Emerald (Steele Investigations) Read Online Free

going to bite…unless you want me to,” then he
winks.  Why does he have to be so good looking?  I feel the butterflies
multiply in my stomach and I resist the urge to do something I will regret -
this would be either jumping into his arms to kiss him, or bursting in to tears
and running from the bar.  Instead, I lower my eyes to the floor, nod my head
and make my way to the bar.
    Standing at the bar, waiting for the ‘tender, I feel Travis
come up beside me.  His back is just touching my front and I have an overwhelming
desire to lean back into him.  I don’t of course, but it makes me pause for
thought; just why is he provoking this reaction from my body?  I suck my bottom
lip into my mouth as I resolve to mull over this question when I get home
tonight.
    I startle when I feel Travis’ hand grip my hip, before he
leans in closer and speaks to the waitress I didn’t even realize had stopped in
front of me.  I release my lip and listen to Travis give her our order.  The
waitress gives him a flirty smile and flounces off to fill our order.  I narrow
my eyes in her direction and something strange works its way through my body. 
I feel angry, but I’m not sure why, the knots in my stomach twist savagely and
my teeth clench.  I have an overwhelming sense of dislike for the bartender –
even though I’ve never seen or met her in my life.  I just do not like
her.  I want to rip her head off for smiling at Travis.
    Hands off bitch, he’s ours! Selfish Jemma snarls, as
she ties up the laces on her combat boots and smears Army war paint across her
cheeks just under her eyes.
    Relax Jemma.  You can’t be jealous of the bartender. 
She’s only doing her job, and Travis isn’t ours so they are both free to do as
they please, Rational Jemma coaches in her ever present placating tone. 
    Travis leans back but leaves his hand on my hip.  It feels
like he’s burning a hole in my side and I am struck by an impulse to race off
and check for a burn mark in the mirror.  Then I recall that I need to use the
bathroom.  I chew on my bottom lip again as I try to come up with a scenario
that will allow me to use the restroom without Travis cottoning on to what I am
going to do.  I look around, trying to find a sign for the bathroom so I can
make my way there without looking like a lost fool.
    “Bathroom is over there,” Travis rumbles in ear and jerks
his head to our left. 
    Ho -ly shit.  How did he know what I was looking for? 
    I feel my face heat and I drop my eyes to the floor, totally
embarrassed.
    “Why don’t you go.  I got this,” he gives me a hip squeeze
and a gently push just as the waitress arrives back with our order, flirty
smile still plastered on her face.  It’s then that I realize that perhaps I am
cramping Travis’ style.  Perhaps he wants to hook up with the waitress and
having me there is hindering his mojo or whatever.  I ignore the twisting in my
gut and move toward the bathroom.
    ******
     I hurry off to the bathroom, do my business and calm myself
down.  I spend a good amount of time staring at my reflection in the mirror,
trying to convince myself that I will be fine, the rest of the night will be
fine, everything will be fine.   Once composed, I walked back out towards
our table, hoping against hope that I can find a seat not near Travis.  I spot
the table and see Rae, Elliott, Tom, Travis and the two other guys sitting
there.  I also notice that the only vacant seat is next the Travis.  I pull my
bottom lip through my teeth and wonder if there’s a way I could possibly get
out of this situation.  First, I could ask to switch places with someone, but
this would be awkward because they would ask why wanted to switch
places.  Second, I could do what the two newcomers did and pull up a chair from
another table, this however, would no doubt get awkward as well because I would
have the, “there’s already a vacant chair,” speech and I really did not want
that.  Whelp,