Changes
Adele
“Your stalker is back.”
“Shut up,” I elbow Jacob but turn around to see Daniel coming into the bar.
My staff don’t know what has been going on with him. As in we’ve been out a few more times since our… I’m not calling it a date… when we went rock climbing. Mostly, it’s been about sex. He’s stayed here and I’ve been to his apartment twice over the last week.
We’re having fun. I will not put a label on it. It’s not serious. Not at all.
My heart thumps when I see him, which I try to tamp down because it can’t happen.
He is so effortlessly sexy, in his jeans and black t-shirt. It’s not intentionally tight, but it hugs his biceps and the ridges of his chest muscles.
I’m not expecting him, and I touch my fingers to my throat, feeling the burn of a flush rise on my neck. That smile does things to me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, picking up the tray of glasses ready to be put away beneath the bar. We’re not open yet.
“I was passing by and thought I’d call in and ask you something.”
He leans one elbow against the bar and tucks his sunglasses into the top of his shirt, pulling it down to reveal the hollow of his throat.
“So ask,” I keep working, not wanting to give him my full attention, or let him see he has it.
“The Cubs have a game tomorrow.”
“I’m aware.”
“Do you want to go?”
I raise my chin up in surprise. “You realize I have a bar to run. Game day is always our busiest.”
“Surely that is after the game is over though. I have a box, food, drinks on the house.”
“Are you trying to impress me?”
“Is it working?”
“Not even a little,” I smirk. Daniel’s grin widens and my heart flutters.
“Did you just say you have a box at Wrigley Field? And she can go watch the game tomorrow?” Curtis stops beside him, holding a cleaning cloth in his hand. “Adele, you can’t turn that down. That is like,” he shakes his head as if he can’t think of anything suitably astonished to say.
“Why don’t you go,” I say to him.
“Are you serious?” he turns to Daniel with a hopeful look.
Hiding my smile when Daniel side-eyes me, I get back to emptying the tray.
“No one else is using the box tomorrow so sure, that’s fine with me. If the boss will give you the time off. In fact, open invitation.”
“Holy shit,” Curtis almost hyperventilates. “Adele, come on. You gotta let me go.”
My eyes narrow at Daniel. What is he playing at now? I’ve made it clear he won’t get under my skin.
I don’t begrudge my staff having time off, in fact, I make sure they do so they don’t overwork. Lately, the bar has been so busy it’s barely manageable. The publicity from the fight against Faulkner is having an unexpected boost.
“The game is early, before my shift starts anyway,” Curtis clasps his hands as if begging.
Some of the others are floating around, watching. I chew on my bottom lip as I watch them. He gave an open invite. We can afford to open a little later.
When I turn to Daniel, he has a smug look on his face, like he is reading my mind. I put my hands on my hips and give him a hard stare.
His brows lift in question.
Blowing out an exasperated breath, I make a decision. As excited as Curtis is at the prospect, it will be an experience. And I do love the Cubs.
“Fine.”
Curtis shrieks and the others move a little nearer.
“Sharlene, can you put a post on all our socials saying the bar will be closed for a short period during the game and will open straight after?” Everyone else starts cheering. “We need to be back asap. No hanging around after the last pitch, okay.”
Continuous streams of praise begin and everyone saying they love me. I’m not watching them celebrating, or Sharlene who is straight on her phone to manage social media. I’m watching Daniel.
He takes something out of his back pocket and hands it to me. It’s a pass to the box.
“I’ll leave word you’re all coming.”
“Smooth move,” I murmur.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, Blue.” His lips twitches.
“Innocence does not work on you.”
He winks, taps the bar and walks away. He’s good at that. It keeps my interest on him, not the others celebrating and talking about tomorrow.
It doesn’t stop the following day when I arrive at the box and find my staff all excitedly chatting, taking full advantage of the free food and drink and comfortable surroundings of a private box at Wrigley Field. In the corner, Daniel has his back to me, talking with the box attendant.
He’s casual again and my treacherous eyes roam down his body, taking him in as his shoulders shake when he laughs. Fuck, I have to look away. Not fast enough though, his head tilts to glance around and he spots me. He gives me the same once over and my nipples harden, which is most inconvenient.
Now I wish I’d agreed to come alone. What would it be like to have sex up here. I’m sure he could have got rid of the attendants.
“Are you thinking naughty thoughts?” Daniel is standing in front of me, moving over here while I was daydreaming.
“No.” My cheeks are burning, giving me away.
“Want a drink?” he asks, pretending not to see it, but grinning all the same.
“Sure. I’ll take a beer.”
He puts his hand on my lower back, and we go to the bar together. There will be a million questions when we get back to Blue’s. For now, I go with it.
We don’t talk about anything serious. I’ve made it clear the lawsuit is out of bounds. Our lawyers are putting forward the case with the twenty-seven witnesses we’ve found that corroborate my employee’s version of events.
The asshat fell over himself and bashed his face and arm on the sidewalk and a traffic sign. I don’t want to talk about it. Especially not with Daniel who was involved at the start. It’s nothing to do with him or his company anymore.
The Cubs win but we don’t have a chance to celebrate because I usher everyone back to the bar. Some people at the game follow along and as soon as the doors open, we’re packed to the rafters.
Daniel can’t come but says he’ll call in later if it’s okay. Close to closing time. We both know what that means. His fingers brush mine by way of saying goodbye. Like a fool, I stare down at them long after he’s gone. I should end this, we’re getting too attached.
But I don’t and when he comes around, we watch a movie, take a very steamy shower together, then lie in bed, talking into the night.
The next morning, I try to keep my distance a little. He draws me back in with ease, making us pancakes and bacon, sitting under the skylight, talking about everything and nothing, until it’s time for him to go.
It hurts when he leaves. Not hurts, more like a sense of longing after a night like that. One I shouldn’t be allowing but can’t help myself. He’s burrowing himself into my skin. Like a splinter.
“What are you up to on Wednesday, it’s your day off right?” he asks, as we walk through the bar together so I can let him out.
I shouldn’t be surprised he knows that. I told him. “Yeah,” I say cautiously.
“Don’t overthink it, Blue. My diary is clear, it’s your day off, we could do something.”
“Like what?” I ask, and my pulse spikes. I’m caught between panic and excitement.
“A friend has a gallery showing right now. He’s a photographer and is just back from Europe so he’s going to have some amazing work. I always buy something after one of his big trips.”
That sounds interesting. Not something I’d usually do on my day off. Against my better judgement, I agree, drawing out a smile from Daniel. Before he gets too carried away, I unlock the doors and pull them open.
Daniel doesn’t give me a chance to react, he leans in to kiss me goodbye. In fact, he lingers, running one hand through my hair while the other holds on to my hip, his fingers toying with the waist band at my lower back, so he touches my skin.
I almost lose my balance and hold a palm up to his chest to steady myself. The kiss deepens, and it’s only when I hear laughter that I remember where we are. Standing in the open doorway for everyone to see. They’re not laughing at us, but it jolts me out of the kiss.
Daniel is still close when we pull back, staring into my eyes. Something changes. Inside of me. It scares me. My head is telling me to pull back, refuse the date but my hand remains on his chest. His feels a little more possessive against the base of my spine.
Then he goes and does something that practically ends me. He kisses my forehead. My eyes close as he lingers a few seconds. He’s smiling when he pulls back and steps away.
“Wednesday?” he asks.
Curling some hair behind my ear, trying to get a grip on my emotions, I nod. He says he’ll pick me up at eleven, then leaves.
And a small piece of my damaged heart slots back into place.