Page 2 of vKissed By the Bartender

My family and I moved to LA when I turned eighteen where was offered a contract as a recording artist. They discovered me from a singing competition I joined in upstate Vermont. Since then, our life has never been the same.

Before that, I never thought I’d ever leave Wildvale. But here I am--- a big singer! I’m supposed to be on cloud nine because I’m living the life of my dreams, right? I’m following my passion! So why am I having second thoughts?

A peal of laughter catches my attention. I glance towards the young couple who seemed very much in love. I feel a tinge of bitterness. Sometimes I fantasize about living a normal life in my twenties, away from the spotlight and all the expectations. Just hanging out with some friends and falling in love.

My eyes shift to the bartender they’re talking to. I immediately gasp as I recognize him. I feel a flutter in my gut. My heart skips a beat.

His emerald eyes sparkled with delight as he listened to the couple. He ran a muscular hand through his tousled hair in shades of brown. His hair was longer and he was much taller than I remembered.

I can see the outlines of his broad chest and shoulders even from afar. He is definitely more well-built than before. Before I can help myself, my eyes begin to wander down and I find myself thinking about what the rest of his body looked like underneath the clothes.

A slow and steady blaze ignites within me. Heat spreads throughout my core. I feel my heart racing faster.

Joseph Lyons. My childhood best friend. My first love.

It’s been years since we last spoke. Why didn’t we stay in touch?

To my shock, he turns his head toward my direction. But luckily, he doesn’t see me. I catch a glimpse of the scar on his left eyebrow and a flurry of images flash back. Memories from our past.

I feel the urge to slide my fingers over his scar, to touch it and remember how we used to be. A tingle runs down my spine as I imagine my hand gliding over his chiselled jaws, feeling the rough stubble on his chin, touching his red, moist lips.

Soft guitar strums echo in my head. Sensual, romantic music plays in my imagination.

As the storm rages outside, the heat in my body intensifies.

Oh, boy! My stay at Wildvale just got even more exciting.

And it hasn’t even been a day!

Chapter 2

joseph

Ismile as I look at my good friends, Olivia and Patrick. They are so happy in love, and even though I’ve always been single, I cannot be any happier for them both.

“A toast!” I say as I gain the couple’s attention once again. They have not been able to keep their eyes off one another. “To the happy couple. May they find joy in many more therapy sessions with Doctor Bartender Joseph,” I bow and then take a shot of tequila.

Olivia lovingly called me Doctor Bartender when she first met me, and now the name is stuck.

I turn towards the door and notice a woman sitting in the corner. She isn’t someone I’ve seen at the bar before. I turn away and give Olivia and Patrick their drinks.

“We’ll miss you,” Olivia says with a smile.

“But we’ll visit often,” Patrick says.

“Two margaritas on the house for the future Smyers,” I say. But I can’t help but turn towards the woman by the door.

She has dark hair that falls about her face in curls. She is alone except for Kyndrah who puts a salad and water in front of her. But a few people start to gather around her. Something about her made it hard to peel my eyes away.

“Who is she?” asks Olivia, leaning in, just in case I didn’t want to broadcast what was on my mind.

One of the many reasons Olivia is one of my good friends.

My eyes flick to the woman as several people hug and high-five her. She must be well known around here, though I’ve never met her… I think.

“Someone I used to know,” is all I can say, not even blinking or looking away.

Finally, I pull my eyes away from her and notice that Olivia is not drinking her Margarita. She winks at me, and I know the reason right away. She tugs Patrick away, and I get back to work trying to ignore the strange woman who glances at me from time to time.

---