Just One Kiss: A Black Alcove Novel

by Jami Wagner

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kelsey

  There’s no easy way to say it. I, Kelsey Brian, am that girl, that girl who sleeps with her boss. Oh. My. God. I can’t stop thinking about last night. I’ll never be able to look at the pool table the same again, or the whole bar for that matter.

  That’s not even the worst part. The worst part is I went back to his house to do it again. And I want it even more now than I did last night. Not in the bar of course. Although, I don’t think I would object to it if the situation were right. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a little excitement from a place where you could get caught? Oh shit. What if someone actually did see us through the window?

  “Kelsey, dude…you’re freaking me out.”

  I blink myself back to the present at the sound of Logan’s voice. He’s standing right in front of me with his hands on my shoulders and he’s squatting down to meet me at eye level.

  “Huh?”

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, and you were focused on the pool table like you were trying to make it float or something,” he says, removing his hands and waving them in the air. “All you needed was the snap of your fingers or a wand or some shit.”

  He takes a step back, shaking his head as he laughs.

  “Man, would I love to know what’s going on it that head of yours.”

  No. No you would not.

  I let out a deep breath and turn around to fill a couple of beer buckets with ice.

  “It wasn’t anything important.”

  “Yeah, okay,” he says with disbelief.

  “Hey, Kelsey, do you have those beers ready? My table is getting antsy,” Beth says as she pretty much bounces her way to the end of the bar. She bats her eyelashes at Logan.

  “Hey, Logan,” she says in a flirty tone. He looks at me then glances at Beth.

  “How’s it going, Beth?” I know him well enough to know he is just trying to be polite, but that he also doesn’t really want to talk to her. It’s the tone he uses when he isn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. He’s been in a bad mood ever since he got off the phone with Sara earlier today.

  “It’s going,” she says. “Are you working late tonight?”

  Logan lets out a long sigh. He looks up at the same time Abby appears.

  “Hey, Logan.” She smiles flirtatiously. “Want to get a drink after work tonight?”

  Well, this just got awkward and interesting. I set Beth’s beer bucket on the counter and then lean my hip against it and cross my arms as I watch.

  “Uhhh,”

  “Shit, Ethan’s here,” Beth announces, cutting Logan off before he can say anything.

  Ethan in blue jeans and a button-down shirt will never get old. There is an unfamiliar smile on his face as he comes down the steps. His grin grows bigger when his eyes land on me. I can feel my cheeks beginning to heat up.

  “Crap! He sees us,” Abby whines and both she and Beth quickly scatter from the bar.

  “Well, that’s one way to solve my problem. Guess Ethan is good for something after all.” Logan laughs and strolls to the other end of the bar as a couple of customers pull up a stool. I give him a look that I intend to scream “no, don’t leave me alone” as he walks away, but he shrugs his shoulders and nods his head in Ethan’s direction.

  The whole place feels like a sauna and I’m convinced someone keeps turning up the heat. Ethan walks past the pool table, running his fingers along the felt. Flashes of last night cloud my mind. I focus on my breathing, and by the time Ethan reaches me, I think I’ve pulled it together.

  “Hey, Kelsey,” he says in a tone I haven’t heard before. He sounds — calm, happy maybe. It relaxes and excites me all at the same time. I grab a towel to wipe the counter between us.

  “Hey, Ethan.” I can’t even look at him without getting images of last night. This isn’t good at all. He starts to drum his fingers against the bar top, and as I steal a quick glance I notice they are shaking slightly. How could he be nervous after last night? He sure wasn’t nervous then. His hands didn’t shake when he touched me, while they explored every inch of my body.

  “Look … I ... ugh,” he whispers. “I wanted to … um…” As he tries to find his words, he is staring down at his left hand and the right is behind his neck. “Last night was …”

  Oh my god, if he finishes that sentence with the word mistake, I could possibly lose my job when I lunge my body over this counter and kill him.

  “Well I…I was hoping I could take you on a date.”

  That is not what I was expecting. His gaze rises and I stare into his bright green eyes. There’s a different sparkle to them,

  “A date?” I repeat.

  “Yeah, I know it’s a little backward considering our track record, but I want to take you out. Last night was…perfect.” He sounds more confident this time.

  “What happened last night?” Logan asks and I jump when I realize how close he’s standing. Does this guy ever work, or is he always lingering—and how much did he hear?

  “Nothing,” I answer automatically before stepping around Logan to attend the customers at the other end of the bar. It’s Saturday and the night is starting slow. I ask the three people seated in stools if they need anything, but they kindly decline. So much for that distraction.

  I try to busy myself by organizing the liquor bottles, washing all the dirty glasses – there aren’t many since we switch to plastic after five – and wiping down the counters. Once I have cleaned everything else I can see, there’s nothing left to distract me.

  I could go on a date with Ethan. It makes total sense for a new couple, but it’s completely inappropriate considering he’s my boss. I know I thought differently last night, but I was caught up in the moment and I can’t let that interfere with the right thing to do. I let out a sigh of frustration and lean forward on the bar. On the other hand, if I say no to him again, I could really mess things up. Which matters more, falling in love or keeping my job? Sara wouldn’t fire me, but if Ethan and I didn’t work out, would he?

  My moment of silence is interrupted when I hear a group near the jukebox break out in laughter, gaining the attention of the entire bar. They fall silent, focusing their attention on someone nearby. I can’t hear what they are saying, but soon the group is laughing again. A woman scoots her chair back and stands slowly before heading for the bathroom. I have a clear view of the comedian and I’m shocked to see it’s Ethan.

  “He seems awfully happy tonight.” Logan startles me, but I don’t even glance up. If I make even the slightest expression, he will know what it means before I do.

  “Yeah, looks that way.”

  “Wouldn’t have anything to do with last night, would it?” he asks.

  Ethan told him. No, no, no. Logan will tell Sara.

  “Please, please don’t tell Sara. She will kill me,” I start to ramble cupping my hands together as I beg. “I was just closing the bar. He came back to talk and then it got out of hand and before I knew it, it was too late and we couldn’t take it back.”

  Logan finally looks up with a puzzled expression.

  “Take what back?” A half smile tugs at his lips.

  Giant crap! I just spilled the beans.

  Logan watches me for a minute then glances at Ethan, who’s still near the same group of people, only now he is leaning against the pool table and staring down at it with a huge grin on his face. Aw, damn. Dead giveaway.

  Now Logan’s eyes spring wide. He fails miserably at trying to hide the full smile on his face.

  “No fucking way! Oh man, tell me you didn’t!” I just stand there. I was never quick in these situations and I have no idea what to say, so I just scrunch my face.

  He slams his hand on the counter and I jump.

  “Hot damn, Sara is going to love this.” He chuckles and reaches to his back pocket to pull out his cellphone. I reach for it as quickly as I can, but he pulls back.

  “Please don’t tell Sara! I’m begging you, Logan.”

&n
bsp; “Tell Sara what?” Ethan asks as he pulls up a stool across from us. Geez! Doesn’t anyone keep to themselves around here?

  “Nothing,” I say and give Logan my best threatening look. “Right, Logan?”

  “Right, Kelsey,” he nods.

  The three of us stand there looking at each other. Me worried, Logan with a grin, and Ethan confused.

  Maybe now isn’t the best time to give Ethan my answer. No audience would be best.

  Ethan

  After Kelsey went home last night, I laid awake – something I’ve done a lot since I met her – for hours imaging what it would be like to not give a shit about my dad. About whether or not he’s proud of me. I wouldn’t have to snoop around the bar anymore, I wouldn’t have to lie to anyone, and I sure as shit could have something real with Kelsey.

  Before I fell asleep, I knew I’d made up my mind. He can send one of my brothers, but I’m not letting them anywhere near the bar or near Kelsey. I’m going to get to know her better and I’m going to start with a date. But it isn’t working out how I planned, because now she’s avoiding my question.

  “So, Ethan,” Logan crosses his arms. He nods to the pool table with his head. “Something wrong with the felt?” Kelsey looks terrified. “You didn’t get anything on it, did you? By accident of course.” He laughs and walks away.

  It’s hard not to laugh with him. Logan is smart and he put two and two together. But he was only messing with her.

  Kelsey stands with her hands locked behind her back and stares down at her feet. How can she be nervous after what we did last night? Is she embarrassed like she was when I kissed her all those years ago?

  “I meant everything I told you last night. I want to give us a real shot,” I say.

  Her cheeks turn a soft shade of pink and she nods.

  “Okay. Let’s go on a date then.”

  “Tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up at six.”

  “I work tomorrow.”

  “Not anymore.” I give her a wink.

  “You can’t just change the schedule like that, Ethan. It’s not fair to anyone else who works here.”

  “I can if I want. I haven’t been this happy since I came here—you can ask anyone here and I guarantee, if it puts me in a better mood, they’d be more than willing to work for you tomorrow night.”

  I look over my shoulder for Beth or Abby. Either of them would love to help. Lucky for me, Beth is headed our way and I also know she isn’t on the schedule for tomorrow.

  “Beth, want to work tomorrow night?” I ask.

  She pauses, her eyes flickering between Kelsey and me. “Is this a trick question?”

  “Don’t listen to him, Beth. He’s still learning how to manage this place,” Kelsey says with a cheery tone.

  Beth’s eyes go wide as she presses her lips together.

  “I’m actually doing just fine, Kelsey, thank you.” I give her a playful grin. “I asked Kelsey out on a date, but she’s working and needs someone to cover her shift.”

  “Wait, so like, you’d be gone too?” Beth asks.

  I nod.

  “Yeah, sure, I’ll totally work for you, Kelsey.”

  I ignore the excitement in her voice and instead focus on Kelsey. It goes without question that she makes me want to be a better person and her presence always puts me in a good mood. I am determined to make this dinner perfect.

  I flash Kelsey one last grin and catch the sight of her smile before I head for the office.

  I close the door as my cellphone vibrates inside my pants pocket. All the happiness I’m feeling fades when I see my father’s name on the phone.

  “Sir,” I answer and take a seat behind the desk.

  “You haven’t called me with an update. I can’t decide whether or not that means things are going in my favor or if you’re not getting the job done. Your behavior is really starting to piss me off, and you’re about out of second chances.” His criticizing voice is firm. His mind is already made up. He just wants to test me.

  “I still haven’t found anything that will lead me to the account numbers you want, but I think I’m on to something. I just need a little more time,” I lie to him. If I convince him to believe me, I can buy more time until I tell Kelsey what’s been going on. A first date isn’t the right time to drop this sort of information. A few days are all I need. She’ll believe me and trust me. I know she will.