Chapter 22 Anna #2
Walking into Kalli’s Corral, I need a moment to adjust to a sensory overload.
Live music pumps throughout the place that features a dance floor among several high tops with stools.
The smell of beer and peanuts waft through the air and while the overhead lights are off, there’s track lighting at the bar and several spotlights in the place.
I can already tell tonight is going to be fun.
As I take everything in, Amanda leads us to a large table where several people from work are already seated.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Keaton says, that dimple popping and making me weak in the knees.
“I saved you a seat.” He pulls out the stool right beside him.
Sitting down, he leans over and whispers so only I can hear him, his hand placed on the small of my back.
“You look fucking stunning tonight, Baby.”
That damn nickname has me melting as electricity shoots through my body at his touch.
I don’t hide my gaze as I allow myself to drink him in.
He changed out his slacks for a pair of jeans, but he’s still wearing his daily button-up with the rolled sleeves giving me delicious access to eye fuck his arms. There are a lot of places on a man to love, but the arms get me every time.
And Keaton’s are the very best. “Back at ya,” I say with a grin, appreciating how natural it feels to flirt with him.
Did I just fucking flirt with my boss? Yes.
Yes, I did. And it felt amazing. It felt right.
My mind pulls out a projector and shows me stills from our time together in Vegas.
Being with Keaton is so easy and I’m really tired of life being hard.
Maybe a night of flirting and fun is what the two of us need.
Our table fills up quickly and we are easily the loudest and rowdiest in the place. As I glance around, I see Camden but notice Lincoln’s absence. “Linc didn’t want to join?”
Camden answers on behalf of his brother. “He’s staying in with Charlie to watch a new movie. She’s been really big into My Little Pony lately.”
“That sounds like so much fun for Lincoln,” I smile cheekily. “Does he miss out on nights like this a lot?”
This time Keaton answers. “We include him the best we can, but it’s the life of a single dad.
Mama watches Charlie pretty often but here lately she’s not, um, been feeling well.
” I note the sadness in Keaton’s expression as he mentions his mom.
I’m eager to learn more about that, but I won’t push the subject tonight.
“Let’s dance!” Amanda shouts and most of the table gets up to head to the dance floor, including myself and Keaton.
The bluegrass band on the stage has been playing popular hits with their touch of twang and I laugh as I dance to renditions of Genie in a Bottle and I Want it That Way featuring mandolins, banjos, and fiddles.
We’ve been out here for close to an hour and although I’m having the time of my life, I can feel sweat beading at my forehead and rolling down my spine, so I excuse myself to go back to the table for a break.
Drinking down my hard cider, others come back to the table for some rest, and I notice Keaton in the mix. He smiles at me, and I can’t help but return it.
“You looked like you were having a lot of fun out there.”
“Were you watching me?” I ask, my eyebrows raised in curiosity.
He takes a drink before giving me a smirk that just barely conceals that left cheek dimple. “May have been.”
My heart and pussy flutter with desire. I love knowing his eyes were on me as my body rocked to the beat, writhing around the way it would as though he and I were a tangled heap of passion.
“I haven’t danced like that in years,” I confess. “The atmosphere here is amazing.”
“The company is even better,” he replies, leaning in so I can feel his breath brush against my face. His lips look so damn good and if I’m being honest with myself, working with him has completely thawed my icy heart. We both lean into each other, but are interrupted before things can get too far.
“Shit, no. Of all the dadgum nights,” Amanda huffs coming up to our table.
“What’s going on?” I ask, genuinely curious and concerned. She’s been having so much fun and I’m sure with being a mom to three little ones, these types of nights are few and far between.
“I am so sorry, girl, Jason just texted. Apparently, Sadie started throwing up and well, he’s a good dad, but he’s pretty helpless when it comes to that stuff. I hate to cut our night short, but I need to head home.”
Completely understanding, I go to grab my purse, but Keaton wraps his arm around my waist. I see Amanda’s eyes track the interaction. “You head on home and take care of your sick kid, Amanda. I’ll make sure Anna makes it home safely.”
My friend looks at me, her eyes lit up and a knowing smile spread across her face. “You okay with that, Anna?”
My voice is caught in my throat at both Keaton’s touch and someone’s knowledge that there is clearly something happening between us.
I don’t know what that something is just yet, but certain parts of me sure know what they want to be happening.
I nod and Amanda heads out of the bar. Everyone else is back on the dance floor, leaving me and Keaton alone at the table.
“I have a few confessions to make, Anna.”
I look up at him but say nothing. The heat in his eyes is a good indication of what at least one of those confessions might be.
“Number one. Our car rides together are the best part of my day.”
“Mine too,” I confess, making a small smile pull at his lips.
“Number two. I’ve been hard all night with the way those jeans hug your curves and those fucking perfect tits of yours are on display.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from whimpering out loud.
“And number three,” his words are breathy, “I have so many regrets about how I handled certain situations with you. But I will never regret the two of us standing in that chapel together and vowing to be together forever and always.”
My own breath catches as the familiar chords of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” begin to play. Keaton leans in to brush a kiss against my lips and I melt into him. It’s nothing compared to some of the heated moments we had in Vegas, but it sets my very soul on fire. “Dance with me?”
He holds my hand as we navigate through the crowd to find a place on the dance floor.
Holding me tightly against him, we sway back and forth to the song that was played during our wedding.
My head rests on his chest and despite the large crowd in a small town, everyone else seems to fade away. I’ve missed this. I’ve missed him.
“Keaton?” I say his name softly.
He hums in acknowledgement.
“Will you take me home?”