“It’s your bar, Butterfly. How do you want us to help?” I smile at her.
“It’s Reed’s, but I get it, usually I’m the one in charge. Matt can take orders and serve the easy drinks. If he gets slammed with customers, you and I can split the bar.” She leans toward the counter and looks to her left. “Reed, we’re ready whenever you want.”
“What’s with the murderous glare, Cooperson?” Tristan redirects his powerful scowl from the badass-motorbike dude to me. I raise my hands as a sign of surrender. “Dude, I come in peace. What the hell? You’re foaming at the mouth.”
He shakes his head in disbelief. “Aren’t you paying any attention? Have you not noticed how many fuckers have tried to get in her pants tonight?” Tristan angles his chin toward Thea who is tending the bar, while he is mixing drinks. “The fucked-up pick-up lines are driving me insane . . . ‘Hey, baby. Are you a magician? Because every time I look at you, everyone else disappears.’” He scoffs in disgust.
I chuckle. “Hey, that’s a good one. Easy alpha-boy. She’s used to it, and she’s not taking the bait.”
He mutters something about pigs and pieces of meat, I think. “I swear, one more and she’s outta here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. We don’t own the bar yet.” His tight jaw compresses harder—if that were even possible—and it dawns on me. “You have a thing for her, don’t you?” Tristan’s eyes lower, as he gives me one hard head shake. His face says it all. I can’t help but laugh when he growls.
“You two are adorable.” Thea is right next to us. “But either you start moving your asses and work, or take this little lover’s quarrel elsewhere.”
He pushes me lightly. “There are no lovers to be quarreling over here. And you,” he growls, pointing at Thea, “you should be the one heading to the back room for a break. The customers are getting grabby and I can’t have that.”
“Grabby?” She quirks her perfectly shaped eyebrow.
“Yes, and I swear if they touch you I might not be able to contain myself.”
“He has a thing for you,” I tell her. That grants me one of her famous eye-rolls that I’m starting to love. “He might be castrating a dude or two if they come anywhere near you.”
“If they touch me, I’ll be the one busting their male parts, not you.” Thea grabs the soda gun and points it at him. “I’m capable of fighting my own battles. So, get to work,” she says. “And by the way, keep that caveman shit hidden, or I’ll find the butcher knife and take care of your junk.”
I flinch at her last words. We both mock salute her and go back to serving, taking orders, and generally doing our best to keep the male patrons away from her without evoking Thea’s anger.
For a couple hours I pour drafts and close the open tabs. Those are the tasks Thea has delegated to me. And I’m not gonna lie; her bossy in-charge attitude is kind of hot. Her being in charge a few times would be a huge turn on. My thought is interrupted when I spot Tristan gaping at Thea. He studies her every move and admires each line of her body appreciatively.
I search within my heart and mind to figure out how I feel about what I’m seeing unfold before me. Dissecting the fact that my former lover is obviously attracted to the woman I’m interested in. Much to my own surprise, it’s not jealousy I’m feeling. I’m actually intrigued by the fact his attraction is so obvious. Stronger than his usual behavior. I wonder how Thea would respond to his advances.
“Wake up, Decker.” A squirt of ice water hits my face. Thea redirects the soda gun at Tristan who is laughing at me. The smirk flattens when his shirt is dripping. “You too, Tristan,” she says triumphantly. “What’s the matter with both of you? Last call was ten minutes ago. There’re still tabs to close.” She sprays both of us again, grins, and heads to the second cash register.
“We’ll see who’s the last one laughing, Butterfly,” I warn her. Instead of worrying, she releases a loud laugh that makes my entire body vibrate.
I look over to find Tristan gazing at me, his hands on his hips. “You’re the one who has a thing for her, aren’t you?” Tristan whispers, but it’s a sad tone that hits my chest.
“Why the somber face, Cooperson?” Matthew questions. I avoid his gaze.
I let out a big breath to ease the constriction inside my chest, while trying to calm my heart. The sensations running through my veins weaken my determination to stay away from both. Anger. Pain. Fear. “Because we both like her. Thea. We’re bewitched by her.”
There’s an energy flowing between us. Fuck, I can’t deny that I’m attracted to both of them. But with her . . . for some fucking reason, I want to protect her. Place her inside a crystal shrine and worship her forever. It’s illogical to have such a strong pull, yet it’s similar to the one I experience with Matthew. I barely know her, but my primal need is begging for me to take her. Claim her. Except, I can’t. Matthew likes her and . . .
“Are you ladies on a break?” Reed asks. “Close the bar. The rest of us will close the main area.”
I nod, ordering myself to shake Matthew and Thea out of my head and ignore what she’s doing to my heart. Her smile is like a drug. Those eyes hypnotize the shit out of me and make me want to kiss the floor she walks on. Simply, do whatever she orders. But, I shouldn’t. It’s apparent that Matt really likes her and he’s trying to be a different man for her. I should step aside as Matt’s my friend. The closest one I’ve had in a long time. Yet another reason to step aside and let them be happy. One of the solutions I can come up with is to suggest to Reed that he hire a new bartender and a waitress, and that way I can stay away from here. Seeing that Thea and Matt make sense, I begin to play with the steps I should take to move on from this childish crush.
“You okay, boy?” Reed nudges me. I nod. “I’ve been talking to you and you haven’t been listening.”
“Sorry, I have too much going on inside my head. Tell me, Reed, how long do you think it will take you to hire new staff?” I straighten my posture. “Thea needs to have off days—you too. I prefer to oversee my businesses in California. When you sell the place, I might send one of my managers.”
As I say the last words, Matthew’s penetrating stare makes me turn my gaze to him. His nostrils flare but he says nothing. What’s his problem?
“I already placed an ad to run tomorrow,” he says. “Shouldn’t be hard to fill. If you stick around for a couple of days, we can interview the candidates together, since this place might be yours soon.”
Working is the best way to keep my mind off beautiful women. The more I want to avoid the thoughts, the faster I work. It doesn’t take long before I make my way to the employee room to wait for the rest to finish. Matthew follows. He leans against the table, arms crossed, and eyes scrutinizing me.
“Why are you running away?” I ignore him and take a seat. “We agreed to stick around while he makes a decision. Suddenly you have the urge to escape, and don’t deny it, Cooperson. I was there. You began to think shit, and boom.” He snaps his fingers. “The cold asshole is back.”
Cold? Try pathetic. I lower my head, making sure he doesn’t read me, but my shoulders sag.
Matthew pushes himself off the table then lifts my chin with his index finger. His thumb caresses my jaw. “Thea doesn’t have many friends, Tristan.” He lowers his voice. “She likes you, so don’t push her away.” Scratching the nape of my neck, I move away from his hold. It’s not that I want to push her away. I want to hold on tight to her. More often than not I find myself distracted by her. But could my best friend be in love with her? No one is that strong to remain friends while having such strong attraction, at least not me. “Think about what’s happening. We’re forging a strong friendship. You can let that happen, have another friend. It’s easy. Don’t leave, Tristan. Things are about to get interesting.”
His arms reach for me. He pulls me to him, wrapping me tightly against his chest.
“I’m great at this matchmaking gig.” Thea’s sweet voice makes me push Matthew away. “No. Don
’t stop on my account. Have you two ever thought about . . . being a couple?”
We both shake our heads. There’s a world of difference between fucking and being a couple. We fucked. That never meant we’d become a couple—did it? He doesn’t like relationships. I have my own issues. Should I explain that to her or let her live under the illusion?
“Focus your energy on Tristan, Matt,” she suggests. “He’s hot, has a stable career, and can mix your favorite drinks.”
“Can we not discuss that shit in public?” I meet Matthew’s eyes, begging him to stop her.
“Have it your way,” Thea responds. “I’m persistent. I won’t give up until the two of you realize that you’re a match made in heaven. In the meantime, lose your almighty male attitude. Another night growling at any man that talks to me and I’m . . . not sure what I’ll do but it won’t be pretty.”
“Hey, pretty butterfly,” Matt interrupts her rant. “Let’s take you home. It’s late.”
“Nah, tonight you can’t come up, I have to work.”
“Is it because of what we talked about earlier?”
“No. I really have to work, but focus on him, Decker,” Thea says, pointing at me. She marches toward the hallway, opening the door and leaving without saying goodbye. One of the bouncers follows behind, blocking her figure from my sight.
And I hate that she didn’t say goodbye. “Do you think she’ll ever have a day job?” Might as well try to find her a job where she doesn’t have to be on her feet all night . . . Maybe I shouldn’t. The woman might castrate me if I interfere. She’s feisty.
“She’s going to start working with my father, Chris.” He walks toward the bar and stops. “Reed, we’re leaving. See you tomorrow night.” Matthew doesn’t wait for a response. Instead, he makes his way to the exit, and I follow.
“What is she going to do?”
“For now, the receptionist. In the future, one of his shrinks.”
“She’s a shrink?”
“Yep. She’s a doc. Thea has a Ph.D in mental health.” My jaw bounces several times. My eyes travel toward her illuminated window, and the impulse of ringing the doorbell and finding out what else she’s hiding hits me. “Hot, sweet, smart, beautiful, and closed up to the world. I know how to choose them, don’t I?” He winks at me.
“You talking about me?”
“No. You’re not sweet or beautiful.” He places an arm on my chest, stopping me. Then eyes me from head to toe. “The rest does fit your description. If it wasn’t because I’m trying to change my ways for her, I’d beg you to let me fuck you.”
“What is it about her?”
“So much. She pulls me in closer to her without even knowing that she managed to tie my heart with a wire string,” he explains. I open the passenger door of his truck, taking a deep breath of the humid night before leaving Thea behind. Trying to cut a wire that caught my heart, which is similar to the one he talks about. The one she bonded to my own heart. “You know what’s weird, Tristan? I want that connection to become stronger, permanent. That’s crazy shit.”
Fuck, how is it possible that she snuck into my life and that I let her enter so easily?
I have to cut ties—maybe with both of them. Shit.
“Hey, isn’t it a little early? I wasn’t expecting you.” Thea opens her apartment door. “Do you need me to let you into the bar or something?”
“You suggested we spend the day together. Or did you forget?” I check my watch. Eight in the morning. “So, here I am to hang out with you and there’re are a few things I’d like us to talk about.”
Her head moves from left to right, those mystical eyes never leaving mine. Finally, she sighs and says, “You want to come inside? I just finished doing yoga and I’m not ready to lose my cool.”
I don’t understand what she means, but I walk inside her place as soon as she moves away from the door. The tight flowery pants that cover her long legs weaken my knees. Fuck, I’m helpless against her. She’s about to sweep me into that sweet, wonderful world of hers where I’ll lose myself if I don’t watch out.
“Sorry about my mess, but yesterday I had to finish a big order and my eyes gave up before I could clean.” The table is filled with colorful crap, and her sofa has several packages that look ready to ship. Thea moves a couple of packages and pats the couch. “Do you want coffee or tea?”
“Coffee, if you don’t mind.”
She moves toward her kitchenette. “Talk. I’ll listen while I get this ready.”
“I heard you’re a doctor.”
She stops pouring from the coffee pot and frowns at me. “Not the MD kind. I don’t prescribe medicines.”
“You have a doctorate,” I say. She nods. “Why do you work at a bar?”
“Reed offered me the job when I tried to rent this apartment, and I am a fast learner.” She shrugs. “It pays the bills. Black?” She lifts the mug and I nod. “Why exactly are you here, Tristan?”
Because I can’t stay away from you? “To learn who Thea is. Tell me more about you. I think it’s fair, as you know a lot about me.”
“More about me?” She bites the insides of her cheeks. “There’s not much to know about me. I’m a jewelry maker, bartender, and counselor in the making.” Thea points at the coffee. “Drink that. I have to leave in a few to take my packages to the post office.”
“It’s Sunday.”
“They’ve automated postage machines.” She grins. “Technology is a sweet friend of mine.”
“I’m not letting you go that easily. We can do this together. I’ll stay all day until I am satisfied that I know enough of who Thea Dennis is.”
“Suit yourself. Thea Dennis is boring.” She blinks twice, twisting her lips. In seconds a smile appears, but it doesn’t illuminate her eyes. My gut tells me she’s hiding something.
I kiss her cheek. “That’s for me to decide,” I say, accepting the challenge to uncover whoever is under that dome.
“Yo, Decker.”
“Hey, bro,” I fist bump Jared, one of the bouncers of the Silver Moon. “How’s the crowd tonight?”
“Busy, but light compared to the last couple of weeks, man.” He whistles. “That was fucking insane.”
Fucking insane barely covers it. After the Friday when Chris, AJ, and I played, there have been lines around the building. Tons of people waiting to be let in and expecting another show like the one we played. We don’t plan to play together again until Jacob is back. That Friday was a marketing test, a sound test, a social media experiment, and a family experiment too. The public responded fast when we spread the word that the Decker’s would play at the Silver Moon. Our media reach filled the entire house. According to the news, we had thousands of fans outside waiting for their turn to step inside. In conclusion, the Decker name still pulls an audience.
For Tristan, it meant learning more about the venue as a place for concerts. He thinks that at least for the first two years we’ll sell out each concert the family plays at Thrice. The decision of selling tickets in advance shut down my great idea of just trending any future surprise shows. He refuses to improvise when it comes to concerts because we won’t always have the security detail to cover the show. As for the Silver Moon, we will never hold a concert, at least not until we buy the buildings around the Silver Moon and expand. While doing it, Tristan is working with the architect who’s starting to draw the plans for the new building. As soon as Reed decides it’s time to retire, we’re demolishing the structure and building a new bar from the ground up.
For now we’ll help Reed when we’re available. That's one of the reasons I'm visiting tonight. Jared was right. This time when I step inside the place, I can walk without having to push myself between bodies and avoiding the limbs of crazy fans trying to cop a feel. When I focus on the bar, searching for my butterfly, I hate the sight. There’s a new guy bartending, and no sign of Thea. Probably one of the guys Tristan and Reed hired on Tuesday. It took longer than they expected, as Tristan wanted a guy who
he could trust—and with a clean record. I continue scanning the crowd, and in a matter of seconds I spot Reed in the far corner speaking to another man. He motions to approach him the moment he recognizes me.
“Decker, meet Harry, our new waiter,” he says, introducing me to the dark-haired man. He’s shorter than me, a good-looking guy with dark stubble covering his chiseled jaw and broad shoulders. “He started today, along with Chase.” Reed tilts his head toward the bar.
“I’m Matthew, nice to meet you.” I shake his hand, then go back to Reed. “Where’s Thea?”
“Not sure as it’s her day off,” he informs me and I’m glad to know that after working her ass off, she’s finally resting.
Tristan has wanted to fire her since he saw how she was hit on and pawed while she works. The fucker is an overprotective caveman. Thea is his weakness, and he can’t deny his attraction anymore. It’s fun to see them together, because that alpha-shit doesn’t fly with Thea. She almost kicked his ass without saying one word. They’re becoming close friends, and instead of worrying, it sits well inside my heart. Just like the fact that Thea isn’t working every night. That’ll brighten Tristan’s life—it makes mine easier.
“You need me tonight, Reed?” Tristan might’ve freed her, but that means she’s free for a date. I grin wondering where I’ll take her.
“No, I wasn’t counting on you coming over. That’s what your email meant, right? I will be on site shooting a movie?” Reed waits for me to say something, but I only deliver a shrug. “You staying for open mic night?”
“Nah, if you’re set for the night, I’m leaving.” I pat his shoulder. One of my guys is covering tonight’s event. “There’s a pretty butterfly I gotta catch. See you later.”
Uncut (Unexpected Book 4) Page 14