“I have my ways. Making sure all these details are covered and perfect is my way of trying to insure The Escape makes at least one award list––if not more.” Her chin juts out in defiance as my cock twitches in anticipation.
“Do you have a list of the drinks you're thinking of?” Wes asks, pulling our attention back to the original topic.
Teagan starts to flip her hair, but stops. It’s pulled back in a messy bun, and I’m guessing she just remembered. It’s odd seeing her without make-up and her hair pulled back. Normally, it’s down and styled.
“I do, but I don't have it with me. I can remember some of them, but since I didn't expect to see any of you this early, I didn't bring the list with me,” Teagan replies, quirking an eyebrow.
“No worries. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I think it’s a good idea to have a few signature drinks. With that said though, when I’m in there, I’ll only drink whiskey,” Wes states, chuckling.
“I get it. Besides tequila, whiskey, scotch, and bourbon are my thing,” Teagan adds, but I know she’ll drink beer too.
“That’s not all you’ll drink. I’ve seen you have a beer,” I pipe in.
“Yes, I’ll drink a beer sometimes, but I’ll also drink wine and sparkling wine, but we weren’t talking about those.”
“Damn, she doesn’t give you any slack does she?” Trey comments.
In response, I flip him the bird.
“Why should I? He wouldn't give me any if our roles were reversed,” Teagan quips.
“Smartass,” I mutter.
“You hired me because I'm smart, and I do have a great ass, thank you very much. But you already know that as you like ogling it.”
Fuck me!
Trey snorts and almost spits out his food.
I pat him on the back, making sure he doesn’t choke, though part of me hopes he does after that comment.
“I'm good, thanks,” Trey says, and I stop.
His words rattle around in my head––as do hers––and for reasons I can't explain, so does the memory of our New Year’s Eve kiss.
Why is she the only woman outside my friends and family who gets under my skin...and not under me?
As I ponder the question, my cock twitches at the thought of having Teagan under me, or even riding me, as my hands hold her hips, controlling her every move. Shifting in my chair, I nonchalantly re-adjust myself and try to think of something that will turn me off.
“If y'all want our input on passwords or with the signature drinks, you can come over to Belladonna while we're sitting up for dinner. I'm sure Adam would let you have free reign behind the bar to create the drinks, and we could all taste them while trying tonight's menu,” Calla offers, as our servers remove the dishes from the table.
“Would any of you like anything else?” the male server asks, and for the life of me, I can't remember his name.
We all say no and ask for our checks.
“If y’all are serious about being guinea pigs, I wouldn’t mind coming by Belladonna in a few hours to test out the signature drinks,” Teagan says as she pushes her chair back and stands. “I’ll be right back,” she adds to Jayson as she walks away from the table.
Damn, I do love watching her ass as she walks away.
As she disappears, our servers return with our checks. Trey, Wes, and I pull out our wallets and toss down cash as we split the check. Jayson, on the other hand, pulls out his card and goes back to playing on his phone. Calla, Wes, Trey, and I all get up from the table. Jayson doesn't even bother to glance up.
“Jayson, will you let your sister know I'll meet her at Belladonna say around two? If that time doesn't work for her, have her text me,” I tell him as I’m starting to move for the door to catch up with my friends.
“Will do,” Jayson responds, not looking up.
Closing my eyes slightly, I take a deep, calming breath, and I glance toward the restroom just as Teagan exits. However, she isn't looking up as I pass, and since I left Jayson the message, I decide to keep moving. I can text her on my way back to my place. Exiting the cafe, I meet Calla, Wes, and Trey, as they stand waiting for me on the sidewalk.
“What exactly does Jayson do for a living?” Trey asks me as we head back toward Sixth Street.
“Teagan doesn't talk about him, so I'm not really sure, to tell you the truth.”
“Hmmm. That's interesting. I think I've seen him out before, but I can't put my finger on where,” Trey adds, and I have to bite my tongue not to make a smartass comment.
“You mean outside our building?” Wes quips, smirking as he faces us and gestures between Calla and himself.
It's no wonder we always got caught––we fucking think alike.
“Yes, asshole,” Trey says, flipping Wes off. I rarely see Teagan when I visit Calla, and I don't think I've ever seen Jayson there.”
Wes covers his chest. “It hurts that you don't want to visit me when you come over,” he says, mockingly.
Calla smacks Wes in the arm, and Trey and I bust out laughing at the whole exchange.
“Why do I put up with the three of you?” Calla says, shaking her head at us. “Wes and I don't need kids, since I have y'all. I don't know what I'd do if Forest was still in the mix. Thankfully, having Ella has chilled him out.”
“Speaking of...why doesn't Forest run with y'all now that he's living in the building? Or does Jax keep him occupied?” I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively.
“If we run later in the morning, he does come out. But most days he's taking Ella to school, and yes Jax could do it, but it's his time with Ella, since he doesn't get much time alone with her after school,” Calla informs me.
Hell, it makes sense. If I had a kid, I'd probably do the same thing, considering my work hours. Plus, that little girl is the cutest seven-year-old I know. Not that I know many.
“Has Forest told us yet what we're doing for Ella's birthday? Do we even know when she's turning eight?” Trey asks, thumbing through his phone.
“You know, he hasn't said. But I want to say it should be coming up soon. We should probably shoot him a message,” Calla replies as she comes to a stop at the crosswalk.
“I'm going to cross here.” Trey leans in and gives Calla a quick hug. “See you fuckers in a few,” he says, glancing between Wes and me.
“Later,” I call out as Wes adds, “Fucker.”
Trey flips us off as he steps into the crosswalk and crosses the street.
“Men,” Calla mutters, rolling her eyes, and I have to grin.
The crosswalk light changes, allowing us to make our way back to our building.
Chapter 5
Teagan
All appears quiet as I pull into Belladonna’s parking lot. I park, grab my bag, and head toward the front door, hitting the lock button on my key fob. As I walk around the building, I pull my phone out of my bag and send Rex a text, since I don’t have Calla’s phone number––or anyone else’s at Belladonna.
Teagan: Hey! I just arrived at Belladonna. Can you text Calla or someone else to let me in?
Not expecting an immediate reply, I start to slide my phone into the back pocket of my jeans when it vibrates that I have a new message.
Rex: I’m already here, so I’ll let you in.
My steps falter. Rex is here? I wasn’t expecting him yet.
Taking a cleansing breath, I regain my composure and finish making my way to Belladonna’s front entry. The door opens as I reach out to pull on the handle. Standing there, with his killer smile in place, is Rex. He’s looking like sex on a stick in his pinstripe pants and light blue shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows, and the top three buttons of his shirt unbuttoned. In this outfit, anyone can see how physically fit Rex is. I look my fill of him, my eyes roaming up and down his body, and I kind of want to kick myself for even giving him that much.
“You ready to get your ass in here yet, or do you need another minute to eye fuck me?” he asks, grinning and holding the door open for me.
“Fuck off,” I retort as I step inside.
Rex chuckles, closing the door behind me.
He only lets a few seconds of silence stretch between us as we head toward the bar before filling it. “Adam’s in the back office. He said we––as in you––have full reign of the bar, but he’ll come out to show you where everything is. He’ll also help mix some drinks, if you’re willing to have the help.”
“If you’ll go grab him, I’ll head to the bar and pull out my notes,” I say as we near the bar area.
“I’m on it,” he agrees, and we both go our separate ways.
Rounding the bar, I place my bag on top of the smooth wood at the back corner to keep it out of the way. If Adam’s anything like most mixologists I know, we hate having the bar top cluttered. I grab my notes, recipes, and a pencil and move down the bar to find a spot where I can make notes and still reach the bar without having to get on my tiptoes. Soft music begins playing, and I glance around to see if I might have inadvertently triggered it somehow. Not seeing anything obvious, I ignore the music and methodically walk around the bar, taking in where Adam keeps his bourbon, whiskey and scotch, as well as the gin, tequila, vodka, and rum.
Thank you, God. He keeps things similarly to how I keep my bar.
“Is everything up to par?” a voice behind me asks.
Spinning around, I find both Adam and Rex standing there watching me. Damn I didn’t even hear them approach..
“Yes. Sorry...anytime I step behind a bar I’m not familiar with, I have to get the lay of the land. You wouldn’t believe some of the setups I’ve seen.”
“So is mine one of the bad ones?” Adam wonders.
Grinning I tell him, “Not at all. In fact, you and I have the same general setup. The only difference is the order in which you group things, meaning you put your clear alcohol on the left and work out from there, whereas, I put the whiskeys there and work out.”
“Did you rearrange all the bars in The Escape to follow that plan?” Rex asks, a perplexed expression on his face.
I smirk and nod my response.
Rex shakes his head, muttering something under his breath that I don't fully catch but sounds something like, “That's my fucking girl,” but I know that can't be right.
Honestly, The Escape's bars weren't bad, but I wanted to make the place feel more mine than whoever had been behind the bars before me. I know Rex has been running the place since he fired the previous manager, and boy have I heard horror stories about that guy. In fact, we're still doing a little housecleaning of the staff from his time, though most have gotten in line. Not that it took much convincing. I still don't know how Rex flourished with that guy, but thankfully, he did.
“So, I hear you want us to test out some new drinks for Alchemy,” Adam says, glancing over me at my notebook still closed on the bar.
If we were at The Escape, I'd give him a smartass comment back, but since I'm not sure if he's fucking with me or not, I'm inclined not to.
“Yes?” I reply as more of a question than statement.
A soft chuckle sounds from the far side of the bar, and I glance over to see Adam's beautiful wife.
“Teagan, you don't have to hold back when it comes to either of them. Be a bitch or smartass. They both deserve it,” Nessa tells me as she works her way around the bar area.
“I'll remember that. I was trying to be polite, since I'm a guest in his bar,” I explain, gesturing to Adam.
“Don't be. He's going to be an ass no matter what,” she replies.
“Good to know.”
“Alright you two,” Adam glances between me and his wife, “I'll stop being a shit if you will.”
“I'll believe that when I see it,” Nessa adds over her shoulder, moving toward the main dining area.
“Do y'all want me to hang here or go back to the kitchen?” Rex asks.
“Dude, sit your ass down. There's no way in hell Calla wants you in the kitchen while they’re trying to work out tonight's menu. Last time you were in there, knives were thrown,” Adam answers, giving Rex a pointed look.
“You have a point.” Rex pulls out the chair in front of my things and reaches for the notebook.
Slapping my hand down, I try keeping Rex out of my notes, but it's no use. I might be strong, but Rex is stronger, and he’s able to pull my notebook out from under my hand. However, he doesn’t open it as I expect him to. Instead, he studies the outside covered with my doodles and favorite stickers.
Rex stares at me until my eyes lock with his. His penetrating gaze is uncomfortable, and it gives me goosebumps. “Teagan, I promise I'm not going to open your notes. I just wanted to check out everything on top. I think I recognize a few stickers,” he says, and I let go at his words.
“Now that that's over with, can we get started?” Adam asks, stepping closer to the bar.
“Sorry. Yes, I'm ready,” I reply, handing the top notebook to Rex and opening the second labeled, The Escape. “That notebook has all my recipes, so we'll want to open it too, but this one has all my notes for The Escape and specifically, Alchemy. A list of all the drinks I'm interested in serving from prohibition are in here.”
I quickly flip open the notebook to the page with the drinks on it. “So, these were all the cocktails I found when I searched for popular drinks during the prohibition. I put a star next to the ones I want to use at Alchemy.”
Bee’s Knees*
Boulevardier
Hanky Panky*
Grasshopper
Scofflaw
Royal Hawaiian
El Presidente
Brandy Alexander
Mimosa
Gin Rickey*
Old Fashioned*
French 75*
Sazerac*
Sidecar*
Southside
Mark Pickford
Martini*
Ward Eight
Highball*
Mojito
The Last Word
White Lady
Tom Collins*
Monkey Gland*
Bacardi Cocktail
Hemingway Daiquiri*
Chicago Fizz
Jack Rose
Bijou
Death in the Gulf Stream
“Let’s take a look.” Adam steps closer to the bar, reading my notes. “I know how to make a few of them, but it’s been a while. Did you say something about recipes?”
“The book in Rex’s hands has my recipes, but these aren’t included…. I take that back. I probably have Gin Rickey, Tom Collins, Old Fashioned, Mimosa, and Mojito. I’ve used that notebook since bartending school, so every drink I made back then I wrote down. Some I’ve created twists for, and those recipes are in there, as well.”
“Damn, Rex. She’s a fucking keeper. I don’t even have notes for the drinks I created from when I went to school. Though, I do have my own concoctions,” Adam adds, glancing between me, Rex, and my notebooks.
“Here are your recipes,” Rex hands me the notebook in his hands. “Can I take a look at the drinks you’re thinking about?”
“Please. Alchemy is your bar, and the whole point of us coming here today is to have help deciding on the speciality drinks.”
I slide out of the way and let Adam and Rex study the drinks.
“My thought was to have a quasi-set menu for drinks in Alchemy. I think I starred eleven in my notes, but I was thinking that we should have about ten drinks that were served during prohibition, plus maybe five more speciality variations. I also wanted to do a few flights.”
Adam’s attention rises from my notes, focusing on me. He has an intrigued expression on his face. “Can I add my two cents?”
“Of course,” Rex replies.
“I think you should do ten of the cocktails on the list. Some of the more common ones I’d add to the speciality list because most of those have variations, and the variations could be your speciality drinks.” Adam glances at both Rex and me, again, making sure we’re following his line of t
hought, I’m sure. “If you do flights, I’d do: Martinis, Manhattans, Mojitos, Mimosas, Old Fashioned, and straight whiskeys. Since these are also more common drinks that might be ordered, I’d keep them off your prohibition menu and put them under flights. That way customers will know you still serve them in Alchemy.”
“That’s a great idea. I hadn’t thought of adding all those flights, but that would be perfect. Rex, what do you think?” I ask turning slightly to face him.
“As long as you’re good with it, so am I,” he responds, his eyes flicking from me to the notes. “You have a highlighter or something so I can mark the cocktails we’re going with?”
“I didn’t bring my highlighter, but I have a pen I can pull out of my purse?”
“Here. Use this.” Adam hands over his pen. “While you’re doing that, I’ll write down the drinks we’re creating today if you’ll call them out to us.”
“Deal. Tell me when you’re ready,” Rex instructs as Adam sets a napkin on the bar and pulls out another pen to write with.
“Teagan, if you change your mind on the drinks, say something now so we can pick something else,” Rex adds, and I nod. “Here we go. Bee’s Knees, Hanky Panky––I fucking love the name, by the way––Gin Rickey, French 75, Hemingway Daiquiri, Sazerac, Sidecar, Highball, Tom Collins, and last but not least, Monkey Gland. That’s fucking hilarious. Any changes?”
“No, I think those are good for the ten. I know a Tom Collins is common, but I think it works. I know we don’t have anything listed with vodka, but since Martinis also come with vodka, I think we’re good,” I agree. “Rex, while we’re making these, we should also talk about some passwords. And what do you think about upping the cover charge for The Escape and moving from a stamp system to a wristband?” I add, giving Rex more to think about.
“Can I make notes in your book?” Rex asks, pen in hand and poised to start writing.
“As long as your handwriting is legible,” I quip, and a snort sounds from across the room.
My eyes shift toward the sound, and I find Nessa, her mouth covered with her hand, and I have to bite back my own laugher. Rex narrows his eyes at me before shifting on his stool to look at Nessa.
The Escape: A One of the Boys Novel Page 3