by Jules Dixon
“Hey, there.” Wonder if she fed the little guy?
I glanced around and found a container of small rodent food for the empty dish. The cage lid creaked as I open it and placed a few pellets inside. Grabbing the water bottle, I refilled it in the kitchen, then returned it to the hook on the side of the glass box.
“She might not feel very good tomorrow, so be nice to her.”
The brown ball of fur ignored me and continued his workout.
I checked that the front door would lock after I left, then headed out.
The next day, after a long, long run, I texted Sage.
Rahl: Are you alive?
If she didn’t text by the time I left, I’d stop by her place to check on her. I made an omelet and some toast and after eating, I showered.
When I picked my phone up to leave the townhome I share with two roommates, there was a new text.
Sage: Alive? I have a pulse, but not sure that counts @ this point. Thank u for bringing me home. Hope I didn’t go all mushy girl on u.
Rahl: I think you recited song lyrics. Do you need a ride to 2Fine to get your P.O.S. car? BTW, I fed the rodent
Sage: LOL. He’s a hamster-Lassie. I can’t have a dog, so I named him after one :-) Lyrics? I don’t remember that, but I don’t remember a lot either. Sorry. No thanks on ride. Tia coming over later, she can take me to get the P.O.S. :-( See u next weekend?
I chuckled at the dog comment and shook my head at the car one. Her car was the definition of P.O.S.
Rahl: Off the next two. Hey, Sam said, do the inebriated waitress act again and he’ll can you. Hope you got whatever you needed to out of your system.
Sage: Definitely out of my system, may never look at a lemon-drop shot ever again in my life. See u in three then. Have a good week and thanks again.
I pulled up a browser in my phone and typed in the words she said before she passed out last night. Nothing came up for a song. That’s odd.
I headed off to do some work on the house I was having built. I completed some of the work myself. Actually, a lot of the work myself. The physical effort was going to save me about twenty percent on the construction costs, and I would have a nice stash of equity in return. I was ready to go solo. No roommates. Kirby and Easton were okay guys, but I was turning twenty-seven and it was time to have something to call my own.
And hopefully someone to call my own.
Chapter Two
Sage
“I thought you had this weekend off?” I asked Rahl while he filled my order for four pints of beer.
“Tanny’s son got sick last night.”
“That was nice of you to fill in for her.” I set the four pints on my tray and spun to make the delivery.
Rahl grumped a response, like normal. His unpredictable temper was why we all called him the “Ogre.” Behind his back, of course. You never teased the Ogre to his face.
Two weekends ago, I overheard Rahl telling Jude that he had a date with this girl who’d been into Two Fine Irishmen the night before. Presley. The news upset me and in a very immature move I used alcohol to numb my irritation. While working.
Not my finest moment.
Somehow, I didn’t get fired, and thankfully, Rahl drove me home safely afterward.
I didn’t think I’d done anything too embarrassing. Although, I couldn’t remember how I got out of my clothes and into my pajamas. I was sure I accomplished the feat myself, and even if I didn’t, nothing mind-blowing happened. I woke up miserable from the alcohol and miserable from being as randy as a feline in heat.
The truth was, I wished something had happened. I’d crushed on Rahl since the first shift we worked together almost six months earlier. Most of the time he was moody as hell. Often he was short with everyone. And occasionally he was arrogant to the “bar brats,” but they usually deserved his attitude. Bar brats being the girls who kept coming around to the hot bartenders but had no chance of getting some. No smart bartender took home a random girl from the bar. But I also realized that Rahl could be sweeter than any man I’d ever met, giving me car rides when my POS car took an arbitrary vacation day. Plus, he saved me from myself by bringing me home and assisting me to bed when I was the one that took a vacation day.
Not that Rahl even realized I was in his life. He seemed to look right through me. Most of the time it was as if I were an optical illusion, a human slight of hand that could disappear at any moment. And based on my medical history, it was entirely possible that might happen.
Right after I started working at Two Fine, my new friend and coworker, Tia (she might be my sister from another-color mother) got me up on the stage. I played acoustic guitar while singing on Open Mic night. I shook like an earthquake was happening and could barely strum the guitar, but I chose a song I could sing to Rahl. To let him know, without letting him know, how I really felt. When I was done, he said a generic platitude and went on with his night.
Totally confirmed.
Abracadabra … poof … invisible.
I didn’t blame him for not taking notice. I wasn’t model-esque in height like Presley, nor did I have her lovely curves. In fact, the two curves I had up top weren’t even natural anymore. The whys were a long story that didn’t have a happy ending and most likely never would. My life was complicated from birth and had become increasingly complicated since then.
“What’s up, Whitey?” Tia bopped around to the music. I rolled my eyes at her nickname of my last name, Whiteman. She could get away with calling me that since she didn’t give a shit what anyone thought.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“Not looking to do a repeat lemon-drop performance, right?” She stretched the word.
“Nope. How about you? What’s happening in T-dog’s world?”
“Girl, I’ve got so many man-irons in my fire. I’ll be lucky if I don’t get burnt to a crisp.”
“I don’t even want to know what that means.” I shook my head.
Tia Cotes was the first person I’d had a crush on in the bar. She was stare-worthy with dark, curly, waist-length hair and dark red lips. She was grab-your-gut funny with the driest and raunchiest humor. One-of-a-kind authentic like a diamond from a jewelry store. And, man, was she a real go-getter at the between-the-sheets hip-hop dance. I never judged. I declared on more than one occasion how I admired her nerve and ability to separate feelings from the act of sex.
Just hope she’s careful.
Being the product of a one-night stand, I understood how that could alter a life. Now, my mom would probably say I was the best thing to ever happen to her, if she was still with us, but single parenthood wasn’t easy. She didn’t even know the guy’s name, so I had no idea who my dad was. But it was like growing up knowing only half of myself. When I was younger, I hated not knowing the other half, and occasionally hated the person who contributed the other half. As an adult, not knowing was just how it was. Still, that void had sucked a part of my soul from the inside out.
The band was a good draw and the bartenders and waitresses were busy tending to the demanding customers. At a lull in the night I leaned with my back against the counter drinking a glass of water and listening in on Rahl and Jude’s man-convo.
“How are things going with Presley?” Rahl asked him.
I straightened my back and leaned back a little farther.
I thought Rahl was dating Presley?
“I’m going to ask her to move in as soon as she can,” Jude replied.
Holy shit!
“Wow, way to move at the relationship speed of light, Jude.”
“Well, when you know the person is the person, you’ll do anything to keep them. Isn’t there anyone you’re interested in, Rahl?” Jude lowered his voice. “Maybe T-dog?”
“That girl frightens my manhood into hiding,” Rahl squeaked out.
Jude chuckled but he didn’t disagree.
Rahl cleared his voice. “I thought maybe, but nothing has happened. At this point, between you and me…”
I strained to hear him over the band, his voice muffling with the pounding bass.
“I could go for a quick no-strings-attached pump and dump to work off some of the swimmers currently clouding my vision. It’s been that long.”
Jude chuckled and Rahl joined him.
I spun to grab the two dirty martinis Rahl scraped across the wood to me.
His brown eyes sparkled with a self-amused air. He really was a fantastic example of male—over six feet tall with substantial meat on his bones. Broad shoulders and a Greek god-like chest that tapered down to a fit waist, then back out to his amazingly toned ass. To top it off, his muscular thighs filled his jeans like he had them custom-made to skim the developed muscles.
I loved big guys and Rahl was loveable big. I imagined him carrying me to the bedroom in a moment of passion. It was quite possible he’d already done that once in my life. Too bad I can’t remember it, and as far as I know there was no passion.
I picked up the drink tray and made my rounds.
The night turned out to be a good one. Significant tips and no one grabbed my ass. I did get propositioned several times, but that was typical for Two Fine. The bar was an entertaining mix of all ages on Fridays and Saturdays, with many up-and-comers trying to let their wallets talk for their crotches. I wished I were attracted to money, ‘cause some of them were damn wealthy, but the way they threw their wallet measurements in my face made them totally limp in my mind.
The band finished up their song when I heard my name in a chant over the speakers and the crowd joined in. I assumed there wasn’t another Sage in the bar, so I made my way to the stage.
“Everyone, please welcome our good friend, Sage. And what are you going to bless us with tonight?”
I took a seat at the keyboard. “Hey, Jack, it’s a surprise. Just follow along if you want to, guys.”
I played the intro and the band jumped in like they recognized the song, which they may or may not have. Professional musicians could improvise. I inhaled a deep breath and crooned Adele’s “One and Only.” I tried to make the song mine, but kept some of the original inflection in my rendition. When I was half through, I noticed how quiet the bar had become. That can be good or bad.
I finished and sat in silence for about five seconds, then the place erupted into screams and whistles. I blushed at the adulation. When my eyes rose from my embarrassment, they locked with Rahl’s across the room. The Ogre smiled and clapped. I smiled back and stood to take a bow.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, on that note, I think we’re going to end our set,” Jack said into his microphone. “To follow that angelic performance would make us look like friggin’ fools. Last call, Two Fine. Remember to be nice to your bar staff. They keep you happy, keep them happy, too.”
I tended my tables for the last orders and handed out bar tabs, collecting compliments as well as payments. I moved to cash out for the night.
Rahl beelined right into my personal space. “Who were you singing that song for?”
“What?” I understood his question but I didn’t know how to answer.
“Was that song directed to someone?”
“No.”
Yes.
“Are you sure?”
Shit.
“Rahl, I have to get counted out for the night.”
His body relaxed. “Well, it was beautiful. I don’t think I’ve heard anything more … perfect.”
I brought my eyes up from counting out my money, losing track, but it was totally worth it. That was one of the nicest things he’d ever said to me. Actually, that was the nicest thing he’d ever said to anyone here.
Our eyes connected.
“Thanks, Rahl.” A rush of heat seared my cheeks. “That means a lot to me.” My stomach flipped with a twinge of maybe something new between us.
Rahl walked away but spun around and gave me one last smile. I hadn’t noticed his dimples before. Mostly because he didn’t smile that often, but more because I’d never been this close to him when he shared the friendly gesture.
After grabbing my purse, I gave Tia a hug good-bye and headed out to my car. I turned the ignition and … nothing. My car was on another vacation. I dropped my head against the steering wheel and cursed. Since I bought it two years earlier, the mechanics had it more than I did.
It wasn’t a lemon. It just plain sucked one!
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I jumped.
“Hey, you need a ride? Again?” Rahl asked through the window. It seemed his cocky-pompous attitude had returned.
I exited the POS. “Yes, please.” It was time to get rid of the frustration-making machine.
Rahl opened the passenger door of his truck and guided me in. Not really sure how he managed to get the drunk version of me in here. I could barely climb up into the mammoth vehicle when sober.
Maybe he did carry me … and more than once.
Chapter Three
Rahl
“Why don’t you sing professionally, Sage?” I drove from the Two Fine parking lot.
She raised and dropped the shoulder closest to me. “I love to sing, but it will never pay the bills.”
“Too bad. You were incredible tonight.”
“Thanks, again.” She stared out the lowered passenger window, her hair whipping into caramel twirls from the wind. The sky was clear, tons of stars, cool and crisp for a May night. Gorgeous night.”
“Yeah, gorgeous.” I wasn’t talking about the night.
Took about five minutes to get to her apartment building.
She opened the truck’s passenger door, pausing before sliding out. “You want to come in and have a beer?”
“Okay.”
I followed her inside and up the stairs. Not a bad view from back here. She was thin with a runner’s build, and her top curves rocked.
She led me into the kitchen and when she didn’t flip the switch I remembered why.
“You still haven’t fixed that ceiling light?”
“I don’t have a ladder.” She handed me a beer from the fridge. “I called maintenance. They said they’d be out, sometime.”
“Before I leave we’ll get it fixed. There’s no reason for you to walk around in the dark, Sage. That’s not safe.” I followed her to the living room and contemplated where to sit.
She nodded to the space next to her on the sofa. “Have a seat, Rahl.”
“Do you have another job?” I took a long drink of the beer to calm what was rolling through my body. Nerves. There was no reason to be nervous. I’d been shot at and handled that better than this. After all, that was an uncontrolled situation and this girl shouldn’t scare me. Hell, I’d seen her in her underwear.
Fuck, what a sight.
I moved uncomfortably as my crotch pulsed at the memory.
“I finished my interior design degree in December. I got hired at Sugar Plum Dreams Design last month. How about you?”
I thought she was a little older than my sister?
“I do specialty security. Can I ask, how old are you?”
“I’m twenty-four. I started college late because of some medical issues right after high school.” She pulled the label from the beer in her hands and her shoulders slumped forward.
I decided not to pry into the medical issues.
“Have any siblings?”
“Nope. I’m the product of a one-night stand and a faulty or misused condom. My mom raised me. She had me at twenty and at thirty she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died a year later and my maternal grandparents raised me from that point on.” Her eyes glossed with tears.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thanks. She gave me lots of things to remember her by.” Sage cleared her throat. “Anyway, you like to do anything in your spare time?”
“I brew my own beer and skeet-shoot competitively.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Brew beer? That is so awesome. Any chance you could show me how to do that some day?”
“Sur
e. Might brew next weekend, I’ll let you know.” I finished off my beer. “I should get going.”
I watched as she swallowed but a small smile raised the corners of her mouth. “Okay.”
In the kitchen, I stopped and pointed up. “You have a replacement bulb?”
“I think so.” She reached under the sink and pulled out a couple of bulbs. “These work?”
I nodded. “Okay, so no ladder?” I glanced to her kitchen table. With my 240-plus pound frame, sitting on one of those little chairs would probably make kindling. Obviously, standing on one wasn’t going to happen. “How about I lift you up and you change the bulb?”
She frowned. “Um … maybe I’ll wait for maintenance.”
“Either we do it now, or I’ll come back tomorrow morning with a ladder.”
She rolled her silvery green eyes in a huge circle and huffed. “Fine. Lift me up.”
I grabbed her small waist and lifted her over my head. Resting her tight little ass on the top of my head made her just the right height for the nine-foot ceilings. She opened the cover on the light and carefully replaced the old bulbs with the new ones. Handing me the old ones, I stepped back and set the used bulbs on the counter. Her jeans began to slip from my head and she released an alarmed shriek. I spun her in my arms and slowed her descent by plastering our bodies together, her arms caught over mine. She stopped chest to chest and face to face with me.
Her soft floral perfume teased the air around us. The scent triggered tightness through my muscles. My chest rippled on hers and I released a low noise that sounded half-man, half-animal. Her hands cradled my neck as her eyes darted from my eyes to my lips, and back again.
“Rahl,” she whispered in a raspy tone. She licked her lips until they were shiny and ready for a kiss.
I dropped my head toward her. “Sage…” I rumbled as she dug her fingers into my neck to pull me closer.
Right before we touched lips, I relaxed my arms and let her drop to the floor. “I’ve gotta go. Maybe I’ll see you next weekend for brewing?” Before I left the kitchen, I flipped on the light switch and watched the room illuminate, taking one more look at the beautiful young woman I’d just turned down. “Good night, Sage.”