“Look, I just got out of a relation…arrangement, and he—”
“The sex was that bad, huh?” There was that disapproving head bob, wince, and a consoling pat on the shoulder again. The SHAT combo wasn’t contained to Sacramento. That nugget of goodness stretched all the way to Steele Falls.
Once again, I was floored.
“Your face says it all. It’s okay. We’ll find you someone to have gland-to-gland combat with.”
“So, how many euphemisms for sex do you know? Is that a requirement for your job?”
She smiled wide. “Trust me, I could go on for days. Look. If my crystal ball is right, you could use some kind of release, even if you have to ménage a moi yourself.”
I tried to focus on a drunk woman who crawled up on the stage, trying to sing backup for Wonder. She wore a tight corset, her chest spilling over the top. The artist took it like a champ and embraced performing the duet, no matter how much the stranger destroyed the song. Corset Lady staggered and almost fell three times within the first two lines of the chorus. It was like seeing a train wreck. I couldn’t look away.
“Here. Take this with you,” Lucy said.
“What is it?” I asked, watching the drama unfold as a bouncer pulled the woman off the stage with a swift yank. Punches were thrown, and the woman succeeded in hitting herself in the jaw. The crowd cheered as she crashed to the floor with a giant thud.
“Reading material. You can thank me later. I’ve got it all bookmarked for you.”
By ignoring Lucy, she should’ve taken the hint and stopped talking. At least that’s what a normal person would do. I’d assumed she baited me with information about the cruise she pushed. I also assumed she was paid on commission and got some kind of kickback for recruiting customers. Those kind of marketing schemes pissed me off. If I wanted to go on a naked cruise, I’d say I wanted to go on a naked cruise.
I vaguely recall her slipping something into my tote bag. In my stupidity, I was trying to not focus on what she said. A security guard escorted the drunk karaoke artist toward the exit with her arms pinned behind her back. All I registered were the words: “borrow”, “80%”, and “enjoy”.
Lucy continued talking, but I still wasn’t listening. By that time, tuning her out was easy as corset woman wriggled free. She made another mad dash for the stage, swinging and punching as she tripped over the laces on her combat boots, smashing her face on the edge of a table. There was blood.
Where the hell is Daveigh?
“Got all of that?” Lucy asked.
“Huh? Yeah. No problem,” I replied with a smile even though I didn’t have a damn clue what she’d said in the past two minutes.
As the first song came to an end, the DJ tapped on his microphone twice and announced a brief five-minute intermission until the commotion subsided.
As silence took hold, a small grouping of people up at the bar caught my eye. One of them appeared to be the main focus, telling a story with enthusiastic arm gestures. The few who’d gathered around him hung on his every word.
“Who’s everyone captivated by over there?” I pointed toward the crowd.
Lucy looked up. “Huh? Oh! The specimen on the end?”
I nodded.
“That,” Lucy took a swig of her near-empty wine, “is Zachary Main, most eligible bachelor of Steele Falls. He moved here last June. July maybe? I’d ask, but it doesn’t matter. No need for him to talk with what I get out of our arrangement. I’ve done Zack half a dozen times. He’s a decent fuck, but sometimes I wonder whether he’s worth the town hype, you know? He handles his business like his relationships. A real wham, bam, thank you, ma’am-type.”
Thinking of Cash, I more than knew what she meant.
“He looks like he enjoys being the center of attention,” I said, watching the man clap one of his friends on the shoulder once, offering a punchline to a joke. As if on command, they all laughed loudly at the exact same moment.
“He comes from money. Some fancy real estate investor who has more than he knows what to do with. Started buying houses and flipping them fresh out of high school. And his empire exploded. His next conquest is taking down Steele Falls, home by home, remodeling to help boost the economy out of its perma-slump. Sheer brilliance, if you ask me, considering this shit hole.”
I popped a stale pretzel from a bowl on the center of the table into my mouth and rolled the rough texture around against my tongue, the bits of salt making me salivate. Silently, I screamed for Daveigh to return from the bathroom for the hundredth time. I’d learned way more than I’d ever wanted to know about Lucy and her sex life.
Zack took a step back to study a leggy blonde honing in on the group of men like a heat-seeking missile. She wore a hot pink low-cut top with a matching mini-skirt showcasing her midriff. Blonde hair cascaded down her back, nearly touching her ass. When he leaned in to kiss Ms. Endless Legs on the cheek and whisper in her ear, it revealed another man standing next to him. A frowning man. Mr. Scowl leaned against the bar as he typed furiously on his phone, not paying any attention to Zack or his stories.
“And that’s Zack’s friend, Adam Rockwell.” Lucy nodded across the room. “Polar opposites, if you ask me. I’ve been trying to screw that one for months now. Done everything but spread my legs and crawl on his face to show him I’m interested. Seriously. I’ve been throwing myself in front of him for so long I’m starting to wonder if he bats for the other team.”
Santi slowed down long enough to hand Lucy another glass of wine and give her shoulder a gentle squeeze before he continued onward to the next table.
“Thank you, love.” She smiled at him and then turned her focus back to me. “I mean, how do you think that makes me look if I can’t bag someone like Adam Rockwell? I’m the fucking relationship professional around here,” she continued.
The rest of Lucy’s words were lost on me as I studied the man across the way. Even in a crowd, his presence was compelling. Goosebumps crawled up my arms and down my back as I drank Adam in from head to toe. His dark hair was long enough to run my fingers through. From afar, I could still see the vibrant color of his irises. I envisioned up close his eyes were the color of warm caramel ribbons. It reminded me of that brilliant gold when you drizzle the rich confection over vanilla ice cream as a pristine backdrop. His mouth—
“Hey.” Lucy snapped her fingers in front of my face, a knowing smile curling at the corners of her garnet-colored lips. “Did you hear what I said about Zack? Last I heard, he’s still single and a mediocre fuck if you need….” Her line of vision traveled to where I looked, and she cocked her head to the side while her expression turned from coy to pity. “Oh, honey. Don’t waste your time. It’s not gonna happen. Your vagina will curl up and die before you get that one horizontal and naked. Trust me.”
I shook my head. “I wasn’t…I…”
Lucy lowered her voice to a throaty whisper, “Rumor has it Adam’s last girlfriend broke him in every way imaginable. Fuck.” She downed her last mouthful of wine. “I’d like to break him, if you know what I mean. Lucky bitch.”
I tried to tear my stare away from Adam’s physique, but found it difficult to stop looking. He wore a simple white t-shirt with a black and gray flannel over it, unbuttoned. It was casual. Questions filtered through my head. Who was he talking to? Why was he frowning? Was he wearing aftershave? Even his faded blue jeans were enough to mesmerize me while the sounds of clinking glasses, laughter, and Lucy faded away to a dull echo.
Lucy grabbed my arm and brought me back to reality, hopping down from the barstool. “I’ve got a great idea.” She staggered in her stilettos, reminding me of a baby deer fresh from the womb.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, yanking my hand from her grip, nearly losing my beer in the other.
“C’mon. I’ll introduce you to Zack. You look like you coul
d use a little squeeze and a squirt in your life after everything that happened at home with…well, you know…death and all.”
My eyes widened. “Oh! No, no really. That’s okay. I’m only in town for a few days, and I need to go. There isn’t time for—”
“Please. Everyone has some time for Zachary Main in their life and in-between their legs.”
Again, Lucy got grabby, and gripped my wrist in one hand and her purse in the other, weaving us through the crowd toward the grouping of men. “This’ll be fun.”
It was clear Lucy’s idea of “fun” was far different than mine. Give me a cup of tea, the latest Aurelia Fray book, and Catzilla on a Saturday night to color me happy. Isolation was where I belonged, not in a crowded bar. I wondered whether I’d have rather endured sushi and “dangling cock sockets” as Cash had so romantically put it. I’d officially sunk to a new low. Weighing my options between perusing artistic vaginas and hooking up with a stranger—neither seemed tempting. At all. When did my life become so odd?
“This really isn’t necessary.” I tried to wrench my hand free from her grip. By the time I turned around, Adam was out of sight. We were making a beeline directly for Zachary Main.
“Pish posh. You can thank me later, post-bed head.” Lucy gave me a swift shove from behind until I collided with Zack’s chest, my left palm greeting warm, firm pectorals through a silky shirt.
Slowly, I looked up into inquisitive gray eyes, my hand still pressed up against him. His aftershave took me by surprise. It held a pleasant blend of bold spice with hints of grapefruit and tangerine. “Uhhh…”
“Well, hi there.” Zack paused, the bitter scent of vodka lingering on his breath as he looked down at me. Heat radiated through his shirt with his slow, deep breaths and I froze.
“S…sorry.” My body tensed and I shot Lucy a glare. “I must’ve slipped or something.”
“No need to apologize with blue eyes like those,” he said. “I’m Zachary Main.”
“I know…I mean, I’ve heard.” A bead of sweat trickled down my back, and I was thankful the lighting was subdued to detract from the pink tingling my cheeks. “Lucy had nothing but great things to say about you.”
“Lucy?” Zack glanced up and furrowed his brow to match a name with a face. “Lucy!” he exclaimed as he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “It’s been a while.”
“Too long if you ask me.” Lucy smirked. “Enough about me though. I’d like you to meet Blue. Blue Brennan.”
“Brennan…why does that name sound familiar?” Zack set down his glass next to a grouping of others. From the empties, it appeared he was on his fifth drink already.
“Her little sister is Daveigh Meyers, her mom’s the mayor, and her uncle owns Brennan Construction.”
Zack snapped his fingers. “That’s right! Of course! Sorry. The alcohol’s talking tonight. One too many vodka tonics. Ty Brennan was one of the masterminds behind my house and inspiration for some of my current work.”
At that precise moment Zack mentioned my uncle’s name, an idea struck, a brilliant lightbulb going off over my head. It was late though, and it would have to wait until the next day to put into motion. I filed the mental bookmark for later.
Zack continued, “Couldn’t have asked for more gorgeous craftsmanship.”
“I’ll be sure to pay him the compliment if I see him while I’m in town.”
“Please do.” Zack smiled. “Also, be sure to tell him his niece was beautifully-crafted.”
I averted my eyes and blushed.
“And I’m sorry. I heard the news about your dad. Never met him face-to-face, but I heard he was an upstanding pillar in the community. A real go-getter.”
We’d made a pit stop on the topic of family, and that was my cue to leave. I hesitated before words found my mouth. “Well, it was nice to meet you, Zachary,” I said, scoping out the nearest exit.
Zack’s gaze sought out mine while he slipped his business card into my hand, the palm of his other sliding across my knuckles. The tips of his fingers slowly trailed small circles around each one before moving onward to the next.
I gulped.
His hand greeted my wrist and squeezed lightly. I wondered if he could feel my pulse racing beneath the skin. “My friends call me, Zack,” he murmured into my ear, “but you can call me anytime. This is my personal number.”
I shivered, and not because I was impressed. Zack’s eyes were intense, as if I were the only one in the room. The way he looked at me felt more like a warning signal, but oddly familiar. And then it hit home. The line sounded like one Cash would’ve used on me back when he tried to win me over in the beginning.
“Damn, I could drown in those baby blues.” He paused. “Can I buy you a drink before you—”
“I…can’t.” It was all too much, too recognizable. I needed to escape. Fast.
Spinning around, I sped toward the door with Lucy hot on my heels, but I only got as far as the end of the bar counter before she grabbed me by the wrist again, jerking me to a halt.
I glanced over my shoulder at Zack for a brief moment while she braced me in place.
He looked confused, shouting after me, “Did I say something wrong?”
I tried to pull away again, but her grip maintained its firmness.
“Wait!” Lucy hissed. “Zack was about three seconds away from taking you home for the night. Where are you going?”
I felt tears pricking at the back of my eyes. “I don’t know what I’m doing. Here. In Steele Falls. At this bar. Any of it. I shouldn’t have come back.”
Lucy was at a loss as she looked around, grasping at straws to keep me from leaving. “What about Daveigh? Don’t you want to wait for—”
“Tell her…tell her I had to go.” I scrunched my eyes shut. “Tell her…I walked home. Tell her I went home with Zack. Whatever you want.”
I turned toward the door with determination fueling my steps when I collided with someone else. Hard. It was the scent of aftershave that made me stagger and lose my balance, but it was far different from Zack’s. The smell of fresh pine trees and rain filled my nose. It was accompanied by a hearty slosh of beer as the full cup I held spilled, emptied, and crushed between myself and the person in front of me.
Strong hands grabbed my upper arms to keep me from falling. “Damn it,” a husky voice sounded while the crunched piece of plastic fell to the ground.
My eyes traveled up slowly, finding myself staring into the eyes of an angry Adam Rockwell.
His stare was menacing as he looked down at me, nostrils flared, jaw clenched.
“I…I’m sorry,” I stammered. “I didn’t mean…”
Lucy grabbed a white bar towel from the end of the counter and patted at the mess soaking through both of Adam’s shirts. “Let me—”
“It’s fine. Really.” He swiped the cloth from her and blotted at his flannel. “Here’s to hopin’ I don’t get pulled over on the way home tonight. Last thing I need is a cop trying to nail me for another fucking DUI.”
Lucy let out a frustrated sigh with Adam’s refusal of help. She elbowed me in the ribs and hummed the tune to the death march before whispering, “See? Vaginal funeral.”
“Let me pay you for the beer. For your shirt.” I reached into my tote bag and gripped a crumpled twenty-dollar bill and a ten, holding them out to Adam. It was the only cash I had on me. My hands quaked and I couldn’t stop them.
“Thirty bucks?” Adam raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“Blue Brennan, meet Adam Rockwell,” Lucy said quietly.
“I’m just trying to help,” my voice was meek as I ignored Lucy’s introduction. “It was an accident.”
“Believe me, you’ve caused enough damage. Thanks,” Adam’s words were as cool and clear as ice water.
<
br /> My skin prickled.
He shook his head and frowned at me for a few seconds longer than what felt comfortable. Additional words weren’t necessary. His actions said it all. They spoke volumes as he turned around and blasted through the double doors. The wood paneling banged against the brickwork of the building hard enough to shatter the mosaic of stained glass, sending a mess of sparkling shards to the ground.
The bar fell silent.
My shoulders sagged as I stood there, stunned. The balled-up wad of money was still clasped tight in my hand. “I…didn’t mean to…”
Lucy wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me out of the bar, taking a dramatic step over the mess on the ground. “Fucking asshole. What a shitty way to react. It was an accident.”
I sighed. “Thanks, but—”
“I used to think he was hot as fuck, but after that dick move he pulled? Don’t you worry. I’ve got your back, girlfriend.” Lucy gave my shoulder a pat.
“You’ve got my back? Oh, please,” I said. “You don’t know me from…well…Adam, as the saying goes.” Suddenly, I hated that phrase.
“Honey, chicks before dicks. He’s just another douche waffle, and he’s never gettin’ near this squeeze box.” She made a gesture near her waist with both hands. “Trust me, you’d be way better off spending the night with Zack. He’s still inside. It’s not too late.” Lucy nodded toward the doorway of The Fill & Spill.
“Why are you so interested in who I go home with?” I placed my hands on my hips. “Do you get your kicks from playing matchmaker off the clock or something? Does Zack pay you to find him women to screw?”
“Oh, honey, it doesn’t matter to me who or what you fuck in your spare time. It could be a cucumber for all I care. I know Zack’s an average lay, and you look like you haven’t gotten any in a few months. You’re all worked up. It’s not healthy. You might explode.”
“I want to leave,” I said.
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