Chapter 4
FOUR
The night air had grown chilly and a misty grey fog was settling on the city as Jenna, Cormac and Dylan made their way into the bar. EJ, the bartender, looked up as they entered.
“Jenna! Good to see you back. It’s been a while.” He smiled, giving her an appreciative once over.
“Hey, EJ, nice to be back.” She felt Cormac inch closer to her back and she said, “This is Dylan’s friend Cormac. Cormac, this is EJ.”
EJ gave him a quick nod of the head and Cormac did the same.
“What can I get for you?”
“Can I get a Margherita, EJ? Dylan, Cormac, what do you want to drink?”
“I’ll have whatever’s on tap, EJ,” Dylan said.
“Whiskey, please,” Cormac requested.
They settled in at the bar. Jenna and Dylan both took stools and Cormac leaned his tall frame against the bar as he surveyed the room.
Jenna couldn’t help but notice the women at nearby tables giving him the once over.
For some reason she couldn’t name, she reached out to touch his hand.
She was surprised by the warm sensation that made its way up her arm at the feel of his skin.
Cormac looked at her, head tipped, questioning. Was he feeling it too?
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” she lied. She could feel the warmth making its way up to her face and knew she was blushing … again. Thankfully the lighting in the bar was dim and she hoped he wouldn’t notice.
“I be fine, lass. What of ye? Are ye well then?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
EJ arrived with their drinks.
“Dylan says you’re from Scotland. I’ve given you the finest Scotch Whiskey we have. I hope you enjoy it.”
Cormac took a sip, appearing to savor the flavor of the drink. “Tis verra good. It rivals the finest I’ve ever had. Thank ye.”
Jenna couldn’t help noticing that Cormac and EJ were sizing each other up.
She knew EJ had a secret crush on her and Cormac was under some delusion that she was going to marry him.
They were doing that posturing thing that guys did.
The testosterone flying around the bar was palpable and was making it somewhat uncomfortable for her.
A group at a table near the stage started waving and calling to her.
“Jenna, Jenna!”
“Oh, no,” she said under her breath. “Hi.” She reluctantly smiled and waved back.
“Who are they?” Cormac asked.
“Some friends of my ex.”
“I take it yer not happy to see them.”
“No. I can’t say that I am.”
Dylan had wandered off and was talking to a group of girls at the far end of the bar. Cormac picked up Jenna’s drink and smelled it. “What is this drink?” he asked.
“It’s a Margherita. It’s made with tequila. Taste it,” Jenna offered.
Cormac did as she suggested and she could see from his facial expressions that he was searching his brain to identify the taste. “Hmmm …” was all he said.
“Don’t you like it?” Jenna asked.
He lifted his glass. “I prefer the whiskey.”
Music was playing in the background and people were filtering up towards the stage to take their turn at singing.
“Cormac, you have a horrified look on your face. You’re not enjoying the music,” Jenna observed.
“They sound like yowling cats, lass. I’ve never heard the like. Those people shouldnae be singing. They be verra bad at it.”
“That’s kind of the idea. People come in, have enough drinks to get their courage up, and then go up and sing their hearts out. Sometimes they’re good and sometimes they’re pretty awful.”
Cormac appeared skeptical. The song ended and there was a slight smattering of polite applause.
Dylan sauntered onto the stage and the bar patrons erupted in cheers.
Dylan chose to sing Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi.
Unlike most people who tried singing that song, Dylan did it justice.
He belted it out and had a swarm of women dancing at the foot of the stage.
Jenna was laughing as she watched.
“He sings well, lass.”
“Yes, he does. It’s one of the reasons he likes to come here. He’s a frustrated rock singer. That and the girls love him.”
“I can see that they do. What of you? Do ye sing?”
“Not usually.”
Cormac was about to speak when Dylan’s song ended to whistles and applause. He bowed and left the stage accompanied by his little band of groupies.
“Jenna, Jenna!” Her ex’s friends were calling. “Jenna, sing! Come on, please!”
Jenna just shook her head at them. They weren’t about to take no for an answer and started chanting her name. She rolled her eyes and stood.
“I guess I’m singing,” she said to Cormac, who gave her a brilliant smile.
As she approached the stage, someone in the group called out, “Sing Rollin in the Deep, by Adele.”
Cormac watched appreciatively as Jenna made her way on stage and stood behind the strange metal pole the people sang into.
He noticed it made their voices louder. When Jenna opened her mouth and began to sing, he was in awe.
She had the most beautiful voice. She sang like an angel.
Other people in the bar stopped what they were doing and paid attention, obviously enjoying her song.
People in the bar applauded and cheered when Jenna finished singing.
She had a happy smile on her face as she made her way back to the bar and Cormac.
“Ye sing beautifully, Jenna,” he said with admiration. “I’ve never heard such a wee lass with such a big voice.”
Jenna laughed and Cormac thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was looking at him differently than she had earlier in the day and he thought he might stand a chance.
The door opened and a tall, lanky man with spiky brown hair entered. He walked up behind Jenna, poked her in the ribs and leaned in so his mouth was right by her ear.
“Hey, babe, miss me?”
“I’m afraid not, Jonathan.” Jenna eyed him suspiciously and Cormac moved a little closer to her. He felt an urge to shove this man away from Jenna, but he waited to see what this was all about. Edna had warned him that things were different in this time.
“Aw, come on, not even just a little bit?” Jonathan tugged on a lock of her hair.
“Knock it off, Jonathan.” Jenna’s face which just moments before had been happy was now looking very angry. Cormac put his arm around her shoulders, effectively blocking Jonathan from further contact with her.
“Who’s this? Is he your new man?” Jonathan sneered as he looked Cormac up and down.
“Aye. Yer right. I am and I suggest ye leave the lady be.”
“Lady? That’s a good one. When did people start calling you that?” he asked Jenna. When she did not respond he continued. “She’s no lady and you’re welcome to her. She’ll make your life miserable just like she did mine.”
“Cormac, really, you don’t have to protect me from this jackass.” She glared at both men.
“Aye. I believe I do. Tis my duty as yer man.” A slow smile spread across his lips and his eyes looked directly into hers. Jenna began to feel a bit warm under his scrutiny, his gaze hypnotic.
“Jonathan. Go bother somebody else.” Jenna dismissed him and returned her attention to Cormac.
“Jonny, man, it looks like there’s an empty stage and a microphone with your name on it,” EJ said, as he attempted to diffuse the situation.
“Thanks, EJ. Don’t mind if I do. This one’s for you, Jenna.” Jonathan blew her a kiss as he headed for the stage.
Jenna closed her eyes and shook her head.
“Lass, ye dinna need to listen to him.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
Jonathan made his way onto the stage and announced, “I’m dedicating this next song to my ex, Jenna. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I will.”
Jonathan’s friends began to cheer and laugh. Jenna could feel their eyes on her waiting for her reaction. She hadn’t taken her eyes off of Cormac.
Jonathan began to sing Hall and Oates, You’re A Rich Girl, with a slight change in lyrics.
Jenna stood and clenched her fists. Cormac could tell she was about to head for the stage and he wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her back against his chest. He held her delicate hand in his and using his thumb massaged the fist away.
Jenna sank into him and Cormac liked the feel of her body as it relaxed into his.
***
Jenna was so angry she was seeing red. She wanted to punch Jonathan so badly, but Cormac must have read her thoughts, because he pulled her into his embrace.
Her first instinct was to fight it, but she didn’t because it felt good to lean into the warmth of his body.
It instantly relaxed her and she forgot all about Jonathan and his You’re a Bitch song.
Sure his friends were all laughing at her expense, but they were his friends, not hers.
It obviously had been a mistake to come here tonight, but how could she have known he would be here.
Dylan headed her way with a concerned look on his face. “Don’t worry, Jenna. I’ll take care of him.”
“No. Nobody’s going to take care of him. Not you and not Cormac. I’m just going to ignore him.” Jenna reached out and grabbed Cormac’s whiskey and drank the rest of it in one swallow. “EJ can we get two more whiskeys, please.”
“Sure thing. Coming right up.”
Against her better judgement, Jenna downed the second whiskey, with Cormac giving her a puzzled look as he did the same.
EJ served them another drink and as they drank, Jenna explained that Jonathan had been a successful musician and she had sung back up for his band. That was before they got married and before he decided Jenna would be his meal ticket.Jonathan concluded his song and sauntered back their way.
“Not cool, man.” Dylan said, standing to his full height. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s a free world. I can sing whatever I want.” Jonathan directed his next comment Jenna’s way. “I can’t help it if that song is perfect for you, Jenna.” He laughed and looked back at his friends for their approval.
Jenna struggled to get out of Cormac’s embrace, but before she could move he had lifted her up and placed her behind him. He grabbed Jonathan by his shirt collar, lifting him off of the floor.