Then the order switches. Lana grabs Belvedere vodka and flips it. As she catches it upside down and pours, Cathy grabs Bombay Sapphire gin and flips it. As she pours, Jeremy grabs Grey Goose vodka and flips it, catching and pouring while on the other end, Lana slams her bottle down. She stares ahead like a soldier waiting for the other two to slam their bottles down.
All three shake their martinis and while they do, they grab olives from the condiment trays and toss them to each other. The three flying olives are captured and popped into their mouths instead of the glasses. They chew them, nodding to each other like, oh, these are so good.
The room bursts into laughter.
Ice gets dumped, glasses now chilled.
Simultaneously they pour the crystallized martinis into their elegant glasses with each bartender holding the shaker up so high the stream is treacherously long. Without missing a beat they lift the glasses and set them in front of three random guests, saying together, “On the house!”
Applause explodes throughout the restaurant and I am staring at a grinning Jeremy, absolutely thrilled by him. I can’t wait for our walk tomorrow morning. I think I’ll tell him how amazing that choreographed trick is. They’ve changed it every week so it’s a little different for our regulars. It’s such a hit, especially with me.
As the room settles back to normal with people excitedly talking about it Jeremy leans forward to hear a man’s order, his thick fingers gripping the bar.
Black button-up shirts look so good on him, with his sleeves tightly rolled up, muscles rippling under the cotton polyester blend. Yummy.
Viola catches me staring at Jeremy’s back. She cocks an eyebrow at me, “And they’re not bad to look at either.”
He turns around for the fridge and meets my guilty eyes. A smile flashes in his, but his lips only smirk like he knows how much I want him. Then he’s all focus and I make a hasty exit to do my job. This is us every night at work.
Just friends? Who am I kidding?
The sexual tension crackles between us.
I swear one night I might just lose my reserve and pull him into the women’s room to kiss him. Here I am always telling myself that it’s all the employees who keep me here.
It’s just the one.
Oh fuck it. I don’t want to run away like that. Since Bryan isn’t here and I have a solitary chance to do this, I stroll purposefully back to the bar and lay my hand on Jeremy’s back. He stops making a drink, turns around, his soulful eyes searching mine, “Boss?”
“Thank you for being someone I can confide in.”
His lips part and he glances to my mouth. “Of course.”
“Jeremy!” Lana calls, swamped.
“I have to go,” he smiles, turning around to handle the crowd.
The night goes smoothly. A few small bumps, like running out of vanilla bean sorbet when it’s part of our special dessert for the evening. My mistake, I didn’t predict how popular it would be. But overall the guests are happy, and employees are, too, since nobody’s screaming at them tonight.
In the kitchen after closing Alberto pulls me aside and shakes my hand. “Great job tonight, Meagan.”
Gruff beast of a man that he is, he rarely compliments anyone, so I’m ecstatic and shake his hand with equal firmness. “Thank you. You guys were perfect, Alberto. You made it easy for me.”
“We’ve gotta get you back here one day, huh?”
“Maybe tomorrow!”
His eyes flicker with disbelief. “Can’t be tomorrow.”
I’m immediately defensive as I inform him, “He said if I did well tonight, it was my final test, that I could cook tomorrow night! He said that!”
Alberto makes a face. “Who are you replacing? I’ve got a full line scheduled for tomorrow night. It’s Mother’s Day.”
My soul crumbles as I stare at Alberto in shock. I totally forgot the holiday what with this big news and me focused on my walk alone with Jeremy and Aslan.
There’s no way Bryan would allow my first shift at his precious restaurant to be on the busiest night of the year, a night that’s known to be more swamped than even Valentine’s Day at dining establishments all across America.
And Bryan knew. He knew and hung the carrot for me to chase after anyway.
“How did I forget it was Mother’s Day? I placed the larger order to accommodate it.”
With an apologetic look Alberto claps a hand on my shoulder then grabs a grill scraper. He starts cleaning as I walk, dazed, into the office.
Jeremy
Outside of the restaurant, Lana and Cathy wave goodbye and climb into their cars. “Goodnight, Jeremy.”
“Drive safe,” I call after them.
Lana’s gold Kia hums to life. Cathy rolls down her window and crooks a finger at me.
I stroll over to her, ear cocked to hear what she has to say. With a hushed voice she asks, “You haven’t told Meagan yet, have you?”
“It’s not my place.”
“No, but it’s your chance.”
“Not that way, Cathy. I’m not a snitch.”
“Me neither. But I hate to watch you guys.”
“What do you mean?”
“C’mon. It’s so obvious how you feel about each other. The only reason Bryan hasn’t caught on is because he’s so full of himself he’d never believe she chose you.” Cathy rolls up the window, puts the car in gear and throws me one last look through the spotless glass that says, if you don’t do something tonight when he’s not here, when are you going to?
Her advice hovers in the air as her red Nissan drives away.
Pacing the lot I ruminate over what she said. When Meagan came back to tell me thank you, it was five deep at the bar, busier than any Saturday we’ve had, but everyone and everything vanished except for her. When Lana called my name it jarred me back to reality, but for a second there I forgot Meagan and I were supposed to act like we were just friends.
The glowing pink mustache grabs my attention as the Lyft car pulls up in front of Le Marchand.
“Hey!” I call over, making quick strides to his door.
“Sorry, I’ve got a passenger booked already,” he tells me as his window rolls down.
“She cancelled the ride. Here.” I pull out a twenty from my wad of tips and hand it to him.
He glances to it, pauses and accepts. It’s more than he would’ve gotten for the one-way fare.
Meagan steps out of the restaurant, sees him and waves.
But I call over to her, “I cancelled the ride. I’ll give you a lift. No pun intended.”
She blinks in surprise and the driver waits to make sure she’s cool with it. He’s not rushing away until he’s sure because a one-star rating will hurt his livelihood, and all his future bookings. He’s probably got a family to take care of.
My heart races while she makes a choice. Feels like everything is riding on this one drop of time. She could get in this guy’s car and go home by herself. Or she could let me take her home, and with that choice, the possibilities are endless.
“Well?” the driver asks. “I need an answer.”
Meagan stares at me, the breeze blowing her hair as she tells him, “Sorry, you can go.”
My pulse quickens and I swallow hard. I would’ve been devastated if she’d left with him. One more night of not tasting her and I might have gone out of my mind.
He rolls his window up and drives off, leaving a good twelve feet between she and I. Nervously, her eyelashes fall to her bag as she fumbles with the strap. I stride over and take it. “Here. Let me help.”
Meagan’s eyes meet mine for a charged beat. “I can carry my own purse.”
“Which is why your biceps are like a gladiator’s.”
She melts into laughter. “They are not!”
We head to my Jeep. “They’re fucking huge. Are you kidding? I’m as scared of you as you are of Aslan.”
She shakes her head as I open the door for her. “I’m not scared of your dog anymore. And my purse isn�
�t that heavy.”
“You serious?” I gape at her. “You’ve got Pluto and Jupiter in the thing.”
She slides her fingers onto my hand and climbs up, smoothing her dress over her bare knees as she settles in. Taking the offered bag from me she whispers in a conspiratorial tone, “Don’t tell NASA.”
“Secret’s safe with me,” I smirk. “All in?”
“Yes.”
I shut the door and stroll around the hood, tapping it as I go.
This is my chance.
This is my chance.
This is my fucking chance!
Meeting her eyes through the windshield I tip my head. From the look in her eyes she knows something could happen tonight. She and Bryan haven’t been hooking up for well over a month now, my estimated guess. He’s dangled the you’ll-be-a-chef-soon promise in front of her so long she stopped reaching in the wrong places to get it.
Climbing in, I slide the key in the lock. Even though I look cool on the outside, I’m a fucking mess on the in.
I roll us out of the parking lot and leave the radio off. The air in here is buzzing loud enough as it is.
“You looking forward to tomorrow night?”
I glance over to see that smile I live for, disappear. “Nope,” she quietly says.
“Why? You were great. You even handled Mira sneaking drinks from her flask.”
Meagan sighs and rests her elbow on the door, leaning on it. “Poor girl. She’s got a problem. So of course she keeps lying and saying she’s better.”
The streetlamps of Buckhead hauntingly trace Meagan’s profile like a heartbeat of golden light. Suddenly I remember her wrapped in a blood-soaked airbag. What if she’d died that day? I blink back to the road.
“Jeremy, the thing is, it’s Mother’s Day tomorrow. It’s the busiest restaurant night of the year.”
“So? You can do it! I’ll be there cheering you on!” She glances to me and I meet her eyes to add, “I’ll pop into the kitchen and give you a thumbs up every ten minutes, even if Lana yells at me like she did tonight.”
Meagan softly laughs and looks out her window. “I wish.”
“If I say I’ll do it, I will.”
From a thousand miles away she whispers, “Bryan will never let my first night be on a holiday. He must have forgotten.”
Anger explodes in my core.
What a fucking dick.
He didn’t forget shit!
He’s the most manipulative and calculating bastard I’ve ever met in my life. He plays us all and because it’s his restaurant, he gets away with it. If this job hadn’t changed my life I’d fuckin’ clock him ’til his face never looked the same. See how well his ego could handle a hit like that, the conceited sonofabitch would wilt and whine like the pussy he really is without his pretty looks.
Bullies are fucking cowards on the inside.
“You look like you’re going to punch the windshield, Jeremy.”
I glance over with fire in my eyes. “Not what I want to hit.”
“Bryan.”
“Yeah.”
“Me too,” she sighs, leaning onto her hand and staring at the road. Rain starts spattering the windshield, which surprises neither of us. Raindrops are as synonymous with Georgia as peaches are.
I reach for her hand, the one resting on her thigh, and clasp it. “I’m sorry, Boss.”
She squeezes back. When I go to bring my hand back, she tightens her hold. Well, okay then.
“Stay,” she tells me in a soft voice.
I just nod and drive.
Our fingers start to move, twining together then unlacing and tracing the lines before we twine them again. My breath shortens, my cock wide-awake. I don’t know what to do with myself. First time I’ve touched a woman like this in maybe two years. I’m not counting the espresso machine incident. That was me trying to get a rise out of her for the fun of it, only. My heart wasn’t in it. And I’m not counting the hug because that was as a friend, and a person who loves his family and could imagine the pain of losing one.
This is intimate. It has consequences. And right now I’m willing to pay them.
Her skin feels so warm. Our fingers lace and tighten in a firm grasp that feels like there’s a decision behind it. And a future.
“Turn right at the light.”
“I remember.”
I stop in front of her condo, give her hand a quick squeeze before I let go and jump out. Running in the thickening downpour my hair mats to my head. I open her door and help her down. With her purse in both hands she gazes up at me like she wants to say something.
“I’m not leaving, Meagan. I’m letting you out so you won’t walk in the rain. I’ll park the car and come back.”
“But what about…”
“I don’t care what Bryan thinks anymore.”
“He’ll fire both of us if he finds out.”
“I don’t fucking care.”
“Yes, you do.” She tilts her head as the rain pelts it.
Wiping my face I confess with the agony of a decision. “You’re right. I do. I care a lot. But Boss? You listenin’?” She nods, frowning deeply. “I can’t go another night not knowing what you taste like.”
“Wow,” she whispers.
“If I’m about to lose my job I want to do it smiling.”
She laughs, “You’re insane!”
“Maybe. Probably. I’m going to park that Jeep and come running back to you. Don’t turn me away. Don’t stop this from happening.”
Her eyes warm up and she whispers, “I’ll wait for you.”
“Wait for me inside.” I touch her hair. “This storm is only going to get worse.”
To hide my obscene bulge I shove my hands in my pockets and stroll quick as I can to get in the Jeep. I’m fucking elated this is actually happening. There’s a space on the street just up ahead. I saw it. Spotted that thing like a hawk scanning a field for its dinner. I make use of it as quickly as possible, jamming the gear into park so hard I could rip the gearshift off.
I don’t want her changing her mind before I get back.
I hit the wet street running, only slowing when I find her waiting right where I left her. “You’re drenched! I told you to wait inside!” When she makes no move to explain I stand in front of her, both of us beaten up by the downpour as we stare at each other.
“The rain’s hiding my tears.”
“Oh, fuck, Meagan. I’m so sorry.”
Her face squishes with pain. “I want to be a chef! I need to see people enjoying what I’ve made! I need it. Why is he doing this to me?”
I pull her into my arms, water encapsulating us. Her shoulders shake as she holds me close, face tucked into my chest.
“Shhh, it’s gonna be okay. It’s just making you stronger for when you have your own restaurant. Your own guests. Your own rules. Your own menu.”
She looks up at me. “I want that! When am I going to have my turn?”
“Whenever you want it,” I huskily tell her.
Being this close to her after harboring a blistering crush has me fired up in every way. Her long, raindrop covered eyelashes fall toward my lips as hers part. I don’t hesitate or second-guess. I crush her mouth to mine in the kiss I’ve been dreaming about. Her hands slide up my back as I tighten my grip on hers. I unlock her mouth with my own and seek out her tongue for the first time. God, how I’ve waited for this. She feels better than I thought she would. The kiss isn’t awkward or tentative, it’s hungry and desperate for more. We’ve both waited for this. I lead the way, and she moves with me.
Suddenly I’m lifting her up and hooking her legs around my hips while I hold her on me. She gasps and separates a quick heartbeat to look into my eyes, then collapses into a new kiss, her lips so perfect and yielding that I groan and tear away from them to tell her, “I want you so badly. God, every Sunday we’ve spent together it’s been fucking heaven and it’s been fucking hell.”
She grins, “For me too!”
We kiss l
ike two people starved for one another’s lips. I break away and pant, “Are you ready for this? Because I won’t want just one night.”
“Oh my God,” she murmurs as rain splashes her mouth.
Looking around her shoulder to see where I’m going, I carry her to her door. She tucks her head into my neck and kisses it, the purse smacking against my ass along the way.
“Your tank’s gonna leave a mark,” I joke in her ear as the rain gets louder.
She cracks up, “Sorry!”
“Let it swing. I’m enjoying the beating. It’s making me realize this isn’t a dream.”
The sight of her with her lipstick smudged, smiling and drenched, downpour attacking us and we don’t even care, it stills me deep in my soul. My smile fades, and hers goes away with it. I close my eyes as she cups my cheek, and open them again to say, “I’ve waited for this.”
She blinks and frowns, “I have to get my key out.”
“Wait.” I carry her to a dry place under her awning, set her down and as she searches, I wipe my face with both hands, feeling like she just disappeared from me a little. “Was that too much, what I just said?”
She holds my look and shakes her head. “No. It wasn’t too much. I’ve waited for it, too.” She turns around and leads the way in.
Meagan
I feel suddenly nervous. Something bigger than I’d imagined is happening to Jeremy and I.
Inside, he is on me in an instant, cupping my face in his hands and kissing me. All of my anxiety is replaced with happiness. I’m smiling like crazy as he kisses my chin, my nose, my closed eyelids. We start to peel each other’s wet clothes off, our fingers sliding sensually over every exposed inch of slippery wet skin. We kick off our shoes, kiss, then look down to watch our fingertips tracing naked shoulders, rib cages, belly buttons. I can’t stop touching his gorgeous chest. He slips his soaked fingers under my bra straps and slides the right one down, then the left, and kisses me before taking it all the way off. I’ve never been undressed like this before, like I’m a gift he’s relishing.
Cocky Soldier: A Military Romance (Cocker Brothers of Atlanta Book 6) Page 12