On the Rox

by Addams, Kat

  “Having a come to Jesus meeting!” I answered.

  “Is that a church thing? I didn’t know y’all went to church!” Layla’s mouth dropped open.

  “Their hair would catch on fire the moment they walked in there if they did. Come on. Let’s start prep!” Betty said, coming around the corner to see what we were up to. Her eyes traveled to the crystal clutched in my hand. “That’d better be to ward off assholes. It’s looking a little too pink and rosy to me.”

  “No worries. My clever brain is warding off assholes,” I snapped back in my best Australian accent. I sounded as if I’d been day-drinking and had a scratchy throat.

  “Clever? Oh Lawd! Haven’t heard that word come out of your mouth before. Next thing I know, you’ll be serving champagne and coq au vin out of this taco truck. Or better yet, you’ll want to open some fancy-schmancy place with white tablecloths and chandeliers.” Betty rolled her eyes.

  “Oh my gosh! Yes! That sounds fantastic!” Layla squealed next to her, hopping up and down.

  “No. Just no.” Betty shook her head at both of us and returned to work.

  “You know she worries so much about you. She never wants to see you stuck with someone like Tommy again,” Nikki whispered.

  “I know. I don’t ever want to see me with an asshole again either. Jay isn’t like that though. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s so … kind,” I whispered back to her.

  “Good. Betty will come around. Maybe he should spend a date night with DTF, and she can see what you see.” Nikki opened the back door to the truck, letting me inside.

  “That sounds terrifying, but I’ll see what I can do,” I told her before stepping inside.

  I turned my music up and stepped into the shower. I wanted to make sure that, tonight, I would come across as classy as fuck—even with my inked sleeves. Layla had helped me pick out my silky bronze dress, Nikki had let me borrow her sexy black pumps, and Betty had passed me a small keychain bottle of mace. Even though my taco truck worked with Scarlett Herb, I’d yet to set foot in there. With the way Layla had described his place, it sounded like I would be heading to a royal palace. But Nikki and Betty had only shrugged and said Jay’s restaurant was nice.

  I had never eaten at a fancy restaurant before. My taste buds preferred hard liquor, greasy burgers, and buckets of chili cheese dip. I had also never picked up a wine menu or ordered anything I couldn’t pronounce. And according to Jay, Scarlett Herb offered things on their list that I would need to Google before ordering. I wouldn’t want to order something that sounded tasty and ended up being a fish paste, which he had told me was divine and on their menu. No, thanks.

  I lathered up my legs, shaving off everything I had while rocking out to classic rock. My blood pumped through my veins in a mixture of excitement and nervousness. I wasn’t a nervous type of woman, but Jay had me up in my feels like a giggly schoolgirl. One whisper in my ear with that hot-as-fuck accent of his, and I wanted to put my hand to my heart and faint. He was that good.

  When I had texted him the other night about the new case at the shelter, he’d asked if I wanted to talk about it. When I had said yes, he called me immediately. He listened to my rough night and then sang me a lullaby to sleep. Yep, he sang to me again. His voice alone could calm me and set me on fire, all in one. It had become a ritual over the last week—his light shutting off when I pulled in the driveway or us talking on the phone before bed. He had invited me over a few times, but it was so late that I’d made every excuse in the book not to give in. I also was beginning to feel nervous about how close we were becoming so quickly.

  I still needed to feel Jay out. Betty had said his worrying over me could really be control, and that was not something I ever wanted to deal with again. He genuinely seemed concerned about my well-being, but just in case, I wanted to take this slow, and so far, I had been doing the opposite. I was falling into him hard and fast—at my usual pace.

  I finished showering and toweled myself off in front of the mirror. My fingers traced around my tattoos. I hadn’t exactly lied to Jay when he asked what they meant. Some of my ink did have sentimental meaning, but some of it didn’t. He seemed too innocent, too gentle, and too kind to hear about the stories I’d marked myself with. Besides, I had told him about my raven, which, to date, was the most significant tattoo for me. I would never fall in love with an abusive asshole again. No way would I get stuck in that type of relationship. It was a vicious cycle I didn’t like to look back on. Thankfully, that tattoo was in a place that I knew was there, but I didn’t have to see it every day.

  I rubbed the raven on the back of my neck, quieting the memories that were bubbling up. I pressed the volume up on my speaker and began fixing my hair and makeup. Jay had texted me earlier to let him know when I was ready and he would pick me up. I had offered to walk across the lawn, but he’d insisted on being a gentleman and doing this right.

  Why is he so kind to me?

  What does he want?

  I glanced down at my buzzing phone and noticed the DTF group text blowing up. Layla needed help with Shizzle Sauce, Nikki was busy working amateur night at The Steamy Clam, and Betty was out, taking her nieces to a movie. I quickly texted back Layla to schedule some of our substitute employees for the weekend and triple the batch, so we didn’t have to keep under Scarlett Herb’s feet. I hated to continue using their kitchen all of the time.

  My phone kept buzzing, but I ignored it, turned it on Do Not Disturb, and began to curl my hair into big, voluptuous waves. I had no idea what I was doing, and right now, I looked as if I’d stuck my finger in an electric socket.

  Fuck!

  I brushed it out and grabbed my straightener. I didn’t have time to experiment. Our reservations were soon, and I didn’t want to keep Jay waiting. I finished up my hair and makeup and slid into my dress. I hadn’t worn a dress in a while, or at least not a dress like this—silky, long, and low slung over my barely existing breasts. It had cost more than anything else I owned in my closet, but Layla had insisted it fit me like a glove, and I would wear it again in the future for weddings and stuff. I had no idea what she meant by weddings and stuff. All of my friends were happily single, and the stuff she referred to was either funerals or babies. Neither of which any of us were prepared to handle.

  I switched my music off and double-checked myself in the mirror. If a biker chick got dressed to go to a ballet at the theater, this was what she would look like. I nodded at myself, impressed. I could do classy—kind of.

  Jay pulled up to Scarlett Herb’s front entrance and handed the special weekend valet his keys. The attendant opened my door for me as Jay waited on the curb to take my arm and walk me inside his establishment. The corners of his mouth were turned up in a prideful grin.

  “Have I told you how gorgeous you are?” He took my hand and pressed the back of my knuckles to his lips.

  “Oh, only about twelve times since we left my house. But I like it. Keep going.” I stood on my tiptoes to peck him on the cheek.

  We walked up the stairs to the oversize iron double doors. I wasn’t sure if I was walking into a restaurant or a fortress.

  “After you, Kintsugi.” Jay opened the door and stepped aside to let me pass.

  I paused inside the foyer, allowing my eyes to adjust to the low lighting. Betty should have put a flashlight on my keychain instead of mace.

  “Mr. Taylor! We have your table ready. Right this way.” A young hostess twinkled her eyes and motioned for us to follow her.

  We walked past a crowded bar area and open-aired dining room, straight to the back where a row of cubby-like rooms were tucked into the walls. They were a few steps up, perched on a ledge, overlooking the dining area. Heavy drapes hung on either side of the doorways, some shut and others opened as the guests took their regal seats high atop the room.

  The hostess pulled back the drapes to our room and held out her hand as if to say, Voilà!

  Wow.

  The table had the most beautiful bouquet I’
d ever seen. The flowers ranged in shades of reds and deep purples. I turned to Jay and flung my arms around his neck.

  “Thank you,” I whispered, kissing his lips.

  “You’re worth it and so much more,” he whispered back into my lips.

  “Ahem!” A very handsome man cleared his throat.

  “Aiden! Meet Rox. Rox, meet Aiden,” Jay introduced me to his brother.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rox. I’ve heard so many good things about you! And your Shizzle Sauce has won over so many of our customers! You are not only beautiful, but also very talented.” His voice rolled off his tongue, just as sultry as Jay’s. “Have a seat and relax! I’ll be taking care of you tonight.”

  “Thank you, Aiden.” I blushed.

  That damn accent would be the death of me for sure. I’d never blushed until I heard the Aussies speak their sex talk.

  I scooted into the middle of the booth, picking the perfect spot to oversee the dining room. Jay rushed in next to me and grabbed two menus from his brother, who quickly turned to go. The hostess, who was still standing there, handed me a black cloth napkin and a cocktail menu before leaving.

  I looked from my napkin to Jay’s white napkin. “Wow, black napkin for my dark dress. That’s new. Never had anyone try to match my dress before. You really did think of everything with this place, didn’t you?” I thumbed through the cocktail menu, nodding my head at every drink that sounded like nectar from heaven.

  “They call me the restaurant whisperer. It’s the little touches, like the color-coordinated napkins, that make people feel special and want to return. That is the goal. I want people to feel special and have an extraordinary experience when they eat here. I did that with all of our restaurants back home, and so far, it’s worked well here too.” He rested his hand on my leg, sending a jolt of fire throughout me and settling in between my thighs.

  “Extraordinary indeed. Do you have a cocktail you recommend?”

  “I do. It debuts tonight. It’s called On the Rox. Terrance, our bartender, made it special for you. It’s edgy with a bite but goes down smooth. But the real kicker on this cocktail is, it’s our most beautiful one. The ice cube is frozen Shizzle Sauce, and the garnishment is Thai basil and a floating purple orchid blossom.”

  “Holy hell! Did you freeze Shizzle Sauce? And put it in a cocktail?”

  “Its bite balances the sweetness, the gin binds it all together, and in the end, you have a mellow drink that will fuck you up quickly. It goes really fast.” He laughed.

  “I think this drink just became my new best friend. Can’t wait to try it.” I grinned.

  A man named a drink after me? Fuck yes. He was speaking my language.

  Aiden came back to take our orders and moved the gigantic bouquet so that we could people-watch. When Jay asked if I wanted the drapes closed or open, I said open for now. I liked to see how their restaurant operated. It almost made me want to open my own, except I could never put this together. My establishment would serve tacos, beer, and loud music. I stared out over the crowd, realizing how polar opposite Jay and I were. My mind only drifted for a moment before his brother popped right back over with our drinks and a tiny sample of something that looked like dirty toast.

  “Amuse-bouche.” Aiden set down a tiny plate in front of us both. “Vegemite on our in-house-made crouton. Sorry. Jay made me serve it to you.” He shrugged.

  “And here are your drinks,” another man added, coming up behind Aiden and setting down two fancy glasses filled to the top with booze and a flower.

  “Rox, this is Terrance, our creative genius of a bartender. He created your signature drink!” Jay smiled.

  “Thank you, Terrance. It looks beautiful!” I smiled as both Terrance and Aiden grinned and tipped their heads, turning to leave us alone.

  “So, this is On the Rox drink?” I asked, pulling my phone out and snapping a picture to send to the girls later. “I had to take a picture of that. It’s gorgeous!”

  “Like the woman it’s named after. Try it. Then, try the Vegemite.” Jay’s eyes lit up brighter than the flickering candle in front of us.

  I took a sip of the drink, the orchid topper gently nudging my lip, and rolled my eyes to the back of my head. It tasted like the nectar of the gods … or as I was sure Jay would say, goddess. Two more quick sips, and he was right. Already, my toes felt a tiny tingle.

  “It’s perfect, isn’t it?” he said, taking a long, slow sip from his On the Rox cocktail too. “Like you.”

  “I’m hardly perfect. Watch, I won’t like your Vegemite, and then you’ll declare me a hard pass.”

  I picked up the buttery crouton and took a bite. It tasted like beef broth on toast. It wasn’t bad at all. I had thought I would bite into a spreadable piece of ass, but I liked it.

  “My bouche is amused!” I declared.

  He fist-pumped the air before quickly getting his wits back about him and straightening his collar. I needed to tell him no one fist-pumped anymore, but I reveled in the moment of his joy. I felt it too. Everything was perfect, which was why I had to fuck it up. Chaos was familiar to me. Perfection was not.

  “So, this treaty. I’ve run with you, been to your restaurant, and tried Vegemite. I’m three for three. You, on the other hand, are one for three. You only did Westy’s with me. You still have the tattoo and poem. Where are you on those two? Didn’t you say you had an idea on the tattoo?”

  “Ah, right. I do. It’s my cat’s face. She died when I was seventeen, but I was very close to her. Still miss her. Here’s her picture,” he said, pulling out his phone and scrolling through his photos.

  What the fuck?

  I thought he was going to drop something deep on me, open up a bit more.

  A damn cat tattoo? He could have at least picked something more badass, like a black panther or rabid tiger, but a cat?

  I smiled politely, listening to his cat stories. Besides his sexy face and hot-as-hell body, it was his gentleness and kindness that attracted me to him. It would be out of character for him to tattoo a skull and bones across his chest. I could let his cat face slide.

  “I think it’s a brilliant idea. If that is what you want, that is what you should get. What about the poem?” I tilted my head to the side, sipping more of the On the Rox cocktail that made me brave. “Are you going to get deep into your feelings with your poem? Tell me about what goes on in that brilliant mind of yours.”

  “You’re what goes on in this brilliant mind of mine.” His jaw clenched as he swirled his drink and took a gulp.

  “I mean, what do you want out of life? Why did you run from home, and do you plan on running again?” There. I said it. On the Rox had made me do it. I twisted the napkin under the table, waiting to hear if my future with him was impossible or not.

  They always leave.

  “What I want out of life is to settle down. I’m tired of running. I have no plans of ever doing that again. I’ve seen all I need to see. Now, I just want to live here and settle down. Rox, I don’t want to scare you, but can I tell you something creepy?”

  “I like creepy. Shoot!” The tension that left my body when he’d said he was staying and wanted to settle had me even more relaxed than the alcohol.

  “My mother had a saying. She told my brother and me to stop chasing peacocks and to find the raven among them. She was an Outer Forks native. We were back and forth here, growing up, as we visited her side of the family often when I was younger. They are all gone now.” His voice became low.

  “I’m so sorry.” I scooted myself even closer to him.

  “No, no. It’s fine. I just remembered the raven quote when I saw it on the back of your neck. It was an … otherworldly moment. I hope that doesn’t make me sound crazy.”

  “Like divine intervention?”

  “Yes. Exactly like divine intervention. Back to that again, are we? I’ve felt comfortable with you ever since. You’re not like any woman I’ve ever met. I know you are still healing, and I’m so proud
of all the work you have done to come out of a situation like you were in. You really are a goddess.”

  I noticed how he had turned the conversation back around to me.

  “Thanks, Jay. You’re doing amazing yourself! Look at this!” I waved my hand around the room, taking in his beautiful creation.

  “Ah, that’s nothing. Want to see what else I can do?” In one quick motion, he dived under the tablecloth.

  “What are you doing?” My hand reached out to grab his arm as I tried to pull him back up.

  He gently peeled my fingers off of him, kissing every one before setting my hand down on my lap.

  “Eating my dessert before my dinner, like a bad boy,” he growled from under the table.

  I gasped but made no move to stop him.

  “Where did Jay go?” Aiden came by the table.

  I wanted to tell him to shut the drapes, but I didn’t want to raise suspicion.

  “Restroom, I think,” I squeaked out as I felt Jay lift my dress.

  His fingertips traced up and over my legs and in between my inner thighs. He pushed my knees apart.

  “Okay. Well, we have a set menu tonight that he prepared especially for you. I’m sure he told you all about it. Would you like to make any changes?” Aiden asked.

  I squirmed in my seat.

  “Nope. No changes. I’m good. Real good.” I nodded and even gave him a dorky thumbs-up.

  “I’ll be right back with a starter then.” Aiden scuttled away just as I felt my panties being pulled to the side.

  I hurried down in my chair and wiggled my hips into position as I slowly sipped my cocktail.

  This is the life, I thought.

  Jay’s warm tongue slid all the way up my slit, stopping on my clit as he gently sucked it back into his mouth. I let out a gasp, startling us both as his head hit the underside of the table.

  “Sorry! Sorry!” I whispered, leaning as far down as I could and talking to a table.

  I sat back up, glancing around me and checking for curious eyes. No one had been paying attention, thankfully. I spread my legs apart further, signaling him to get back to it. With a cocktail in my hand and Jay’s hair in the other, I sat back and let myself feel like royalty.