Evelyn Rosen

     “Well, well, well,” a familiar voice called from behind the bar. I didn’t need to look up to know to know it was Sadie, my favorite bartender. “Look what the fucking cat brought in. Did hell freeze over or is it my unlucky day?” 

     “Happy to see you too, Sadie,” I gave her a grin as I took a seat at the bar. With a roll of her eyes, she took out a rocks glass and sat in front of me. 

     “What do you want?” 

     “I’ll take a whiskey, since you’re offering.”

     “It’s been so long, I forgot.” Sadie bit sarcastically.

     “That’s bullshit.” I disagreed with her. “You don’t forget a thing.”

     “You’re right. I don’t. But, apparently you forgot you liked to drink here.”

     She poured my drink and sat it down harder than necessary. I snorted at her snarky attitude. It really was too bad she didn’t want to be within ten feet of a naked dick, but at least she had good taste in women. Taking a drink, I ignored her sourness. It was all play anyways. 

     “So, where the fuck you been, Carter?” 

     “Around.” 

     “It’s been like a year.”

     “Something like that.” I said shortly not wanting to go into the depths of chaos that Rachel had been with Sadie. That wasn’t what I was here for. 

     “Sadie, what the fuck?! I’m getting my ass kicked over here, and you’re just talking?”

     “I’ll be back,” she said before she rolled her eyes. On her way to rescue Liam, she threw her head back and yelled at him. Honestly, I was a bit surprised to see him behind the bar. He was just a kid who was apparently drowning. “Liam! Why are you such a fucking baby? I swear to God you cry more than my fucking one year old niece.”

     Biting back the chuckle that rose, I took a longer drink and looked around the room, scanning, hoping someone worthwhile would catch my eye. With a frown I continued, slightly disappointed. Maybe this place had gone down hill since the last time I’d been here.

     Back in the corner, by the pool tables, there was a group of obnoxious guys blowing steam off after what looked like a hard week at work. Moving on, I looked towards the dance floor and still didn’t see anyone that stood out.   

     “Looking for something?”

     “You caught me,” I looked back at Sadie and gave her a charming smile. “Tell me you can point me in the right direction of a distraction for the night.”

     “No.” She barked as she crossed her arms. “My information is only for valued returning customers.”

     Of course, she was going to play hard to get. 

     “Sadie. You keep flirting with me like this, I’m going to think you switched teams and just want me for yourself.” I teased, winking at her.

     “Oh, gag me, now,” she rolled her eyes and I laughed at her innuendo. Sadie had seen more than either of us were okay with one night, a rare miscalculation. The incident had bonded us and had made us unlikely friends.  

      “Come on, Sadie. Pretty please.” I said groveled.

     “Motherfucker. Alright.” Sadie gave in and leaned on the counter. “There’s a girl back there with the dumbasses. I don’t know if she’s your speed, but she’s something else. Her and her friend will come in here looking for guys.”

     “There’s no fucking girl back there, Sadie.” I disagreed, sitting back in my seat. “I already looked.”

     “Look again, dumbass.”

     Glancing over my shoulder, Sadie was right. Shit. Burrowing my brows, I took in the sight of the girl leaning over the pool table. Her tall heels made her hip stick out and accentuated the curve of her ass as she positioned herself in the right direction for the shot she was about to take. 

     Sipping my whiskey, I watched as her petite arms lined up the stick and shot the ball into the hole. The image of leather cuffs encircling her slender wrists flashed in my mind, seeping into my judgement of Sadie’s choice. It didn’t seem as if I had anything to disagree with Sadie on this one though.  

Taking a longer drink, I turned back towards Sadie. 

     “Is she crazy?” I asked directly. “Rachel was fucking crazy.”

     “What the fuck did she do?” Sadie asked in shock.

     “She set my car on fire.” I finished my drink to wash the memory. “Let’s not talk about it.”

     “SHE DIDN’T?!”

     “I don’t want to talk about it, Sadie.” I said again more forcefully and Sadie tried to chill. “The girl. Is she fucking crazy?”

     “She seems pretty normal. Then again, I didn’t think Rachel was crazy. So, who the fuck knows. I don’t claim Rachel though. She’s not ruining my track record. Hang on.” 

     Sadie went to go help Liam make drinks before he caused a scene again. Left alone, I took the opportunity to take another look at the girl playing pool. She was standing straight now, the stick poised in her delicate hand. Twisting it subconsciously as she talked to the guy who had been near her.

     He was overly friendly as he looked down at her with an eager smile. For a moment, I wondered if he was her boyfriend, even with the passive expression that led me to believe overwise. Rethinking it, she probably wouldn’t come pick up guys if she had a boyfriend, hopefully. After Rachel, I wasn’t giving anyone the benefit of the doubt. Her polite smile stayed glued to her face, barely hiding her boredom. 

      I’d give her something to be fucking excited about. I jarringly, thought to myself. 

     After Rachel, I’d strictly sworn off anything longer than a fuck. I wasn’t ruining the trip I had put so much effort into planning. That fact was still true, despite Sadie’s mystery girl. 

     “Those’re her coworkers.” I looked back at Sadie who had an arrogant smirk on her face. She wiggled her eyebrows at me. “I’ve actually been hoping you’d come in so I could introduce the two of you. Earlier this week, her friend was making a point to let it be known that she needed to get laid.”

     “How sad for you.” I muttered sarcastically. 

     “Very,” she snorted as she rolled her eyes. 

     That explained their professional attire. Rough time at work, needing to get laid: it looked like things were in my favor. A random night with a stranger might just be what she needs. Maybe, I’d get lucky and she’d have some kink up the sleeve of the tight button up she was wearing. If only I could get rid of that itch to make her mine.

     As I took another drink, I knew I was getting ahead of myself. Sadie could tell what I was thinking my way towards approval. She grabbed her pack of smokes from under the counter. 

     “I’m going outside. Need anything?” Sadie winked at me.

     “I’m fine.” I nodded towards Liam who was drowning again. “Liam’s not.”

     “Liam can suck my dick.”

     “You never know,” I joked. “He might be into that.” 

      That gave her a good booming laugh as she left to go out back. I went back to people-watching without Sadie’s humor to keep me entertained. When Liam finally realized she’d left, he mumbled angrily under his breath as he struggled to make drinks. 

     Suddenly, I felt an invasive presence walk up beside me. Glancing over, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Sadie’s mystery girl had come up to the bar. Instantly, I regretted not asking Sadie the girl’s name before she left.

     She didn’t look over as she sat her empty beer on the bar and waved at Liam.

     “Sadie went out back to smoke a cigarette.” I could tell Liam was definitely pissed at Sadie as he offered to pour the girl a drink.

     “It’s okay,” she called in a sing-song sort of way. My ear perked at the melodious sound, but I resisted turning my head completely as I watched their interaction play out in my peripheral. 

     Faking interest in my drink, I saw Liam come over and lean on the counter. He threw his towel over his shoulder with a bit too much bravado and flashed the girl a smile, putting the charm on for her. “You know, Lexie, I can make drinks just as good as Sadie. You’re just having beer anyways.”

     Liam’s pride was admirable. I doubted he could make a drink like Sadie though. I’d have to give the kid a chance. I chuckled to myself as I listened for Lexie’s response.

     “Oh, Liam!” The girl was bubbly, that was for sure. “It’s not that! I was telling Sadie about work earlier, but she got busy.”

     Liam didn't seem to believe that Sadie would quit talking to someone because she got busy, but he didn’t push it as Lexie returned his flirtation.

     “Maybe, Stella and I will come back later and we’ll let you make us drinks.”  The amount of irritation the harmless exchange got under my skin bothered me. Clearly though, she wasn’t flirting if she was bringing her friend back with her. I was glad when Liam returned to his drink tickets that were piling up while he talked to Lexie. 

     Hypocrite.

     Lexie, texting on her phone, was distracted and I took my chance to turn my head further in her direction to observe. She made a face at her phone that made me smirk before her expression returned to the sullen passive look from before. She sent a few more texts, her lips curled up at the corners slightly. Not once though, did she smile.

      Even without a smile, she was breathtaking. From her profile, her features of her face fit her small frame perfectly. Unprepared, I was struck again by the thought of her petite wrists bound in leather, helpless, this time accompanied by the image of her body curling under me. Her sighing broke my absentminded dreaming and I watched as Lexie dropped her head into her hand. 

     “Rough night?” I questioned genuinely.

     Let’s see how I can fix that. 

     Slowly, Lexie lifted her head with a glare that I knew was meant to ward me off. 

     Man, if looks could fucking kill. 

     Unintimidated, I didn’t adjust my gaze. Her mouth had parted with the words she was about to snap at me as the glare in her eyes faded. I resisted the urge to laugh as I waited for her answer while she took a procrastinating sip of the frothy end of her beer.

     “More like a rough week.”

     Even better. I thought, surprised she actually answered. That was a good sign at least.

     “Oh. Yeah?” I took another drink as I reassessed the direction I was approaching Lexie with. Clearly, straightforward wouldn’t work. “What do you do?”

     Lexie eyed me suspiciously. She was going to be harder to crack than I thought, breaking her would just be that much more fun. 

     “I’m a sales rep at a car dealership.”

     Car dealership? Interesting. Raising my eyebrow, I thought about how much I’d like to fuck her in a car. 

     “You like cars?” I asked, trying to warm her up. She wasn’t giving me much to work with. “Or do you like the sales?”

     “What if I like both?” She asked flippantly, and my head ran off with the sexual meaning she hadn’t intended.

     The more this woman resisted, the more she intrigued me and fucking turned me on. Something about Lexie made it extremely easy to get glaringly sidetracked. Before I could answer, she pulled a card out of her phone case and handed it to me. 

     “If you’re looking for a new car, I’m there almost every day.”

Her tone was businesslike, but still bubbly. I wondered if she was aware of the natural purr that was hidden within it anyways. 

     “Well,” I flipped the card over. Her handwriting was just as bubbly as the persona she had projected for Liam. I could only imagine how many cars this girl sold. 

      Why hadn’t I gotten the reaction Liam did? At least, I had her number now and her name. “Alexis. I actually just purchased a new car.” 

     The slightest, most indistinct slunk her shoulders did was encouraging, but I ignored it as I continued. “But, if you want, I can hold onto it in case any of my friends were looking.”

     The hitch in her chest said it all and I knew I had my in. Suddenly, I wasn’t interested in taking Alexis back to my car, or anywhere else for that matter tonight. She obviously wasn’t interested in that right now anyways. I greedily wanted her at my disposal much more than just once. Interrupting us, Sadie came bounding in much faster than she normally did. She must’ve known she was gone for too long. Sadie’s eyes were brimmed with red and she had a goofy grin plastered on her face. 

     “Lexie! You met Carter!” She chimed over exultantly. Hoping she’d get the idea, I shot her a pointed look to stop. “When he came in tonight, I thought you two might-”

     When she saw my face, Sadie stopped awkwardly mid-sentence and tossed her stuff back under the counter.  

    “Anyways, sorry, Lex.” Sadie rambled rushedly, “I got a call while I was out there. Liam came out and said you’d been waiting a while.”

     I tucked the card into my pocket as I listened to Sadie lie. Smirking at her excuse, I took a drink of my whiskey and glanced over at Lexie who had the same, knowing expression on her face. 

     There was a chorus of booming roars from the back of the room, I watched as Lexie turned around in horror. When she turned back, she was rolling her eyes at Sadie.

     “No worries, Sadie. Take your time.” 

     “I gotta wash some mugs anyways,” she said despite the fresh rack of beer mugs she had drying. Sadie took Lexie’s glass and then left us alone again. 

     Lexie didn’t turn back to me and I wondered if she was done talking to me. Tense, she was perched on one foot as she leaned against the counter. The other foot tapped restlessly, signaling her nerves.

     “Those are your coworkers.” 

      It was a statement.  I wasn’t really sure why I said it though. Startled, Lexie snapped her head up at me with a look of confusion that turned to irritation. Hopefully, I wasn’t reading signals wrong and her irritation was at them, not me.

     “Unfortunately,” she shook her head in annoyance.

     “But, you’re out with them on a Friday night?” 

     Did she want to date the guy she was talking to? Maybe, they had something going on. It would be much simpler if I could just ask her straight out, if she wasn’t so damn shut off. I didn’t know why I even cared?

     “‘Bonding’ with a bunch of ex-frat boys is not my idea of a good time.”

     Lexie gave a sour chuckle then looked down and fidgeted with her phone. As her cheeks flushed red, she tugged her lip into her mouth and I wondered what thoughts were going through her pretty little head. I wanted to fucking torture her for them. 

     Fuck.

     I needed to say something, and it couldn’t fucking be that.

     “Are you looking for a new job?” I asked without thinking.

     IT SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THAT, I yelled at myself internally. 

     Becca was going to fucking kill me. I just wouldn’t tell my sister anything that would come in the way of her hiring this woman that I suddenly was making clearly stupid decisions for. I’d simply say she tried to sell me a car. 

     As I took in the change in Lexie’s demeanor though, I didn’t give a fuck if Becca actually did kill me. The surprise in Lexie’s eyes and the half-disbelieving smile on her face was worth it. I’d do it again. Curiosity got the better of her and Lexie raised a curved brow at me.

     “Are you offering me a job?” She purred. 

     Oh, now someone wanted to be friendly. 

     Lexie rolled her eyes in my direction in a sexy way and looked up at me from under her lashes with deep brown eyes. My cock twitched frustratingly, and I was extremely grateful it wasn’t my dealership. I wouldn’t be offering her a damn job if it was. Not if I was going to fuck her, and I was definitely intending on it. 

     “Sadly, no.” 

     I’d rather be offering you something more satisfying, I thought as I watched Lexie’s disappointment sink back in. She rolled her eyes at me in anger this time. Her expressions and their quickness were fascinating.

     “But, if you’re sick of the washed up frat boys back there, I’m sure a friend of mine could use someone with the drive you do.”

     She didn’t perk up like I expected her to. Instead, the suspicion had returned. Taking Becca’s card out of my wallet, I handed it to her without a word. Lexie’s eyes widened as she looked at it and then, back up at me with her jaw dropped. I wanted to stick something in that mouth of hers, a lot of things actually. Staying focused, I pushed the thought from my head.

     “If you’re interested, go tomorrow before they open and she’ll meet with you. I’ll text her before I leave and let her know to expect you.”

     Becca would make a fuss about it, but she’d do it for me… probably. Lexie chewed her lip again as she looked down at the card again as she shifted where she stood uncomfortably. 

     “Does tomorrow not work for you?” I guessed.

    “My best friends may kill me if I bail on them again for a job…” Her voice trailed off as she looked back down. “But…”

      Interesting. Becca would like that she was a workaholic. 

      “Sunday, then,” I said a little sharper than I had intended. The surprised look on Lexie’s face was an unexpected turn-on that was extremely enjoyable. “In the afternoon. Does two work for you?”

     “Yes,” she blinked at me in shock.

     “Good. Be on time.” I couldn’t resist the chance to try to gauge her reaction again. “Becca doesn’t like people who are late.”

      Lexie still seemed stunned as Sadie sat our drinks on the counter. Sadie knew to keep filling mine until I told her not to. Nice of her to not pull the ‘I forgot’ card again. From the look on her face though, I knew she’d been listening from her sinks. She was obviously giddy.

     As Sadie headed over to her register, I called out to her, “Hey, Sadie. Will you put her beer on my tab?”

     Lexie didn’t look at me as she raised a finger at Sadie, or maybe it was at me. She wasn’t raising her finger at me, was she? I resisted the urge to grab her hand out of the air.

    “No, Sadie, do not. I need to close my tab out.” Lexie’s voice was firm. “Please, make sure it’s on there.”

     Sadie was unsure and uncomfortable as she looked between us. Lexie’s ‘please’  and suspended finger in the air had me too distracted to insist. As she handed the check to Lexie, I knew what she had done. 

     Lexie handed over a surprising amount of cash over to Sadie for her two beers with a winning smile. Giving Sadie an irritated look, I took a long draw from my drink. Lexie turned to look at me straight on with a breathtaking confidence that almost knocked me out of my seat. 

Taking my eyes away from Sadie, I gave Lexie my full attention. 

     “While I appreciate the offer,” Lexie’s soft tone got under my skin as I realized my error in judgment with her apparent independence. “If you really can get me out of my shitty job. I should be buying you a drink.”

     Her words caught me incredibly off-guard. Honestly, I wasn’t sure a woman had ever offered to buy me a drink. The sparkle in her eye and the alluring smile she flashed, showing me her perfect teeth for the first time, was stirring a monster she had no fucking idea was coming for her. She took my fucking breath away and that wasn’t how this was supposed to go.

     “It was nice to meet you, Carter." Lexie purred, sultry and smooth, as she stuck out her hand. “Thank you very much.”

     The words were seemingly genuine. Her reactions were certainly genuine. Everything about her seemed fucking genuine. As I slowly reached my hand out, I couldn’t help but question where this girl fucking came from. It took all the strength I had not to pull Lexie into my arms right there as I wrapped my hand completely around her dainty one. 

     One kiss and she’d have no idea what kind of spell she’d fallen under. Sadly, it would have to wait for now, until after my trip.

     While our conversation had not gone how I had thought in any way, I was pleasantly okay with the new direction this was taking. Maybe, letting her buy me that drink would just do the trick…

     “The pleasure was all mine, Alexis,” I assured her as I enjoyed the way her name rolled off my tongue one last time. Lexie’s face flushed crimson again and she snatched her hand back as if I had shocked her. 

      I gave her a half-smile before watching her leave, hips swaying with that ass of hers delectably, purposefully. She didn’t look back as she walked back to her coworkers. Fucking confident.

     Turning back to Sadie, I shot daggers at her. She was prepared and waiting with a reply, knowing I would snap at her the first moment we were alone. 

     “Don’t fucking look at me like that Carter. You may be the best tipper I know, but I see her at least twice a week and she ain’t too bad herself. Don’t ask me to piss off a regular.” She leaned forward and pointed at me. “You want some loyalty. Why don’t you show it yourself?”

     “Alright. You got me.” I caved so I could get the info needed. Plus, she actually seemed offended, even if she wouldn’t admit it. I’d have to make it a point to stop in before I left. I leaned in slightly and lowered my voice. “You’re really hurt I didn’t come by, aren’t you?”

     “Fuck you, Carter.” 

     “I missed you too, Sadie.” She rolled her eyes at my words, unbudgingly. “And, your taste in women.”

     I winked at her and sat back in my seat to take a drink. Excited by my admission, she forgot her irritation and leaned on the counter to interrogate.

     “You offered her a fucking job at a dealership that’s not yours.” She stated bluntly. When I didn’t offer an explanation, she pushed for one. “What the fuck is that going to do?” 

     “I did give her a solution to a problem of hers that’ll keep her on my radar. It’s my sister’s dealership.” I explained with a confident smile. “She wasn’t budging. I wasn’t going to waste my breath.”

     Rolling her eyes, Sadie stood and crossed her arms to give me a half-amused, half-irritated look. 

     “Sade, I’m leaving again in like a month.” I leaned onto the counter, resting on my elbow. “I’m not trying to start anything serious right now.” 

     “You said for the night. I told you she needed to get laid. Bam.” Sadie smacked her hands dramatically. “There you go. Now, you’re trying to start something?”

     “I don’t know.” I admitted. “You were right though. She is something else.”  

     “Yeah, good luck with that,” she grumbled with thick sarcasm. 

     Looking across the room, Lexie surprised me by being right in my line of view. Dancing with the same guy she had been playing pool with earlier, seemingly unaware she was in perfect line of sight. With Sadie’s sarcastic doubt ringing in my head, I watched her as she moved with this awkward boy, clearly not enjoying herself. 

     Then, she looked up and our eyes locked. Lexie’s breath caught the same way it had earlier. This time though, it was followed by the cutest surprised jerk of her head. I wasn’t going to let her leave with the upperhand.

     “I did get her number though.” I tried to soften Sadie’s frustration. 

     “Well, I guess that’s a start. I couldn’t believe she offered to buy you a drink,” Sadie cackled.

     “Yeah,” I agreed absentmindedly as I finished my drink and told Sadie to wait to pour another one.         “I’ll be back.”

     The song was close to changing. Slowly, I made my way over to where I could ease in closer to her. As the song ended, I was surprised to see Lexie give the sneakiest glance over to the bar she had walked away from earlier without a second thought. 

     Stepping closer, I saw there was disappointment on her face as she turned back forward and found us face to face. Beside us, Lexie’s friend was attempting to show some sort of chivalry, but he looked like he was going to throw a tantrum instead. Paying him no attention, I glanced down at Lexie’s stunned face. The sight made me grin down at her. Blushing again with parted lips, I reveled in her fucking perfection.

      “Since you wouldn’t let me buy your beer, will you at least humor me with one dance?” I made sure the questioning was emphasized, for her benefit. As Lexie took in the words, looking perplexed, her chest rose faster. 

     “I suppose,” she sighed, blinking. It wasn’t quite the answer I was expecting, but it was satisfying nonetheless. Closing the distance between us, my hand stretched out for her. As I pulled her closer, I realized that dancing with her had been a dangerously foolish idea.

     Her feather light touch on my arms was an undoing sensation. To my delight, Lexie moved much more freely than she had before. All I could imagine was the different ways I could restrain her movements. As I traced her delicate frame, I realized my hands would probably be enough to do the fucking trick. As if she had heard me, Lexie looked up under her lashes with those deep eyes and I almost kissed her. 

     Lexie's lips were still parted and the dazed expression in her eyes was too easy to get lost in. Wrapping my hands around her hips, she gave no resistance as I turned her and trailed them across her waist. Surrounded by the scent of her hair, I breathed her in as she slipped her fingers between mine. Lexie’s head fell just slightly to the side, relaxed. I had the strong urge to wrap my mouth around the crevice of her neck and fuck her just like this. 

     Suddenly, Lexie was squirming in my arms making the thoughts worse as she turned herself back around. Panting, the fire was in her eyes too, threatening all the plans I was already making. Saving us, the song began to change again and I let go of her regretfully. It was for the better though, at least until I got back. This would just be much too complicated.

     “As much as I’d like to keep you,” I paused for her reaction and could have sworn I saw a flutter near her delicate collarbone. “I know you have somewhere to be.”

     Flustered, she pulled her phone out to check it and seemed relieved when the screen lit up. I wondered what she was checking for, the friend Sadie had mentioned or someone else? Fuck, even her panicking was adorable.

     “Sunday. At two.” I barked, needing to get away from her intoxicating presence. “Becca will be expecting you.”

      Well, she would be once I told her. I had all of tomorrow to text her and grovel; I’d go stop by her place if I had to. I hadn’t seen her in a while anyway.

     “Yes, sir,” Lexie scoffed sarcastically and my jaw almost dropped at the fucking perfect, unexpected words. If only she knew. Her tone was more sincere when she spoke again. “Thank you again though, seriously.”

     Still reeling towards the teasing remark, I somehow managed to gather my thoughts. Looking at Lexie, I tried to commit her stunning face to my memory to hold me until the next time I saw her.

     “You’re welcome, Alexis. I hope it all works out for you.” 

     Desperate for relief from her presence, I didn’t wait for a response as I headed back towards my seat at the bar.

      What the fuck just happened?