Page 35 of Loved By You

I'm making cosmopolitans for a couple of women who have propped up the bar all night. From the little I've overheard, one of them has left her cheating husband and my heart breaks for her so I've slipped her some free drinks when I can, the woman needs it. Solidarity, sister.

“How you doing, sweetheart?” Jack shouts over the music. Thursday nights are RnB nights. The DJ is playing a remix I haven't heard before and I can't help but sway my hips. When I haven't been mixing drinks, I've stolen glances at Jack every chance I get. He moves so effortlessly and could mix cocktailswith his eyes shut. Watching his shirt tighten across his biceps and chest as he shakes the mixers has my body heating.

The sound of women cheering erupts over the music. I turn to see the bachelorette party fawning over Harry, who is mixing cocktails like a pro.

He’s been on top form all night, even dancing on top of the bar and pouring shots into people’s mouths. I think he’s caught the attention of lots of the women and there are two in particular, I'm pretty certain he will be going home with tonight.

Jesus, I feel like I'm behind the bar with the cast ofMagic Mikehere. I'm starting to see why their other club was so popular if this is how they worked it. Looking at them, you wouldn't think they were multi-business owners with so much responsibility. They look like normal guys having fun, working a shift.

I've also noted the continuous line of women that Jack has had on his side of the bar all night. Can't say I blame them, but I’d be lying if I said it didn't bother me.But he’s not yours, Ria.

I watch as he pours a cocktail from the shaker over the ice in the glass. He then takes a handful of cherries to add and pops one into his mouth, sucking it off its stem. I almost combust right there and then. He must notice my little perving session because the grin and the wink he gives me has me gulping like I've been holding my breath too long.

I clear my throat, realizing I hadn't answered his question. “I lost feeling in my feet about an hour ago and I'll be dreaming about sex on the beach for the next week,” I shout back. A cocktail I'd never heard of, but Harry swears is really popular in England and the women in here tonight have gone crazy for them.

He puckers his lips and blows out a breath like he's having an internal battle with himself. I knew what I was doing there.I purposely didn't say I was talking about the cocktail, and his reaction was exactly what I was hoping for.

He takes payment for the drinks and then glides over to me, pressing himself against my back and lowering his mouth to my ear. “I'll make a deal. You, me, some sex on the beach and a foot rub once we close. ”

I.

Stop.

Breathing.

He rocks his hips in time to the music and from somewhere I find the confidence to grind my ass ever so slightly, pressing his very obvious erection into the crack of my ass. I'm so turned on I've forgotten what I'm even supposed to be making.

He twists up to the top shelf, pushing his cock harder against me, making my breath hitch as I feel the length of it. He then hands me a bottle of vanilla vodka, as if that moment never even happened.

“You forgot the vodka,” he whispers in my ear.

Two can play that game.

I tilt my head, so our lips are almost touching. “You've got yourself a deal, action man.”

The look he gives me sends a rush of moisture in between my legs. Maybe it's the vibrations from the music, but I swear he lets out a groan, like he's trying so hard not to come undone.

For someone who wanted to just be friends, I'm not doing a very good job of proving it, because clearly, I can't control my thoughts, let alone my body when I'm around him. I never craved attention until I tasted his and now I’m desperate.

Chapter Fourteen

Jack

Fuck… I can't turn around with my dick straining against my pants. But being this close to her, her vanilla scent surrounding me and her ass grinding against me like that, how could it not affect me?

This whole ‘let's just be friends’ thing is getting harder and harder,no pun intended,but clearly I like to torture myself because keeping my distance isn’t an option I’m willing to choose. Watching her work the bar, moving her hips to the music, tucking her hair behind her ear, and laughing with the guests makes me want to pin her against the wall and claim her. Let every fucker that’s been staring at her all night know she’s mine.

But she isn’t yours.

I’ve tried not to make it obvious that I've been watching her all night. Not even the crowds of beautiful women that would usually be my type could stop me focusing on her because, these days, I only want to look at a pretty brunette with eyes like the ocean.

Somehow, despite being severely understaffed, tonight was one of our most successful nights since opening. The girls worked their asses off and I don't think Ria or Kate moved from behind the bar.

Exhausted, everyone went home as soon as we closed, except Brad, Harry, Ria and I. She kicked off her heels and swapped them for some flip flops from her bag and perched on a bar stool resting her head on the bar.

“Who wants a drink?” Harry calls, raising a bottle of tequila and holding shot glasses in the other hand. Ria doesn't even lift her head, she just shoots an arm up in the air and Harry slides a shot down to her.

“Just the one though. I need to drive home,” she says.

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