Page 6 of Crash and Burn

Grant removed his hand cupping my cheek and leaned back into his seat, not seeming startled or bothered at all. I, however, was left reeling from the loss of his touch.

"Great news!" Manny boomed with a clap of his hands.

I jumped off my stool with wide eyes.

"You're not closing anymore?" I asked. "We still get to keep our jobs?"

"Yes, and no." Manny grinned.

"Which part is yes and which part is no?" Grant asked, a skeptical look on his face.

"My bar is closing but there's another one opening in its place," Manny explained. "Walt here has agreed to buy it out." He gestured to the burly, tattooed man next to him.

Walt, the owner of our rival bar and the guy who managed to stay in business with his famous clientele, gave us a nod.

"I've been looking to expand," he said in a gruff voice. "We'll renovate and reopen. Hopefully get some new business."

"What about us?" I asked, trying not to sound frantic.

The barest hint of a smile appeared on Walt's lips.

"I'm going to need someone to run the place, aren't I?" he said.

I gasped and turned to Grant with a look of disbelief. He was beaming from ear to ear.

"Looks like we were worried for nothing," he said.

Elation filled my chest. I wasn't going to be unemployed. I still had a job.

And I was still going to see Grant every day.

Without thinking about it I threw my arms around Grant's neck and squeezed, laughing into his ear with delight. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me in return, squeezing back. His chest was warm against mine, the firmness of his muscles just as enticing as they had been in my daydream.

I breathed deep, taking in that earthy scent, unable to keep a grin off my face.

I finally pulled back and looked into Grant's eyes. I had the sudden urge to plant a kiss on his lips, just as I had imagined doing.

Grant's gaze dropped to my mouth.

"That a yes?" Walt asked, interrupting the moment.

I hastened to pull back and leave the circle of Grant's arms. He held on to me for a second before relaxing his grip. He swiveled on his chair and faced the two men.

"That's a hell yes," Grant replied. "But what's going to happen with Manny?"

Manny snorted.

"This guy made me a good offer, don't you worry about that," he replied, jabbing his thumb at Walt.

Grant began asking for some more details, and I should have been listening but my mind was elsewhere.

I had been so close to telling Grant how I felt about him. Or at least, I'd imagined I had been.

What would he have thought, what would he have said, if I had gone ahead and done it? If I had said the words out loud?

That paralyzing fear returned. My heart thudded in my chest so loud I thought the others might hear.

Not yet,I told myself.