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She smiles at me. “Everything looks great! I’m impressed.”
“We were just saying the same thing,” Amber agrees. “When you officially open to the public, this place will be one of the most popular in town. I just know it!”
Their words are encouraging, and I do feel proud of Hot Toddy’s. “Thank you. I hope you’re right!”
Heidi gives me a slight squeeze. The past few weeks have been stressful regarding work, but Heidi has helped improve it. Ever since Markus and Amber’s holiday party, the two of us have talked every day, either in person, on the phone, or through text messages. We’ve also gone out on several dates together… and we’ve had sex. Everything with Heidi has been incredible––better than I ever expected it to be––and I’m a happy man.
“Brooklyn and her friends should be here soon,” Heidi says. “She texted me right after I got here.”
“Cool. The more, the merrier.” I recently met Brooklyn for the first time a couple of days ago. After Heidi broke the news that she was dating someone, Brooklyn wanted to meet me, especially when she found out I was the owner of the new bar going in next door to her mom’s store. When I told her about our New Year’s Eve private soft opening, she was eager to come and check it out, especially when I mentioned who our first musical guests were.
To my surprise, they introduced me to Amber’s brother, Nick, before I left their holiday party. I was starstruck, to say the least, but I was floored when he offered to have Riser play at Hot Toddy’s opening night. That’s when I decided to make it a private party rather than open to the public. I’ve kept quiet about Riser’s performance and swore the few people I told to secrecy so the word didn’t get out. I didn’t want random Riser fans showing up, trying to crash the party. Luckily, no one seems to have let the cat out of the bag because there haven’t been any crazy fans trying to get in.
I look around my new bar and feel proud. Dozens of people are here, people from all aspects of my life. Relatives, friends, coworkers, former coworkers, and classmates… it’s surreal seeing them all in one place, helping me celebrate the opening of my own bar. I feel fortunate and privileged to have them all here.
“What time does the band start?” Heidi asks.
I look at my watch. “In about ten minutes,” I reply.
“I’m so excited! This is going to be great. I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction
when they see Riser is going to play.”
“I know. I can’t wait.” I lean down and kiss her again.
Tonight’s the night. Not only the start of my dream career as a bar owner, but it’s the night I’m going to tell Heidi I love her.
I know some people may think it’s too soon, but I know how I feel. My relationship with Heidi is unlike any I’ve had before, and I know in my heart that I’m in love with this woman. Not only that but if I had to guess, I’d say she’s in love with me, too. It’s in the way she shows she cares, how she talks, how she kisses me, and how she makes love.
Sex with Heidi has been the best I’ve had, and she says it’s the best she’s ever had, too. Each time we’re together, it only gets better.
“Jacob! I have a question over here,” one of my waitresses walks up to me and says.
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” I reply, then kiss Heidi on the cheek. “I’ll be back.”
“No worries. I’ll just go introduce myself to your mom.” She winks, letting me know she’s joking.
She’s been asking if I’m going to introduce her to my parents tonight, and I told her I would. I’m actually excited to introduce her to my mom and dad, which is unusual. Whenever I’ve introduced a woman to my parents before, I panicked, wondering if my parents would like her and if she was right for me. This time, however, it just feels like the right thing to do.
When I first told my parents I was seeing someone new, of course they asked me questions. Once I said that Heidi owns the store next door to my bar, Mom got excited. To my surprise, Mom has shopped at Cheerfully Yours several times before, so technically, they met long before Heidi and I ever did. I should have known; Mom loves doing crafts and buying the kinds of things Heidi sells in her shop. Of course she’s shopped there. I don’t know why the possibility hadn’t occurred to me before.
After I help my server, it’s time for me to take the stage to welcome and thank everyone for coming. Then, I’ll introduce our special guests, Riser. As I look out at the sea of familiar faces in the bar I’ve spent months––no, years––planning, I’m overcome with emotion. I manage to hold back the tears as I give a little speech, and as soon as I announce Riser and they walk out onto the stage, everyone erupts in cheers.
I walk back onto the floor to find Heidi. She’s with Brooklyn and a couple of Brooklyn’s friends, who thoroughly enjoy Riser performing just feet away from them.
“Come on,” I say in Heidi’s ear. “I want to introduce you to my mom and dad.”
“Three, two, one, Happy New Year!”
Everyone cheers, Riser plays “Auld Lang Syne,” and my lips land on Heidi’s. Her arms wrap around my neck, holding me close. Tonight has been amazing, not only because my dream bar is now open but because I’ve had an incredible time celebrating the new year with Heidi and my closest friends and family.
My parents adore her. Mom and Heidi hit it off as soon as they met, which has never happened with any of my girlfriends before. They even recognized each other from being in Cheerfully Yours. They’re already planning a crafting day together, which is another first. No one I’ve dated has ever hung out with my parents without me. This is new territory for me… and I like it.
“I want you.” Heidi’s breath tickles my neck. Her words have a direct line to my libido, and my cock twitches.
I kiss her neck, then reply in her ear, “I want you, too.”
Realization hits that we won’t be able to leave for at least a couple more hours. I admire Heidi, looking sexy as sin in the short red dress she wore tonight. I don’t want to wait to be alone with her.
