When I turned back around to put some more nuts on the bar, Keane was holding the stem of his glass between his middle and ring fingers, swirling the liquor around. Whoa! His eyes were traveling my body and were soon glued to my own eyes. Oh my, like I said earlier, the way a man chooses to drink, and what he drinks, can say wonders about his personality. My Perfect Pour was a bit of a test to feel him out. I was now trying not to feel this guy so much. He sipped slowly, holding my gaze as though challenging me. Like he knew! Damn! Once again my heart was pounding, and I prayed like hell that the heat in my cheeks was not outwardly showing. He was definitely hitting on me, and he wasn’t even saying a word! Jase’s slow, melancholy voice in the background only served to make the moment more intense. I could read him loud and clear; a guy who liked to take his time in all the right ways. Nice.
“Thanks for the drink.” Jeez, sir, any freakin’ time.
He got up from his stool and slapped too much money on the bar. I had to swallow and force myself to breathe through the thick fog-like feeling I was having right now. He just smiled knowingly at me. Damn player. Jase was introducing Keane for the next song to play the harmonica as he worked his way toward the stage, shucking the jacket as he went, tossing it to a happy female near the stage who looked at him in adoration. I watched as Keane handed an empty glass to Kayleigh, who was delivering refills, and kissed her on the cheek. It was a fairly casual gesture of thanks, but he then looked right at me. Oh, he seemed to be challenging me for sure. I raised my eyebrows and shook my head at him. I felt my ponytail hitting the back of my arms as I did. Not fair, all I got was an actual thanks, not a kiss. Was he trying to pique my interest by making me jealous? I am not the jealous type, but my interest was definitely piqued. Once he began, I turned, resigned until another time. Maybe when I knew him a little better? I still kept the spring in my step and the sweet smile on my face as the two men watched me throughout my shift. Mine was over before their gig was, so I kissed Kayleigh’s cheek and told her I would see her tomorrow night. I walked over to the stage to throw a few bucks in the super full jar, and I waved sweetly to both guys.
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I woke myself early the next morning. It was early February, and track season was beginning. I never really allowed myself to become complacent, but when the season starts, I begin waking up before the sun comes up to go workout on the beach. My alarm went off at five, and by five fifteen I was dressed in my sweatshirt and track shorts. I tied my laces in a double knot so they would stay, and I grabbed my essentials before jogging down the stairs to my car. The neighborhood was nice and quiet, and the air was crisp and chilly. Perfect.
I drove the twenty minutes to the beach where there’s a makeshift obstacle course geared for exercise. I liked coming this early because I didn’t have to worry about too many guys flirting with me. There weren’t too many women that used these facilities, so I think it sparked some interest for them. I liked the variation it gave me by comparison to the plain gym at school. Could you really go wrong with working out and watching the sunrise over the beautiful waves? What’s not to love?
I parked across the street, enjoying the sounds of the surf while I grabbed my water and my iPod from my purse, then locked it in. I jogged across the quiet street and hit the sand. The ocean was still lit up under the moon, and it was beautiful. There were street lights every so often to help light the beach, so it wasn’t completely dark. This was generally a very safe place, so I wasn’t too concerned about that.
I did all my stretches before I began the five mile jog that I forced myself to do everyday. I never really wore my earbuds during this part, this early, I enjoyed the tranquility of the waves hitting the shore near my feet as I jogged. My legs had to work a little harder than they normally would to compensate for how my feet dug into the sand. That’s the way I liked it even as I hated it.
When I turned around at the two and a half mile mark, which was ten lifeguard stands, the sun was beginning to crest just at the horizon line on the water. My favorite part. There were a few other joggers now as I jogged back. For my last quarter mile I forced myself to run the entire way. On the last bit I pushed myself as hard and fast as I could, pulling my famous sprint though it was held back by that same sand that was giving me an extra challenge. When I made myself slow down after meeting my mark, my heart was pounding super hard, and I had to walk with my hands on my head for a little bit. Once I was a little less winded, it was time for me to actually workout. I put my earbuds in as I walked over to the obstacle course. There were ropes, tires, pull up bars, monkey bars, even a net you could climb that was secured to a tall block wall, forcing you to jump the other side once you reached the top. There was another bar off to the side that was shorter for women to do chin ups and pull ups on. To me, that was cheating. I used the guy bar because I didn’t want to be able to touch the ground so that I had to force myself to go all the way. When it comes to working out, I am very hard core, and I don’t mess around.
Mostly men did this course while enraptured females watched from the side lines. Another reason to come at this time of day versus later. Only a few men, and no other females to watch and annoy me. It was my first time back since before Christmas. I was rusty. I usually had a timed routine I put myself through that was worked out to fourteen minutes whenever I was on my game. I do the course three good times before abs. Today I anticipated about fifteen and a half minutes to get back into it. I put on my hard core rock, popped my neck, and rolled my shoulders. I was off, jogging through the tires, then over to the rope that I climbed until I hit the area that it was suspended from. I climbed back down and jogged over to the monkey bars, throwing myself across them. My hands were already beginning to get raw. Garden gloves and vaseline would be the cure for the calluses I would have after I was done, though I didn’t care about my hands too much. My mother chided me about lady’s hands though, so I found that was a happy medium.
The intense music pumped through my veins along with the adrenaline. I jumped up to the pull up bar and managed to do three successfully. I would have to work up to four on my next round. I ran over to the net and climbed it as it rocked all over the place. At the top, I hoisted myself over the wall, landed on my feet, making my legs soft so that the impact would be lessened. I ran back over to the tires and proceeded to do my whole routine again. At the stupid pull up bar, I was only able to do three, damn it. I climbed the net and was kind of throwing an inner fit at my personal failure. I am very competitive, so I was frustrated with my rustiness. When I jumped to the ground this time, there was a guy that was in front of me at the tires. Dark hair, wife beater, even though it was cold, sunglasses, black workout pants, muscular, all-in-all a very yummy distraction from my personal anger. His routine was just a bit different than mine, so we didn’t bump into each other often, but at that pull up bar he easily pulled himself up about seven times like it was nothing. Grrr… I jumped up to it, and I pushed my pride very hard, finally nailing that fourth. I jumped down and gave myself a brief fist pump with a big smile. He looked over at me and smiled appreciatively before he ran to the rope while I ran to the net again. He was fast, because soon he was on the net, and it rocked a little harder as he completely passed me up and jumped easily over the wall, landing gracefully on his feet. I jumped down right behind him, and he gave me an impressed nod. Whoop, whoop! Just for my pride’s sake I went ahead and did one more lap. After all, wasn’t it as though this man was challenging me to workout with him? This time there were two more men on the course. I had to work hard to get around them. This was getting a little crowded.
My pony tail swung against my back as I climbed the rope quickly so as not to get my butt handed to me too badly by these beasts of men surrounding me. I received a couple of good looks as some more walked by and dried their faces with towels while they blatantly watched, finished with their morning runs. I ignored them and pushed myself as I slapped the top and shimmied down. I ran to the monkey bars and follo
wed an attractive torso across.
I smiled and told myself to focus, but now I dreaded that stupid pull up bar. The thing was now nasty and slick from sweat and dew since the sun had risen completely, so when I jumped to reach it, my hands slipped right off of it. Just before I could embarrass myself, I felt hands capture me around my waist, lifting me back up so I could get a firmer grip. I turned and looked down behind me. Jase! I smiled gratefully, and he began doing pull ups next to me. I did my three and settled for that. I left him there doing how many, I had no idea anymore. I had lost count after five. I exhaled as I pushed that body out of my mind and ran to the net. I jumped to the ground on the other side, and he landed right behind me. I smiled at him and walked over the girly bar. That’s what I called that shorter bar for women. Since it didn’t get used very often, I used it for core work. I pulled my nasty sweatshirt over my head and dried my face with it. I had a workout tank underneath, and even though the air was chilly still, I was dying. I grabbed that bar and pulled my legs up to hook my knees over it, dangling upside down as I began to curl up. My abs screamed at me, but it felt so good. Yes, I am a complete masochist in the workout department, and I loved the pain.
After doing my twenty, I let myself dangle there for just a moment. I held onto my iPod so it wouldn’t fall as I looked at the water, watching the pretty reflections of the light against the soft waves, the seagulls flying above them, occasionally diving for fish. So pretty.
I saw an arm wave in front of me, so I looked up to see Jase smiling at me. He had his elbow leaning on the top of the bar. His now bare torso gleamed with sweat, and his hair was wet. Hot damn!
I pulled my earbuds and stood again. “Hey!” I said happily, slightly out of breath. “Thanks for the help back there. That was kind of gross,” I cringed animatedly like the true dork I am.
He chuckled. “Agreed! I wonder what nasty jerk left the bar like that!” He looked over his shoulder. “I think we should blame Keane,” he whispered conspiratorially. I grinned and agreed.
“Did you guys have fun last night?” I asked him.
“We didn’t do too bad. Especially for an off-season Thursday,” he said. “Although, it just wasn’t the same when you left. I think I watched the fire go out of Keane a little bit when you walked out the door,” he winked at me flirtatiously and looked once again over his shoulder. I guessed the torso I had been watching earlier had actually been Keane’s now that I knowingly watched him on the course. I cringed inwardly, glad not to have been caught on that one.
“Aw, not you, though?” I teased as I looked back up at him. Impossible not to flirt! Hello! Fine-ass body builder, half naked, sweaty, tan, smiling maybe only two feet from me! “I’m sure you both had ready and willing partners to go home with afterward to cheer you up,” I offered.
“Of course me! I thought that was an obvious given, Sweet Kins. I don’t like when you work early, because you leave early. My muse,” he sighed with a pretty grin and a look up through his lashes. “People are practically throwing food at me when you aren’t there, I just wished they would pick something softer and tastier to throw. I hate broccoli,” he gushed while I laughed. Ha! Jase was so talented he had his own local fan base, website, followers, FB fan page, yup. I guaranteed that he was making a pretty penny to headline at the bar twice a week. “And by the way, no company but each other’s last night,” he wagged those eyebrows mischievously. I laughed and accidentally slapped his sweaty arm as my naturally flirtatious streak presented herself. I swear, I try to reserve it only for earning higher tips, but sometimes it just happens!
“Oh… So that’s why you have never taken me out before,” I teased. Oh, shit, Kinsley! I noticed that after my workout I was way more confident than normal. I was heading into dangerous territory, here! Abort! Abort! I didn’t want to get my heart broken when he confirmed any kind of reason at all for never seriously trying to take me out. Stupid, Kins!! I watched as his grin faltered just a bit. Uh, oh. Here it comes.
“W-What?” he stammered in surprise. Great!! This was probably worse! He was going to force me to explain?! Way worse!
“Well, you know, you flirt with me all the time, but you have never actually offered anything…” I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart. I held onto my endorphin-induced confidence while I looked down at my iPod and thumbed through my music. I picked a song and plugged one earbud back into my right ear, attempting to appear casual, as though what I was saying was not that big of a deal. Even though I was the one panicking on the inside, Jase grabbed his towel at either side of his neck and chewed his lip, appearing as though it were he who was actually the nervous one! Whoa, I don’t believe I have ever seen that look on him before. Keane jogged over and broke the odd moment between us. Jase looked relieved and disappointed all at the same time. I am pretty sure my face reflected that as well.
“Damn, guys, don’t look so happy to see me!” Keane said through the breath he was calming. How had I not recognized him earlier when I was working out right next to him? “You, Miss James, are one tough woman!” He gave me an impressed smile and gestured with a thumb over his shoulder. “That normal for you?”
I nodded.
“How come this is my first time running into you here?” Jase piped up. “I come out here pretty often.”
“I haven’t come since before Christmas break. Track season just began, and I will be out here every morning I can make it until the end of May,” I told him. “When I don’t workout here, I am at the campus track and gym.”
He nodded. “That’s right, Chelsea said something about you being a runner. I will have to remember that in the future, sweet Kins.” He held my gaze. “We were about to jog down the beach for a bit. You wanna join?”
Keane nodded beside him, and they both looked hopeful. Hmmm…?
“Sorry, guys, I have a lot to do today. Maybe another time?” I asked them. I didn’t have anything to do, but if I had any shot at keeping their attention I needed to leave them hanging for a bit. Let my memory linger in their minds and hopefully in their conversation.
Neither of them bothered to hide their disappointment which had me doing an inner happy dance. They expressed their regrets and pleaded with me once more, but I smiled and turned them down. I reached down to pick up my nasty sweatshirt and put my other earbud in as I turned to leave. The guy that had forced my pride to try and hang gave me a pretty smile and a polite nod as he made his way off the course toward the beach. I gave him a sweet smile before jogging back to my car.
CHAPTER 3
Work passed slowly on Friday as I waited for the live band to get arrive. When Spring Break kicks off tourist season our uniforms will get a bit risqué on the weekends, and we are required to wear a type of heel to complete the look. Right now it was one of the few reasons I was glad for the few remaining weeks of off-season. Tonight would still be packed, but it was more laid back, so I was free to chill in my tennis shoes and allowed to wear my earbuds and listen to my own music as I rearranged tables to make more room for dancing. I couldn’t remember who was on the schedule for tonight. I only knew it wasn’t Jase. His flirting kept things light and fun and made time pass quickly.
I thought about his and Keane’s amazing bodies on the beach this morning as I worked and listened to some 90’s pop. “What is Love” by Haddaway was playing, and I couldn’t help but dance to it as I worked. I grinned to myself as I let Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan unfold in my memory. I would have to check out a 90’s themed night at one of the boardwalk clubs sometime. I began working my head the same way, and Kayleigh walked by and smacked my bottom as she laughed at me. I shrugged and kept going. I can be rather silly and outgoing from time to time, especially on my workout days. What can I say? I’m a damn chameleon. Sometimes I give myself whiplash with the striking differences in myself from day to day, so I can only imagine how others around me feel. Right now, I felt great, silly, and ready to make that money. After all, maybe the guys wo
uld come in?
The night picked up with all the flowing drinks and tips, and I hustled to keep with my stellar reputation of very timely delivery. I watched hopefully for Keane and Jase, but no such luck. I bet they were having fun dancing with some warm, scantily clad women in one of those very clubs right now. I bit my cheek and wished I had taken them up on that offer this morning. Then I chastised myself inwardly about not being too quick. I needed to remain patient, and one of them would be dying to make a move. My momma told me that’s how it worked if I wanted to be more than just another notch in a guy’s bed post. I was most certainly not that kind of girl, so I played by the rules she had taught me. Especially where Jase was concerned. I had a feeling that if he wanted me, it was going to be hard as hell to resist him. Perhaps it was better to keep my distance to continue to flee from temptation…
Work dragged by for the next two weeks, in fact. So did school, with the exception of the dreaded, or eagerly anticipated, Valentine’s Day to break things up, depending upon your relationship status or lack of one. I fell somewhere in the odd middle. No relationships, but that didn’t mean it was because I was lacking for options. It simply meant that I never allowed myself to get involved with anyone for reasons that were painful and my own. The men who had crushes on me typically fell into categories. Afraid, Regulars, or Intimidating. There were the men at school who were adorable and boyish, but completely afraid of me and my reputation as the scary runner with the flattering moniker known as Terminator. I wasn’t the nicest person on a track. I’ve been told I come off as a mean bitch, and my temper when I lose can be epic. There was a reason those men feared me. During one of my electives, the errand boy from the staff office was busy delivering things like mad and wheeled that cart into my class. Not like he was interrupting much. We had a sub. Only the most awesome professor on campus himself, Mr. Miller. Teacher of everything artistic under the sun, and star of inappropriate teacher-student fantasies amongst my track team, probably more, but those were the ones I heard of and rolled my eyes to.
Don't Close Your Eyes Page 5
