Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Word is that you two are fucking on the regular,” he said, and my cheeks instantly heated. “And hey, more power to you. Especially if it’s hate fucking, not this sappy shit I’ve witnessed tonight.”
I was caught between being pissed and amused. “Are you placing conditions on my dances with Jesse? If you recall, I’m not the one who wanted—”
“No, of course not,” he snapped at me, which was uncharacteristic of him. Maybe I’d caught him at a bad time. “It’s just that the crowd ate it up when you acted like you hated each other.”
“They’re definitely eating this up too,” Laura said as she pushed past me with our earnings from behind the bar. “Sorry, wasn’t trying to pry.”
“Go on,” Chet said, taking the large pouch from her and setting it on his desk.
“Well, if these tips are any indication, the two of them have become like a little blossoming story in front of the crowd,” she said with an eye roll. “Customers try to get a front row view of Jesse totally growing on Dane.”
“No he’s not,” I replied way too quickly, and both of them laughed.
Except, he absolutely was. We had amazing sex, and he agreed to mess around exclusively with me. And tonight…well, fuck me. He was wearing that cotton-candy lip stuff, and I almost stuck my tongue down his throat before I stopped myself, remembering we were standing on a bar top with the crowd watching below us. Christ.
Not that the customers wouldn’t go hog-shit wild if we had a total make-out session in front of them. It was more that whatever was happening between Jesse and me was something that should be kept private. It sure as hell wasn’t anybody else’s business.
“Whatever, I’m outta here.”
“Keep up the good work,” I heard Chet say as I made my way down the hall, along with his signature deep laugh.
It was his business, after all, and he’d given me a job when I desperately needed one, but for fuck’s sake, I was hired as a bartender, not some sideshow.
I skirted the staff room, telling myself I would only stop if I heard Jesse’s voice, but all was silent, which told me I was one of the only employees left in the building.
On my way to the parking lot I spotted Jesse standing in the bus shelter, and my stomach tightened with that protective feeling again. I made a beeline for him, perturbed at how stubborn he usually was about transportation, and, well, about a lot of things.
“Hey,” I said, and when he turned, his freshly scrubbed face took me by surprise. His cheeks were naturally ruddy-pink, and his lips still had a sheen of gloss. “Does it feel good to wipe it all off after work?”
“You mean my makeup?” He patted his cheek, and I nodded. “Well, yeah. But it’s also smart to do it before I ride the bus at night.”
My jaw tightened. Holy shit, I hadn’t even considered that he might get harassed alone on the bus in full makeup. Hell no.
“Let’s go. I’m driving you home.”
“Did I hear a question in there somewhere?” he snapped, his eyes narrowing. “What the hell?”
“Sorry…it’s just…if we’re going to do this,” I explained, motioning between us, “you won’t be taking the late bus on nights we’re working together. In fact, you can ask me for a ride even when we’re not.”
Jessie’s eyebrows rose to his hairline. “Don’t get me wrong, I like the bossy stuff, especially during sex. But I do not need to be taken care of. You’re not my sugar daddy.”
My shoulders deflated a bit. Even if I wanted to be, I was dead broke. And acting like an ass. Which was nothing new where Jesse was concerned. “Okay, fine. I hear you loud and clear. Can you get in my car now and let me drive you home?”
He hesitated, staring me down with a fire in his eyes I’d seen on other occasions when he was about to spout off. I braced myself for it, but it didn’t come.
“Fine,” he said, relenting, and followed me to the car. As he slid in the passenger side, I heard him grumble under his breath, “Captain Bossy Cranky Pants.”
I nearly laughed out loud but held it together as I got behind the wheel and pulled out of the lot.
As I turned at the light, I filled Jesse in on my conversation with Chet.
Jesse smirked. “Interesting.”
“What is?”
He gestured dramatically with his hand. “The fact that you like me and obviously everyone knows it.”
I scoffed as I met his gaze, but bit off my retort when I saw the earnestness in his eyes. Underneath his nonchalant and carefree attitude, he was needy in his own way. And though he wanted things to be completely casual between us, he also needed affirmation. He was human, after all.