Punctured, Bruised, and Barely Tattooed(54)

“You got me there.”

“Thought so.”

He parked across the street from The Iron Maiden and walked into the bar next to the pizza place where they’d had their first date. Kory smiled, because tonight still didn’t feel like a date to her, nor did it feel like they were dating. No, instead, Stone felt like a permanent fixture in her life—he felt like more than a date. He was much more important than that.

As they walked inside the door, he said, “You have your ID on you, right?”

“Yep.” It was tucked inside her phone case, and her phone was in her back pocket. It turned out that, even though the staff at the bar should have, they never carded her. Maybe it was because Stone was with her and he definitely did not look too young to drink. Kory had never seen him carded, and she knew it was because of his perceived age. Yes, he was in his late twenties, but it showed. His facial hair alone made him look more than old enough. But Kory thought it was the look in his eyes that gave away his age.

Maybe that was why she wasn’t carded, either. Her eyes said more than her mouth ever could.

But today was a day Stone wanted to celebrate, so she wasn’t going to let her past drag at her. She’d felt freer than ever, having told him everything, and it had made her feel more connected to the man than she had to anyone else in her entire life. For him, she was going to try to have a good time.

They walked straight up to the bar and Stone asked what she wanted. “I have no idea,” she said.

“Then how about a shot of something?”

“Like what?”

The bartender stood at the ready. “How about tequila?”

Stone grinned and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Neat?”

“No.” Kory frowned. Stone said, “Just trust me.” She searched his eyes. Yes, she trusted him with all that she was. She couldn’t help but smile back. When she looked over to the bartender, she saw that he had two shot glasses lined with salt, and he filled each one almost to the rim with the amber liquid. He placed two lime wedges in front of the glasses and Stone gave him several bills. Then he told Kory, “Hold the lime in your left hand between your finger and thumb. Down your shot and then suck on the lime.” She grinned and nodded. “Ready?”

“Yep.”

“Go.”

Almost in unison, they slammed the shots and Kory saw Stone sucking on his lime wedge just as she was bringing hers to her mouth. As she began tasting the citrus juice, she realized that the liquor left a hot, burning sensation in its wake that almost took her breath away. Somehow, the lime helped fight the effect and made it taste better than she knew it had a right to.

“Again?”

Her brain was thinking no, but she said, “Yeah.”

They had one more shot and it hit Kory that she was, in every way, a full-fledged adult. There was nothing she couldn’t do that any other adult could do, and she wasn’t sure if that made her happy or not. One thing about her adulthood that she appreciated was that other adults could no longer fuck with her…but they hadn’t been able to in a very long time.

“One more time?”

“Nah. I think I’m good.”

“Yeah. Me, too, birthday girl.” He draped his arm around her shoulders and he nodded to the bartender before guiding Kory toward the door. “Besides, we have so much more to do.”

“Like what?”

“I have a couple of surprises for you.” She frowned and almost stopped walking, but his motion kept her going. “Just relax and enjoy the ride.” She nodded her head, realizing she was feeling a little floaty—an effect of the tequila, she had no doubt. She was glad they’d stopped at two, because she wanted to enjoy and remember the evening.

She was a little amused when she realized Stone was driving home, because he’d made it sound like he’d had huge plans. But he had a giant grin on his face as they got out of his truck and walked toward the back door that led to the kitchen. Kory noticed the cleaning lady’s car still parked in the back in her usual spot. She’d only ever met the woman twice because she cleaned three times a week midday, times when Kory wasn’t around often. It was early evening, so what was she doing there now?

She knew Stone understood the unspoken question, because he continued smiling as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, guiding her toward the house. When they walked in, the first thing Kory noticed was the candles on the table. It wasn’t dark outside yet, but with the lights in the kitchen turned off, the candles seemed bright and cheery—and almost romantic…if she’d been into that sort of thing.

Annette, the thin fifty-something woman who kept Stone’s house spotless, stood beside the stove patiently while Lady hopped around Stone, licking his arms as he bent over to pet her. Kory waved at Annette and the woman nodded and smiled but she wasn’t giving up any information.