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“I’ll stay right here,” I say, and she bites her lip to stop a broad smile from forming.
Chapter 3
Gracie
I’mservingtherowdycrowd, and a bead of sweat runs down my back from the nonstop night. I chance a peek at him in the corner, munching on the pretzels, then get back to work. He’s so damn handsome.
No one else has come over to bother him since Sandy, and I can’t help but smirk at the memory. His horrified expression was priceless. She is thirty-nine and very attractive, so to watch him become so repulsed by her made me feel lighter. And the way he said it was my choice...I don’t know exactly how old he is, but age is just a number. I’ve dated guys my age, and yes, it’s fun, but the electricity I have with him is different. I want to find out his name now. He knows mine, so it’s only fair.
The way he spoke and acted gave me the confidence boost I needed to let my guard down. I can’t help but remember the subtle hand squeeze and smile just for me, showing me his interest in me too. I want to do something about it, but I don’t know what. He’s more sophisticated than the men I’ve been with before; in a league of his own.
He hasn’t left the spot at the bar, which I’m secretly humbled about. And I’ve refilled his drink a couple of times now. It’s a nice excuse to check in with him, and we exchange flirty smiles. I wish I had longer to stop and talk to him, since I know he’ll be gone soon, but the crowd is still large, and I’m too busy to have a long chat.
I’m restocking the limes when, from the corner of my eye, I see a young man slip something into a drink. I snatch the glass from the bar before he can reach for it, narrowing my eyes and saying, “Don’t fucking bother.”
I know his name, so I’m going to report him.
“Give it to me,” he sneers.
“No, you spiked it.”
The woman standing near him gasps and covers her mouth, looking totally bewildered, and I feel sorry for her as what I said sinks in. But what I wasn’t expecting was for her to pour the drink over him and yell, “How dare you? You creep. I’m going to the cops.”
She storms off in the exit’s direction, and I stand there, proud of her. Her speaking up at the disgusting act is impressive. Spiking isn’t a usual occurrence here, but it’s still an unfortunate reality. Every time I’ve found women passed out or slurring their words when I know they weren’t drunk, it causes me to dislike men as a whole.
I watch him look around, embarrassed at being caught.Piece of trash. As I walk over to the phone to report him, his face pales.
“Please don’t. It won’t happen again.” He leans over the bar, his expression one of desperation.
“Not a chance in hell,” I spit, my body vibrating in anger.
The bouncer grabs him and takes him away.
After I make the call, I return to work, but I’m a little shaken.
“Are you okay?” The sexy stranger asks, his voice cutting across my wandering thoughts.
“Yeah,” I mumble, not wanting to expose to him how rattled I really am. I just want to push it aside and go back to the fun, flirty night.
“That happens often?” he asks, and the deep tone of concern in his voice has me looking up.
His head is tilted, and he’s holding strong eye contact with me. When I stay silent, a deep frown settles between his brows. “Gracie?”
I sigh. “Thankfully not. I don’t understand why they do it.”
His eyes darken, and he rubs his chin with his hand as he speaks. “Baffles me. Consent is huge for me.”
My pulse skips a beat.
“Same. And don’t they want the woman to enjoy it?” I shake my head.
“I guess not. Which doesn’t make any sense, since that’s the best part.”
I swallow hard, knowing what he’s implying.
I’m about to respond when he pulls his phone out, pinching the bridge of his nose as he grumbles, “Fuck.”
“Is everything all right?” I ask.
