Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
MILES
P opping the top on the long neck, I hand it to the guy in front of me as I keep a watch on the blonde hair that moves in and out of the crowd with a tray for of drinks. I have to admit, she’s got skills. When she said she used to waitress, I didn’t know what to expect, but she’s damn good at it.
Balancing the tray with ease, she grins at the group sitting at the table and hands them their drinks that she memorized.
She naturally has people skills, and they feel how genuine she is as they chat with her.
So far, everyone has been respectful, and I start to breathe a little bit better as the tightness in my chest eases up.
“I don’t think I've ever seen you this uptight,” Knox laughs, eyeing me from across the bar. He’s been sitting out here as I bartend, and I have a feeling he’s here to back me up if something goes wrong.
“There are a lot of people here. I’m just keeping her safe.” I tilt the glass and pour the craft beer to the rim before handing it to the next person in line.
“Have you told her you love her yet?” His question catches me off guard as my eyes flick to his. I debate whether to blow it off, but I find myself speaking the truth I’ve been holding in.
“No, not yet,” I say quietly, pouring a shot of tequila and adding a lime slice on the rim. “She’s not ready.”
“Sometimes the truth needs to be spoken, whether that person is ready to hear it or not.” He swirls the dark liquid around in his glass before shooting it back. “Want my advice?” He slides his empty glass across the bar, and I take it. Pouring him a refill, I hand it back.
“Do I have a choice?” I chuckle.
“Nope,” he says, giving me a small smile. “I’m going to give it to you either way.”
“I figured as much.”
“She loves you, man. It’s clear as day when she looks at you. Don’t hide your feelings for too much longer. Nothing good ever comes from keeping things inside.”
I study him as he does a good job of hiding what is clearly something that is bothering him. “You good, Stone? You know I’m always here for you if you need to talk.”
“Yeah, I’m good,” he smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just want what's best for you. I always have.”
“I could say the same about you. Maybe it’s time you started seeing the person I see in front of me. The one deserving of love,” I say quietly.
Chuckling, he takes the drink and stands.
“Not everyone wants it or needs it. But you,” he says, pointing at me, “do. So take it when it’s standing right in front of you and don’t let go.”
Turning, he walks away and almost makes it to the door before two girls come up with Sharpies in their hands. He starts to sign their shirts, and I shake my head.
What the fuck?
Do they all carry them around in their purses just in case they happen to meet someone famous?
When I first moved back here, they had the markers ready to go in grocery stores, and I even had one come up to me at the beach.
I expected to see them after concerts and any announced press events that I had to attend, but this is a bar in Blue Haven.
No one knew about Southern Tide coming or Knox Stone.
Chuckling, I begin to wipe down the bar in front of me before taking care of the next customer. Olivia plops her tray on the table and grins at me.
“I need two house margaritas, four tequila shots, and three of the IPAs on tap.”
“Coming right up,” I laugh. “How’s it going out there?” I nod at the tables on the deck. “Any problems?”
“Nope. Everyone is super nice. The girls at table ten are in love with you, by the way. You should hear some of the things they want to do to you.”
“Is that right?” I pretend to think about it as I rub my light scruff on my chin. “What kind of things are we talking about?” I grin, loving the way she looks annoyed with my question. I shake the margarita before pouring the chilled drink into a salted-rim glass.
“Why don’t you ask them yourself, since you’re so curious?” She loads the drinks, and I laugh as jealousy nips at her heels.
Reaching across the bar, I grab the back of her neck and pull her to me. My lips seek hers as I kiss the pout right off her face. I don’t stop until I feel her body relax and give in to mine. Pulling back, her eyes are heavy-lidded as she blinks away the daze I put her in.
“I’m good with where I’m at and couldn't care less that they are interested. I also don’t think you have to worry about them talking to you about me anymore. I’m pretty sure they got the memo,” I grin, finishing the drinks for her order.
She glances back at the table, and the girls are staring wide- eyed at us. Her head scans the area before she looks back at me with her eyebrow raised.
“What?” I ask innocently, trying to hide the smug look on my face.
“You didn’t just do that for me, did you?” She peers at me, and I hand her the beers.
“Just killing two birds with one stone. Now those guys who have been eye-fucking you this whole time can find someone else to jack off to later. You’re mine, and they need to know it,” I grin like the devil himself.
“I don’t even know what to do with you,” she laughs, picking up the tray.
“I think you can come up with a few ideas, honey,” I say with a wink.
The older guy at the bar snickers into his drink, and Olivia’s face turns red.
“See, even Jenkins agrees with me.” I nod toward the grey-haired man on the stool, and he chuckles into his drink.
“You’re impossible,” she softly laughs and breaks out into a grin before getting back to work. I notice the guys don’t look at her ass this time, and I smile that it worked. One less thing to worry about as I get busy making another round of drinks for the people who just walked up.
I feel her eyes on me and glance up just in time to see her dimples hold back a smile. Grinning like an idiot, I finally make her break as she shakes her head and laughs.
Knox is right. I need to tell her soon. I’ll give her a few more days, but I won’t be able to hold it in any longer. I want the whole fucking world to know that I’m in love with her.
The rest of the night goes smoothly. Olivia and I managed to fill in where needed until the crowd slowly thinned out. The staff I hired are already cleaning and getting ready for closing.
I knew when I opened this place that I wanted an efficient crew.
There will be days when I’ll be slinging drinks, but for the most part, I’ll be here to oversee things and help out when needed.
I made sure to have a full staff tonight so I could enjoy the opening and be able to walk around and talk to everyone who came in from town.
Sliding into the booth with my brothers and Knox, I lean back and watch the girls on the dance floor as they enjoy the last song of the night before the band starts packing up. My parents and our friends left an hour ago, as did Link and Seth, who had to catch a flight back to their tour.
“I can’t believe she’s able to dance in those heels after working for the past two hours in them.
” I watch her sway those hips that should be illegal to the beat of the music.
Her eyes find mine, and a brief smile plays on her lips as she dances.
My sinful little angel knows exactly what she’s doing to me as her ass comes into view, and I feel my dick respond.
“Women have superpowers. It’s a well-known fact that they have the ability to bring a grown man to his knees all while wearing heels and keeping the whole house running smoothly at the same time,” Ryder laughs. “Whoever said that men rule the world obviously hasn’t met anyone like our girls.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Travis says, raising his glass. “They are a breed all of their own.”
“Yes, they are,” Jake chuckles as we toast to our girls.
I hear the lead singer say goodnight over the microphone before they put down their instruments and start packing up their gear for the night. The crowd slowly starts to gather up their things as they prepare to close out their tabs for the night.
The girls walk back over, and I immediately bring Olivia onto my lap, breathing in her scent as she settles against me.
My hand possessively settles on her bare thigh while my other arm snakes around her.
Having her here with my family feels so natural that it’s hard to imagine my life any other way now.
We talk for a few more minutes before walking outside with them to catch their Ubers and say our goodbyes. My brothers tuck their wives securely by their sides before helping them into the cars.
I notice Knox holding onto Savi’s elbow as she tries to balance on the gravel parking lot in those heels after a few too many drinks before slapping his arm away, determined to do it on her own.
He finally throws her over his shoulder and deposits her in the back of the car, ignoring her protests as he shuts the door on her, but not before I hear the words controlling and ass filter through the empty parking lot.
It’s like watching two kids who constantly need to be separated and put into opposite corners for a time-out. Knox finally gets in, and they pull away. I almost feel bad for the driver having to deal with them on the way home.
“Let me make sure everything is good to lock up, and I’ll take you home,” I say, pulling Olivia into my arms and seeking out her neck.
“Mmmm,” she purrs as I kiss her skin. “Can we take your bike?”
“I think that can be arranged,” I grin, already craving her body up against me on the ride home.
My hands slip to her gorgeous ass as I bring her flush to me.
“I can’t think of a better way to end this night than having your sweet pussy pressed against my bike right before I bury myself in it,” I whisper in her ear.
“The perfect ending to a perfect day,” she agrees softly, leaning into me and gripping my t-shirt like it’s the only thing holding her up .
“Everything is all closed up, Miles,” Vic says, peeking his head out and forcing us to break up our moment.