“What are you doing sitting in your car?” Lori scrutinized Sarah’s face. “You okay? You don’t look so good.”
“I’m fine.” Sarah closed the door and locked it. Twice. The second time didn’t make her feel any safer, but if she kept locking it—and her thumb itched to punch it a third time—Lori might grow suspicious. “I thought you weren’t coming in until later.”
“I changed my mind. I was hoping to run into Brian, but I haven’t seen anyone matching your description.” Lori scouted the garage. “Do you see him anywhere?”
“Who?” Sarah’s mind was fried. Nothing her friend said made any sense.
Lori stared at her and raised an eyebrow. “Brian. You know. The guy who hit on you yesterday morning? For someone who complained about it all day, you sure have a short memory. You sure you’re okay?”
Oh God. Brian. Sarah had forgotten all about him. Yes, he had asked her out, but he’d also stared at her like she was his next meal. Had he been responsible for her near-abduction? She took a quick glance around. No sign of the man, thank goodness. “Why would you want to see that creep?”
“You said he was cute. Besides, just because he hit on you doesn’t make him a creep. One of these days you’re going to have to stop dismissing every man who shows an interest. You don’t have to answer to anyone anymore. Not all men are like Steven, you know.”
“No, some of them are worse.”
She beat Lori to the elevator and jabbed the button several times. The car couldn’t arrive fast enough.
“You know that won’t make the elevator come any quicker, don’t you?” Lori said. “So what’s the matter? Did something happen last night, cause you sure look like shit.”
“Wow, thanks. I love you, too.” A partial truth was better than a complete lie. “I didn’t get much sleep last night. Neighbors kept me up.”
“Well, that sucks. You want to go out for drinks after work? Linda says the bartender at Wings is some great eye candy. Then maybe you won’t care how noisy your neighbors are tonight. You’ll be too busy picturing him.”
The elevator dinged, announcing its arrival. Finally. When the doors opened, Sarah rushed inside, comforted by the small box. The doors moved to close, but Lori was still scanning the garage. Sarah put her hand out and the doors retreated. “You coming? Or are you going to wait some more?”
“I’m coming.” Lori took one last look and sighed before entering the elevator. The doors closed and the car started the slow ascent to their floor. “So tonight? Drinks? Eye candy?”
Sarah wasn’t sure she would survive the day. The night looked less promising. But what did she have to lose? Another night of sleep? “Sounds great, Lori. I’m in.”
* * * *
“Hey, John. I need two Coronas,” Ashley said.
John stood behind the bar of Wright Wings Sports Bar and Grill and retrieved the last two from the fridge underneath. He’d always suspected the previous owner had an aviation fixation. With Wings located in downtown Dayton—the home of the Wright Brothers—he could understand the fascination, but the references didn’t stop with the name. The theme continued inside with airplane paraphernalia displayed on the walls. Since it had worked for the previous owner, John left it alone.
Every employee except Ashley had come with the place, and John had made a good choice in hiring her. She was his hardest worker and customers tipped her heavily. Her golden brown eyes complemented her curly brunette hair, which she normally pulled into a ponytail. Tonight she wore it down, softly framing her face. That meant only one thing.
“So, who’s the guy?” he asked.
She smiled and leaned over the bar. “He’s in the far booth.”
“Ahh, so he doesn’t know you like him?” he asked just as quietly.
She shrugged. “He might know. I’ve only checked on him five times already.”
After opening the beers, he stuck a lime slice in each. “Well, good luck.”
He envied her. If she wanted something, she went for it. Maybe one day, once living among mortals became routine, he could get close to someone.
Since he had taken the last Corona, he went to the kitchen and retrieved another case. When he returned, the familiar scent of strawberries lingered in the air. He placed the case on the counter and scanned the room. There, in the booth section, Miss Strawberry sat facing a blonde woman. Sure, she worked in the area—they shared the same garage—but she’d never been in the bar before. Why now?
No, no, no. This wasn’t good. It couldn’t be good. It had taken the better part of the day to stop thinking about her. He had nearly kissed her when she was unconscious. What might he do with her conscious? He placed the case on the floor and crouched behind the bar to put the Coronas away. Maybe if he didn’t see her, he could ignore her.
“Order up,” Ashley said.
Her voice came out of nowhere and he jumped, bumping his head on the counter. How embarrassing. No mortal had ever startled him before, not a good sign. He rubbed his head as he stood.
“Didn’t mean to scare you.” She leaned over the bar and examined John’s head. “You okay?”
“I’m fine and you didn’t scare me.” His voice came out sterner than he’d intended, but at the moment he didn’t care. The strawberry scent intensified and invaded his senses.
“Ohh-kay,” she said, eyes wide. “I need a Jack and Coke and a margarita. I’ll be back to pick ’em up.”
He fixed the drinks and placed them on the tray. Ashley, being the efficient waitress that she was, quickly picked up the order and walked it over to Miss Strawberry’s table.
No wonder the scent was so strong. Ashley had brought it with her. After she left their booth, she gathered the trash on the table near theirs, and in the process knocked over some plates. Miss Strawberry stood, picked up the plates, and placed them on the tray. In order to look busy, John wiped the bar down as he zeroed in on their conversation.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Ashley said.
“I don’t mind. It’s not like you did it on purpose.”
Her angelic voice cut through the din, as if made for his ears alone. He longed to hear more.
Ashley grabbed some napkins and handed them to the lady. “Thanks.”
Miss Strawberry smiled and nodded as she wiped her hands and tossed the napkins on the tray before heading back to her seat.
In the three months he’d owned the bar, he’d never seen anyone do that before. Not even another waitress.
She smelled like home. She cared about other people. And her touch—he would never forget the warmth. If he wasn’t such a wimp, he’d ask her out. Maybe someday he would, in like, say, six months. Or a year. Just not now.
He could watch her, though. What was the harm?
Nothing, until the blonde said with a lilt, “I think he’s got a crush on you.”
* * * *
“What are you talking about? Who’s got a crush on me?” Sarah panicked and glanced around the room, but couldn’t spot anyone she knew. “Is it Brian? Is he here?”
“Brian? How the hell would I know?” Lori grabbed Sarah’s hand, getting her attention. “Will you calm down? God, you’ve been jumpy all day. I’m talking about the bartender. Man, Linda wasn’t wrong about him. And he’s been staring at you, you lucky dog.”
The bartender? Sarah shot a glance in his direction, trying not to look obvious, but worried needlessly. He was talking to a customer and not looking her way. She relaxed a little. Not Brian, thank God. But damn, how had she managed to miss him when she’d come into the bar?
Lori placed her elbow on the table and rested her head in her hand while she stared in his direction. She sighed. “Boy, I wish he’d look at me. What a hottie. I can only imagine the kind of fun I could have with him.”
Sarah couldn’t argue with her friend. He was hot. His light brown hair, which looked wind-blown, blended with his fair skin. It also didn’t hurt that the white, long-
sleeved, T-shirt he wore showed every muscle in his chest and arms. Every movement he made caused something to ripple.
She swallowed back her own drool. “Why do you suppose he was staring at me? I don’t know him.”
“And this is why I want to strangle Steven. He’s just a guy looking at a pretty woman. Why don’t you go on up and talk to him? I’m sure he won’t bite.”
Talk to him? Was Lori nuts? Just because she could go up to complete strangers and share her life history didn’t mean Sarah could. Granted, she needed to change her ways if she wanted to change her life. How else would she ever find companionship? Maybe she should make the first move, because she certainly hadn’t given any man who’d asked her out a chance.
Then again, the men who’d shown an interest always seemed to have some sort of agenda. Steven wanted a trophy wife and when she hadn’t fit his mold, she’d paid for it. Brian had seemed more interested in conquering her. She didn’t want to be anyone’s trophy or conquest, only to be treated as an equal. Was there someone out there like that? Like, maybe the bartender? She’d never know unless she talked to him.
Of course, that meant actually getting up and talking. But her abduction was still too fresh and it nailed her to the seat. One margarita wasn’t enough to pry her free.
Lori waved down their waitress. “Hey, Ashley,” she said discreetly. “Who’s the bartender?”
“That’s John. Is there a problem?” Ashley asked.
Lori shook her head. “Oh, no problem. Just admiring the view. Do you know if he’s single?”
Embarrassment heated Sarah’s face. If she could dig a hole and crawl in it, she would.
“He’s not married and I don’t think he’s dating anyone.” Ashley leaned in closer. “But then he keeps to himself. He’s a real nice guy, though, and very popular with the women. I’ve never seen him interested in any of them, not that they haven’t tried.”
Sarah bet he was popular with the women. What woman wouldn’t want him? She briefly pouted at the news, but hoped it would at least get Lori to stop.
“He’s not gay, is he?” Lori asked.
Crap. Sarah hadn’t even considered that.
Ashley laughed. “If he is, he hasn’t shown any interest in men, either.”
“See, he doesn’t date customers. Just drop it, okay?” Sneaking another glance his way, Sarah finally caught him staring. The man’s eyes glimmered.
* * * *
Damn. John had hoped he’d hear Miss Strawberry’s name by now, but the blonde never used it. When Ashley had commented he didn’t date, her expression boosted his ego, until her friend thought he was gay. Miss Strawberry didn’t think that, did she? If he were to date anyone, he’d date her. Maybe he was crazy, but he didn’t see the harm in watching, even if she caught him doing it.
Shortly after Ashley left their table, the blonde raised her hand to her face. He glanced in the direction she hid from, where several lawyer-type gentlemen clustered around a table. One of them, a man with sharp features and hair the color of coal, approached the ladies. The blonde scowled and shook her head when he reached their table.
“What are you doing here, Sarah?” he asked Miss Strawberry, not the blonde.
Her name was Sarah? Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. John would have been content repeating her name several more times, if it weren’t for the man’s possessive tone.
Sarah acknowledged his presence briefly before turning her attention to the table. “I could ask the same thing, Steven. Don’t you work across town?”
“I was meeting clients and they work around here.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Since when do you go out to a bar?”
She looked at his hand before glaring at his face. “Since I no longer have to report to you,” she snapped at him, and then promptly removed his hand.
John silently chuckled at her remark—it was given with such venom—until Steven grabbed her upper arm. Sarah winced. John fisted his hands. Whoever the creep was, he had no right to touch her.
John tapped into the man’s mind and quickly retreated. Damn it! What was he thinking? If he took control, he’d have a zombie walking around his bar. Yeah, that wouldn’t look suspicious. He should be able to handle this situation like any mortal.
Sarah wrenched her arm from Steven’s grip. The momentum caused her to tilt sideways, knocking her purse to the floor.
“You don’t have any right to touch me,” she said, rubbing her arm.
“Yeah. Go bully someone your own size,” the blonde said.
“Stay out of this, bitch,” Steven said to the blonde. “I didn’t ask for your fuckin’ opinion.” He glared at Sarah. “And I’ll touch you if I want.”
John nearly jumped over the bar—another bad idea. What was wrong with him? Had his brain gone on vacation? He slapped his forehead as he headed around the bar.
Sarah stood and confronted Steven. “You do and all agreements are off. Do you understand? Now leave. Why do you insist on being where you’re not wanted?”
John strolled over to the party, trying to look normal, holding in an urge to throw the bastard through the wall. God, he must be insane. If he couldn’t risk controlling Steven, how would it look if he showed his super-human strength?
He took a deep breath. Diplomacy, not violence. Something Sarah might appreciate. He came up behind Steven—who seemed oblivious to anyone except Sarah—and tapped him on the shoulder. Steven twirled around, scowling.
“Sir, it seems you are not welcome here,” John said as discreetly as he could over the din of the crowd. “Do I need to ask you to leave?”
Steven gave John a look of pure evil: lips snarling, eyes narrowing. All show. Standing slightly taller and carrying more muscle, John didn’t need the advantage to toss the bastard through the wall. And the urge to do just that wouldn’t go away. Damn. He needed to keep his cool. He not only had a reputation to uphold, he didn’t want to scare Sarah. Hell, he was scaring himself. So he stood there flexing his muscles and giving back the evil eye, hoping it would be enough for Steven. It was. He took a step back.
“I was just leaving,” Steven said between clenched teeth and then glared at Sarah before leaving to join his companions.
The blonde let out a huge sigh. “Thank you. I was afraid I was going to have to drag his ass out of here.”
He nearly laughed at the vision she inspired. “I’m glad I could help.”
Being engrossed with Steven, John hadn’t noticed Sarah’s scent, but it grabbed him now. The biggest surprise was Sarah, herself. Up close and conscious, she sent the remainder of his working brain cells straight to his groin. She was beautiful. Her large and expressive eyes seemed to look deep within his soul. Green with gold flecks, they were more mesmerizing than he imagined. He couldn’t stop gazing at her, but then she was doing the same with him.
The blonde cleared her throat, loudly. Sarah’s eyes widened and she blushed, intensifying her scent in a way that intoxicated him. Drunk on strawberries. Was it even possible? He was sure his stance waivered. When she returned to her seat, he almost stopped her. He could stare at her forever.
She bent over to retrieve her purse, flashing a bit of skin and a whole lot of derriere. Damn. No skin and bones for her, that ass was made for grabbing. He yearned to feel the softness of her skin as well as the warmth her touch brought.
His fangs emerged.
He clamped his mouth shut. Oh God, what was he doing? He had to think of something else. Anything else.
She straightened and he moved his attention from her ass to her face and her lips. Those kissable lips. He had wanted to kiss her ever since he first saw her. Kiss her until she begged him to stop. Now not only were his fangs exposed, so was his erection. What an idiot. He desperately needed to change the subject, but speaking with his lips pressed together wasn’t so easy. “Can I get you two ladies anything? It’s on the house.”
The blonde glanced at his crotch and smirked. Better than looking
at his mouth, at least his erection was normal. Lucky for him, her staring caused his fangs to retract.
“No, I think we’re okay. By the way, I’m Lori and this is Sarah.”
At the mention of her name, Sarah smiled. Her face lit up and captivated him all over again.
What was wrong with him? He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be interested. It would only get him in trouble. He should leave and forget her.
Yeah, like that was possible anymore.
“Nice to meet you Lori, Sarah.” Did his voice get softer when he said her name? “I’m John. You sure I couldn’t change your mind and get you anything?”
Lori glanced at Sarah before turning her attention back to him. “No, I think we’re done for the night.”
“I don’t have to go home yet,” Sarah said.
John smiled. She wanted to stay. Then the realization hit him. Shit. She wanted to stay. Not good. Not good at all.
“I am kind of hungry,” she continued. “Why don’t we get something to eat?”
Lori looked at Sarah quizzically, then smiled at her. “Okay, yeah. I could eat something, too.”
John outwardly smiled while inwardly he cringed. What had he gotten himself into? He had to leave. Would his feet obey?
“Great. I’ll go get Ashley to bring you menus. Please let me know if you need anything else.” Walking away from Sarah was like trudging through molasses, but staying was unthinkable. Still, he couldn’t resist one more look at her. Was she checking out his ass? Her gaze drifted up and met his. That wonderful blush covered her face and her scent drifted toward him. He smiled.
No one had ever said he was subtle and his attempts at acting nonchalant were for naught. He caught her looking as often as she caught him. Hope and happiness bubbled at the surface, emotions he’d thought had died many years ago. He couldn’t let them take hold now and propel him toward something stupid like asking her out, because nothing good could come from being with her. He’d only screw it up or worse, hurt her. When did life get so complicated? Why did she have to come into his bar?
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