Chapter 12Olivia #2
“How are we doing so far? Can I get you anything?”
That same tenor growls deep just like it did this morning, his earthy scent relentlessly licking my skin. My belly coils a mile a minute as I hook onto Lauren’s gaze, desperation painting my eyes as I silently beg her to shoo him away.
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
Lauren’s brows cave before her chin angles up to him. “I’m sorry, what’s your name?”
“Cade.”
Motherfucker, even his name is sexy.
A stupid-ass grin is plastered across Lauren’s mouth when she nods silently. No words exit her mouth, and instead, she just creepily stares at him.
Seriously, Lauren?
This is why she needs to get out more. She can’t be trusted.
I inwardly roll my eyes, unable to fathom that this shit show is unfolding in front of me and I’m being forced to watch it.
“Look …” I utter, stapling my eyes to him. “We’re not interested.”
I swear his crystal eyes quiver, and the startlement reaches the crook of his mouth right after. “Well, I wasn’t asking if you were interested.” He buries both hands in his jeans pockets, slightly widening his stance. “I was just wondering if I could get either of you another drink.”
“No,” I quip. “I definitely don’t want you to buy me a drink. Are we done with that now?”
A hint of a smirk carves from his face, straight teeth flashing in the corner.
Then he pops his eyes up to the wall behind me.
“I didn’t say buy . I asked to get you a drink.
” He jerks a shoulder, his stunning face greeting my vision once again.
“As in you’d be buying your own drink, and I would get it from the bar. Happily .”
All the prepared insults dissolve in my mouth, confusion trickling through me when my head rotates to peer in back of me. “If I can give you some advice,” I say before circling my attention to him, “you may want to work on those pick-up lines of yours. They’re not the best.”
Cade’s eyes narrow, head mindfully tilting. “Picking up women isn’t really part of my job description.”
Fuck, fuck, fuckitty fuck, fuck.
“Ohhh,” Lauren croaks under her breath. “Didn’t see that one coming.”
I pierce her with a fatal glare, my jaw setting as she elevates her drink to her lips. Unbothered and ready to enjoy the showdown.
Thanks, Lauren.
And again, what the actual fuck? Where did this guy even come from?
“Then your bartending skills need some work,” I challenge, meeting his amused gaze. “This drink sucks.”
His brows cave, his left hand withdrawing from his pocket to gesture toward my beer. “Is that why it’s eighty percent finished?”
“I was thirsty.”
“What makes you so sure I bartended your drink? It could’ve easily been Jake.”
I follow the direction his stubbled chin bobs. Over my shoulder, I catch a glimpse of the blond-haired man that served me and Lauren before. “You just told me you worked here.” I steer my gaze back to his, sitting taller now. “You also have a knack for ruining things. Like people’s days.”
He’s cocking a weary grin, his throat rolling in tandem. Almost like there’s a shred of sympathy residing inside of him. Shocking. “May I ask for your name?”
“Absolutely not,” I scoff, wagging my head.
“It’s not fair that you know my name and I don’t know yours.”
“I didn’t ask for your name,” I retort before jabbing an index finger toward Lauren. “She did.”
“Come on, aren’t sworn enemies supposed to at least know each other’s names or something?” he taunts coolly.
“That’s definitely not a thing,” I deadpan, creasing my brows in feigned disgust. “And even if it was, you don’t deserve to know it.”
“I just think it would make the process more personal when I have to talk with the bartender who made your drink. I can’t have customers thinking our drinks suck . It would be a huge dent in all the progress we’ve made the past few months.”
I shrug like I don’t have a care in the world, but in reality, I’m two seconds away from shitting a brick.
“Then maybe you should talk to the owner about hiring better equipped employees.” Before my eyes have to linger around his stupidly handsome face, I turn so that my forearms are crossed over the bar top.
“I’ll let him know,” he retorts.
“Oh, you reach a limit on arguing?” I ask, collecting a sip of my beer. “That’s shocking.”
“Contrary to popular belief, I’m not a fighter.
Most of the time at least.” He utters that last sentence softly, practically under his breath.
“I guess you just bring out the best in me.” Electric sparks burst inside me when he curls around my side, swiping the beer glass I just placed down.
His tattooed hand is too quick for me to refute the gesture, and a mahogany aroma hypnotizes me regardless.
“I’ll be sure to salvage your night, ma’am. Least I can do, yeah?”
“Lucky me,” I manage, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
And then he’s gone, the draft of his movement knocking into me.
“So, he’s a little rough around the edges …” Lauren trails off.
I close my eyes, my fingers pressing into both temples. “I swear I have a headache from talking to him. Emotional whiplash between hating him and drooling over his looks.”
“I won’t judge,” she assures, lifting her beer. “You do you, Liv.”
“Excuse me?”
My eyes pop open, greeted by Jake’s shy smile. “Yes?”
“My boss told me you weren’t satisfied with your drink. He insisted that I make you another one without charge. Would you like another?”
A cinderblock plants itself on top of my belly. “Your boss?” I ask.
“Yeah, Cade.” Jake cocks a golden brow, his upper body twisting in his black t-shirt. Then he points out Cade, who’s at the end of the bar serving customers. “He’s the owner.”
A pool of heat radiates along my cheeks, and I don’t have to look in a mirror to know I’m as bright as a maraschino cherry. Of course, when Cade flicks a glance my way, his smug expression says it all.
He won.
I swiftly rip my gaze from him, telling Jake another drink isn’t necessary. And after repeating the same question three more times, he eventually vacates the spot in front of me.
A hushed grunt slips from my lips, my chest leaning over my tangled forearms. “Can someone please tell me what I did to deserve this man’s presence in my life? He’s practically getting off on tormenting me.”
“There could be worse things,” Lauren jokes. “He could look like Gollum.”
I sigh, planting my palm on my forehead. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Come on,” she insists, tapping my upper arm. “It’s not like we have to come here anymore after this. Let’s just make the best of tonight since we’re already here. What do you think?”
My lips purse. “Yeah, I guess that’s true. No one’s forcing me to come here again, and there are plenty of other breweries we could visit after tonight.”
Lauren springs a grin from ear to ear, floating her beer glass between us. “To tonight.”
I roll my eyes, showcasing a smirk when I hail Jake back over.