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Joe’s voice snaps me out of my nocturnal flashbacks. “Huh? What?”
“You’re grinning like you did something dirty,” he says.
“Get back to work,” I snap, but the smile is still tugging at my lips.
Joe chuckles. “Sure thing, boss.”
Then the smile really does vanish when I realize I’m missing him. Bren is taking so many of my firsts, I’m starting to worry my feelings are growing too much for him. Now I’m frowning because I can’t let myself fall for him. We are meant to be an adventure. Fun only. But that thought only deepens my frown, so I try to distract myself with work, as usual.
Though the bar is empty, those of us here early are all busy with many tasks required to ensure our weekend runs smoothly. I really do have the best staff in the world. I can’t fathom how I got so lucky.
It catches me by complete surprise when Bren shows up before opening, and I hate how much I’m squealing on the inside like a pathetic teenage fangirl. This isn’t me. I’m losing it. But I’m also damn happy to see him—andthat, I can’t deny.
“In my defense,” he says, grinning, “I showed up before opening, so I’m technically not getting in the way of work.”
I shake my head. “Just because we aren’t open yet doesn’t mean there isn’t any work—”
“And here I thought you were going to be glad to see me—”
I’m about to lean over the bar for a welcome kiss when the sound of glass shattering on the floor grabs both our attention. Joe stands down the bar from me. He’s carrying a tray of clean glasses from the kitchen that he must have dropped.
Joe freezes. He doesn’t hurry to clean up the mess he made. Instead, he blinks, looking at Bren, then at me. Back and forth, behind the bar, and in front of the bar. “No way,” he finally says in a breathy voice. “You—you—you are...”
I chuckle because Joe can’t bring himself to use whole sentences, and it’s the funniest thing I have ever seen him do.
Bren steps forward, grabs a stool, and sits in front of the bar. His movements are natural, like he’s used to this kind of interaction. Of course, he is used to fumbling idiots blinded by his fame. Bren then stretches his hand out over the bar toward Joe but keeps his gaze on me.
“Now that’s the welcome reaction I was looking for.” Then he turns to Joe. “Hello. I’m Bren,” he says while sporting a warm smile.
Joe looks at his outstretched hand and blinks. Then he blinks a second time. I bring my hand to my lips, pressing them firmly down to hold back my laughter. Joe will never forgive me if I embarrass him in front of his hero.
“Joe,” I finally say to Bren. “This is Joe.”
It’s still Bren who speaks first. “Joe. Nice to meet you, man.”
To his credit, Bren never drops his hand, waiting for Joe to eventually snap out of it—which he does.
“Um, sorry,” he says, shaking his head. He shakes Bren’s hand with exaggeration for several seconds. “Nice to meet you. Um, we aren’t open yet—what am I saying? You’re Brenner Reindhart. We open for you. What can I get you?” All of that, Joe says in a single breath.
“I’m good, man. Thanks,” Bren says.
“Are you sure? I’m happy to make anything you like.”
“A bit early. Thanks though. I actually wanted to talk to your boss here.”
When Joe doesn’t move, I speak up. “Joe. Can you give us a moment?”
“Yeah...”
Joe throws me a glance like I’ve kicked his puppy as he walks through the swinging door that leads to the kitchen. He is a big, burly man, but he slouches, and his shoulders slump forward as he leaves us. I chuckle when he’s on the other side of the door.
“Oh my god,” I say. “Do you get that a lot?” I ask Bren and realize I have yet to see him interact with fans outside of that first concert I went to.
“You have no idea,” Bren says.
Once we know we are entirely alone, I lean over the bar, keeping all my weight on my elbows as I stretch up on tiptoe to reach Bren’s lips. He leans in across the counter, his breath hot on my face. Phone sex and sexting are not good substitutes for Bren in the flesh.
He kisses me with an open mouth and runs his tongue across my teeth. He nibbles, sucks and kisses until my arms start to shake, and I have to let go and bring my feet back to the ground.
