Forever with the Bartender (The Forever Collection Book 6)

by Allie York

  Forever With the Bartender

  Forever Collection: Book 6

  Allie York

  Forever with the Bartender

  Copyright © 2021 by Allie York

  All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved worldwide.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any medium, whether electronic, internet or otherwise, without the expressed permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, locations, and names occurring in this book are the product of the author’s imagination or are the property of their respective owners and are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, locations, or persons (living or dead), is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author. All trademarks and trade names are used in a fictitious manner and are in no way endorsed by or an endorsement of their respective owners.

  May contain sexual situations, violence, sensitive and offensive language, and mature topics.

  Recommended for age 18 years and up.

  Cover Design: JustWrite Creations

  Formatting: Brandi Zelenka with My Notes in the Margin

  Editing: My Notes in the Margin

  Proofreading: My Notes in the Margin

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Stay Connected

  Other books by this author:

  Chapter One

  Drake

  Bartending is like running a daycare. People stumble, make messes, and over share. A lot. Tonight, is no different at O’Malley’s. I have a bachelor party in the corner hitting on some college girls out of Nashville. The other end of the bar is all men clamoring to get Roni’s attention while she mixes drinks and pours beer like she was born to do it. I have a live band against the far wall warming up for their first set and a crowd squeezing past my bouncer, Nate, at the front. I’m settling tabs, walking drinks out to tables, and talking with my customers, like a good bartender. The best part is this is all mine. I know most bosses aren’t in there doing the grunt work, but I would die of boredom if I wasn’t in here working my ass off and entertaining people.

  I wave at Roni on my way to the bachelor party with a fresh pitcher and stop by the stage to see if the band needs anything. On my way back, the front door opens, and a new group comes in. Typical after work crowd, mostly the blue-collar folks in for a drink to relax before they go home. This group has on vests and dusty boots, so I assume they’re with Everett’s crew. Everett’s the second biggest man I’ve ever seen next to Nate and does all the construction in Forever, Tennessee. Sure enough, he brings up the rear and offers me a chin tip when he sees me. I give it back.

  The front door opens again, and Nate scans the crowd from his post outside. When he sees me, I get a quick second of eye contact before vanishing again. Nate only catches my attention if he needs something. I weave that direction, making quick stops to say hi to a few patrons before I get to the door. When I step out, I expect a couple of underage kids being assholes to a guy the size of a full-grown grizzly bear. What I don’t expect is a tiny woman in a massive white dress crying uncontrollably. Her chin is tucked to her chest and I can’t really see her face.

  Nate looks at me, eyes wide, like he has no idea what to do here. “Hey there, darlin. What’s wrong?” I reach to touch her, the urge to pull her close and comfort her is overwhelming, but I pull back. If someone hurt her, I don’t want to make it worse.

  “I. Left. My. Purse.” She gasps a sob between each word. I sigh in relief.

  “No ID.” Nate shrugs and I look at her, trying to determine her age. With all the makeup, she looks about my age, but I know that can be deceiving. My brother’s wife is barely twenty, but with the right makeup she can look an easy thirty, or a lot younger. Women are magic in that way.

  “I’m Kat Morris. I’m twenty-two.” She looks at me, pleading with me to let her in. Something in her dark blue eyes pulls at me to help her, especially when you pair the tear-streaked face and wedding dress. I half expect the wedding party to file out from under it. It’s massive. The top is fitted to her curves, accentuating her amazing breasts with beads and a heart shape. The bottom is an explosion of frilly fabric that’s gonna make it one hell of a feat to get on a barstool. The thing is the width of a small car. I narrow my eyes. While it’s tempting as all hell, I’m not breaking the law for a pretty face. I’ve worked too hard for that.

  “Look, I’m sure you could use a drink more than anybody right now, but-”

  “Wait!” She sniffles and reaches a hand down the front of her dress. A few seconds later she produces a phone and uses her glittery, manicured nails to tap on the screen. Kat flips the phone and lets me see the image. It’s her driver’s license and she’s twenty-two. Katherine Lenore Morris. The image on her driver’s license is a much tamer version of her, but it’s definitely the same person.

  “Alright, let’s go darlin’.” I open the door, give Nate a look, and lead the bride in to personally make her a drink. She hops on a stool with more grace than I can ever imagine having in a dress or the heels I get a flash of. The shoes match her nails, covered in glitter, and are sky high. Without them, Kat wouldn’t come up past my chest. I slide behind the bar and catch a glance from Roni before approaching Kat.

  “Thanks for this.” She swipes at a tear and sighs. “I…” Like she just realized where she is, she looks around and takes in the flannel, work boots, denim skirts, and live band. Not that the band stopped dramatically when she came in, but she’s definitely garnering more attention than the live music. She bites her very glossy lower lip and looks up at me, her eyes fill with tears, and the rise of her chest in the confining dress presses those amazing tits up higher. I hold up a hand, pour her what we have on tap, and slide it to her. She grabs the glass, takes a long drink, and comes up with foam on her cute little nose. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me, but I reach up to wipe it from her nose and she presses my hand against her cheek. I have to swallow hard. The look in her eyes, and her hand on mine, has my cock jumping to attention faster than I thought possible. Then I get a look at the ring on her finger and pull away with a flirty grin. One thing you have to be in my business is flirtatious. Kat’s face falls a little, but she recovers and lifts the glass again.

  “Need anything, just wave. Tonight’s on me.” I give her a wink and slide down to help the rest of the waiting customers. Over the next few minutes, I alternate between closing tabs, opening new ones, and pouring drinks. Roni stays slammed, taking her tips and pouring as fast as she can. I keep an eye on Kat, but other than to give her a second beer, we don’t talk. She leans one elbow on the bar, cradling her chin in her upturned hand. Her reddish blond hair shines under the bar lights, laying in waves around her shoulders, and I notice the jewels in her hair, glimmering every time they grab the light. She looks so damn sad.

  I shake my head and go back to work when the bachelor party comes back for another pitcher. I’ll definitely be calling them a ride. I fill the pitcher and turn back to face the bar. The ride for the two I see flanking Kat may be an ambulance. One has his arm draped around her shoulders and she’s squirming uncomfortably. The other is running his hand up her bare arm. I arrive with the pitcher slamming it on the bar top hard enough to make a mess I’ll need to clean up later. “There a problem, darlin?” I say
it to her, but glare at both of the drunken fuckers touching her.

  Kat seems to be breathing hard enough to pass out. “I should go.” She tries to shrug one off, but he’s not letting go.

  “I’ll give you a ride.” He humps the air like a horny dog and before I can process what the fuck I’m doing, my hand shoots across the bar and I have him by the throat. “What the hell?!” He gasps, but my grip is firm.

  “You can leave on your own two feet, or I can call an ambulance for you. Either way, you’re not fucking touching her again. Make your choice now,” I yell over the music, and the crowd around us quiets. He throws his hands up and I realize his shirt says ‘groom’ across the chest. This sleezy motherfucker is getting married soon. He’s smart enough to back off, sulking back to his table. His friend is either more drunk or the stupidest man on the planet, though. I turn my gaze to him, and he’s pressed against her, hand roaming up and down her arm to her shoulder and he’s talking to her, voice low so I can’t hear it.

  Instead of trying to reach over, I walk around the bar and get in his face. “What’s wrong? Jealous?” His words slur.

  “Out.” I drop my voice into a low growl and take his hand off her.

  “Gonna fuckin’ make me?” He laughs and puts a hand on her thigh. Kat looks frozen, eyes wide, face pale.

  “Yeah.” I’m not Nate, not by any stretch, but I’m six-two and two hundred pounds. This guy might be a buck fifty on a good day and he’s wasted. I grab him by the collar of his shirt and give him a last warning glare. His smile stays in place, but his hand comes up in a fist, misses my face entirely, and before I can stop it, hits Kat in the side of the face with an awkward glancing blow. She starts to tumble off the stool and I sling him to the floor to grab her around the waist, pulling her toward me to steady her. As soon as I know she’s settled, I turn to the fucker that hit her, rage coloring everything red.

  Chapter Two

  Kat

  I’ve never been hit in the face before and it freaking hurts. I rub my cheek, watching the bartender loom over the man who hit me, and glare down at the floor. The man on the ground scrambles back, apologizing to me, the bartender, God, who knows. I can barely spare him a passing glance because I’m too focused on the rise and fall of the tense muscles under my savior’s tight black shirt. Now is not the time to check out how those jeans cup his ass, but damn. Since the second he stepped outside with me, I’ve not taken my eyes off him. The bartender reaches down, grabs the guy by the shirt and with one lightning move, his fist flies into the perv’s face and he slumps in his grip.

  The big scary bouncer from outside throws the door open, making it bang against the wall, and the band stops playing. A murmur runs through the bar. The huge guy grabs the unconscious man from the floor, tosses him over his shoulder, and goes back out the front door, closing it quietly behind him. The bartender rushes back to my side, stepping close to me, the band starts again, and the other bartender brings a towel, handing it to me. I realize it’s filled with ice and press it tenderly to the side of my face. My savior pulls it back and studies my face before putting it back.

  “Come with me, darlin.” He leans in to whisper in my ear. Well, it feels like a whisper over the loud music and conversation. A shiver crawls over my skin at the closeness of him. I can smell him, feel him, and for a split second ask why Will never had this effect on me. My former fiancé never made me feel this way. I slide down off the stool and step carefully in my heels, letting him lead me around the bar to a door marked for Employees Only. I hesitate for a second before trailing behind him. The door closes behind us and the quiet is a relief. The room is stacked high with boxes, shelves, and crates. It’s dim, and I try to watch my step, but the stupid dress means I can’t see a single thing. I trust this stranger to lead me, and he gets me to an office safely. He pulls me in and shuts yet another door to block out the music even more. He points to a couch, and I sit, taking a look around. The lighting is better than the storeroom or the bar, so I can see him really well. He’s not just handsome, he’s the sexiest man I’ve ever seen, with a light stubble along his jaw, intense dark eyes, and a mop of slicked back dark waves.

  “I’m not going to sue you or anything.” I speak up when he comes toward me, ice pack in hand, and crouches in front of me. He’s even sexier this close. His dark eyes are a deep brown with flecks of gold and the smirk that moves over his lips makes me swoon a little.

  “I figured not.” He gently presses the ice pack to my face, and I hiss from the cold and the pain. Did I mention that getting hit sucks?

  “Then why are we back here?” I assumed I had paperwork to fill out or something.

  “So I could make sure you’re okay.” He pulls the ice back and studies my face, taking my chin in two calloused fingers to tip my face up to the light. He puts the ice back on and furrows his brow.

  “Do you have a name?” I ask, looking into those mesmerizing eyes.

  “Drake.” He tips his head.

  “O’Malley?” I ask, wanting him to keep talking.

  He chuckles. “You’d think, but no. I’m a Walland. Is there a story behind why you showed up here in that dress?” Drake stays crouched in front of me, ice pressed to my face.

  “My maid of honor told me that my soon to be husband fathered the baby she’s having. Considering Will and I were saving ourselves for tonight, I couldn’t go through with the wedding. Oh, and my maid of honor is my sister. My fiancé got my sister pregnant despite us both staying virgins. I got in his car and drove until I ran out of gas. I was about three blocks from here and you let me in.” I shrug, focusing on my physical pain instead of the emotional pain. It doesn’t work and my aloof attitude turns into a stinging behind my eyes.

  “No. No crying.” Drake reaches up and swipes a tear from my cheek.

  “I’ve never even kissed anyone else. Will and I have been together for years. He…. We saved ourselves for this and… with my sister!” I really don’t want to cry, but it looks like the reserves are refilled and ready to spill. Maybe two beers are to blame for my new wave of tears.

  “I’m sorry I brought it up. You know you’re worth more than that, right? Fuck that guy for what he did and fuck your sister too.” He shakes his head, looking as angry as I feel. “You’re better off without him.” Drake looks into my eyes, reaching his hand to wipe more tears away. He cups my face and I have no idea what comes over me, but I lean in, pressing my lips to his. His lips are warm, welcoming. A flutter starts low in my belly and spreads out. As soon as I realize what I’ve done, I jerk back, eyes wide, and my face heats up. Drake smirks and pulls me back for more. The towel of ice falls to the floor and his hand slides down the bare skin of my arm to slide around my waist. The hand on my chin pulls me in, drawing me closer, and I’m hauled to my feet. My dress makes it a little awkward, but I don’t mind a bit if he doesn’t. His lips move with mine, tongue dancing along the seam of my lips, and I finally part them for him. This is nothing at all like kissing Will. Drake groans when I let his tongue swipe into my mouth and the sound sends a jolt through me.

  Suddenly, I need more. My body overrides my brain, and my hands decide they need to touch him. I thread my fingers through his hair, tugging it lightly and using my other arm to pull him in. Drake kisses me like a man drowning and I’m the last bit of oxygen. I cling to him like a life preserver. I match him kiss for kiss, touch for touch, and every cell in my body screams for him.

  I’m not a shy girl, not really, and when I want something, I go after it. Right now, I want Drake Walland and if the way he’s kissing me gives any indication, he wants me too. “Does that door lock?” I ask the ceiling, head tipped back while he licks up my throat.

  “Fuck yes.” He shuffles his feet, backing us toward the door. When my back hits it, I gasp, the cold wood pressing into my bare back and shoulders. His hand leaves my lower back to flip the lock. Through the millions of layers of tulle, Drake grabs my thigh, lifting it up to rest on his hip and reaching back for
my exposed ankle. I wrap both arms around his neck, pressing my hips into him. His hand moves up my calf, and I lick his bottom lip. Rough fingers pass my knee and make it to my thigh, gripping hard to my skin. I tip my head to kiss him deeper, harder. With every touch, my panties become more useless, and I realize I’m about to have sex with a stranger in the back of a bar. Not just sex, but sex for the first time. The idea sends a thrill through me.

  I slide one hand from his neck to his chest, running a palm down his abs to the buckle of his belt. His hand grips my bare hip at the same time I get to the button of his jeans. Drake releases my hip, pressing my back hard into the door, and helps me get his jeans down. In one smooth move, my dress is hiked up to my waist, layers of tulle and fabric bunched at my stomach. Both legs are locked around his middle. I can barely see him through the mass of dress, but I can feel him. My soaked satin panties are nestled right up against his hard length. I gasp when his fingers touch the fabric at my hip and rip them clean from my body. He tears them free like they were made of nothing more than tissue paper. His cock nudges my entrance, and I brace for what I know is coming. He teases me, rubbing through the moisture, making me squirm with anticipation.

  “You’re so fucking wet, Kat.” His voice is a purr, and my name rolling off his lips makes me shake with anticipation.

  “I want you.” Those three simple words have his lips crashing to mine and he thrusts into me, pulling my hips to him at the same time. I don’t have time to notice any pain before he slides out and slams his hips back into mine.