His End Game (MMG #1) (25 page)

“Do you believe him?”

“Would you?” she asked. “You’ve known him as long as I have and, in some ways, better.”

I didn’t even have to think about it. “I believe him.” Kurt was hands down the most honorable person that I had ever known except for Max.

Joss agreed. “I wasn’t his girlfriend then. In fact, we had only just met. How can I be mad at something he did before me? You know what horn dogs those guys were back
then. Kurt despises Jennifer. He has ever since the night she tried to get between you and Max. I was with him and saw firsthand.”

“So all is good?”

“Yes, all is great.” I could hear the smile in her voice and knew that everything was going to be okay.

Thank God
.

I told her all about my dad’s surgery and my plans to temporarily move him back to Charlotte. “He’ll be in pretty rough shape at first but it’s nothing that I can’t handle. I do need out of my Tuesday and Wednesday shifts, though.”

“No problem, as long as you are back for margarita night.”

This made me laugh. “I wouldn’t dream of missing it.”

“Do you need me to drive to Raleigh and help you?” This is just one of the many reasons why I loved Joss. She would give you the shirt off her back if she felt you were in need. I assured her that I had it under control.

“Now, tell me, what’s up with you and Dillon?”

I had been waiting for her to bring this up. She too had seen me perched on his lap.

“I’m not really sure,” I answered, “why?”

“Well, for one, when he went chasing after you Saturday night, I thought Dana was going to blow a gasket. She was beyond pissed. Then you were all cozied up on his lap when we came to check on you.”

“He was just being nice to me, that’s all,” I assured her. Something was bothering me though and I knew that if I asked, she would tell me the truth. “Did you leave or did you stay until closing?”

“I stayed so I could scream at Kurt. Why?”

“Did you see Dana anywhere? Dillon said that Kurt kicked them out but…I mean… I know I left before everyone and all….
I didn’t see her but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t….” I was spinning my verbal wheels and getting bogged down in my own words.

Her sigh gave me my answer. “Kurt did kick them out but I guess she waited around or came back later because I saw him with her outside after closing. Sorry.”

My heart leaped into my throat. “Oh, no, don’t be. It’s probably for the best anyway.”

“It’s complicated or, should I say, those two are complicated. They have played this game with each other for over a year now. He acts uninterested, they fight, he goes back to her and she takes him back, every time.”

Figures
.

“He’s not good for you, El. Kurt agrees with me on this. It took everything in him not to rip you out of Dillon’s lap Saturday night.”

“I know,” I sighed, and I did. Dillon Whitaker was not good for Ellie Davis but still……a small part of me couldn’t help but wonder.

Surgery went well and I was able to move my dad back to Charlotte late Wednesday afternoon. I spoke and texted with Joss, Kurt, Piper and even Harry but funny, I did not hear one word from Dillon. I never gave him my phone number but that didn’t mean he couldn’t find it. I was angry more at myself than anything else. I knew better. Joss told me that she worked with Dillon on both Tuesday and Wednesday night. She also informed me that Dana was a no show both nights.

By Thursday my dad was feeling better and I was starting to go a little stir crazy.

“I can cancel work tonight,” I offered for probably the fiftieth time.

“Go, get out and take a break from me. I’ve got sports and hot soup thanks to you. I am good.”

“Here’s your pill schedule. You have my cell number and if I don’t answer, here’s the number to Dragonfly.”

“Go, Ellie, please.”

I made sure to take extra care with my outfit, hair and makeup. I put on a tight red v-neck short sleeved sweater that plunged just low enough. I squeezed into my tightest Lucky Jeans and tucked them into some awesome black motorcycle boots that Piper had given me. My hair framed my face and hung down my back in spiral curls. I made my eyes look smoky and my lips sexy with gloss. I looked good.

Eat your heart out, Dillon
.

Dillon’s eyes lit up in appreciation when he saw me walk through the door. “Ellie Belly, you look smokin’ hot tonight.”

“Dillon,” I clipped.

The shortness in my tone put a frown on his face. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sure you can figure it out.”

“Give me a hint?”

“Nope.”

“Please?”

Ignoring him, I put on my apron and began washing glasses. A few minutes later Garrett rolled through the front. I asked him about Kentucky.

“It was nothing,” he shrugged, obviously not wanting to talk about it. He glanced warily at Dillon before heading off to the back.

“Come on Ellie, you can’t torture me like this all night,” Dillon whined.

Setting down the dish towel, I looked into his beautiful eyes and gave it to him. “I heard you and Dana hooked up after we kissed the other night.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “You heard wrong. She cornered me at my car after we closed but you can call and ask her. Nothing happened.”

As if she would tell me
.

“Look Dillon, it was just a kiss. I’m good with that. No harm, no foul. We walk away as friends and no one gets hurt.”

He frowned again. “What if I want to be more than friends? What if I have no intention of walking away?”

“I don’t think that’s smart.”

“I never said it was smart. Think about it, Ellie. That kiss was hot and I want to see where it could lead.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”

“Before you tell me no, think about it.”

Something about Dillon confused me. I couldn’t seem to put my finger on exactly what it was. However, Garrett beginning his bar prep and the arrival of Joss and Kurt saved me from having to talk anymore about it.

Kurt and Joss only stayed for about half an hour. Kurt was taking her out to dinner, hopefully to propose. He wouldn’t give me any details so I had to use my imagination.

Around nine or so Dana showed up. I was relieved to see that Jennifer was not with her. She sauntered across the bar like she owned the place and parked her fanny right in front of Dillon. Why this infuriated me, I can’t say. It just did. I tried to hide my disgust, but the knowing smile on Dillon’s face let me know that I failed.

Crap!

Matchbox 20’s
She’s So Mean
came on right after she sat down and I had to smile.

“Oh Dil, I just love this song,” she beamed.
“You would,” I mumbled under my breath. Dillon cut his eyes at me and I smirked.

“Well, you are in good company as it is apparently one of Ellie’s favorites too,” Garrett chimed in. I wanted to kick him.

I am never listening to this song again
.

“What do you mean?” she asked, shooting me a nasty look.

Garrett smiled and shot me a wink. “This is one of the songs from Ellie’s playlist. I thought you would have put some new ones on by now.” Garrett hadn’t been around since last Friday and had no clue as to what transpired. I would have to fill him in later.

“I like it too. It sure beats that….noise of Dillon’s we’ve been tortured with lately,” Polly said, stepping behind the bar to hug me.

At one point Harry and Jordan stopped by and had a few drinks. Harry spent the whole time lecherously patting his crotch while trying to get Polly to sit on his lap. I talked to them when I could, which wasn’t much because the bar was slammed. It seemed like everyone and their mother had heard about margarita night.

Dana was a huge distraction. The fact that Dillon would not look her way unless she initiated it made me happy but also confused me. By eleven, things started to ease off and I could hear individual conversations.

“I am seriously going to rip someone’s hair out if this awful shit isn’t changed!” Polly shouted while waiting on her order. Another screamer of Dillon’s was playing.

Dillon grinned at Polly like a kid in a candy store. “Ladies, aren’t you familiar with Black Sabbath’s
Children of the Grave
?”

“No!” we all yelled.

“I don’t care if it’s called Yankee Doodle’s ding dong! If you don’t change this shit to something worth listening to, I’m going to thump you where it counts,” Polly growled. This only made him laugh.

Since I wasn’t right in front of them, I couldn’t hear exactly what was said but it sounded like Dana told Polly to back off of her man.

Dillon, clearly unhappy about this, leaned across the bar and growled, “I am not your man, Dana. I never have been and never will be. Go home.”

Glaring at him she shouted, “No, you don’t own me and you certainly don’t own this bar! I’m staying right here!”

He threw up his hands in frustration. “You’re right, I don’t. Stay. Do what you want. I don’t give a shit but leave my friends alone.”

She settled back down onto her stool and watched him like a hawk for the rest of the night.

A mentally unstable hawk
.

“Looks like trouble in paradise,” Garrett observed.

“If she’s there, it’s more like hell,” I replied.

I was loading the last drinks of the night onto Polly’s tray when she pointed out a guy at the pool tables that she’d been eyeing all night. I had to admit, he looked pretty good.

Dillon, who was standing beside me, heard the whole thing. As soon as Polly left with the tray of drinks, he leaned over and asked, “Can I see you in the lounge for a minute?”

“Nope,” I said, focusing on the register.

“It will only take a second, really,” he assured.

The bar had pretty much cleared out and Garrett could handle the load. Dana had her eyes glued to us. Seeing her still sitting there made me mad. “Fine,” I told him.

Grabbing my hand, he swung open the bar top and pulled me toward the back.

“Dillon!” I heard Dana shout behind us.

When we reached the lounge, he closed the door. Before I could ask what he wanted he pinned me against the wall, tilted my chin with his fingers and kissed me. At first I kissed him
back and then, remembering everything that had transpired since our last kiss, tried to pull away. This failed. Unable to deny that the boy could kiss exceptionally well, I gave in.

This was a totally different Dillon than the one I had last Saturday. This was the take charge alpha Dillon and I was in a world of trouble.

“Stop,” I said, pulling back. We were both breathing heavily.

“No.”

“You have to. Dana is out there. What are you thinking?”

He clinched his jaw. “Ellie, Dana is not my girlfriend. How many times do I have to tell you this before you get it?”

“She thinks you are together, though.”

“That’s her problem, not mine or yours.”

Seriously
?

“I can’t.”

“But you want to.”

“That’s irrelevant.”

“Will it make you feel better if I go tell her that I am in here with you, where I want to be, even though she already knows that?”

“No, yes, oh, I don’t know. You’re confusing me!”

He placed his hands on my face and I closed my eyes. I couldn’t help it. His hands on me felt good. “Look at me.” As soon as our eyes met, his lips were again on mine. “I want you. I am going crazy over you. Please believe me,” he whispered.

I wanted to believe him, I really did but something was holding me back.

“You said earlier that you would let me think about it. Did you mean that?”

“Yes but don’t take too long.” He kissed me again and Garrett walked in. His eyes widened in surprise before narrowing on Dillon. “Are you okay in here, Ellie?”

“Yes, Garrett,” I assured him, “I’m good.”

As soon as he stepped back out, I softly said, “I’ll help you two clean up and then I have to go see how my dad is doing. Please just give me some time, okay?”

Nodding, he kissed me one last time.

When we returned to the bar Garrett was on the phone and Dana was gone.

I was off the next night and stayed home because I was worried about my dad. I had set up a make shift office in one of the two remaining guest rooms. He spent most of the day there catching up on work. However, he moved slowly and still seemed to be in some pain.