Chapter 27
DANI
Offside has a more relaxed vibe tonight.
With finals on everyone’s doorstep, the usual hotspots aren’t as crowded.
Students have got their heads down, desperately preparing for these major exams. It puts me in a salty mood.
I don’t know why Harrison insisted I come in.
One bartender would have been plenty with this traffic, and I could have been out on a date with Tyrell.
A shimmer moves through me. I can’t decide if it’s nerves or desire, but when I glance up in time to see the door open… and he walks through it…
Yeah, that’s desire. As primal and carnal as it can get.
My body wants that man.
From the second his lips touched mine I’ve known it. I couldn’t accept it that first night, and if I’m honest, I’m still struggling to get my head around the fact that… I like Tyrell Jackson. The shy, quiet boy from high school. Atlas’s right-hand man.
How is it possible?
The shift doesn’t make sense, but…
He notices me, his lips curling into a smile that makes my heart jiggle.
Ever since I turned up at his house, letting him know with a kiss (or a few dozen kisses) that I’m willing to try this thing with him, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about us.
I haven’t felt this way since Atlas and I first got together. That simmering anticipation, the way my breath catches when my phone buzzes with a fresh text from him.
It’s ridiculous and childlike, and I need to get over myself.
Which is why I clear my throat and try to play it cool when Tyrell slips onto a stool at the end of the bar.
“Evening, sir. What can I get you?” I wink at him, and that smile grows into something big and beautiful.
Shit, I’m so done.
I keep thinking it’s way too fast, and my roommates keep reminding me that it’s not, because Tyrell and I have been double-dating for weeks, then having our debriefs, hanging out, interacting, subconsciously opening our hearts without meaning to.
“What can you recommend?”
Licks of delicious pleasure whisper over my skin at the sound of his deep voice.
I have always loved his voice.
Even when I was with Atlas, I used to tease Tyrell that football was wasted on him.
He should be a narrator. He’d always give me that headshake, a smile rising on his lips, but it was edged with panic at the idea of trying to read a book out loud or something.
Trying to act out a scene or character. The thought probably gave him hives.
Resting my arms on the bar, I lean in close, brushing my finger over his knuckle. “Depends. How drunk do you want to get?”
And there’s that smile again, his brown eyes warm with affection. “I don’t need to get drunk. In fact, I’d rather stay sober so I don’t lose sight of this very fine view.”
Oooo… the boy’s got moves.
I can’t help a soft giggle, brushing my teeth over my bottom lip as I pull up a glass and pour him a water. “There you go, then.”
He laughs, downing half of it as if to prove a point.
“But seriously. Can I get you something?”
“You know…” He looks down at the glass in his hand. “Water’s fine for now. I’m just here to hang with you in between orders.”
I glance down the bar, my insides skipping when I notice that no one needs anything. Leaning back down, I rest my chin in my hand and ask him, “So, where were we going to be right now?”
“Well…” Skimming his fingers lightly up my forearm, he hopefully doesn’t notice what a huge effect such a simple gesture has on me. I love the pads of his fingers. I love how delicate his touch is. “I was gonna take you to an Italian place.”
“Oooo. Italian. I love me some Italian.”
“Right? Pasta is the masta.”
I laugh. “Where did you hear that?”
He snickers. “My sister said it constantly when she was going through her I want to be a chef phase. She was obsessed with pasta. I swear I gained like twenty pounds that summer.”
Stretching over the counter, I make a show of checking out his body, then give him an impish grin. “Doesn’t look like it.”
He laughs, patting his flat belly. “I had to work my ass off when I got back. Literally.” His eyebrows rise and I laugh again, resisting the urge to tell him it paid off, because damn… he looks good.
That thrill of desire races through me again and I have to stand straight, create some distance between us before my panties get wet.
Seriously. What is wrong with me?
How about the fact that you haven’t had sex in nearly three years?
Or maybe it’s the fact that Tyrell is crazy stupid fine, and if you were gonna have sex with anyone, then you’d want it to be him.
But the fact that he’s a full-blown hottie is not the only reason why… and that’s even scarier than sleeping with a random stranger.
My insides crinkle at the thought, my mind racing as I try to figure it all out.
Sex with Tyrell will actually mean something.
That’s the scary part.
“Hey, you okay?” Tyrell’s fingers skim my arm again, and I force a smile, nodding.
What am I supposed to say? “I’m horny as hell and can’t stop thinking about you boning me”?
We haven’t even been on a proper date yet. I should not be feeling this way. It’s new. We should take things slow and easy. A few kisses can’t mean an instant lust-fest.
Shaking my head, I back away from the bar a little further.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Tyrell’s sweet concern is making my heart buckle now.
“Um…” I point down the bar. “I just need to go… and… restock.”
It’s lame and pathetic, and the way his eyebrows dip with worry has guilt lashing me as I scurry down to the other end of the bar.
What are you doing?
You should be hanging out with him! You’re together now.
This is weird.
Is Tyrell Jackson my boyfriend?
Am I—
“Excuse me. Can I grab two Coors Lights, please?” A man with a genial smile holds up two fingers, and I fulfill his order, glancing down the bar as he’s tapping his card.
Tyrell is sitting there, drawing circles with his finger and looking a little dejected. Shit. I need to do some damage control.
Restocking, my ass. We all know that was a lie. He’s not stupid. In fact, he’s always been one of the smartest guys I know. He was consistently one of the top students in the class. Seriously. The guy could do no wrong, and I’m freaking out, missing out, by coming up with restocking excuses.
Grow up and get your butt back over there!
The thought hits me up the side of the head at the exact moment a girl appears behind Tyrell. She’s pretty and has a bright smile… aimed directly at him as she walks around to position herself right in front of him.
She leans against the counter, her body language loud enough for the entire place to hear. She wants him… and she’s not hiding it or scuttling away.
When she touches his arm and lightly runs her fingers down what I know is a beautifully sculpted bicep, this primal instinct grabs a hold of me.
Get your hands off my man.
I bite my lips together to stop myself from shouting at her, instead forcing myself to casually walk back down the bar and stake my claim with a smile on my face.
“You sure you don’t want anything to drink, baby? It’ll be on the house.” I wink at him.
He turns to look at me, his twitching lips telling me he knows exactly what I’m playing at, and he’s into it.
“Thanks, bae.” He smiles, and the girl beside him gives me a slightly sour frown before pasting on a bright grin.
“I’ll have a Corona, please.” She bounces on her toes, and I have to ask.
“ID?”
“Yep.” She pulls out her wallet, and I scan it carefully, making sure it’s not a fake. I even rub my thumb over the birth date, but it looks legit, so I have to serve her.
“One Corona.” I pop the top and place it on the counter.
“Thanks. Is this one on the house too?” She laughs.
My laugh sounds forced and plastic compared to hers. It cuts off quickly, probably too quickly, but I’ve got to stake my claim, right? “Only for my man here.”
I point at Tyrell and then go the extra mile, curling my fingers around his.
His big thumb brushes my knuckles, and those licks of pleasure are only getting stronger.
“Okay.” The girl manages to keep her smile in place as she looks between us, then gives me a polite nod. “I’m just gonna go and catch up with my girls.”
“Great idea.”
Oh man, I am being such a bitch right now.
She looks at Tyrell. “I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah.” He tips his chin, and we both watch her walk away, moving around tables and homing in on a guy about to start a round of darts.
“She’s on the hunt,” Tyrell murmurs, lifting my hand to his lips and pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “Thank God I’ve got myself a woman.”
I can’t help an instant smile, my lips quivering when he turns to gaze at me like I’m special.
“Thank God it’s you.”
A breath whistles out between my lips, and I don’t know what to say.
I’m his woman.
He’s my man.
Is it really that simple?
It can be. If you’ll just let it.
“Dani, let’s go,” someone whisper-barks behind me. “There are people waiting.”
With a soft gasp, I glance down the bar and notice two groups who have just come in. I was oblivious, too busy wrapped up in the burning look Tyrell Jackson was giving me.
“Sorry.” I wince at my boss, then turn to wince at Ty.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get out of here as soon as your shift is done.” He kisses my hand one more time before letting me go.
Get out of here. That sounds good to me.
My body continues to burn with anticipation as I hurry through my tasks. Every time there’s a lull, I head back down the bar and offer Tyrell another drink, but he seems happy with water.
With only thirty minutes left until my shift ends, I’m on the cusp of losing my mind. I seriously have no idea what’s come over me, but the thought of getting out of here to go and… do what? Make out with Tyrell Jackson?… has whipped me into a frenzy.
I nearly dropped one full glass of beer and only just caught it, wedging the slippery cup between my thigh and the counter. I had to pull a new one for the customer, which Harrison will be pissed about, but he’ll just have to get over it.
I have twenty-seven minutes until I can walk out—
“Dani, I need you to close up tonight. I just got a call, and my missus is puking her guts out. I have to leave and take care of the baby.”
My lips part, and I can’t even be annoyed with him for dumping this on me because his reasons are so damn valid.
“Okay,” I squeak, my insides pinching with disappointment.
I gaze down the bar. Tyrell is still patiently waiting for me, sipping on his water and… dammit!
With a sad huff, I shuffle over to him. “I have to close up tonight. I’m really sorry. Don’t feel like you have to stay. I know it’s getting really late. You should just go and—”
“I’m staying.” His husky whisper runs all the way through me.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.” I love the way his lips curl up at the corners. His smile is so soft. So sweet. So calm.
I want to kiss it. Feel it. Taste it.
Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I let some of my desire show, and the look of heat he gives right back to me is enough to make my lady parts sing.
I am in so much trouble.
Maybe it’s a good thing I’m closing. Maybe it’ll force me to slow the hell down and not jump this man like my body is begging me to.
How is this happening to me?
Last week, sure, I was aware of Tyrell and how gorgeous he is—he’s always been gorgeous! But then one confession later, one leap of faith, and I’m a hungry lioness. It’s insane.
Your poor, dormant body is probably desperate for release.
But I can’t be the only reason. I don’t want my first time with Tyrell to just be some primal, meaningless thing.
And it’s too soon.
We haven’t even been on our first official date.
I will not be throwing my body at this man after closing tonight.
I have more damn control than that.
At least I think I do…