my cheek as he pulls back. His eyes shine with love
and I know he loves me so I make a conscious decision to love him
back with every part of me; good or bad.

I
watch as he fills the sink with water and lathers his face with
shaving foam. There
is something to be said about watching a man shave. I don’t
know why, but it fascinates the female species and I love watching
Knox run the blade over his handsome features.
It’s kind of sensual watching him and the sound of the blade as
it rasps against the hair; the smell of shaving foam combined or
the smooth end result I can look forward to but I am raptured as my
eyes follow the razor,

“See
something you like, darlin’?” He winks rinsing off the
razor.

I
can’t help the big stupid smile that crosses my face as I look
at him in the mirror. “Yes, yes I do.” He rinses his face
off. Standing, I place my hands on either side of his face and smile
while running my thumbs over the smooth skin.

“I
really do love you,” I tell him, trying to convey just how much
through my eyes.

“I
know Bailey, and I love you back just as much.” He kisses me as
his hand snakes around my waist. “I have to have a shower,”
he says nodding, but I keep kissing him.

“Okay.”

He
pulls back to turn on the shower then kisses me again. I leave him to
shower and go open my box of goodies from Tom Anderson. Looking
through it, I smile at the card Cindy put in the box but I will read
it later. I pull out the spring collection and examine the colors,
which are all soft creams and browns. I find four tubes of my
favorite mascara and some new clear lip-gloss that smells like
marshmallow.

Smiling
I put some on and walk back into Knox. “Hey babe.”

He
smiles. “Hey yourself.”

Moving
closer, I put my face close to his. At first he looks worried but
then I point to my lips. Leaning in, he kisses me quickly then again,
groaning. “Humm tasty.” He winks, pulling back.

“I
just got it. Tastes good, babe.”

He
agrees as he gets dressed in a blue button down shirt and his ripped
jeans. “You coming over tonight?” he asks, grabbing his
wallet from the dresser.

“I
doubt it,” I answer, licking my lips.

“Please?
I miss my friend.” He smiles at me.

“I’ll
think about it.” Kissing me again he says goodbye and leaves.

Knox

Walking
to the bar I feel a little worried that Bailey will take off on me
while I am out. I know she is having a shit time dealing with all
this flower bullshit, but I hope we can get through it because I
don’t want to lose her. The situation reminds me of how I felt
after Lindsey. How I felt unloved and unworthy of being loved. I just
hope Bailey knows she has people who do love her. Opening the door I
see Chase busy.

“Evening
boss,” he calls as I walk through the bar.

I
just wave and keep going into the office. After I send in the order
for next week, I take my sweet ass time hanging out in the office and
remember Bailey, and I on this very desk. Just thinking of it is
making my jeans tighten. I need to leave this room fast; stepping
behind the bar, I am not feeling it tonight at all. I just want to be
home with Bailey in bed watching some cheesy movie.

“Hey
Knox.” Amber smiles at me.

“Hey,”
I answer, looking at the people in the bar to make sure Chase didn’t
let in any underage kids. He is not very good at that aspect of the
business; any chick that flashes her tits gets a drink. I really miss
Max working with me.

“So where is your side
kick?” Amber smiles at me.

“At
home why?”

Shrugging,
she pretends to examine her nails. “Oh I don’t know; I
think she is cool.” Frowning I watch her face wondering what
the fuck she is talking about. “You know I could teach her some
boxing lessons. She has a sweet right hook but it could use some
work.” Amber and boxing? I don’t see it at all.

“I’m taking care of
it,” I inform her as Chase strolls over to us.

“So
what’s the deal for spring break? Are we open all week?”

Fuck,
I forgot all about that. “No, I need a fuckin break too,”
I answer, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Hey
we should go hang at the beach,” Chase tells me.

“No.
Why would I do that when I can hang with my girlfriend.”

He
shrugs and asks Amber what she thinks. “I think I should I take
Bailey out and teach her some moves.” Chase laughs, shaking his
head. I am missing something here; I know it.

“What are you two talking
about?” Amber smiles then rolls her eyes at me before walking
away.

“Dude,
she is totally hitting on your chick. She told me that she would love
to mud wrestle with Bailey.” I punch him on the arm, and then
walk away. I don’t know why I hired those two fools.

The
night progressively gets busier and my mood gets darker. I miss
Bailey hanging in here with me. There is a bunch of girls ordering
different drinks with each round, so I put Chase on that shit. I text
Max for a while then decide to actually work. It’s busy so I
get stuck in sending out drinks and brushing off unwanted advances
from chicks at the bar when the door opens and my mood lifts a
little. I see blond hair bobbing across the bar. Hurrying I make up
Amber’s order and bring it to her when I do a double take. Shit
I thought that was Bailey. This chick looks just like her; the blond
hair, blue eyes but her face is slightly different.

“Hey,
can I get drink or are you goanna stare all night?” she asks,
grinning at me.

“Sure
what you havin?”

She
applies that sticky gloss shit Bailey uses on her lips then licks
them. “Jack and Coke,” she tells, me removing her jacket.
I have to leave so I go make her drink and the chick talks with Amber
who glances at me with a raised eyebrow.

Putting
the drink down, Amber nods at the girl. “Says she is looking
for someone named Bailey Mortenson,” she says then walks away.

“So do you know her? I was
told she hangs in this den of iniquity.” Taking a sip of her
drink, she smiles tilting her head sideways at me. “You know,
you have that whole dark sexy thing going on.” She waves her
hand up and down at me.

“Why
are you looking for Bailey?” I ask, getting slightly annoyed at
this Bailey look-a-like who actually sounds like her too with her
smart mouth.

“What’s it to ya?”

Walking
away, I slip into the back and call Bailey while trying to keep my
eye on crazy at the end of the bar.

“Hi,”
she singsongs into the phone.

“Hey darlin’. You
doin okay?”

I
can hear music playing in the background and laughing. “Yeah,
Paige and I are having a girl’s night; just messing with the
makeup Tom sent me.”

I
can just picture what that is like, makeup and booze and a big
fucking mess when I get home, but it makes me smile all the same.

“Sounds
good darlin’. There is a chick here looking for you,” I
tell her while Paige shouts something about more booze in the
background.

“What
chick? Do I know her?”

Chuckling,
I smile. “I don’t know darlin’, but she looks and
sounds like you.”

I
hear her huffing for a minute. “Eh okay, but what do you mean
babe? God, my knee fucking hurts, Paige,” she says.

Sighing
I ask a stupid question, “Are you drunk, darlin’?”

He
starts laughing and I wait until she stops. “No baby, I’m
not drunk, but I do miss you. Okay, see you later.” She hangs
up on me so I call back.

“Bailey.”

“Knox,”
she responds in the same warning tone I used with her.

“Did
you not here me about this chick?”

I
hear more laughing and banging.

“Yeah babe, I did. On the
way.” She hangs up again so I just leave it, and wait for my
drunken girlfriend to show up.

Bailey

“Come
Paige, we got a black ops mission,” I say, pulling her off the
bed.

“What?”
she laughs and I relay Knox’s phone call to her.

“Ooh
sounds great.” She smiles and we walk out of the apartment.

We
have already been messing with makeup and clothes so we just leave.
My knee is killing me from Paige knocking into it so we cut across
campus to the bar.

“So
who do you think it is?” I shrug in answer. “Maybe I
should go in first and get a picture of her and text you. Then you
can sneak in the back door,” Paige says as we cross the road
and I laugh.

“No,
commander. I will walk in and face down my stalker.” We both
laugh at each other as we reach the bar.

Paige
still goes inside first determined she could hide me from this chick
whomever she is. Knox is busy but catches my eye and winks. Looking
around I don’t see anyone who might be looking for me so Paige
and I take our seats.

“Hey
darlin’, she went to the restroom.” He nods in the
direction of the bathrooms.

“Babe
relax, I’m sure I will be fine. It’s probably someone
from school.”

He
looks at me for a minute then decides to get us a drink.

“Oh
My God! Bailey!” I hear screeching from behind me and turn to
see my cousin Cara running at me. Standing, I hop to her and we hug
in the middle of the bar. “Oh my god cuz, I missed you,”
she says hugging tighter.

“Missed
you too, Cara.” Stepping back from her, I limp back to my seat.

“What
happened to your knee, cuz?” I tell her about my fight with a
branch earlier today, making her laugh at me. “Hey, so which
one is Mr. lover man?” She nods at Knox and Chase behind the
bar.

“How
do you know I am dating someone?”

Frowning
she tells me that my mom told her I was dating a barman and she did
not approve if it. Rolling my eyes at my mother’s stupid
opinion, I lift my leg inspecting my knee.

“Oh sorry Paige, this is my
cousin Cara.” They smile at each other. “What are you
doing here anyway?” I ask, blowing on my knee.

“Oh,
got tired of Grove so I drove up here after my dad and I had a
fight.” That is unusual because she never fights with her
parents. She is closer to them and her little sister than most
families are.

“Is
your knee still sore, darlin’?” Nodding at Knox, he walks
around the bar to me and checks my knee. “Why is it bleeding
again?”

Paige
raises her hand like she is in grade school and smiles shyly. “I
did it.”

Knox
shakes his head. “I won’t ask. So is the apartment
wrecked after tornado Bailey and Paige?”