Captain Swan - Falling for the Bad Boy

Chapter 5

He can do this. No, he can do the shit out of this. There’s no doubt in his mind. He hasn’t had an exclusive girlfriend since high school, but that wasn’t so long ago. And he wasn’t nearly as crazy about his girlfriend back then as he is about Emma. They’ve only been together a few times but she already makes him feel things he never thought he’d feel before. And it’s kind of scary. No, it’s very scary. But he can do this. He’s a Jones after all. 

A man unwilling to fight for what he wants, deserves what he gets, his father always tells him. What Killian wanted just had never involved a woman before, other than one night in the sack.

A lass dressed in skinny jeans and a halter top showing an evocative amount of cleavage comes up to the counter, leaning over the bar top, putting said cleavage on full display. 

He’s not looking, but it’s all right there. So he keeps his eyes focused on his task.

“Are you Killian?” 

Don’t smile, don’t even pretend to be interested and most importantly, do not flirt or so much as make her think you’re flirting.  

He looks up at her, only to be polite and answer her question. “Depends who’s asking.”

A cunning smile spreads across her face as she plants her chin in her hand and stares at him dreamily. He hasn’t seen her before, so he’d venture a guess to say she heard from a friend of a friend how good in bed he is and wants to ‘test that theory’. “What if I told you I’m the one asking?” She bites her bottom lip, her eyes scanning him up and down as she traces the bar top with her finger. Usually he’d fall for this tactic and lay on the charm. He’d let her flirt and he’d definitely flirt back.

But not this time.

This time he has Emma, and he’s not about to fuck things up with her. She wants an exclusive relationship and that’s what he’ll give her. He wants to be a better man, not only for her, but for himself, so that’s what he’ll do, or else he’ll die trying.

He points to his name tag, not cracking a smile. “You found me.”

She nods, never taking her eyes off of him. “I sure did.” She reaches into the neckline of her halter top and pulls out a small slip of paper, handing it to him.

See, here’s the thing—the old Killian would be quick to take it and wouldn’t even think twice about it. But the new Killian, the one who has the woman he’s sure has been plucked right out of his dreams, has no desire to take that slip of paper, because the old Killian knows this woman’s number is scribbled on said slip of paper. And by even taking it just to toss it in the trash would be a mistake, because it could be a trap. And he’s not about to fall for any traps, no siree. He scratches behind his ear, not sure how he’ll turn her down without hurting her feelings, but he knows he already has by simply not taking the slip of paper. “Sorry, love, but I actually have a girlfriend.”

Her jaw drops, her brows wrinkled in confusion. She narrows her eyes, not believing him. Then she dissolves into laughter and extends her hand even further at a second attempt to give him the slip of paper. He steps back so she can’t slip it into his pocket. He knows all the tricks and he’s not about to fall for any of them.

“You’re joking, right?” 

“I’m not.” He shrugs nonchalantly. “I’m very much taken. So you can order a drink or you can leave the bar, up to you, lass,” he says seriously so she no longer thinks this is a joke.

She scoffs, her expression turning into disgust as she tears up the slip of paper and throws it at him. The two halves don’t reach very far, one landing on the bar top and the other falling to the floor in front of his feet. Again, he knows this trick. He knows she’s still holding on to a shred of hope that he’ll pick up the two halves and consider her offer after she leaves. That’s why she threw her number at him rather than take it with her. He watches her leave, but only to make sure he’s not blindsided if she decides to grab someone’s drink and throw it at him.