I shouldn’t have even started this.
So it was time to end it.
“I’m feelin’ like making tips tonight, not cleanin’ up blood,” I decreed.
“Like you could cut me,” Ryker scoffed.
“Don’t underestimate a pissed off woman,” I warned.
“That’s why I got sugar in my bed, not spice. Don’t ever need to worry about that shit,” Ryker stated.
This was going nowhere.
“I need to get to work,” I muttered, turning to the office.
“Cher,” Ryker called.
I sighed and looked back to him.
“Lissa’s over the moon,” he shared.
That might be true, but it was Ryker who was happy for me.
“You’re all soft under all that crazy,” I replied.
He grinned a grin that many children would witness and have nightmares for decades.
“Don’t tell anyone.”
I rolled my eyes and walked to the office to get rid of my purse. When I walked out, Dee was out on the floor with her tray, which meant I was back of the bar with Feb.
I got the lay of the land, made some drinks, then hit my posse at the end.
“You ready for your show?” I asked Dusty.
She made pottery. It was awesome pottery, but I didn’t get it since she also made a shit-ton of money off it. Apparently, some people really liked pottery. Enough to spend hundreds of dollars on just one piece.
“Yeah,” she answered. “And I’ve set a piece aside to give to you and Merry for your wedding.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Don’t you start with that shit. You’re a chick. You’re supposed to have my back.”
“It’s more fun to mess with you,” she returned.
Damn.
I should have seen it coming.
Dusty was a lot like me. She had some girlie in her but not much. Mostly she was a straight shooter who had it completely together.
I lifted my hand and did a sweep of the far end of the bar, declaring, “I think Feb can cover you all with drinks.”
“Weak,” Cal grunted.
“I need to be in a good disposition to earn tips,” I retorted.
“Why?” he shot back. “You been earnin’ tips for years not in one.”
He had a point.
“You can kiss my ass too,” I returned.
“Lame,” he muttered.
He was not wrong.
God, with Merry giving me the warm and squishy, making me happy, I was losing my edge.
I wasn’t proud of continuing the lameness, but I actually did have to earn tips.
So I muttered back, “Whatever,” and wandered down the bar.
The night wore on and it was Friday at J&J’s. Time to herald in the weekend and do it right by going out, throwing a few back, and communing with your ’burg brethren.
So I was busy.
And it was much later when the opportunity was afforded to him.
Being Benny, he took it.
Cal was deep in conversation with Ryker and Colt, Vi at his side, his arm curled around her neck, holding her close. And Mike, Dusty, and Frankie were gabbing with Dee, who was standing with them, carrying a full tray of empties.
Benny was in on the Cal conversation, but he made himself free to catch my eyes when I was forced down their way to nab a bottle of beer that was in the fridge closest to them.
“Happy?” he asked quietly, just for me.
“Yeah,” I answered quietly, just for him.
“Good,” he replied and gave me the flash of his white, movie star smile.
He was wrong.
It wasn’t good.
It was beautiful.
But I didn’t correct him.
I looked to his pregnant wife, then back to him.
He knew what beauty meant.
I shot him a return smile.
Then, before anyone noticed our moment and gave me shit about it, I ended it and got back to work.
*
Saturday Afternoon
I slid my lips up Merry’s throat as the last tremors of my orgasm drifted out of me.
I could tell the last of Merry’s were still with him at the thick gruffness of his voice when he murmured, “Seems my brown-eyed girl can make love.”
I smiled.
My kid was at a friend’s house, hanging out.
And I was at Merry’s condo, trying my hand at giving as good as I got.
Seemed I’d succeeded.
Hold On
Kristen Ashley's books
- Holding the Dream
- Dance Upon the Air
- High Noon
- Moon Island(Vampire Destiny Book 7)
- Illusion(The Vampire Destiny Book 2)
- Upon A Midnight Clear
- Son Of The Morning
- MacKenzie's mission(MacKenzie Family Saga #2)
- Loving Evangeline(Patterson-Cannon Family series #1)
- A Billionaire's Redemption
- A Convenient Proposal
- A Dishonorable Knight
- A Headstrong Woman
- A Passion for Pleasure
- Atonement
- Beyond a Doubt
- Beyond Control
- Cavanaugh on Duty
- Colton's Dilemma (Shadow Breeds)
- Conceal, Protect
- Conflict of Interest
- Confessing to the Cowboy
- Dreams Don't Wait
- Explosive Attraction
- Find Wonder in All Things
- Forbidden Fires (Bondage & Breakfast)
- Galveston Between Wind and Water
- Game On
- Gone with the Wolf
- Honor's Players
- Illusions of Love
- Intaglio Dragons All The Way Down
- Just One Song
- Living London
- Lone Wolf (Shifters Unbound)
- Love Resolution
- Lyon's Crew
- Mountain Moonlight
- Need A Want Companion Novel
- Of One Heart
- Once a Bad Girl
- Once a Thief
- Once Again a Bride
- Once and Again
- Once Touched, Never Forgotten
- Once Upon a Kiss
- Once Upon a Prince
- One Desert Night
- One More Kiss
- One More Sleepless Night
- One Night of Misbehavior
- One Night Standoff
- One Texas Night
- Only Love (The Atonement Series)
- Operation Endurance
- Primal Bonds
- Questions of Trust A Medical Romance
- Reflection Point
- Retribution
- Savage Redemption
- Second Chance
- Secure Location
- Someone I Used to Know
- Son of a Preacher Man
- Soul Bonded
- Sunset Seduction
- Sweet as Honey (The Seven Sisters)
- Sweet On You
- Tempting Cameron
- That Carrington Magic
- The Bridgertons Happily Ever After
- The Demon's Song
- The Dragon and the Pearl
- The Lone Rancher
- The Millionaire Cowboy's Secret
- Translation of Love
- Twisted Perfection
- Vision In White
- When Love's Gone Country
- The Lost Tycoon
- Down on Her Knees
- Love, Your Concierge
- A Demon Made Me Do It
- Campbell_Book One
- The Lady of Bolton Hill
- Born to Ride_A Clubhouse Collection
- A Question of Honor
- Blood on Copperhead Trail
- Passion and the Prince
- Top Secret Twenty-One
- Dungeon Royale
- Make Me Bad(Private Lessons)
- My Fair Billionaire
- Writing Our Song:A Billionaire Romance
- Kissed by Moonlight
- Redemption in Love
- The Masterful Mr. Montague
- Diamonds are Forever
- Every Second with You
- If You Only Knew