Chapter Twelve
Rush sat at the bar nursing a beer and watching Reena move between the pub and Sunday’s. She smiled at customers, laughed at something her fellow waitress said and looked like she was happy. But he could see the strain around her eyes, the look of sorrow in them whenever they turned his way.
They were down to a day and a half. After Reena’s early finish yesterday, they’d hit downtown Baltimore and wandered for hours with no particular destination in mind. It had been a balmy evening and they had strolled hand in hand, talking and laughing, sometimes not saying a word. They’d eventually found a pub—not as good as Pat’s—with a beer garden to have a meal and a drink.
Then they’d gone home and had some of the hottest sex of his life. Every time with Reena was hot but there had been an edge of violence, a frantic urgency to their fucking Rush had never experienced before. He knew it stemmed from the increasing tension over his departure.
As he lay there listening to Reena’s breathing even out, knowing she’d fallen into an exhausted slumber, that same oblivion had eluded him. He’d stared up at the dark ceiling and mapped out the rest of their time together. He didn’t like the way it made him feel as though he was manipulating her but he had to have a plan. Had to be sure every second until he left Baltimore was used to his advantage.
Today had been a lazy stay-in-bed day. He couldn’t remember ever spending time in bed with a woman and not having sex. It surprised him how much he enjoyed being snuggled up under the covers watching movies on Netflix with Reena curled into his side. They’d stayed in their warm cocoon until the last second before she had to get ready for work.
He wished they were still hidden away inside her house ignoring the world.
Except she had the dinner shift and Rush knew her well enough to know she’d never call in sick. And Pat’s was hopping, they’d have felt it if Reena hadn’t come in. Tris, the Collins who ran the bar tonight, had told him they were unusually busy due to the rumor floating around that Sky and Teagan Mitchell were in town. Apparently, that drew in local fans hoping for an impromptu performance.
Rush hadn’t made the connection between the Collins family and Sky Mitchell before Tris mention the famous singer—and his equally famous wife, who happened to be Tris’s sister. He also noticed the man hadn’t confirmed or denied the rumor.
“Want some company while you wait?” Mr. Collins clapped him on the shoulder as he took the stool beside Rush.
He grinned at the older man. “It’s your bar.”
“That it is.”
Tris appeared in front of his father. “Guinness, Pop?”
Mr. Collins tapped the bar top. “Couldn’t convince you to make it a Jameson, could I?”
Tris arched an eyebrow, grabbed a pint glass and pulled a Guinness from the tap. Placing the perfectly poured beer in front of his father, he said, “Do I look like I have a death wish? My wife’s here tonight, you know.” He indicated the back corner of the room with a tip of his chin.
“Damn women,” Mr. Collins grumbled. “They’re all but measuring me for a coffin. I ain’t going nowhere ’til I see all them babies happy and settled like me and my Sunday were. Like you and your siblings are.”
Rush had just brought his own beer to his mouth when a boney finger was poked in his face.
“And you.”
He glanced at the Collins patriarch, wondering what the hell he had to do with anything.
“You need to make that girly happy. Give her a bunch of babies and that’ll get her settled. She needs it. Family. We all do. It’s what makes us strong. Gives us a reason to do better. And you two got nothing, so you have to make your own.”
Rush stared at the old man.
“Pop. Leave the guy alone.” Tris smiled at him apologetically before moving to serve the customer waving from the end of the bar.
“I’m right, ain’t I? You got no one.” Mr. Collins tapped the wrinkly skin beside his right eye. “I got peepers and they see more than people think. Damn fool kids thinking they know it all,” he muttered.
“I…” Rush swallowed. “What gave it away?”
Mr. Collins shrugged. “Who knows? Could be I’m just an old Irishman spouting nonsense.”
Rush chuckled. “I doubt that.” He took a sip of his beer and pondered the old man’s words. “I’m in love with her.”
“I see it.”
“Can’t say she feels the same.”
“Oh, I think she does.” Mr. Collins glanced over to where Reena was delivering a tray of food to a table at the back of the room. “She’s lost a lot that one. Had it taken when she was too young to know how to handle it. Beth helped but the scars run deep. You’ll need more than a bit of patience if you want to stick.” The man turned perceptive eyes Rush’s way. “And you want to stick, right?”
“Yeah. I want to stick.”
“Then here’s my advice.” He clapped Rush on the shoulder. “Your woman is always right, and when she isn’t, she is anyway.”
“I’m not sure she’s mine.”
“Oh, mark my words, she is.” Mr. Collins smiled. “I know what love looks like, and Sabreena’s got the look, you just gotta get past all that hurt and fear. Once you’ve done that, you’ll stick.”
Rush did something he hadn’t ever done before. He prayed. Prayed that an old man’s words would come true.
***
Reena hated the tension coiling tight in belly. She had a headache, knew it was because she couldn’t stop thinking about Rush leaving in thirty-six hours. She’d promised him—herself—she wouldn’t worry about it, and she’d tried—really she had. But he was leaving.
“Hey.”
She smiled at Caitlyn. “Big crowd tonight.”
“Yeah. Someone started a rumor Sky and Teagan were here.”
She’d heard the gossip, and if she wasn’t so tied in knots over Rush’s imminent departure, she might be excited about the possibility.
“They’re not.” Caitlyn frowned. “We’re going to have to give them something though.”
“Is Hunter around? Maybe he’d do a few songs,” Reena suggested, scanning the crowded bar.
“Maybe.” Caitlyn pushed to her toes. “Oh, there’s Ailis, she’ll know what to do. Gotta go. Catch you later.”
Her friend disappeared into the crush and Reena headed back to Sunday’s Side. It was getting late but things didn’t appear to be slowing down. If anything, it was busier than when she’d first arrived. That was five hours ago. She was ready to go home. Climb into her bed with Rush.
She needed the reassurance of his arms around her, holding her tight, to prove he hadn’t left yet. Her eyes stung and she blinked several times, swallowed down the emotion clogging her throat.
“There you are.” Arms slipped around her waist from behind, Rush’s warmth and unique mountain scent surrounding her. “I’ve been looking for you. Needed a cuddle to get me through the next hour.”
Reena smiled. Even in the face of all her sadness, Rush made her smile. “Better?”
“No. How much longer?” He turned her in his arms and bent his mouth to her ear. “I want to get you alone so I can strip you naked and kiss you all over.”
“Rush.” Reena glanced around to be sure no one overheard him.
“Guess I’ll have to be satisfied with this for now.” He nibbled at her ear, making her giggle. “That’s better. I don’t like that frowny face you’ve got going on tonight.”
She sighed and leaned into him. “I’m missing you already and you haven’t gone yet.”
“We’ll make it work, Reena.” He squeezed her tight. “I promise you.”
With everything that she was, she wanted to believe him. Except she thought the distance and time apart would work against them. Establishing a new relationship had enough hurdles without throwing in living in different states and only being together a few days a month.
“I’ll quit my job if I have to.” Gripping her shoulders, Rush held her at arm’s length. “I’ve got some money put away. And I’m positive I could get a job easy enough.”
“You can’t quit your job. You’ve worked at the lodge for fifteen years.” He couldn’t be serious. It had to be a line he was throwing out there. They’d barely known each other a month and he wanted to toss his life away as though all those years didn’t matter? “No. You can’t quit your job.”
“It’s just a job. I can get another one. You’re more important. There’s nothing holding me in in the mountains. I don’t have family there. Or a house.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No. We’ll work it out without you quitting.”
“Reena. A little help here,” Felicity called out behind her.
“Go. We’ll talk later.” Rush nudged her into motion. She wanted to argue but they were still slammed and it wasn’t fair for her to let Felicity or the Collinses down.
Reluctantly she went back to work. She ended up doing an extra hour before Mrs. Wallace shooed her out the door in spite of the still-packed pub and restaurant. Meeting Rush at the door, she took his hand and they started the walk home in silence.
Reena didn’t mind the quiet. There was nothing either of them could say to ease their minds, and right now, she was content to enjoy a late-night walk with her hand in his. There’d been plenty of nights where she’d done this trip alone and would be plenty to come in the future. For now, she’d make the most of having Rush with her.
They didn’t speak when they reached her house. Not a word was uttered as they went inside and headed for the bedroom. And when they stripped out of their clothes and climbed into bed, it was to the sound of their pounding hearts and their swallow breaths.
No words were needed to express what they were feeling. Coming together, they slid slowly into the passion they’d built over the week. When climax came, it was hot and sweet and unlike anything they’d done before.
Safe in Rush’s arms, his heart beating beneath her ear, Reena lay draped across his chest and let sleep take her.