“What can I get you this time, sweetheart?” Leaning over the bar the woman offered up a view of her spectacular cleavage in the skimpy, black tank top.
Keeping his tone neutral, he ignored her signals. “Whatever the lady likes.”
The bartender wrinkled her nose, and he frowned. Her assumptions and shitty attitude made him clench his glass tight. It was bitches like this who had driven Lis away in the first place.
With a roll of her eyes she focused her attention on his newly acquired acquaintance. “What’s your poison, Hon?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm and disdain.
“Whiskey and cola, Dear.” The “fuck you” tone the brown-skinned beauty added to her voice made him chuckle. She could hold her own just fine.
“Coming up.” Chastised, the bartended changed her expression to a fake friendly. “How about you, cutie?” She winked at him.
“I’m good.” His tone was flat and even. He felt almost protective of the cordial southern belle with an easy smile and light conversation. Saved from an embarrassing night worshipping the porcelain god and shedding tears he should’ve run out of long ago, he knew it was the end of the line. The crippling grief lost its steam. It was time to move on and work through the mourning.
“Thank you,” the woman beside him whispered.
“You’re welcome, mysterious woman whose name I don’t know.”
“Oh my God, I forgot my manners. I’m Kansas.” She held out her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Kansas, I’m Jay.” They shook. Her hand was soft, but her grip was firm. The scent of something floral and sweet wafted off her. His belly tightened, and his cock came to life in his pants, pressing against the fly of his jeans. I wonder if her beautiful skin is this soft all over her body. He cleared his throat. “Rocking name, I love the band.”
“So did my parents. If I’d had a brother they were going to name him Boston.”
“Hey, they sound like good people to me.”
She rolled her eyes, but the deep dimple that appeared in her left cheek told him she agreed.
“Why are you ringing in the big three-o-solo? Is your friend joining you … Mya?”
“Nah. She got swept away in the Paranormal hysteria. Good recall by the way.”
He inclined his head to say thank you.
“I like the show, but the screaming and fawning sort of made my skin crawl.”
He snorted. “Tell me about it.”
“I bet you get it a lot, too, being confused for Jett so much and all.”
He nodded. “Has to be a hard way to live, being constantly placed inside a fishbowl for the world to see.”
“Right?” She shook her head. “I don’t get it. They’re just people, same as you and I. Admire their craft, and give them space.”
She gets it. He opened his mouth to reveal his true identity. The bartender reappeared, and the words died on his tongue as she dropped of Kansas’s drink and retreated.
“Why are you here alone?” Kansas took a sip from her glass.
“Same as you, needed a break from the crazy, and my friends wanted to stay back at the hotel.”
“Aren’t we a pair of introverts? Slinking off to the bar while they live it up?”
“Aah. I like it better here with you any way.” Kansa ducked her head, and he grinned. He liked complimenting her and the pretty way she blushed in response. Modesty looked good on her. In his time of darkness she was a light, and he planned on gripping onto it with both hands.
****
There must be some truth to birthday magic, because there’s no way this guy would ever give a girl like me a second glance. As far as I’m concerned my size-fourteen figure is fabulous, and my nerdy quirkiness is essential to my personality. I mean, intelligence and class are sexy and timeless, right? Unfortunately, these days those qualities didn’t usually endear her to men. Being caught up in the friend zone worked well with her no marriage policy. Casual dating with the occasional and very discreet itch scratching did her well.
Personal rules aside, Jay was a catch she couldn’t pass up. A dead ringer for Jett Walker, the southern man had wit, kindness, and a voice made for sin and satin sheets. The gruff tone melded with a twang must melt every woman he came across. I’ll just ride this out and see where it goes. It is my birthday after all, and he’s one hell of a present.