We had a late lunch at the local steakhouse. The food was good as always, but the company was even better. I could get used to having her here with me all the time. Something I know I can’t have, but I want it anyway.
Just as we’re leaving, Liv texts me and says she has everything at the bar under control and I’m “not to show my face.” After helping Jamie into the truck, I hesitate. It goes against everything I’ve become these last couple of years to not at least stop in and check on things.
“You okay?” Jamie says from beside me.
I look up and find her beautiful green eyes filled with concern. “Yeah, just thinking. Liv says she has the bar under control.” I hold up my phone to show her. “So I guess we can go ahead with our final plans of the day.”
“I don’t care if you want to stop. I know the bar is your baby.”
I think about her words. I’ve put everything I am into Mike’s Tavern since I took over. Six months ago, regardless of what my sister said, I would’ve still stopped in. Hell, I would’ve been there most of the night, if not the entire night. Today, however, that’s not my first reaction. Today, I have a beautiful woman sitting beside me, and the pull to spend more time with her, to make her smile, is stronger than the pull of the bar.
“Nah, Liv knows what she’s doing. I’ve been wanting her to take a more active role, so this is a good way to show her that I stand behind my words.”
“So, next stop?” she asks.
“It’s a surprise.” I reach over and tap the end of her nose with my index finger. Her reply is a huge smile that lights up her face. That’s more than I could ask for. Putting the truck in Drive, I head toward Evan and McKinley’s.
“Are we going to see Whit?” she asks once I turn on the road that leads to both Evan and Aaron’s.
“Yeah. I know you came here for me this weekend, but she’s your best friend and you never get to see her. I’m too damn selfish to give you up the entire night, so I rallied the troops and we’re all hanging out by the bonfire.”
“Where have you been all my life, Michael Wallace?
“Waiting for you.”
A light blush coats her cheeks.
When I pull up to Evan and Kinley’s, Whit and Aaron are already here, the four of them sitting on the front porch. Jamie doesn’t give me a chance to open her door; she’s out of the truck and rounding the front by the time I get the keys out of the ignition. I’m next to her in two long strides, and what happens next surprises the hell out of me. She jumps in my arms, hers going around my neck as she wraps her legs around my waist while I brace my hands on her thighs, holding her to me.
“Thank you, Mike. I don’t know how you knew I was feeling guilty about not spending any time with Whit while I was here. I don’t want to know. All that matters is that you know how amazing you are.”
Then she kisses me. Not just a peck on the lips, no. She slips her tongue past my lips and kisses me like it’s just the two of us. I couldn’t give a fuck who’s watching; I’m taking everything she’s willing to give.
Turning us, I rest her back against the truck and take my time tasting her. She might have started this show, but I’m going to be the one to finish it. I hear hooting and hollering from our friends and I don’t let it faze me, leaning into her and deepening the kiss. It’s not until I feel her grind her hips against me that I decide it’s time to cool this down; we’re both getting too worked up for an audience.
Slowly I pull my lips from hers, and she buries her face in my neck while she tries to catch her breath.
“I guess we gave them a show,” she says with laughter in her voice.
“That we did. You good?”
“Yeah.” She raises her head and I see her face is flushed with embarrassment. She kisses the corner of my mouth, then releases the iron grip her legs have on my waist. I don’t help her because I want her to slide down my body. I want her to see what she does to me, see how bad I want her. It’s literally painful to keep denying what we both want.
Once her feet touch the ground, those big green eyes peer up at me, and what I see has me rethinking my plans to wait until I know she’s on the same page as me. Lust, pure heated lust, is flashing in her eyes. She felt what she does to me, and from the look she’s giving me, she’s on board.
“Ready?” I ask, running my finger down the side of her cheek.
“To go back to your place?” she asks. I can hear the hope and desire in her voice.
I can’t help but laugh. “No, to spend time with our friends.”
She sighs dramatically, but her beautiful smile is still in full bloom. “Yes.” Grabbing her hand, I guide her up to the front porch.
“You need a minute?” Whit taunts us.
“Actually, yes, that would be great. Can we borrow the spare bedroom too?” Jamie asks, her face solid, serious.
“Uh….” Whitney is rendered speechless.
“Got ya!” Jamie laughs.
“After the way you attacked him, I wasn’t sure you were kidding,” Whitney confesses.
Jamie looks up at me. “I could be persuaded.”
Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, I address Aaron and Evan. “You need any help with the fire?” It’s time to get the conversation steered in another direction. If she keeps talking about it, I might just throw her over my shoulder and speed back to my place. We’re not there yet, no matter how bad I ache for us to be.
“Nah, we were just waiting on the two of you. Let’s head out back,” Aaron says, Whitney, Evan and McKinley following.
Jamie starts to as well, but I pull on her hand to halt her. Bending down, I place my lips next to her ear. “Feel free to surprise me anytime you want,” I say, kissing just below her ear.
She smiles softly. “Happy birthday weekend, Michael.” Standing on tiptoes, she kisses me. It’s soft and way too quick, but it’s her lips on mine; I’ll take that any way she’s willing to dish it out.
“Come on, you two,” Whit calls out for us.
We both laugh and walk to the back deck. Jamie pulls away from me and heads toward Whitney and McKinley, grabbing drinks out of the outdoor kitchen refrigerator. I stop and watch her leave—trust me, you’d do the same. I hear laughter behind me, which forces me to pull my eyes from her.
“Welcome to the club, brother.” Evan tilts his head toward the girls.
“Damn fine club to be a member of,” Aaron laughs.
“Not there yet,” I tell them.
“Could’ve fooled me,” Aaron comments.
“What’s holding you back? From the looks of that entrance, not much,” Evan laughs.
“Distance.” I hate that she lives so far away. I’ve run the scenario in my head a million times and no matter how I spin it, we both give up something. One of us would be leaving our families and our homes. I’d be leaving my legacy, the Tavern, and she would be losing her dream. She’s just now in a place where she can seek out the larger firms and land her dream job. I’m at a loss for how we could work. No way could I deal with being away from her for weeks at a time.
“That sucks. I’ve dropped a few hints that she should move here,” Aaron tells me.
“I wish. She’s happy in the city, and I would never forgive myself if she gave that up to be here. I just don’t see how we can make it work.”
“What does she say about it?”
I shrug. “We’ve not dissected it too much. We both know long distance isn’t what we want long term. Right now we’re just… getting to know each other.”
“From the looks of it, that’s working out for you,” Evan laughs.
“What’s so funny?” McKinley asks, her arms going around his waist. Whit does the same with Aaron and to my surprise, I feel Jamie do the same to me.
“Just guy talk.” He leans down and kisses her forehead.
“Well can we move the guy talk to the fire? It’s still kind of chilly out here,” Whitney asks.
Their arms still around each other, Aaron guides her to the fire pit and takes a seat, pulling her into his lap. Evan and I follow suit, and that’s how we spend the rest of the evening, sitting around the fire, snuggled up close.
The only thing that makes this night even better is that this beautiful girl in my arms is coming home with me tonight and I get to wake up with her tomorrow. I just need to figure out how to make that happen every day.