Hooked on You: An Annapolis Harbor Series Prequel, Lea Coll [love letters to the dead .txt] 📗

introduce her to my city when I should have showed her the darker parts of my neighborhood, my life. I should have been giving her reasons to be running away from me. Not pulling her in closer.

“She’s done great this week. Does she want to work here permanently?” I could feel Isaac’s eyes on me.

“I doubt it. She has a good job.” She hadn’t complained and she’d worked hard. It hadn’t scared her off like I thought it would.

“So, what’s going on? Why are you distracted?” He rubbed the countertop down with a rag.

I didn’t want to tell him I’d taken her to the French Quarter this morning. It was completely out of character for me. I knew he’d see right through me and know I was attracted to her. He already seemed to suspect something was going on.

“She’s here.” Isaac seemed happy about it.

I turned to watch Taylor open the door and walk in with her skinny jeans, a flowy tank top, sneakers and her hair up in a messy bun instead of her usual slicked back ponytail. I wanted to pull out the pins and watch her hair drop around her shoulders. I wanted to run my fingers through it and see if it was as soft as it looked. I wanted to pull her tight to my body so I could feel all the curves she was hiding under that flowy top. I wanted to slide my hand down the back of her jeans and cup her ass. Fuck. She looked different than the woman who walked into my bar that first day. This woman could slide under my defenses.

She made her way to the bar through the crowd, which was light tonight. “Hey, how are you guys?” She looked at both of us with a smile, but her eyes settled on me last.

I’d definitely fucked up today. She thought there was something between us when there couldn’t be anything. I needed to set her straight.

But before I could say anything, Isaac threw her a black apron from under the bar. “Sure glad you’re helping us out. I haven’t found another server yet.”

Her smile was quick. “Of course.”

When her eyes went to mine, I kept my expression neutral. I didn’t want to encourage her any more than I already had. I ignored the hurt in her eyes and turned to a customer to ask if they wanted a refill. I could feel her eyes on my face before she finally walked away.

“What was that? She’s doing us a favor and doesn’t even expect to be paid—I think you can say hello like a civilized person.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“Leave it, Isaac.” I clenched my teeth, hoping he’d listen.

“I think you’re way off base with her.” He stepped closer to me so Anna wouldn’t hear as she walked back and forth getting things ready for the night and lowered his voice. “Maybe she could help you with Zach.”

“Drop it.” I’d never place my trust in a woman again. I trusted my mom to take care of me, to always be there for me, I trusted Selena, but I wasn’t good enough for her. I wouldn’t make the same mistake again. It’s why my relationships with women were few and far between. I never got serious with anyone, especially not someone who worked in law enforcement who had the potential to fuck up things with Zach.

Isaac shook his head and returned to the other end of the bar.

I couldn’t stop myself from tracking her ass in those tight jeans as she made her way from table to table talking and smiling. She was sweet, caring, and way too good for me. She seemed to have a knack for taking care of people. I ignored the nagging thought that she would be sympathetic to the situation with Zach. That she wouldn’t report his mother, but I couldn’t take that chance.

At eleven, she untied her apron, placing it under the bar. “Is it okay if I leave?”

She’d asked me, but I wasn’t her boss. So like an ass I remained quiet, forcing Isaac to respond.

“Of course. You’re helping us out.”

Taylor waited a beat longer, like she was waiting for me to offer to walk her out or say something, but I carefully avoided her gaze by cleaning off the already clean bar top.

“Well, have a good night.” Taylor smiled at Isaac.

“See that she gets where she’s going,” Isaac said, nodding in Taylor’s direction as she headed to the door.

“I’m not a complete asshole,” I grumbled, even though I wanted to be. I wanted to avoid situations where we’d be alone.

Isaac tilted his head toward the door.

I caught up with her on the sidewalk where she was looking uncertainly at the street, probably watching for an Uber. It smelled strongly of rain—the air was heavy and humid.

“You shouldn’t wait out here by yourself.” I stopped next to her, shoving my hands into my pockets.

“I’m not by myself. You’re here.” She was annoyed with me and I couldn’t blame her.

“Has anyone told you you’re incredibly frustrating?” I nudged her shoulder with my arm since she was so much shorter than my six-foot-two.

“Has anyone told you that you’re incredibly frustrating?”

“Yeah, actually, all the time.” I chuckled.

She smiled for a second before the expression slipped off her face. “What happened tonight? After this morning, I thought—”

“I promised you I’d help out with the community outreach project but that’s it. This morning shouldn’t have happened. We’re too different. You’re a prosecutor and I’m a bartender.”

She was quiet for a minute as her car pulled up.

“Thanks for helping this week.” I wanted her to look at me so I could see her expressive blue eyes.

She sighed. “Yeah, no problem. Do you need me to work again?”

Was I imagining that she held her breath for my answer? A strand of wavy hair had fallen out of her messy bun and I was close enough that I could reach out and wrap it behind her ear.