“Yeah, well, a low-cut shirt and a fake smile will lure any guy in, but Art’s just doing his job, serving drinks with a smile. You can’t fault him for that.”
“They use every seduction trick in the book, from the way they suck their straws to the way they clink glasses with him, making their boobs jiggle in the process. It’s just…gross.”
“Hmm. Somebody sounds jealous.”
“No! Well, kind of. Oh, hell, I don’t know.”
Her gaze narrowed. “So you’ve finally done it. You’ve finally found a guy who has turned you into a stress ball with lipstick.”
“Yes, he’s making me crazy all right. No guy has ever gotten to me the way Art has.”
“Just forget about your insane revenge plan, confess everything, and see what happens. Tell him you’re crazy about him, and then take some time to get to know him. Go on a few dates, and then let the chemistry take over.”
I bit my lip hard. “I’ve gotta go.”
“Yeah, and I gotta get back to work. I get off at three, and then I’ve got class till seven.”
“Then it’s home to hubby and kids, huh? What a long day.”
“Yeah, Tom and I are ordering pizza tonight. He put in long hours today.”
“So do you. You work all day as a receptionist here, go to classes, then take care of everyone.”
“It’s all good,” she said.
“I hope so. You deserve to be okay,” I said, standing and grabbing my purse. “See ya later, sis. Thanks for the great advice.”
“Anytime.” She smiled. “Bye.”
***
Days passed, and I couldn’t stop staring at Art at work. It seemed like every word he spoke flowed from his mouth like a symphony. My anger had dissipated completely, and my revenge plan had fizzled. Art was a great guy, and I was really starting to appreciate him for the wonderful man he was.
I scanned him from head to toe, then brought my eyes back up to his. I smiled ever so slightly, letting him know I liked what I saw. When we both went to reach for the same glass, my heart raced from his heated touch. He smiled and lifted his hand as I shot him a flirty grin. Overcome with the emotional rush of lust, I knew I had to jumpstart the process. Maybe I was dreaming, but I was determined to snag Art, to somehow make him mine.
Love conquers all, right
? I questioned, hoping it wasn’t just some Hollywood-created bullshit
. To hell with the consequences.
Art smiled at me as he cleaned the glass with a towel, and all over again, I felt horrible for having treated him so poorly. I’d been rotten to him, but my plan had backfired. Instead of shooting him down, he’d somehow convinced Cupid to shoot me straight through the heart.
His muscles flexed as he put down a box of glasses. My gaze was again drawn to his huge biceps and powerful shoulders. I imagined what it would be like to be held in those arms, and I wondered why his last girlfriend had let him go. He was so damn handsome, so damn beautiful.
“Stop drooling,” Juliet said as she jumped up on a barstool. “You’re being too obvious.”
“It’s too damn hard. I can’t stop staring at him. Gosh, why is he so gorgeous?”
“Pssh. Hot guys are a dime a dozen.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“So forget about Kyle.”
“How did I know that was coming?” she asked.
“Because you know me too well.”
“It’s more than looks with him, Alexis. He might be a bit of a man-whore, but he really is a beautiful person, inside and out.”
“I’m gonna find you a real guy,” I promised, “someone you can actually be with in more than a friend capacity.”
“Well, just so you know, I took your advice and went out on a date last night with some guy from my English class.”
“And?”
“If it had been a midterm, he would have gotten an F. He just…didn’t get me.”
My gaze narrowed. “The way Kyle gets you?”
She smiled. “Yeah.”
I threw a bar towel at her. “You’re hopeless!”
“And so are you,” she said, nodding her head in Art’s direction. “Now where are my peanuts?”
“You ate the entire bowl?”
“I’m starving.”
“You’re lucky we’re best friends,” I said, refilling the dish.
“Gee. I’m so glad at least one person who loves me is willing to hand over the nuts. We all know Kyle isn’t.”
“Ew! Shut up!” I said, laughing.
“I’m gonna put on some tunes,” she said, walking to the jukebox.
I felt a strange breeze blow against the side of my head, and I reached up to feel my earlobe, only to discover that one of my earrings was gone. “Crap!” I shouted, then started looking around on the floor.
“What’s wrong?” Art asked.
I frantically glanced down. “I just lost my earring.”
“What does it look like?”
I lifted the hair off my other ear. “Like this.”
“Blue gem? Got it.”
I started crawling around on my hands and knees, desperate to find the earring from my grandmother. Art did the same, and we scoured the area, both thankful that he’d done such a thorough job with the mopping. When I lifted my head, I found myself mere inches from his lips. He held my gaze as I bit the corner of my lip and looked down.
“Oh! There it is,” I said. “Thank goodness.”
He stood and reached out his hand to help me up. “Glad you found it.”
“Thanks for your help,” I said as he pulled me to my feet with his strong arm.
He grinned. “Anytime.”
Suddenly, I found myself lost in those pretty brown eyes of his, and I nearly lost my breath.
Debbie waved her hand in front of Art’s face. “Earth to Art. We’ve got customers, and I could use some help here.”
“Oh. Sorry. I’m coming.”
“Not yet,” I whispered under my breath.
He smiled, then hurried off to fill more drink orders.
***
The next night, I was running my butt off, on one of our craziest nights ever. As I filled a pitcher of beer, I watched how efficient Art was, expertly making five drinks at once. It was a complete turn-on to see him at the top of his game; I’d seen that old eighties movie, Cocktail, and Tom Cruise had nothing on my Art. He was happy, smiling, and so friendly to everyone, so damn charismatic. I was jealous of the dark denim of his jeans, hugging his ass perfectly, and the white t-shirt that stretched over his powerful shoulders and chest. Girls flirted with him at the bar, telling him over and over how hot he was and offering him generous tips along with their flirtations giggles. One even wrote her phone number right across Andrew Jackson’s face. I knew any one of them would fuck him in a heartbeat. Art just smiled and carried on like a true professional. He was a hard worker, not lazy like the bartenders we’d hired in the past.
Every time he talked to me, he was all touchy-feely. He was always finding excuses to touch me. I found it cute, and I’d never felt so desired by a hot guy. I was all smiley and giggly when he talked to me, like we were in seventh grade all over again. There was definitely a flirty vibe going on between us, and excitement brewed in the air.
When I turned my head, I caught his gaze wandering over my body. I smiled as he checked me out and grinned.
His eyes bore into mine. “You look hot.”
I felt my cheeks burning at his compliment. I wanted to grab him and kiss him, right there in front of all those people, and I wouldn’t have cared what anyone thought about it. My staff might have been off limits to Kyle, but that sexy bartender was certainly not off limits to me. “Thanks,” I said, grinning from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat, my cheeks turning redder by the second.
When the bar closed, Art rolled up his sleeves, revealing his sexy forearms. He walked over to the jukebox and picked some slow songs. Everyone had left because it was our turn to close up.
“I work better with fast songs,” I called over.
He walked back to where I was and gently pulled me close. “I work better with slow songs.”
My heart skipped a beat at his touch. “Um…we have work to do,” I said.
He smiled, picked me up, and spun me around. “Yes we do.”
I laughed. “C’mon. Put me down.”
“It was a hell of a night,” he said, gently setting me back on the floor.
I sighed. “Yep. One of the busiest nights ever.”
My skin tingled from his gaze. His five-o’clock shadow was so damn sexy; that light scruff got me every single time.
What made me think my silly little revenge plan would ever work
? I mocked myself.
One look in those endless pools of chocolate, and I was ready to throw it all out the window.
Things would have been so much easier if Art would just have hated me for being so mean, if he would have quit his job and gone on his way instead of sticking around and making me fall for him all over again.
He held out his hand, staring at me with those penetrating eyes. “Do you even know what kind of an effect you have on me, Alexis?” he asked.
“I’d say we’ve got the attraction and chemistry part down pat,” I said. “All we need is a little—”
“Love dust, to pull the rest all together.”
“Love dust? What are you, Tinker Bell?” I laughed.
“Sorry. I just wanted to see you smile again.”
“Well, instead of love dust, I meant a little more time to know each other,” I said.
“I love the way you laugh,” he said.
“Then keep using your great sense of humor.”
“I’m just glad you’re not so…grumpy anymore. You’ve got a beautiful smile, Alexis.”
My lips brushed against his. “I assure you, I’m not grumpy.”
He left soft, gentle pecks on my forehead, eyes, cheeks, and lips. “I can definitely tell.”
I touched his face, cupping it in my hands. “I can’t stop thinking about you. I tried to fight it. I really did, but I just…can’t.”
He wrapped his arms around me. “All I know is that the world seems perfect when you’re in my arms,” he said.
“Art, you’re not like any guy I’ve ever met.”
“How about one dance before we clean this place up?” he asked in a low, deep voice.
My breathing grew faster, and my palms began to moisten. I couldn’t believe I was feeling this way about the man who hurt me, who jilted me. I wanted to forget about Art, to get my revenge and move on with my life, but I couldn’t forget him, even if I wanted to. I couldn’t resist the dance. What’s one song?
I held out my hand, and he gripped it and led me out into the middle of the room. My heartbeat sped as he held me close for a slow dance. Art was the kind of guy every girl would dream of holding. I felt weak at the knees, and adrenaline surged through me. My heart raced with excitement, and I had never felt so alive.
His eyes were so pretty, his smile so bright. His lips lowered on mine, slowly, softly, and ever so gently. A surge of electricity flooded through me. I couldn’t deny what was going on between us. He cupped my face and stared into my eyes. I just got lost in those eyes as he lowered his lips on mine once more. I hadn’t lost control yet, but I knew if he didn’t stop looking at me that way, I’d be gone, a prisoner of his every whim.
Damn
!
He was guiding the situation delicately yet firmly, and he was in complete control. He slid his strong hand up and down my back, giving me shivers.
“What’s going on between us?” I asked.
He shot me a beautiful smile. “You can’t tell?”
“Let’s figure it out,” I coaxed.
His mouth lowered on mine, and our tongues tangled in a beautiful dance that left me breathless. I ran my hands through his thick hair as the kiss deepened. His hands caressed my curves, and my body was literally on fire for him. I moaned as his lips glided down my neck.
“Let’s go back to my place,” he whispered in the sexiest voice I’d ever heard, a plea I was helpless to deny.
“No dorms. Besides, I can’t wait.” I moaned with primordial need. “I need you right now.”
We fumbled around, desperately trying to rip off our clothes.
My mother had taught me never to sleep with a guy on the first date, even after an amazing kiss or after I’d been dreaming of that guy for the longest time. Now, I was about to break my mother’s rule. She had warned me that giving up the goods so easily would just kill a relationship. I wasn’t sure I was ready for a relationship, even with Art, but I wanted him to see me as more than an easy hookup. I didn’t want him to just think he was shacking up with his boss. “Is this a one-night stand?” I asked between gasps, staring into his eyes.
“It doesn’t have to be. I sure as hell don’t want it to be.”
I craved his heated touch, and in spite of my mother’s warnings, I needed him inside me that very minute. I couldn’t hold back any longer. Clutching his broad shoulders, I kissed him with everything I had. Animalistic desire overwhelmed me, and there wasn’t a thing I could do to stop it. Our kiss grew urgent and passionate, consuming me.
Art pulled out my bun, and my hair cascaded down my back. He unbuttoned my shirt as I slid his off. I ran my hands down his chiseled chest and ribbed abs. His kisses trailed down my neck, to my breasts. He cupped them slowly, and I moaned in pleasure.