Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
JAX
W e grabbed a table just off the dance floor, and Madison’s eyes were glowing as she looked around.
Our waitress Kris came over, wearing a big smile while taking our order. She and I had a casual thing a few years back, and the sight of her and Madison in the same space made my nerves jump.
“I’ll be right back with everything.” She cast a coy look my way. “Don’t you still owe me a breakfast from way back when?”
Austin let out a holler when Kris flashed me another knowing and all too intimate grin. Our order taken, she walked off with a “be right back” and a wink over her shoulder. Not cool, Kris.
“I’ll be back too.” Austin joined the table next to us, where he was welcomed by his on-again-off-again gal, Liz.
I looked at Madison, who started laughing. “Look whose cheeks are rosy now? It’s about time.”
“Hey, that was ancient history.”
She leaned forward on the table, and I got a glimpse of cleavage. “It’s no biggie. I’ve slept with most of the waiters at my bar back home; it’s cool. Yeah, I have lots of experience on that topic.”
She was a kick. “I find that hard to believe.”
Her finger wagged at me. “You don’t know.”
I leaned in. “So, is there a guy at home?”
Her eyes sparkled under the dim lights above. “Do you think I’d be making out in a barn if there was a guy at home?”
“I don’t know. You have slept with most of the waiters in New York, I hear, so I wasn’t sure.”
“What about you? Any other waitresses around here owed breakfast?”
I shook my head. “No, ma’am. What about you?”
“Nope, no one.” She glanced over her shoulder, and I knew there was more to this story.
“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
“Oh, now this sounds interesting.” She leaned even closer while the barn episode sprinted through my mind for the umpteenth time. I’d walk on glass to feel that body against mine again.
“Okay, I found out my boyfriend was cheating on me when I threw him a surprise party, and he burst through the door, making out with the tramp in front of all my friends.”
Whoa. “No way.” How could any dick be stupid enough to let her go?
“Way.”
I pointed at her. “Okay, while that tale is shitty, it’s kind of epic in a way. Almost like you won the title of most scorned girlfriend.”
Her finger pointed back at me. “Oooh, somehow winning a title might make it worth the utter humiliation.”
“You’re welcome.”
She popped a brow. “Your turn.”
“Well, I was with a lady for about a year. Nobody knows, but I asked her to marry me to try to stop her from taking a job far away. She said she wanted to take a walk and think about it.”
Her mouth dropped open. “And?”
“Well, she never came back from that walk, so we can put that one in the past.”
Giggles fell out of her mouth. “Buddy, that sounds like the worst rom com movie ever.”
“Yeah, it was kind of like, ‘Babe, I think it’s time to take our relationship to the previous level.’”
Her saucy grin lit up our table, and I knew she wanted to say more.
“Go ahead, spit it out.”
She ran her fingers through her hair. “Nothing.”
I wanted to kiss the mouth I was becoming addicted to. “Come on, say it already.”
“A disappearing fiancé? Kind of begs the question of which one of you is crazy?” She wore a flirty little smile that was fanning the flames.
“You like a little crazy, huh? I can tell.”
She gasped. “Is that right? You think I need crazy?”
I nodded and she gave me a wink. “What if I’m the crazy one?”
I finished my drink. “Nope, no way. I can’t see it.”
She leaned in even more, very aware that I now had a great view down her shirt. “Is that so?”
This time I leaned closer. “What are you doing?” Her lips were inches from mine. “Don’t poke the bear, baby.”
She bit her lip and looked sexy as hell.
A country song started blaring, and the place went wild. Madison motioned her head towards the dance floor. “That looks fun.”
No sooner than the words left her mouth, I had her hand leading her to the dance floor. We joined in the line dance, and she clearly had no clue what was going on.
She shouted in my ear. “When it comes to dancing, I’ve been told I’m a cross between a drunk dad at a barbeque and a stripper whose rent is due tomorrow.”
“Truth. You speak the truth!” I yelled over the music. “Just follow me. I already know you can’t keep your eyes off my ass.”
“Not anymore, mister smarty pants. I hate your ass. In fact, it’s hideous!”
“Is that sass, Miss Madison? I think sass means you want a swat on your ass.”
Her laughter was music to my ears.
She attempted to copy me and the people around us but was a good step or two behind. I knew she was one spunky lady when it became clear she was going to go down swinging with no plans of giving up. She looked like an adorable baby penguin in ice skates. I dug it.
The song ended, and Candy Golden, the bar owner, appeared on a stage in the corner of the room.
“It’s good to have y’all here tonight!” The room cheered. “It’s that time, Ladies. Beer chugging contest on this stage right now! The champion will get fifty bucks and a six-month supply of popcorn that my kid couldn’t sell for his school fundraiser! Lori Denton, the best waitress in town, will set you up!”
Madison grabbed my arm. “Oh yeah, baby, I got this.”
What was this girl yapping about? “Madison, you have to chug a whole pitcher of beer.”
“I know. It’s kind of like a secret talent of mine.” She gave me a wink. “And man, I need that cash!”
Madison and the whole cash thing, WTF?
At the speed of light, she hopped on the stage with three other women. Wearing a mischievous grin, she turned her gaze to me. A waitress brought each of them a pitcher of beer, and it was on.
The bar went nuts, and sure enough, Madison killed it. The only chick to finish the whole damn pitcher. Candy strolled over and lifted her arm in the air; all I noticed was the little trail of beer from her neck down her shirt. There could not be more of a perfect job I’d like to have at that moment than to help her with that.
Minutes later, she’d collected her fifty bucks, and we made our promises to Candy that we’d load the popcorn into our truck before we left.
“I came, I saw, I kicked ass!” Clearly, her buzz was kicking in. “I don’t get to say that too often, so I want to relish it for a long ass moment.”
Austin popped over and gave Madison a high-five. “You slayed!”
She nodded. “I’m pretty sure everybody’s thinking that, huh?” She giggled and hiccupped. “I won fifty bucks! Yay for me!”
“Hell, yes!” Austin hollered as Liz appeared almost out of nowhere.”
“Liz, this is Madison. She’s Jim’s daughter.” Austin put his arm around Liz’s shoulder.
“Good to meet you. Nice job with the beer!”
Madison held out her cash. “Fifty bucks, baby!” She shoved the cash down her shirt and into her bra. Mental note; get that cash later. No! Leave the cash, DO NOT go for the cash!
Madison grabbed Liz by the hand “Come with me, I have to visit the bathroom. Then I hope you’ll join us for a cocktail.”
The ladies disappeared and as in most small-town bars, we walked about two feet and ran into some friends.
After a few minutes of small talk, I spotted Madison and Liz being led to the dance floor by two men as they all laughed. Dude had his hands on Madison.
I made my way to the side of the dance floor and watched. No reason to cause a scene; he was probably harmless. Odd, I hadn’t seen him before.
He was saying something to Madison, drawing enough laughter from her that Liz leaned in and started laughing as well.
By the time the song ended, I was at her side and took her hand. As we started to walk away, dude grabbed her by the other wrist, yanking her back. Oh, hell no . It took all of a tenth of a second for me to get in his face. “Walk away, man. Smartest move you can make right now.”
He eyed me warily before shaking his head and watching as I led Madison through the crowd. I didn’t go back to our table, instead I took her down a hall and out the back door. The crisp night air hit me before I kicked the door shut and pulled her to me.