by Unknown
“You’re in love with her?” I bit out angrily.
“Hell no, I want to fuck her against the bar, but she’s the kind you marry. She’s not that girl that’s spreading it for fun. She looks like the one that wants to be hugged and loved with little babies surrounding her. You know that; you’ve seen her.” He had the biggest shit eating grin on his face.
“She’s beautiful, but you know I’m not that guy.” There was no way I could commit to anyone. Maybe one day but at the moment it just wasn’t going to happen, but damn if Sonya didn’t want to make me forget my promise to Will.
“I don’t think she’s even looking, but damn, I bet even you’d drool over her.”
“I don’t drool. Besides, isn’t she dating Brent? I don’t think he’d appreciate you stealing his girl.” I never got crazy over girls. Yes, I’d go for the pussy, but I wasn’t the kind to need it all day. Now, I was older and it was very easy to ignore women.
“They aren’t a couple. She told me. But we’ll see how you behave. She works tonight.” Jack tapped the truck, straightened himself up and left me with a smirk on his face.
“Go do some work, you lazy shit,” I hollered from under the hood. His chuckle echoed through the garage. I just focused back on my job. There were still three more jobs to get done for the day and I couldn’t work with Sonya in my head again. It took all I had to make it through the day.
~~~~~
The rain stopped as I locked up the shop, so I hopped onto my rebuilt 1969 Harley and rode to the bar. I hopped off my bike and looked up at the sign on the building in front of me, “Brent’s Last Stand.” It was the only bar that I liked going to. I sauntered into the bar like every other weekend. My crew was already there drinking and getting a game together. Thinking I was strong enough to fight the desire I thought it would be another night at the bar. I would order my drink, kick these guys’ asses, and go home. Trying to keep my cool, I called toward the bar for a bottle of MGD and walked straight to the pool table. When you lived in a suburb of a hot winter resort, all the women were looking for a handsome local for a good time. I was considered the local bad boy, although there was nothing to those rumors. Maybe when I was younger, but those days were long behind me. I worked my ass off and built my shop to be the best of the best. Besides, the only woman I had eyes for was the lovely new bartender. I refused to look in her direction. It was all I could do to stay focused.
“Hey, man. You finally made it,” Jack called out from the pool table in the far back corner of the bar. He was one of the few foolish enough to play me in pool.
"Um...sir. Here's your beer," a melodic voice said. I wanted to turn and pull her into my arms, but I couldn’t. I already knew who that voice belonged to—Sonya. She sounds so deliciously sexy. There was a mark on her wrist, but she had a watch on so I don’t know if she’d been wearing it too tight. I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to touch her in this place. So I ignored it. She placed the bottle shakily onto the edge of the pool table.
The bottle teetered back and forth. Acting quickly, I caught it before it landed on the felt and ruined the table and my game. She gasped. "Oh no. I'm sorry."
Normally I would have gone off on someone for being a fucking idiot, but I knew she didn’t mean to do it and, well, I was doing everything in my power not to snatch her up and take her back above my shop. Why was she everywhere I went? Every non-work thought was on her. It was starting to piss me off how much I wanted her.
“Be more careful, Sonya,” I scolded her. Her face blanched and I felt like a total fucking piece of shit. It wasn’t her fault that I was attracted to her more than I wanted to be.
“Don’t worry about him, Sonya. He’s been a bear all day,” Jack piped in with a smile.
“Excuse me,” she said just above a whisper. Sonya scurried away straight behind the bar.
I turned back to my game and downed the beer she brought me. When I sat it down at the table next to us, I got a fucking huge sneer from Jack. “That woman is too sweet for you to be mean to her.” I ignored him and moved my eyes back to her, unintentionally scowling at her.
“Hey, man. What’s up? Are you going to play or scare the poor girl? It was just an accident.”
“Shut the fuck up and let’s play.” I wasn’t a dick all the time, but when I got off after a long hard week, I could fucking be a total fucker. So Jack didn’t take my attitude as anything new. Maybe he didn’t catch on to my need for Sonya in her tight jeans that cupped her round ass. I let out a long breath I was holding and aimed for my first shot of the game. He broke first, so I had the stripes. I had two possible easy shots, but for the first time in a year I fucking scratched.
“Whoa! What the fuck happened, Shane?” Joe asked with a fucking chuckle, walking up behind me.
“Chill the fuck out,” I snarled at him. Something in me was ready to box with anyone who pissed me off. It was all the beauty’s fault.
“Rough week at the shop?” he offered.
Jack laughed and said, “Yeah, but I think it’s karma coming to get his ass for being mean to the pretty, new bartender.”
“Where at?” Joe asked, looking around to find her. I hated that he was looking at her, too. Couldn’t any of these fuckers cool their dicks?
“She’s across the bar, next to Mack,” Jack said.
“Fuck me, she’s fine as fuck. I want to tap that shit. I wonder if she’s just here temporarily.”
“She will be if I have anything to say about it.” I wanted her out of this place. There were too many men. I didn’t care if she worked somewhere else. Maybe I could find a place where she had to wear more clothes.
“It was just an almost accident, Shane. What the hell’s up your ass?” Jack asked. I knew what was pissing me off. All of these fucks talking about how they wanted to have their way with her.
“Are we going to stand here talking about a woman or are we going to play?” I asked, irrationally angry.
“Oh, I’m going to enjoy taking your money for a change. Joe, if I was you, I’d play him next.”
“Yeah, I’m next, but first I need to get a beer and welcome the little hottie at the bar. Fuck, those tits are big.” I didn’t realize I was holding on to the pool stick so hard until I heard the crack. Shaking with rage, I wanted to drop one of my best mechanics because I was feeling overwhelmingly jealous.
“I’m out of here,” I said. There were no other words; I had to go before I got all fucking nuts and took her away from here. As I walked passed the bar, I had to take one last look at her. There was no way I could look away. Our eyes met and I knew right then, that if I didn’t leave, I’d break my promise.
I gave her a scowling look before pushing the door open and leaving. Hopping on my Harley, I hit the road. I wanted to stop by my brother’s, but I knew he’d be sleeping. He worked like a beast on his ranch and that seemed to be a twenty-four-seven gig. Sun up to sun down, my brother was out in the fields.
The next stop was my parents’ inn. They could probably use some help. I parked my ride, hoping to get rid of some stress. It wasn’t going to be easy, but that little beauty fucked me up completely. I loved this place. My parents were a local gem. Everyone wanted to know them and they ran the inn like everyone was family. It had always been that way. They bought it when we were about eight so it’s been twenty years. They taught Will and I everything about hard work, dedication, and business savvy.
“Oh, Shane. What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re drinking and riding?” my mom asked, scolding and hugging me at the same time.
“No, Mom. I had a beer. I wasn’t feeling up to playing pool tonight. Is there anything you need me to do around here?” I looked around for a distraction. My mother was like a hawk and could read my expressions.
“Have you ever heard of rest? You two boys work so hard all the time. What I need done I can call a maintenance man for.” She patted my chest and stepped back with a smile.
“Why do you need a maintenance man? I can
fix anything and so can Will.”
“Yes, you can, but something’s bothering you and I know what you’re doing. You’re here trying to get away from your problems.” She shook her head at me in exasperation.
“Can’t you just let me fix what you need fixed?” I almost begged.
“Sure, but you know you can talk to me anytime you feel like it. I love you, Shane.” My mom hugged me again; this time she gave me an extra squeeze.
“I love you, too.” She led me to the door that was a little swollen with the heat. Within a few minutes I had that done.
It was only one thirty in the morning. The bar didn’t close until two, but I finished everything at my parents’ inn and they’d been trying to get me to go home for the last hour. Like a weakling, I had to see her again, so I got on my ride and drove off in the night back to the bar. Perched on my bike, I hid in the shadows and watched the bar like a hawk. The parking lot was almost empty with only two cars. One I knew well and the other, I just got to see for the first time earlier this week. The lights turned off and that’s when I saw Jack walking out of the bar with her. They were laughing and I closed my eyes because I was three seconds from going after him. I knew it wouldn’t be long before he leaned in and kissed her. But instead of making a move on her, he waited until she locked up and walked up the outside stairs to Brent’s place. He walked back to his car and waited until she closed the door behind her before he left in the direction of his home. I felt a sigh of relief. Maybe I could go back home and finally get some sleep and forget that I ever met the brunette beauty that everyone wanted to fuck.
Chapter 3
It had been a full week since I’d seen the angry mechanic. It was Friday again and Brent would be back tomorrow. This would be my last chance to see Shane before Brent took notice. He knew me too well to not spot it immediately. I was so anxious to see him yet he probably couldn’t help but stay away from me.
Something about me pissed him off. I can’t imagine that it was the whole beer thing. It was a minor infraction since nothing happened, but it seemed to be the last straw for a man already in a bad mood. He hadn’t been rude to me at the garage, but then again a damsel in distress was hard to turn away. As soon as I almost dropped his beer, he was more upset than my cousin would have been. I shouldn’t even want to see his stupid handsome face again; yet as that night wore on all I could think about was if he’d come back. Would he be waiting to speak to me when I got out? I could have sworn I did see his reflection in the bar window as I was locking up. I didn’t want to acknowledge it since he didn’t seem to like me, but I wanted to see him again. I didn’t know his name until his friend apologized on his behalf, but Shane was something else. I’d never seen a man so tall outside a basketball game. He had that devil may care type of attitude, but it was something in his eyes that I noticed from the moment our eyes met. Whatever reason he had for denying the attraction, it was there.
“Hey, pretty lady.” I knew who it was without having to turn around.
“Hi, Jack. Aren’t you supposed to head out to see your family?” I asked, stocking the bottom of the bar with bottles of beer. We were about to close the bar down.
“Yeah, well, I came to see how you were holding up.” He paused and it worried me that he was interested in me. I wasn’t into him at all. The only man that had been on my mind was his buddy Shane.
“It’s fine. It’s almost closing time, so you know how it is.” There were high school football games starting, so a lot of the locals were at the games drinking away instead of at the bar.
“It doesn’t matter how many customers come around here. There’s only one that you want to see, isn’t there?” There was a suspicion and innuendo to his remark. He knew who I was thinking about. I scanned the bar every night for him. And anytime they mentioned him, I’d get awkward. He caught me looking over his shoulder all the time, hoping against hope that Shane would show up.
“No,” I lied.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. The man’s heart isn’t up for grabs. He doesn’t want you to want him. That’s why he’s stayed away,” he apologetically said. I tried to not let it get to me, but only the one simple encounter with him and he wouldn’t leave my head.
“That’s okay. It’s not just you, sweets. That’s who he is,” Jack said, grabbing my hand in his for sympathy.
“Look, he’s good looking and all, but that’s it. And there’s several good looking men in this place.”
“He’s got a twin brother, too.” He offered up that bit of information with a wicked grin. It wasn’t just Shane’s looks I was interested in. There was an air about him that summoned me his way. Normally, I wouldn’t have dropped that bottle. I’d been bartending for a year before I came here. I was better than most bartenders, but Shane Cline sent me into a girly freak out of epic proportions.
“Is he a big beast, too?”
“No, but Will’s got his own issues. He owns a cattle ranch not too far from here.”
“Good for him. Cattle are dangerous. I wouldn’t want to work around them, but I guess when you’re a giant it’s no big deal. Does Shane work with them, too?”
“No, but maybe one of them speared Shane in his ass and left the horn up there.”
We both started laughing, then I felt the change in the bar. Someone had walked in. I knew who it was by the feelings racing through me. I looked up and there he was staring right at me with a scowl on his face.
“Jack,” he said, in a warning type tone. I didn’t know who this guy thought he was but that behavior wasn’t going to fly in my cousin’s place.
“Sir,” I said, but he put his hand up and I knew it was time to be quiet. Shane had something about him that made him so damn domineering. I didn’t know if it was the leather jacket he had on or the sexy wave to his hair, but my body felt like it belonged to him. Every virginal part of me demanded he have his way.
The second that Jack scrammed as Shane asked, he took a seat in the same chair.
“Sonya, give me a beer.”
“Any particular kind?”
“You don’t remember?”
“No,” I lied with the straightest face I could pull off, but he didn’t believe me.
“Babe, please, just give me a beer.” I got his Miller Genuine Draft that he ordered before. The bottles were twists so I used the edge of my blouse so I didn’t hurt my hand. His eyes moved straight to the bottle and in that second I knew he was interested. Those eyes spoke lust. Then, just has I lifted the beer to put it on the counter, his tongue peeked out and ran across his soft lips.
“Thanks, babe.”
“I’m not your babe,” I stuttered out with no real conviction in my words. The heat on my face grew fast as hell.
“Whatever, Sonya. I’m going to play a game with my friend over there, and if you could bring me a bucket of beers, that would be great.” He downed his beer and slammed it down on the bar and walked away. When I took his bottle, I saw the bill he dropped down to pay for his beer. I tossed the bottle and rang up his order. Once I had his beers in a bucket, I walked it over to the table. Feeling a little more stable with the handle, I set it down at the table next to their game.
“Thanks, Sonya,” Shane said. My name rolled off his tongue and ran straight down my spine.
“Um…here’s your change, Shane,” I whispered, stretching my hand out to him. He immediately clutched my hand crushing the bills in my hand and moved into my space.
“Sonya, don’t insult me like that again. I walked away on purpose. You keep that,” he whispered gruffly through gritted teeth. I tried to pull out of his hold because it felt so good that I wanted to stay. “God, what I want to do to you,” he growled and let go of my hand. He turned back to his game like he didn’t just turn me into a puddle of mush.
I stood there watching him bend over the table, the pool cue in his hand. Arching his back he leaned over and aimed. He hit the ball perfectly, making his shot with ease.
Just as I stared at him, Jack
came up beside me. “Enjoying the view? I don’t know why he even has to stretch. At this height he should be able to reach across the table without trying.”
“I was just curious to see if he was going to make the shot.”
“Yeah, right,” he whispered in my ear. I heard a growl come from the other side of the pool table. I turned my eyes back to Shane who was looking at me like I was in deep shit. He didn’t have a right to look at me that way, but, for some oddball reason, I liked it.
“Do you want to actually play, Jack?” he snarled, inching around the table toward us.
“Don’t get all pissy. I’m just talking to my girl.”
“Your girl?” he asked, eyeing me the whole time looking for a response from me.
“I’m not your girl, Jack. It’s last call, so enjoy those beers, fellas.” I walked away before I looked back at Shane. He was slowly moving closer and it scared me. I felt the urge to climb onto him like a ladder and let him do whatever he pleased. From the possessive glint in his eyes, I knew he wanted to be pleased. The entire time I prepped for closing the bar, I felt his stare on me. Every once in a while, I would look in their direction and he’d give me a subtle smile. Thankfully at those moments, Jack hadn’t been looking at us. His head been constantly buried in his phone or leaning down to take a shot, so I would give him a flirty smile back. I could feel the tension growing as the night wore on. There was no two ways about it; I belonged to Shane. Why was I so turned on by him?
By the end of the night it was just Shane and me. I poured myself a drink and handed him a beer. “So tell me, pretty. Are you and Brent a couple? Does he have some claim on you?”
“No one has claim to me.”
“So are you two friends with benefits or something since you’re living in his place.”
“No benefits.”
“Good to know. I’d hate the idea of him touching you like I want to.”