“No complaints,” Chase tacks on, leaning forward dominantly.
I swallow the thick lump in my throat. I’m a ball of confusion at the moment. Are they gay? Are they bi? I know I’m straight. Am I imagining things altogether?
I have no idea what to make of the odd couple sitting across from me. All I do know is that they’re gorgeous, and I would gladly take either home.
Maybe I am a floozy. I bite my lip.
“I’m here!” Shayna rushes in grabbing everyone’s attention. The bubbly blonde darts behind the bar and stashes her bag underneath the cabinet. “I’m sorry I’m late. Holy crap! What did you do to your hair?”
“I cut it,” I state the obvious. “And what I did to my hair isn’t important. Where were you?”
“I got caught up.” She giggles uncontrollably, and I automatically know what that laugh means.
“What’s his name?” I sigh as I glance at the clock. One minute to nine. Could she cut it any closer?
“What makes you ask that?” She fixes the cocktail napkins and clears away two empty plates sitting in front of Shane and Chase.
“Because I’ve known you way too long, and there’s only one thing that turns you into a tardy, tittering tramp.”
“That was quite a word combo,” Chase cuts in.
“I like to read,” I respond rapidly.
“And nag.” Shayna escapes into the kitchen before she can be further ridiculed.
“I don’t nag! I manage! I’m the manager! That’s my job!” I yell at a ghostly swinging door.
I turn to Shane and Chase, who are both staring me down.
“What are you lookin’ at?”
“Nothing,” they both grumble under their breaths with what I think is a hint of amusement.
I lean on the edge of the bar and examine both of them thoroughly.
“What?” Shane questions.
“Nothing,” I respond wily, sizing them up. “I’m just trying to figure you two out.”
“Come out from behind that bar, and you can analyze us all you want.” Chase pops the last fritter into his mouth, goading me.
Shayna emerges from the kitchen, and I smile. “My shift just happens to be over.”
“Yes, be gone with you,” she shoos me away. “I can handle it from here.”
“You should have been handling it an hour ago. I still need to set up the floor, and everyone is practically here.”
“Moving a few tables and hooking up your iPod hardly sounds like setup,” she sneers.
“I have to light candles, too.” I stick my tongue out at her as I leave the bar.
“You two seem very close,” Shane observes.
“Yeah, we’re like one big fat fucking family here.” I smile obnoxiously at her. He and Chase both chuckle. “I’ll be right back.”
“Good, because this barstool has your name on it.” Chase reaches over and pulls an empty stool between him and Shane.
Oh?
“Keep it warm for me.” I can’t control my response.
“We will.” They both devour me with their eyes. My whole body boils, from the tip of my scalp to the points of my toes. I walk away tingling all over. With four attentive eyes on me, I shuffle the tables against the windows to create more room for a dance floor. Dimming the lights, I turn on the LCD hurricane candles and then hook up my iPod to the sound system. I made a special playlist just for Jack and Janine. Knowing the two of them for so long, I know the hundreds of soundtracks that define their relationship. I even know which song was playing when they had sex for the first time. Yeah. Tonight is going to be fun. I press play, and Promiscuous by Timberland and Nelly Furtado pumps through the speakers. I see Janine spin around and pick me out of the crowd. “Jennifer Reeves! No, you didn’t!” she screams across the room.
Oh yes, I did. I teasingly wave as Jack grabs her and grinds his hips against hers. Let the party begin.
I move slowly across the weathered floor to the seat that has been kept warm for me. I sit down between the two beguiling strangers who welcome me eagerly.
“What are you drinking?” Chase asks.
I take a deep breath, their expensive cologne and body heat cocooning me in confliction, temptation, and desire. I need something strong. Something with a kick that will inflate my nerves.
“A shot of Fireball with a Jack and Coke chaser.”
“Oh?” They both look at me intrigued.
“Don’t take me for a whiskey girl? I’m full of surprises.”
“So we’re discovering.” Shane leans in a little closer. All my tendons immediately tighten. “I’ll tell you something else,” he murmurs in my ear. “We’re full of surprises, too.”
I turn my head so we’re eye to eye. “I’m also discovering that.”
Once Shane pulls away, Chase hands me a shot glass. “One Fireball with a Jack and Coke chaser.”
“Thank you.” I slam the shot, the hot and spicy liquor singeing my throat as it slides down. I chase the sensation with a sip of the cold cocktail. Christ, I needed this. “Shayna, can I have another one?” I wave the glass at her. She pours the amber liquid up to the rim, a small bit spilling on my fingers as I bring the tiny glass to my lips. Like two thirsting animals, they both watch as I swallow the shot down and then lick the sticky remnants off my hand.
With dilated pupils, they engage me in conversation.
“How long have you worked here?” Shane starts.
“Years and years.” I suck down a large gulp of Jack and Coke. “I don’t remember a time I didn’t work here.” I laugh nostalgically. “I’m like a staple.”
“Interesting.”
“Not really,” I disagree, plainly. “Why are the two of you visiting Newhaven Beach? Business or pleasure?” My turn to pop off a question.
Shane and Chase share a communicative look. “Tonight?” Chase answers. “Pleasure.” He’s so close his breath tickles the back of my neck, causing goose bumps to erupt.
“Good to know.” I meet his searing brown gaze and fall blindly into an abyss of seduction.
I sip more of my drink to cool off and calm down. Jesus, these two men are intoxicating. “How was the food?” I attempt some small, safe conversation.
“Delicious. Everything in this establishment is surprisingly delicious.” Shane’s tone is deceptive. He isn’t referring to just the food.
“I don’t think you’ve sampled everything.”
Holy shit, did I just say that out loud? I’m completely playing into their little game, whatever that may be. But I can’t help it. I’m curious by nature, and these two are a whole new territory to explore.
“We’d be more than willing to sample whatever you put in front of us.” Shane’s gaze turns ensnaringly dark, inducing blood to rush to my head. Thank god, I’m sitting down because if I were standing up, I might just fall over.
Before I can sink deeper into their chasm of enticement, I hear Janine scream as the opening chords to Lady Antebellum’s Bartender plays through the speakers. I turn around to find her twirling in the middle of the room. It’s her absolute favorite song so, of course, I had to add it to the playlist. Like the beacon of light she is, she draws a crowd right to her, infecting the room the same way the music is infecting her. As soon as she zeros in on me, she curls her finger in a come hither way with a devilish look in her big blue eyes.
“No,” I mouth, shaking my head obstinately.
“Yes,” she mouths back sashaying right toward me.
“Janine!” I yell as she yanks me off the stool and spins me right into the dancing crowd. She’s on me in a nanosecond, rubbing up against my side as she belts out the lyrics at the top of her lungs. I have no choice but to give in. She’s way too much fun to deny. Together, we bellow, “Heyyy bar-tender!” And then dance our asses off. It is a party, after all. I flick my eyes over to the two men I just abandoned to find them watching me intently. Their gazes trailing my every single gyrating move. The way they’re both looking at me makes me feel sexy as hell, which in turn makes me dance sexy as hell. Janine isn’t blind to what’s going on, and just to add fuel to the fire, she grabs Chase and Shane from the bar and hauls them onto the dance floor.
“No wallflowers at my party!” She bops around us before she gets scooped up by Jack. “See ya!” She waves as they get lost in the crowd, leaving me to fend for myself with my two new acquaintances. Fuck it. I’m feeling a buzz and looking to have some fun, so I throw caution to the wind and wedge myself between them. The two of them respond immediately, trapping me between their bodies while exploring mine with enthusiastic hands. The three of us quickly find a comfortable rhythm, and fuck me, can these two move their hips. It’s easy to get lost in the dim lights and possessive caresses and building attraction. I don’t entirely understand what’s happening here, but I don’t need to. I just go with it. I follow their lead. These two men, the likes of whom I’ve never met before—strong, assured, confident, enticing, and heady. I met them only a few hours ago, yet somehow, they make me feel things I’ve never felt in my life. Unequivocally desired.
Physically stimulated.
Compulsively wanton.