Beer Goggles Anthology

by Anthology

  So maybe my self-control needs some work. Whatever. I still haven’t done anything wrong.

  “Just sayin’.” I lift a casual shoulder and try to duck around him, but he suddenly grasps both of my wrists and lifts my arms above my head. This time, there’s no suppressing my quick intake of breath. Or my involuntary moan. “Wh-what are you doing?”

  With a grin, Jake transfers my wrists into one hand, slowly gliding his other down my arm. Goose bumps prickle in the wake of his touch and, when his fingers bypass my armpit, headed straight for the side of my breast, I stop breathing completely.

  Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Touch me there!

  But he doesn’t. Instead, he gives a quick tug and then dangles a price tag in front of my face.

  “You missed something,” he says, and there is no doubt in my mind that he knows exactly what he’s done to me. All hot and bothered over a freaking tag. Jerk.

  Snatching the damn thing from his hand, I push around him, toss the tag in the trash, and grab my purse from the table. Like those few breathless moments never even happened.

  “So, I’m not sure when I’ll be home. Depends on how much fun we have.”

  Jake pivots to face me, the scowl back on his sexy, stubbled face. “You never did say where you were going.”

  “A dance hall in Wavebrook.”

  “That’s at least forty-five minutes away.”

  “You’ll have to lengthen my leash then, won’t you?” I wink at the same time the doorbell chimes. “Toodles, Jakey.”

  “Jakey?” he grumbles as I head to the door, but I don’t bother to respond or even look back. I just open the door to William and flash my best smile, knowing full well that Jake is watching my every move.

  He wants to yank my chain just because he can?

  Well, eat your heart out, roomie. In no time at all, William will make me forget all about you.

  Jake

  She thinks she’s so friggin’ smart. That she has me wrapped around her little finger, because I don’t want to get my ass throw out into the streets. To a certain degree, she does.

  But I’ve spent the last six days watching her work this so-called experiment of hers, and each and every time she leaves, I feel like my skin shrinks.

  I can’t stand the thought of all these assholes wining and dining her, maybe even doing more, though I don’t know for sure, because Kallie isn’t the kiss-and-tell type and it drives me crazy.

  That’s how I end up in Wavebrook, flashing my ID to the lanky cowboy manning the door. The place is just as packed inside as the parking lot is outside, and a familiar country tune hums through the sound system.

  I wait at the bar for almost ten minutes before I get a beer, but I don’t complain—the bar happens to be next to the dance floor and I spot Kallie immediately. Her white dress and infectious laughter are hard to miss. So are her date’s wandering hands.

  I watch them two-step, then go through the motions of a complicated line dance, before they take a break and head over to a table and order some drinks.

  Since I don’t intend on being a creeper, I grab my beer and start their way. A couple of guys approach them at the same time—friends of her date, given their bro-style handshakes and half hugs. One of them immediately gravitates toward Kallie and unease brews in my gut.

  I don’t like the way he’s looking at her, right there in front of her date, no less. While William chats it up with the other dude, this one’s zeroing in on Kallie like a fucking hawk on fresh roadkill.

  She shifts uncomfortably in her seat as he leans down and whispers something in her ear, his interest obvious even twenty feet away.

  I hang back, silently urging her date to notice, but he’s not even looking at them. His stool is turned toward the other guy, both of them laughing about something he apparently deems more important than Kallie’s comfort.

  Prick. You’re on a date with her, not your boyfriend.

  The dude looming over Kallie holds out his hand and she bites her lip as she contemplates whether or not to take it.

  I’m potentially the biggest asshole in this place, because I want her to accept it. I want her to dance with him, so he can cross the line and I can kick his ass.

  All week long, I’ve watched her do this same song and dance and it’s tested the limits of my resolve. No, I don’t really know this girl, aside from her smart mouth and quick wit and her bright eyes and perpetually happy smile. But I want to know her better, and I’ve started to hate that she gives so much of herself to guys who really don’t give a shit about her.

  Eventually, she lets the loser lead her back to the dance floor and I curse her damn project. I’m pretty sure she’s not the kind of girl who would normally put herself into this kind of situation.

  Yeah, I agreed to keep my mouth shut about her little experiment, but the more I see of her carrying it out, the more I kick myself in the ass. Her safety is a hell of a lot more important than my reputation. Hell, it’s more important than the roof over my head too.

  I grind my teeth as he pulls her in close, his hips already pulsing against hers. Her date still isn’t paying attention. I don’t think he even knows she’s gone, because he’s now deep in conversation with not one, but three other men. Not cool. Not cool at all.

  Kallie smiles up at the dark-haired Don Juan, but despite her cheery grin, she puts her hands firmly on his chest. She doesn’t push him away, but it’s obvious she wants him to back off. And that’s something I can help with.

  Beer forgotten, I’m at her side in an instant. I don’t think twice about staking a claim that isn’t mine to take and I’m not sure if that makes me selfish or noble. I don’t really care either way.

  She gasps when I slide my arms around her waist and pull her away from the asshole, whose eyes go wide with surprise…and then rage.

  “What the fuck!” He looks from me to Kallie and back again.

  “I don’t like the way you’re dancing with my girl,” I tell him before I press my lips to Kallie’s ear. “You okay, baby?”

  The tension melts from her body as she realizes I’m the one who came to her rescue and a little part of me wants to beat my chest like a caveman. I like that she’s comforted by my presence and not angry that I crashed her party.

  “I thought you were here with Will,” the prick demands of Kallie, jutting his chin toward the table and the guy he stole her from.

  “I am.” Despite her trembling body, her tone is insistent. “It’s our thing. Isn’t it, Jake?”

  Well, now. Didn’t see that coming.

  “Yep.” I press a kiss to the soft spot behind her ear, slowing making my way down her jaw. “Makes me fucking hot knowing you always come home to me.” It sounds like a line, but there’s more truth to my confession than she probably knows.

  Six days. We’ve known each other for six days, and I already want to see what might happen with this girl.

  The asshole lifts both hands and takes a purposeful step back. “This is messed up. I mean, I don’t mind sharing, but I like being the one in charge, so I’m out.”

  He disappears into the crowd surrounding the dance floor, and I expect Kallie to pull away and give me hell.

  But she doesn’t.

  Instead, she sighs and goes even softer in my arms.

  Chapter Six

  “Thank you,” she whispers, tipping her head a little more to the side. An invitation, perhaps?

  I don’t waste time finding out. I lower my mouth to the pulse in her neck, teasing her sweet skin with the tip of my tongue. “You know you’re making me crazy, right?”

  “No crazier than you’re making me.” Her fingers thread through the ones I have splayed against her stomach when the music slows and a sexy, pop-country crossover tune begins.

  “Dance with me?”

  She nods and, for a few chords, we stand just like that, swaying to the sultry beat. Eventually she turns, wraps her arms around my neck, and holds on tight.

  “I’m sick of this exper
iment.” She sighs. “I’m sick of small talk and telling the same stories over and over again.”

  “You always seem so excited. I wouldn’t have guessed.”

  “Well, no. I didn’t want you to know I was already miserable. I’m only a week into this.”

  “How much longer do you have?” I hope it’s not long, because I’m not sure how much longer I can take it. Which is a fucking conundrum all its own.

  “Two weeks.”

  “You haven’t gathered enough insight yet? I mean, you’ve been out a lot of guys.”

  “Not that many, Jake.” She pulls back, smiles up at me, and I grunt. “Sorry, but I need to have a reasonably sized sample for comparison.”

  I love it when she talks all science-y to me. “Remind me again what it is you’re trying to prove.”

  “That men will give more time and energy to this version of me than Kallie with the glasses and nerdy T-shirts. That Kallie doesn’t put out. This one might. Or at least they hope I will, because I look the part.”

  She’s out of her mind. Or maybe she’s altogether the wrong kind of woman to be doing this experiment, because…“I’d fuck Kallie with the glasses. Thought so the first time I saw you on Dylan’s laptop.”

  Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. “You’re so full of crap. We both know—”

  “You were wearing a thong the day you arrived. I know because I stared at your ass.”

  “All guys do that.”

  “You made me hard.” I meet her eyes and shrug. “Which is why I went out that night. And probably why it was so easy for me to lose it with you too.”

  Her gaze locks on mine, but there’s no amusement in her expression. “I don’t want to pretend to be someone or something I’m not anymore. At least not tonight. I just want to be me for a little while.”

  I want her to be her too, but that’s just asking for trouble. I have no business liking her. No business wanting to get to know her better, either. Definitely no business wanting her in my bed so I can show her that it doesn’t matter which role she’s playing. She turns me on either way.

  “So, what do you think?” she asks, her eyes so hopeful. “Can I cut loose and count on you to get me home?”

  “I came here tonight for you, so yeah. I’m all yours.”

  Her sweet smile is a like a punch to the gut. A really awesome, totally welcomed punch.

  “I want to dance again. Without worrying about wandering hands. And I want a real drink, too. None of these virgin concoctions so I’m not taken advantage of.”

  “I don’t know about that. The last time one of us was drunk…”

  “Oh, shut up, Jake. Just dance with me.”

  Kallie

  Is seven guys enough of a sampling for my project? Because I really don’t want to do this anymore. The guys I’ve been dating aren’t nearly as interesting as Jake, and their intent, while it’s exactly what I’d hoped for, is starting to wear on my nerves.

  William couldn’t have gave a shit less when I told him I was ending the night early. If he would have paid any attention at all, he would’ve seen Jake standing behind me and questioned what I was up to, but no. He only told me he was sorry to see me go. No offer to bring me home. No offer to even call a cab.

  He did say he’d call in a few days to check in, but that’s a call I won’t answer. I’ve gotten what I need from him, and there isn’t any point in pretending I’m remotely interested in getting to know him better.

  But Jake…Jake is another matter altogether.

  I really like him. We’ve talked about everything and nothing over the past few days, but there’s an ease to our interaction that’s refreshing. I could hang out with him on a regular basis. I could also kiss him senseless and go for another round of couch bump and grind, but I know better than to think that’ll ever happen again.

  Vaughn told me about Jake’s faux pas with his previous roommate, so I understand the conflicting signs he’s given me. He’s interested, but his pursuing that interest will come at a cost. If I were him, I wouldn’t take a chance on me either. I’m not even in town permanently. In less than two weeks, I’ll go back home.

  But that doesn’t stop him from showing me a good time tonight. From dancing with me every single time I’ve wanted to, even when he claimed to hate the music.

  Two hours later, I drop onto a chair and try to catch my breath. “You’ve got moves, Jake!”

  He chuckles and flags down a waitress to order another round of drinks. I notice he’s been sipping on Coke and I appreciate the gesture. But I feel a little guilty. Poor guy shouldn’t have to babysit me.

  “Drink up,” Jake says, when the drinks arrive a few minutes later. Another soda for him and a shot of tequila for me. My third, on top of three mixed drinks.

  “This is a bad idea,” I murmur before I tip back the tequila and clench my eyes against the burn. “I’m going to regret this in the morning.”

  “Nothing Gatorade and ibuprofen won’t cure.” He gives me a side squeeze, complete with a kiss on the top of my head. “Have you had enough dancing, Bright? Maybe there’s something else the real Kallie wants to do tonight.”

  “Other than going home and taking off these boots? Nah. I’m ready to hang them up.”

  He gives me a sympathetic smile and offers his arm. “As the lady wishes.”

  We talk nonstop on the way back to Port Washington. About everything from our favorite sports teams—we’re both Packers fans—to movies, music, and stories about our families. He has two older sisters, both of whom work for his father’s investment company, which is part of the reason he struck out on his own after college. His father promised him a partnership, but Jake couldn’t do that to Jenna and Jackie. It felt wrong and sexist, given all of their years of hard work.

  “So, your family is really important to you.” I lean my head against the seat and watch him navigate his truck. “Mine is, too. My mom never finished college, so, in a way, I feel like I’m doing this for her as much as for me.”

  “That explains why you’d put yourself out there like you have.”

  He’s not wrong, but…“I’m not going to lie, Jake—I decided to do this experiment, because I’ve never really been the girl that guys notice right away. Even when I go the extra mile to look pretty, it isn’t usually enough. I’m too plain. Not outgoing unless I try. Definitely not a girl that makes guys think about sex unless I’m waving it in their face.”

  “There isn’t a plain thing about you, Bright. And I absolutely thought about sex the first time I saw you.”

  “I’m not sure your opinion counts.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “Because you’re a nice guy.”

  He slows the truck at a stoplight, but even when the light turns green again, he doesn’t move. “You don’t think that some of the guys you’ve gone out with this past week have been nice? Better than nice, even?”

  I shrug. “Brennan turned out okay. He backtracked when he realized how Dylan would feel.”

  “Okay, so that one’s obvious, but what’s your measuring stick for ‘nice?’ Whether or not they walk you to the door? Hold your hand?”

  “I…” I don’t have an answer. I’ve based everything on gut instinct, because, at the end of the day, it’s not a factor in my experiment and it doesn’t have to be concrete.

  Or does it?

  “I hate to say this, Kallie, because I know how important it is that you pass this class with a perfect grade, but there are a lot of holes in your thought process.”

  Yeah, I’m beginning to see that. “I made this too personal, and there isn’t any room in science for personal.”

  Jake covers my hand with his and squeezes. “I’m not sure about that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Let’s get home and I’ll explain myself.”

  Jake

  I should’ve figured out Kallie’s end game sooner, but it turns out she’s a damn good actor.

  All this time, she
’s been using this project to convince herself that men are judgmental, one-track-minded idiots, because if that’s the case, then there’s nothing wrong with her personally. The guys she’s had in her life up until this point have all been losers, etc. and, in that regard, she’s probably not wrong.

  Where her logic is off, however, is that ordinary Kallie isn’t attractive enough. The truth is that ordinary Kallie—hell, Kallie in any form—is friggin’ perfect. She’s so multi-dimensional and intriguing, and there’s an air about her that’s damn refreshing.

  The problem is that, up until this point, Kallie hasn’t met a guy who’s appreciated her layers. So, of course, she’d think there was something wrong with her…and something wrong with the guys she’s dated too, when they don’t give her what she wants. Though I’m not sure she even knows exactly what it is she’s looking for.

  “It’s a rare thing for two people to click in the way you’ve been expecting,” I tell her when we’re finally back home, standing in the kitchen with a bottle of wine between us. “For the most part, everyone compromises for the sake of companionship.”

  She narrows her eyes and mulls over my words. “Go on.”

  “Take the girl from last weekend, for example. Physically, she was my type, but other that, we had nothing in common. I would have never brought her back here if I hadn’t decided, before I even met her, how I wanted my night to end.”

  “So, men really do want one thing.” She smiles.

  “Yes, but women aren’t all that different.” I point at her with a wink. “You might not want sex itself, but you want someone to make you feel sexy. Or the very least, find you sexually appealing.”

  “Well, yeah. I’m a human being. I naturally want that kind of human interaction.” She shrugs again and hops up onto the kitchen counter, wine glass in hand. Her dress rides high on her thighs and I give in to the fact that I am completely screwed.

  She’s my roommate’s little sister, but she’s no Vanessa. Never has been.

  I should walk away, because Kallie’s another kind of drama altogether, but I’m proof perfect that what she’s been looking for does exist. Sure, my edges are a little jagged and I’ve not the most obvious choice for her, but I have always found her fascinating and beautiful. I have always been interested in peeling back her layers and getting to know each and every one.