“Hey! Welcome to Randy’s Place!” Screams of deafening proportions pierce my eardrums making me cover them quickly. His sexy laugh makes my eyes go wide and my heart races as it magnifies from the sound system. “We’re ‘The Forgotten’ but I hope after tonight you don’t forget us or our awesome sounds.” I watch as his head turns back to his bandmates and then the drummer hits his sticks together and the band starts playing.
“Hey! Two beers!” My head reluctantly turns to a guy waving money over the counter, and I go grab a couple of glasses and start filling them, the girl never turning back around to give me her order. We’re swamped and the women are screaming with every note played, every word sung, making it hard to hear their music, and I almost fall twice trying to hurry to fill drink orders. The crowd roars as the band states they’re taking a quick break, and then the bar counter gets mobbed with people.
“Yo, Em! Go see what the band wants to drink. I’ll cover ya,” Randy shouts as he walks behind the bar. I wipe my hands off on my jeans and nod, quickly walking behind Trevor and out the back way towards the hallway that leads into the private room we have for the band members. I hear Tina whisper, “Lucky Wench” as my heart starts beating wildly with the thought that if by some miracle he didn’t see me before, he will now. I walk into the room just as he removes his wife-beater using it to wipe the sweat from his brow, and I can’t swallow the lump in my throat or the desire that skyrocketed throughout my body. No one has ever made me feel this way. Oh, there was a guy once, who I kind of liked, but I’ve never had the sensations that are flowing through me now. The butterflies have tied knots in my stomach just looking at him. Shit! I hope I’m not becoming just another one of his groupies.
“Cool! They’re sending in sexy women into the backroom for us! Totally awesome!” One of the guys says loudly, and I freeze when Mr. Tyler’s eyes flash to mine.
I smile coyly and look around. “Uh, no. I’m here to take drink orders, sorry.” My eyes shift back to Mr. Tyler’s, and I watch as his smile spreads. I can’t help but look down at his muscular arms, the light wisps of hair on his broad chest, his more than tight abs, and I about choke on my spit.
“I didn’t know you worked here,” he whispers as his eyes gaze into mine then down my body, and suddenly I’m self-conscious of my half top and put my arms around my waist.
“Ah, girl, don’t cover up. How ‘bout you get us some beers and shots of tequila and then you can sit on my lap and tell me all about yourself.” One of the guys shouts, and I quickly turn and walk very fast out of there. Fuck my life! I practically run to the side bar. I get their beers and fill the shot glasses with tequila and carry the huge tray back to the room, setting it on the round table in the corner and find myself in between two of the guys. The one who ‘wants to get to know me’ puts his arm around my lower thigh and pulls me onto his lap as I turn to leave. “Hey, not so fast, girlie. Now how about you let me take my shot between your nice girls there, and then we can have a nice….” His eyes move up and down my chest as he licks his lips. “Chat.”
I look up when Mr. Tyler grabs my hand and pulls me up. My chest hits his hard with the force, and I swear I heard him growl. I thank all that’s holy that he put another wife-beater on so I didn’t hit his naked skin. “Knock it off, Duke,” he sneers back at the other guy.
“Fuck! You’re no fun!” He grumbles as he lifts his shot glass and tilts his head back as he slams it down.
Mr. Tyler pulls my hand, and I follow him out of the room and into the small hallway. I remove my hand from the warmth of his and lean back against the wall and watch as he mimics me on the wall across from me. “Sorry about Duke, he’s a mess. How long have you worked here?”
I look down and start wringing my hands in front of me. “Mr. Tyler, I don’t think….”
“It’s Josh, at least when we’re not at school,” he whispers and my eyes snap to his, the warmth of his beautiful smile calming me. I’m in so much trouble.
I can’t help my smile from appearing as I remove my hands from their tight clasp and take a deep breath. “I’ve bartended here for a little over two years, ever since I moved here. And just how long have you been in a band? I have to say I was more than surprised when I saw you up on the stage tonight.”
He chuckles, and I have to cross my legs to try to contain the ache that develops quickly, and his eyes lower as he rubs the scruff on his face. I find myself wanting to lick where he’s rubbing.