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“That is incredibly strange.” he continued his brows knitting into a frown.
“I know, right?” she agreed. “What was his motive? I guess I will never really know,” she added, letting her shoulders sag in resignation.
Coming around behind her, he massaged her shoulders and she leaned back into him feeling comfort in his touch. “Thank you.” She said, glancing over her shoulder at him.
Ben smiled thoughtfully then leaned down, brushing his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. “What should we do tonight?” he asked. “Perhaps we need to get out and do something fun! It's Friday after all! I know this day has been heavy for you and I want to take my sweetheart out,” he confessed, turning her around to face him, wrapping his strong protective arms around her. “How about going out dancing? We could call Hayden, Bea, and some other friends too, if you like.”
Ever brightened and flashed him an approving smile. Stepping away from him, she curled up her nose and she laughed. “You need a shower first, Farm Boy!”
He laughed and sniffed under his armpits. “What do you mean? I thought you liked my natural manly musk?” he asked, trying to grab her and hug her again.
She giggled squirming away from him and patted him on the chest, pushing him towards the front entrance. “Go take a shower, you big old bear!”
“Join me?” he asked, lifting his shirt over his head and waggling his eyebrows.
“We may never leave if I do,” she giggled, giving him another playful shove toward the stairs.
He flashed her a sexy smile, winked and bounded up the staircase.
* * *
Finding their way back to the “Pickled Pig”, Ever could not help but feel nostalgic. It had been six weeks since that magical night they first kissed on the dance floor. The night they realized they would mean so much more to each other than an employer and employee and the weekend their relationship began. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Spending all her days and nights with Ben, their familiarity with each other, made it seem like they had been together so much longer. Her feelings were growing, and those important three words lingered between them unsaid. Sometimes when she looked into his warm blue eyes, when he smiled or glanced at her, she could see it. The love was there, but was still unspoken.
The bar was hopping and very quickly they found their friends around a booth in the corner of the bar.
“Ever!” Bea exclaimed, bounding into Ever’s arms, wrapping her legs around her friend like a spider monkey.
“Dear God, Bea, you’re going to knock me over!” she laughed, setting her friend down on her feet. Bea was dressed in a sparkly grey sheer button up blouse, black bra peeking through the fabric, black skinny jeans, and grey bedazzled cowboy boots. Her risqué style was something only Bea could pull off with her petite frame.
Bea waved off her friend’s comment and grabbed her arm, dragging her to the bar across the room. Ever just giggled, glancing over her shoulder to Ben with a shrug as Bea led her across the dance floor to the bar. “Let’s get some drinks!” Bea shouted over the loud music.
Ordering four beers for her, Ever, Ben and Hayden, Bea grabbed two of them and started back to the booth, weaving through the dense crowd. Turning with the other two beers in hand, Ever followed Bea, only to have her path blocked. A guy in his mid-twenties, about six feet tall, with longish dark brown hair and squinty brown eyes, stood in front of her. Clean shaven and hair perfectly coiffed with enough gel to choke a horse. He got into her space and leaned so close to her face she could smell the whiskey on his breath.
“Excuse me,” she offered politely, trying to go around him.
He dodged in front of her, not letting her pass. “Hi there,” he said, running his hand down her arm. “I saw you at the bar.” He continued looking her up and down, licking his lips. “You are so sexy.”
Still not letting her through, she stopped and gave him a disgusted glare. “Can you please back off?”
“Why baby? I think you and I could have some fun together.” He whispered, leaning closer to her ear; his hot rancid breath making her stomach churn. “I like hot older women, like you.”
“Not interested in young punks.” she spat out, her eyes blazing at him.
Annoyed by her lack of interest, he backed away, hands up in the air, his lips curled up in a snarl. “Fucking cougar!” he shouted loud enough to make heads turn on the dance floor.
Angry and still cursing, he turned around and slammed into a very large, very angry Ben.
“What did you just call my girl?” Ben asked in his deep, growly voice.
Looking up slowly, the guy swallowed down hard, his mouth agape as he took in this intimating monster of a man in front of him. 300 pounds of pure muscle. Ben towered over him, giving him a look like he was going to pound him into the ground.
“I suggest you apologize to the lady,” he growled, eyes dark with fury.
The man, hesitant to turn his back from the beast of a man growling at him, turned to Ever, a look of apology and fear on his face. “I…I… am sorry,” he stuttered, glancing back at Ben then running off, like a coward, disappearing into the crowd.
“Punk.” Ben growled, looking after him, his face red with anger then quickly turning to face Ever, morphing from anger to concern. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
Ever handed him his beer and wrapped her arms around his neck, looking up at her protector, then deadpanned. “I was just about to kick his ass, but thanks for the backup.”
