Page 9

9

SLATER

I t’s been a good night at the bar overall, and I’ve been in a good mood. Of course, that probably has something to do with the memories of the last few days I’ve spent with Sierra flashing through my mind. The sex with her has been amazing. Mind-blowing. But it’s more than that.

The more time we spend together, the more I want to spend with her. The more I learn about her, the more I want to learn about her. Sierra is unlike anybody I’ve ever met before. She’s simply intoxicating. She’s like a drug, and I can’t get enough of the high she gives me. And like any good drug, she leaves me wanting another hit.

“Hey, Slater, two more over here?”

A young guy I recognize from my social media page is leaning against the bar, trying to flag me down. I give him a nod and start to work on his drinks. As I do, I see Sierra come through the door. Our eyes meet, and she gives me a wide, warm smile that not just puts a jolt through my heart but tightens my balls as well. She looks so innocent and demure, and for the most part, she is. But behind closed doors, she’s an absolute filthy little girl. It’s fucking hot. What makes it even hotter is that I know that side of her is for me and me alone. That side of her is mine. She’s mine.

She sits down at the bar and offers me a flirty little smile. “Hey.”

“Hey,” I reply. “Where’s Moni?”

“Not sure. Probably out with some guy.”

I nod. “Thought you had a paper to write tonight?”

“I seem to recall you inviting me to hang out for a bit.”

“What about your paper?”

“What can I say? You’re a terrible influence, and I’m probably going to flunk out of school because of you,” she says with a giggle.

I frown at her. When we started doing whatever it is we’re doing, I told her the last thing I wanted to do was get in the way of her schoolwork. I know how seriously she takes her education. It’s something I admire about her, and I don’t want to be the reason she starts slacking off. As if she’s reading my thoughts, she laughs.

“Relax,” she says. “I finished my paper. It’s why I’m here so late.”

“Ahh, good. A celebratory drink then.”

“A celebratory drink.”

“What would you like?”

“I’ll put it in your capable hands.”

I tip her a wink. “What else would you like to put in my capable hands?”

Her giggle is high and girlish, and she looks down as her cheeks flush bright red. The two sides of her personality—one so innocent, the other absolutely wanton—turn me on more than I can say. I love that she can flip that switch, going from na?ve to filthy in the blink of an eye. She’s the best of both worlds, and that dichotomy to her personality is like catnip to me. I am so powerfully attracted to both sides of it that I sometimes have a hard time thinking straight around her. And when I’m not with her, all I can think about is the next time I will be.

At the same time, I can’t deny feeling a twinge of guilt about doing all this with Sierra behind her brother’s back. Derek is not going to understand. And he’s most certainly not going to like it when he finds out. But like Sierra said, she is a grown woman. She’s an adult who is capable of making her own decisions in this life. She’s more than capable of choosing who she wants to spend time with. All I can hope for is that Derek will come around to understand that.

“Here you go,” I say as I put a drink in front of her.

“What do you have for me?”

“This is called California Wildfire.”

She looks at me skeptically. “And what’s in it?”

“Fireball, a little Cointreau, a dash of Goldschlager, and orange juice.”

“That sounds repulsive.”

“Don’t knock it ‘till you try it.”

Still eyeballing me with an amused smirk, Sierra takes a sip. It’s a strong drink, and she winces. It quickly fades, and she nods and smiles.

“This shouldn’t work,” she says, “but for some weird reason, it does.”

“I’m not one to say I told you so,” I reply. “But I told you so.”

“Yeah, all right. Laugh it up.”

“You just need to have a little faith in me. That’s all.”

“I do trust you.”

Her eyes linger on mine, and I know there’s more behind her words than she’s saying. She trusts me. It’s a simple statement, and yet I know it means much more than that. She’s put her faith in me. Put her trust in me that I’m not going to hurt her. It’s something I value. No, it’s something that I treasure. I’m going to do everything in my power to show her she was right to put that faith and trust in me. Sierra is mine. And I take care of what’s mine.

“Looks like you’ve got a good crowd in tonight,” she says.

“Yeah, it’s been good,” I reply. “But I’m ready to go home.”

“Tired?” she asks in a suggestive tone.

“Not all that tired.”

“Good.”

“Hold that thought,” I say.

I walk down to the other end of the bar to take care of a few patrons, talking and laughing with them for a few minutes. As much as I like to, I can’t spend all my time with Sierra, not when some of these people came out to see me.

“I appreciate you guys coming out,” I say, wrapping up the brief conversation.

After shaking hands with them, I turn and make a few more drinks for customers clamoring for some libations. As I do, I notice Stu hovering over Sierra. I can tell she’s trying to be polite, but she’s growing increasingly uncomfortable with the way he’s looming over her and keeps touching her. He’s staring at her in that creepy, inappropriate way he did the last time she was in. And I don’t like it any more now than I did then. In fact, I like it even less.

I finish up what I’m doing then make my way down to Sierra, who gives me a pleading look. Stu has his hand on her shoulder and is laughing wildly at something that, judging by the look on Sierra’s face, isn’t nearly as funny as he thinks it is. His face red, he turns as I walk toward him, and his smile falters slightly. He quickly takes his hand off her shoulder.

“I was just telling Sierra here about that guy who was in here earlier? The one who fell off his stool?” he cackles.

“Yeah. That was funny,” I deadpan, then turn to Sierra. “You okay?”

“Why wouldn’t she be okay?” Stu says indignantly.

Ignoring him, I press her with my eyes. “You all right?”

“I was just talking to her,” Stu huffs. “This is a social place?—”

“Enough,” I growl. “Walk away, Stu.”

“Maybe you forgot, but this is my place?—”

“And this crowd is in here because of me,” I snap. “Now, unless you want this place to get really empty, really fucking quick—and stay that way—you should shut the fuck up and walk away.”

Stu looks at me like I just slapped him across the face. He glances at Sierra, who looks away. He blinks and walks off without another word.

“Clearly, I should avoid this bar,” Sierra says.

“I should too,” I reply.

“Slater, I don’t want to affect you doing your job.”

“I don’t do this for the money. I do it because it gives me a break from fixing toilets. I do it because it’s fun,” I say. “This stopped being fun.”

“Slater—”

“Listen, finish up your drink and head on home. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Are you sure?”

I flash her a smile. “Very.”

Sierra doesn’t even finish her drink. She simply slides off her stool and heads out of the bar, my eyes fixed on that divinely perfect ass as she goes. It makes me anxious to get home and put my hands all over it. Stu sidles up next to me, a look of displeasure on his face.

“I don’t know what your problem is, but I was just chattin’ that girl up like I do with everybody else who comes through those doors?—”

“Let me just stop you right there. You don’t leer at everybody who comes through those doors like you were leering at her. You were making her uncomfortable.”

“Like hell I was.”

“You should learn to read your audience, Stu.”

“I don’t appreciate the way you’re talking to me right now.”

I shrug. “I tell it like it is.”

“Yeah, well, in case you forgot, this is my place,” he says. “And I’m not going to have you treating me like an asshole in my own place.”

“Don’t act like an asshole, I won’t treat you like an asshole.”

“Who in the hell do you think you are?”

“Me? I’m the guy that filled your bar tonight.”

Stu glares at me, his jaw clenched. He looks like he wants to take a swing at me, but I know he won’t. He doesn’t have it in him.

“You know what? I’m done,” I say.

“What?”

I take off the apron around my waist and throw it down on the bar. “I’m done.”

“You can’t?—”

“I can. And I am.”

He growls at me. “You walk out that door, don’t you ever come back.”

“Don’t worry. Wasn’t planning on it.”

“Slater, don’t you dare?—”

Before he can finish that sentence, I head for the door and shout a loud goodbye to everybody in the bar. Immediately, I hear the disgruntled groans from the patrons and Stu offering a free round to everyone who stays. I laugh as I push through the door and step out into the night. I’ve got far better things to do with my time than dealing with an asshole like Stu.