“Here you go, Lacie. You sure you got this?” Colton asked.
“Oh yeah. After all, I’m an old pro,” I said with as much sarcasm as possible.
As I walked away, I heard Miranda ask Colton what his plans were after the bar closed tomorrow night, which happened to be one of the biggest nights for Tap and Brew. New Year’s Eve.
I couldn’t hang around and wait for his answer as much as I wanted to, but it would have been obvious. I’d had a crush on Colton since the day I started working there. We’d even flirted around with each other at times, but nothing had happened so far. Maybe I was just not his type and he didn’t know how to let me down easy. Maybe Miranda and her perky tits were his type.
I stood there stewing as I waited for my food order to come up.
“I’d hate to be on the end of that death glare,” Emma joked as she keyed her order into the computer.
“I think Miranda asked Colton out,” I said, through gritted teeth.
“What makes you say that? Look at him. He’s watching you.”
When I looked up, he winked. “See? He winked at you,” Emma said, shoulder bumping me.
“We’re both standing here. He could’ve been winking at anyone. He could’ve been looking over our shoulder.” I pouted, slumping my shoulders.
Emma looked over her shoulder and began laughing. “Yeah, I’m sure Colton is into old geezers.” She shivered. “Ew! Saggy old man balls.” That made me laugh. “See, you need to make this a good night. Don’t let Miranda get to you.”
I looked around the room but didn’t see her anywhere. She had three tables seated already, and I had five. I made my way back to the bar to grab a couple of sodas and casually asked Colton if he’d seen Miranda.
He frowned. “She said she was sick, so I sent her home.”
“She didn’t look sick.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. Who was I to question his management?
His brown eyes framed in dark lashes met my blue ones and he said, “I can’t really make someone work who claims to be sick. She could infect everyone in here and then what would I do without you?” He grinned, and I beamed. I felt a little lighter than before.
“I guess you’d have to shake your money maker, Colton, and hope you got good tips.” I laughed and grabbed my tray and sashayed away.
At the end of the night, my feet were aching. I knew I should have worn my sneakers because we had a packed house tonight, and tomorrow, being a holiday, would be even worse.
“Hey, look what I got,” Emma said, as she stepped up beside me with a plastic container of party hats.
“Yeah. You have party hats for tomorrow night. Whoopty doo!”
“That’s not what I’m talking about. I got Mr. Plaid Shirt’s phone number, and he got mine. He said he would be back tomorrow night to see me. His name is Wrigley. I need to decide what I’m going to wear. What should I wear, Lacie? Oooh, my denim mini skirt and our company shirt with the logo across the chest! How does that sound? What should I do to my hair?” When Emma was excited about something, she fired off questions in rapid succession, not giving me a chance to answer. It wouldn’t matter, anyway. She waltzed away before I had a chance to open my mouth and grabbed her purse to leave. “Night, Lacie!” She waved over her shoulder before the door closed behind her.
“Well, It looks like it’s just you and me,” Colton said, stepping up behind me so close I could feel his body heat from my head to my toes. That steady throb between my thighs had picked up speed, causing me to squeeze my legs together. Colton and I had so much chemistry the air crackled around us. Emma was right, but I’d never tell her. Not only did we have chemistry, we had a lot in common. We both had lost at love in the past. Our exes cheated on us and then pretended that we brought it upon ourselves.
My ex complained that I studied too much and didn’t pay enough attention to him, and Colton’s fiancée left because he dedicated so much time to his new business.
“Is it hot in here?” Colton asked.
I could feel his warm breath skate across my neck, causing my nipples to pebble. I swallowed hard.
“It’s a little w-warm,” I stammered.
“How about a shot?” He leaned against me, his front to my back, and grabbed the bottle of whiskey sitting in front of me on the bar. My breathing kicked up a notch at his closeness. “Grab a couple of glasses.” He tilted his head toward where the shot glasses were kept.
“I better not. I’ve got to drive home. You know, don’t drink and drive.” I poked him in the shoulder and laughed. I laughed! Where did that come from? And I poked him? I was a total mess around this man. He was seven years older than me so I was pretty sure he thought I was a child now. “I better leave,” I said quickly. “It’s getting late, and we’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Gotta be rested up for that.” I side-stepped him and grabbed my purse from underneath the bar and headed for the door.
“You could have one drink and stay for a bit,” he offered with a cocky grin. “I swear I’ll be a good boy.” He held up two fingers. “See? Scout’s honor.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
