Love After All

She curled up on the sofa and grabbed the remote, surfing for something that might help relax her. She found a romantic comedy and settled in to watch, hoping a great movie and a cup of tea would wind her down.

Two hours later, she was well satisfied with the movie, but still not tired.

“This is stupid,” she said to the television, which obviously didn’t reply.

It was too bad she lived in an apartment that didn’t allow pets. It would be nice to at least have a cat to talk to. Though she really wanted a dog.

Even a dog like Lou, who was the cutest little thing Chelsea had ever seen, though she’d always had her mind set on a big dog, like Emma and Luke’s dogs.

Right now, she’d be very happy to have Lou to snuggle up with.

Or Lou’s owner.

“Okay, enough of this.” She picked up her phone. It was two thirty and clearly she wasn’t going to sleep tonight. She sent a text message to Bash.

Are you closing up yet?

Ten minutes later, he texted back.

Just finishing up here. Are you okay?

She smiled at that and replied.

I’m fine. Just wide awake for some reason. Are you heading home?

Yeah. Want me to come over?

Her stomach did a leap at his suggestion, but this was what she wanted, so she sent the text before she changed her mind.

You have Lou to deal with. How about I come to your place?

She rubbed her stomach, feeling ridiculously nervous as she waited for him to reply.

Sounds good. I’ll be home in about twenty minutes. See you there.

Now she’d made a decision, and she wasn’t going to change her mind.

She laid her phone down and went into her bedroom, put on her clothes, brushed her teeth and hair, and fixed her makeup.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her keys and walked out the door.

Chapter 19

Once he got home, Bash took a quick shower, then put on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, not at all sure what Chelsea had in mind.

Maybe she was still freaked out over her encounter with those assholes in the bar tonight and she didn’t want to be at home. He couldn’t blame her for that. Some men were jerks. He was still pissed about it, and if it had been anywhere but his bar, he’d have taken it outside and given those young punks a lesson they wouldn’t forget.

But as the bar owner, he bore a certain responsibility, and beating the shit out of customers wasn’t something he could get away with, so the only thing he could do was throw them out. He’d make sure they never came back, too.

Will had told him Jane knew the kid’s parents, who were great people. He had an idea a message would be delivered to the parents and that the kid would be in deep trouble. That gave him some satisfaction.

In the meantime, he’d do whatever it took to ease Chelsea’s mind. Women had a right to feel safe no matter where they went and not be subject to harassment by men who thought they had a right to take whatever they wanted. That it had happened in his bar made him feel responsible, and he felt really shitty about it. If the bar hadn’t been so crowded he’d have taken her home and sat with her all night. So he was glad she texted.

He’d just come inside after taking Lou out when the doorbell rang. Lou, who’d taken to barking at the slightest provocation, was proving to be one hell of a tiny guard dog. She wagged her tail and ran to the door in a yapping frenzy.

“I’ve got this, Lou. Thanks for the heads-up.”

He opened the door and Chelsea was there, wearing tight jeans, a red Henley, and high heels.

Jesus. Those heels. They made her legs look miles long.

Something he should not be thinking about right now, when his intent was to simply be there for her. Not seduce her.

“Obviously you knew I was here,” she said, coming in and then bending down so Lou could check her out. When Lou wagged her tail and licked her hand, Chelsea picked her up and cradled her close.

“I definitely knew you were here. Now that she’s comfortable with me and with the house, she thinks she’s fierce.”

“She is fierce, aren’t you, honey?” Chelsea followed him into the living room and took a seat on the sofa. Lou settled in on Chelsea’s lap.

“Something to drink?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No, I’m good right now, but thanks.”

“I’m gonna have a beer.”

“You go right ahead.”

He grabbed a beer out of the fridge and unscrewed the top, then went to sit down next to her.

She looked okay as he watched her pet Lou, but he knew looks could be deceiving.

“How are you?” he asked.

She lifted her head and met his gaze. “I’m fine. Why?”

“I’ve been thinking about you all night.”

“You were? Again … why?”

“I thought maybe you were upset about that guy who gave you a hard time at the bar.”

“Oh. No. At the time he freaked me out a little, but honestly, I don’t think he was dangerous. Just a little drunk and too full of himself. I was intending to shut him down when you came over. Thanks again for doing that.”

“I was really pissed off, Chelsea. I’m sorry about what happened.”

“It’s not your fault. You can’t take responsibility for every drunken douchebag who hits on a woman.”

“He went beyond hitting on you. He got physical, and I won’t accept that from anyone in my bar.”

“It’s still not your responsibility to police their behavior. You threw him and his friends out, and I appreciated it. End of story.”