Chaser (Dive Bar 3)

"Jesus. I knew you couldn't stay nice about her for long." She frowned. "Look, I understand now why you're a bit freaked out by babies and pregnancy. But that doesn't mean you get to be a jerk about her."

"What are you talking about?" I demanded. "I'm being totally normal about it. Her."

"So you're just a jerk in general?"

I closed my eyes. "That seems to be the general opinion, yes."

"If I believed that, I'd leave your drunk ass alone on this bed."

But she didn't leave. I could feel her presence next to me. I sighed. "Thanks for not leaving. Even though I remind you of him. Christ, that sucks."

"I shouldn't have said that, I'm sure you wouldn't--"

"But I did," I interrupted. "You were going to say that you were sure I wouldn't bail on my responsibilities, right?"

She said nothing.

"That is exactly what I did, Jean. No need to be polite about it," I said. "I'm an asshole."

Silence.

"Under different circumstances, I'd definitely be hitting on you right now."

"Well, some credit goes to the baby with regards to that. Her presence making me less available to your romantic overtures."

"My romantic overtures?" I asked with a lazy smile. "Who says that?"

"I do. It's the polite way of saying playing naked." The laughter in her voice would have gotten one hell of a reaction from me if I hadn't had so much to drink.

"We would have had fun together."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

"You're that good, huh?"

Eyelids closed, I smiled some more. "Our chemistry is that good."

"Hmm."

"You know when you meet someone and there's just that feeling?"

She didn't respond.

"It's like it's fate. There's just that zap in the air and you know it's got to happen eventually. And when it does, it's going to be spectacular." I opened one eye, beyond pleased to see her trying to hide a smile. "Right, Jean?"

"Wrong."

I just waited.

"It's definitely not happening between us under current circumstances, so what does chemistry matter?" She wriggled a little, getting comfortable, and avoiding looking at me in the process. "Close your eyes, Eric, go to sleep. I'm not babysitting your drunk ass forever."

"I appreciate you being here," I mumbled.

"Couldn't very well leave you all alone in the depths of your alcohol-induced despair."

"Funny, normally I'm trying to get rid of a woman by this time," I said. "Not begging one to stay."

She just shook her head. "So not happening for so many reasons."

"And you are beautiful."

The woman looked to heaven. "Sober or drunk, you are full of it. You get that, right?"

"I get that I'm right. Yes."

"Puh-lease. I'm okay looking."

"You're fucking gorgeous."

"Does that include my belly?"

I cleared my throat. "Sure."

"Real believable." She laughed. "Go to sleep."

"Fine. Doubt me, I don't care." I puffed up my pillow, settling in for the night. Morning. Whatever the hell time it was. My buzz was starting to wear thin, tiredness kicking in. "'Night, Jean."

"'Night, Eric."

CHAPTER FOUR

Karen arrived ten minutes late in a tight skirt. Her long hair hung loose and her sweater top hung off her bare shoulder. I'd always heartily approved of her belief in showing plenty of skin. No matter the chill in the night air, here she was with those long legs. It'd been a month since Jean sat by my bedside while I fell asleep, drunk off my ass. Not my finest moment. In the meantime, our paths hadn't really crossed. I'd been busy and I guess she had too. As for dealing with Nell and everyone else's low opinion of me, I had a plan.

"All right, I'm here." She paused, flashing a megawatt smile at the man on the other side of the bar. "Hey, Vaughan."

"Hi, Karen, how are you doing?"

"Great! How's your music going?"

"Good." The tattooed redheaded musician gave her a polite smile. "Played some gigs over in Montana last week."

Like just about everyone else in this town, we'd all known each other for years. Vaughan and I had been tight in high school, but shit had gone south after graduation. We were getting on okay these days. Despite him also settling down and getting serious about everything. He and Lydia had been engaged for a year or two now. I didn't know what the holdup was on the wedding. He worked in the bar when he wasn't off playing guitar. I don't know if it was wise, but we'd pretty much wound up with most of our staff being old friends.

"Ready to head upstairs?" Karen asked, stepping closer. Her arm brushed against my chest and the open invitation in her eyes almost made me rethink my plan.

Like I might have mentioned, we were very friendly. But only in a certain mutually beneficial way at times suitable to both of us. Usually. Still, if I was going to try dating someone, I figured it wouldn't hurt to know ahead of time if that someone and I got along between the sheets. Plus Karen was available. She was between boyfriends, so, win/win. A nice, good-looking local girl who enjoyed fucking. A strong starting point if ever there was one.

With the goal of a relationship in mind, I quashed out the rising surge of lust. It wasn't easy, given Karen's inviting eyes, and the fact that it had been a while since I'd last hooked up. Almost a whole week. But I ignored my simpler urges and focused on the plan.

"Actually, I was thinking we could sit down for a while first," I said, leading her to a candlelit table in the corner.

Her pert nose wrinkled. "You want to sit down?"

"Sure. Why not?"

Apparently there were a lot of reasons why this was a bad idea, because she took a deep breath and opened her mouth to start in on them.

I got there first, however. "We've been friends a long time, Karen."

"Yes, but--"

"It occurred to me that we've never really just hung out together."

She blinked.

"You know, had a drink, and talked and stuff." I pulled out her chair, being the perfect gentleman. That'd show Nell. And you could bet she was in the kitchen right now watching ... judging. Lydia too, most likely.

"You want to talk?" Karen plonked down in the seat, wrinkles lining her usually smooth forehead. "What about?"

I took my seat opposite. "Ah, well. Anything really. How's your work going?"

"The diner's fine."

"Great." I nodded. "And your family?"

"Fine."

Oh shit, what to ask her about next? It struck me I actually didn't know anything about her family, which made it hard to figure out a follow-up question. Equally though, it seemed a bit awkward to admit that, after the years we'd known each other, I didn't even know if her parents were local or if she had siblings.

The long line of her throat rippled as Karen swallowed and came to my rescue. "Um, how are your parents?"

"Good, thanks. They're actually on vacation in Hawaii right now."

"Lovely."

"Yeah. Mom's been looking forward to it for a long time."

"Right. Wonderful." She paused.

I was stuck for a conversation topic again. Damn it. Dating was harder than it looked. Normally I only ever had real conversations with our close-knit little group. Apart from that, I just flirted with the ladies, which was a game I knew well.

Hopefully Rosie would come take our order soon. Alcohol as a social lubricant could only help.

"Everything's okay with this place?" Karen saved the conversation again. She was clearly better at this than I was. Thank God somebody knew what they were doing.

"Absolutely," I said. "The bar side of things is running smoother than ever. Nell and Lydia have been sourcing more local organic produce to feature on the seasonal menu."

"Mm."

"Things are ... good."

We both let our gazes wander, taking in the room. The Dive Bar was only half full, what with it being e

arly in the week. Depeche Mode was playing. Lydia must be in charge of the music. We each took turns to keep things fair. Boyd's headbanger shit could be a little hard to handle, however, so we only gave him an hour or two a week.

Fingers fussing with the napkin, I slumped my shoulders, trying to loosen up. It wouldn't do to let anyone know how on edge I was. Jesus, it wasn't like I'd never met a woman for a drink before. But it had never been with a view toward anything long-term. Wonder when I should broach the subject of her and me being something serious.

"Have you ever eaten here?" I asked finally, winning at conversation. Someone ought to give me a gold star. Or a cookie. Or a drink. A drink would be nice. Where was Rosie to take our order?

"No, I haven't."

"Now that's a damn shame. We need to fix that pronto."

A hint of a smile curved the edge of her lips. "People tell me the food's delicious."

I outright grinned, always pleased to hear good feedback. "It is."

"A lot pricier than the diner, though."

"Well, it's a different kind of dining experience."

Nothing from her.

"You know?"

All expression had fallen from her face. "No, I don't believe I do."

"Don't get me wrong, the diner does great basics," I said. "Your pancakes in particular. Man, I could eat a truckload of those things and still come back for more. They are superb."

"Basics?"

I shrugged. "Yeah."