It was a few hours and a few beers later when Krystal appeared on my side of the bar. She’d changed out of her work shirt into a plain black t-shirt that hugged her curves and made me want to explore those curves with my hands first, and then my mouth. I tried not to stare as she walked toward me, but I don’t think I was very successful.
“Ready?” she asked. “Sober enough to walk?”
I laughed. “Yeah. I didn’t have that many. Didn’t want to get drunk and stupid and embarrass myself in front of a beautiful woman.”
I saw it again…that hint of a blush, as if Krystal wasn’t used to sincere compliments.
“You want more beer, or would you prefer wine or cocktails?” Krystal asked as we walked toward the door together.
I felt the glare from the guy at the end of the bar who’d been so rude, and I have to admit that I took great pleasure in putting my hand on the small of Krystal’s back — just over the tattoo I’d glimpsed — as I opened the door for her. I knew that I was the envy of every single guy in that bar.
“Your pick,” I said once we were on the sidewalk. “You deserve to get the drink you want after working that hard.”
“Oh, I don’t care. I’m easy.”
“Oh, I saw you handle that guy. I doubt that,” making it clear that I was deliberately misunderstanding her.
She laughed. “I mean that I’m not picky about drinks. I used to be a rum and coke girl, but since I’ve been working at the Taphouse, I’ve learned a lot about craft beer, and even a little bit about wine.”
I thought for a second. “There’s a bar at the Ritz,” I said, hoping that she wouldn’t take the suggestion the wrong way.
“That’s fine.”
She stopped walking, and I figured that she was about to refuse to go to my hotel with me. I was preparing to protest that I didn’t have any ulterior motives when she spoke.
“I’m dressed pretty casual. You think a swanky place like the Ritz will let me in this way?”
“Absolutely,” I answered with confidence. “They let me in,” I said, holding my hands out and gesturing to emphasize that I was dressed casually as well.
“Well, then take me to the Ritz,” Krystal said with a smile. “Just don’t get any ideas.”
Even though I had all sorts of filthy ideas about what I’d like to do with Krystal, I reassured her. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”
“What a shame,” she said as she entered through the door that the valet held open.
Chapter 4
Krystal
Hoping that I wasn’t making a huge mistake, I walked inside the fanciest building I’d ever been inside. The ceilings were high, and the room was enormous, leading to a front desk decorated with huge flower arrangements. The light fixtures probably cost more than my car.
I was a little nervous, and I wasn’t sure how to act around Luke. He was clearly a whole different class of man than I was used to. I wanted to fuck his brains out, but I was also surprised that I enjoyed talking to him — at least as much as I could talk to anyone while I was working. I was gonna owe Mark big time for covering the rest of my shift. I hadn’t been exactly honest about how I’d managed to leave early, but for some reason, I felt like it was important that I go have a drink with Luke.
I hadn’t realized how much I missed having Moses to talk to until Luke had walked into Falling Rock. My conversations with Bug were limited to occasional discussions about where to go for dinner on the rare occasions when he took me out to eat and Bug’s instructions for how he wanted me to suck his dick. He wasn’t very creative in bed, and to be honest, he didn’t really do much for me in that department. He was selfish and wanted to feel like he was in control. In another man, the control craving might be sexy, but in Bug it was just pathetic. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been completely satisfied in bed…and then I realized that it had been with Moses.
Realizing that I had the chance to forget about how pitiful I felt chasing after Bug — a man I neither liked nor respected — I decided to just try to enjoy having a few drinks with Luke.
“Here we are,” he said, as we walked into the bar.
“Wow,” I said. I was used to the mountains since I’d grown up in Denver, but the view really was spectacular. The bar felt warm and inviting, and Luke held my seat out for me while I sat down.
The bartender came over. “Evening, folks. What can I get you to drink?”
“I think I’ve had enough beer for one night. You have any decent scotch back there?” Luke asked.