Fool For You

by Megan Noelle

  * * * *

  We awoke late in the afternoon and after eating a late lunch, I said goodbye. When I got home I showered but still felt overwhelmed with exhaustion. I decided against make up and changed into yoga pants and layered tank tops before sprawling out onto my couch. Hours later, Oliver showed up with Chinese takeout and a few action flicks. After we finished eating, Ollie pulled me onto the couch with him. My shoulders tensed as our bodies lined up but once again, my aching need for sleep was taking over and all I could do was give in.

  Oliver didn’t seem to mind, as his arms laced around and held me close. The comforting feeling that ran through me with Corey near—wasn’t there with Oliver. I wanted to put some distance between us but my body was far too gone to move. When the movie ended, Ollie woke me and asked if I wanted him to stay the night but I knew there was no way that was going to happen. He packed up his movies and gave me a lingering kiss on the lips that felt as if he wanted it to lead into more. Instead I pulled away and waved goodbye before going back to the couch to zone out to some more TV.

  * * * *

  Throughout the week, things were busier as the end of October approached. This was a time for many different events at the Inn; weddings of course, horse rides, and Halloween themed parties. Unfortunately, the planning kept Corey and I apart. Which in the beginning was murder since I knew he was upset about my impromptu dinner with Ollie. The more time I spent away from Corey, the more I found myself missing him. Being near him was so easy that I really could be exactly who I was and knew that Corey wanted to be with me—for me. So without being able to stop myself I made plans to hang out with him Friday night after work.

  At first, I thought Corey was going to say no, since he informed me that night he would have to work. My heart plummeted, until he asked me to come by and have a drink at the bar and hang out until he was off. To me, there was nothing better than that. As long as I could be near Corey, that was all I needed to be happy. During the week nights, I wanted nothing more than to have Corey in my bed but for whatever reason he decided to forgo our sleepovers. I told myself I didn’t care but I knew better.

  By the time Friday rolled around, I was more than excited to get over to Corey’s bar and spend the night with him. By 6:30 everything at the Inn was taken care of, so I was able to skip out and spend the rest of the night pampering myself before going out. After curling my hair into big ‘supermodel’ curls and creating a smokey eye look with Earthy tones, I turned to my wardrobe. After much debate, I finally settled on my dark skin tight jeans, a white tank top with ruching across the stomach that cupped my chest and pulled back into a bow behind my neck. Along with that, I threw on my white heels and black leather jacket. The second I was finished dressing, I ran out to my car so I didn’t have to wait one more minute to see Corey.

  The drive to the bar felt excruciating and my nerves were on edge with the excitement that I would finally be with him again. I pulled my car into a spot and immediately took off for the entrance. The moment I stepped into the Friday night party atmosphere, my eyes met Corey’s. He was behind the bar filling a glass with an amber beer from the tap. The dimple in his cheek came out, his smile widened as he took me into view. My legs immediately started walking me towards him, as if some magnetic pull was surging me forward. Corey finished filling up the glass and he set it in front of the customer then easily flipped himself over the bar. In two long strides we were face to face and Corey’s arms wrapped around my waist and drew me into his hard body. The lips I’ve thought about all week, moved with mine in the same hungry way that I was feeling.

  Corey was supposed to work tonight, but I yearned for this man so much that I was tempted to yank him upstairs and assure him he will forget about his responsibilities. We pulled back enough to see each other and the smile on his face was infectious.

  “I missed you.” The words left my lips before I had a chance to realize what I was saying. Corey placed a chaste kiss against my lips, nose and forehead.

  “That was the plan, Sweets.” He said with a wink, as he took my hand in his and led me over to the bar. “What can I get ya?” His hands cinched around my hips and lifted me onto the bar stool.

  I clasped my hands together behind his neck and brought his lips down to mine. “Surprise me.” I muttered against his mouth.

  “It’s not very nice for you to tease me when I’m stuck behind the bar for a few more hours.” He whispered low enough for only me to hear.

  With a mischievous smile, I bat my thick lashes at him. “Maybe I’m not trying to be very nice.” A low growl in the back of his throat made my desire for this man pool low in my stomach.

  “Be nice to me, Danielle.” He warned before forcing himself back over the bar. As soon as he stepped away from me, I felt the heat between us disappear and a longing creep throughout my body. Leaving me with a need to have him back.

  “I’ve decided what I want.” My elbows propped against the bar, as I leaned in to him. Purposely giving him a view down the top of my shirt.

  “And what would that be, gorgeous?”, Corey asked leaning into me. His eyes shamelessly trailed down my neck to my cleavage and back to my eyes.

  “Two shots of tequila and a beer.” His face screwed up with repulsion.

  “Those are for you, right?” An innocent smile made him groan. He knew there was no way I was letting him out of taking a shot with me.

  From the cooler behind him, he grabbed and popped the top off my Rolling Rock. “I’ll get those in a minute. Let me get caught up with the other drink orders, okay?”.

  “Sounds good, baby.” This wasn’t the first time I had used a term of endearment for him, but the way his face lit up told me he loved it just as much as the first time I said it. That fact only brightened my already good mood. My eyes unabashedly followed his movements as he mixed, stirred and poured drinks for the growing number of customers. Every now and then, he’d shoot a look in my direction and award me with a smile or a smirk. Depending on, of course, if I was staring at his beautiful face or perfect ass.

  A few different women relentlessly tried flirting with Corey, while he was nice to them, he also made a point of toning down his flirtatious behavior. This made me feel tremendous, with my admiration for him soaring higher than expected. Sanders was also working and made a point to stop by, say hello and place a kiss on my cheek. Right when he pulled away, a lime wedge hit him on the side of his face. We both looked to see Corey shaking his head, a smirk on his lips. "Mine", he mouthed to us. Sanders was used to us by now and was nothing more than amused by Corey’s possessive tendencies.

  Finally, he returned with another Rolling Rock, and three shots of tequila. When I asked who the third shot was for, he moved in dangerously close and let his lips brush and tease my ear. My heart was beating so loud, I could barely hear him when his husky voice whispered, “I’m trying to get your sexy ass drunk.”

  I was ready to hop over the bar and ride him right here but unfortunately the place was filling up so quickly—that wasn’t an option. We took our shot and once the lime left my mouth, he put a hand behind my head forcing my lips to his. His tongue swirled around mine, making my body beat with an incredible ache. Before pulling away, he sucked my bottom lip between his until I felt I was about to spontaneously combust.

  And he warned me about not being a tease!

  Corey’s blue eyes pierced mine as the craving need to take me the way I longed for him to passed between us. “Maybe I am a fan of tequila and lime, now.” My mouth opened marginally to say something but nothing came out. With a wink, he made his way over to the next awaiting customer at the opposite end from where I was. Sanders approached me and put an elbow on the bar.

  His eyes flickered from my face to where Corey stood. “Next time you need a shot of tequila, you let me know. I will be more than happy to get you as many as you would like.” I couldn’t help but laugh as I playfully smacked him on the arm.

  “I think I’m good on the tequila shots for a
while, but you can bring me whatever else you want.”

  “You got it, babe.” He said with a wink before returning to work to make another drink.

  “Good Lord, that was hot.” A female voice said from behind me. I turned around slowly since I didn’t know if the voice was referring to me or someone else near me. When I got a look at the woman standing behind me, my body instantly tensed and my fists clenched at my side.

  His

  The girl’s olive skin was speckled with cheap glitter and her dark hair fell past her shoulders. That smug smile I’ve always seen on her disgusting face, was staring back at me. It took everything in me not to grab her by the hair and shove her face first into Corey’s bar. There was only one person that could possibly wrench such furious thoughts from my mind—Jayme Macintyre.

  “That kiss between you and that delicious looking bartender—totally hot.” She clarified, as if my silence was because I was confused at her words. Not because I was trying hard as hell not to claw at her face and eyes.

  “I suggest you back the fuck away from me, Jayme.” Her eyes lit up with amusement, not the fear she should be feeling right about now.

  “Whoa Danielle, what’s the deal? I’m excited to see you since it’s been years but you…”

  “Want you to get out of my face.” I finished her sentence. The sound of a glass being set against the counter behind me is the only thing that drew me away from eyeing her down.

  When I turned to see what made the noise, a cocktail glass full of some pink drink, sat at my spot. I downed whatever it was in one large gulp and slammed it back against the bar. Sanders stood cautiously in front of me ignoring all other customers as he noticed the tense situation directly in front of him.

  “Beer.” I said, before downing the remainder of the one I was sipping on. Sanders nodded, but was hesitant about turning his attention away from me.

  “I’m really not getting where this hostility is coming from, Danielle.” Jayme said. This girl was no fool, just really good at making people think she was.

  “How’s the happily ever after with yet another one of my exes?” She cocked her stupid looking-face to the side.

  “What are you talking about?” The urge to slap her as hard as I could was rising.

  “Kevin Harp—my ex-boyfriend a.k.a. your husband.”

  Jayme lifted her left hand, my gaze instantly dropped to her ring finger—bare. With a frown Jayme said, “We’re getting a divorce but I didn’t know you were with him.”

  “That’s bullshit, Jayme. You knew I was with him.” I was seconds away from bringing up Oliver but I knew that was a touchy subject for Corey. Plus, I was so not in the mood to fight over that tonight.

  “If you say so. He’s all yours now if you want him—we’re through.” Her hand sliced through the air as if to make her point crystal clear. I rolled my eyes and turned back to the bar. My fresh beer was in front of me and in seconds it was to my lips rolling down my throat.

  “So, I didn’t even know you were back until Oliver told me!” Her voice was reaching a pitch only a dog’s ear could hear; I was trying my best to tune her out. Down the bar, Corey made eye contact with me but was stuck in the middle of mixing shots, so he couldn’t come to me. He managed to mouth, are you okay? As a response I mouthed back, tequila. He nodded and gave me a little wink that helped take some of the edge off. At least for a second.

  “Ollie told me you spent a lot of time here so I figured, since I don’t have the kids tonight, that I would see if you were here.” Jayme continued on. I twirled back around on my stool, letting my back lean against the bar.

  “Why would you think I’d want to see you?”

  “Old friends catching up. I’ve missed you Danielle!”

  I snorted out a laugh. “The feeling isn’t mutual, Jayme.” She rolled her big brown puppy eyes.

  “Oh come on, whatever grudge you’re holding against me has to be long over by now.”

  “I promise you, it’s not.” Just then a warm hand pressed against the nape of my neck, sending an ease down my rigid body. My eyes shut of their own accord and I let my head fall back minimally into the man behind me.

  “Have a shot with me, baby.” My eyes shot open, as I turned back around and saw Corey smiling with two tequila shots in front of him. Usually I could only get him to willingly take only one shot a night. Now here he was before me with two shots, two limes and salt.

  Turning away from Jayme towards Corey, already made everything better. On the way to bringing my hand up to my mouth to lick it to prepare for the salt, Corey stopped me. He pulled it to his mouth and let his tongue glide across the crook of my hand. An almost inaudible moan crept up from the back of my throat. Corey’s blue eyes reached up to hold my gaze as I lifted his hand to do the same. After sprinkling on the salt, I licked it off while he sucked it off me. My heart was pounding and my body was crying out for his touch. It was difficult to decipher which was better: tasting Corey or having his tongue on me. We took the shot and each sucked on our wedge of lime. This time it was me who leaned across the bar and let my tongue slide along his lips. The delicious mixture of our shots, the lime and Corey made my pulse quicken and my eyes just about roll back in my head. A few random cheers from both men and women, made Corey and I pull apart laughing. Someone hopped up onto the stool next to me and bumped my leg, drawing my attention from Corey. That was when I remembered Jayme was still here.

  “Introduce me to your sexy man, Danielle.” Jayme’s voice cooed into my ear.

  Corey’s eyes carefully watched me to determine if he needed to intervene in some way. The way Jayme licked her lips when she saw him, made me want to reestablish my earlier warning to him.

  “ This is Jayme Macintyre.” I said, looking directly into his face. It took him a moment, but my previous warning, that if he ever slept with her I would never forgive him, finally clicked. Corey reached down and laced his fingers with mine at the bar.

  “Hey Jayme, I’m Corey—what can I get you to drink?”

  “Well, I have never seen a shot of tequila look more appealing in my life. So I’ll take one, if you take one with me.” Jayme was pressed against the bar exposing her abundance of cleavage in her barely there tank top. Corey shook his head, lifting my hand to his lips.

  “I’ll get you tequila, but I will only take those with my girl here.” This caused a smile to form on my face, as I looked back towards Corey. The way he was gazing at me, told me I was the only woman in the room. I leaned forward; placing a chaste kiss against his soft, lime flavored lips.

  “Well, we’re basically best friends. We share everything.” That was it. There was no possible way I could sit around this girl and not knock her to her ass. Especially since now, I had plenty of liquor running through my veins, there was even less patience for this whore.

  “We’re not friends and you taking everything from me, doesn’t count as sharing.” With that I pressed my mouth hungrily to Corey’s, before taking a full beer that was placed in front of me and stomped off. There was no way I was leaving, besides the fact that I was having a hard time walking a straight line, driving was out of the question. Instead, I walked over to the pool tables and decided to join into the crowd of people watching the games.

  At first I paid little attention to anything, except getting to the bottom of the beer bottle. Every now and then my eyes would dart over to the bar where Jayme was still seated. If Corey was busy, she didn’t think twice about brushing her hands over Sanders’s arms and chest. It wouldn’t have bothered me as much, if I didn’t see the look of plain discomfort on his face. This made my blood boil even more, Sanders was a pawn to get under my skin. Luckily, he knew how to evade her and managed to keep his distance. Although, that put Corey in direct line of her grubby paws. Every time he passed in front of her, she made a point to reach out towards him. She batted her eyelashes, licked her lips and pressed her cleavage against the bar to give Corey a prime view. This turned my body to lava and created very dark
thoughts that crept into my mind concerning what I would do if we happened to meet somewhere without so many witnesses.

  At least I told myself this couldn’t get any worse and in an hour or so Corey would be off duty then we could get back to one of the things we did the best. This was until I looked over at one point and saw Corey leaning across the bar towards Jayme. She was running her hands up and down the length of his arm as she feigned interest in his tattoos. A smile covered his face as Jayme seductively bit down on her lip. A few feet away from Corey, Sanders looked even more uncomfortable as he watched Corey shamelessly flirt with my archenemy. Faster than I imagined possible, I was seeing red.

  Turning away from the heart-dropping sight, I finally noticed the few guys standing around me. Some looked as though they have already tried getting my attention but moved on, while a couple still showed interest. At this point I didn’t give a damn who I was about to talk to, just as long as they helped me forget the sight burned into my brain. Next to me stood a tall spiky blonde-haired man with silver eyes and a chiseled face. This man will definitely do—for tonight at least.

  In the man’s hand was a glass of beer on tap and the tall table next to him housed another mixed drink, beer and shot. I sidled up to him and saw a mixture of amusement and lust dance around in his eyes. My fingers trailed from the bottom of his stomach to the top of his shoulders.

  “You are one sexy woman.” He murmured against my ear. His voice rumbled throughout his chest sending vibrations down my body. The tequila was taking over all my senses, and in this moment being flush against this man, felt right.

  “I love your muscles.” My hands tightened around his pecks. He let his tongue slide across his bottom lip as he lowered his head close to me. “Can I ask a favor of you?” I asked in the most seductive voice I could conjure up.