A Risk Worth Taking (Book 1)

by Aleks Mitchell

  “I’m your little sister. I’m supposed to annoy you. That’s my job.”

  “Alright, let’s go.”

  “Gabe, I don’t want to go to the bar.”

  “You have yet to give me a good reason why, so until you do, we’re going.”

  “Look, you might be a boss at the bar, but you’re not the boss of me.”

  “Ooh, feisty. New York is making you meaner. Now come on, I want to get to the bar to see the band. Their playing live today.”

  Hayden did love Jazz music. Knowing there would be live Jazz music tonight made her want to go, a little bit. She was still worried about seeing Kate though.

  “Come on, one drink while we watch the band play and then we can go,” Gabe compromised.

  “Fine, one drink and then we go.”

  “Awesome! By the way, you have to have a talk with Rachel before you leave town.”

  “What for?” Hayden asked concerned.

  “I’m pretty sure she’s following in her big sister’s footsteps.”

  “How so?”

  “Let’s just say she seems like she’s becoming a free spirit when it comes to boys. Now, you know I don’t have any problems with that. I just want to make sure she’s being careful.”

  “Then why don’t you talk to her?” Hayden asked, confused as to why he hadn’t already voiced his concerns to Rachel. The girl was already seventeen. If she was having sex, she wanted her little sister to be protected.

  “She’s Rachel,” Gabe grimaced. “I still see her as a little girl. I cannot have that conversation with her.”

  Hayden rolled her eyes. “I’ll talk to her.”

  “Good,” Gabe sighed. “Ready to go?”

  As ready as I can be.

  Chapter 6

  The bar was more crowded than it usually was on a Thursday night. Probably because of the live Jazz performer playing that night. The band was really good. Hayden was surprised her father had managed to book them. He really did seem to be trying to bring in more business.

  “There are two seats at the bar,” Gabe said, glancing at the crowded bar. All of the tables were already full.

  As soon as Hayden and Gabe got to the bar, Hayden’s eyes went wide when she saw who was working the bar.

  Of course she’s here. Why wouldn’t she be?

  There she was. The woman who had been on her mind for the last forty-eight hours. Kate.

  Kate had her hair tied back into a messy ponytail. Somehow she looked even more sexy with of her hair all messy than she did when Hayden had first met her.

  Ugh, why does she have to be here? And why does she have to be so hot? She’s making it impossible to forget what happened.

  “Isn’t it a surprise to see you two here,” Kate joked.

  “You’re hilarious,” Gabe responded.

  “Your usual?” Kate asked Gabe.

  “Yeah.”

  Kate filled a glass with beer for Gabe. He wasn’t much of a drinker. Or at least not much of a fun drinker. He stuck to his beer, all of the time.

  After placing down the glass in front of Gabe, Kate smiled at Hayden.

  Hayden melted in her spot with the way Kate was smiling at her. How was it possible that this woman could have such a huge impact on her? Hayden didn’t usually act this way around people she’d slept with.

  “And for you, let me guess,” Kate said. “Vodka soda and a shot of tequila?”

  Hayden narrowed her eyes at the woman. She was making it more difficult to pretend like they barely knew each other.

  “Hey, you’re right,” Gabe commented. “How’d you know her usual drinks?”

  “Lucky guess,” Kate shrugged, turning to get Hayden’s drinks prepared.

  Hayden couldn’t help but stare at the woman’s ass while she was turned around. Kate had an amazing body. She remembered every feature of it from when they were together. Every spot on her body that she knew as her weak spots. The spots that elicited a moan every time she licked or sucked on them.

  Stop it! Stop thinking about her naked body. You know what I have to do? I have to find someone else to sleep with. This is just because the sex with Kate was so amazing. That’s all.

  Kate smiled at Hayden and looked her in the eyes as she placed her vodka soda and a shot of tequila in front of her.

  “Thanks,” Hayden choked out. She always found herself at a loss for words around the woman. She had to stop acting like that. Otherwise Gabe would figure it out right away. Anyone could figure it out right away with the way Hayden acted whenever Kate was around.

  “My pleasure,” Kate smiled sweetly. “Let me know if the vodka soda is strong enough.”

  Hayden took a sip of her drink, never breaking eye contact with the woman once. She smiled as she lowered her glass back onto the bar. “It’s perfect.”

  So are you.

  “Thank you very much,” Kate grinned. She started tending to the other customers at the bar. As she worked she kept stealing quick glances at Hayden.

  Why does she have to be so perfect? It wasn’t just that the sex was amazing. It’s that Kate is amazing. She’s easy to talk to. Fun. Gorgeous. She makes me laugh. She’s the perfect woman. But I’m not looking for the perfect woman. It’s been that way for two years. There’s a reason why I don’t date anymore. Remember that, Hayden.

  Hayden downed the shot of tequila, looking away from the woman clouding her mind. She sighed as she tried to look around for some type of distraction.

  “You okay?” Gabe asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Hayden lied.

  “Are you sure? You seem like something is bothering you.”

  “What gave you that idea?”

  “Just a feeling,” Gabe said. “Plus you have that look on your face.”

  Hayden glared at her brother as she made an exasperated sigh. “For the last time, I do not have a look!”

  “Whoa, easy!” Gabe said, throwing his arms up in surrender.

  “Looks like someone could use another shot,” Kate commented as she approached the siblings.

  “I don’t know,” Gabe responded. “That might make her angrier.”

  Kate gave Hayden an ‘I don’t think so’ look. The brunette had had several drinks with the woman. She didn’t seem to be an angry drunk.

  “Hayden doesn’t really strike me as an angry drunk,” Kate said.

  “She usually isn’t. I bring it out in her.”

  “That’s only because you’re the only one who knows how to push my buttons like that.”

  “It’s what I’m here for,” Gabe smiled as he turned around, spotting a friend of his. “Oh, Brian is here. Mind if I go say hi?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Thanks. Kate, keep my sister company while I’m gone?”

  “Gladly,” Kate responded, a gleam in her eyes.

  As soon as Gabe was away from the bar, Kate leaned down on the bar right in front of Hayden. She smiled at her seductively, brown eyes meeting green eyes.

  “So, your brother wants me to keep you company.”

  “I’m quite fine, thank you.”

  “Are you sure? I’m great at keeping people company.”

  “I don’t doubt that,” Hayden said, unable to look away from the intense gaze the brunette had on her.

  Just look away from her. Don’t fall for her tricks. She’s obviously doing this on purpose.

  “Can I get you another shot of tequila?”

  “Sure,” Hayden responded, desperate for the brunette to take her eyes off of her.

  Unfortunately for Hayden, Kate kept her eyes on the woman as she reached over and grabbed the shot glass from right in front of her, practically brushing her hand against the woman’s breasts. She kept her eyes fixed on her as she poured the liquid into the shot glass and then placed it directly in its original spot.

  “Can I get you anything else?”

  Hayden looked into Kate’s eyes and had to stop herself from reaching across the bar and kissing her right there.
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  “No, thanks.”

  Chester, one of the other bartenders, came from behind Kate. “I’m here to relieve you.”

  Wait, is she leaving already? But I just got here. What the hell am I thinking? This is a good thing!

  “Are you sure you don’t need any help?” Kate asked. “It’s kind of busy in here tonight.”

  “Yeah, I’ve got it. Get out of here. Enjoy your night.”

  Okay, this is good. Maybe now I can stop acting like such a crazy person.

  “Okay,” Kate smiled. “I’m going to hit the restroom before heading out.”

  Kate gave Hayden a longing look before heading for the restroom.

  Don’t do it. Don’t do it Hayden. Just stay in your seat. Do not get up.

  Hayden rose to her feet, getting off of the bar stool and looking around before downing the rest of her drink and then heading towards the restroom.

  Screw it.

  As Hayden walked through the entrance to the restroom, she quickly spotted Kate checking herself out in the mirror, her hair now taken down from the messy pony tail.

  Kate smiled at Hayden through the mirror. Hayden couldn’t help but smile back. She looked around the restroom, hoping they were alone.

  “There’s no one in here, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  “You have to stop,’ Hayden whined.

  “Stop what?” Kate asked, turning to Hayden with a questioning look.

  “Stop with the looks and the flirting. You’re making this impossible.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you sure you aren’t just projecting your emotions onto me?”

  Hayden sighed as she glared at the brunette. She walked forward and stopped right in front of the woman.

  “I’m not imagining this. I know what you’re doing and you have to stop.”

  Kate smiled slowly and looked down at the blonde’s lips. “Okay, you’re right. I’ll stop.”

  “Thank you.”

  “As long as you answer a question for me.”

  “Depends on the question.”

  “Why exactly can’t we hook up again?”

  Hayden stayed quiet at the boldness of the question. She was wondering the same thing too. She just didn’t have the courage to say it out loud.

  “Us hooking up again wouldn’t mean there were any strings involved. Hayden, what happened between us doesn’t have to be a onetime thing. I thought we were great together. The sex was definitely amazing. As least I thought it was. Did you?”

  “Yeah,” Hayden answered sheepishly. “It was amazing. You were amazing.”

  Kate smiled brightly at the blonde as she stepped a little closer to the woman. “Okay, so we had fun together and we had amazing sex. You’re only in town for a couple of weeks. Why not enjoy each other’s company while we can?”

  “I told you, I don’t usually sleep with someone more than once.”

  “Right, the rule,” Kate said seriously.

  “Don’t mock me,” Hayden said.

  “I’m not. I’m just trying to figure out why exactly this rule is so important to you? Can’t you just go with the flow of things and not be so uptight about this whole thing? So what if we have amazing sex together again. What’s the worst that can happen?”

  “I don’t do commitment anymore, okay. I tried that once and it didn’t end well.”

  “I have too and those relationships didn’t end well for me either. But that happens, Hayden. It’s part of the process. You date and you keep dating until you find the right person that you’re meant to be with.”

  “I don’t. That’s not what I’m looking for right now.”

  “Okay, I get that. But I told you. Us having sex together again wouldn’t mean we were in a relationship. It would just be us having sex again.”

  “I want to,” Hayden responded honestly. “I just can’t. I don’t want things to get messy here. I like you, Kate. Can’t we just leave it at that?”

  Kate sighed as she looked down at Hayden’s lips. She wanted to pull her into a kiss and make the woman want to come home with her. But she had to respect what the woman wanted. “Okay, fine. But, if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

  Kate stepped away from the woman and out of the restroom, leaving Hayden alone.

  Chapter 7

  The next morning, Hayden decided to go to the gym in town. Staunton only had one gym and it wasn’t very big. It would definitely be different from the fitness center that Hayden had become accustomed to in New York. But, it would serve its purpose. Hayden really needed to release the tension she was feeling.

  “Where are you headed this early?” Gabe asked as Hayden entered the living room.

  “Gym. I have got to work off some stress.”

  “You’re about to get hired at a big marketing firm. What could you possibly be stressed about?”

  Hayden looked at her brother and thought about telling him everything. She knew he wouldn’t judge her. She needed to tell someone or she might explode soon.

  “I slept with Kate,” Hayden said quickly.

  Gabe looked at Hayden with an unreadable expression.

  “Are you going to say anything or just stare at me?” Hayden asked.

  “Okay, everything makes total sense now.”

  “It does?”

  “Yeah, how strange you were acting when you met at the bar. Why didn’t you just say you already met before?”

  “We were trying to keep it a secret. It was just a hook up Gabe. I had no idea she worked at Kove.”

  “What’s the big deal? You sleep with people all of the time. Didn’t you sleep with Chester before?”

  “That was years ago!” Hayden exclaimed, a little pissed that her brother would bring that up. That was one of the only hook ups she actually regretted.

  “My point is, so what if you slept with Kate. If it didn’t mean anything then you guys can just move on. Maybe you two could even be friends.”

  Hayden remained silent. She wasn’t sure if she should admit to her brother that she felt more for Kate. She didn’t just see her as a hook up. She actually liked the woman.

  “It didn’t right?” Gabe questioned.

  “Didn’t what?”

  “Mean anything?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “I mean I think it would be great if it did, but I just know that’s not usually something you do. Monogamy’s not really your thing, especially with your rule.”

  “No, it meant nothing. Kate and I hooked up. It was a one night stand, nothing more.”

  Gabe gave Kate a suspicious look, but chose not to question his sister further. If this was something that was bothering the woman, he wasn’t going to press her on the issue. When she was ready to talk about it, she would.

  “Okay,” Gabe said. “Well, I obviously won’t say anything so you have nothing to worry about. Even though I really don’t see the big deal.”

  “Thank you,” Hayden sighed. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Have fun at the gym,” Gabe smiled.

  “Thanks,” Hayden rolled her eyes.

  On the way to the gym, Hayden had gotten a phone call from the marketing firm she interviewed at. It was official. She had been offered the position. This was perfect. This meant she could leave town in the next two weeks and move on from the confusion she was experiencing with Kate.

  This is awful. I haven’t felt this confused since my first crush on a girl in high school. At least now I have an escape from it all. Soon I’ll be back in New York, away from Kate.

  As Hayden entered the gym she was greeted by the gym owner. Since the gym was so small he didn’t have too much staff. It was a very intimate gym, so everyone was very friendly with each other. She had been coming to the gym since she was in middle school.

  “Hey, Hayden,” Jim greeted her. “I heard you were back.”

  “Hey Jim. Yeah, but just for a couple of weeks.”

  “How’s New York?”

&
nbsp; “It’s good. Different from home, but in a good way.”

  “I really have to make a trip out there. I haven’t been to New York since I was younger than you.”

  “I definitely recommend it,” Hayden smiled. “Hey, am I still under my family’s membership?”

  “Let me check your account.”

  As Jim was looking at the computer, Hayden spotted a certain brunette over on one of the treadmills.

  Of course she would be here at the exact same time that I’m here! Why is she everywhere?

  “Looks like you are, so you’re good to go. Enjoy your workout.”

  “Thanks,” Hayden said quickly. Hayden headed in the opposite direction of the treadmills.

  So much for getting in a warm up jog.

  Hayden looked back at where Kate was, but to her surprise the brunette was no longer on the treadmill.

  No, no, no! Where did she go?

  Hayden ducked behind one of the hanging punching bags, trying to look around it to spot Kate.

  This is bad! This is really bad! Maybe I should just leave. I can get in a workout some other time.

  “Hayden?”

  Hayden jumped at the sound of the woman’s voice. Too late.

  Hayden turned around and found a slightly sweaty Kate smiling at her in surprise. She had a white sports bra on and black yoga pants.

  “Kate?” Hayden responded, trying to fake surprise but failing miserably.

  “I didn’t know you were a member here.”

  “Neither did I,” Hayden smiled awkwardly. “I mean that you were a member.”

  God she looks hot right now. Why does she have to be so hot?

  “Do you box?”

  “What?” Hayden asked in confusion.

  Kate pointed at the boxing bag behind Hayden. Hayden turned around to look at what Kate was pointing at.

  “Oh, right,” Hayden laughed. “Yeah I do.”

  “Really?” Kate asked, crossing her arms across her chest. “You don’t seem like the type.”

  “Well, I am. I’m a major boxer. In fact, if I weren’t in marketing I would have made it a career.”

  Kate smirked at the woman. She clearly didn’t believe the blonde.

  Hayden couldn’t stop her eyes from roaming down Kate’s body. She looked so sexy in her gym attire. She’d take her right now if she could. Screw the rule.