The pounding grows louder, and more urgent, breaking me from my memories. “What?” I scream as I make for the door.
I throw the door open and come face to face with Nate. A very shirtless Nate. Sweat is trickling down his chest, rolling straight down the delicious V that disappears beneath the waist of his basketball shorts. God he looks all sexy and brooding.
“Think you can turn that shit down?”
“Think you can stop being so Goddamn loud?” I spit back.
“You gotta mouth on ya. Like a little firecracker ready to shoot off and all you need is a spark.” He steps into me, too close, smelling too damn good. All manly with a hint of sweat. “Can. You. Turn. Down. The. Volume?” he enunciates the question slowly and his breath is tickling my nose.
I look up at him, our mouths are so close. “If you keep it down so will I, but I like it loud.” I smirk, hinting at his performance from his first night back.
He winks, and I melt a little at this playful side of him. “I’ll keep that in mind.” His voice is husky, sexy. Then he flicks my forehead hard with his fingers and stomps the few feet back to his place.
I inhale sharply, frozen in place, shaken by how he made me feel being so in my face. I don’t move until he bangs on the wall screaming for me to turn the TV down.
Part of me wants to turn it up louder just to spite him, and make him come back, but I don’t. I turn the volume down and curl up in bed, hugging Joey’s pillow.
The next few days at the bar don’t go much better. I’m on day two of working next to Nate. It’s a slow day and he already sent Sasha and Freddie home. Said he’d call them back in if things picked up tonight. Lewis already scheduled the day off for a dentist appointment.
A baseball game plays on the big screen behind the bar, and I want to poke my eyes out. I’m not into sports. Every time I change the channel the asshole turns it back.
I swear he does it just to piss me off and it’s working. I think he is trying to annoy me until I give in and take the day off too.
He doesn’t realize I don’t like to lose. I never give in. I always got my way with Joey, and I got used to getting what I want.
“Can we at least compromise?” I ask as he wipes invisible spots from the shot glasses for what seems like the ninth time.
“Nope,” he answers quickly.
Okay then, I guess I will drive him nuts by singing ABBA. I go behind the bar, and I toss back a Jager Bomb for luck and make my way to the stage. The man is driving me to drinking again. Dancing Queen blares through the speakers. I can see Nate clenching his jaws as he busies himself with sweeping the clean floor. It only makes me sing louder.
I’m on my third rendition of the song when he snaps, unplugging the sound system from the outlets.
“Enough with the noise. What do you want to watch?”
I grin at him. I knew I would break him. Flicking the tip of his nose I tell him, “The Romance Channel is showing some great movies. They’re having a Nicholas Sparks marathon.”
His mouth curves down as he frowns, rubbing his nose. “Are you trying to kill me. I don’t watch that sappy shit.”
“You do now,” I gloat changing the channel.
“Let’s at least make it interesting. For every main character tha
t dies, we do a shot.”
“You’re on big shot.” I saunter behind the bar and start pouring.
We are only two movies into marathon as the rain pours outside the bar. I am feeling slightly buzzed and I think Nate is too.
Noah and Allie are dancing in the street on the screen.
I let out a sigh and Nate says, “What? Why do you have that dreamy look in your eyes?”
“Isn’t that so romantic. I’ve always wanted to be spontaneous like that.”
“Come on.” Nate grabs my hand.
“Where are going?” I question, perplexed as he leads me to the door.