CHAPTER 15
Sonnie
My phone had been buzzing in my pocket for long enough to let me know it was important and whoever was calling, kept calling. I slipped into the bathroom and left Kacey at the bar alone to see who it was. Immediately, I had another incoming call from Rosie. With a sinking stomach, I answered with a panicked tone to my voice.
“It took you long enough to answer.” Rosie sounded absolutely fine, just annoyed. “Can I spend the night at Rachel’s house? Her dad’s out of town and her mom’s letting her have a movie thing.”
My heart was still beating overtime so I answered with more than a little of my own annoyance. “You just blew up my phone while I’m at work to ask me if you can go to a sleepover?”
“Well? Should I have just gone?”
I blew out a hard breath. “No. You were right to call and ask. You scared me, though. I thought something was wrong.”
“You worry too much, Sonnie. Do you ever have any fun at all?”
I thought about how I’d kissed three men outside of my workplace and leaned against the bathroom door as the endorphins came back to me.
Rosie gagged. “Whatever you’re thinking about, can it. Gross. Can I go, or not?”
I cleared my throat. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll text Rachel’s mom to make sure you’re there all night, so don’t bullshit me.”
“Whatever.” She paused. “Can you feed Monster for me?”
“Yeah. I can do that. Is Rachel picking you up?” I realized I was talking to no one as she’d already hung up. “Love you, too, you brat.”
I went back out to the bar and saw Cole had come over for his turn to get the beer. Kacey was trying to flirt with him, but the second he saw me, his smile made it clear that he was there for me, and me alone.
I grabbed three beers and leaned over the bar top to get closer. “Are you three just going to stay here all night?”
His eyes trailed down to my cleavage and slowly back up to my face. “We’re driving you home.”
I might’ve pressed my elbows closer together to let him see more of my cleavage. I felt wild and I was having fun. I liked teasing them. “I could just catch a ride.”
He reached out and ran his finger under the strap of my tank top. His gaze followed the trail of his finger. “You’re catching a ride with us.”
“My sister just called me. She’s spending the night at a friend’s house.” I felt my cheeks heat as I said the words, but I didn’t look away. I let him interpret my words how he wanted to.
“We can’t have you there all by yourself.” He ran his hand up the side of my neck and into my hair. I felt sweaty from running around the bar, but he didn’t seem to care as he pulled me even closer. “Do you have work tomorrow?”
I nodded and stared at his mouth, wondering how I could get him to kiss me again. “Yeah. Why?”
His smirk had all my blood rushing to my nipples and core. “Just wanted to know how much sleep you need tonight.”
I bit my lip and tried to avoid moaning. I was still aware the bar was full around us. “I don’t get off until two.”
His eyes flashed mischievously as he leaned in and pressed his mouth against my ear. His lips brushed my skin as he spoke. “Play your cards right and you could be getting off not long after two.”
I felt my face heat and cursed my inability to be sexy without wanting to giggle. I turned my head to press a kiss to his cheek and when he didn’t pull away, I hovered and moved closer to his mouth. I’d just pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips when Jerry called out to me. Jerking away, I cleared my throat and looked down at the bar top. “I’d better get back to it.”
He let me go and went back to their table. I got busy working and when Jerry shouted last-call, I sagged against the bar and blew out a rough breath. I was tired.
Kacey looked me over and then looked over at the table the guys were still sitting at. Women had circled them all night long, but they’d never looked twice. “Why don’t you go on and get out of here?”
There were still several people approaching the bar for one last drink. I gave her a curious look and shook my head. “I’m not leaving you with clean up. It’s fine.”
“No, you were right earlier. I was barely working. I can finish this and I’ll make Jerry help me close. If he complains, I’ll remind him of how much money we made him tonight.” She nodded at the guys. “I’ll remind him of how you brought in celebrities and now his bar will be written up in tabloids.”
I snorted. “No one’s going to write about this place.”
“Either way. Get. Go while you can.” She looked at the tip jar. “Go ahead and take that. You deserve it.”
“No. Hell no. I’m not taking all of the tips. You’ve lost your mind.” I reached down and grabbed the jar. While she took care of a few customers, I separated the tips and slid her half into her back pocket before making a show of setting the tip jar on the counter in front of the last customers. “Don’t forget to tip your bartender! Isn’t she great?!”
Kacey laughed while they cheered and pushed me towards the end of the bar. “Go. Before Jerry sees you and decides to tell you a two-minute story over a thirty-minute time period.”
“Thank you!” I tossed my apron under the bar and grabbed my t-shirt. I didn’t put it back on and I wasn’t willing to admit to myself I was making a conscious decision to stay underdressed in front of the guys.
Drake looked up at me first when I approached. “Hey.”
I smiled shyly and looked around the table at the three of them. “I’m ready to go if you are. Kacey’s covering closing for me.”
They each stood up fast enough their chairs squeaked across the floor and drew eyes our way. If they noticed, they didn’t care. Drake took my hand and led me out of the bar.
“Are you guys good to drive?”
Price rested his hand on my back as he walked next to me. “Yeah. We had our last beer a while ago. I wouldn’t chance our precious cargo.”
I laughed and grinned at Cole when he opened the back door of the SUV for me. “This is a lot of chivalry to waste on one woman.”
“Hardly.” Drake helped me into my seat and leaned in close to buckle me in. “I heard Rosie isn’t at home tonight.”
I bit my lip and nodded.
“Do you want to see my kitchen?” He might as well have asked me if I wanted to see his naked body. The answer to both was a resounding yes .
I was nodding like a bobble-head when I remembered Monster. “I have to feed Monster first.”
“I’d like to meet this Monster. Drake had nothing good to say about him.” Cole claimed his seat next to me again and reached over to take my hand. “I’m sure he’s not as bad as Drake made him out to be.”
Famous last words.