Chapter 2 #2
“Well, before opening the bar, I was a musician. When I was younger, I wrote some cheesy love songs and some even worse breakup songs. I had quite a few muses back then.” His smile wasn’t arrogant but more bashful.
“I liked the idea behind the Greek version, that someone whispers ideas in artists’ ears. ”
“So you see music as art?” I asked, happy someone thought like I did.
He laughed. “Yeah, I’m a bit too much, aren’t I?” He grabbed one of the bottles and turned toward the shelf behind the bar.
“No, I wouldn’t say that. I—”
“Hailey,” Neil said, settling on the barstool next to me. “Sorry I’m late.”
I blinked at him but knew better than to tell him I hadn’t even realized he was late. Jack moved down the bar toward someone who caught his eye to order.
“It’s okay,” I told Neil. “I’m glad you got here before whoever we’re meeting.” It would have been extra awkward to meet them alone. I wasn’t even sure what they looked like.
Neil’s eyes slid down my outfit, his mouth hardening as he sighed. “You could have put in a bit more effort.”
My hand tightened on my drink, the condensation on the glass making my skin clammy.
“Can I get you something?” Jack asked Neil. He wasn’t wearing the smile I’d seen before.
“Um, yeah. It’s a whiskey bar, right?” Neil looked at the line of bottles. “Do you have any recommendations?”
“Depends on what kind of whiskey you like,” Jack said. “Though if you’re new to it, we’ve got a few flights. Or I could make you an old-fashioned, which is a popular choice.”
“That last one, I guess. Any type of whiskey is fine,” Neil said. When Jack turned away, Neil leaned closer to me. “Are you anxious?”
I hadn’t been while I’d talked to Sean or Jack, but now that Neil was reminding me what we were there for, the tightening in my chest was back. “A little.”
“It’ll be good. I’m sure of it,” Neil tried to reassure me, but all I could think about was how long he’d been talking to this couple to be so confident. It seemed like it’d been longer than a week, but he’d denied it.
“Here you go,” Jack said, sliding Neil his drink. “Did you want to open a tab?”
“You can put it on hers,” Neil said, tilting his head toward me.
Jack looked at me with a raised eyebrow. Shifting on my seat, I nodded. I wasn’t sure why I felt embarrassed. While Neil and I kept our finances separate, we shared expenses all the time. I made more money than he did, so I’d often offer to pick up the bill.
It felt different when Neil just assumed.
“Neil and Hailey?” a voice asked from behind us.
We turned around to face the couple we’d come to meet, and my heartbeat sped up.
The woman wore a clingy top that showed off her assets paired with tight jeans.
Her dark hair was long and wavy, like I’d always envied.
The man next to her was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.
He had styled hair, a trim beard, and the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.
His outfit was more business than casual, with the sleeves of the black button-down shirt rolled up to show off his strong forearms. The front was unbuttoned enough to display a chain around his neck and a few strands of curling dark chest hair.
Neil scrambled up from his barstool while I gaped, and I hurried to snap my mouth shut and stand as well. He held out his hand to the man. “Hello, Victor.” After a quick clasp, he turned to the woman next. “And Lexi.” He flushed as he tried not to stare at her chest.
Lexi laughed, taking his hand in both of hers and leaning in. “Don’t be so nervous. You said this is the first time for you, so it’s understandable, but I promise we don’t bite.” She winked at Neil. “Not unless you ask.”
His skin turned even redder.
“Don’t come on too strong,” Victor warned her, holding his hand out to me. When I went to take it, instead of shaking my hand, he lifted it to his lips for a kiss. “It’s very nice to finally meet you, Hailey.”
“Oh, um, yes,” I mumbled, pulling my hand back and catching myself so I wouldn’t wipe it off against my jeans to stop it from tingling.
“Here, I’ll move down a seat,” Neil offered, shifting a barstool away from me. The hair along my neck stood up when the couple sat on either side of me, boxing me in. Lexi was between Neil and me now, but instead of turning toward him, she was looking me over.
“Breathe, Hailey,” she said with a smile and a shoulder bump. “This won’t be as overwhelming as it might seem. We all know what this is, right?”
“Um, not really.” I tried to look past her to Neil, but he was staring down her shirt and wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Neil said he wanted me to meet another couple who might be able to help us, but I’m not sure exactly what that means.”
“You can’t imagine?” Victor asked, leaning closer to my opposite shoulder. More tingles raced across my arm, from his closeness but also from the huskiness of his voice. There was something almost potent about the man, as if confidence leaked out of his pores.
I was out of my depth, and I could feel it. I suddenly wished I could slip off the barstool and go home.