Ice Contact (Milwaukee Steel Riders #1)

4. Olivia

4

olivia

T here is a guy in a baseball cap sitting at the bar talking to me. Blinking, I suck in a sharp breath. At least…I think he’s talking to me. I’m watching his lips move, but I can’t hear the words. I can’t seem to form my own words either. This guy is good looking. As in Zoolander’s ‘really, really, ridiculously good looking.’ And he’s staring at me with the sexiest brown eyes I’ve ever seen. Okay, Olivia, calm your tits. Stop looking at his eyes and focus . He’s talking to you. Say something back.

“What?” is the only word my mouth can form. Smooth, Liv, real smooth.

“You mentioned you needed help getting your gear in your car? I can help,” he says again with a smile that is both friendly and a little smoldering. I’m not actually sure what smoldering means, but it’s in a lot of the romance novels I read. I study him quickly, a small smile breaking through the pain of the night. His smile is definitely smoldering . But I cannot let this random guy, with an incredibly chiseled jawline, help me load equipment into my car. Even if he is extremely handsome. Especially because he is extremely handsome. After all, I have a boyfriend…who’s left me blinking back tears and ditched me to play video games with his friends.

My chest tightens and I swallow the lump in my throat. Is this how relationships are supposed to be?

“Oh, right,” I reply to Mr. Handsome-Eyes, my smile feeling more forced. “Thank you for the offer, but I don’t take random equipment hauling help from strangers.”

“That seems like a very specific thing to have a rule about.” He smirks, his eyes sparking in the low light.

“Don’t you watch Dateline?” He lifts a brow, his lips twitching as he tries to stay serious. “I say yes, and the next thing you know, my family and friends will be talking about how I was the type of person that ‘lit up a room,’ but I’ll be dead at the bottom of the lake.” He laughs at my analogy, and my heart flutters at the sound.

“Well, how about we not be strangers?” he teases with a warm smile. “I’m Hayes. And if you don’t mind me saying so, you do light up the room.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks as he extends his hand, I reach out to meet it for a friendly handshake. “I’m Olivia. Nice to meet you, Hayes.”

My pulse races at the roughness of his hands on mine. His grip is firm, yet somehow still gentle. He holds my hand for a few seconds longer than the normal friendly handshake amount of time, and I don’t mind one bit, sparks erupting across my body.

“Nice to meet you, Olivia. See, now we aren’t strangers. So, like I said, I’d be glad to assist getting your equipment to your car after your set is over.”

I look over to Johnny who smiles at me with a wink, as if he’s vetted this guy already. Biting my lip, I stare at the water Johnny hands me . I really could use the help . Walt is not an option. Johnny can’t leave the bar unattended for long. And Cayden ditched me. Why should I not accept a little help from a willing bar patron?

I take a sip of my water as I look his way. “I have to go play my next set, but if you’re still here when I’m done, we’ll get better acquainted so this doesn’t turn into a made-for-TV movie.”

He looks at me with that damn smile again as he laughs. “I’m not going anywhere.”

My face flushes at his words. Okay, what in the actual fuck is happening?

“Here’s your Strongbow, as requested, Liv. Great job tonight. That new song of yours you sang at the beginning of this last set is catchy! You got talent, girl,” Johnny says to me as he hands me my drink. I’m not a huge beer person, but I love a good cider beer, and this one is not overly sweet. It’s like a beer with a hint of cider. Or maybe a cider with a hint of beer? Regardless, I convinced Walt to keep it on draft, and he was surprised when it became a popular drink here.

“Thanks Johnny. As my bartender, and personal cider dealer, you are required by law to say nice things to me.” I wink. “But I appreciate it anyway.”

He gives me a snarky look. “You know I do not dole out compliments if I don’t mean ‘em, Liv.” I give him a smile back. He’s a sweet older man who knows every person, and their drink, in this bar. He’s worked here with Walt since the bar opened and is always great with advice. Unless it’s advice you don’t want to hear. Even if it’s what you need to hear.

“He’s right, you know,” Hayes says. My new acquaintance is still here. And still talking to me. A mix of disbelief and warmth floods through me. Cayden never hangs out, never sticks around. This shouldn’t feel so surprising, but it does. “You’re really talented. And I also don’t give out compliments unless I mean them.” He raises his glass towards Johnny in agreement.

Why is it suddenly so hot in this bar? Is the air-conditioning out? I haven’t even had a sip of my drink yet, so I know it’s not that. I’m too young for hot flashes; right? Is this early menopause? If not, this very handsome man just told me I’m talented. Really talented. And, earlier, he told me I lit up a room. I glance at him from the corner of my eye. Did he mean that? Surely, he’s only referring to my singing. Because with those sexy brown eyes, gorgeous smile, and I think blond hair peeking out from underneath his hat, this guy is way out of my league. He has to be one of those guys who has a high level of sarcasm. He’s just being funny. He’s probably like this with his girlfriend all the time. He has to have a girlfriend.

“Well, thank you; I appreciate the kind words. I messed up a couple of times. I know I could have done better,” I reply as I take a sip of my drink. I’ve never been sure how to take a compliment. I never know if people mean what they say or if they are just being polite.

“You know, it’s okay to accept a compliment without pointing out your mistakes. I was listening quite diligently, and I didn’t hear any. Remember, I don’t give out praise unless someone is deserving.”

I swear I saw him wink as he finished his last statement. And for some reason the word praise makes it seem a bit warmer in here. What the hell is happening to me? I’ll talk to Walt later about the HVAC needing a tune-up.

“I know, I know. I’m my own worst critic. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so it’s hard to mess up and accept a compliment. Probably why this beer is needed to calm down the adrenaline running through me after I perform,” I say as I take a sip, hoping it will steady my nerves and stop my legs from nervously swinging, too short to reach the bar stool’s footrest.

Hayes swivels his seat to face me, leaning in and more engaged in our conversation. “It’s crazy you get to sing here. Do you ever get nervous performing?”

“I get a little case of the butterflies right before I perform, but I feel like it’s such a thrill to sing in front of a crowd. As soon as it’s over, I’m exhausted and relieved to be done. But I also can’t wait to do it again immediately. When I don’t have another gig for a while, I’ll just spend my days criticizing my every mistake and working to get better.” My cheeks flush as I glance back to the stage. “Sorry, that’s probably a weird concept, and wow , am I rambling on like a total psycho. I’ll leave you to your drink while I go pack up my gear.”

He reaches over and places his hand on top of mine, keeping me in my seat. “Do you have to pack right now? Finish your drink, and I’ll finish mine, then I’ll help you pack up and haul your equipment to your car.”

My heart pounds in my chest at his touch. I should say no. I’ll just go pack up my stuff and head home. I open my mouth to tell him no, but, with his sexy eyes staring into mine, the only word I can form is, “Okay.”

Hayes flashes his devastatingly handsome smile at my response as his fingers tap along the side of his drink. “How long have you lived in Milwaukee?”

“I’ve been here about eight years. Moved here from a really small town in Illinois you will never have heard of. Got a job opportunity here and wanted a change of pace from small-town life. Don’t get me wrong, growing up where everybody knows everybody is great. But the downside of that, as an adult, is everybody knows everybody.” I grimace, feeling the walls close in around me. “They are always all up in your business, telling you what you should be doing, what you shouldn’t be doing, and it’s… a lot . Plus, I’m more of a city girl. There are more things to do here and way less corn fields and nosy people. I love the hustle and bustle of the busy city, but also the joy of finding hidden gems where you feel like you’re the only person there.” I glance around Walt’s, feeling at home in the packed bar. “Plus, the weather in the summer is gorgeous. The breeze off the lake…there’s nothing like it. It’s-” Biting my lip, I feel my cheeks heat as I force myself to take another sip of my drink. Stop rambling, Olivia. This guy does not care about small towns, wind, or corn fields.

“How about you, Hayes? How long have you lived here in Milwaukee?”

He looks at his watch, and my heart sinks. He’s probably got to go meet his smoking hot girlfriend. Stupid for me to think someone, especially this guy and his smile that won’t quit, would actually help me tonight. But he glances up with a shy smile and says, “Exactly twelve hours, thirty-seven minutes, and maybe a few seconds. I just moved to town today.”

He’s new in town. Interesting. I watch him with a newfound curiosity. There’s something fascinating about seeing someone discover this place for the first time.

“What brought you here to the good land of Milwaukee?”

“Same as you,” he replies. “I moved here for a job. I also needed a change of pace. Plus, my hometown did not have a lot of opportunities to help haul equipment out of a bar into a non-stranger’s car,” he says as I laugh. I am a sucker for a good sense of humor, one that gets me to laugh and calm down. I can’t help but notice he keeps referring to only himself. Not a we to be heard. That has to be a sign he’s single, right?

I mentally knock my forehead into the wall . What are you doing Olivia… you are not single . I need this guy to put some sunglasses on pronto; those brown eyes boring into my soul are not helping me remember I have a boyfriend. One who is currently getting drunk with his roommates who are all too old to be sitting in a living room getting plastered and playing a stupid hockey video game.

“I think you’re going to love it here.” I smile as I raise my almost empty glass towards him. “Cheers to new beginnings!” I shout with a smile.

He raises his glass to clink mine back. “To not-strangers. I think I’m going to love it here, too.”