by Jami Wagner
Logan rolls his eyes and lets out a groan once she’s left. “I swear, I am going to lose it on her soon. My patience with the woman has grown very thin the last few days. How many times can a girl call in for cramps or a breakup?”
I press my lips together to keep from laughing at him. Poor guy, that girl has been playing him. “Technically, I’d say none. You’re just soft.” I approach him slowly. Walking my fingers up his chest, I stop and wrap my arms around him. The tension in his body leaves at my touch.
Eww, now he smells like her.
Before I can think too much on this, I start bouncing and rubbing myself against him.
“Whoa, Sara, what’re you doing?” Logan laughs. “Not that I mind it, but I do have a shift to finish, you know.”
“You smell like her and I don’t like it. You should smell like me.”
His chuckle vibrates against me and I stop moving. He pulls me into a tighter hug and kisses my forehead. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.” I gaze up at him just in time for him to lean down and press his lips against mine.
“Er, should I come back?”
Regrettably, I pull my lips away. Liam is standing the doorway. I’d forgotten all about him. Weird, he always pops up at the worst moments.
“No, man, what’s up?” Logan says, turning to face him but keeping me right at his side.
“There is a guy here, Conner I think, asking for you.”
“Oh cool, tell him—”
“No, he asked for her,” Liam says, pointing to me.
That’s even weirder.
“I’ll be right out,” I tell him and he leaves us. Logan kisses my forehead once more and our moment alone is over. Reality is back in full swing.
Logan
Sara hasn’t moved from her chair all night. When we came out of the storage room, everyone had moved to a corner table by the window. Everyone being Connor, Ethan, Kelsey, and Sara. Things start to pick up fast. The band tonight is surprisingly good and pulling in more customers. Training Liam is pretty much pointless while it’s busy, so I cut him after a few hours. That and Sara knows if I’m not teaching someone, I’ll be off sooner. Unfortunately for me, Liam is now sitting at Sara’s table enjoying her company while I work.
I’m working my ass off to avoid thinking of Sara and Liam. Exactly. There isn’t even a Sara and Liam, but every time I hear her laugh reach across the bar, he is there, in her vision. Even if he isn’t talking to her, just knowing he is getting to spend the evening in her company while I bust my back to make sure they have everything they need just rubs me the wrong way.
“You’re doing it again,” Beth coos behind me. I find her leaned against the wall as she dries the glass in her hand.
“Doing what?”
“Watching her. Radiating love from your eyes. Then, a fire burst into flames from your ears when you realized who is sitting next to her. Everyone is running for their lives, and all you care about is making sure he doesn’t make out it alive.”
No joke. I stare at her with my mouth open as I raise both eyebrows. She laughs. “Or you could just be annoyed because you wish you were sitting next to her.”
“Yeah, wow, did you really just say all that? Where do you come up with this crap?” A laugh escapes my lips. Her visions, or whatever you want to call it, might not have been so far off. Maybe void the fire and my making sure someone dies, and it’s a true story.
“I read a lot.”
“Clearly sci-fi.”
“No, romance novels can get intense, too, you know. It’s not always sex and a bunch of guys.”
I raise my left brow as I look at her.
“Okay, so it’s mostly about sex and a bunch of hot guys. Hey, I hate to break it to you, but you are the manager here right now, and if you want to be off work, you could probably talk yourself into it. After all, it’s pretty slow and I’ll probably get more work done if you get out of my way. I can handle Abby. We were scheduled to close the bar together anyway. Thanks for that, by the way.”
“You’re right,” I say, ignoring her last comment. I set down my towel, head to the back, and change my shirt. Then I walk right up to Sara’s table to stand between her and Liam.
“It’s about time you got off,” Ethan cheers, holding his beer up. I give him a fist bump and then offer my hand to Sara.
“Feel like dancing?” I ask. She rises quickly, clearly approving of my idea as she pulls me onto the dance floor. Kelsey and Ethan follow, along with a few other customers. The band must notice the amount of couples on the floor because they quickly change the music to a slow song, playing their version of “More Than Words.”
Sara’s slender arms wrap around my neck as we sway back and forth. I enjoy the feel of her touch for a moment before I switch us to a more formal stance, showing her a few dance moves. She laughs softly as I twirl her, pulling her back against my chest.
Behind us, Ethan attempts the same move, but his arm catches on Kelsey’s forehead, causing them to stop dancing to laugh it off.
“I should never have left last summer,” Sara admits, resting her cheek against me. I swallow, resisting the urge to ask her why she did. It’s something I’ve asked myself over and over.
“Being with you scares me. I’m scared of the way I feel, how I think, the ideas I get. I think more of you than I do of my own future, and that terrifies me. I knew it then and I ran. I don’t want to run this time. I want to make this work. Promise me you won’t break my heart.”
The music is still playing, but we’ve stopping moving. She leans back far enough to look up.
“I promise,” I say, praying that I can keep it.
Leaning down, I kiss her as deeply as I can in front of everyone. I don’t stop until the hoots and hollers around us cause Sara to giggle and dash for the door, tugging me behind her.
Sara slips her hand into mine and I squeeze it, pulling her close to my side. Late June in Wyoming is a great time of year. It’s warm, but not too warm, a perfect sixty-five degrees and the wind is almost fully nonexistent. We walk in silence until we reach Sara’s apartment building.
Living in the building next to hers was always fun, but right now I wish we didn’t have to choose. Without saying a word, I wrap my arms around her shoulders and we head inside hers. For me, it doesn’t matter whose place we pick, as long as I’m with Sara, I’m home.
Chapter Eleven
Sara
I hate Mondays. Not only because they mean the weekend is over, but because it’s the day that signifies the beginning to a long week. The only plus side to a Monday right now is that each one is a day closer to my moving home. I should be thankful another week has come and gone, but right now, I’d rather rewind a day. Put myself back in Wind Valley. Not here, at The Silver Tap and moody as hell.
I know it’s because I didn’t wake up to Logan’s face. I didn’t wake up to his touch or to his smell. To arms wrapped around me. Everything is better with him. And everyone knows that when you’re in a bummed out mood, time passes way too slowly and nothing productive gets done.
“Okay, so your first interview is at eleven— that’s in twenty minutes. The next one’s at one and then again at three today. Same for tomorrow and Wednesday.” Liam pulls up a seat next to me at the bar. “How many people do you plan to hire right now?” he asks, marking something down on the clipboard in front of him before flashing me a grin. “Oh, and the bank called. You need to sign some more papers that your father wired over first thing this morning, and I know you signed the liquor contract, but they haven’t sent us a copy of the liquor license and we need that.”
It’s a good thing Liam is here to keep me on task.
Before I left Wind Valley, I made a few rules for myself. It’s not that I don’t trust myself or anyone else, but I made them to help Logan stress less. Even though he has no idea what these rules are or that I even have them.
One of the rules is to never be in a closed space alone with Liam. The office is too
small of a space. All our work will now forever be done at the bar top and I sit in the seat one over from his.
“I was thinking six for now,” I say. “We can get three in to start training right away, and the other three can come in about a month before opening. I’ll want twelve to fifteen total, but the others can wait till we at least have glasses and stuff to train with. And I’ll take care of that other stuff at some point today.”
“Did you make those plans or did your father?”
I smirk at him. “What plans? And do you really need to ask? You and I both know if I had my way, I’d hire as many people as it took to get this place ready and open in the next week.”
“Yeah, I’m surprised your dad is moving things as slowly as he is anyway. That and I thought he gave you this bar, but it doesn’t really sound like it.”
Something in Liam’s words hits a sore spot. This is my bar, or at least it will be. As soon as those papers come in.
“Are the three interviews today your friends?” I ask, changing the subject.
Liam has a few buddies who want part-time jobs and I agreed to interview them. Two of them are in a band. Liam’s idea is to hire them now as bartenders and later promote them as our official Saturday night band if things turn out well. His plan is one I like and one that might possibly check two things off the opening list. I just hope his friends are as responsible as Liam. I want a fun and laid-back place to hang out, but I also need people who can keep the place running.
“Well, two today and one tomorrow. I hope you know you don’t have to hire them for my sake. Everything is 100 percent your call.”
“Oh I know.” We both laugh at my lack of hesitation to respond. “I’m sure they will be just fine.”
“Knock, knock.”
The front door opens and a tall man walks in. His shaggy hair is clearly dyed black from a box, his left eyebrow has three piercings, and his nose has one of those bullrings through it. At first glance he is a little intimidating, but he smiles and aims a mouth full of bright, white teeth our way, relaxing me a bit. He has on an outfit entirely in black and loud boots that clunk as he drags his feet. He strides toward us without waiting for our greeting, and when he reaches us, he extends his hand toward Liam.
“You must be the boss around here. I’m Mark; I have an interview with you.” He glances at me and winks. His jaw moves quickly as he chomps on what I hope is gum. “Damn, if you are any sign of the fine-ass women I could be working with, I better make sure I nail this interview.”
My jaw drops and my eyes go wide. Is this guy for real? I cannot seriously interview him now.
“Well, you just lost any opportunity at an offer.” Liam steps forward and begins to show the man out. Thank god Liam’s here. If guys like that walk in whenever they want, the door will always be locked or I won’t ever come here without Liam.
“You’re shittin’ me! You’re only saying that because hiring me means you have competition.”
“Nope, you’re a pig and you won’t ever be working here,” Liam says in a firm voice and then slams the door closed behind him. He raises his hands in the air. “Not my friend. I swear.”
“I sure hope not.” I laugh. “Did that really just happen?”
“Yeah, it did. And what a dick for assuming I’m the boss.”
“It doesn’t surprise me. Most men are like that.”
Liam nods. “Oh, now you’re judging the guy who was judging you?” He chuckles. “What’s next on our agenda?”
I stand and clap my hands together. “We shop for décor and hope that my next two interviews are much better than that one. Oh, and will you please be here for the interviews over the next few days? I don’t want to … ” My voice trails off because I don’t want to go into detail on what could have happened without Liam.
“Of course,” he says and his eyes meet mine. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
* * *
“Hi, you must be Sara.” A woman about five foot five, same as me, greets me. “I’m Andi Liam’s friend,” she says, tucking her A-line, black hair behind her ear.
“I am.” I smile and reach forward to shake her hand. “Please, have a seat.” I point to the bar top where I was sitting when she came in. My chair screeches when I pull it out and hers does the same, sending a shiver down my spine. It’s like nails on a chalkboard. We really need to get pads under these stools.
“So, Liam tells me you’re the lead singer in a band. That must take a lot of responsibility,” I start right away.
“I am, and yes, it does. I started out as a guitar player. Then the lead vocal got pregnant with the other guitar player’s baby. Now she’s a stay-at-home mom and I’ve been singing for two years.”
“Oh, wow. This is an odd question, and for the record, it isn’t part of your interview, but is it normal to have relationships with other band members? I mean, it’s kind of like they are your coworkers, right? Has that ever caused any problems?”
Alright, so this is sort of a work-related question. I’m not big on coworkers forming relationships. It’s not good for business. Bad breakups usually include new hires after someone quits. Kelsey and Ethan were the exception. And me and Logan, too.
Damn. I really have to enforce this rule. I don’t want to go into this thinking I’ll have a band here only to find out they broke up from something silly.
“Well, Jim replaced me as a guitarist and he’s already married. Brian and Kathy, she was the last vocalist, are married now, Lewis plays the drums and he’s single. He is usually the one who brings in the ladies. So we don’t have to worry about anyone hooking up and breaking us up. If I weren’t into women, I would totally be into Lewis, but as of right now he isn’t my type.” She shrugs like it’s no big thing. Which, it isn’t.
“Oh, well, that’s great to hear,” I say, glancing at the paper in front of me. I should get on with the interview before I start to come off as creepy. Although I may have already passed that point. “Before we begin, do you have any questions?”
“Nope. Let’s do this thing. This would really be a neat place to work. And Liam was right about you.”
I hesitate before asking, “What did he say about me?”
“That you were kind, honest, and would make me comfortable.”
I smile.
“He also said you were beautiful and smarter than people actually give you credit for. He’s a nice guy. You did well in hiring him.” I sit there for a moment just watching her. Liam really said all those things?
I force myself to get back on track before I spend her entire interview chatting about our friends and before I know it, her interview is over and she leaves.
“Hey, how did it go? I kept the office door cracked to listen, but honestly I wasn’t too concerned with anything going wrong. Andi can kick any male or female ass.”
I turn to Liam. “I believe it.”
“So, ready for your next one?”
“As long as they turn out just like her, I sure am.”
“Grayson is one of my closest friends, and he will bring in a lot of female cliental, I promise. But even so, he’s a great guy. You’d be smart to hire him.” Liam snaps his fingers and claps his hands. “Well, I better go get that liquor order you made out.”
I’m starting to think there is entire side to Liam I don’t know about. I’m not even sure I should know about it, considering I’m his boss and I’m dating Logan, but if I’m honest with myself, Liam is becoming a friend. I trust him and I feel comfortable around him. He really is a nice guy who I’m thankful to have working for me and I don’t want to do anything to ruin that.
Logan
This has been the longest week of my life. I work hard to guarantee I’m home when Sara calls me. Except every one of her calls have been past midnight. She says it’s because they have been working late. She told me she hired a few more people to start working part time next week to help her and Liam put the place together. I feel like a dick for suggesting they hire someo
ne to come in and take care of things like wall décor, tables, stocking the storage room, or even organizing her office so that she doesn’t need to be in Rockland, but Sara said that isn’t what they did with the BA and it isn’t what they are going to do now. I see her point and I understand that doing it herself assures it gets done by the day she wants it done, but work can also be an excuse for hiding the truth. What if she isn’t really working because she is with Liam? What am I saying—she’s with him either way. Is that the reason she can’t come home for 4th of July weekend?
“Logan?”
My head snaps up. Conner is standing my kitchen, a duffle bag hanging over his shoulder and another held up by his left hand.
“Ethan told you I was moving in today, right?” he asks. “I knocked, but you didn’t answer.”
“Yeah I was—” I point to the TV. It’s off.—“sorry, man, I must have really been zoning out."
“It’s cool,” he says, glancing around. “Left or right?”
“Left.”
Conner makes his way down the hall without looking back. I rub my neck and push off the couch. I need a distraction. Between not talking to Sara and Tyler not texting me back with an update on my sister, I’m going crazy.
“Do you have more stuff to move in?” I say loudly enough for Conner to hear me.
“Just another bag of clothes.”
Well, that idea’s out.
“You want to go see if there is a game we can join in at the rec?” I ask. Shooting some hoops sounds like a great de-stressor.
“Yeah, give me just a minute.”
Connor steps out of his new room in shorts and a cut-off shirt, ready to go.
“How’s Sara doing in Colorado?”
“Good.”
“Just good?”
“Yep.” What more can I say when I barely speak to her? “The opening is still on schedule,” is what I come up with.
“We should go down there one of these weekends. Check out the competition in the area.”
I nod. That isn’t a half-bad idea.
