CHAPTER SEVEN
Stephen
I drove us to the bar, since we’d more than likely be leaving once it was dark. Mandy explained that her friend would be leaving her car at home before she had to get to the camp the following day, so I knew that she was mine for the night.
What I might do with that remained to be seen. She turned me the hell on, but I wanted to hold back for a lot of reasons.
Did Mandy want a man with a son in her life? Would she resent it somewhere down the line once she’d met Brandon and he became attached to her?
I glanced over as I watched her looking into the mirror, fussing over her appearance. Mandy was gorgeous, but she probably had no idea of that fact.
I pulled into the small parking lot of the corner sports bar, finding a spot in the back. We made our way to the door, and I held it open for her, checking out her ass as she walked inside. “I am going to use the restroom. Where will you be?” Mandy asked me as she turned around, meeting my hungry gaze.
“There’s a couple of tables in the back that everyone sits at. What would you like to drink?” I asked her as she blushed.
“Something sweet. You seem to guess very well.” Her gaze was hot as she walked away, and I pressed my hands to my thighs for a moment. Wow.
I walked to the bar and ordered myself the only beer that I was going to enjoy, adding a fuzzy naval for Mandy. I stayed at the bar to wait for her, so she wouldn’t have to join the crowd at the table all alone.
I knew that there was going to be talk about our mutual arrival, but I didn’t care. I’d never given another woman any attention before then, but I hoped they were grown up enough to get the fuck over themselves. I was one of the top workers at the company and needed the job as much as they needed me.
I sipped the beer and glanced back toward the hallway, mesmerized as Mandy appeared. I wasn’t surprised to see a fresh layer of pink on her lips and hair fixed up a little, making me smile. She deserved to know how flawless she looked. I handed her the drink and led her to the table with my hand on the small of her back.
Everyone was staring, and I felt her freeze for a moment. “Come on.” She walked forward, and I made the formal introductions for those that hadn’t met her. We found a spot at the table, and I noticed that Paul was looking curiously at me, his arm slung over the shoulder of one of the young receptionists. She looked a little tipsy already, and I rolled my eyes at him as his eyes drifted to Mandy.
I felt a rush of jealousy and glanced over at her, watching her sip the drink as she looked around the table with a nervous expression. I noticed that Stella moved into the seat beside her and grinned at her. They seemed to know one another already, and I raised an eyebrow as Stella shot me an inquiring look.
Someone ordered shots, and the waitress brought over a big tray of them as Mandy stared at it. She’d finished her drink and asked the waitress for another one as Stella slid two shot glasses her way. “You get Stephen’s. He’s a goody-two-shoes.”
“He has to get home to his son,” Mandy defended me as I looked down at her. She smiled at me, and I felt warmth rush over me.
Stella convinced Mandy to join in with a shot, and everyone clanked their glasses together before slamming down the tequila. I laughed at the look on her face, and she stared at me in shock. I assumed that she wasn’t too much of a drinker, but she took an eager sip of the cocktail that the waitress brought her to wash down the harsh liquor.
Paul let out a holler as he held up another shot and raised his hands in the air. He was the first one on the dance floor when the music started, dirty dancing with the receptionist that he’d originally been cuddling up to as well as another one. I watched him as he rocked his hips into the blonde’s ass, calling out something obnoxious as Mandy gave me a look.
I could tell that she was getting a little drunk by the shimmer in her eyes and smiled gently at her. I would take care of her and keep her safe. More to the point, I would keep her far away from Paul. He was a handful when he was sober, but with a few shots in him, every woman in the room was soon to be in trouble.
The others started joining him as the music kept playing, and I started laughing. I didn’t get out with everyone enough and was having a great time here tonight. Danielle always told me to do things with friends after work, but I had Brandon to think about. He was my responsibility, my obligation.
A rush of freedom passed through me as a popular song that Brandon loved came over the speakers. I leaned close to Mandy and asked her to dance with me as she blushed and smiled shyly. “Okay,” she agreed as we stood and moved toward the group on the dance floor. I watched as she took a small breath and started to move, realizing quickly that Mandy had some moves.
She only had one more shot, which was delivered by no other than Paul, who grinned at me. “This is for you. I have someone to warm my bed tonight.” He winked at me before returning to the girls waiting for him, and I looked down at Mandy. She didn’t seem to hear what he said and downed the shot like it was water before she smiled brightly at me.
Fuck, she was beautiful.
She kept dancing to the songs that played, and I was grateful when something slow came over the speakers. I took her hand and asked if I could have this dance, mesmerized by her smile when she said yes.
“How long have you been alone with your son?” Her voice was soft in my ear as I held her close, moving to the slow beat of the ballad.
“Six years. His mother left when Brandon was one,” I replied, oblivious to our surroundings as she slipped her arms around his neck. “We were never married, barely together really. I wasn’t as careful as I should have been then, but I love my boy more than anything.”
“Of course you do. I can tell that you live for him.” Her eyes were clear when she gazed up at me, full of compassion and sincerity. “He’s lucky to have you.”
“Thank you,” I told her as I pulled her body closer to me, feeling her chest against mine as I breathed her in. Her perfume was sweet and reminded me of citrus and cherries.
We danced for an hour or so longer before I sensed that Mandy was tired. We walked out to the car, and I opened the door for her as she slid into the passenger seat. Once I was behind the wheel, I looked at her and tenderly stroked her soft cheek. “You don’t drink a lot, do you?”
“No. Never.” She giggled. “That was a lot of fun, though.”
“It was. I should go more.” I admitted as I pulled slowly out of the parking lot. “Where do you live?”
She directed me to an apartment complex a few blocks away, and I pulled into the parking lot and parked in front of the door that she pointed at. It was a nice place, and I looked around before noticing how dark her unit was. “Is anyone home?” I asked her as she turned her head to stare at me. There was something needy in her eyes, and I licked my lips, imagining the things that I could do with her.
“No. Vanessa stays with her boyfriend a lot on the weekends since they do theater together.” Mandy smiled brilliantly at me. “Want to come in? We usually have something to drink in the house.”
I hesitated for a fleeting second. “That sounds great, Mandy.”
I should’ve headed home to Brandon, but I knew that he was sleeping from the text I’d sent to Danielle. She was curled up watching a movie, and my son was safe, so I should enjoy myself a little bit. I would be back in time for him to wake up. I’d never spend the night away from Brandon nor would I just assume that Danielle would stay.
I had responsibilities, but at that moment, I was just going to take her inside and pretend that this was all that I had to worry about.