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“If you clean that glass anymore, it’s going to break.”
Blinking, I force my eyes to the glass in my hands. “Okay, smartass.” I laugh and snap the hand towel on his arm.
He grabs it and snapping it back, tosses it at me. “That’s why you hired me.”
“Shut the fuck up, and announce we’re closing in ten minutes.”
I refrain from looking for Gretchen because she mixes me up inside. Hopefully, she won’t keep coming back to the club. Lifting my hand, I rub the ache in my chest as I admit the lie. I do want her in my club. I want her in here, alone, sitting at the bar with her attention on me alone.
Rubbing a hand down my face, I sigh, feeling tired and damn lonely. The woman from earlier appears, moving toward me like she has a mission. I know what she expects from me. However, I’m not inclined to give her that. I’ve been going through the motions with countless women. It isn’t what I want. Not any longer.
My family knows me as the one who likes to play. Thanks to Jaxon hooking up with the Prof, I’m the only single one amongst the family now. I enjoyed being single. Now, I think I want what my cousins have—a real home with a girl of my own.
“You look tired,” the woman says in a voice meant to entice. “I’m sure I could”—she glances to my groin and back—“wake you up.” Her pouty red lips do nothing for me. She is attractive and perhaps if I hadn’t seen Gretchen tonight, I would have taken the woman in front of me up on what she is offering. Then again, maybe not.
Stepping back, I say, “We’re closing.” I nod toward the exit. “Have a nice evening.”
Her gasp of surprise hits my ears as I turn and walk away. Rob stares from his position behind the bar, and I give him the finger as I head down the hallway and into the office.
Dropping my tired ass into the chair behind the large mahogany desk, I sit back and try and relax. The desk I casually rest my feet on has been in this office since before I was born. My dad had hauled it in here with one of his brothers before the club had opened.
Sighing heavily, I find relaxing is easier said than done when my head is full of thoughts of Gretchen. I want to be selfish and take what I want from her. However, I already know that I’ll want a whole lot more than I ever have from anyone with Gretchen.
Her sweet innocence has played hell with my mind and body since that night and I have a feeling it’s going to be worse than ever now she’s reappeared in my life. The sexy innocent needs a man who isn’t a flirt or manwhore. A scowl creeps onto my face at the last thought. I need to change so I’m the only man she’ll look at.
Not only do I want her trust, but I need to figure out exactly what else I do want from her because I don’t have a fucking clue how to be a boyfriend. Boyfriend. I like the sound of that. Not too long ago, I’d run like hell if that word was mentioned. For now, I’m going to give myself six months to live like a fucking monk. No partying. No dating. And definitely, no sex. I can do this with Gretchen being the end game.
Six months.
I can do this!
31
Gretchen
Ryan McKenzie behind the bar of his family-owned club looks more enticing than he had been the night he’d kissed me in the most fantastic way. A way that I haven’t been able to forget. His lips hadn’t just pressed gently against mine—they’d been firm and demanding. His tongue had been hot and slippery. My body had become swollen and achy with a need I hadn’t experienced before or since.
In the dark corner that I’ve moved to after he’d spotted me in the opposite corner, I still have the perfect view of him. The man oozes testosterone. He dresses in black jeans, fitted to his firm ass. His black button-down is open at the neck, stretching across his chest as he moves. Don’t get me started on the strength I see in his arms. The shirt has been pushed up his forearms and his biceps strain against the fabric. What I wouldn’t give to have those arms around me again—to be pressed tightly against his body so that his erection gets trapped between us. I’ve imagined many times what it would feel like to have his long thick cock sliding inside of me…of course, having never had one inside of me before, it’s hard to imagine properly.
I’ve waited a long time to come back to Lexington and see Ryan. I’d wanted to find out whether or not my reaction to him that New Year had been blown way out of proportion. Looking at him now, I knew it hadn’t. I’m sure he recognized me, so why hadn’t he acknowledged the fact? Perhaps, that evening hadn’t been as memorable to him as it had been to me. I mean, it had changed my whole life in the seconds our mouths had connected, and our bodies had pressed together.
My head is telling me to leave this alone—go back to Boston and forget all about Ryan McKenzie. It’s what I should do. However, I’m not ready to do that yet. Over the next week, I’ll do everything I can to attract his attention to the point that he approaches me because I’m not sure I dare to approach him.
Not like the woman who approaches him now with all her curves visible and breasts larger than melons. Her fingernails flash under the light, and Ryan barely misses those claws. I smile as he shakes his head and backs away from the woman. He sna
ps something to her, and then gives the bartender the finger, before he disappears down the ‘staff only’ hallway.
My heart pounds, knowing he turned her away. Is it because he’s seen me? My belly is full of nerves making me feel unsettled at the thought. I want to hope I had something to do with that rejection I witnessed. Ryan won’t have behaved with the women—that I do know. I’m aware of his reputation just like I had been all those years ago.
Not liking the way my thoughts have turned, I move toward the bar and place my empty glass on the black granite surface.
“I’m Rob.” The bartender appears and moving my glass out of his way, leans on the bar. “I’ve noticed you like the boss, huh?” He grins. “And you are?”
Heat creeps onto my face. “Gretchen.”
“Nice name.” He glances around and adds under his breath, “Will we see you tomorrow night?”
Nodding, I swallow around the lump in my throat. “I’ll be here.”
