Nate rose from the tall stool with a grin. “Jase, my man.” He grabbed his hand and slapped him on the shoulder. “Haven’t seen you in forever. Where’ve you been hiding?”
Jase smiled to hide the wince from the pounding he took. “Getting my company off the ground. Staying out of trouble.”
Nate sat on the edge of the stool, one foot on the floor. “I heard about that. You still looking for guys to help you on trips?”
“Yeah. Anytime you’re interested, let me know.”
“I’ll give you a call next week. We’ve got block leave coming up before we head out next month.”
“Where’re you going this time?”
Nate stood and nodded behind Jase. Jase stepped to the side as a guy and two women, all dressed in riding leathers, held out their IDs. Nate checked them and handed them back to the group. “Have a good night, folks.” He sat back on the stool. “The HOA. Six month rotation.”
Horn of Africa. “Fuck, man. Stay safe.”
“Easier to do in Africa than Afghanistan.”
“Yeah. I’ll let you get back to work.”
Nate stood again, taking the ID held out to him. “Good to see you again.”
Jase waved and strode into the bar. He scanned the crowd, looking for Brandon and Gary. The bar wasn’t to capacity yet. Brandon, Gary, Evan, and Nick were easy to spot standing around a couple of tables in the middle of the room. It helped they were one of the few groups not dressed in riding leathers. Brandon spotted him and raised a hand. Jase waved back and pointed to the bar.
He hooked a foot over a stool and waited for Brian to notice him.
“Holy shit! Jase — where’ve you been hiding?” He held out his hand.
He shook Brian’s hand. “Out in the woods. How’ve you been?”
“Livin’ the life. What can I get you?”
“Killian’s. Draught.”
“Sure thing.” Brian knocked on the bar and pushed away.
Jase spun on the stool and scanned the crowd. He recognized a few faces. Recalled fewer names. It hit him in a rush — he didn’t miss this place at all.
A flash of blonde caught his peripheral vision and he turned. Tight jeans and a cropped halter showed off all her assets, leaving little to the imagination. They’d had a few hot and heavy nights when he’d been partying all the time. Shit. What was her name? Something that ended with a ‘y.’ Maybe an ‘i.’ Only stripper names were coming to mind.
She pushed her way between his legs. “Jase, where’ve you been?” Her red lips pouted as she ran her hands up his chest.
“Popular question tonight.” He kept his hands on his thighs. He had no desire to encourage her. Literally, none.
“I missed you.” Her long nails, painted to match her lips, pinched his nipple.
He curved his chest and covered his chest with a palm, dislodging her hand. That’s right. She liked to pinch.
“Jase,” Brian said behind him.
Thank god. “Sorry to hear that.” He put his hands on her hips and pushed her back far enough so he could turn on the stool.
He stood and reached in his back pocket for his wallet.
Brian waved him off. “First round’s on me. Welcome back to civilization.”
“Thanks.” He pulled his credit card out and threw it on the table. “I’ll start a tab anyway. Put Brandon’s drinks on it.” A small hand roamed up and down his back, full breasts pressed to his side.
Still no reaction. If he hadn’t jacked off in the shower that morning, he’d think something was wrong with him. He stepped away from her touch and turned. “Good to see you again.” He lifted his glass as he walked away.
“What?”
He doubted a guy had ever walked away from her, but he didn’t do random anymore. He walked across the bar, feeling the weight of her gaze the entire time. Mandy? Candy? Cindi? What the hell was her name?
He set his glass down on the table and Brandon grabbed him for a back-thumping hug. “Glad you made it.”
“Congratulations.” Jase thumped him back.
“I see Tiffany found you.” Brandon thrust his chin out, using it to point across the bar.
Tiffany. He spared a glance over his shoulder. She was running her hands over the chest of the guy now sitting in front of her, in much the same way she had with Jase. She glanced up, found Jase, and licked her lips. He turned his back to her. “Yeah. She found me.”
“Dude. As soon as we sat down she came over and asked about you. It was like she had Jase-dar or something.”
Jase grinned. “Gary, your California is showing.” Gary threw his head back and laughed.
“You here for the night or just popping in?” Evan asked.
“The night.”
Brandon raised his empty bottle, catching the waitress’s attention. “You gonna drink or just nurse?”
“Your night. You wanna drink, I’ll drink with you.”
The waitress stopped at their table, tray and pad at the ready. She pulled a pen out of her ponytail. “Ready for another round?”
Brandon flashed her a smile. “We sure are. Another for everyone.”
She looked at the table, then scribbled notes on her pad. She pointed at Jase’s glass. “You want another?”
“Please.” He leaned close to her ear. “I gave Brian my card. Put the first few rounds on my tab.”
“Sure.” She shoved the pen back in her hair and picked up the empty glasses, setting them on her tray. “Be right back, boys.”
“You driving?” Nick asked.
Jase shook his head. “I’ll take a cab to Chris’s. He’s still out of town.”
“I texted him, told him we’d be here. Didn’t hear back,” Brandon said.
“He’s not due back for another couple of weeks.”
“Bummer. I was looking forward to seeing him again.” Gary nudged Carlos. “Dude, what are you lookin’ at?”
The sultry summer air wrapped around them when they got out of the car in front of the bar. Bree stepped up onto the large, covered wood deck the bar took its name from. Small groups and couples lounged against the wood railing. Denise pulled open one of the double doors, sidestepped to allow a couple to exit, and led the way over the threshold. They stopped just inside the front door and showed their IDs to the bouncer. He gave them a once over, dragging his gaze down their bodies and back up, his expression inscrutable.
Bree looked down at her feet, then back at the bouncer. “What?” Bree asked.
He smirked and handed their IDs back. “Have a good night.”
Denise tucked her ID in her back pocket. “What was that about?”
“I have no idea.”
The Deck had an old barn feel to it — wide open with lots of wood and sawdust on the floor. To the right of where they stood, a small U-shaped bar was set up for patrons to watch the TVs hanging over the bar. To the left, an area with tables and chairs for the restaurant, which was closed. The back half of the building was mostly open with round, high-top tables and stools positioned along one side of the room, with another bar running along the opposite side. Large garage doors opened onto the deck at the back of the building, and a large fenced-in courtyard made the building appear even larger.
“Front bar or back bar?” Denise asked.
Bree glanced to her right. Almost every stool was occupied. “Let’s go to the back bar.”
Bree threaded her way through the throng of denim- and leather-clad bodies. Every few steps, she shook a foot to dislodge the sawdust that had worked its way between the soles of her feet and thin flip-flops.
Denise leaned close to her ear to be heard over the loud rock music. “We seem to have missed the memo on the dress code.”
“You mean you don’t subscribe to the Ladies of Leather newsletter?” Bree asked over her shoulder.
“Just imagine how many cows had to die to make all the leather these people are wearing. We are way underdressed.”
“Better than being overdressed, I think.”
<
br /> “Probably.”
Bree stopped short, causing Denise to run into her.
Holy hotness, Batman. “Oh my god. I just creamed my panties.” Bree nudged Denise and tilted her head in the direction she was looking.
“Sweet, merciful Jesus, that man is a walking orgasm. How tall do you think he is?”
Bree’s eyes traveled down the well-muscled expanse of chest to lean hips, slouchy jeans, and scuffed boots. “I don’t know…six-three? Six-four, maybe?”
“You could wear heels and not have to worry about bending over to kiss him.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s one of the reasons I was going to break up with Chad. All my heels are four inches.”
“Just like Chad,” Denise said.
“Erect Chad.” Bree tore her gaze away from the walking orgasm. They stared at each other a moment and burst out laughing.
“Oh my god, we crack me up.” Denise wiped at the tears in her eyes.
Bree grabbed Denise’s hand. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”
“You’re buying, just so you know.”
“How am I buying? I’m the one who has to buy a new mattress,” Bree asked.
“One, you’re loaded. Two, because you dragged us out looking like shite, but I will concede your point. First round is on me.”
“How very gracious of you,” Bree replied.
Carlos nodded toward the door. “Check it.”
Two women stood toward the front of the bar, heads thrown back, laughing and holding onto each other. They stood out in their causal clothes as if they’d given little thought to their appearance. The redhead caught his attention. Her smile sparkled, full of joy. Full of life. They wove through the crowd close to the bar. When they reached it, she hiked up a leg and rested her foot on the bar close to the floor. He caught a glimpse of long legs and nicely rounded ass before someone stepped in the way.
The desire that’d been lacking earlier made itself known. Nope. Nothing wrong with him at all.
Evan let out a low wolf-whistle. “Damn. Don’t see chicks like that in here. I call dibs.”
“The fuck you do.” Jase put his glass down hard, setting off for the bar.
They bellied up to the bar and Denise raised her hand, credit card held between her fingers.
The bartender leaned over the bar, closing the distance. “Ladies. What can I do you for tonight?”
“Two vodka cranberries with a lime, please,” Denise said.
“Sure thing.” He winked and pushed away from the edge.
“He’s cute,” Bree said.
“And flirty.”
“I’m sure it helps with the tips.”
“I’ve got a tip for him.” Denise wiggled her eyebrows.
“I’m sure he’s got a tip for you too. Just the tip, if you know what I mean.”
“Nice.” Denise held up her hand and Bree high-fived her. “Thank god your mind is as dirty as mine.”
The cute bartender returned with their drinks.
“Put it on my tab, Brian,” a deep voice said.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and shivers raced down her spine. Please be the walking orgasm. She couldn’t get that lucky.
The bartender nodded. “Sure thing, Jase.”
Bree and Denise made wide eyes at each other as they grabbed their glasses and turned to — she could get that lucky. A well-defined chest and biceps straining the fabric of a faded blue t-shirt greeted them. Her gaze drifted up, and up, over a short, trim beard surrounding full lips, past a slightly crooked nose, straight into the hazel eyes of the walking orgasm.
Wow. He’s even better looking up close.
Bree took a sip of her drink and imagined running her hands through his dark, curly hair.
“Ladies. Haven’t seen you here before.”
Bree choked on her drink. Wrong pipe. “Really,” she strained through the burn. “You’re going with ‘come here often?’”
The sex god smiled. “Well, that wasn’t my intention, but if it works…”
Holy hell, that smile. She shifted her weight in an effort to ease the sudden throb between her legs.
“I’m Jase,” he said. “Are you meeting someone here or is it just the two of you?” He looked directly at Bree, a flirtatious smile teasing at his mouth.
What was the question? She’d been staring at his mouth. Saw it move. Imagined sucking on that full bottom lip.
“Just us,” Denise said. “Spur of the moment decision. As you can see, we weren’t aware of the dress code.”
“Dress code?” Jase turned his attention to Denise.
Bree rolled a shoulder, pulling out of the lust fog clouding her mind. “I think she’s talking about the fact that we aren’t wearing any leather.” She waved a hand. “Inside joke.”
“Oh yeah. Bikers like their leather. Since you’re not meeting anyone tonight, would you like to join my friends and me?”
Bree glanced at Denise, who gave a little shrug. “Sure, why not?”
“I’m Bree, by the way. This is Denise.” Bree indicated to Denise with her drink.
“Nice to meet you. Follow me.” He took Bree’s free hand and led them toward the group of guys he had been standing with when they first noticed him. Bree turned to Denise and mouthed oh my god as he led them to a couple of tables set against the far wall. All the guys were good-looking, well-built, and hovering around the six-foot-tall range. It was like a real-life hot-guy calendar shoot — just with more clothes. Jase introduced Bree and Denise to the guys standing around the two tables.
“This a normal Friday night for you guys?” Denise asked.
Nate leaned a tattooed arm against the table, turning full to Denise. “Brandon’s celebrating separating from the Army.”
Gary leaned around him. “We’re here most Fridays.”
Bree bit her lip, watching the subtle posturing as the two guys fought for Denise’s attention. This should be interesting. A hand slid across the small of her back and a hot body stepped close to her side. The top of her head barely reached his chin. Used to being the same height as, if not taller than, most men, standing next to Jase she felt…dainty.
“Do you want another drink?” he asked.
She looked at her almost empty glass. “Think I’ll switch to beer. We’ve already had a few.” She peeked up at him through her lashes. Nervousness fluttered in her belly.
Jeez, he’s hot.
When was the last time a guy had flirted with her? Really flirted with her, not just came on to her?
The waitress came by and Jase added a beer to the order.
“You seriously never heard of Papa’s Pizza?” Denise’s question caught her attention.
“What about Papa’s Pizza?” she asked.
Denise pointed a finger between two of the guys. “They were at Victory around the same time we were.”
“Really?”
“The only pizza place was the crappy one at the exchange. You sure it was on Camp Victory?” Gary asked.
“Swear.” Denise raised her hand, palm out. “We went every Sunday for lunch. Hand-tossed, deep dish.”
“Where on Victory?” Brandon challenged her.
Jase’s hand brushed against the side of her neck, pushing a strand of hair off her shoulder, and she lost interest in conversation again. Tingles raced along her skin, chasing after his fingers. It was becoming a familiar sensation. He’d found little ways to touch her since he took her hand at the bar. A hand smoothing along the curve of her hip. Leaning down to speak softly in her ear. Every simple touch felt like a brand on her skin. It left her hot. Needy.
“You’re kidding,” Evan said.
Bree pulled her attention back to the group. “What’s up?”
“The brawl between the third country nationals behind the chow hall,” Denise explained.
“Oh yeah,” Bree said. “It was like something out of a movie. Pans, knives, chains, metal pipes. All that was missing was Michael Jackson’s Beat It playing in the b
ackground.”
“Seriously?” Jase said.
“Yup. Took security forces close to an hour to break it up,” Denise said. “Two guys ended up dying.”
Bree set her glass on the table. “Excuse me. Need to use the facilities. You need to go?” she asked Denise.
“I’m good. Unless you need me to guide the way.”
“Big neon sign. Think I can find it.”
A blonde in a cleavage-baring halter top left the bathroom as she pushed open the door. She gave Bree a once over and sneered.
Bitch, please.
She washed her hands and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright. It could’ve been the alcohol, but more likely it was the sensual foreplay that had been going on since Jase had pulled her away from the bar. She tended to shy away from being touched by strangers. Hugging and touching was reserved for friends and family, but something about Jase’s touch had every nerve in her body singing. Every brush of his fingers had sent shivers down her spine and raised goosebumps on her skin. She’d soaked it up. When was the last time a simple touch had caused desire to coil low in her belly? Not since before Afghanistan.
Bree shook that thought away. Tonight was not the night for those thoughts.
She left the restroom after drying her hands. Jase caught her in the hall leading back to the bar. He backed her against the wall and braced his forearms slightly above her head, caging her in but holding himself away from her. He leaned down and brushed his lips gently against hers, then stopped.
Was he asking permission? Bree grasped his hips and hooked her middle fingers in the belt loops of his jeans. She bit the corner of her lip.
“You’ve been biting your lip all night, Bree. It’s my turn.” Bree’s gaze darted from his mouth to his desire-filled eyes, just before his tongue laved the center of her bottom lip. She pulled her fingers out of Jase’s belt loops and stepped closer. She slid one arm around his back and the other around his head, her fingers threading through his hair. Jase wrapped his arms around her, bending at the knees and pulling her up onto her toes. He pushed her against the wall, fitting their bodies so close together Bree could feel the hard press of his cock against her abdomen. The kiss quickly turned carnal, tongues dancing together in an intimate tango as their breathing became heavy. Had she ever been kissed with that much heat…that much passion…that much desire?
Stitched Up Heart (Combat Hearts Book 1) Page 2