Chapter 8 #2
“No one uses notebooks anymore. Everyone utilizes their phones for that kind of thing,” he replies without a hint of judgment in his voice. It’s as if he doesn’t quite believe that I’m hand writing something instead of using the app on my phone to take notes.
I lift my shoulders and set my pen down. “I’ve always been more of a physical notetaker. My dad used to do that behind the bar, and I think it just stuck.”
“May I?” he asks, pointing to the open book.
“Sure.”
He reaches for it and starts thumbing through the pages. He lands on the doodles I made with name options and logo designs, even though I knew I was going to turn the latter part over to Aunt BJ. It was still fun to tinker around with ideas and put them down on paper.
“Is this where your logo was born?” he asks, pointing to one of the designs.
“It is. I’m not an artist, obviously, but it was a rough draft to give BJ a starting point.”
He nods in understanding and flips a few more pages. When he lands on the list of ideas I’ve been coming up with to draw in a bigger crowd, especially the ladies’ night, he looks my way. “This is what my brother was talking about.” It’s not a question.
“It is.”
He scans the list. “What’s a paint night?”
“A night where customers can come in and paint a canvas, usually with a predetermined design. I thought about offering it monthly, with a different theme.”
Collin seems to consider the idea. “That might be kinda cool.”
“And guys can do it too, if they wanted. I’d have drink specials and maybe some snacks too. I’ve also considered a wine and cheese night, karaoke, and even live music on Saturdays. It’s a huge draw at Burgers and Brew.”
His eyes sparkle a little as he looks up. “And little black dress night?”
I feel my cheeks heat up a bit as I nod. “I might incorporate that with the wine and cheese night. Like a charcuterie board type of thing.”
“A char-coochie-what?”
The bubble of laughter slides easily out of my mouth, and I lift my hand to cover it. “Oh my God, not a coochie. A charcuterie board. A board with lots of different meats, cheese, fruits, nuts, and chocolates.”
His eyebrows pull together in confusion.
“I don’t know if that sounds better or not?
” he replies, shrugging his shoulders and making me giggle even more.
The way he furrows his brow in concentration, yet his eyes hint with mischief and his mouth teases something dirty, makes me suddenly very hyperfocused on his nearness.
There’s a bar between us, yet we could reach out and touch the other if we wanted to.
And damn, do I suddenly really want to…
Clearing my throat, I add, “It was just an idea I had.”
He holds my gaze for several seconds before replying, “These are good. I think you should give them a try.”
“Hey, Lizzie, mind if I get another when you got a sec?” Tom hollers, pulling my attention away from Collin.
“Yep!”
Just as I turn to move to the other end of the bar, I hear, “Even the little black dress night, but only if you’ll be wearing one too.”
I pause and glance over my shoulder at the man sitting behind me.
He smirks, knowing exactly what he said and not at all embarrassed by it.
It’s a heady feeling and it leaves me torn on what to do about it.
On one hand, he’s my employee. I know it’s frowned upon to date coworkers or employees, and while I’ve managed to avoid it to this point, it’s not a rule I set for myself.
Not like my dad did back in the day. Well, until my mom and I broke through his defenses and his rules.
And there has been all this sexual tension between us.
I noticed it right away, last Monday night, when I dropped by the bar before the closing date when I got the keys.
It wasn’t until he found out who I was that his own defensive walls were slammed back into place, and he made his displeasure with me very clear.
However, before that, there was a spark.
I felt it.
He felt it.
Now that spark seems to be alive and well, growing as the minutes pass by.
As I pour a draft for Tom, I think about all the possibilities and the repercussions.
There are plenty on both sides of the coin.
The fact we work together, and if we started something and it went south, what would that mean for our working relationship?
Then there’s his job. Not the fact he’s a fireman and has a dedicated work schedule, because let’s face it, my schedule right now is a little wacky too.
It’s the fact he’s a first responder. A very brave, noble career, but also scary too, especially on this end of it.
He puts himself in danger, in the line of fire on the daily. Can I deal with that?
Of course, I’m probably getting way ahead of myself here.
Just because we’ve flirted a little bit doesn’t mean we’re headed for a relationship.
In fact, the best thing I can do is to just hang back and let it play out.
Be me. Don’t jump with both feet but have my eyes open to the possibilities, all while keeping my head focused on the major life-changing things I’ve set out to do.
I sigh, setting the fresh beer down in front of Tom and marking his drink with a tally on the sheet of paper, while offering the customer a smile.
Maybe considering a thing with Collin is a bad idea.
I have way too much going on in my life to add nurturing a new relationship into the mix.
I didn’t come here looking for love. I moved to Cooper Town and purchased this old bar as a way of setting out on my own, paving my own path.
It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember, and getting tangled up in the sheets with someone who works here might jeopardize everything.
But then my eyes seek him out, completely on their own.
His brother moved back down to where he’s sitting and leans in to say something to him.
When he does, Collin looks up and our eyes slam together once more.
There’s a sexual charge hanging in the air, waiting to devour, and I have no clue what to do about it.
I can’t turn my back on it, so what does that mean?
I guess time will tell.