Page 2 of Now & Forever
Gwen leaned against the bar with one hand, the other cocked on her hip.If she poses like that anymore, I’m going to pop.Maybe he should have more alcohol and go for the ol’ whisky dick to prevent any embarrassing events in his pants.
“Go on,” she said. “Guess what it’s short for. I know you want to.”
“Gwen…eth Paltrow?”
“Close.” Gwen almost seemed impressed. “She spells it differently. I haven’t met many girls who spell my name the way I do.”
“Your choice or your parents’?”
She grinned. “Why can’t I agree with them on something for once?”
A tap on the bar meant she had other things to take care of. James pulled out his phone, but couldn’t bring himself to open the apps he wanted to play. He’d rather gaze longingly at Gwen, a vivacious woman who moved like she owned this bar. Maybe she did. Hell, James knew nothing about this joint. For all he knew, Gwen was a hospitality whizz who would one day own half the bars in town.
Almost made him feel like a pig to instantly wonder how she’d be in bed.
When he woke up that morning, he hadn’t planned on trying to get laid. His brain was swarmed with business, family, and bullshit. That long-ass meeting more than guaranteed that he would go to bed early as soon as he got something to eat and took a shower. Now? He may be willing to make other plans, if the mood called for it.
Women like Gwen, though? They weren’t easy. Usually. Not that James would want her to be. Couldn’t half the fun be the seduction?
“How long have you been working here?” he called after her.
Gwen glanced at him over her shoulder. A mini-fridge door closed. Lemon slices were put away. “Long enough to know that you’re not a regular here, and have no reason to be asking me that other than to flirt.”
“Am I that transparent?”
She stood in the circular groove of the bar. “Kind of. But you’re cute, so I’ll let it slide.”
“Knew it. You ladies already let us cute ones get away with everything.”
“Just don’t let it go to your head. I don’t want to have to call the bouncer to deal with you.”
“Who’s the bouncer?”
Gwen cocked her head, a mischievous grin that only someone like James could appreciate catching his attention once more. “Me.”
“No way.”
“Care to find out?”
“No way.”
Laughing, Gwen asked him how his drink was and insisted that she had other things to do.
That’s how it went for the next few weeks, when James came up with any excuse to swing by that bar and see his favorite bartender. He never asked Gwen out, because he was afraid of ruining what they tentatively had: friendly banter and friendlier conversation. The fact she always wore tight pants and tight shirts made the visits extra special. James appreciated some fodder to take home to his imagination.
He often wondered if she looked forward to his visits – and if she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
