by Anna Brooks
REMEMBER ME NOW
ANNA BROOKS
Remember Me Now
Copyright © 2016 Anna Brooks
Published by Anna Brooks
Cover design by Cover to Cover Designs
Editing by Editing4Indies
Formatting by Champagne Formats
Proofreading by Vivid Words Editing
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without written permission except for the use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owner.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
About the Book
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
One month later.
Give Me This Excerpt
More Books by Anna
About the Author
Acknowledgments
About the Book
Nik: I’ve played my part well and kept the truth hidden. But when the beautiful new bartender figures out who I really am, I refuse to back down from something I know we both want.
Lisa: He has the power to destroy me, so I tell him I don’t remember what we had. But the chemistry between us is undeniable, no matter how much I try to forget it.
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Dedication
To the readers, especially those who asked about Nik and wanted to know more about him.
Without your support, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. Thank you.
Prologue
Lisa
When you become a widow, everybody tells you how sorry they are. They smile at you with empty eyes and speak like you’re made of glass. Curious stares are given in passing and sympathetic pats on the shoulder are routine.
When Bradley died, I had a wonderful support system and plenty of shoulders to cry on. People I didn’t even know brought me things they thought might be useful, and those close to me kept their distance when they sensed I needed to be alone.
But the thing nobody tells you, the one thing I wished I was prepared for, is just how damn empty everything would feel. My house, my heart, my entire life. I felt like I was the only person left in the world. I could be standing in a room with a thousand people surrounding me and I might as well have been in the middle of the ocean alone. I expected to be lonely … I mean shit, my husband was dead, but I wasn’t prepared for my heart to be hollowed.
Bradley and I met in high school. We were each other’s firsts and onlys. We had a future planned that consisted of a very large family, a white picket fence, and a yellow lab. Since both of us are only children, we wanted our kids to grow up with many brothers and sisters. We wanted our life to be loud and happy.
Before we did any of that, though, Bradley wanted to serve his country … and in doing so, he made the ultimate sacrifice. I wasn’t the same person after I answered that dreaded knock on the door. I might as well have died right along with him, because I wasn’t even a shell of the person he knew and loved. He would have been disappointed in me for refusing to live without him.
After spiraling down in order to feel something, I went to his favorite bar. I drank his favorite whiskey and played his favorite song on the jukebox. One drink led to two. And two led to five. Five led to sex with a man who reminded me of Brad. He bent me over the sink in the men’s bathroom and even though it was awful and fast and dirty, it breathed life into me that I’d been missing.
After that experience, I sought to feel it again. To have a second of normality. A moment of relief. So I became a slut. A whore. A tramp. I’m not proud of it, but at the time, it was the only thing that made any sense to me.
If I couldn’t have Brad back, I’d at least have a man who wanted me … if only for a night, but usually not even that. I was sitting at the kitchen table of a man whose last name I didn’t even know watching his neighbor play in the backyard with her kid when it hit me. I needed to move on. Get a fresh start. Stop demoralizing myself. Maybe get a cat as a companion because I’d never love anyone again. Nobody could replace the one and only man I had vowed to be with until the day I died. Nobody.
Chapter 1
Nik
“Nik, this is Lisa.” Meara, the owner of the pub I work at and my best friend’s little sister, winks as she introduces me to the new bartender. “Lisa, this is Nik. He’s a brooding asshole, but I promise he won’t bite. Unless you’re into that sort of thing, then I’m sure he’d accommodate.”
Lisa’s eyes are on the door, looking over my shoulder but not at me.
I stick out my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
She looks down at it before her dainty one wraps around mine. Her fingers loosen, but when I don’t let go, she finally looks at me. Her almost black hair falls over half her face, and she shakes her head to have more of it cover herself. Like a shield. Interesting.
I reach up and push some of the silky hair away so I can see her. She jerks back as a storm rages in her blue eyes, making them flash with a combination of fear and lust. An immediate smile forms on my lips, anticipating how much fun we’re going to have, and hers turns into a frown.
“You, too,” she mumbles, and rips her hand away as she turns to Meara. “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room before I start, if that’s okay.”
“Of course.”
When Lisa rounds the corner, Meara slaps me across the head. “What the fuck was that?”
I smooth down my hair and shrug. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit. What was that look you gave her?”
“What look?”
“You know, that look?” She narrows her eyes and tries to raise her eyebrows but fails miserably.
“I certainly hope I didn’t look like that.”
“Ugh, you’re impossible. Don’t scare her away, okay? I really like her, and I think she’ll fit in great. She’s been through … just, I really want it to work out. Play nice.”
A man at the end of the bar raises his glass, and I nod at him then begin making another Seven and Seven. “I’m not gonna scare her off, Meara. You think I’m that much of a dick?”
“No, you’re the most un-dickish man I know.”
“Better not let your man hear you talkin’ about another man’s dick.”
“Liam knows I love his dick and what he does—”
“Woman, I don’t wanna hear that shit.”
Her laughter fades away when I walk to the other end of the bar to deliver the drink. By the time I get back, Lisa’s returned and Meara squeezes my arm as she walks by. “I’m going to work on ordering. Come get me if you have any problems.”
Neither Lisa nor I respond — me because I’m getting change for
a customer and Lisa because she’s looking at her shoes. I go about my business and she dodges me as I put some glasses back on a shelf. “So you from here?” I break the ice because she’s obviously apprehensive. Being the new person sucks no matter what.
“No.” She doesn’t look up from the bar menu that she’s flipping through. “My mom lives here because of her job.”
“Why’d you move here?”
“To get away.”
“From what?”
“Listen.” She shuts the book and turns, crosses her arms, and holds her shoulders high. “I just want to work. You seem nice and all, but there’s no need for all this.” Her hands gesture between the two of us.
“For this?” I copy her and lean closer. “I’m just being friendly, but if you’d rather work in silence, be my fuckin’ guest.” Without giving her a chance to respond, I turn my back to her.
My initial impression was wrong, which isn’t something that happens often. She’s already thrown me for a loop, and I don’t like it. This isn’t going to be fun. There’s more going on behind her hesitant eyes than she wants to admit … and I hate to love a good challenge.
By the time I get back, she’s pouring a drink for some guy, and I ignore her even though I see she’s struggling. I don’t know what the fuck her problem is, but I’m not going to kiss her ass, even if it is tight as hell. Not that I noticed or anything. Just like I didn’t notice that her lips are about the fullest, sexiest pair I’ve ever seen before and as much of a dick as it makes me, I wanna fuck ’em. And while I’m doing that, I’d grab her hair with both of my hands and watch my cock disappear down her throat.
“Shit.” Her clipped curse breaks my train of thought, and I toss the empty bucket on the ground, still ignoring her. “Sorry about that. I’m still learning.” She smiles at the customer, and he waves his hand in the air.
“S’okay. Everyone learns somewhere.”
“Yeah, I just started a couple of days ago.”
“Take your time.”
Sensing her growing frustration when she continues to mess up, I grab a glass, mix the mojito, and slide it to the customer. “No charge. Sorry about the wait.”
“Oh, it’s fine.” He slides a five over and winks at Lisa. “You were on the right track.”
As soon as he’s out of earshot, she tosses the muddler she unsuccessfully used into the sink. It lands with a bang, and she huffs in frustration. “I had it.”
“Whatever.”
“Seriously, I’m fine. I’ll never learn if you step in every time.”
Holding my hands up in surrender, I back away. “Fine. I was just trying to help.”
“I don’t need your help.”
For the next three hours, I stay at my end of the bar, avoiding her except for when I have to get change. The darkness from outside filters in and the mood shifts from after-work cocktails to college partiers. The crowd thickens, but it’s nothing I can’t handle, while poor Lisa looks like a fish out of the water.
The Kelly’s own the pub. The eldest brother, Declan, is my best friend. He has two younger siblings, Pierce and Meara. Pierce works at the door when he can, which is almost every weekend night, and since it’s Friday, he’s here.
Pierce steps behind the bar and grabs a bottle of OJ. “How’s it going with her?” He nods at Lisa before downing the juice.
“She’s all right. Kind of uptight.”
He tosses the bottle in the trash and waves at her. “Doing okay, Lisa?”
Her entire demeanor changes in a split second. She smiles at him, and I squeeze my fists in frustration that she’s acted like a total bitch to me, but Pierce strolls in and she’s sweet as pie.
“Yeah, everything’s great,” Lisa responds in an annoyingly fake voice.
“Good.” Pierce taps his knuckles on the counter before walking off, and Lisa goes back to her end of the bar.
We work in companionable silence for about ten minutes, but when a men’s softball team arrives, everything changes. Of course, they go to her end of the bar, and as she’s trying to fill all their drink orders, she drops a glass full of beer. “Crap.” She jumps back and leans over to grab the dustpan. Her black thong peeks out of her jeans and two guys lean over the bar to get a better look.
I step in front of her and tap out a couple of Miller Lites. One of the guys twists his body to the side to look past me. “I suggest you stop,” I warn him.
“Come on, man, can’t blame me. She’s hot.”
“No doubt, but don’t be a dick.”
He slides his credit card at me in exchange for his beer. “Start a tab, yeah?”
I toss it on the counter next to the register and throw a towel on the floor by Lisa. “Just leave it. We’ll get it later.”
“I don’t want someone to get cut.”
“We’re the only ones back here. I know not to step on it and you do too. Let’s just get through the rush, okay?”
She relents and exhales loudly. “Fine.”
We work as fast as possible, and in the midst of the commotion, I don’t realize that Oliver, according to his credit card, is back again. He’s propped against the bar and reaches over and touches Lisa’s arm. She pulls it back and twists her fingers nervously, and then shakes her head. Oliver leans farther over the bar and tries to touch her again, but she backs away.
Her worried eyes find me watching her, and she releases a sigh. For the first time all night, she doesn’t look like she hates me. And I love it.
Chapter 2
Lisa
A year ago, I’d have been vying for the attention of this guy. I’d probably have had him wait for me to finish my shift so we could go back to my place, but I don’t want that anymore. I just want to work and go home. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe I should just go to a women’s clothing store and work there. Somewhere I don’t have to deal with men. I’ve been under them enough to know I’m over them.
Except the way Nik scrutinizes me and the situation I’m in right now … damn it, it feels good. To know someone is looking out for me, even though I’ve treated him poorly, isn’t something I’ve had for a long time. I don’t want to like him. I didn’t want to take one look at him and his scruffy face and his dark hair and cocoa colored eyes and know that he was going to be trouble for me. I’ve done a good job of distancing myself from men recently, and I don’t want to go back to what I used to be. I won’t. I refuse to. I even dyed my hair back to my natural color, hoping it would help change the person I was on the inside.
Nik holds our eye contact and walks over to me, crowding me into the countertop. His tall, muscular frame presses into mine. His musky scent, with almost a sweet hint … like citrus, soaks through my pores. An involuntary shudder passes through my body as his breathing subtly increases. His arm slides over my shoulder, and when he pulls it back, he has a credit card in it. “I’ll get him outta here.”
Nik steps back and tosses the card at the guy, who decides he wants to cause trouble. He stands, pushes his beer glass over, and shrugs his shoulders as if saying, ‘what are you gonna do?’ Nik takes the threat and begins to walk around the bar, not yet speaking another word to the guy. Apparently, man code is in full effect here. I quickly reach over and grab Nik’s arm, afraid he’s going to get hurt.
He stops, looks at my hand, and then turns his intensely dark eyes on me. “He’s not gonna fuck with you like that.” Damn. Determined to protect me from someone who doesn’t even matter. Why does he have to do this? Why can’t he just call over the bouncer and have him deal with the guy? I don’t want to have reasons to want him.
I reluctantly take my hand off his incredibly hard arm, and when he steps next to the guy, the difference between the two men is obvious. Nik is a couple of inches taller, his hair messily hangs around his face, and he appears controlled, but the stiffness in his neck tells me he’s anything but. His jaw is clamped together, causing the sharp line to become more prominent.
“I warned you.” Nik angles his head a
t the door. “Get out.”
“Fuck you. I didn’t do anything.”
“You touch her?”
He hesitates to answer, but Nik cuts him off anyway. “She ask you to touch her?”
When he doesn’t reply, Nik uncrosses his arms. “Out.”
Before I can scream, the guy raises his right arm and throws a punch at Nik, but Nik ducks and reaches for the back of the guy’s head then pulls it down the same time he raises his knee. An ungodly pop followed by a wail of pain is the only thing I hear before Pierce walks up and helps Nik drag the guy out; literally, they each have an arm and are pulling him through the door.
Nik walks back behind the bar and washes his hands then rubs the towel on his jeans. “Fucker got blood on me.” Just like that. Not like he just didn’t kick some guy’s ass and now he’s wiping blood off his clothes.
The female instinct in me comes out, and I worry he’s as worked up as I am, but he’s just hiding it. “Are you okay?”
“Aww, you’re worried about me?”
“Well, no, I mean … yeah, but not really, just asking to be polite.” Well played, idiot.
He tosses the towel in the garbage and pats me on the ass as he walks by. “I’m good, baby.”
It’s wrong. It’s so wrong. I shouldn’t want to fuck him. I’m not that person anymore. I don’t look for my self-worth by spreading my legs. Even though with him the tingle between my thighs vibrates up through my chest, and I hate that. I hate that after meeting him for twenty seconds, I knew he was going to be trouble. I can’t. I won’t.
Meara comes out after hearing the commotion. “Lisa, are you okay?” She’s clearly worried about me but doesn’t need to know that the drunk guy is the least of my worries. Rather, Nik is the one causing damage.
“I’m fine. Nik took care of him.”
“Occupational hazard, unfortunately.” She shrugs. “You couldn’t ask for a better man to have your back. Nik will make sure you’re safe.” She pats my arm and smiles in his general direction. “He’s one of the best guys I know.”
