“Well, maybe that can be arranged. I do happen to know someone in the band.” I manage to look away from Derek to give her a quick wink. She then puts her arm around my waist drawing me closer to her side.
“Oh Jes. What am I going to do with you?”
After The Rifters finish their set, they have some cover band that ends up taking over for the rest of the night. They’re actually pretty good. We make our way back up to the bar to get a couple more drinks before we dance to a few more songs. Mallory has to work early in the morning so we will be hitting the road soon.
Fortunately for me, the dental office I work at is closed on Fridays. I enjoy having three day weekends. We take a place at the bar, and start singing the Joan Jett cover the band is playing while waiting for the bartender to make it our way. I’m jamming out in my own little world hoping I’m doing a better job than Britney Spears did in that movie of hers, when my heart rate begins to pick up. I don’t have to even turn around to know who is right behind me. I can feel his body heat seeping through my clothes as I welcome his closeness and involuntarily lean back into him.
“Damn, Jesika. You can’t be doing shit like this to me.” I feel his hot breath near my ear.
Hmmm, the fact that he just admitted I affect him makes me want to press in even more, but I resist the urge. We barely know each other. I can’t just buy into that instant connection shit that pulls you in without your consent that you read about. I’m not denying I don’t feel something for this gorgeous man, but maybe it’s just lust. Damn, I haven’t gotten laid in over a year and for some reason this guy has my mojo going.
Then I remember Jake, and instant regret sets in. He’s only been gone for a year, and I’m talking about unavoidable attraction and lust for another guy I’ve known for like a week. It’s such a conflicting feeling but luckily enough the bartender makes his way to us as I peel my back away from Derek.
After giving the bartender my order, I turn back around to Derek who is just standing there watching my every move with an incredibly curious look on his face.
“You guys were great tonight,” I say, breaking my silence which earns me a shit eating grin from him.
“How about us grabbing a seat in the back?” He nods his head to the side indicating the area he has in mind. I gladly agree. I grab Mallory by her elbow as she’s about to walk off with some guy towards the dance floor.
“Ouch hootchie. I’m going to dance, I’ll be back.”
“Paybacks a bitch huh?” She doesn’t get that I’m referring to her elbow nudge earlier. “Never mind. I’m going back there to chat with Derek, so if you need me, come and find me.” I point to the area Derek had showed me. She just nods her head as she pulls some cutie behind her towards where the band is playing.
I turn back around to Derek who is holding my drink and his that he must have ordered in the whole minute I was turned away. Realizing I never paid the bartender for my drink I ask him, “Did you buy my drink for me?”
Handing me my drink he smiles. “Nope, I’m cheap. We get free drinks when we play gigs.”
“Ahhh, the perks of being in the band, huh?” I giggle. “Well, thanks for the free drink, Derek.” We make our way to the back of the bar area where the crowd is a little bit tamer.
Of course chicks are trying to stop Derek left and right the whole way to our secluded as can be table. The more and more it happens I want to start to laugh at their lame attempts at distracting him. These women have no shame. I mean he is already walking with another woman in tote, and it doesn’t even faze them. What I like most is that it doesn’t seem to deter him. He could care less about any of these broads wanting to grope him. I have to admit, it makes me feel good to see how he reacts. Not saying this is an all the time typical reaction on his part, but either way, it’s nice to see that he’s just brushing them off as if they are crumbs.
“Are they like this all the time?” I’m genuinely curious and slightly jealous of all these other women wanting to touch him. It’s not like I can really blame them. I want to touch him too.
He laughs at my question as we take our seats. “What can I say Jes? I’m in the band.”
I belt out a loud laugh. “Haha. Did you come up with that one all by yourself?” I can’t help but continue on giggling at his jokingly lame statement. I wonder how often guys can actually get lucky pulling that card.
“To be honest, I don’t hang out after our shows. I usually go ahead and leave for the night because I usually have work and Emma has school.”
Seriously, could this guy get any more attractive? As if his looks and charm aren’t enough to swoon any woman right off their feet, he has to be responsible and a good dad. I don’t know why exactly, but damn if that isn’t a turn on. I guess it’s the fact that when you’re a single mom where your kid will always be your number one priority and you want to be with someone who respects that and feels the same way.
Talking to Derek puts me at ease, which to me is weird. I can talk to him like I’ve known him all my life. I don’t feel nervous, and I can let my silly side show without even caring what he’ll think. We talk about anything and everything. Well, anything and everything that doesn’t pertain to questions about our personal life.
“What’s your favorite movie?” he asks as he tosses a peanut in his mouth.
“I’m not telling you. You’ll think I’m a dork,” I laugh.
“Come on just tell me.” He breaks out his freaking pouty face again.
“Does that face get you everything you want?” Dumb question, I’m sure it does. He doesn’t break the face as he nods his head. “Ah, fine. But don’t laugh, okay?” He nods again. “Ace Ventura When Nature Calls.” I wait for him to start laughing at me, but instead his pouty face turns into his killer smile that I know gets him his way just as much.
“That would be your favorite movie.” He shakes his head. “And I thought you couldn’t be any more perfect.”
“No way. It’s not yours too is it?” What would be the odds? He shakes his head again.
“No, it’s not my favorite movie, but it’s high in the ranks.”
“Okay, then what’s your favorite and please don’t say Rocky.” As I’m sitting here asking Derek what his favorite movie is, I start to realize I didn’t even know what Jake’s was. It’s as if the little simple things about each other, we over looked.
“Friday the 13th,” he says, breaking me out of my thoughts. “I love scary movies and it was the first one I ever saw as a kid, so it’s my favorite movie.” As if he couldn’t become more perfect, he loves scary movies. Is there something we don’t have in common?
We talk for what feels like a good two hours and I realize I haven’t seen Mallory.
“Crap, I need to find Mallory. She has to be at work early. I really hope she isn’t making good on screwing y’alls lead singer.” Derek cocks his head to the side looking at me suspiciously.
“You mean Seth? I’m sure she would have to get in line. He’s quite the ladies’ man that brother of mine.” What? I sure wasn’t expecting that, especially when I was comparing their looks earlier. I mean they don’t really look alike.
“Ha, go figure you’re related to the infamous panty melter. Well, either way, I have to find Mallory. I had a real good time talking with you Derek.” We both stand up to walk towards the front of the bar where the crowd is and the cover band is still playing.
“Jesika.” I stop and turn to face this gorgeous man who towers over me. “Go out with me tomorrow night.” He doesn’t ask. He tells me, and I like it.
Chapter Six
Derek
Damn, I haven’t been this nervous for a date since I was a scrawny little boy going to my first middle school dance. This is ridiculous. I’ve been on plenty of dates. I have no reason to be nervous. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since I last saw Jesika. Maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t been able to shake the image of her from last night out of my head for the last eighteen hours.
&
nbsp; Damn it, when did I start counting hours and shit like a freaking nutty chick? What is this woman doing to me? I know for the most part everything she does is completely unintentional, but what she wore last night was completely intentional. She knew what that skirt would do to me. She had to have known.
Ever since Seth had told me about our last minute gig I had cursed myself for not getting her number so I could at least invite her to the show. I’ve been dying to see that woman again. Of course, I can’t let her know that. It would probably freak her the hell out. The moment I saw her make her way to the stage last night, our eyes locked and I couldn’t control the giddy smile that smothered my whole damn face.
Last night I realized that nothing in this world could ever be sexier than watching the way Jesika’s hips moved to our music. The way she would brush her hands through her hair at times was incredibly sexy. She was such a damn turn on and my favorite part was when she tapped her hands on her thighs to the beat of my drums, syncing us together as if we were one.
I was able to hang out with Jesika for a good hour before she had to find her friend and head out, leaving me to help load up my drum kit. Before letting the opportunity slip through my grasp one more time, I made sure to exchange numbers and I asked her to go out with me tonight.
Okay, maybe I didn’t exactly ask, but more like willingly encouraged her to. I know it might have been fast on my part, but I was so thrilled to see her I couldn’t resist the urge. I didn’t even think of the fact that maybe she wasn’t ready for the dating scene yet. I was like a fat kid in a candy store. So stupidly happy, yet so antsy it’s almost impossible to hold them back from devouring the whole damn store.
Yes, if I had my way I’d for sure devour every inch of Jesika, and she would like it. I’m not one to brag about sexual experiences or talents, but with her I’d go above and beyond the call of duty. With her, for her, I would become a multi-taster.
Yes, that’s right, a multi-taster…look that one up.
For half a second after I had asked her out, or told her, I was almost scared shit less that she was going to turn me down. I could tell that she wanted to say yes, but she was very hesitant. My fear of it being too soon started to make its way to my mind and I almost told her never mind. But her look of doubt quickly faded when her ever so clever friend popped up at just the right time and offered to watch her son. Well hell, that thought had never crossed my mind. It reminded me that I hadn’t thought to find a sitter either, but I wasn’t going to bring that up because I would find one. Even if I had to beg Uncle Seth to watch Emma, I would pull all the strings to do so.
I left the house thirty minutes before we were supposed to meet at the restaurant. I wanted to make sure to get her a bouquet of flowers and I wanted to be at least ten minutes early, so I could be there when she showed up. Buying a chick flowers on a first date is something I have never done, but for her I want to do everything differently. I want to make a lasting impression. Not that I’m trying to be fake or make her think I’m someone that I’m not, it’s just that she makes me want to do all these cliché things. The fact is I’ve never met anyone who has made me want to be romantic before.
The moment Jes steps out of her car my heart skips a beat. It actually stops beating for a good minute. She was breathtaking, and she didn’t even have to try to dress sexy to be sexy. It was just her. She was the most naturally beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. They always say beauty lies within, but with Jesika she was truly gorgeous inside and out and knowing that she was here to see me made me feel like I just won the damn jackpot. I really hope this attraction and feelings I’m having aren’t just one sided. I don’t want to be the only one being pulled by this connection I feel forming, or more like expanding on my part.
She has the most intense smile. It just radiates everything in its path; it has been so long since I have been blessed with its presence. This past year has been hell on her and it’s been hell on me seeing her going through it and not being able to do shit to help her. I was able to calm my shaky hands by time I made my way to her. I was really hoping the flowers were still in contact after their bouncy ride in my tight grasp. Taking a deep breath to try and steady my voice I was finally able to speak without worrying I was going to sound like a thirteen year old boy going through puberty.
“Wow, Jes. You look amazing.”
She smiles shyly at me. “You look really nice too Derek. What side of Derek is this?”
Slightly confused, “Ummm, not sure I follow you. What do you mean?”
Shrugging she says, “There’s the Hot Firefighter Derek, or the Rockin’ Drummer Derek, and now this Derek.” She waves her hand to emphasize the Derek she was referring to.
Liking that she has already put that much thought into me I throw it back at her to finish. “I really like what you’ve come up with so far, so I think you need to tell me what you’d like to call this look.”
Tapping her index finger on her chin and looking fine as hell while thinking, a huge smile slowly creeps its way across her face. “I call this Derek, the Amazingly Sexy Derek.” Then she pushes herself up and kisses my cheek. “But I’m starting to think that this is the main Derek, because every time I see you, you look amazingly sexy.”
Trying to pull me out of my love struck stupor she adds, “Are these for me?” While she bends over to smell the flowers that I luckily haven’t dropped yet.
Still shocked by the touch of her soft lips pressed against my cheek and the lasting affect I know that will linger throughout the night, I was barely able to force out a muffled “yes” to answer her question before almost shoving the flowers into her arms.
If a freaking kiss on the cheek turns me to mush, I’m scared to see what a real kiss is capable of.
Trying to calm myself down while lightening the mood a little I clear my throat, “You forgot to mention Super Derek.”
“Super Derek?” she asks with a slight giggle. “Please, tell me it includes a cape?”
“Hell yeah it includes a cape. What’s the point of being a superhero if you can’t have the cape and the cool undies to go with it?” That got Jesika laughing.
“Thanks Derek. I will now have that image etched in my mind for the rest of the night.” She shakes her head as I pull the door open to the small secluded Italian restaurant I decided on taking her to.
“I’m sure that image is almost as orgasmic, ummm—I mean organic as my drumming is.” I smile and give her a wicked wink, before putting my hand to the small of her back to lead her through the door and into the small Italian restaurant.
Slightly biting down on her lip to keep herself from laughing as her cheeks start to get an extra rosy shade to them, Jesika shakes her head. I know she’s thinking about that night again and still feeling a little embarrassed that I had overheard her. I on the other hand, I’m very grateful for perfect timing, because hearing her say that about my drumming was exactly that; perfect.
I’m thanking God that I recovered from that overwhelming feeling of having her lips on me and the temporary system failure it had caused because we make our way to the hostess who asks for my name. “I have a reservation for two. It’s under Derek.”
Knowing that Seth was friends with the owner’s sister, I had him call her and arrange a last minute reservation. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect because I had to leave it all in Seth’s hands.
Before leaving the house Seth assured me that it would be amazing.
“Dude Derek, quit trippin. Vanessa and I have this amazing lil thing going. It’s a thing called ‘fuck buddies’. She will do anything I ask her, in the sack and out,” Seth says with a devilish smile.
“Okay, so that means I’m supposed to trust your ‘fuck buddy’ to make sure my first date with Jesika is perfect?” I ask while starting to get irritated with my cocky man whore of a brother.
Why should he care how my date goes, he doesn’t date. He’s completely fucking clueless how to impress women besides with the item between
his legs. He doesn’t even have to impress them to keep them coming back for more. I guess the rocker lifestyle is for him because I can never see him settling down. Some guys can never recover after being hurt by that one girl who got away. Seth would like to think he’s recovered from heartbreak, but the truth is he just uses random girls and the band to numb the pain.
Seth had grabbed my shoulder as I walked out the door, and with all sarcasm gone had said, “Trust me Derek. Okay? I told her how important this is to you. When it’s all said and done, your ass is going to be thanking me.”
Following our hostess as she weaves us in and out of tables and passed the bar area to the outside patio, I’m now fully trusting my brother to make this first date night with Jesika perfect.
Chapter Seven
Jesika
As I was getting ready for my date with Derek I had extreme mixed emotions about what was about to take place. I know it’s just a date and that usually entails dinner, maybe a movie and usually lots of talking. This thing that’s going on with Derek is a huge, massive, gigantic step for me. A step from the pain that has surrounded me this past year, a step in the right direction for me to move on with my life and the step I’m struggling with the most is the fact that I’m stepping further away from Jake and towards another man.
What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 3) Page 61