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Copyright © 2017 Winter Travers
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He was here.
Son of a bitch. Was it too much to ask to have one night at work where he didn't come in?
It was Saturday night, and I was in my typical spot behind the bar slinging drinks at The Low Down. Kylie had called in sick tonight, and I was beyond fucking swamped.
“You do know he only comes in on the nights you work, right?” Mickey set her tray on the bar and brushed her hair off her shoulders. “He’s got it bad for you, girl.”
“Is that why he leaves with a different girl every time he comes in?” I felt like I was in grade school if that was the case. All he needed to do was come over, slug me in the arm and his fucked up way of showing me he liked me would be complete.
“He leaves with a different girl each night because you don't give him the time of day.”
I set four bottles of Bud on her tray and leaned against the bar. “I'll tell you right now if that is Brick’s game, I don't want anything to do with it.”
“Well, all I can say is you know men are fucking idiots. I'm sure in his fucked up mind he's trying to make you jealous and want him.”
“When really all it does is make me wonder how many STDs he has.”
Mickey threw her head back laughing and grabbed her tray. “All I know is if he ever does manage to get your attention, he's not going to know what to do with you.” She headed out into the sea of people, batting off stranger’s hands as she went.
I kept my eye on Brick, waiting for him to make his move. The fucker always made his move.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Every fucking time without fail, my dick goes hard just at the God damn sight of her.
“Hey, Brick. You looking for a good time tonight?” I looked to my left and saw Gina making her way over to me. I shook my head, not wanting whatever the hell she was offering. There was only one woman I wanted tonight, and I wasn't leaving without her.
“Find someone else this evening, Gina. I'm not interested.” Fucking typical. I couldn’t walk five feet into the bar without some chick trying to plaster herself all over me.
“Aw, come on. You know you want to. I can show you things you’ve only dreamed about. Besides, she’s trash.”
My blood boiled at her words. “You might want to pick your next words very carefully, Gina. I’m not in a forgiving mood tonight.”
She curled her lip in disgust but kept her mouth shut.
I headed over to the corner table, the same one I sat in every night when Ricki was working. She was a bartender and never waited on tables. Sitting here, I had a perfect view of her no matter where she was behind the bar.
“Not again, Brick,” Mickey said, walking up to my table. She set a napkin down and leaned against the table. Mickey was hot, and if I weren't so into Ricki, Mickey would be the one I would come here for.
“Can’t help it, Mick.”
She shook her head and set her tray on the table. “She’s like a freight train that’s going to run you over once she gets her hands on you.”
“I look forward to every second.”
“Crazy. Pure crazy, the both of ya. I’d hate to say it, but I think you two deserve each other.” She picked up her tray and pushed away from the table. “The usual?”
I nodded my head, and she headed back to the bar. I scanned the crowd, looking for any other familiar faces. There were always guys from the club hanging out at The Low Down, but they all knew to leave me alone when I was sitting over here.
Ricki was behind the bar, trying to act like she was ignoring me, but I knew she was watching me. It was only a matter of time before I made her mine.
Mickey came back with my drink, setting it in front of me and headed off to check on her other tables.
I leaned back in my chair, my glass dangling from my fingertips and just watched her. She was the sexiest woman here tonight, and it looked like I wasn’t the only one who thought that. I could tell whenever one of these fuckers hit on her because she would laugh and toss her hair over her shoulder.
I used to sit at the bar, listening to everything she said, but it drove me crazy whenever one of the fuck boys would hit on her. I sat back in the corner for my own sanity. Getting into a fight every night wasn’t what I came for.
Her dark red hair flowed behind her as she worked, the tight black pants she wore seemed painted on, and I wondered how hard it was going to be to get them off. She always wore tight, revealing clothes, but she always managed to look classy and sexy. Not like all the other women here tonight who wore too much make-up and looked like they were going to work the corner after a couple of drinks.
Ricki was different, and I was going to make her mine.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
I didn’t know what the fuck his game was tonight, but I didn’t like it.
He hadn’t talked to anyone tonight besides Mickey and a few of his brothers from the club who stopped by his table.
Normally by this time of the night, he was eight drinks in and trying to find a lay for the evening. He hadn’t looked at any of the bitches tonight except for Gina when he had first come in, but from the looks of it, he wasn’t interested in her either.
“Did you ride here tonight?” Mickey asked, stepping up to the bar. It was half an hour away from closing time, and people were rushing to get their last drink orders in before last call.
I set the glass down that I was drying and looked at Mickey. “How long have you known me? Hell yes, I rode my bike tonight.”
“Dammit, I was hoping you could give me a ride home tonight.”
“You know I’m more than willing to give you a lift home, but you are too fucking chicken to ride bitch behind me.” Mickey looked like a chick who could rip your balls off and shove them down your throat, but she was terrified of riding on a motorcycle.
“Fuck off, you ride a death trap. I’ll walk my ass to the bus stop, thank you very much.” She tossed her rag at me and walked away, her tray tucked under her arm.
“Suit yourself,” I yelled after her. She flipped me off but didn’t say anything.
The drink orders rushed in, mostly bottles of beer with the occasional mixed drink thrown in. It kept me busy, but I always kept Brick in my sight.
By the time two o’clock rolled around I was dead on my feet and ready to get the hell out of here. Mickey was chasing the last few customers out of the bar, but Brick was still sitting in the corner, nursing the same drink for the last hour. “We’re closing,” I yelled, hoping he would get the hell out.
He just smirked at me and tipped his glass in my direction. Asshole. I wasn’t going to wait around for him to finish his drink and pick out a girl to take home tonight. “I’m going to count my drawer in the back,” I yelled to Mickey as I took the cash box and headed to the store room.
“Alright, dol
l. I’ll get rid of everyone.”
I waved my hand as I disappeared behind the swinging door and set the money on the counter. I fanned myself, hot from working so hard, but also from the looks Brick had been giving me all night.
His eyes never left me, always watching and waiting. For what, I have no idea. He typically came up to the bar at least one time to talk to me, but he hadn’t tonight. He kept his distance but still let me know with each glance that he was there.
I pulled my hair off my neck, tugged it up into a loose bun and started counting the money.
My mind kept straying back to Brick as I mindlessly counted the singles. He looked particularly good tonight. It looked like he had just had a haircut and his usual stubble on his face was gone, shaved clean. He was gorgeous, and he damn well knew it. He knew he could have any woman he wanted and it drove me crazy. That was the main reason he was never going to have me.
I wasn’t going to be like every other bitch he slept with that all he had to so was crook his finger, and they came running. I had some standards, dammit. Even though I made my living working in a bar, hanging out with all the drunks, I was worth more than a quick roll in the hay.
“Yo, Rick! I’m heading out. I’m going to grab a ride with Jay.”
Fucking Jay. I thought Mickey was staying away from him but apparently not. She kept going back to the cheating asshole no matter how many lies he told her. “Alright, be careful,” I called.
I heard her keys jingle and then the door shut behind her.
This was my favorite time of the night. I had the bar to myself, and I could do whatever I wanted. I finished counting all the money and stuck it in the back office and headed back out front.
Mickey had turned off all the lights except for the ones over the bar and the one shining over the jukebox. She knew me so well.
I poured myself two shots of whiskey and set them on the bar. I slipped out of my shoes, tucking them under the bar, and padded over to the jukebox. I flipped through the songs, knowing exactly what I was looking for.
“You’re going to play some chick shit, aren’t you?”
I jumped, scared shitless, and whirled around to see Brick sitting in the same spot I had left him.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Jesus Christ, I thought when Mickey had said she was heading home that it also meant everyone else had left.
“I’m not done with my drink.” He held up the glass that was still over half full.
“I poured that drink for you over an hour ago. Finish the damn thing and go.” I crossed my arms over my chest and turned back to the jukebox. Fucking asshole. He was ruining my time that I had to myself.
I heard his glass hit the table and his chair scraped across the floor. Thank God, he had finally gotten the picture.
I finally found the song I was looking for and plugged two quarters into the machine. The soothing sounds of Fleetwood Mac flowed out of the speakers, and I closed my eyes, tilting my head back. It had been a long day, and this was just what I needed.
“Good choice, darlin’,” Brick whispered in my ear.
I swear to God I jumped ten feet in the air, and I clutched my chest as I turned around. He was a breath away from me, and he had a shit eating grin on his face. Mother fucker. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I think I’m about to ask you to dance with me. I’ve been watching you all night, and I think it’s only fair I get to feel your body next to mine for at least the next three minutes.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Maybe. At least for you.”
“That is the cheesiest pickup line I’ve ever heard.”
“Not a pick-up line, darlin’, it’s the truth.” He reached out, brushing my hair out of my face and cupped my cheek. “Dance with me.”
“I’m not falling for your bullshit. I know what you are, Brick.”
He stroked my cheek with his thumb and smiled. “I’d love to hear this.”
“You’re a prick who only thinks about where his next lay is coming from. I’ve watched you. I know how you operate. I’m not going to be added to the long list of women who walk out that door on your arm.”
“How about you walk out that door on your own, and then I follow you back to your place.”
“No.”
He grabbed my hips and pulled me flush against his body. “You’ve been saying no to me for too long, Ricki. It’s time you gave me a chance and let me show you what you’ve been missing. I know you watch me whenever I’m here, I can tell you want me.” He leaned closer, his lips by my ear. “I want the same thing you want, darlin’. It’s time to give in.”
A tremor rocked through my body at his voice, and I hated that he was right. I did watch him, and I did wonder what it would be like to be with him. “I’m not going to be your one-night stand, I’m worth more than that.”
“Trust me, I know that. Why do you think I’ve waited for you, watching you? You’re the kind of woman a man has to be ready for. With you darlin, you’re the end. The end of fucking around, and the end of drunken nights, ending up in random beds with God knows who.”
“That sounds like a load of bull you’re feeding me just to get in my pants.”
He wrapped his arms around me, and I put my hands on his chest, trying to put a little bit of distance between us. “It sounds like something you need to give a chance on.”
Somehow we started dancing, Fleetwood Mac playing as he spun me around. “And what happens when you blow that chance.”
“Why don’t you give me a chance before you think I’ve blown it?”
“One night. That’s all you get.”
“I’m bargaining for more, darlin’.”
I pushed out of his arms and headed for the bar. I grabbed the two shots I had poured, tossed them back one after the other then slipped my shoes on and grabbed my keys from under the bar. “I’m heading home. You want that chance, come and take it.” I walked past Brick, his eyes following me as I turned off the lights and stood by the door.
“I want more, Ricki. I’m ready for more.”
“We’ll see, Brick. Right now you get one night. Take it or leave it.”
“I’m taking it and plan on making you want more.”
I shrugged my shoulders and opened the door, “We’ll see about that. Lock the door behind you.” I headed to my bike that was parked on the side of the building and tossed my leg over. I glanced behind me seeing Brick walk to his, and I had to wonder if I was making the right choice.
My bike rumbled to life under me, and I felt like I was home. This right here was one of the reasons I was so hesitant to be with Brick. He was part of the Reckless Devils, the local MC club, and I knew they weren’t down with chicks who rode.
I wasn’t about to give up my bike for some roll in the hay. Brick was going to get one night, and that was it. Fuck his more.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Her tail lights flashed as she rolled through a stop sign, looking both ways and took off. I had tried to ride next to her, but she had looked me dead in the eye and tossed her head back, laughing as she revved her engine and rocketed in front of me, letting me know exactly what she thought.
I let her go. I had been chasing her for this long and was steadily closing in on her. It was only natural that with being this close to her she would try to let me know where I stood. But the thing she didn’t know was that free spirit she just showed was exactly why I wanted her. I didn’t want to change a damn thing about her. I just wanted to be along for the ride.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
“About time you got here,” I smirked, climbing off my bike as Brick rolled into the driveway. He killed the engine but didn’t get off. Maybe he had changed his mind. I knew I was running a risk of pissing him off by driving away from him. I had met more than my fair share of guys who couldn’t handle me. Maybe I would be adding Brick to my list of men that were assholes who couldn’t appreciate my unique attitude and style.<
br />
“I never lost sight of you, babe.” Hmm, he didn’t seem pissed off. I was testing him, I’d be the first to admit it, and so far he appeared to be passing the test.
“You coming in or just plan on sitting on your bike all night?” I looked over my shoulder at him, walking to the front door of my condo.
“I’m coming, babe.”
His footsteps sounded behind me as my hands trembled, trying to stick the key in the lock. “Fuck,” I mumbled, dropping the keys. As much as it appeared that I was a tough bitch and this man had no effect on me, I was a nervous wreck.
I stood up and felt his body pressed against mine. He wound an arm around me and splayed his hand on my stomach. “Easy, babe,” he whispered in my ear. He grabbed the keys out of my hand and opened the door, his hands not shaking like mine were. I stepped forward, and he kept his body pressed against mine and slammed the door shut. “I’ve been waiting forever for this.” He brushed my hair off my neck and pressed a kissed to the shell of my ear.
“Don’t act like you’ve been pining for me, Brick. I’ve seen you leave the bar with more women than I can count.”
“They weren’t you. I was trying to find something better than you, but I finally realized nothing could beat the original.” He trailed kisses down my neck, and I couldn’t help but believe his words, but I wasn’t born yesterday. Brick had been a player all his life, what made me so special that he would change his ways?
“You’re so full of shit.”
He chuckled in my ear, a sexy, rough laugh. “Such a bitch. Makes me wonder if it’s all an act?”
“That’s just me, Brick. Now would be a good time to run if you can’t handle that.”
He turned me in his arms and cupped my chin, tilting my head up. “No running. After tonight, you’re mine.”
“Such a possessive asshole.”
He leaned down, his lips inches away. “Don’t act like you don’t like it.” He slammed his lips down on mine, his hands grabbing my ass and lifting me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and my arms circled his neck.
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