40. Abbie
40
ABBIE
T he familiar scent of whiskey and leather hits my nostrils as soon as I walk in. My uncertain hands shake as I tie my apron around my waist. A week away felt like an eternity, yet not long enough to process the disaster at Corey's house.
"Well look who decided to grace us with her presence." Lacey's voice carries across the room. "I was starting to think you'd found a better gig."
"Just needed some time off." I busy myself arranging glasses, avoiding her knowing gaze.
"Bullshit. Your face says different." She props herself on the counter, blonde hair falling over one shoulder. "Spill."
"It's nothing." The glass in my hand clinks too loudly as I set it down. "Just some relationship drama."
"Ah." Lacey reaches for the top shelf bourbon - the good stuff we're not supposed to touch. She pours two shots with practiced grace. "Those are the worst kind."
"I really shouldn't-"
"Doctor's orders." She pushes one glass toward me. "Best cure for a messed up relationship is alcohol and girl talk."
The bourbon burns sweet and warm down my throat. For a moment, I can almost forget the look on Chandler's face, the hurt in Corey's eyes, the electric tension with Donovan. Almost.
"Want to talk about it?" Lacey asks, already reaching for the bottle again.
"Not really much to say. Just got in over my head with someone. Multiple someones, actually."
"Damn girl." Lacey grins. "Didn't know you had it in you. Good for you."
"Neither did I." The second shot goes down easier than the first. "Now I wish I didn't."
A guy slides onto the barstool in front of me, all perfect white teeth and designer cologne. "Haven't seen you here before, lovely lady. I'm Jason."
"I work here actually. Just been away." My hands move on autopilot, wiping down the counter. His cologne reminds me of Corey's - expensive but subtle. Somehow the scent annoys me right now.
"Lucky for me you're back then." Jason leans forward, biceps flexing under his fitted shirt. "What's your best mixer?"
Any other time, this would be exactly my type. Confident without being cocky, well-dressed without trying too hard. But all I can fantasize about is how Donovan's arms felt around me, how Seth's eyes sparked when he laughed, how Corey's voice got all gravelly when he…
"Hello? Earth to beautiful bartender?" Jason waves his hand playfully.
"Sorry, um..." My cheeks flush. "What can I get you?"
"Your number would be nice." He winks. "But I'll settle for a vodka tonic."
As I mix his drink, my mind wanders to that night at Corey’s. The way Corey commanded the room, how Seth watched me with those hungry eyes. The feeling of Donovan's fingers against my skin in the hallway makes me fumble the bottle.
"Careful there." Jason catches it before it spills. His hand brushes mine and I jerk back like I've been burned.
"I need to..." The walls feel too close suddenly. "Lacey, can you cover for a minute? Restroom. Excuse me."
I don't wait for her response, just bolt for the employee restroom. The cool water on my hands helps clear my head, but my reflection in the mirror looks haunted. Three different men, all wanting pieces of me. All of them forbidden in their own ways. And here I am, unable to even flirt with a perfectly nice guy because I'm too tangled up in their web.
I splash cold water on my face, willing my racing heart to slow. What is happening here? One week ago I was boring, predictable Abbie. Now I'm juggling three impossibly gorgeous older men who've turned my world upside down.
The bathroom mirror offers no answers, just my flushed, frustrated reflection staring back. My lipstick needs touching up after those shots with Lacey. As I reapply it, my hands still shake slightly.
"Get it together," I mutter to myself. "You're at work. Be professional."
The familiar motions help - straightening my shirt, adjusting my apron, running fingers through my hair. I can do this. It's just another shift. Those men probably won't even come back after everything that happened.
Taking one final deep breath, I push open the bathroom door and head back to the bar. The Friday night crowd has picked up while I was gone. Good. Staying busy will help keep my mind off-
Oh shit.
My steps falter as I spot him. Donovan. He's wearing one of those fitted dark henleys that show off his arms, a few days of stubble darkening his jaw. My body instantly remembers his touch, his fingers, his whispered words against my neck.
Our eyes meet across the room. Heat floods my entire body as his gaze pins me in place, dark and knowing. There's no way I can pretend I don't see him. No way to hide behind other customers or busy work.
"Shit," I breathe out. My feet feel rooted to the floor, but I force a smile and move toward the bar, wondering what in the world he's going to say to me. What we're going to say to each other.
"Hey, can we talk?" Donovan's voice rolls over me like honey and bourbon.
"I'm working." My hands fidget with a glass, desperate for something to focus on besides those dark eyes.
"Five minutes. Please."
That 'please' undoes me. I look at Lacey who waves me off with a knowing smirk. Traitor.
"Fine. Five minutes." I lead him to a quiet corner of the room, away from prying eyes and ears. The scent of him follows close behind, making my skin tingle.
"Corey's a mess." Donovan lounges against the wall, close enough I catch his manly scent. "He hasn't slept right since that night. Seth keeps checking his phone every five minutes like a damn stalker."
My heart squeezes. "And you?"
"Me?" His lips quirk up. "I'm kicking myself for not getting to know you better before everything went sideways. For rushing things in that hallway instead of taking my time."
Heat blooms in my core at the memory. "Donovan..."
"Listen." He steps closer, voice dropping low. "Corey talked to Chandler. Really talked. And we think - all of us think - you deserve to hear us out. To understand what we're offering."
"All of you?" My voice comes out embarrassingly breathy.
"All of us." His fingers brush my arm, feather-light. "No pressure. No expectations. Just dinner, conversation, and complete honesty."
I should say no. Should walk away from this complicated mess of desire and forbidden attraction. But Donovan's touch burns through my sleeve, and the thought of seeing all three of them again makes my heart race.
"When?"
"Tomorrow night. Seth's place." His smile is pure sin. "What do you say, beautiful?"
I blink back hot tears as I step back, putting space between us. "I don't know, Donovan. Last time didn't exactly end well."
"That was different. No surprises this time." His eyes hold mine, steady and sure. "Just us, talking things through like adults."
The bar feels stifling suddenly, memories of that disastrous dinner flooding back. "What if Chandler shows up again?"
"He won't. Promise." Donovan's voice is gruff. "We'll be at Seth's place after your shift tomorrow night. Your choice if you want to join us."
"That simple?" I twist my apron between my fingers.
"That simple." He reaches out, stilling my nervous hands. "No pressure. No expectations. Just come hear us out. Nothing will happen unless you want it to."
The warmth of his touch sends tingles up my arms. Part of me wants to say yes immediately, to dive back into whatever this is between us. But the rational part of my brain screams this is a terrible idea.
"I'll think about it," I manage to say, pulling my hands free.
"That's all we ask." Donovan straightens, that dangerous smile playing at his lips again. "Hope to see you tomorrow."
He turns and walks away, leaving me breathless and confused. Through the window, I watch him climb into his truck, the engine's rumble matching my thundering heart.
"Girl." Lacey appears beside me, eyebrows raised. "That man is sex on a biscuit. What are you still doing here?"
I grab a rag and start wiping down the already clean counter. "It's complicated."
"Isn't it always?" She bumps my hip with hers. "But sometimes complicated is worth it. He looks worth it."
The rest of my shift stretches ahead, hours to think about their offer. Hours to talk myself into it, or out of it. Hours to remember how it felt being caught between all three of them, wanting and being wanted.
God help me, I already know I'll go.