Dangerous Love(3)

"No," she said. Her face turned beet red, as if she was suddenly aware they had an audience that consisted of mostly men.

Too beautiful.

Really, she wasn't his type. Normally he didn't go for redheads, but her awesome hair color hair contrasted perfectly with her fair skin. Freckles he didn't usually find attractive, but on her they worked. In fact, she had a Grecian goddess type look to her.

Huh?

"Baby," he cooed.

She snorted and rolled those awesome peepers. "Keep wishing, big guy."

Big guy? Big guy. He tested...and liked it.

She had the audacity to turn away and serve drinks to other men, who demanded their own show of affection.

Well shit, he wouldn't appreciate witnessing that. He picked up his beer, downed the rest, and slammed the empty bottle on the wood bar.

"Let's go," he barked to Smith.

Tossing down a twenty, Derk sauntered out of the raunchy bar. He didn't need or have time for games with a saucy bartender. Pulling out his cell, he dialed reliable Claire to suck him off and get rid of his hard-on. He'd insist that she run out and buy a red wig.





3



For the rest of her shift Mackenzie found it hard to concentrate. Damn that biker-type-god. All night she felt hot, flushed, unable to cool down. That searing kiss had done her in. She fumbled with beer and liquor bottles, dropped change, and bumped into her coworkers. He’d managed to totally throw her off, much to the delight of Jennie, who spent the night with a knowing grin plastered on her face.

“Did you get his number?” Jennie asked while they counted the register drawers.

“Whose?” She tried to play clueless.

Jennie snickered. “Cut the shit, Mackenz. That guy was super hot. Douche, but hot. And he was all over you. Did you get his number after he slid his tongue down your throat?”

“No, Jennie. I’m not that kind of girl,” she responded, offended.

Jennie arched a perfectly penciled in brow. “What kind? The kind that caves to what her body tells her it wants? By the looks of it, your tiny little package wanted the big bad wolf.”

How did she manage to make a children’s fairy tale sound...dirty?

Ignoring her obnoxious coworker, Mackenzie continued to rapidly count the bar's earnings. Glancing up at the clock, if she didn’t leave the place within five minutes she’d miss the last bus and be forced to walk home. It wasn’t that far, only a couple of miles, but, at three in the morning, that wasn't exactly wise.

“Damn it!” she yelled and slammed down her hand. Because she was in such a rush, her drawer kept coming up with different totals each time she added.

“What is your issue?” Jennie asked.

“I need to get out of here or else I’ll miss the bus,” she answered, starting her count over, again.

“I thought you had a car?”

“Asshole got it in the divorce,” she mumbled.

“Oh, honey.” Jennie approached and placed a rare, supportive hand on her shoulder. “Let me help. I’d offer to take you home but I didn’t drive. Max is picking me up on his bike.”

“That’s okay. I wouldn’t want to put anyone out. I have to figure this out on my own,” she said, trying to keep herself together and not fall to the ‘oh woe-is-me’ cycle. Who had time for that?

“Oh, shut up,” Jennie said exasperated.

Yeah, no one was more frustrated than Mackenzie at that moment.



***



Glancing down at her cell phone for the tenth time. Odds were great she missed her transportation home. Sighing heavily, she stood from the bench and proceeded down the deserted street. Close to three-thirty in the morning, and she had to pound pavement to get home. Lovely.

A cool breeze whipped around her, sending a chill down her spine. She tugged her lightweight fleece closer. Luckily, she kept her street clothes in her locker so she could change after work. She kept her “stripper outfit” at the job. That thing never left the bar on her body.

Two blocks down, she started to find a rhythm. Street lights lined the closed business district of the small suburban town. Darkened storefront windows gave the surroundings an ominous look. To be honest, having this kind of late-night solitude was somewhat invigorating and salacious. To see the world still and silent some might call enchanting.

Six blocks down and her rapid pace would get her home quickly. Good thing she was in decent shape. Well, for her. She made a mental note to start a walking program. Maybe lose the hips. Unlike stick-thin, can-see-their-ribs Jennie and Kayla, Mackenzie considered herself thin but could lose ten pounds, then maybe she'd be comparable to those two young women.

Lost in her random thoughts, she managed to knock off three more blocks. Night sounds of crickets, frogs, and the nocturnal animals filled the air.